The Gator Gab 30th Edition🐊

Happy Thursday Gators,

T.K. Conferences - Check with Ms. Cooper or Ms. Olson for more information.

5th Grade Promotion Pictures - Iron your shirts, dresses, and pants . It's promotion picture day on April 21st.

FCUSD Elementary Track Meet - Who's the fastest? Who has the endurance? Who can jump the furthest? Be sure to go and support our 4th and 5th graders compete in the FCUSD Elementary Track Meet. See below for more information.

Dress code - Spring is upon us and that means warmer temperatures. The school dress code is below as a friendly reminder.

Teacher requests - Please be sure to read the message below in regard to requesting specific teachers for the 2026-27 school year.

Doyal Martin, Principal

Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School

T.K. teachers are holding conferences this week.

AM dismisses at 11:21 am

PM dismisses at 1:15 pm

A team of Folsom High School students, some former Gators, will visit Gallardo Thursday, April 23rd to give a presentation on anti-drug, anti-tobacco, and anti-bullying to our 3rd-5th graders. A group of about 4-5 BRO students committed to making positive choices, will join our 3rd, 4th & 5th grade classes for a presentation and spending time with them during recess.. Hopefully some of our current Gators will return in a few years as a BRO.

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, I want to share a little more about how classroom placements are created at Gallardo.

Each year, our teachers and staff spend a great deal of time working together to thoughtfully build class lists. This process is very intentional and takes into consideration each student’s academic, social, and emotional needs to ensure balanced, supportive classrooms.

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Because of the care and collaboration that goes into this work, we do not accept requests for specific teachers. We have a very hard working staff and I have full confidence in every teacher on our campus. All of our teachers are highly qualified and dedicated to supporting the success and well-being of every student.

I understand that families may have preferences, and we appreciate your trust in our process. Our goal is to create the best possible learning environment for all students, and tour process allows us to do that in a thoughtful and equitable way.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such an important part of your child's educational journey.

Thank you.

As the season changes and the weather gets warmer, I would like to send a friendly reminder of the Sandra J. Gallardo/FCUSD dress code.

Please label your child’s clothing, including jackets and sweaters.

• Students are expected to dress appropriately for working and learning at school. Long pants, shorts, skirts, shirts, blouses, and dresses are encouraged. Clothing considered unacceptable is as follows: Shirts with words and pictures that contain profanity, suggestive words or pictures, tobacco or alcohol messages.
• Short-shorts, tank tops, half shirts, cropped shirts, clothing with “sagging” waistlines, see-through materials, strapless clothing, spaghetti straps, or revealing clothing are not to be worn at school.
• Shoes that are not attached to the feet or not suitable for running, such as crocs, flip flops or sandals without a heel strap. This is important for safety and appropriateness for recess and PE. Wheely shoes (with wheels) are not allowed for safety reasons.

Students are expected to:

• Wear clean clothes every day.
• Bathe or shower daily. Fourth and fifth graders should consider using a deodorant.
• Wear a school t-shirt/sweatshirt or school color (green) on Friday Spirit Days.
• Come to school dressed appropriately for learning.

(An appropriate length for shorts should be mid-palm length, on a 4” inseam as a minimum. Clothes which are 2 to 4 sizes larger than the student should normally wear are not safe for school activities. Straps on sleeveless tops should be at least the width of a lasagna noodle, at least 1½” in width)

Note: Students who come to school wearing unacceptable clothing will be asked to contact a parent to bring a change of clothing to school or will be provided with suitable clothing. The school principal, classroom teacher, or designee, will determine appropriate school dress

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.

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

4/21 - 5th Grade promotion pictures

4/23 - District Track Meet @ Vista Del Lago

4/30 - Open House

Our apologies but we will not be able to hold this event as planned. Rest assured you can still donate your items to many of the amazing local non-profits in our area OR benefit our Gallardo community in one of the following ways:

• Donate LIKE NEW books to our school library by leaving them in the front office for our librarian

• Donate USED books to the “Little Library” in front of the school

• Donate GENTLY USED clothing to our Health Office

This week, we’re celebrating the heart of our school community, our incredible volunteers! From organizing events and running fundraisers to supporting our teachers and bringing families together, you make everything we do possible.

It takes a special kind of person to step up and give their time, energy, and care, and we are so grateful for each and every one of you. So much of what you do happens behind the scenes, but it never goes unnoticed.

To all of our amazing PTA and school volunteers, thank you for everything you’ve done this year to support our students and make our school such a special place. We appreciate you more than words can say!

