Dolphin Digest

Friday, February 27

• Principal's Coffee - Rescheduled

March 2nd - March 6th

• Literacy Week!

Wednesday, March 4

• 1:00 Dismissal Day for Staff Professional Development

Friday, March 6

• Trimester 2 Ends

Tuesday, March 10

• ELAC Meeting, 8:15 am - Family Center
• School Site Council Meeting, 4:00 pm - Library

Thursday, March 12

• Report Cards Go Home

Friday, March 13

• No School - District Observed Holiday

Monday, March 16

• No School - District Staff Professional Development Day
• Spring Parent Teacher Conferences - 12:15 - 3:00 pm

Tuesday, March 17 - Friday, March 20

• Minimum Days for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday, March 20

• Bingo Night - 8th Grade Promotion Fundraiser - MUB

Monday, March 23

• Spring Picture Day

Friday, March 27

• Principal's Coffee, 8:15 am - Library

During the first week of March, Clifford will celebrate its very first Literacy Week in conjunction with Read Across America Week! The goal of Literacy Week is to shine a spotlight on all things literacy by celebrating and strengthening our reading and writing skills.

Each day will feature a special focus, with activities such as guest authors, community readers, family readers, and school-wide reading buddies. Please see the schedule below, along with the links for more detailed information.

Monday: We will kick off the week with a Literacy Week Poster Contest! The theme is "Reading Opens Every World!". All students can participate and there will be prizes for the best poster in each grade level span! Posters will be due Wednesday and winners will be announced Friday!

In the afternoon, TK-4 will attend a presentation in the MUB from author Carter Adair. Please see the flyer below to pre-order a book for Carter to sign when he visits!

Tuesday: Tuesday is Community Reader Day! We will have visitors from our local community as well as Clifford community members visit classes to read a story/talk to kids about their literacy journey and answer questions. Each class will be visited by 3 community members between 8:15 - 9:15 am!

5th - 8th grade classes will attend an author presentation with Jennifer Nielsen in the MUB before lunch. Please see the flyer below to pre-order a book for Jennifer to sign when she visits!

Wednesday: Wednesday will be Family Reader Day! Teachers will send a sign up for family members to read to their class. Family members should sign in as a visitor and get a sticker before going to your classroom. Note: We have a 1:00 minimum day for staff development.

Thursday: On Thursday we will have a focus on writing!! Students will work on writing short stories, poems, songs, riddles, etc. and present them to their class or peers!

Friday: Friday will be a dress up day with students wearing their pajamas and bringing a small stuffy for our Cuddle Up & Read READ IN!!! The day will start at 8:30 am with our school-wide reading buddy time.

2nd - 5th grade classes will have an author presentation with TZ Layton in the afternoon. Please see the flyer below to pre-order a book for TZ to sign when he visits!

The Clifford Fundraising Dolphins Club has begun their next project of assembling brown bag meals for unhoused community members. They prepared approximately 60 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with potato chips. Mr. Larry delivered these donations to the Homeless Action Project in the East Bay for distribution. A big thank you to Ms. Allison for her support and help with this project.

The group plans to continue this effort every Wednesday through the end of the school year. Donations of bread are always welcome and appreciated!

Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20. These conferences are scheduled as needed based on student academic progress and/or other areas where additional support may be beneficial, such as behavior, social-emotional well-being, or attendance. As a result, not all families will receive an invitation to attend a conference during this window. However, families are always welcome to request a conference. If you feel a meeting would be helpful, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher to schedule a time.

Conference schedule:

• Monday (March 16): No school for students (Staff Professional Development Day)
  Conferences will be held from 12:00–3:00 p.m.

• Tuesday–Friday (March 17–20): Regular minimum days for students
  Conferences will be held from 1:45–3:00 p.m.

Teachers will be sending out conference sign-up information in the coming weeks. We value our partnership with families and appreciate your continued support of your child’s learning and growth.

A group of Redwood City parents, staff, and community members is hosting a meeting to explore options for a potential parcel tax measure for the 2026 school year. The discussion will focus on addressing the District’s projected $5.5 million budget deficit and the potential impacts on programs, staffing, and services at local schools.

Meeting Details:

Calendar evite here

Date: Tuesday February 24, 2026
Time: 6:30-8pm
In-person Location: Fireside Books & More (2421 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063)

Virtual Option Link Here (note that registration is required for the virtual option)

This is an opportunity for parents, teachers, and staff to learn more, ask questions, and share ideas about ways the community might respond to funding challenges. The meeting is open to anyone interested in understanding how a parcel tax could address the budget deficit in Redwood City schools.

Spring enrichment enrollment starts today - Monday February 2. Classes will run from March 9-May 29. Signup at https://www.homeroom.com/sites/clifford-elementary-redwood-city/enrichment

La inscripción de enriquecimiento de primavera comienza hoy, lunes 2 de febrero. Las clases se impartirán del 9 al 29 de mayo. Regístrese en https://www.homeroom.com/sites/clifford-elementary-redwood-city/enrichment

Attention 8th Grade Families: We are collecting baby photos of our 8th grade students for the school yearbook! Please email your child’s baby photo along with their name to our Yearbook Committee teacher, Jason Agan, at jagan@rcsdk8.net.

We appreciate receiving photos by Friday, March 27. Thank you for your help in making this year’s yearbook special!

Michelle Remond, MA, migrant, grief companion, and consultant

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, virtual event (live)

Register: https://michelleremond2026.eventbrite.com

This talk will help participants understand many of the complex feelings that migrants experience—and why it is normal to feel this way. Presented by Michelle Remond, MA, migrant, grief companion and consultant.

Parents/caregivers, educators, and community members are welcome! Free admission.

This event is sponsored by the Peninsula Health Care District, in partnership with the San Mateo–Foster City School District and The Parent Venture.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO of The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org.

Allison Master, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Houston

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://allisonmaster2026.eventbrite.com

Allison Master, PhD, will talk about why some students (especially girls) show lower motivation and participation in STEM, and what parents can do to encourage ALL kids in STEM.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

This presentation is sponsored by the Menlo-Atherton PTA, Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, and The Parent Venture.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org.

Ethan Kross, PhD, Bestselling Author, Psychology Professor, University of Michigan

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://ethankross2026.eventbrite.com

How do we make our emotions work for us rather than against us? In SHIFT, Ethan Kross, PhD, dispels common myths and offers a framework for shifting emotions so they don’t take over our lives.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

This Parents Under Pressure presentation is sponsored by generous donors from Sutter Health and the San Mateo County Office of Education, in partnership with The Parent Venture.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org.

SPOKES Bike Shop – Opening Day!

We’re excited to open our new youth bike space at The Armory in Red Morton Park!

SPOKES Bike Shop is a free drop-in program where youth ages 10–17 can:

• Learn basic bike maintenance & repair

• Ride and talk bikes with other youth

• Hang out in a fun, welcoming space

Opening Day: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 3:30–5:00 PM

Join us for a kickoff celebration with a BBQ, music, and lawn games. Youth are encouraged to bring their bikes! Free to attend; no registration required.

Following opening day, the Bike Shed will be open every Tuesday from 3:30–5:00 PM.