Cub Connection

Dear CELC Familles,

I hope you enjoyed family and friends during Spring Break. I spent most of my time in Las Vegas at my daughter's volleyball tournament. The rest of the time was spent catching up with family and friends that we don't get to see often.

Thank you to all of the families for attending Open House on Thursday, March 21st. It was an awesome turnout. It was great to see everyone and show off what our Cubs have been learning. A huge thank you to our PTA for organizing and running the Book Fair.

We are excited to start off fresh to begin the rest of the school year. Can you believe that there are less than 50 days left of school? Time sure does fly by...let's make the best of it! Our Cubs are growing up so fast.

Teachers will be reviewing school/classroom rules and expectations and getting our Cubs back in the routine of things! We are looking forward to the upcoming Spring Fling. Mark your calendars for this fun event!

Please excuse our mess in the office! During the break, the office and staff lounge/break area had new carpet and linoleum installed. When we return on Monday, the office staff will be working to unpack and get everything back in order.

Updates and reminders:

• Out of an abundance of caution, due to the solar eclipse, the District is having students do indoor recess/lunch on Monday between 10:00 am and 12:30 pm. See more information in an email send out by Dr. Newman.

• 2024-25 TK and kindergarten registration is open. Stop by or call the office for more information.

• Kindergarten parents, mark your calendars for the end-of-the-year Celebration of Success ceremonies. See the dates and times below.

• As a reminder, breakfast is served from 8:35 am to 8:55 am daily. It is free for all students. Parent may join their child at the tables.

• Students are expected to follow school rules at all times. Please help support safe, responsible, and respectful behavior while you are on campus with them before and after school.

• Please see upcoming community events in the "Community Events" section below.
• For the safety and security of students and staff, gates are locked during school hours.
  
• Please use the front gate for entering and exiting the campus. the side gates are for employees only and must remain closed.

• ATTENTION: If your student is going to be absent for an extended period, please make sure to request an Independent Study Contract from the office at least one week in advance. This will ensure that your child's teacher has ample time to prepare assignments, and your student can receive attendance credit during their absence.

• For transportation questions, please visit AUSD's website at https://www.alpineschools.net/page/transportation

I hope you have an amazing week! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Sincerely,

Tamara Ripke, Proud Principal

The Governor's budget for education mandated that every school district in California needs to update its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a component of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCAP is intended to be a three-year plan to improve student achievement by setting annual goals for the district in eight priority areas. Each of the priorities has established data requirements to track district progress improving student achievement. The LCAP requires Districts to gather input from students, teachers, parents, and community members to determine the goals, actions, and budget priorities for the District. Our District staff worked together with all of our stakeholder groups to gather input and craft the draft of our Local Control Accountability Plan. Below are AUSD's 2023-24 LCAP Goals. The District is in the process of reviewing the goals and completing the annual review.

Goal #1: Effective Instruction and Curriculum - Provide equitable access to high-quality classroom curriculum and instruction in an inclusive environment that promotes student success.

Goal #2: Safe and Respectful Environments - Ensure all school sites are safe and have healthy and welcoming climates for staff, students, and their families so that all students feel connected and are motivated to attend and ready to learn.

Goal #3: Equitable and Culturally Responsible Systems - Ensure systems and processes eliminate barriers to student success and are equitable and culturally responsive to the needs of our students and their families.

You may also view the full LCAP by clicking the button below

Congratulations to our TK and K classrooms for the best attendance from February 20th to the March 1st. The classes were presented with the PAWsome Attendance Trophy last Monday. The next attendance period to me measured is 3/18/24 to 4/12 (because of Spring Break).

Did you know that CELC has an Attendance Team? Miss Camryn, Mrs. Barkely, and Mrs. Ripke are here to support families with challenges and celebrate outstanding attendance.

Student attendance is of utmost importance for academic success and overall school well-being. Regular attendance not only contributes to the continuity of a student's learning journey but also plays a crucial role in their social and emotional growth. Consistent attendance ensures that students actively engage with the curriculum, interact with their peers, and benefit from valuable classroom experiences. Moreover, it fosters a sense of responsibility and discipline, preparing students for future commitments. In addition, attendance directly impacts school funding, as absences, whether excused or unexcused, results in financial losses. Last year, AUSD lost over 1 million dollars in funding due to attendance rates. Recognizing the significance of attendance, AUSD schools promote regular attendance and incentivize outstanding attendance to help foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Many of our students' absences are not due to illness and there is a pattern of higher absences on Mondays and Fridays. Here are tips and suggestions to help attendance rates:

• Schedule appointments during school breaks or in the afternoons on Wednesdays (CELC early release days).
• Plan vacations/trips during school breaks.
• If your child is going to be out for 3 or more days, request an independent study contract (ISC). ISCs help a student's learning stay on track and it also counts for attendance credit/funding.
• If your child is not feeling well, use the guidelines below to help decide whether they should attend school or not.
• Reach out to the CELC Attendance Team if you have needs/challenges that affect the ability to get your student to school. We are here to support families.

The CELC Attendance Team monitors absences daily, weekly, bi-weekly and 30 day periods. Beginning Monday, January 22nd, the K classroom and TK classroom with the best attendance rate for a two week period will be presented with a trophy. This trophy will be displayed in their classroom for the following two weeks.

