Podesta Ranch Newletter 09/20/2026

Welcome to Week 9 and the final week before Fall Break, Red-Tailed Hawks!

First and foremost, congratulations to all of our students who represented their classes in the Podesta Ranch Spelling Bee! A special congratulations to our winner, Dylan T., who will be representing Podesta Ranch at the North Stockton Spelling Bee on Tuesday, October 20th! We are incredibly proud of all of our spellers. Great job, Red-Tailed Hawks!

This week is Parent-Teacher Conference Week at Podesta Ranch and we will have Minimum Days from Tuesday, September 22 - Friday, September 25. Conferences are a wonderful opportunity to meet with your child's teacher, learn about their progress, discuss goals, and explore resources and strategies you can use at home to support your learner. We value our partnership with our families and look forward to continuing to work together throughout the school year.

For students who will be joining us for Fall Intersession, we can't wait to spend the week with you! For those using Fall Break for a well-deserved rest, staycation, or vacation, we look forward to welcoming you back to school on Monday, October 12th!

Just a reminder that our teachers and staff will also be taking this time to rest and spend time with their families and loved ones. As such, our school office will be open September 30th–October 4th, from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. to support our families.

Have a wonderful final week before Fall Break! We hope everyone has a safe, restful, and enjoyable break. Go Red-Tailed Hawks! 🦅

With Red-Tailed Hawk Pride,

Magenda Cruz
Principal
Podesta Ranch Elementary School

🐝 What a spectacular Spelling Bee we had on Friday, September 18th! Huge congratulations to our champions — you absolutely nailed it! 🌟 But here's the real celebration: every single student who stepped up to participate showed incredible courage and determination. 💪 From the first word to the last, you all made us so incredibly proud. Whether you soared to the top or learned something new along the way, you're all winners in our book! ✨

Parent Conferences will be held the week of September 20th. Minimum Days for this week are from Tuesday, September 22nd to Friday, September 25th.

Please be sure to pick up your children at their designated dismissal time as staff have parent teacher conferences immediately after school. All PM TK and Kindergarten classes start at 8:15 AM.

The minimum day dismissal schedule is below:
TK - K: 11:55 AM
1st, 2nd, 3rd: 12:16 PM
4th, 5th, 6th: 12:25 PM

If you have not received your parent teacher conference date yet or will need an interpreter for your conference, please reach out to your homeroom teacher ASAP.

A well-deserved Fall Break is approaching soon! School will be closed from Monday, September 28th through Friday, October 9th, 2026. Campus remains open the week of September 27th for Fall Intersession, and the office will be closed the week of October 4th. We look forward to welcoming everyone back when classes resume.

School will resume Monday, October 12th @ 7:45 AM.

For the safety of the students, NO PARENTS are allowed on campus beyond the front desk. Please drop off your child with a staff member in front and they will be guided to their designated area.

Get ready to celebrate 🎉 as we count down to Fall Break in the most stylish way possible! This week is all about showing your spirit, so come dressed to impress with your favorite Spirit Week outfit 👕✨ Whether you're channeling your school colors, rocking a fun theme, or just bringing your best fashion energy, this is your moment to shine 🌟 Let's make this countdown unforgettable together!

Below are our Fall Break Spirit Days:

Monday, September 21st: Twin Day - Dress up with your friends in the same colors or outfits!

Tuesday, September 22nd: Sport Day - Dress in jerseys or workout clothes!

Wednesday, September 23rd: Cultural Day - Let's celebrate our families! Dress in your cultural clothing!

Thursday, September 24th: Decades Day - Wear clothing from any decade! Celebrate with "fresh" looks!

Friday, September 25th: PJ Day - It's time to rest up for Fall Break! Come in PJs!

🎉 September is here and we're celebrating ATTENDANCE! 🎉

Every single day matters, and we want to recognize students who show up ready to learn all month long. Students who achieve 100% attendance in September will earn an invitation to a special 🥞 pancake breakfast celebration!

It's a wonderful way to build consistency, support our classroom community, and enjoy some delicious pancakes together. Here's to a month of great attendance and even better memories!

We're rooting for every student to make it happen! 💪✨Challenge starts September 1st!

📸 Our yearbook orders has started! 📚 Capture the memories of this amazing year for just $15. Head over to shoobphoto.com to place your order and bring home a keepsake of all the wonderful moments we've shared together. Don't miss out! 🎉

Click the image on the right to place an order online.

Upcoming minimum days are the following:

• Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
• Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
• Wednesday, November 18th, 2026
• Wednesday, December 9th, 2026
• Friday, December 18th, 2026

Please be sure to pick up your children at their designated dismissal time as staff have meetings and professional development immediately after school. All PM TK and Kindergarten classes start at 8:15 AM.

