Cougar Community News

We had a busy week with mostly short days to allow time for parent-teacher conferences for Trimester 2. We hope you enjoyed some time learning about how your student is learning and growing!

This was also our Spring Book Fair week! Thanks to Rita Holverstott for transforming our Library into a beautiful Book Fair.

Some classrooms also had fun celebrating Pi Day on Friday! Pi (π) is a special number in math that helps us measure circles. It’s about 3.14, which is why we celebrate it on 3/14! Pi goes on forever without repeating—just like our learning never stops. You may have noticed people celebrating with math games, problem-solving challenges, and even some pie (the delicious kind)!

MARCH

• Mon. Mar. 17 - Middle School Trimester Awards 1:45pm, School Site Council Meeting 3:30pm, 8th Grade High School Course Selections with Counselor
• Tues. Mar. 18 - PTO Meeting, 4:30pm in Art Room/Design Lab or Zoom LINK HERE
• Wed. Mar. 19 - Woodside Alumni Panel to talk to 8th Grade about High School
• Fri. Mar. 21 - NO SCHOOL
• Mon. Mar. 24 - NO SCHOOL
• Fri. Mar. 28 - Lockdown Drill, 2:00pm

APRIL

• Fri. April 4 - Integrity Assemblies, 8:30am 3rd-5th grade, 9:00am TK-2nd grade
• Wed. April 9 - 8th Grade Night at San Juan High School 5:30-7:30pm, 9th Grade Registration at Casa Roble 5:30-6:30pm
• April 7-11 - CAST (California Assessment of Science Test) administered in Grades 5 and 8
• Thurs. April 10 - Spring Picture Day
• April 14-18 - SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL
• Tues. April 22 -PTO Meeting, 4:30pm in Art Room/Design Lab or Zoom LINK HERE, SJUSD Board Meeting with Innovative School Update
• Fri. April 25 - Jog-a-thon
• April 28-May 2 - CAASPP - ELA administered in Grades 3-8

MAY

• Thurs. May 1 - Middle School Event 3:00-5:00pm
• Wed. May 7 - Trimester 3 Progress Reports viewable on Parent Portal
• May 8 - Woodside Cultural Festival 5:30-7:00pm We need your help! Read the ELD Update to see how to get involved.
• Thurs. May 15 - Woodside's Got Talent! 6:00pm new date!
• Fri. May 16 - CAASPP closes
• Tues. May 20 - PTO Meeting, 4:30pm in Art Room/Design Lab or Zoom LINK HERE
• Fri. May 23 - Citizenship Assemblies, 3rd-5th 8:30am, TK-2 9:00am
• Mon. May 26 - Memorial Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL

As the weather begins to warm up and spring begins to come around, it's a prime time to review the dress code!

San Juan's Dress Code Purpose is to maintain a safe learning environment where students can choose their clothing, except in classes where special clothes or shoes are needed or required, such as science (eye or body protection) or PE (athletic attire/shoes) and ensure students can participate in all activities with minimal dress code interruptions. The Final Dress Code is downloadable below and check out Riley for a reminder.

We will celebrate our middle school student accomplishments on Monday, March 17th at 1:45pm. Please join us to recognize students for academic achievements, Citizenship, and more. Look for photos in next week's Newsletter!

Spring time is a perfect time to reflect on how we are treating each other. Our campus has seen an increase in disruptive behaviors including inappropriate language and cell phone usage during the school day. Please partner with us by talking to your student about how to have positive communication to peers and staff members and reflect on the cell phone policy.

Our TK-5th Social Emotional Learning focus is Thoughtful Decision Making. This refers to the concept of making considered choices based on careful analysis and evaluation of potential consequences. This includes thinking of safety concerns and the impact on oneself and others in various situations.

Key aspects of Thoughtful Decision Making:

• Analyzing information: Gathering relevant facts and data to understand a situation before making a decision.

• Considering consequences: Evaluating the potential positive and negative outcomes of different choices.

• Ethical reasoning: Applying ethical principles to guide decision-making.

• Perspective-taking: Considering the viewpoints of others when making a decision

• Risk assessment: Recognizing potential risks and taking appropriate precautions

• Reflection: Examining one's decision-making process and learning from past experiences

How to promote Thoughtful Decision Making:

• Role-playing scenarios: Practice different situations where students can consider various choices and their consequences.

• Open discussion: Facilitate conversations where students can share perspectives and rationale behind their decisions.

• Decision-making frameworks: Provide structured approaches to decision-making, like weighing pros and cons or using a decision-making matrix.

• Moral dilemmas: Present ethical scenarios to encourage critical thinking and reflection on values.

• Real-life application: Connect classroom discussions to real-world situations where thoughtful decision-making is important.

  
  

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every year on March 17th in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. But did you know it’s more than just a day for wearing green?

Who Was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick lived over 1,500 years ago and is known for bringing Christianity to Ireland. According to legend, he used a three-leaf clover, or shamrock, to explain important ideas to the people. Today, the shamrock is one of the symbols of St. Patrick’s Day!

