Julian Curtiss Newsletter #34

What a display of talent and dedication at our Spring Concert! Our young musicians absolutely dazzled the audience with their performances, showing just how far they've come this year. From the first tentative notes in September to the confident performances we witnessed this week—what a journey!

Behind every great performance is great practice, and our students certainly put in the work! Some dedicated musicians even sacrificed those precious morning snooze minutes to attend early rehearsals, while others turned their living rooms into practice studios. (Parents, we know you deserve medals for those home practice sessions!)

The applause that filled our auditorium was a testament to the hard work of our amazing music teachers—Ms. Brown, Ms. Champion, and Ms. Sanford. Their passion, patience, and musical expertise have transformed violin squeaks into melodies and shy voices into confident singers. We are fortunate to have such educators nurturing the musical talents of our children!

A special shout-out to all the parents who came to support our budding musicians. Your presence meant the world to your children. Those proud smiles said it all!

Music education creates memories and skills that last a lifetime, and this Spring Concert will certainly be remembered as a high note in our school year! 🎶

We are looking forward to our annual Field Day this Friday, May 23rd!

As part of our Field Day activities, the PTA will be providing a lunch for all students.

If you prefer NOT to have your child receive the PTA-provided lunch from Garden Catering and will be sending a lunch from home or buying from school cafeteria instead,

please complete the form below by Monday 5/20.

This ensures we can plan accordingly. Thank you for your cooperation!

Information for End-of-Year Device Collection & Summer Tech Info
Grades K–2 (iPads): All K–2 iPads will be collected at the end of the school year unless your child is attending summer school (including the Horizon program) or you choose to opt in to keep the device over the summer.
Parents who wish to keep their child’s iPad must complete the Parent Opt-In Form by Friday, June 13.

Grades 3–5 (Chromebooks) All students in grades 3–5 will take their Chromebooks home for the summer.
Rising 6th graders will bring their devices with them to middle school in the fall.

In May, we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrate Grandparents Day on Friday, May 9, and recognize Mother’s Day—a perfect time to share Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, a radiant picture book that celebrates culture, family, and the beauty found in our differences.

This lyrical story follows a young Taiwanese girl who notices that her eyes look different from those of her classmates. While they have big, round eyes with long lashes, hers “kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea.” At first, she wishes to look like her peers—until she comes to see that her eyes are just like her mother’s, her little sister’s, and her Amah’s (grandmother’s). Her eyes hold stories from generations before her—stories filled with love, tradition, and pride.

Written by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho, Eyes that Kiss in the Corners is a tender and empowering tribute to self-love, cultural heritage, and the bonds between mothers, daughters, and grandmothers. It’s a book that helps young readers see the beauty in themselves and the strength in where they come from.

As we read, students are invited to reflect on what makes them special and the meaningful connections they share with the women in their lives.

Here are some resources available to our families. Reference the link above for more information.