Cub Connection

Dear CELC Familles,

We are excited to be a part of a Great Kindness Challenge this week. Students from all over are participating in celebrating kindness. Join CELC for dress up days (see below) all week. In addition to our spirit days, teachers will be doing kindness lessons/activities in the classrooms.

Did you know that CELC has an Attendance Team? Miss Camryn, Mrs. Barkely, and Mrs. Ripke are here to support families with challenges and celebrate outstanding attendance.

Student attendance is of utmost importance for academic success and overall school well-being. Regular attendance not only contributes to the continuity of a student's learning journey but also plays a crucial role in their social and emotional growth. Consistent attendance ensures that students actively engage with the curriculum, interact with their peers, and benefit from valuable classroom experiences. Moreover, it fosters a sense of responsibility and discipline, preparing students for future commitments. In addition, attendance directly impacts school funding, as absences, whether excused or unexcused, results in financial losses. Last year, AUSD lost over 1 million dollars in funding due to attendance rates. Recognizing the significance of attendance, AUSD schools promote regular attendance and incentivize outstanding attendance to help foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Many of our students' absences are not due to illness and there is a pattern of higher absences on Mondays and Fridays. Here are tips and suggestions to help attendance rates:

• Schedule appointments during school breaks or in the afternoons on Wednesdays (CELC early release days).
• Plan vacations/trips during school breaks.
• If your child is going to be out for 3 or more days, request an independent study contract (ISC). ISCs help a student's learning stay on track and it also counts for attendance credit/funding.
• If your child is not feeling well, use the guidelines below to help decide whether they should attend school or not.
• Reach out to the CELC Attendance Team if you have needs/challenges that affect the ability to get your student to school. We are here to support families.

The CELC Attendance Team monitors absences daily, weekly, bi-weekly and 30 day periods. Beginning Monday, January 22nd, the K classroom and TK classroom with the best attendance rate for a two week period will be presented with a trophy. This trophy will be displayed in their classroom for the following two weeks. This will be repeated every two weeks. Students with perfect attendance (for a two week period) will be entered into a drawing for a Jersey Mikes sandwich. Students with improved attendance will also be recognized. The Attendance Team is working with the PTA to choose an assembly to celebrate outstanding attendance. Stay tuned for more news and updates regarding attendance incentives and celebrations.

Updates and reminders:

• A huge thank you to our PTA for sponsoring our upcoming events including Spring Fling, Dr. Seuss Day, 100's Day, and butterfly (K) and ladybug (TK) studies.
• Please see upcoming community events in the "Community Events" section below.
• Please check the lost and found for missing items. It is located outside of the multi-purpose room.
• For the safety and security of students and staff, gates are locked during school hours.
  
• Please use the front gate for entering and exiting the campus. the side gates are for employees only and must remain closed.

• As a reminder, breakfast is served from 8:35 am to 8:55 am daily. It is free for all students. Parent may join their child at the tables.

• Students are expected to follow school rules at all times. Please help support safe, responsible, and respectful behavior while you are on campus with them before and after school.

• ATTENTION: If your student is going to be absent for an extended period, please make sure to request an Independent Study Contract from the office at least one week in advance. This will ensure that your child's teacher has ample time to prepare assignments, and your student can receive attendance credit during their absence.

• For transportation questions, please visit AUSD's website at https://www.alpineschools.net/page/transportation

We look forward to a week filled with an extra dose of kindness.

Sincerely,

Tamara Ripke, Proud Principal

Building a habit of good attendance will help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally at school. Please limit absences that are not related to illness. If you know ahead of time that your child will be out for 3 or more days, please request an independent study contract to help keep them engaged in learning. Please take a moment to read the flyer below to learn more facts about attendance.

Please report any absences to your child's teacher and the office. Please let the office know the reason that your child is out and any symptoms if they are sick. Email Mary Barkely, our amazing Clerk or call the office at 619-659-8250.

Answer: ABSOLUTELY

FACT:Did you know that if your student misses one day of school per month, it equates to 10 days a year, which is equivalent to two weeks annually? Over the course of 13 years of schooling, this adds up to missing an entire year of school.

See image below. For more information, visit https://www.attendanceworks.org/.

The Governor's budget for education mandated that every school district in California needs to update its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a component of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCAP is intended to be a three-year plan to improve student achievement by setting annual goals for the district in eight priority areas. Each of the priorities has established data requirements to track district progress improving student achievement. The LCAP requires Districts to gather input from students, teachers, parents, and community members to determine the goals, actions, and budget priorities for the District. Our District staff worked together with all of our stakeholder groups to gather input and craft the draft of our Local Control Accountability Plan. Below are AUSD's 2023-24 LCAP Goals. The District is in the process of reviewing the goals and completing the annual review.

Goal #1: Effective Instruction and Curriculum - Provide equitable access to high-quality classroom curriculum and instruction in an inclusive environment that promotes student success.

Goal #2: Safe and Respectful Environments - Ensure all school sites are safe and have healthy and welcoming climates for staff, students, and their families so that all students feel connected and are motivated to attend and ready to learn.

Goal #3: Equitable and Culturally Responsible Systems - Ensure systems and processes eliminate barriers to student success and are equitable and culturally responsive to the needs of our students and their families.

