The Gator Gab 28th Edition🐊

Happy Friday Gators,

Short Week - Friendly reminder this is a short week. No school Friday, April 3rd. Spring break is April 3-10.

Reporting an Absence - Check out our new online absence reporting option.

Fencing Project - Please be sure to read the latest update on the fence project.

Doyal Martin, Principal

Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School

Enjoy your spring break! Take note there is no school Friday, April 3, 2026. We will see you back here at school on Friday, April 6, 2026.

A few reminders during CAASPP testing. We want all of our Gallardo Gators to feel confident, prepared, and ready to show what they know! Families play an important role in helping students do their best.

🌟 Set the Foundation for Success

• Ensure your child arrives at school on time every day, especially during testing

• Maintain a consistent bedtime routine so your child is well-rested

• Provide a healthy protein rich breakfast each morning to fuel their brain

📚 Build Skills & Confidence

• Encourage your child to read daily and talk about what they read

• Practice math facts and problem-solving in real-life situations

• Ask your child to explain their thinking to strengthen understanding

💻 Support Testing Readiness

• Help your child feel comfortable using a computer, keyboard, and mouse

• Encourage them to take their time, read carefully, and check their work

• Remind them that it’s okay if something feels challenging—just keep trying

💬 Promote a Positive Mindset

• Emphasize effort over perfection

• Reassure your child that this is a chance to show their learning and growth

• Keep routines at home calm, consistent, and supportive

🎉 Celebrate Their Hard Work

Testing is just one moment in your child’s educational journey. Show them how proud you are of their growth, effort, and perseverance every day.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child’s success!

Let’s go, Gators! Show them what you know!

Good news. If your child is absent, you now have the option of reporting the absence online. Visit our homepage at https://sjge.fcusd.org/. Click on "Reporting an Absence" and complete the Google Form.

The locks on our school gates have now been installed. Over the past two days, we tested different approaches to determine what works best. On Thursday, we opened the back gate near the kindergarten area prior to dismissal. On Friday, we kept that gate closed. Each approach had its own advantages and challenges.

Based on what we observed, using a single gate may create too much congestion for the number of K–2 families we serve. At the same time, we want to ensure that our procedures do not undermine the purpose of installing the gates, which is to strengthen campus safety and security.

We are continuing to develop a more comprehensive plan that balances safety with an efficient dismissal process. In the meantime, we will open the back gate near kindergarten a few minutes before dismissal for K–2 families only.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and partnership as we work through this transition.

In our constant push to promote and encourage safety around campus, please do your part by following a couple expectations in the parking lot.

1. Parking spots marked "STAFF ONLY" are for staff only. Please do not park in these limited number of parking spots. We have a large staff who utilizes each of those spots.

2. There are clearly marked crosswalks. Do not block them when you are picking up or dropping off students. Students and families should be able to safely use the crosswalks without having to walk around cars. Students should not be dropped off in the middle of the crosswalk as you turn into the Hug and Go Lane. Wait for the cars to clear out then pull all the way forward before unloading your kids.

To support a safe and orderly campus, we kindly ask that families follow our sign-in procedures when visiting. If you need to drop off a lunch, instrument, or any other item for your child, please let the office staff know. We will gladly call the classroom or ensure the item is delivered to your student.

Please do not sign in as a volunteer for the purpose of going directly to a classroom to drop something off. Doing so bypasses our safety practices, creates unmonitored movement on campus, and is a disruption to instruction. Thank you for helping us maintain a secure environment for all students and staff.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. If you have any information regarding bullying, crime, or misconduct at your school, report it to WeTip. Call or Text. You can remain ANONYMOUS!

Call or Text 844-916-2062.

For more information visit: https://www.fcusd.org/family-community/bullying-prevention-character-building/report-bullying-crime-or-misconduct

4/3-10 Spring Break

4/21 - 5th Grade promotion pictures

4/23 - District Track Meet @ Vista Del Lago

4/30 - Open House

The directors of the Jungle Book express immense thanks to the many volunteers who helped to make our show possible. There were so many moving parts and things happening behind the scenes that contributed to our success. It would not have been possible without you!

Big thanks to:

Gallardo PTA Janay Hunt Stephanie Johnsen Heather Brandon

Tracy Novak Kary Urena Katie O’Rourke Malia Tretheway

Shay Shahalie Kim Lundquist Sheree Corbett Annie Hwang

Cheryl Coats Katie Benson Stacy Lynch Sonia Switters

Lydia Gleason Emily Bowen Lisa Vaca Zaherabel Rodriguez

Cheryl Coats Patricia Furman Annie Hwang Mrs. McCarthy

Mrs. Cooper Ms. Dunagan

Special thanks to Miguel Tiburcio Chico from FCUSD IT for spending HOURS problem solving our sound system. We are so grateful!

ALSO - Thank you to our Director Team Sarah Jane Mackey, Dianna Boyce, Rachel Coons & Sherona Ramos for bringing the joy of music, theater and dance to our 50 fourth and fifth graders! We appreciate you creating this incredible opportunity for them!

Save the Dates for fundraiser events—mark your calendars!

🍔 BJ’s Brewhouse in Folsom Fundraiser
Date: April 16
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Details: 20% of proceeds will be donated to Gallardo.

• 👉 Be sure to show the BJ’s flyer HERE 👈

• 💻 Ordering BJ’s online? Use code: APR320

  
  

🍕 Skipolini’s in Folsom Fundraiser
Date: May 14
Time: All day
Details: Dine in or take out and 20% of proceeds will be donated.

