Hawk Newsletter

We are making a Dia De Los Muertos Altar to display here in our school. We are inviting all families to participate and bring pictures of your loved ones including fur babies that have left us.

We will also be having a Catrina coloring contest. We will have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Come get your coloring page from Mrs. Morales in the office. Can't wait to see all your beautiful creations.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At school, we continue to emphasize not only academic growth, but also the importance of developing a positive mindset. Research shows that people who routinely take note of what is good in their lives and make it a habit to express their gratitude tend to be happier and have a more positive life experience. Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you”—it is a way of thinking that helps students recognize the good around them, even during challenges.

Some of the many benefits of practicing gratitude include:

1. Building and maintaining stronger friendships

2. Better physical health

3. Increased mental strength

4. Improved self-esteem

5. Stronger emotional regulation and overall well-being

6. Better sleep

By focusing on gratitude and positive thinking, students learn to see obstacles as opportunities to grow, rather than as setbacks. This growth mindset allows them to stay motivated, keep trying when things get hard, and celebrate the progress they make along the way.

We encourage you to continue nurturing this mindset at home. Talk with your child about the best parts of their day, model expressing gratitude toward others, and help them find the positives in both people and events around them. Together, we can help students build resilience, confidence, and a positive outlook that will support them in school and in life.

Thank you for your partnership and for reinforcing these important life skills at home.

With appreciation,
Christina Dang

Principal, AJ Mitchell

September 18th our Resource students along with students that scored proficient of highly proficient on the Spring 25 AASA attended the Santa Cruz County fair. AJ Mitchell won a trophy for our recycled 250 Birthday Cake that students made. Other art projects also won ribbons ranging from 1st to 3rd place. The art is proudly displayed in our school office for students and families to view. Check out our Facebook for the amazing pictures Mr. Clark took!

1. Anger Management
   Learning to manage anger is an important life skill that needs to be taught to and practiced by all students. Discussing and modeling appropriate ways you as parents handle anger is a great way to help kids manage their own anger. There are many ways you can practice managing anger with your child, including

   Take a break (moving away from what makes you angry)

   Do a physical activity (shoot hoops, do jumping jacks, or run the track)

   Take deep breaths

   Count to 10

   Squish Play-Doh

   Color your feelings

   Write your feelings in a journal entry, story, or poem

   Read a quiet book to yourself (When Sophie Gets Angry is a good one!)

   Positive self-talk (I can control my anger...)

ELA Learning Objectives

· Handwriting and Sentence Practice: I can practice proper letter formation for uppercase and lowercase letters Cc and Pp, write CVC Words, and identify that a sentence begins with Capital Letter, ends with an End mark.

· Language Read and spell high-frequency words: no, and, can, you.

· Identify and match letter sounds /n/ and /d/.

· Phonics: Consonants c and p

· Blend Syllables into Words, Build Words changing the beginning letter.

· Language Use adjectives for size in speaking and writing.

· Word Relationships: Synonyms and Antonyms

· Story Elements: Characters, Setting, Events.

· Identify the character that is speaking in a story.

· Revision Focus: Characters and Setting

Math Learning Objectives

· Act Out Addition and Subtraction Problems Within 5

· Solve Add To Problems Within 5

· Solve Take From Problems Within 5

· Write Addition and Subtraction Equations Within 5

· Solve Result Unknown Word Problems Within 5

ELA: Short Vowel Superstars!

Our first graders are working so hard on short vowels! They are reading stories, writing sentences, and building their vocabulary with short-vowel words. We are so proud to see our young readers becoming stronger and more confident every day!

Math: Exploring 2D Shapes!

Our first graders are learning all about two-dimensional shapes! They are identifying and sorting shapes by their attributes, including the number of sides, vertices, and color. Through hands-on activities, our young mathematicians are learning to describe, compare, and sort shapes in different ways!

Science: Let There Be Light!

In Science, we are exploring light! We discovered that some objects give off their own light, while others do not. One thing we can all agree on: we would much rather be in a bright, well-lit place than in the dark!

Thank you for supporting our little Hawks as they learn, grow, and SOAR!

Over the next 8 days in Math, our class will learn to identify coins and their relationships and to find the total value of groups of coins. In this module, we will also be learning new Math vocabulary like cent, sign (¢), dime, greatest value, least value, nickel, penny, and quarter. After that lesson, we will start with dollar amounts, and our class will learn to solve problems involving different denominations of dollar bills, including finding the total value in dollars. You can support us at home by showing your child real coins and dollar bills and asking them to tell you how much they are worth is or by taking them shopping with you and asking them how much the items cost and how many dollar bills or coins you will need to pay for that item.

Over the next three weeks in ELA, our class will be learning about stories that teach valuable life lessons. We will read many kinds of stories, from classic fairy tales to modern retellings, and even an informational text about how to appreciate a story. Children will also write a story about an imaginary friend or place. At home, make a special time and place to read with your child every day. During this module about storytelling, try these activities during your reading time together at home:

• Tell which characters you’d like to be friends with and why.

• Talk about how a lesson that a character learns in a story can help you.

