News From the Ranch
May 3, 2026, Vol. 1, Issue 36
Dear TRE Family,
Can you believe it is already May? We certainly can't! We look forward to all that May brings us as we close out an exceptional year at TRE. It has truly been a fantastic 30th year as a TRE community! Please review the newsletter for all the upcoming events in May.
A huge shout out to our School Lunch Hero, Ms. Peggy! We had a ton of fun celebrating her on Friday with a visit from Nutrition Services team members and school board member, Lynn Davis. Thank you. Ms. Peggy, for your smile, your support, and all the care you put into feeding our Cool Coyotes!
This week, we continue with CAASPP Testing for grades 3-5. Please ensure students are well rested, eat a good breakfast, come to school on time, and bring their charged school iPad every day. Thank you for your support at home to help them show off all their awesome skills!
Highlights in this week's newsletter...
- Important Dates / Events
- Weekly Picture Highlights
- TRE Spirit Wear
- PTA Updates
- TUSD Community Updates
In partnership,
Mrs. Ciecek
IMPORTANT DATES
- CAASPP State Testing (3rd-5th grade only)
- Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
- Check out the flyer below
Monday, May 4: Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week Kickoff
Look fresh by wearing your teacher's favorite color
OR wear something bright (90s Theme)
Tuesday, May 5: Fit PE Wear
PE (Grades TK-5)
Wednesday, May 6: Early Dismissal
Attendance Glow Party
Meet the Masters Art Lessons
Thursday, May 7: Thoughtful Thursday
Music (Grades 2-5)
Friday, May 8: Wear TRE Spirit Wear
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Upcoming Events
May 11: Walk Through CA Assembly (4th grade)
May 11-22: CAASPP State Testing Make-ups (3rd-5th grade only)
May 15: Laps with Loved Ones @7-8 AM
May 28: Senior Clap Out @10:40 (Invite TRE Alumni to join us!)
May 29: 5th Grade Promotion @11:00 AM
PICTURE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
School Lunch Hero Day
School Lunch Hero & National Principal Day
National Principal Day
CAASPP - STATE TESTING GRADES 3-5
GLOW PARTY & POP-UP ATTENDANCE
Be at school and on time every day between April 7 and May 1st to be invited to our Awesome Attendance Glow Party. Also, we continue to do Pop-Up Attendance checks on random days, and classes will earn special rewards when the entire class is present and on time. Attendance matters and we look forward to celebrating all the effort to be at school and on time! You got this, Cool Coyotes!
2026-27 TUSD Enrollment Opens for Incoming Students
Enrollment opens Monday, February 2 for the 2026-27 school year. Students new to TUSD for the 2026-27 school year can visit our website to begin the enrollment process. Enrollment includes our application, required documents and forms.
Transitional Kindergarteners (TK) should enroll at their resident school by March 10 to be considered for priority enrollment. TK spots are limited.
For more information and to access our enrollment process, please visit the enrollment page on our website. For enrollment at TRE, email Sumitra Vittal (svittal@tustin.k12.ca.us) to make an enrollment appointment.
SPIRIT WEAR
This year TRE spirit wear will be available all year long on our BSN Sports webstore. Click HERE to explore all the awesome TRE spirit wear options with lots of customization available.
5TH GRADE END OF YEAR UPDATES
5TH GRADE PROMOTION
5th Grade Promotion will begin at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 29th. Students can bring up to 5 guests. Students will pull a row/seat number at random on their way into the promotion seating area. Guests will join their student and sit in the same row with them. No need to get to campus early to reserve seating. All families will sign in and line up outside the front green gates and be let in just before the ceremony begins. As a reminder, balloons are not allowed in the promotion area and must be left in your vehicle. More info to come as we get closer to Promotion. We look forward to celebrating our 5th grade Cool Coyotes at Promotion.
6TH GRADE COUNSELOR VISIT
We had a great visit from Pioneer's admin and counseling team, as well as Utt's counseling team a week ago. Students are beginning to select their elective for next school year. Legacy students will be placed in an elective based on their program and do not need to select an elective at this time. For specific questions, please reach out to the school counselor(s) at the school your student will attend for 6th grade. You should begin to get Parent Square messages from the middle school in the coming weeks.
Click the link(s) below for the middle school your child will attend to access elective/course information.
- Pioneer Presentation / Website
- Utt Flyer
- Hewes Flyer / Slidedeck
- Hewes- All of our incoming 6th graders will be placed on the Elective Wheel where they will try four different electives, one each quarter over the course of the year. If a student is interested in choir or band, they need to complete this FORM to select one of these year-long electives by April 28th. Students who are interested in competitive robotics or Theater Arts can find contact information on the google form to access the application. All applications are due by April 30th- hard deadline. Students wanting to remain in the elective wheel do not need to do anything.
- CT (info to come)
- SMA (info to come)
UPCOMING 5TH GRADE EVENTS
May 18: 5th Graders @ Boomers Field Trip
May 29: 5th Grade Promotion (11:00 AM, Clap Out starting at 10:40 AM)
MESSAGES FROM PTA
STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK - PTA NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
MARQUEE MESSAGE
TUSD COMMUNITY UPDATES
TUSTIN FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
The newly opened Family Resource Center in Old Town Tustin offers support and resources to families, including free enrollment assistance to help individuals and families access quality healthcare, coverage and essential support programs. This includes Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Covered California and more. Bilingual navigators are available.
NEWS FROM THE RANCH ARCHIVE
Click HERE to access an archive of all 2025-2026 News From the Ranch Weekly Newsletters
Tustin Ranch Elementary
Principal: Michelle Ciecek, dciecek@tustin.k12.ca.us
Secretary: Sumitra Vittal, svittal@tustin.k12.ca.us
Office Assistant: Karen Dillon, kdillon@tustin.k12.ca.us
Community Liason: Lupe Inutan, ginutan@tustin.k12.ca.us
Community Specialist: Maura Vaughn, mvaughn@tustin.k12.ca.us
Health Clerk: Victoria Lawrence, vlawrence@tustin.k12.ca.us
Website: https://www.tustin.k12.ca.us/tustin-ranch
Location: 12950 Robinson Drive, Tustin, CA, USA
Phone: (714)730-7580
Twitter: @trecoolcoyotes
TUSD Nondiscrimination Satement
The Tustin Unified School District prohibits discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment) or bullying based on a person’s actual or perceived ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, immigration status, national origin, religion, race or ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, please contact Equity Compliance Officer: Stephanie Yang, Director Educational Service TK-12, 300 S. C Street Tustin, CA 92780, 714-730-7301 ext. 51318 | Title IX Coordinator: Stephanie Yang, Director Educational Service TK-12, 300 S. C Street Tustin, CA 92780, syang@tustin.k12.ca.us, 714-730-7301 ext. 51318 and Section 504 Coordinator: Michelle Everitt, Coordinator of Student Services, 1151 San Juan St. Tustin, CA 92780, 714-730-7301 ext. 51326.