Please report any absences to your child's teacher and the office. Please let the office know the reason that your child is out and any symptoms if they are sick. Email Mary Barkely, our amazing Clerk or call the office at 619-659-8250.

Answer: ABSOLUTELY

FACT:

Did you know that only 17% of students considered chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were reading proficiently in the 3rd grade?

See image below. For more information, visit https://www.attendanceworks.org/.

Did you know that Alpine Union School District has a valuable online resource available to all students — the Sora digital library? Sora provides access to a huge collection of books, including audiobooks, and can be accessed at any time. Here's how your child can make the most of this resource:

1. Accessing Sora:

• Log into their Google account

• Navigate to Clever (lower left side of Chromebook)

• Click on the Sora app

• Once in Sora, log in using your Google credentials. This is a one-time requirement, and subsequent logins will be automatic.

Note: If you're unsure about your student’s Google login information, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

2. Exploring the San Diego County Public Library:

In addition to our library, students can also access books from the San Diego County Public Library through Sora:

• After logging into Sora, click on the down arrow next to Alpine Union School District (under EXPLORE) on the top left-hand side

• Search for San Diego County Library and click on San Diego County Library Digital Media

• Choose your desired book

• Click "borrow"

• Select Alpine Union School District

• Click on the blue bar

• Click on your student's email address again

• Click on borrow again

• Access the book by clicking on “shelf” at the bottom of the screen

We highly encourage students to make the most of this resource.

Hello CELC families! Here is the latest news and updates:

Thank you for your ongoing support! We are looking forward to an amazing rest of the 2023-24 school year. Stay tuned for more information about CELC's Spring Fling that is being held on April 26th. Please reach out to us if you are available to help.

We are in search of the 2024-25 PTA Board. Please consider helping us keep the momentum going. It has been a very fun and successful school year. TK parents and incoming CELC parents, please take a moment to fill out the 2024-25 PTA Interest List.

Sincerely,

CELC PTA

creeksidekpta@gmail.com.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! We appreciate you! Your donations will be supporting spring activities including butterfly and ladybug studies (with live insects), Dr. Seuss Week, 100's Day, student incentives/prizes, field trips, and other special events.

Did you know that our 100% of our teachers our trained to teach reading by using a proven, multi-sensory approach called Orton-Gillingham (OG)? We are proud to be leaders in early literacy! For more information about OG and our training visit Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) and read below.

See the forecast below to help plan your child's attire. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful week. Monday will be a little cool. Please send your child with a jacket.

Unlock your financial superpower with us! Join the students of Alpine Union as we dive into the art of being financially literate. From setting goals to wise spending and budgeting, learn the essential skills for a secure future. #FinancialLiteracy #SmartMoney #FutureReady

Mrs. Ripke will continue the Cubs in the Community tradition. Her goal is to connect with 100 Cubs (Future, Former, or Current) by the 100th day of school. Building relationships with our students is important to us! If you see Mrs. Ripke out in the community, encourage your student to say hi. Not only does it create an opportunity to connect, it also supports students' language and communication skills. Follow the sightings on FB and IG. Feel free to share our postings to spread the word. Mrs. Ripke (and the CELC staff) looks out for future, current, and former Cubs! She is ready to meet the 2023-24 challenge. See the latest, Spring Break sightings below!

Dismissal gates open at 1:30 pm on Wednesdays and 2:45 pm all other days. If you would like your student released early, please sign them out in the office.

TK rooms 2 and 4 are currently using the little playground for their afternoon recess.

CELC has three school rules. Students will be learning behavior expectations that are aligned with being safe, responsible, and respectful. We practice Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). We understand that our students are still learning to problem solve and deal with school expectations. We believe in progressive discipline and restorative practices. Teachers and staff document concerns and communicate them with parents to form a partnership in your child's success. We love our Cubs and are looking forward to having a year of fun, friendships, learning and laughter!

Our Cubs are Comical!!!

Humor helps the heart! Join us in spreading "Smiles for Miles!"

Answer from last week:No- they like left-clovers

Mondays- Wear a College Shirt or College Colors

Wednesdays- Mid-Week Mindfulness- wear a shirt with a kind message

Fridays- Wear a school shirt or school colors or RED for (Remembering Everyone Deployed)

Check out what we are serving for breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria! As a reminder, breakfast and lunch is free for all students for the 2023-24 school year.

4/10 AUSD School Board Meeting 6:15 pm at JMMS

4/11 AUSD Healthy Boundaries Seminar 6:00 PM at SHES

4/26 Spring Fling 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm

5/27 Memorial Day- No School

6/3 K Celebration of Success 9:15 am (Rooms 10/12)

6/4 K Celebration of Success 9:15 am (Rooms 6/7)

6/4 K Celebration of Success 10:30 am (Rooms 8/9)

Camryn McInerney, School Social Worker

cmcinerney@alpineschools.net

Office Hours

M-F 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Email: sgreen@alpineschools.net
Website: https://www.alpineschools.net
Location: 8818 Harbison Canyon Road
Phone: (619) 659-8250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Creekside-Early-Learning-Center-414783265277455/