• Read the dialogue in a different voice for each character.

ELA - Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about the documents and symbols of the United States, with a focus on the nonfiction genre. We will read texts and view videos about why certain things came to represent the values and ideals of our country. Children will also choose three things they read about—people, places, holidays, documents, and symbols—and write about what each means to our nation, and why.

Math - Our math class will be learning strategies for finding products with factors that are multiples of 10. We will also be learning new math vocabulary: multiple, place value, regroup, and associative property of multiplication. Along the way, ask your child about these concepts. When students explain or show how to solve a problem, it helps them make sense of the mathematics and deepens their understanding of the concept.

Science & Social Studies - In science, students are going to explore forces that act from a distance. Students observe and ask questions about magnets. To support vocabulary, students learn the words magnet, electricity, attract, and repel. In social studies, students will explore how a community's environment affects the way people live. Also, they will learn how people change their environment to meet their needs and work together to solve problems.

Dear 4th Grade Families,

Thank you for your continued support! Here are some important areas we are focusing on in 4th grade:

READING FLUENCY

Fluent reading means reading accurately, smoothly, and with expression.

Mid-Year Fluency Goal:

• 121–158 WPM: Benchmark

• 159+ WPM: Above Benchmark

Please encourage your child to read 15–20 minutes daily, practice fluency passages, reread familiar texts, and review sight words.

MATH: MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION

We are learning multiplication and division. Students should practice their multiplication facts daily to build confidence and prepare for multi-digit multiplication and division. Use flashcards, games, or quick fact challenges to make practice fun!

READING TO LEARN

Students are developing deeper reading skills, including:

• Central Idea and Theme

• Figurative Language

• Point of View

• Making Inferences

Please encourage your child to read regularly and discuss what they learn.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

Every day counts! Regular and punctual attendance helps students learn new skills, participate in activities, and stay caught up with lessons. Please help your child arrive at school on time and ready to learn.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR

Please remind your child to be respectful, responsible, kind, and attentive at school. Positive behavior creates a safe and supportive learning environment for everyone.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child's success!

- 4th Grade Teachers

Our 5th-grade students have been busy learning across all subject areas! In ELA, students are strengthening their reading comprehension skills while exploring informational texts, poetry, vocabulary, grammar, and foundational reading skills. They are also practicing how to identify important details and support their responses with evidence from the text.

In Writing and Social Studies, students have been learning about the American Revolution and the journey toward American independence. Students are connecting their historical learning to writing activities, including responding to prompts and using what they have learned to develop organized written responses.

In Math, students continue to build their problem-solving skills and mathematical fluency while working with grade-level concepts and explaining their thinking.

Students also participate in small-group instruction and intervention, where they receive additional opportunities to practice reading, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills.

Mrs. Zuñiga's targeted class participated in a Reader's Theater presentation. Students practiced reading with fluency, expression, and confidence while bringing their characters to life. This engaging activity also helped students strengthen their speaking and listening skills, work collaboratively with their classmates, and build confidence reading aloud. We are proud of their hard work and enthusiasm!

Please parents lets try our best to get our Hawks on time for school. Classes begin at 7:45am. Breakfast is from 7:30am-7:40am. As well it is important we avoid picking up your Hawks before school ends. We understand things come up. Please try to make appointments after school. We do ask you bring us any Dr notes. Thank you

Studies show that consistent attendance from Pre-K gives the best start for early literacy development. Students who aren't reading on grade level by 3rd grade have a lower chance of graduating. It starts that early!

Don't miss out on hands-on learning experiences outside the classroom, like visits to museums, nature centers, science centers, parks, and performances of all kinds. These enriching experiences help students figure out their passions.

Attending daily allows students to foster strong social bonds and an inclusive peer network. Even if not all friendships work out, developing the skills is only possible with ongoing interaction. Students who develop their social skills through school attendance have more positive relationships, overall.

Good attendance instills vital skills like punctuality, time management and self-discipline. A big part of succeeding is learning how to learn. Daily attendance from elementary onwards helps students build their toolbox of strategies for success.

Employers value established patterns of dedication and follow-through. Whether students are getting after school jobs in high school, or securing employment after graduation, good work habits are formed by consistent school attendance. It's also how students get teachers to serve as references!

Fewer disruptions means more personalized learning and academic support. Sometimes, students don't come to school because they're struggling with the material in class and staying home is a way to avoid it. But the better choice is to come to school -- that's where the support is. The more time students have with their teachers, the more successful they will be.

Not having to play catch-up reduces stress and boosts self-assurance. This is exactly what will carry students successfully through graduation and beyond.

Abundant research links stellar attendance to higher GPAs and test scores. In fact, one study shows that the #1 reason students fail a course is from being absent.

Colleges want applicants with strong attendance showing perseverance. And it's not just colleges! If you're choosing a new school for middle school or high school, students must demonstrate good attendance above all.

Excellent attendance correlates to higher career achievement and earnings potential. And not just that! It correlates to better physical and mental health, healthier relationships, and a happier quality of life. Something we want for every child!