Cheetah Chatter

News, Events, and Updates

September 14 - September 18

Don't miss a thing! Please be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom and tap "View Entire Message" so you don't miss any important updates for our Central families!

From the Principal's Den

It is hard to believe we have already wrapped up our first four weeks of the school year! Time flies when you are having fun, and my first month as your new principal at Central has been nothing short of incredible.

From the very first morning high-fives at the front doors to the energy in our classrooms, lunchrooms, and playgrounds, I have been deeply moved by how warm, welcoming, and vibrant this community is. Central is a truly special place, and I am loving every single moment of being here.

Over the past month, our main focus has been building strong classroom communities, setting routines, and diving headfirst into exciting new learning. Walking through the hallways, I see students who are eager to participate, teachers who are deeply dedicated to their craft, and support staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our school running smoothly.

A few highlights from our first four weeks:

Building Connections: Watching students reconnect with old friends and make new ones has brought so much joy to our campus.
Establishing Routines: Our learners have mastered schoolwide expectations, morning arrivals, and daily transitions like pros.
Engaged Learning: From hands-on projects to quiet reading corners, academic routines are fully up and running.

Thank you to our families for your ongoing support, clear communication, and partnership. A strong school depends on a strong home-to-school connection, and your involvement makes all the difference in our students' success.

As we look ahead to the rest of the fall, I am eager to keep this positive momentum going. My door is always open, and I look forward to meeting even more of you at upcoming school events. Thank you for entrusting us with your children and for making my transition to Central so meaningful.

Here’s to a fantastic school year ahead!

Important Dates

Monday, Sept 14: Library Lab Opens | Fall EXPLORE Session Begins
Tuesday, Sept 15: Wear Dots Spirit Day! (Celebrating International Dot Day)
Friday, Sept 25: TK Lunch & Learn (Classes: Duarte, Peralta, Bautista & Rodriguez)
Friday, Oct 2: Final Day for PTA Membership Competition (Ice Cream Party Incentive)

Scroll down to the newsletter for more details on each event.

What's Roaring At Central

Classroom Spotlight: Ms. Rodriguez's TK Classroom

In Room 7, our students are diving into exciting topics—from exploring the 5 Senses to our fun "Let’s Go to the Beach" unit! Hands-on activities are bringing out their curious minds, wonderful smiles, and creative play. We are so proud of all the learning and growth happening in Room 7!

EXPLORE Class Spaces Available!

Great news, Cheetah families! As our EXPLORE classes kick off this coming Monday, we are re-opening the student interest form so more students can join in on the fun. We still have open spots in a few fantastic programs:

STEAM Explorers (TK/K): Now officially open to our TK students as well as Kindergarteners!
STEM Voyager (Grades 3–5)
Rugby (Grades 3–5)
Crafty Cheetahs (Grades 3–5)

The interest form will be active again first thing Monday morning. Be sure to submit your entry early if your child wants to grab one of these remaining spots!

Sign-up for these Central After School Enrichment Opportunities Here

Empowering Our Students Together: Guiding Coalition Update

Our first Guiding Coalition meeting on Thursday, September 10th, was a resounding success! A heartfelt thank you to the parents who joined us and brought such thoughtful, energizing perspectives to the table. We were thrilled to have Parent Ambassadors representing Kindergarten and 2nd grade in attendance.

To make our team complete, we are seeking Parent Ambassadors for our remaining grade levels (1 representative per grade level) to join our Guiding Coalition and School Site Council.

Why Join?

Collaborate Directly: Work side-by-side with school staff to review school data.
Drive Success: Help make decisions that directly boost student learning and strengthen our campus culture.
Make an Impact: Be the voice for your child's grade level and shape the future of our school community.

Meeting Details

Time: Thursdays at 12:50 PM
Dates: Oct 29 | Jan 7 | Feb 4 | Apr 29 | May 20

If you are passionate about helping our students thrive and want to take an active role in shaping our school community, we would love to have you on board!

Grade-Level Parent Ambassador Sign-Up

Join Us at the Central Library Lab!

Kick off your morning with fun activities, learning, and games before the school bell rings!

When & Where

Days: Monday – Friday
Time: 7:40 AM – 8:05 AM
Location: Central Library

Weekly Schedule

Monday: Imaginative Play (Puppets, Action Figures, Little People Sets)
Tuesday: Reading Rocks! (Read with a Buddy or Stuffie, Poetry Reading, Read Aloud)
Wednesday: STEM (Building Challenges, Science Concepts, Legos)
Thursday: Sing a Song (Sing-a-Long, Karaoke)
Friday: Game On (Group Games, Card Games, Board Games)

Everyday Choices:

iPads for AR or i-Ready
Drawing/Coloring
Homework Table

Important Information for Families

Early Arrival (7:40 AM): Students must be at the front gate by 7:40 AM to be escorted to the library promptly by Library Lab Staff.
Gate Opening (7:50 AM): If space allows (max capacity is 15 students), additional students may join when gates open at 7:50 AM.
Breakfast: Students needing breakfast will be released early from the Library Lab to eat.

Fall EXPLORE Kicks Off Tomorrow!

Get ready—our Fall EXPLORE session officially begins tomorrow, Monday, September 14, 2026! We are thrilled to welcome our students into another exciting session of learning, discovery, and fun.

Important Dates to Remember

Standard Session: September 14, 2026 – November 18, 2026
Teacher-Led Classes: Select classes run through December 11, 2026 (please check your child’s specific schedule for details).

