News From the Ranch

Dear TRE Family,

We opened the week with incredibly fun and creative Imagination Machine assemblies and closed out the week with new playground equipment from both a PALs donation and a TPSF Principal Grant. The smiles and joy from our Cool Coyotes was priceless! We can't wait to get our soccer goals, Nine Square, and set up one more Pickleball court!

This week, we send our 5th graders to Outdoor Science School Tuesday to Friday. We will miss having them on campus, but wish them a safe and wonderful learning experience at camp.

Highlights in this week's newsletter...

• Important Dates / Events
• Weekly Picture Highlights
• TRE Spirit Wear
• PTA Updates
• TUSD Community Updates

In partnership,

Mrs. Ciecek

Monday, April 20: Motivational Monday

SSC Meeting #4, 3:00-4:00 PM, TRE Lab

Honors Choir, Pioneer @6PM

Tuesday, April 21: Fit PE Wear

PE (Grades TK-5)

5th Grade Outdoor Science School

Wednesday, April 22: Early Dismissal

Music with Ms. Sabrina (TK-1)

5th Grade Outdoor Science School

Thursday, April 23: Thoughtful Thursday

Music (Grades 2-5)

5th Grade Outdoor Science School

Friday, April 24: Wear TRE Spirit Wear

5th Grade Outdoor Science School

Cool Coyote Store @Lunch (need volunteers)

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Upcoming Events

April 27-May 1 - TK Spring Conference Week (minimum days all week for TK only)

April 27-30 - Meet the Masters Art Lessons

April 27-May 8 - CAASPP State Testing (3rd-5th grade only)

April 29 & May 11 - Walk Through CA Assembly (4th grade)

April 30 - International Fair @4:00-6:00 PM

May 11-22: CAASPP State Testing Make-ups (3rd-5th grade only)

Be at school and on time every day between April 7 and May 1st to be invited to our Awesome Attendance Glow Party. Also, we continue to do Pop-Up Attendance checks on random days, and classes will earn special rewards when the entire class is present and on time. Attendance matters and we look forward to celebrating all the effort to be at school and on time! You got this, Cool Coyotes!

This year TRE spirit wear will be available all year long on our BSN Sports webstore. Click HERE to explore all the awesome TRE spirit wear options with lots of customization available.

We had a great visit from Pioneer's admin and counseling team, as well as Utt's counseling team. Students are beginning to select their elective for next school year. Legacy students will be placed in an elective based on their program and do not need to select an elective at this time. For specific questions, please reach out to the school counselor(s) at the school your student will attend for 6th grade. You should begin to get Parent Square messages from the middle school in the coming weeks.

Click the link(s) below for the middle school your child will attend to access elective/course information.

• Pioneer Presentation / Website
• Utt Flyer
• Hewes Flyer / Slidedeck
• Hewes- All of our incoming 6th graders will be placed on the Elective Wheel where they will try four different electives, one each quarter over the course of the year. If a student is interested in choir or band, they need to complete this FORM to select one of these year-long electives by April 28th. Students who are interested in competitive robotics or Theater Arts can find contact information on the google form to access the application. All applications are due by April 30th- hard deadline. Students wanting to remain in the elective wheel do not need to do anything.
• CT (info to come)
• SMA (info to come)

April 21-24: Outdoor Science School

May 18: 5th Graders @ Boomers Field Trip

May 29: 5th Grade Promotion (11:00 AM, Clap Out starting at 10:40 AM)

Reminders:

• 5th graders attending Outdoor Science School, please ARRIVE to school ON TIME on Tuesday so we can prepare and load the bus on time.
• NEED parent volunteers Tuesday morning to load student luggage under the buses
• Please label both suitcase/duffel bag and trash bag with sleeping bag and pillow. Use duct tape or painters tape on the trash bag and label with a sharpie. Include an extra trash bag inside the trash bag in case it rips on the way there.
• DO NOT send your child to school on Tuesday if they are showing signs of illness/fever. Please keep them home, contact the school, and then you can drive them to camp once they are feeling better and fever free for 24 hours. If your child becomes ill at camp, you will be required to come pick them up. No refund can be provided once a child arrives at camp.
• We will use Parent Square messages to update families about arrival at camp, departure from camp, and include updates of when they will arrive back at campus on Friday. We anticipate that buses will arrive at 12:30 PM on Friday. Please plan to be parked and ready at 12:30 to help unload buses and sign out your child.

