The Gator Gab 34th Edition🐊

Dear Gators,

It is the final full week of school. Lots of excitement around campus and in classes the next couple weeks. For example, The Class of 2026 graduating seniors and former Gators will be on campus Thursday for their Senior Walk. That is always a great moment for students, teachers, staff, and families..

Have a great week!

We are excited to celebrate our 5th grade students on Thursday, May 28 as they promote to the next chapter of their educational journey. Promotion is an important milestone, and we look forward to recognizing our students and wishing them continued success as they transition to middle school.

In order to ensure a smooth, organized, and enjoyable morning for everyone, we ask that families adhere to the following expectations and procedures:

• The 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m.
• School gates will open for families at 8:30 a.m.
• Families should enter through the front gate near the office.
• TK-4 students will enter campus at their regular time of 8:10 a.m. Please do not enter the school with students during morning arrival. We ask that families allow students to enter campus independently so staff can ensure students get to class safely and on time without delays or congestion. The gates will reopen for families at 8:30 a.m.

Parking:

• Parking will be available on the blacktop beginning at 8:30 a.m.
• The gates to the blacktop will open at 8:30 a.m.
• Please do not park in staff parking spaces.
• Please do not block neighborhood driveways.
• We ask all families to be respectful of our neighbors who are also trying to leave for work and take their own children to school.

Ceremony Expectations:

• There will be ample seating available in the outdoor amphitheater.
• During the ceremony, we ask that families remain seated until every student’s name has been called.
• Once all students have been recognized, the ceremony will conclude and families will be invited to meet their child on the blacktop.

Student Sign-Out:

• If you plan to take your child with you following the ceremony, it is mandatory that you sign them out.
• Sign-out sheets will be available on the blacktop immediately following the ceremony.
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Congratulations to all of our 5th graders. We are proud of their growth and accomplishments during their elementary school years, and we wish them the very best as they begin middle school.

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

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

5/12 - School Site Council

5/22 - Super Minimum Day

5/25 - Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

5/26-28 - Minimum Days

5/28 - Last day of school

5/28 - 5th grade promotion/LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

8/6 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

8/7 - Minimum Day

Parenting in the digital age doesn’t come with a manual! Join us for an Internet Safety Presentation for Parents on Wednesday, May 20 6:30-8pm in the Gallardo Multi to help families better understand apps, social media, digital dangers, online trends and learn about ways to keep your children safe online. This session will be led by a detective from the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes and Crimes Against Children Task Force. Parents will come away with tips and resources to guide and support their children. Feel free to invite friends! We hope to see you there!

Phase 2 of the garden revitalization is here! We need hard workers to help us add soil and decomposed granite to our garden on Thursday, May 21 3-7pm. Children are welcome but must be supervised. Please sign up HERE.

What an incredible week we had at our Scholastic Book Fair, April 27- May 1! Thanks to the amazing support of our students, families, staff, and volunteers; this year’s fair was a huge success! Because of your generosity and participation, we achieved outstanding sales totaling over $10,000!! We earned valuable rewards that will help bring even more books and educational resources to our students and classrooms.

Our school community came together to celebrate reading, discover new favorite books, and help grow a love of literacy across campus. The excitement at the fair, in the library and hallways was truly inspiring as students eagerly explored books and shared their enthusiasm for reading!!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shopped, volunteered, promoted the fair, and helped make this event so memorable and to Trenda Webster, Katie O’Rourke, Kelly Cooper & Stephanie Lindsay for coordinating it all. Your support makes a lasting difference for our school and our readers!

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 We promise we do actually read your responses and have already started using your suggestions to plan next year!

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, Red Ribbon Week Chair, Trunk or Treat Chair, Talent Show Chair, Teacher Appreciation Week Chair and more! You can read more about each role on our PTA Website and then please complete THIS SURVEY!

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, Red Ribbon Week Chair, Trunk or Treat Chair, Talent Show Chair, Teacher Appreciation Week Chair and more! You can read more about each role on our PTA Website and then please complete THIS SURVEY!

Your receipt scanning is helping us grow! We’re at $574.30! 👀

🌈☔️Join the May Challenge so that when you purchase 9 Box Tops items this month, you receive 22 Bonus Box Tops! You can also earn bonus Boxtops when you buy 2 Nature Valley products or 2 Annie’s products in the same transaction!

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

Check them out HERE and be sure to visit them this summer! 🌞🛍️ These amazing community partners help create so many opportunities for our students—we couldn’t do it without them.

MAYMAY

20 Internet Safety Parent Mtg 6:30-8pm, Multi

21 Garden Revitalization Phase 2, 3-7pm

22 Character Day / Super Mini Day

26-28 Minimum Days

26 Teacher vs 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.