How Is It Celebrated?
St. Patrick’s Day started as a religious holiday in Ireland, but now it’s celebrated all over the world with parades, music, dancing, and lots of green! Many people wear green to show their Irish pride (or to avoid getting pinched by friends!). Some cities even turn rivers and fountains green to mark the occasion!

Fun Fact!
Did you know the color originally linked to St. Patrick was blue? It wasn’t until later that green became the official color because of Ireland’s nickname, "The Emerald Isle", and its lush green landscape.

However you celebrate, St. Patrick’s Day is a fun way to learn about Irish culture and history! 🍀🌈

As part of our innovative school work, we use prototyping to try out new ideas. Next week, you might hear about a new system of passes being “tried out” in every classroom. There is a new and improved Woodside pass which is used any time a student needs to leave the classroom and travel to a different location. The goal is to make sure that all campus monitors and staff know why a student is out of class and for what length of time. We’ll be seeking feedback from staff and students before we finalize the passes for this year!

As Woodside’s innovative school facilitator and member of the design team, I am always eager to connect with the community. If you have any thoughts or ideas to share, I’d love to hear from you. To arrange a time to talk, please email Deanna Victor at dvictor@sanjuan.edu.

There is not much change to our Clubs schedule for Trimester 3. Our Lunch Clubs remain: Student Senate & Latin X on Tuesdays, Glee Club on Wednesdays, Diversity Club and Design Club on Thursdays.

Starting Monday, we have added our Middle School Track practice to our After School Clubs. Track will practice Monday-Wednesday from 2:30-3:15pm. Our other After School Clubs remain: Nature Watch and Lego/Robotics on Tuesdays, Project Optimism on Thursdays, and ELD Tutoring Monday-Thursday.

We will begin our English Language Proficiency Assessment of California (ELPAC) testing on March 17th and will finish by April 11th. Students will demonstrate their English Language skills in 4 areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. If possible, please avoid taking students out of school early as they will fall behind in the testing activities.

We continue to plan for our upcoming Woodside Cultural Festival on May 8th, from 5:30-7 p.m. We would like all families to complete a survey for us to gather information on the community's interest and participation in the event.

Link to the Woodside Cultural Festival Survey for Families

https://forms.gle/eNnkqjg5f4h3y2Ng7

Thank you to Ms. Misner, Ms. Griffin, and Mrs. Wahl for the Women’s History Month Bulletin Board! This helps us in the celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society. Women's History Month has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women's History Month provides us with an important and necessary opportunity to amplify the voices, perspectives, experiences, and contributions of women. The resources below help to shine an important spotlight on women, including how we can continue to incorporate women and their important history beyond just the month of March and into our everyday teaching and learning.

https://womenshistorymonth.gov/

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/womens-history-month

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/womens-history-month

As we start a new month the PTO wants to thank all the families who help support our fundraising efforts. We raised $162 for our Dine-and-Donate from California Fish Grill. Our See's Candy fundraiser is happening until March 27th. This is a great way to purchase See's candy for yourself, family members or friends. Delivery of items begins April 8th...just in time for Spring Break! Please collect Cash or Checks made out to Woodside PTO. If you lost the flyer there are some in the front office. All fundraising goes back into our school to help with events and supplies for our teachers and students.

Join us at our next PTO meeting this Tuesday, March 18th at 4:30 in the Design Lab/Art Room or via Zoom LINK HERE. The Nomination Committee will be presenting the final list of nominees at this meeting, as well as learning more about the Cultural Festival, Jog-a-thon, and other upcoming events. Any parents or community members interested in getting more involved, please attend and see how you can get involved! If you have any ideas on fundraisers that you would like to see, feel free to email is at woodsidekto8pto@gmail.com

San Juan Unified School District is seeking professionals who want to be part of a diverse school district committed to ensuring each student’s success by providing innovative instruction in a caring and collaborative environment. If that is you, we want to meet you!

Join us on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at San Juan Unified School District’s office, located at 3738 Walnut Ave. in Carmichael.

Open positions include:

• Hard-to-Fill teaching

• Special Education

• English Language Development

• Music

• Art

• P.E.

• Theater

• and more!

Apply today!

We’re lucky to have engaged students, families and community members who stay involved with their school and district! Students, parents, staff and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend the following Board of Education meetings:

• Curriculum, Standards, Instructional & Student Services Committee Meeting - Wednesday, March 19, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

• LCAP Parent Advisory Committee Meeting - Thursday, March 20, at the District Office Board Room at 6 p.m.

• Board of Education - Tuesday, March 25, at the District Office Board Room at 6:30 p.m.

To keep up to date on all the committee meetings or to learn more about each committee, visitsanjuan.edu/committees.