Bring your friends, family, and appetite—every meal makes a difference. We appreciate your support and hope to see you there!

Students, get ready to shop for your next great read! Our school’s PTA is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair from April 27–May 1. Students will visit with their classes, and families are welcome to stop by after school hours. Every purchase helps support our school’s library and reading programs. We can’t wait to see you there! We need Volunteers!! We would love help during school (Must be a Cat. 2 volunteer) and after school hours. Please sign up here 📖

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 4–May 8, and we’re looking for volunteers to help us celebrate our incredible Gallardo teachers and staff!

There are several ways to get involved, such as:

🌷 Door and campus decorating

🍎 Food setup and cleanup

🎁 Food and gift donations

If you’re a parent or local business owner who would like to support Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’d love your help. Please reach out to Rachelle Schulken at rachelles.pta@gmail.com to get involved!

A sign-up link will be available soon, so keep an eye out for more details. Thank you for helping us make this a special week for our teachers and staff! 🌸

On March 3rd, 25 parents gathered in person and virtually to talk about kids and smart phones, screens, video games, and chrome books in schools and what we can do about it. We came together to make a pact to delay smart phones as long as possible and to give our children the most play-based childhood they could have.

We plan to hold another one of these meetings on Monday, April 20th at 6pm in the STEM Lab with an online option. We also created a What’s App group called “Gators Unplugged” to have a community that cheers each other on and inspires one another on this journey.

If you would like to join the community and get access to the information presented and handouts for various trackers, smart watches, and phones, please join our What’s App Group - Gators Unplugged.

NEXT YEAR: All of what we do in PTA is dependent upon our members to help make it happen! We have been blessed to have THE BEST Chairpersons this year and need to fill these roles for next year. Please help us in our mission to "positively impact the lives of all Gallardo children and families" by serving as a PTA Chair for next school year! We have many positions and ways you can get involved, ranging in time commitments. Positions we currently include: Spirit Night Chair, Boxtops Chair, Flyer Chair, Fence Chair and possibly a few more! You can read more about each role on our PTA Website and then please complete THIS SURVEY!

• Custom Pages Deadline - April 6th

• Your yearbook order comes with 2 free custom pages for your personal yearbook! It’s the perfect spot to include all of your own pictures from the year.

  
  

• Order Deadline - April 17th

• Order your yearbook through TreeRing. For more info, visit the Yearbook page on our PTA Website. Gallardo’s passcode is 1015682215844355. PLEASE NOTE: We will not be selling yearbooks at the school. The only way to purchase the school yearbook is online through treering.com.

  
  

• Upload Event Photos - ASAP

  
  

The yearbook team is asking for more photos from a few specific events. If you would like to see your kids in the yearbook, upload photos today!! Upload images for Red Ribbon Week, Gators on the Green, and Multicultural Night here. We also need more class photos! If you volunteered at a party or went on a field trip, upload photos for the class page! View all class folders here.

The CAPTA Reflections Committee has officially announced the final results of the CAPTA Reflections Program, highlighting the theme "I Belong". Unfortunately, none of the Gallardo participants advanced to the national level. Over 17,700 students across the State participated this year, and 445 of those entries were sent to the California State PTA Reflections Committee for consideration by our State level Judges.

We invite you to view the award-winning works of art on the CAPTA website: https://capta.org/programs-events/reflections/award-of-excellence-recipients/. We hope they inspire you to help make our world a better place for children and families.

🫣 Sneak Peek: The 2026-2027 Reflections program theme is "What My Culture Means to Me." This theme was created by Sophia Partola from Wilton High School PTSA in Connecticut. Stay tuned for more information in April 2026!

Your receipt scanning is helping us score! 🗑️ 👟 👟 We’re at $548.40! 👀

🏀 Limited-edition Pillsbury™ Basketball Shape™ Cookies are a must-have treat for game day — and they score major Box Tops for schools. Get yours before the season is over and they disappear from shelves!

Keep scoring and THANK YOU for helping our Gators keep the game going! 🎉🐊Join Box Tops by downloading the app and use Referral Code: F7XJOLEJ

Help us make a fast break toward success by making a quick donation—no fundraising hassle, just team spirit and heart! 🌟🏀

Every dollar helps our students grow, learn, and slam dunk their goals all season long.

Take your shot today: 501(c)(3) Organization Tax ID: 81-0614228 Donate Here

Thank you for cheering us on!

As we tip off this spring, it’s the perfect time to cheer on the local businesses that support the Gallardo PTA! 🌷

Check them out HERE and keep them in your starting lineup over spring break and summer! 🌞🛍️ These amazing community partners help create so many opportunities for our students—we couldn’t do it without them.

🐊 Thank you for supporting the team behind our Gators!

MAR

31 Talent Show Tryouts

APR

1 Talent Show Tryouts

3-10 Spring Break

6 Custom Yearbook Pages Due

16 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse - Spirit Night 11am-11pm

17 Yearbook Orders Due

20 Kids & Phones: Being Intentional Parent Mtg at 6pm- STEM Lab & Virtual

22 Earth Day Clothing & Toy Swap (start collecting items to swap!)

24 Talent Show

27- May 1 Scholastic Book Fair

29 Last PTA Meeting- Board Elections

30 Gallardo Open House 5-6pm

Lots of opportunities to be involved in the education of your child and their friends.