Dolphin Digest

Monday, April 27 - Friday, May 1

• 5th Grade Outdoor Ed Field Trip

Thursday April 30

• El Dia Del Nino Celebration, 5:30 - 7:00 pm - Clifford Blacktop

Friday, May 1

• Principal's Coffee, 8:15 am - Library
• 8th Grade Panorama Photo, 9:00 am
• Kindergarten Field Trip to Curiodessy
• Third Grade Field Trip to Filoli Gardens

Tuesday, May 5th

• State Testing Begins - Grades 5th - 8th

Monday, May 11th

• Math Night - 6:00 - 7:30, MUB

Tuesday, May 12th

• State Testing Begins - Grades 3rd & 4th
• TK Information Night, 5:00 pm - Library
• Kindergarten Information Night, 6:00 pm - MUB

Monday, May 18th

• PTO Meeting, 6:30 pm - Library & Virtual

Tuesday, May 19th

• Middle School Information Night for 5th Grade Families - 5:15 pm, Virtual
• Meet our new Superintendent Event for Clifford Families - 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Kennedy Library

Thursday, May 21

• Open House, 5:30 - 6:45 pm

Friday, May 22

• Minimum Day

Thank you to our PTO, the Auction Planning Committee, and everyone who attended for an incredible evening! The generosity and energy in the room were truly inspiring.

A special thank you to our PTO, who work tirelessly all year long to support our students and staff. Their dedication ensures that our school can offer enriching programs, valuable resources, and meaningful experiences that make Clifford such a special place to learn and grow.

Not only did we meet our $120,000 goal—we surpassed it! Our grand total currently stands at over $155,000.

These funds will make a meaningful impact on our school community! Thank you!!

This week in STEAM, our 2nd grade students explored renewable energy as part of an Earth Day unit focused on protecting our planet. Ms. Schall began the lesson by reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, inspiring students to think about how innovation can solve real-world problems.

Working in teams, students designed and built their own windmills using simple materials. They experimented with different blade designs to see which versions would spin the fastest when tested with a fan. Through this process, students practiced creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration while learning about wind energy and conservation.

It was exciting to see our young engineers testing their ideas and learning through discovery!

Starting the first weeks of May, our 3rd - 8th grade students will be participating in state testing. This is an important time for them to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the school year, and we want to ensure every student is set up for success.

We ask for your support with the following:

Attendance & Scheduling:
Please make every effort to have your child at school on time each day during the testing window. We strongly encourage families to avoid scheduling appointments or trips during this time, as consistent attendance helps students stay focused and confident.

Rest & Wellness:
A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast each morning make a big difference. Well-rested students are better able to concentrate and do their best.

Encouragement & Mindset:
We encourage you to talk with your child about doing their best, taking their time, and not feeling pressured. A positive mindset can go a long way in helping students feel confident and prepared.

Preparation at School:
Our teachers are continuing to prepare students through practice, review, and skill-building activities aligned to the test format. We are focused on helping students feel comfortable and confident.

Resources for Families:
If you would like to learn more about the state assessments or explore practice resources at home, you may find these websites helpful:

• CAASPP Parent Guides: https://www.caaspp.org/parents.html

• Practice & Training Tests: https://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html

We appreciate your partnership in supporting our students during this important time. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

We hope you can join us for our final Principal’s Coffee of the school year, which has been rescheduled from April 24th to Thursday, May 1st at 8:15 a.m. in the school library.

At this month’s meeting, we will:

• Share plans and updates for the 2026–2027 school year

• Provide information about upcoming TK, Kindergarten, and Middle School information nights

• Discuss the superintendent transition and upcoming meet-and-greet opportunities

• Highlight end-of-year events and activities

• Answer your questions and hear any topics you would like us to address

Spanish translation will be available, and breakfast treats and coffee will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

Bread & Bag Wednesday's

As we reach the final stretches to the end of the school year, we are still in need of donations. We truly appreciate everyone who has shown up in any way, shape or form to support us and be a helping hand to families in need of some extra support.

Donations we can benefit the most from at this moment:

Supplies: Paper bags

Dry goods: beans, rice, cooking oil (any standard cooking oil), canned fruit

Snacks: granola bars, chips, jams, peanut butter, Fruit cups

Hygiene: pads (all sizes), baby wipes, shampoo & conditioner

Get ready for some fun as we focus on creativity this month! One way to think about creativity is “using your imagination to create something new or solve a problem.” Opportunities to be creative are all around us!

We can sometimes find ourselves in situations that require us to solve problems or create something new. In those situations, we can feel stuck or unable to get started. Practicing creativity can help us develop tools that allow us to use our imagination to come up with meaningful solutions.

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing creativity. This challenge is about creating something new - together! Find a large cardboard box and unleash your creativity as you work together to create something totally new. What can the box become? Perhaps it will be a spaceship, an ice cream shop, a fairy castle, or a race car. Use any craft supplies or scraps on hand and your imagination to turn an ordinary box into a new creation!

Louis E. Newman, PhD, Former Dean of Academic Advising for Undergraduate Education, Stanford University

Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://louisnewman2026.eventbrite.com

In this session, Louis E. Newman, PhD, former Dean of Academic Advising at Stanford University, will explore how you can take advantage of the opportunities that college offers—before you even get there!

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

This presentation is sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District, Sequoia Union High School District, and Peninsula Health Care District, in partnership with The Parent Venture.

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

Dave Evans, Bestselling Author, Co-Founder of the Stanford Life Design Lab

Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://daveevans2026.eventbrite.com

In How to Live a Meaningful Life, Stanford's Dave Evans takes on the most profound design problem of all: What makes a life feel worth living, day to day? Drawing on the latest research, he shows how to bring wonder, coherence, flow, and community into our everyday experiences.

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

This presentation is sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District, Sequoia Union High School District, and Peninsula Health Care District, in partnership with The Parent Venture.

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