Visit our Regional Community Care Hubs for free resources! www.sanjuan.edu/communityresources

• Thursday, March 27, 3:00-4:30 pm - Encina High (1400 Bell Street, Sacramento)

FREE March FACE Family Workshops! www.sanjuan.edu/familyed

• Understanding Special Education and Your IEP- Thursday, March 20, 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Arden Middle School, 1640 Watt Avenue, Sacramento. Join us for this informational workshop focused on learning about Special Education and the IEP process, along with tips for preparing and participating in your child’s special education meetings.
• Level up Your Leadership- Starts on Monday, March 31 and meets weekly for four sessions, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, District Office Board Room, 3738 Walnut Ave, Carmichael. This leadership series is focused on learning about the school system, strategies for effective home-school partnerships, and how parents and guardians can use their voices as educational partners in decision-making.
• Understanding Bullying, Cyberbullying and Cyber Safety- pre-recorded video in our NEW Family Engagement Video Library at www.sanjuan.edu/familyed under the "Family Engagement Video Library" tab

Inclusive Sports o Rama event for all secondary students coming up on April 11! https://bit.ly/UnifiedSports-O-Rama

Playmakers inclusive basketball for all abilities and school-age students at Mesa Verde High School, Saturdays, March - April: https://theplaymakers.org

IEP Trainings & Support Groups. FREE Year Round!

https://warmlinefrc.org

https://health.ucdavis.edu/mind-institute/resources/family-resource-centers

Scramble along the roads of Old Fair Oaks to support the San Juan Education Foundation at the 44th annual Fair Oaks Chicken Run.

Choose your challenge: the five-mile run, the non-competitive two-mile run/walk or the kids race for children 12 and under – there’s a race for all!

Learn more information or register at www.fairoakschickenrun.com.

It’s time to make mountain memories at Camp Winthers! San Juan Unified students aged 9-13 can make early reservations for this unforgettable retreat. Registration will open to the general public on March 10.

This year, Camp Winthers will be hosting its activities during the following weeks:

• July 7-11

• July 14-18

• July 21-25

• July 28-Aug. 1

Students have a variety of enrichment programs to choose from, including outdoor skills, recreational sports, STEAM, yoga & mindfulness and art in nature. Exclusive early registration is available at www.sanjuan.edu/register.

Elementary Girls Basketball League season has started and runs Feb. 25-May 10. No practices or games during Spring Break, 4/14-4/19. Our team will practice Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:15-8:00pm. Register online to guarantee your child a spot on the team! Our team Visit sunriseparks.com and use the Team Code 8820.185. For more information regarding the league, please email rbozzalla@sunriseparks.com or call 916-725-8843.

Middle School Boys Basketball team practices Mondays & Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm. Contact Sunrise Parks if you would like to join.

Each spring, students participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

Depending on your child’s grade, they will take the following tests:

• Students in Grades 3–8 will take English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics tests
• Students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 will take a science test

The computer-based tests measure what your child knows and can do.

To learn more about the CAASPP system, go to the California Department of Education Parent

Guides to Understanding webpage at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/ca/parentguidetounderstand.asp

You can become familiar with the testing format and the different types of test questions by looking at the practice or training tests at:

http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

Woodside's CAASPP Schedule:

CAST (Science Test for 5th and 8th)

8:10-10AM, April 7-April 10

make-ups or if needed April 11

CAASPP (ELA 3rd-8th)

8:10-10AM, April 28-30 ELA Computer-Adapted Test (CAT)

8:10-10AM, April 30-May 2 ELA Performance Test (PT)

CAASPP (Math 3rd-8th)

8:10-10AM, May 5-7 Math Computer-Adapted Test (CAT)

8:10-10AM, May 8-9 Math Performance Test (PT)

Make-Ups for CAST and CAASPP 8:10-10AM

May 12-May 16

Please note that testing is scheduled for mornings. Try to refrain from scheduling appointments these mornings, and help to get your student to school on time for best performance.

Why it matters:
CAASPP tests are given statewide. They provide an opportunity to measure the skills of all students against the same academic standards, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation. The results provide information that schools can use to improve teaching and learning and ensure students graduate college and career-ready. We appreciate all Site Coordinators for their careful planning of test administration and all teachers who support and encourage students.

We welcome neighbors to join us at our monthly meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at Foundation Christian Church.

Office phone - (916) 971-5216

Mrs. Taylor Gonzales-Moore, Secretary - taylor.gonzalesmoore@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Ana Johnson, Clerk - ana.johnson@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Deb Johnston, Vice Principal - debra.johnston@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Beth Wahl, Principal - ewahl@sanjuan.edu

Facebook Woodside TK-8

SJUSD NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. District programs, activities and services shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, and/or bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, please contact Equity Compliance Officer: Linda C. T. Simlick, General Counsel, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971- 7110, LegalServices@sanjuan.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Katie Fabel, Legal Analyst/Title IX Coordinator, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7110, TitleIX@sanjuan.edu; Section 504 Coordinator: Dominic Covello, Director, Student Support Services, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7220, DCovello@sanjuan.edu.