September 25, 2026
#8 - Weekly Charger Newsletter
Please be sure to sign up for a conference with your student's teacher for the week of October 5th-9th. Teachers are communicating through Parent Square so please check these important messages. In some grade levels, we do want students to be a part of this meeting, so please verify with the teacher if your child should attend.
We are aiming for 100% of our families to join for conference week!
Smartwatches - In Backpacks During School Day
We want every student to stay focused and present during the school day! As part of that effort, students with smartwatches will be reminded each morning to put them away in their backpacks; and they'll stay there until the end of the school day.
This is in line with our SESD Technology Use Policy, which states that students shall not use smartphones or other mobile communication devices (this includes smartwatches):
- While at a school site
- During the school day
- While under the supervision and control of a District employee
We appreciate your partnership in helping reinforcing this at home with a quick conversation and reminders with your child. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students engaged and focused. 😀
Reading Is Out of This World! 🚀
Mark your calendars—The Scholastic Book Fair lands at Cherry Chase October 5th-9th!
Blast off into new adventures while supporting our school library and classroom libraries. Don’t forget to check out your teacher’s wish list to help classrooms grow their collections.
We need stellar volunteers to make this event a success. You can help by:
Setting up and decorating the “space station”
Operating the cash registers
Guiding students and families on their book missions
Packing up at the end of the fair
Important: To volunteer, you must have district clearance. If you are unsure of your clearance status, please contact Diana Kunze in the school office at diana.kunze@sesd.org
Join us as we launch a galaxy of great reads—thank you for helping our students’ love of reading reach new heights!
NWEA Fall Benchmark Family Reports
Our 1st-5th grade students completed the Fall NWEA Benchmark in Math and Reading. Printed reports were sent home this week by all classroom teachers. Please keep these reports as they will be discussed during your child's conference (week of October 5th).
Cherry Chase Elementary Calendar - Important Dates
Calendar of Events: Here is the link to the public Cherry Chase Elementary Google Calendar.
Upcoming events in the next 2 weeks:
October
2 - Friday Flag Assembly at 8:20 am
5-9 - Conference Week (early release for all students at 11:35am)
9 - No Friday Flag
12 - Staff Development Day (no students)
14 - Picture Retake Day
PTA Updates
After School Band Program
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade - PTA After School Band Program Registration is open!
A few Homestead High School Marching Band students began their musical journey in our PTA After School Band Program. Our year-long program teaches 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade students how to play an instrument within a Band (including flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto saxophone, trombone and percussion).
- Beginner Band: Tue & Thu at 3:50-5:10pm.
- Intermediate Band: Tues & Thu at 4:50-6:10pm.
For more information: go to Band Flyer Link.
To register, go to PTA After School Band webpage.
Registration Deadline: Sept 28, 2026
For questions, please email band@cherrychasepta.org
Fall Festival - Friday, October 30th 2:30-4:30pm
Cherry Chase Fall Festival is quickly approaching! We would love to see all families at this wonderful event. Admission is free - please check out the website for more information about volunteering, purchasing tickets for food, games, etc., and other ways to help.
https://cherrychasepta.org/events/fall-festival
To learn more about the upcoming events from Cherry Chase PTA, be sure to check out their website and JOIN as a member to get regular communication and be a part of supporting the Cherry Chase students and community. Cherry Chase PTA Website
Add the Cherry Chase PTA Google Calendar
We value the important role that volunteers play in supporting students and we hope that you may continue volunteering in our schools. Recent changes in California law have also added a requirement to complete an annual mandated reporter training for school volunteers within 6 months of starting to volunteer. As a result, all volunteers now require:
NEW Annual Mandated Reporter Training (SB848)
Tuberculosis Screening
Fingerprint Clearances
Volunteer Application
How to Complete the New Requirement
All current and new volunteers must complete the Mandated Reporter Training by following these steps:
Visit the Keenan Safe Schools Mandated Reporter Training Website
Self-Register Using Registration Key: 3badcba9
Complete the Training & Download Your Certificate
Upload your certificate when you are submitting your Volunteer Application
Need Help? View Step-by-Step Registration Instructions
More Information
If you’d like more information and to find answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our website at: www.sesd.org/volunteer
Keeping our students and staff safe is one of our top priorities. We regularly practice safety drills so everyone is ready to respond calmly and appropriately in the event of an emergency.
- Fire drills (evacuation): 8/27, 9/15, 10/15, 11/12, 12/3, 1/27, 2/23, 3/18, 4/22, 5/12
- Earthquake drills: 10/15 (3 more will be planned - dates are TBD)
- Lockdown drill: 10/22