🎨 Calling all creative minds! Our annual yearbook cover competition is here, and we want YOUR artistic vision to shine on next year's cover. This is your chance to make your mark and see your design celebrated by the entire school community. ✨

The deadline is this Friday, November 13th, so don't let this opportunity slip away! 📅 Whether you're a seasoned artist or just love to create, we'd love to see what you come up with. Your imagination could be the masterpiece that represents our whole year together. 🌟

Get those entries in by Friday and show us what you've got! 🎉

Click on the image on the right for the digital flyer.

🌉 Exciting news! Bridge After School program is here! If your child is interested in joining in on the fun, just click the link below to get them registered.

Please click on the image on the right for more information about the program.

Link to register your orders is below:

www.meadowfarms.com/register

Thank you!

As Lodi USD continues to move towards our goal of clear, timely, and transparent communication, we want to ensure that our families are receiving communication with ease. You should already be receiving communication through email and text - if you're not, please reach out to our school's office to let us know. The next step with staying connected is downloading the ParentSquare app! Available for both iPhones and Androids, downloading the app ensures instant access to updates, and provides an easy way to interact with posts, direct messages, forms, and more.

If you need help accessing ParentSquare, please reach out to communications@lodiusd.net.

Click on the image on the right to download app.

Join us on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. for an evening to explore our programs, meet our staff, and learn more about the opportunities available to our students and community.

We would love to see you there and hope you can join us!

The Imagine This... Story Writing Contest is now open, and we're inviting students in grades 3–8 to write and submit original stories—real or imagined—based on accurate information about California agriculture. This one-of-a-kind contest combines agriculture, creativity, and literacy. Each year, one state winner from each grade level is selected, and their story is illustrated by talented high school art students before being published in a beautifully bound book!

Important Dates:

📅 November 1 – Story Submission Deadline

🏅 December 1 – Regional Winners Announced

🏆 December 1 – State Winners Announced

Winners Will:

📖 Become a published author

🏛️ Travel to Sacramento to be recognized at the State Capitol (travel expenses covered)

🎨 Have their story professionally illustrated by high school art students

🖼️ Receive a giant poster featuring their story's illustrated book cover

Click on the image below for more information.

Phones down, heads up. Creating connections in the classroom.

As we settle back into the routines of school, please help us remind your children that their phones should be put away during school. During school hours, campuses are a "no phone zone" and students will be expected to keep their phones off and put away.

This initiative is designed to support a more focused learning environment while encouraging real, in-person connection outside of the digital world. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.lodiusd.net/be-present.

If your child is riding an E-Bike or scooter to school, please review the following information provided to Lodi USD by law enforcement to ensure that your child is following regulations and is riding with safety.

• E-Bikes - There are three classifications of e-bikes. All e-bikes must have an electric motor of less than 750 watts.
• Class 1 and 2: These e-bikes are similar to regular bicycles. They can be identified as pedal assisted with an electric motor that reaches a maximum speed of 20mph. Class 1 and 2 riders must wear a helmet while riding and adhere to the same regulations as regular bicycles.
• Class 3: These e-bikes are pedal assisted with an electric motor that ceases to provide power at 28mph. These e-bikes have age restrictions, riders must be 16 years or older, and must be wearing a helmet at all times when riding.

• Motorized Scooters - Motorized scooters are two-wheeled devices with a floorboard or seat, and are powered by an electric motor.
• Riders of motorized scooters must be 16 years of age or older, and must have a valid driver's license or learner's permit to legally ride. Riders must also wear a helmet.

Please help us keep students safe by ensuring these regulations are followed. Thank you!

Families, please take a few minutes to complete Online Data Confirmation (ODC). Completing ODC ensures that your child’s school has current contact information and all required annual forms for the school year.

To complete ODC:

1. Go to the Aeries Parent & Student Portal and log in. If you do not have a log in, please follow the prompts to create an account. If you need assistance with this, please call our school's office.
   
   
2. Once logged in, if you have not completed the ODC a pink banner will appear across the top of your screen prompting you to complete the process. Follow the prompts and select "Finish and Submit" to finalize the data confirmation.

If you need clarity on the above steps, or would like to see screenshots, please view this document or call our school's office.

Every completed confirmation helps our school stay connected with families and better equips us to support students. Thank you for partnering with us and helping us start the year strong!

Click on the image below to confirm today!

Please click the image for our next school year calendar for planning.

