BEAR MAIL

Hi everyone,

Hope you had a fantastic Spring Break. It’s been a week full of activity at BCE! Our 4th graders traveled back in time to the Gold Rush, fully immersing themselves by dressing up, panning for gold, creating most-wanted posters, making art projects, and more. It was wonderful to see history come alive for our students. Check out the photos below.

The talent show was truly amazing! It was such a joy to see another side of our BCE Bears, with performances ranging from dance and gymnastics to songs, poetry, and more. We are so proud of our incredibly talented students. A big thank you to Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. Dennis for organizing this special event.

We are on the countdown to the end of school—just 34 days left! This time of year brings lots of excitement and energy, but there’s still important learning ahead. In the coming weeks, our 3rd–5th graders will begin CAASPP testing, and we’ll be celebrating with Open House, Field Day, and many other events. Please take a look at the calendar so you don’t miss any of the fun!

We kindly ask for your partnership in helping your child arrive at school on time each day. A smooth and timely start helps everyone have a better day, and daily attendance is especially important as we wrap up the year’s learning together.

Have a great weekend.

Gerri Fippin

Principal, BCE

Dear Families,

Based on family feedback from our Annual Parent Survey, there was a need to enhance our work around Spelling and Phonics. Our school has been piloting two instructional programs designed to strengthen students’ foundational literacy skills: UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) and a Zaner-Bloser spelling curriculum.

The purpose of these pilots is to ensure we are using high-quality, research-based instructional materials that support students in developing strong skills in reading, spelling, and word recognition. Throughout the year, teachers have been implementing these programs and monitoring student progress to better understand their impact on learning.

Families often see growth in ways that may not always be captured in classroom assessments—such as increased confidence, willingness to read, or changes in how students approach spelling and writing.If you’ve noticed any changes in your child’s reading or spelling this year and would like to share your feedback, here, we would welcome it. Your perspective helps us better understand the impact of these programs. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Gold Rush Days was a great example of PBIS in action! Students responsibly worked together doing hands-on activities that helped bring history to life. Students participated in:

• ⛏️ Gold panning activities
• Creating their own Boom Towns
• Designing creative “Wanted” posters
• Learning about the history of California’s 49ers

This event celebrates all they've learned and it highlights the teamwork and creativity of our 4th Grade teachers and students. A huge thank you to our 4th grade teachers for planning such a meaningful experience, and to our family volunteers for helping make the day so special.

Our 3rd–5th grade students will be participating in CAASPP State Testing from May 4th–May 15th. This is an opportunity for students to show what they’ve learned and celebrate their growth!

Families play an important role in helping students feel confident and prepared. Here are a few ways you can support your child:

💙 How Families Can Help

• 💤 Prioritize sleep – A good night’s rest makes a big difference
• 🍎 Eat a healthy breakfast each morning
• ⏰ Arrive on time so students feel calm and ready
• 💬 Encourage a positive mindset – remind your child to just try their best

💙 Tips for Students

We are encouraging students to:

• Take their time
• Use scratch paper for math
• Double-check their work
• Stay focused and do their personal best

💙 Celebrating Our Students

To celebrate their hard work and effort, we will be hosting an Ice Cream Float Party at the end of testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders! 🍦🥤

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! SAVE THE DATE for April 27th - May 1st and get your reader psyched to pick out their own books! Start exploring together: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/bouldercreekelemschool .

We need volunteers for the coming Book Fair April 27-May 1! Short shifts available (30 minutes!)! Or, find your student's classroom visit time, or their opportunity to shop during lunch recess. Choose what works for you! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FACA92AA5FCCF8-63256943-bcescholastic#/

We are looking for a co-chair for this event! If interested, reach out to @Surabhi Gaur or @Maura Callahan

The PowerSchool registration is now open for 2026-2027 school year, please follow these instructions below to complete the online forms. We need your up-to-date contact preferences, student health data, parent/student permissions, as well as other important information verified or completed within one week of receipt or prior to the first day of school whichever is first. Having all the necessary information will help us with student placement and scheduling. Your timely input and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

An email will be sent this week from PowerSchool Enrollment. Please follow the directions below to complete your registration form.