After-School Arrival Directions (Classes start promptly at 2:45 PM) To ensure a smooth transition at dismissal, please remind your child of the proper check-in routine:

YMCA Students: Check in directly at the YMCA first before heading to your EXPLORE classroom.
All Other Students: Report straight to your assigned EXPLORE classroom immediately following dismissal.

Thank you for your partnership in making this session a success.

Spirit Day for International Dot Day!

Get ready to make your mark! On Tuesday, September 15th, our school is celebrating International Dot Day—a global day dedicated to creativity, courage, and growth mindset inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' book The Dot.

To show our creative spirit, we are asking all students and staff to wear dots or circles to school on September 15th! Whether it’s polka dots, a dotted shirt, or a self-designed circle badge, let's fill our halls with color as we celebrate believing in ourselves and trying new things.

Thank you for helping us make our mark!

Join Us for TK Lunch & Learn!

Mark your calendars! On Friday, September 25, families in Duarte, Peralta, Bautista, and Rodriguez’s classes are invited to join us on campus for our TK Lunch & Learn.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to step into your student’s world, see how they navigate mealtime, and enjoy lunch together right here at school.

The Details:

Date: Friday, September 25
Time: Starts at 11:00 AM
Classes Invited: Ms. Duarte, Ms. Peralta, Ms. Bautista, & Ms. Rodriguez
Lunch Options: Bring a favorite packed lunch from home for yourself and your student, or grab a meal directly from our cafeteria line.
Pricing: School lunch is FREE for all students. Adult lunches are $6.00 (exact change required for adult meals).

We can’t wait to welcome our TK families to campus to share a meal and build our school community together!

Official seal of the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, featuring a central illustration of the historic County Administration Center building on the coastline alongside rolling green hills and a flying seagull.

Free Family Support Services Available Through ChildNET!

Central Elementary families are eligible for free support through ChildNET, a partnership between the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) State Preschool and the Vista Hill Foundation.

ChildNET provides no-cost services for children ages 0–5 and their families (for families with Medi-Cal or no insurance, funded by the County of San Diego) to help children navigate big feelings, build social skills, and feel comfortable at school.

Services Offered:

Individual & Family Therapy and Case Management
Incredible Years® Small Group Services & Parenting Classes
Assessment Services and program psychiatrist consultation (when appropriate)
Engaging Skill-Building: Uses friendly puppet friends (like Dina the Dinosaur, Wally, and Molly) to teach kids about friendship, problem-solving, following school rules, and managing emotions.

How to Get Started: To request services or get more information, speak with Khrystina Hendrickson, the ChildNET staff at Central Elementary, or contact the ChildNET Program Office directly:

Phone: 760-280-5020
Address: 425 W. 5th Avenue, Suite #101, Escondido, CA 92025

PTA

Join the PTA!

Your time, your support, and your donation make a difference! PTA membership envelopes are coming home in student backpacks this week. Joining the PTA is the fastest way to directly impact our school, support our teachers, and fund the programs that make our community thrive.

The Great PTA Ice Cream Contest

We are kicking off the year with a little friendly competition: the classroom with the most PTA memberships will win an ice cream party and special recognition at an upcoming assembly!

Many Ways to Join by October 2nd:

Paper Envelope: Complete the membership envelope coming home in your child's backpack and return it to school with your child.
Scan to Join: Skip the paper and sign up instantly using the QR code on the flyer attached below!
Use this link to join the PTA

Whether parents, grandparents, or guardians sign up, every single membership counts toward your child's class total. The final count takes place on Friday, October 2nd, so be sure to turn yours in soon. Thank you for your support, and good luck to all of our classes!

The first PTA Association Meeting will take place THIS Thursday, September 17 at 1:00 PM.

Please remember that all visitors must always sign in at the main office before coming onto campus.

Fresh Gear Alert: New PTA T-Shirts Are Here!

Show your school spirit! The PTA is thrilled to announce that brand-new school T-shirts are officially available for purchase. They are just $15 each. Grab yours today to support our school programs and wear your school pride on your sleeve—literally!

Central Elementary PTA Hosts Our Annual Spooky-Run Fundraiser - October 23, 2026

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! to help decorate BEFORE and DURING the event.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED DONATIONS!

WATER BOTTLES
KIRKLAND CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS

If you could help, please bring any of these items to our school office by OCTOBER 15.

OR CONTACT OUR:

PTA President, Marisol Fabian: central.elementary.pta.eusd@gmail.com
Family Liaison, Gladys Zavala: gzavala@eusd.org

THANKS AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SPOOK-TAKULAR EVENT!

Paws for Attendance

POP INTO SCHOOL! September Attendance Challenge

95 OUR GOAL: 95% SCHOOLWIDE ADA!

What is ADA? It stands for Average Daily Attendance. It’s a simple way to measure how many students are in class learning every single day. When our ADA is 95%, it means 95 out of every 100 students are here!

THE CONTEST

Every single day your class has 95% or more of its students present, your class COLORS in a BUCKET OF POPCORN on your class tracker board!

THE REWARDS!

FOR STUDENTS: A POPCORN & MOVIE PARTY with the PRINCIPAL!

FOR TEACHERS: A period of FREE TIME while the Principal hosts the party!

EVERY DAY COUNTS! Let’s get our kids to to school, on time, every day!

From EUSD

Escondido Parent Leadership Institute Fall 2026 (Spanish)

In partnership with SDCOE, EUSD is hosting a six-week workshop series – starting on September 18 – aimed at building parent capacity to engage as school leaders and essential partners in supporting academic success.