To ensure compliance with California Senate Bill 848 (SB 848), all school volunteers who meet the requirements outlined in the law must complete Mandated Reporter Training before serving in a volunteer capacity.

Click on the image on the right for more information or the button below to create an account and complete your training.

Safety First for Our Red-Tailed Hawks

To ensure a safe and smooth experience for all students, please review and follow the guidelines below. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our campus calm, safe, and welcoming!

⏰ Morning Arrival – Begins at 7:45 AM

• 7:45 AM is the earliest students may arrive on campus.

• Breakfast is served at 7:45 AM in the MPR.

• Upon arrival, students line up outside and will begin entering the front doors starting at 7:45.

🚸 Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures

• The bus loop is for school buses and SDC families only. If your child is in an SDC class and you are using this loop, a visible parking pass must be displayed.

• Drop-Off Lane Guidelines:

  • Stay in your vehicle at all times.

  • Follow posted signage and staff directions.

  • Pull all the way forward to keep traffic flowing.

• If you need to exit your car (even briefly), you must park in a designated parking space and walk with your child using the crosswalks. Please do not leave your car unattended in the drop-off lane.

🏁 Dismissal Time Reminders

• The same traffic rules apply at pick-up:

  • If you plan to get out of your car, please park and meet your child at a designated crosswalk or sidewalk.

  • Do not ask your student to cross the parking lot or street at an unsafe location.

  • If you're in the pickup lane, remain in your running vehicle and move with the flow of traffic.

• No double parking, U-turns, or unsafe driving will be allowed. Your patience and cooperation helps us keep all students safe.

❤️ Thank You!

We know pick-up and drop-off may take a few minutes, but your patience and safety-minded choices are critical to ensuring every Red-Tailed Hawk arrives and leaves safely. We appreciate your cooperation!

Join us for FREE nutritious breakfast each morning at 7:45 AM!

Please click on the image on the right to see a live view of the cafeteria menu for our school. Make sure to click on the drop down menu for Podesta Ranch Elementary School.

Click the BLUE WORDS MENU below for the digital pdf copy of the lunch menu.

T1 MENU

For more information about lunches and nutrition on the LodiUSD website, please click on the BLUE words below.

FOOD SERVICES

Free breakfast is served every school day at 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM. If your child intends on eating free breakfast at school, they may arrive no earlier than 7:45 AM. If they are not eating breakfast, children should not arrive at school before 8:00 AM in lieu to safety concerns. No adults are supervising the students before 7:45 AM.

Please click on the blue words student and family handbook for the pdf of school rules/policies for 2026/2027 school year, as it has important information about all school expectations.

You may also click on the image on the right for the same document.

As we continue with this warmer weather, we want to remind families about our school's dress code expectations. These guidelines help create a respectful and safe learning environment for all students. We appreciate your partnership in supporting these standards and look forward to working together to maintain a positive school community. Student Dress Code in their Student Planner is below:

"At Podesta Ranch, we believe that students who are dressed appropriately contribute to a positive and focused learning environment. Please adhere to the following dress code guidelines:

- Undergarments must be fully covered at all times.

- Tank top straps must be wider than 1 inch, and bare midriffs are not allowed.

- Skirts and shorts must be longer than mid-thigh.

- Pajama bottoms and sagging pants are not permitted.

- Clothing, hats, jewelry, and personal items—including backpacks—should not display any inappropriate writing, images, or symbols, including:

○ Crude, vulgar, profane, or sexually suggestive content

○ Gang, drug, alcohol, or tobacco advertisements or likenesses

○ Racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice

- Shoes must be worn at all times. Crocs are not allowed as footwear. Sandals are permitted but must be closed-toe and have a back strap. Flip-flops are not allowed, and students must wear appropriate shoes for Physical Education.

- Students whose clothing is deemed offensive, distracting, or unsafe will be asked to go to the office and may need to call home for a change of clothes.

- Hat Policy: Senate Bill 310 provides for the wearing of hats outdoors or on school campuses to provide protection from the sun. A hat is defined as a brimmed (baseball caps, visors, etc.) No non-brimmed (knit beanie-type hats). Hats and hoods may not be worn indoors. Any head covering that can beperceived as gang related will be confiscated for parent pick–up or returned at the end of the academic year."

As a safety reminder, please send your student to school in appropriate attire, including shoes. Our dress code can be found in the Student Handbook in your student's planner or online. Students are expected to wear closed toe/heeled shoes. Students with sandals, slippers/UGGS, slides, or Crocs will be asked to sit out during recess and PE to ensure student safety on the playground, stairwell and in the bark box.

Please click on the image on the right for the digital Student Handbook regarding their dress code.