FELICITA FAMILY NEWS

👋 Hello Bobcat Families,

Welcome to all! I am Stephanie Higginbotham, Felicita School Principal. I will be sending out important information in this weekly newsletter. Please be sure to read it so you can stay in the loop throughout the year.

We are so excited for you to be a part of the Felicita family. Be sure to watch our Felicita video to learn more about our special community!

Our teachers and staff are diligently preparing our campus for your student's arrival. We can't wait to see your smiling faces on the first day of school!

See you soon!

❤️ Mrs. Higginbotham

The office will post a list on the front office window by 12:30 PM on August 18th. Want to see it sooner? You may view it online after 8/15 in your parent portal. Sign in or make an account with this link: Parent Portal.

Join us on Monday, 8/18, from 11:30-12:30! All grades are invited to the grass area to have a picnic lunch and mingle with teachers, staff, and other students and families. This is a great way to get your student comfortable with coming to school before the 1st day. Bring your own lunch and picnic blanket or chairs. We can't wait to see you there!

TK and Kindergarten families, come to orientation to meet your child's teacher and take a tour of the classroom immediately following the Family Day Lunch! TK/K Orientation is Monday, 8/18, from 12:30-1:30 PM. See you there!

Felicita is a closed campus, meaning in order for a family or community member to come onto campus, that person will need to have a valid ID, check in the office, and be approved. The exception to this will be the 1st day of school. Families are welcome to come onto campus and walk their child to their classroom on the 1st day of school ONLY.

If your child will be eating breakfast, please note there are not enough seats for parents to sit down. Lunch tables are reserved for students.

At 7:55 AM when the bell rings, you may walk your child to the outside of the classroom door before exiting. All parents must exit campus by 8:00 AM.

DROP OFF:

TK/K students will need to be walked up to the TK/K gate. Please park your car, respecting red curbs and coned-off areas for student safety and drop them off with the staff member who will be stationed at the gate.

Grades 1-2 will enter through the Tulip St. gate. Students may only be dropped off in the loop if they can exit the car by themselves. If they require you to get out of the car to help with seatbelts, etc. you will need to park and walk them up. This will help the flow of traffic.

Grades 3-5 will enter on 13th Ave. at the very end of the parking lot (just passed the front office gate).

PICK-UP:

Grades TK-K will be picked up on 13th Ave. at the TK /K gate. Parents will need to walk up to get student(s).

Grades 1-2 will be picked up at the Tulip St. gate.

Grades 3-5 will be picked up on 13th Ave. at the very end of the parking lot (just passed the front office gate).

If you have 2 or more siblings, they may all meet at the pick-up gate of the youngest child, that way you only have 1 pick-up!

Only cars that display a valid handicap parking placard should park in the handicap parking spaces. This is extremely important for these spaces to be available to families with disabilities. Thank you for your cooperation!

Reminder: A valid photo ID is required to sign out a student.

An early or late pick-up of students also requires a valid I.D. of the parent, guardian, or authorized person. The following will be acceptable forms of identification to help facilitate this process the identification must be valid, or if the identification has expired, it must have been issued within the past five (5) years: A valid state-issued driver’s license; a valid state-issued identification card; a valid United States passport; a valid foreign passport; a valid foreign driver’s license; a valid permanent Resident Alien Card; and a valid military identification card. Valid identification cards must contain the following: The photograph of the signer; the physical description of the signer; a serial or identifying number on the identification; and the signature of the signer.

7:40-8:00 AM

Breakfast is served before school only! Two choices will be offered:

1) A hot meal served in the cafeteria 7:40-7:55.

2) A grab and go option for students running late after 7:55, that may be eaten at snack time.

It is critical for you to get your child to school before 7:55 if they would like to eat breakfast at school. We want all kids to start school with full bellies so they can focus on learning!

Felicita has a "free" dress code, and uniforms will not be required (although you may still wear them if you so choose). Clothes, however, need to abide by standard district dress code. Clothing or jewelry promoting alcohol, drugs, tobacco, violence, displaying unacceptable messages, displaying foul or inappropriate language or symbols will not be allowed.

We will still have 1 spirit day a week-- on Fridays, when students will be encouraged to wear school colors (red and black) or Felicita shirts/gear.

This year, we will put into action our Redesign plans shared last year. We will focus on our 5 Big Moves, to be rolled out over the next 5 years:

Big Move #1: Using the Global Competence Framework to: Investigate the World, Recognize Perspectives, Communicate Ideas, and Take Action!

Use Problem-Based Learning to reach 17 Sustainable Development Goals:

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals

Big Move #2: Start Felicita Families: Pair students up into "Families" so they get to know students in other grades. They will keep the same "family" throughout their entire time at Felicita. Family time will be a mix of learning, bonding, and fun!