Discipline at camp: the STRIKE SYSTEM

At camp it is imperative to every student’s success that they understand during their week they will earn recognition for good behavior, and for poor behavior. We tell the students from day 1 that they are in charge, ]they have the independence and freedom to make their own choices. However, with independence and freedom come responsibility and accountability. They will be responsible for all their choices, and we will also hold them accountable. The great thing about our Strike system is it guarantees a student knows when they do wrong, but also allows them to grow from it. Here is how it will work:

• STRIKE 1: This is the final warning before it gets serious, the proverbial slap on the wrist. We will discuss what we did wrong, how we could be better and what we could consider doing next time. If all goes well the rest of the week, then strike one does not have to be a big deal.
• STRIKE 2: Upon a second poor decision, not only will we have the same conversation as strike one, but in addition we call home. We share with the family how strike 1 and 2 were earned, then put the student on the phone with their family member in hopes they can inspire their child with words to make better choices the rest of their stay.
• STRIKE 3: Go Home! It is not the preferred conclusion to the week at camp, but sometime it is earned and necessary. It is unfortunate but ultimately, we hope this too can even be a learning lesson.

When a student earns a third strike, the family is expected to pick up the child in a timely manner – without argument. The page below reviews poor choices and possible consequences. The Director will go over this list with every student on day one after lunch.

During the week that many of our 5th grade students attend Outdoor Science School, 5th graders who remain on campus will still participate in a full week of engaging learning activities with Mrs. Fiorucci in Room 404. They will take part in their own version of Outdoor Science School here at TRE, with hands-on STEM projects, nature-based activities, and collaborative learning. Throughout the week, students will explore important 5th grade science topics, including space, ecosystems, and Earth’s systems. They will participate in investigations, outdoor observations, and problem-solving activities.

TRE's Community Specialist and Liaison are partnering with PTA to host an International Fair on April 30th. We would love to have each of our families represented at this community event. It was a great success last year, and we look forward to this year's event. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate their culture and learn about others. Sign up to host a booth!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/39J7C9YCP41GH?ref_=wl_share

Custom Pages Deadline EXTENDED -- You can now customize your child's FREE personalized 2-page spread until April 30th!! Every book purchase includes 2 FREE custom personalized pages -- Parents, there are 30 days left to create your child's pages!
Custom pages are due by April 30th!!

Last Day to order a Yearbook: April 30th!! Click the link to purchase: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1017595149583332

Don't forget to upload your school event pictures, for Yearbook's use! https://web.treering.com/school/260863/2025/school-content/school-photos/460933351

The newly opened Family Resource Center in Old Town Tustin offers support and resources to families, including free enrollment assistance to help individuals and families access quality healthcare, coverage and essential support programs. This includes Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, Covered California and more. Bilingual navigators are available.

https://www.tpsf.net/summer

Class registration opens March 2, 2026 7:00 AM

TPSF Summer Academy offers two to four-week half-day sessions for Kindergarten through High School. After-class care is available directly through the school's site. Busing is offered from several school sites for a nominal fee. TPSF will be at Pioneer Middle School this summer.

TPSF Summer Academy Promo Video.

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Summer Academy 2026:

June 8-18 (Monday - Thursday)

June 22 - July 2 (Monday - Thursday)

8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Click HERE to access an archive of all 2025-2026 News From the Ranch Weekly Newsletters

Principal: Michelle Ciecek, dciecek@tustin.k12.ca.us

Secretary: Sumitra Vittal, svittal@tustin.k12.ca.us

Office Assistant: Karen Dillon, kdillon@tustin.k12.ca.us

Community Liason: Lupe Inutan, ginutan@tustin.k12.ca.us

Community Specialist: Maura Vaughn, mvaughn@tustin.k12.ca.us

Health Clerk: Victoria Lawrence, vlawrence@tustin.k12.ca.us

Website: https://www.tustin.k12.ca.us/tustin-ranch
Location: 12950 Robinson Drive, Tustin, CA, USA
Phone: (714)730-7580
Twitter: @trecoolcoyotes

The Tustin Unified School District prohibits discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment) or bullying based on a person’s actual or perceived ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, immigration status, national origin, religion, race or ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, or 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: Stephanie Yang, Director Educational Service TK-12, 300 S. C Street Tustin, CA 92780, 714-730-7301 ext. 51318 | Title IX Coordinator: Stephanie Yang, Director Educational Service TK-12, 300 S. C Street Tustin, CA 92780, syang@tustin.k12.ca.us, 714-730-7301 ext. 51318 and Section 504 Coordinator: Michelle Everitt, Coordinator of Student Services, 1151 San Juan St. Tustin, CA 92780, 714-730-7301 ext. 51326.