The Gator Gab 27th Edition🐊

Happy Friday Gators,

Reporting an Absence - Check out our new online absence reporting option.

Fencing Project - Please be sure to read the latest updates on the fence project.

Doyal Martin, Principal

Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School

This week the 3rd - 5th graders will begin the ELA portion of the CAASPP test. Please check with your child's teacher on their specific schedule.

As we begin CAASPP testing, we want all of our Gallardo Gators to feel confident, prepared, and ready to show what they know! Families play an important role in helping students do their best.

🌟 Set the Foundation for Success

• Ensure your child arrives at school on time every day, especially during testing

• Maintain a consistent bedtime routine so your child is well-rested

• Provide a healthy protein rich breakfast each morning to fuel their brain

📚 Build Skills & Confidence

• Encourage your child to read daily and talk about what they read

• Practice math facts and problem-solving in real-life situations

• Ask your child to explain their thinking to strengthen understanding

💻 Support Testing Readiness

• Help your child feel comfortable using a computer, keyboard, and mouse

• Encourage them to take their time, read carefully, and check their work

• Remind them that it’s okay if something feels challenging—just keep trying

💬 Promote a Positive Mindset

• Emphasize effort over perfection

• Reassure your child that this is a chance to show their learning and growth

• Keep routines at home calm, consistent, and supportive

🎉 Celebrate Their Hard Work

Testing is just one moment in your child’s educational journey. Show them how proud you are of their growth, effort, and perseverance every day.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child’s success!

Let’s go, Gators! Show them what you know!

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.

No current update at this time. The locks for the gates are still in the process of being installed.

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

4/3-10 Spring Break

4/23 - District Track Meet @ Vista Del Lago

4/30 Open House

Join us for a fun-filled performance of The Jungle Book, brought to life by our talented 4th and 5th graders! Follow Mowgli and his jungle friends on an exciting musical adventure.

The show runs about 30 minutes, making it perfect for all ages. Admission is free, and a small selection of snacks will be available for purchase during the event. Bring your family and friends and enjoy an entertaining evening in the jungle!

March 25th & 26th @ 6pm - Sandra J Gallardo Multipurpose Room

Attention, Gallardo Gators! Talent Show tryouts will take place on March 31st and April 1st. Tryout sign-ups, along with any music files or spoken word lyrics, are due by Wednesday, March 25, at 4:00 PM. Be sure to submit everything on time! You can access the 2026 Talent Show Tryout Form here. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Stacy Pillion at mrspillion@gmail.com

We had so many amazing submissions for this year’s Yearbook Cover Contest. Our students are incredibly creative, and it was not an easy decision! Congratulations to our front cover winner, Handrea M., and to our back cover winners London B., Nathan B., Nanditha H., Adeline L., Ivy P., Lily P., Divi P., Elizabeth T., and William X. Great job to everyone who participated and shared their artwork with us. We can’t wait for you to see their designs on this year’s yearbook!

Students, get ready to shop for your next great read! Our school’s PTA is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair from April 27–May 1. Students will visit with their classes, and families are welcome to stop by after school hours. Every purchase helps support our school’s library and reading programs. We can’t wait to see you there! We need Volunteers!! We would love help during school (Must be a Cat. 2 volunteer) and after school hours. Please sign up here 📖

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 4–May 8, and we’re looking for volunteers to help us celebrate our incredible Gallardo teachers and staff!

There are several ways to get involved, such as:

🌷 Door and campus decorating

🍎 Food setup and cleanup

🎁 Food and gift donations

If you’re a parent or local business owner who would like to support Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, we’d love your help. Please reach out to Rachelle Schulken at rachelles.pta@gmail.com to get involved!

A sign-up link will be available soon, so keep an eye out for more details. Thank you for helping us make this a special week for our teachers and staff! 🌸

On March 3rd, 25 parents gathered in person and virtually to talk about kids and smart phones, screens, video games, and chrome books in schools and what we can do about it. We came together to make a pact to delay smart phones as long as possible and to give our children the most play-based childhood they could have.

We plan to hold another one of these meetings on Monday, April 20th at 6pm in the STEM Lab with an online option. We also created a What’s App group called “Gators Unplugged” to have a community that cheers each other on and inspires one another on this journey.

If you would like to join the community and get access to the information presented and handouts for various trackers, smart watches, and phones, please join our What’s App Group - Gators Unplugged.

