Julian Curtiss Newsletter #31

We're thrilled to share that this morning we held a 5th Grade Cherry Blossom Tree Planting Ceremony took place this morning, and it was absolutely wonderful!

Our amazing 5th scholars got their hands dirty (in the best way possible!) as they planted a beautiful cherry blossom tree on our school grounds. How cool is that? This isn't just any tree—it's a living symbol of their incredible growth journey! Just like this sapling will stretch its branches toward the sky, our awesome scholars are reaching for their dreams and growing stronger every day.

We're especially proud of our 5th graders for reaching this milestone! CONGRATULATIONS to each and every one of you superstar students! 🌟

A special THANK YOU goes out to all the wonderful parents who made this new tradition possible, particularly Chizuru Asakura for her exceptional efforts in bringing this beautiful idea to life! Your support and enthusiasm for creating meaningful experiences for our students truly makes our school community bloom!

Years from now, when our students return to visit, they'll see how their tree has flourished—just like they have as they've grown into young men and women making wonderful contributions to our world!

Hands-On Science Night: From Fire to Ice! 🔥❄️

Wednesday, April 30th

Join us for an exciting evening of scientific discovery and family fun!

Fire Safety Family Program: 5:15-6:00 PM Start your evening with an important Fire Safety program brought to you by National PTA.

Hands-On Science Night: 6:00-7:30 PM Continue the excitement with interactive science experiments exploring fascinating phenomena from Fire to Ice!

Bonus! All families who attend will be entered in a raffle to win one of our amazing Science-Themed Gift Baskets!

This event is FREE for all Julian Curtiss families, made possible by your wonderful JC PTA. Feel free to join for either or both parts of the evening, but please RSVP using the link in your JC PTA newsletter so we can prepare enough supplies for everyone.

We invite you to share information about your child using this form to help us with class placements for next year. While we welcome your input, please note that this form isn't for requesting specific teachers. Also, we don't consider which teachers taught older siblings when making placements, as we recognize each child has their own unique needs. We carefully consider each student's academic abilities and social-emotional needs during this process.

Our teachers play an important role in creating class rosters, so we ask that you focus on positive information rather than negative experiences, as forms with negative references cannot be considered. Additionally, while we understand sometimes certain students shouldn't be placed together, we kindly ask you to limit your peer placement requests.

We truly value your input in this process. However, please understand that factors like projected enrollment numbers, staff changes, and other considerations may affect our ability to accommodate all requests. Please submit just one form per child. If you need to complete a form for another child, simply refresh the Google form link. We'll review all submissions received before April 30th as we begin our class planning after that date.

In celebration of National Poetry Month, we are proud to share imagine by former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera—a poetic and powerful picture book that invites children to dream of the possibilities in their own lives.

With soft, expressive illustrations by Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, imagine follows Herrera’s journey from a young boy working in the fields with his family to becoming a celebrated poet. Each page is a gentle, rhythmic invitation to wonder, reflect, and dream:

"Imagine what you could do..."

This New York Times bestseller speaks to every dreaming heart and encourages students to think big, embrace who they are, and know that their words—and their dreams—matter.

Ask your child: What do you imagine for your future? Their answer might just be the start of a beautiful story.

If you’d like to join in celebrating this inspiring poem, please check out this clip where Juan Felipe Herrera reads "Imagine" from his inaugural reading as U.S. Poet Laureate.

Here are some resources available to our families. Reference the link above for more information.