You may also view the full LCAP by clicking the button below

Did you know that Alpine Union School District has a valuable online resource available to all students — the Sora digital library? Sora provides access to a huge collection of books, including audiobooks, and can be accessed at any time. Here's how your child can make the most of this resource:

1. Accessing Sora:

• Log into their Google account

• Navigate to Clever (lower left side of Chromebook)

• Click on the Sora app

• Once in Sora, log in using your Google credentials. This is a one-time requirement, and subsequent logins will be automatic.

Note: If you're unsure about your student’s Google login information, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

2. Exploring the San Diego County Public Library:

In addition to our library, students can also access books from the San Diego County Public Library through Sora:

• After logging into Sora, click on the down arrow next to Alpine Union School District (under EXPLORE) on the top left-hand side

• Search for San Diego County Library and click on San Diego County Library Digital Media

• Choose your desired book

• Click "borrow"

• Select Alpine Union School District

• Click on the blue bar

• Click on your student's email address again

• Click on borrow again

• Access the book by clicking on “shelf” at the bottom of the screen

We highly encourage students to make the most of this resource.

Hello CELC families! Here is the latest news and updates:

Thank you for your ongoing support! We are looking forward to an amazing 2024. We are looking forward to 100's Day, Spring Fling, and Dr. Seuss Week.

Sincerely,

CELC PTA

creeksidekpta@gmail.com.

Did you know that our 100% of our teachers our trained to teach reading by using a proven, multi-sensory approach called Orton-Gillingham (OG)? We are proud to be leaders in early literacy! For more information about OG and our training visit Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) and read below.

See the forecast below to help plan your child's attire. It looks like we will have rain on Monday. Please plan accordingly. As always, please make sure your child brings a jacket to school.

In this episode of 'Around Alpine Union,' we want to shine a spotlight on our amazing Native American students! Join us in celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures within our community. By sharing these insights, we hope to foster a deeper sense of unity and understanding among all students, staff, and community members. Please join us on Sunday, February 4th for the 7th Annual American Indian Cultural Education Gathering at JMMS from 11 am - 3 pm. #UnityInDiversity #AlpineUnion #Inclusivity

Mrs. Ripke will continue the Cubs in the Community tradition. Her goal is to connect with 100 Cubs (Future, Former, or Current) by the 100th day of school. Building relationships with our students is important to us! If you see Mrs. Ripke out in the community, encourage your student to say hi. Not only does it create an opportunity to connect, it also supports students' language and communication skills. Follow the sightings on FB and IG. Feel free to share our postings to spread the word. Mrs. Ripke (and the CELC staff) looks out for future, current, and former Cubs! She is ready to meet the 2023-24 challenge. See one of the latest sighting below!

Dismissal gates open at 1:30 pm on Wednesdays and 2:45 pm all other days. If you would like your student released early, please sign them out in the office.

TK rooms 2 and 4 are currently using the little playground for their afternoon recess.

CELC has three school rules. Students will be learning behavior expectations that are aligned with being safe, responsible, and respectful. We practice Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). We understand that our students are still learning to problem solve and deal with school expectations. We believe in progressive discipline and restorative practices. Teachers and staff document concerns and communicate them with parents to form a partnership in your child's success. We love our Cubs and are looking forward to having a year of fun, friendships, learning and laughter!

Our Cubs are Comical!!!

Humor helps the heart! Join us in spreading "Smiles for Miles!"

Answer from last week: It Waves

Thank you to our adorable Cubs for making us smile! Stay tuned for next week's Comical Cubs!

Mondays- Wear a College Shirt or College Colors

Wednesdays- Mid-Week Mindfulness- wear a shirt with a kind message

Fridays- Wear a school shirt or school colors or RED for (Remembering Everyone Deployed)

Check out what we are serving for breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria! As a reminder, breakfast and lunch is free for all students for the 2023-24 school year.

1/22-1/26 Great Kindness Challenge

1/25 CELC and MVLA SSC Meetings

2/1 100th Day of School

2/4 AIPC Cultural Gathering at JMMS

2/12 Holiday- no school

2/19 Holiday- no school

3/9 AEF STEAM Fair

All AUSD families are invited to our upcoming 7th Annual American Indian Cultural Gathering on February 4th from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Join us for an afternoon filled with cultural performances and presentations. It's an excellent opportunity for our school community to come together and learn more about the contributions of American Indian communities. We look forward to seeing you there!

AUSD is excited to announce the first-ever Alpine Education Foundation (AEF) STEAM Fair to be held on March 9 at Joan Macqueen Middle School. The Fair is open to all students TK-8 grade. Do you have a student interested in showcasing an invention or exploring a scientific topic? Do you have a student who makes art or has an innovative product to sell? The Alpine Education Foundation is seeking students to participate in the Steam Fair. Students can participate by submitting a science fair project to present to a panel of judges or hosting a vendor booth to showcase or sell their creations. The event will also feature games, activities, music, and more! Please visit AEF4kids.org to learn more and sign up. STEAM Fair. Thank you to AEF for your continued support and dedication to our AUSD students. See the flyer below for more information.

Camryn McInerney, School Social Worker

cmcinerney@alpineschools.net

Office Hours

M-F 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Email: sgreen@alpineschools.net
Website: https://www.alpineschools.net
Location: 8818 Harbison Canyon Road
Phone: (619) 659-8250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Creekside-Early-Learning-Center-414783265277455/