Big Move #3: Explore Classes: We will be designing engaging classes based on student interest once a month.

Big Move #4: Student Leadership with a Focus on Public Speaking.

Big Move #5: Staff Learning More about Global Education Every Year!

We also want to have a very clear identity on who a Bobcat is.

Who is a Bobcat? Bobcats:

-Are Leaders

-Are Public Speakers

-Impact Their Community

-Have a Global Perspective

-Are Family!

Our new slogan: Think Global, Act Local! We will use these ideas to make a difference in our local communities, and eventually, the world! 🌎

25-26 FELICITA BELL SCHEDULE

School Hours: M-W, F 8:00-2:30, TH 8:00-12:15

TK

M-W, F: RECESS 9:15-9:35, LUNCH 11:00-11:40

TH: RECESS 8:45-9:05, LUNCH 10:10-10:50

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 10:00-10:30

K

M-W, F: RECESS 10:15-10:35, LUNCH 11:50-12:30

TH: RECESS 9:10-9:30, LUNCH 10:40-11:20

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 10:30-11:00

1

M-W, F: RECESS 9:50-10:10, LUNCH 11:50-12:30

TH: RECESS 8:45-9:05, LUNCH 10:40-11:20

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 10:30-11:00

2*

M-W, F: RECESS 9:50-10:10, LUNCH 12:30-1:10

TH: RECESS 8:45-9:05, LUNCH 11:20-12:00

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 11:00-11:30

3

M-W, F: RECESS 9:50-10:10, LUNCH 12:30-1:10

TH: RECESS 8:45-9:05, LUNCH 11:20-12:00

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 11:00-11:30

4*

M-W, F: RECESS 9:50-10:10, LUNCH 11:10-11:50

TH: RECESS 8:45-9:05, LUNCH 10:00-10:40

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 11:30-12:00

5

M-W, F: RECESS 9:50-10:10, LUNCH 11:10-11:50

TH: RECESS 8:45-9:05, LUNCH 10:00-10:40

MIN. DAY: LUNCH 11:30-12:00

*EATS LUNCH FIRST

Help us reach our attendance goal of 94% average daily attendance!

Regular student attendance plays a critical role in our collective mission to ensure every student achieves their fullest potential.

Why Attendance Should Be a Top Priority:

1. Academic Achievement: Regular attendance is fundamental to student success. Each school day is a building block in the learning process. Consistent attendance helps students keep up with coursework, understand key concepts, and perform better academically.

2. Social and Emotional Development: School is a place where students develop crucial social skills and emotional resilience. Frequent absences can hinder their ability to form strong relationships with peers and teachers, impacting their overall development.

3. Future Opportunities: Consistent attendance is linked to higher graduation rates and better long-term outcomes, including higher education and career prospects. By prioritizing attendance, we are directly contributing to students' future success.

4. School Culture: Regular attendance fosters a positive school culture and enhances the learning environment for everyone. It creates a sense of community and ensures that all students have equal access to the resources and support they need.

Parents and guardians of all grades are invited to meet their teacher and see their child's classroom at Back-to-School Night on Thursday, 8/21. Hear all about the year long expectations and ask questions! This event is intended for parents/guardians only.

Schedule:

5:00-5:30 Meet the Principal and learn about Felicita in the MPR

5:30-6:30 Meet the Teacher in your child's classroom

Reminder there are no dogs allowed on campus. Thank you for your cooperation! 🚫🐾

Volunteers Needed

We need your help! Felicita Elementary School is recruiting volunteers for the 2025-2026 school year: Classroom readers, classroom helpers, tutors, field trip chaperones, and more! Fill out the Volunteer Form if you are interested in volunteering at our school. Thank you for your support!

Felicita Elementary School

Family Liaison: Laura Aguilera

Contact Number: (760) 432-2444

2024-25 CAASPP Student Score Reports will be mailed to current 4th and 5th grade parents/guardians within the next couple of weeks. The CAASPP Starting Smarter website includes sample student score reports and is a great resource.

2024-25 ELPAC Student Score Reports for Grades 4-5 were mailed to parents over the summer. Grades K-3 student score reports will be mailed to parents/guardians within the next couple of weeks. Here is a link to the ELPAC Starting Smarter website..

AUGUST

8/18 Family Day Lunch + TK/K Orientation

8/19 1st Day of School 🏫🍎🎒

8/21 Back-to-School Night 5:00-6:30 PM

8/29 1st Recess Reimagined 🛝🎳🎯🃏

SEPTEMBER

9/1 Labor Day, No School

9/5 1st ROAR Assembly📣

9/17 Constitution Day

EUSD Printable School Calendars

Be sure to follow Felicita on Facebook and Instagram!

🌎

"Think Global, Act Local!"