Hello CELC Families,

Can you believe that we only have 3 more days until school starts? Our staff can't wait to welcome our 2024-25 Cubs!

Here are a few updates to help keep you up-to-date:

• On Monday, August 12th, our office will be closed from 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an all staff training. We apologize for the inconvenience.

• The first day of school is Wednesday, August 14th. See schedule below.

• Class lists will be posted outside on the front gate on or before 3:00 p.m. on August 13th. They will also be available on ParentVUE as well.

• The first 8 days of school are minimum days. The student dismissal time is at 1:05 p.m. to allow time for teachers to meet with students individually and complete initial assessments. This is a new time, so please make sure to make a note of it. Teachers will be asking parents to sign up for a time with your student. There will be sign ups outside their classroom doors.

• Our "normal" schedule begins on Monday, August 26th. See schedules below.

• For the safety and security of students and staff, gates are locked during school hours.

• CELC’s Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, August 29 at 5:00 p.m. Please join us in the Multipurpose room at 5:00 pm for a quick PTA meeting. Rooms open at 5:15 p.m.

• AUSD will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students this school year. See menus below.
• Breakfast is available at the cafeteria at 8:35 a.m. daily.
• Students may choose to eat a cafeteria lunch or bring a sack lunch from home.

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

• We LOVE volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please pick up the required paperwork in the office. Get cleared early if you think you are interested in volunteering in the classroom or for field trips.

• Please send your student to school each day with a backpack, refillable water bottle, a healthy snack, and a lunch (unless they are getting a cafeteria lunch).

• Please include a change of clothes in a ziplock bag in their backpack. Potty accidents tend to happen early in the year. We have clothes on hand but having their own tends to make them feel more comfortable.

See you all soon!

Sincerely,

Tamara Ripke, Proud Principal

Class lists will be posted at the front of the school at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 13th. They will remain up for the first day of school. You can stop by anytime to see the list. It will also be available on ParentVUE. Come by between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday if you are available. Thank you to the PTA for supplying the popcorn for our Cubs. The popcorn will be available while supplies last.

Please take the time to fill out a free/reduced lunch application for your student. It is imperative that all families complete the lunch forms, even if the family will not qualify for or take advantage of the school lunch program. These forms ensure that CELC (and all other AUSD schools) receive proper Federal funding for all sorts of important school functions such as academic and social emotional support, teacher training, and instructional equipment. This form can be accessed in advance at this link schoolcafe.com. For any family registering a new account, our district is listed as Alpine USD. You need your student’s ID number. It is available in ParentVUE. We will also have them available for you at your scheduled student assessment. Our hope is to have as many families as possible complete this form by the end of the first week. Thank you so much for your support!

We believe that social emotional health, the feeling of belonging, validation, and meaningful relationships are key to a successful day at school. Our staff works to deliberately make meaningful connections with our students in order to support academics, behavior, and social emotional growth. We C.A.R.E! The staff is excited to spend the school year Cultivating Achievement through Relationships and Engagement. Each year, we pick a theme to motivate our growth and support a positive mindset. This year, we will continue our work to support students and take them on a Safari to Sucess. If you see safari animals around, it is a reminder that we are setting our goals and "traveling" with our students!

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 2024-25 challenge. See her latest sighting below!

Recess and lunch times subject to change. All TK classes are released at 1:30 pm daily. The teachers will also provide a snack time for the students.

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!

Have you ever asked your child how their day was or what they did? Do you often get a one word response like "nothing" or "fine". Try using our Take 5 Questions to help get more thought provoking answers. It is a great opportunity to connect with your child, learn more about their experiences at school, and help them build their language skills.

Our amazing School Social Worker, Camryn McInerney , created a list of recommended read aloud books. This is another great way to connect with your Cub. Choose one of your favorite books or one on her list and make reading with your child a regular habit.

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

Last week's Joke Answer: AC

Before and after school care is available. Please see the flyer below or contact Aimee Hatfield, AUSD's ESS Coordinator, at ahatfield@alpineschools.net if you have any questions.

Spirit Days

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)

School shirts will be available for purchase. Stayed tuned for more information from our PTA.

8/13 CELC Class Lists Post at 3:00 pm

8/14 First Day of School

8/28 MVLA's first in-person day

8/29 Back to School Night at 5:00 pm

9/2 Labor Day- No School

9/5 CELC/MVLA Fall Picture Day

9/11 Patriot Day Wear Red, White, & Blue

9/18 CELC/MVLA Fall Picture Day Makeup

11/18-11/22 Parent/Teacher Conference Week- Minimum Days

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/