August News

Oh Happy Day! It is time for the first day of school! I welcome all families to the 2023/24 school year, for what is sure to be one of our best school years ever! Our staff has been preparing all summer long, securing supplies, cleaning our classrooms, attending trainings, planning, prepping and making sure that everything is ready to greet our students back to school.

I am extremely appreciative of our summer teams who helped with the modernization of our TK/K classrooms, who have helped with all textbook deliveries to our schools and the cleaning up of our campuses! Thank you to all of our staff who participated in summer professional development opportunities.

As we launch our new year, we are setting off with a theme of Together, we can do anything! We are looking forward to partnering with our families and our PTAs and PTSO to create even stronger teams across our schools.

I'm particularly proud to share that all of our schools are starting off with:

• An intervention teacher to support our struggling students
• A social worker or counselor to help provide stronger mental health support for students
• A School Climate Support Professional who assists in fostering a positive environment for students
• The implementation of a stronger arts curriculum, be it music or art/dance
• An Information Access Coordinator who supports students to apply the design thinking process in our Innovation Lab programs
• Expanded Learning Opportunity (afterschool programming) at all schools

Together, we can do anything! I look forward to a year of great success!

Please read below for exciting updates and information to help our scholars get ready for school.

With Gratitude

Ms. Norma E. Martinez

Superintendent

• The first day of school is set for Wednesday, August 9th.
• Instruction begins at 8:05 AM.
• FREE breakfast is served at ALL schools starting at 7:30 AM.
• Want to know your child's class assignment? Please log on to your Parent Portal after 4 pm on Tuesday, August 8th.
• The dismissal schedule on the first day of school is as follows:
• TK/K students: Dismissal at 1:15 PM
• Grades 1-6 students: Dismissal at 1:30 PM

We are enrolling for our youngest learners! CESD will be adding Preschool at Dysinger and Raymond Temple, and will be extending the age for TK students at all eight school sites for children that turn five before the last day of school, May 24, 2024.

Adding Preschool to Dysinger and Raymond Temple

CESD is now enrolling three-year olds for State Preschool Programs at Dysinger and Raymond Temple, as well as Centralia, Danbrook, and San Marino.

• For children who turn 3 by December 2023 or enroll on 3rd birthday

• Half-day program, either morning or afternoon sessions

Complete the Preschool Interest Form or contact the CESD Preschool Team at (714) 228-3155.

Extending TK Age at All CESD Schools

CESD is accepting Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students who will turn five before the last day of school, May 24, 2024 at ALL eight CESD schools. Enroll NOW to get priority space! Visit www.cesd.us/enrollment or call 714-228-3141.

CESD's Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a great way to get a jump start on learning. Our classes are 12:1! Transitional Kindergarten offers advantages that contribute to a positive educational experience and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Enroll NOW!

Centralia Elementary School District is proud to be an early adopter of “scratch food cooking." Our food is made from scratch, using only fresh, whole ingredients. No more relying on pre-packaged or processed foods! With scratch cooking, we’ve got more control over the nutrition in our meals, as we know exactly what goes into the meal. Of course, freshness counts and our meals taste amazing! We’re all about serving up the good stuff and making sure our scholars get access to a healthy, nutritious and delicious meal!

Our Centralia Cuisines Summer Feeding Program had a great summer feeding our local children. Our food truck provided 4,309 free nutritious scratch meals to community children while cooking up 17,402 meals for our local summer students. Our dedicated staff had such a positive impact in the community this summer, we look forward to what we can do together next year.

As the foundation continues to enhance the quality of education programs in the Centralia Elementary School District, it envisions a future where every child has access to a well-rounded education that not only emphasizes academic excellence but also nurtures their artistic and creative abilities. Through our commitment to promoting the arts, the Centralia Education Foundation is shaping the next generation of confident, innovative, and compassionate individuals who will contribute positively to both their local community and the world at large.

The Centralia Education Foundation is providing a tote to each student, along with a refrigerator magnet with the yearly calendar to help keep our families informed.

We thank all community members who participate in our annual fundraisers, including the fireworks booth, as these funds support our school programs.

Getting all set for a new school year is a big deal, and it's a real team effort involving our amazing teachers and staff. They're the heart and soul of our school, and their hard work and passion make sure our young learners have a supportive place to learn and shine.

Our teachers and staff are extremely excited as they gear up for the new school year. You can feel their excitement as they dive into getting everything ready. They put their heart into education, and you can see it in how they're getting ready to tackle whatever comes their way.

Just this past week, our teachers have been busy transforming their classrooms into these amazing spaces where your kids can't wait to learn. They've been setting up everything – from making sure the desks are in the right spots to putting up cool decorations and ensuring all the techie stuff is good to go. Our classified staff has been busy as well, either continuing their year-round work, participating in summer work or training and now, helping be ready for tomorrow's big day!

And our administrative staff hasn't been slacking either. They've been on the ball, sorting out new student registrations, updating records, putting together class schedules and making sure we've got all the things we need.

But you know what's really cool? It's how everyone's working together. Our teachers and staff are always talking and sharing ideas. It's like they're all on the same page making sure everything runs smoothly. We're all coming together to make this school year the best one yet because together, we can do anything!

8/16, Superintendent's Forum

8/23, DELAC Meeting via ZOOM and in person at the Walter Knott Education Center

9/04, Labor Day, Schools Closed

The student calendar can be found on our website HERE

The OC Navigator is a new weblink from the Orange County Health Care Agency. They help people find and connect with the supportive resources they need in different areas of their life including health, wellbeing and other supportive services.

https://ocnavigator.org/m/ocn

The Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC), is a safe and friendly place where all CESD families can access support and numerous community resources. This special resource is available to all families in our district and is located at Danbrook School.

The NRC provides support with all sorts of services and referrals including

• Health insurance and wellness assistance (Medi-Cal and Medi-Cal for families to Covered California, Kaiser Child Health Plan)
• Referrals and application support for preschool, Head Start, childcare, parenting classes, kids' classes and after school programs
• Legal aid supports, educational opportunities, food, clothing, and housing support

When families and community members need support completing applications and finding resources, count on the NRC to lend a helping hand!

In addition, our NRC hosts a district Boutique for our families. The CESD Boutique is a FREE "thrift shop" that is open to our community. The NRC Boutique supports families with dignity, care and kindness.

To make a donation or to make an appointment for the CESD Boutique or the Neighborhood Resource Center, contact the NRC staff at 714-228-3235. Email cecilia_hinojosa@cesd.us