Directions to follow:

1. Please find in your email an email from PowerSchool Enrollment

2. Title of the email will read : SLVUSD POWERSCHOOL ENROLLMENT (ONLINE REGISTRATION)

3. Locate the yellow box on the email. In the yellow box will be the link for you to click to complete the online registration form.

4. You will use your student's date of birth to access the form, once you click the link in the yellow box.

5. Please use Google Chrome or a Firefox browser to complete the form

6. You will receive one email for every student you have that will be returning to SLVUSD. Each student will need to complete the registration process.

For any technical difficulties encountered during the enrollment process, please contact PowerSchool using the below channels:

• PowerSchool Support: https://help.powerschool.com/t5/reg
• Phone: (866) 752-6850, Listen carefully and follow the prompts; select Option 1; Monday through Friday, 8AM -5PM EST

School Contact Information:

• Boulder Creek Elementary - 831-338-6413 x510
• San Lorenzo Valley Elementary - 831-335-4475 x410
• San Lorenzo Valley Middle School - 831-335-4452 x310
• San Lorenzo Valley High - 831-335-4721 x210
• Special Education and/or Ludlow Preschool - 831-336-9678 x141
• SLVUSD Charter School - 831-336-5167 x610

Please reach out to the school Registrar and ask any general questions about the form or the Student Registration process. .

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in the upcoming new school year!

We are the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teachers and Instructional Aides form Boulder Creek Elementary School, and we are so excited to welcome new learners!! If you have a child who will turn 4 before September 1st, they are eligible for TK and we are happy to enroll them!!

Tk is a wonderful bridge between preschool and kindergarten. Our classrooms focus on social emotional growth, early literacy and math skills, and lots of hands-on, play-based learning in a a positive and nurturing environment. Best of all it's part of the public school system- so it's free!

If you're still deciding between preschool and TK or have any questions about TK, please email us or call the BCE Office at 831-338-6413. We love helping families make the best decision for their little ones.

Look forward to a great year of learning and growing together!!

The TK Team at Boulder Creek Elementary

Robynn Nunns- Meghan Albano

rnunns@slvusd.org- malbano@slvusd.org

Helping Kids Build Responsibility

Responsibility isn’t something kids are born with—it’s a skill they learn over time with practice, guidance, and consistency. Because many responsibilities feel boring or hard, children need clear expectations and support to follow through.

Here are a few simple ways to help:

• Be consistent with accountability: Follow through with realistic consequences so kids learn their actions matter.
• Start young: involve children in small tasks early (like picking up toys) and build from there.
• Use clear language: Point out responsibility when you see it: “You took care of your responsibility.”
• Model what you expect: Let your child see you meeting your own responsibilities and keeping commitments.
• Coach and guide: Support kids as they learn—practice works better than criticism.
• Connect actions to outcomes: Use simple rewards and consequences to reinforce expectations.

Why it matters:
When kids learn responsibility, they build independence, confidence, and skills they’ll use for life!

This month, we are recognizing Autism Month by celebrating the strengths, talents, and uniqueness of every student. Through PBIS, we encourage kindness, understanding, and inclusion as we learn how to support and appreciate one another.

Drop Off and Pick Up

We have had several issues the past couple of weeks at both drop off and pick up. Please know that all of us out at the cross walk are only trying to keep our students and families safe. I wanted to remind everyone to please first be Kind and Patient. Here are a few reminders about pick up and drop off

• You can drop off on either side of Laurel Street.
• You can NOT drop off coming up on Lomond street.
• You can only leave your car in designated parking spots on Laurel street.
• Make sure you are not parking in front of our neighbors drive ways
• On Lomond Street, you need to park in the right direction. Buses are not able to get through when cars are away from the side and parked in the wrong direction.
• When walking down Lomond Street please use the sidewalk. We have had a few close calls with kids and parents walking in the center of the street.

Thank you everyone for helping ensure safety of all of our students. Below is the parking map again for reference.

We're looking for volunteers to help create this year’s unforgettable yearbook! If you're interested in contributing, please sign up today or email yearbook@bceparentsclub.org. Parents, make sure to secure your copy of the yearbook and treasure these memories for years to come. Order yours now!

Purchase Link: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=10152329238788

Volunteer signup: https://bit.ly/BCEYB2526-volunteer