NEXT YEAR: All of what we do in PTA is dependent upon our members to help make it happen! We have been blessed to have THE BEST Board Members and Chairpersons this year and need to begin filling these roles for next year. Please help us in our mission to "positively impact the lives of all Gallardo children and families" by serving as a PTA Board Member or Chair person for next school year! We have many positions and ways you can get involved, ranging in time commitments. You can read more about each role on our PTA Website and then please complete THIS SURVEY!

Order Deadline - April 17th

• Order your yearbook through TreeRing. For more info, visit the Yearbook page on our PTA Website. Gallardo’s passcode is 1015682215844355. PLEASE NOTE: We will not be selling yearbooks at the school. The only way to purchase the school yearbook is online through treering.com.

Upload Event Photos - ASAP

• Upload your best photos for the yearbook. Whether it’s from a school event, the classroom, or a fun day on campus, your photos help us create a yearbook full of memories. Upload images for Multicultural Night, Cupid Shuffle, and Kindness Week. View all upload folders here.

Custom Pages Deadline - April 6th

• Your yearbook order comes with 2 free custom pages for your personal yearbook! It’s the perfect spot to include all of your own pictures from the year.

We’re excited to announce our Save the Dates for fundraiser events—mark your calendars and help support our cause just by enjoying a great meal!

🍔 BJ’s Brewhouse in Folsom Fundraiser
Date: April 16
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Details: 20% of proceeds will be donated to Gallardo.

Must present/show this BJ’s flyer HERE👈when ordering or use this 6-digit code online: APR320

🍕 Skipolini’s in Folsom Fundraiser
Date: May 14
Time: All day
Details: Dine in or take out and 20% of proceeds will be donated.

Bring your friends, family, and appetite—every meal makes a difference. We appreciate your support and hope to see you there!

Your receipt scanning is helping us grow in a big way! 🌱✨ We’re at $542.60 and climbing! 👀

🍓 Spring Treat Idea: Try an easy Strawberry Sourcream Cake using Box Tops products—perfect for sunny days: Links to this and other yummy BoxTops recipes HERE.

Keep scanning and THANK YOU for helping our Gators grow! 🌼🐊Join Box Tops by downloading the app and use Referral Code: F7XJOLEJ

Spring has sprung and our Gators are ready to grow! 🌱✨

Help us sprinkle a little sunshine by making a quick donation—no fundraising fuss, just lots of love! 💛

Every dollar helps our students bloom, learn, and thrive all season long. Thanks for helping our Gators shine! 🌸🐊

Share your luck today: 501(c)(3) Organization Tax ID: 81-0614228 Donate Here

Thank you for helping our Gators to the end of the rainbow!

As we welcome the first day of spring, it’s the perfect time to show some love to the local businesses that support the Gallardo PTA! 🌷Check them out HERE.

Into spring break and over summer, we encourage our Gator families to check out these incredible community partners. These are businesses that help make so many opportunities possible for our students. 🌞🛍️We are grateful for their generous support.

The CAPTA Reflections Committee has officially announced the final results of the CAPTA Reflections Program, highlighting the theme "I Belong". Unfortunately, none of the Gallardo participants advanced to the national level. Over 17,700 students across the State participated this year, and 445 of those entries were sent to the California State PTA Reflections Committee for consideration by our State level Judges.

We invite you to view the award-winning works of art on the CAPTA website: https://capta.org/programs-events/reflections/award-of-excellence-recipients/. We hope they inspire you to help make our world a better place for children and families.

🫣 Sneak Peek: The 2026-2027 Reflections program theme is "What My Culture Means to Me." This theme was created by Sophia Partola from Wilton High School PTSA in Connecticut. Stay tuned for more information in April 2026!

MAR

25 & 26 Jungle Book Musical Performance, 6pm Both Nights

27 Spring Musical Assembly

31 Talent Show Tryouts

APR

1 Talent Show Tryouts

3-10 Spring Break

6 Custom Yearbook Pages Due

16 BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse - Spirit Night 11am-11pm

17 Yearbook Orders Due

20 Kids & Phones: Being Intentional Parent Mtg at 6pm- STEM Lab & Virtual

22 Earth Day Clothing & Toy Swap (start collecting items to swap!)

24 Talent Show

27- May 1 Scholastic Book Fair

29 Last PTA Meeting- Board Elections

30 Gallardo Open House 5-6pm

Ongoing

• Box Tops Download the app, use referral code: F7XJOLEJ

• Yearbook Orders Open (Custom pages due April 6)

• Giving Gators Donations

• Volunteer opportunity: Paint Event Banners

• Volunteer opportunity: Mileage Club

• Become a business donor!

Lots of opportunities to be involved in the education of your child and their friends.