Join us today, Monday, April 20th at 6pm, in the STEM lab for our second discussion on kids and phones to talk about something many of us are thinking about:

Smartphones

Video games & screens

Chromebooks in schools

How technology is shaping our kids’ childhoods

Let’s support each other in giving our kids more time to:

Play outside

Build real friendships

Grow up with balance around technology

JOIN US!

Want to Join the Conversation?

Click this evite link to join the next meeting we will be having April 20th at 6pm in the STEM lab

Attention Gallardo Families, Join us for this year’s 2026 Talent Show on Friday, April 24th! TK–2nd grade will perform from 5:30–6:25 PM (doors open at 5:15 PM), followed by 3rd–5th grade from 6:45–7:40 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM). Come see our amazing students showcase their creativity, confidence, and hard work. We hope to see you there!

We’re excited to share an update on our school garden! Thanks to the support of the Folsom Garden Club Grant and our amazing PTA, we’ve been able to purchase the materials needed to rebuild the garden beds . This is a big step toward restoring this special space for our students!

The next phase of the garden restoration will begin shortly, as we’ll be working to fill the beds with soil . Please be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities to get involved and lend a helping hand . We’re so grateful for the continued support of our wonderful school community !

-The Gallardo Garden Club

Students, get ready to shop for your next great read! Gallardo 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 (you do not need to be Cat 2 to help after school). Please sign up here 📖

Join us on Wednesday, April 29th for “Conversations with Mr. Martin” at 6:30pm followed by our last PTA Meeting of the school year at 7pm, both in the Multi. Agenda items include: next year’s events, 2026-27 board elections, and an open forum to discuss ways to spend $30,000!! Come give us your ideas!

We need parent volunteer readers for our annual Gallardo tradition of Character Day on Friday, May 22nd. For this event, you DO NOT have to be CATEGORY 2 CLEARED. A flyer is going home this Friday in the Friday folders to Kindergarten through 3rd grade families. If you are interested in reading a story to kindergarten-3rd grade classes, please fill out the flyer with your information and which story you would like to read. We need our readers from about 8:25-10:10 a.m. and then we will have some refreshments for you. What makes this day so fun is that we ask our readers to dress up as a character from the book they are reading or bring in some props from the story for the rotating classes to enjoy. You will read the story a total of 7 times. We hope many of you will join in the fun!

Your receipt scanning is helping us grow! We’re at $562.30! 👀

🌈☔️Make the most of a rainy day with comfort food that earns for schools! From Annie’s™ Mac & Cheese to Pillsbury™ Cinnamon Rolls, there are so many Box Tops products perfect for a cozy day at home.

THANK YOU for helping our Gators surpass our goal! 🎉🐊Join Box Tops by downloading the app and use Referral Code: F7XJOLEJ

Please take a few minutes to fill out a quick survey and let us know what worked this school year and what we can improve. There’s also a spot to give suggestions on how you think PTA should spend the funding surplus from past years! Take the Survey

Teacher & Staff 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! Our theme this year is: BLOOMING With Gratitude for Gallardo Teachers & Staff!

There are several ways to get involved, such as:

🌷 Door and campus decorating SIGN UP HERE!
🍎 Food setup and cleanup (Sign Up coming soon)
🎁 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!

Thank you for helping us make this a special week for our teachers and staff! 🌸

Everything we accomplish in PTA depends on the support and involvement of our members to make it happen! Join us in our mission to "positively impact the lives of all Gallardo children and families" by serving as a PTA Chair for next 2026-27 school year! We have many roles and opportunities that fit a wide range of time commitments.

Positions we currently need: Spirit Night Chair, Boxtops Chair, Flyer Chair, Fence Chair and more! You can read more about each role on our PTA Website and then please complete THIS SURVEY!

🍕 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!

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!

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. For more information about next year’s Reflections program, visit https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/for-students-and-families.

APR

17 Yearbook Orders Due

20 Kids & Phones: Being Intentional Parent Mtg at 6pm- STEM Lab (In Person Only)

22 CANCELLED: Earth Day Clothing & Toy Swap (sorry!)

24 Talent Show

27 - May 1 Scholastic Book Fair

29 Last PTA Meeting - Board Elections 7pm, Multi

30 Gallardo Open House 5-6pm

MAY

4-8 Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week

14 Skipolini’s Spirit Night - All Day

20 Internet Safety Parent Mtg 6-7:30pm, Multi

22 Character Day/ Super Mini Day

26-28 Minimum Days

26 Teacher/5th Grade Kickball & Kona Ice for All Students

27 Play Day & School Dance Party w/ DJ DeGaugh

28 Grade 5 Promotion & Last Day of School

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