Robert Down Principal's Update

Principal's Message

Dear Robert H. Down School Community,

I hope each of you had a chance to enjoy some extra time with your children last week during Fall Break!

We are so grateful to parent, Mr. Benjamin Chamberlin, a Visual Impairment Program Teacher Specialist, who hosted a White Cane Assembly for our students on October 9. He and Ms. Reina, another teacher, had a chance to share about types of visual impairment, highlighted all the amazing things individuals with visual impairment can do, and how to use a white cane as well as how to guide someone with a white cane. Several students had a chance to practice using a white cane as well as experienced being a guide. What a valuable experience for our school community!

Many thanks to our PTA for hosting a fun Ghosts and Ghouls Game Night on Wednesday, October 21!

As our Thanksgiving break is approaching, if you are planning to take some additional time, please be sure to submit your Justifiable Absence Request for Independent Study at least two weeks in advance for approval. Remember to submit assignments by the end of the week after your Justifiable Absence in order to receive credit. Any assignments not completed will result in an unexcused absence.

Upcoming Events & Programs

Promenade with the Principal: Join us on Wednesday, October 28 at 9:00 AM with special guest Police Chief Casey Day. We will discuss campus safety, drop-off/pick-up protocols, and the e-bike registration initiative. Bring your questions!
Annual Halloween Parade: Friday, October 30 at 9:00 AM on the playground (gates open at 8:55 AM). Reminder: No masks, blood, gore, weapons, accessories, or candy are allowed, per our Wellness Policy.
PTA hosted Trunk or Treat: Friday, October 30th from 5-7PM on the Robert Down playground. Be sure to sign up here, if you’d like to host a trunk! Many thanks to the 21 families that signed up so far to host a trunk!
November is Native American History Month!
Parent-Teacher Conference Week (Nov. 2–6): Students will be dismissed at 12:15 PM every day this week to accommodate conferences. The Monarch Club will remain open until 6:00 PM. Please check your email to schedule a time with your child's teacher.
Spirit Week: November 2-6. See flyer below for specific information.
Literati Book Fair: November 2-6 in the Ottertorium 8AM-5PM daily.
Veterans Day Assembly: Tuesday, November 10 at 9:00 AM. If you are a veteran or military family, please complete this form so we can properly honor your service.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day: Friday, November 13 at 8:00AM. To participate, please sign up here.

Building Our "Culture of We" – Get Involved!

At Robert Down, we believe in the power of community. Your involvement makes a real difference!

Sign up here to join the PTA.
Urgent: PTA Financial Reviewer: We need someone to follow a simple checklist for about 2 hours in the coming weeks so the PTA can file taxes and continue funding our classrooms. Contact Erin Aragon at treasurer@robertdownpta.org.
PTA Class Liaisons: We are still looking for parents to serve as liaisons for each class. Contact Amie Miller at president@robertdownpta.org to learn more.
Trunk-or-Treat (Oct. 30, 5:00–7:00 PM): We are looking for 24 families to host a trunk on the RHD playground! Click here to host a trunk.
Drama Club Volunteers: Do you have a 4th or 5th grader passionate about drama? Parent Erica Downs-Karai is coordinating the club this year and needs volunteer support. Please complete this form if you can help.
If you would like to create a display, bulletin board, or share a presentation to honor Native American History in November, please complete this form.

Safety Updates

Chief Casey Day will be on campus for our Promenade with the Principal on Wednesday, October 28 at 9AM. Please feel free to join us as he shares some important information on safety. He is also available to answer questions.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

Oct. 27: PTA Dine Out at Monarch Pub
Oct. 28: Promenade with the Principal (9:00 AM)
Oct. 30: Halloween Costume Parade (9:00 AM) & Trunk-or-Treat (5:00–7:00 PM)
November: Native American History Month
Nov. 2–6: Parent Conference Week (12:15 PM Dismissal daily)
Nov. 2–6: Spirit Week & Literati Book Fair
Nov. 10: Veterans Day Assembly (9:00 AM)
Nov. 11: Veterans Day, No School
Nov. 13: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (8:00AM)
Nov. 19: Picture Retake Day
Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)

Have a lovely weekend!

With joy,

Emily Tsai Brownfield, Principal

Office Reminders

Please have your child to school on time. Gates open at 8:30 AM. Warning bell rings at 8:40 AM. Final bell rings and instruction begins at 8:45 AM. When a student is tardy it is disruptive to the office and classroom. In addition, students miss important information and announcements from their teacher first thing in the morning.

Did you know that you can report your child's absence with your ParentVUE app? Simply log into your ParentVUE account to send the office a message about why your child is absent.

* Ways to report a student absent *

a) ParentVUE app (click the bell icon next to your child's name)

b) 24 Hour Absence Line (831) 646-6663

Volunteer & Chaperone Clearance

If you plan on being a VOLUNTEER on campus or a CHAPERONE for a field trip, please be sure you are fingerprint cleared with our district, and have completed the Mandated Reporter training. To make an appointment at the District Office please contact Bree Nehring by calling 607-8892 or emailing bnehring@pgusd.org

Before coming to campus to volunteer, please check with your child's teacher to schedule a time that works best for them.

Link to Mandated Reporter Training

Short-Term Independent Study Request Form - NOW DIGITAL!

We are now happy to accept Short-Term Independent Study Request Forms digitally (see link below). Please remember, the request needs to be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the first day of your child's absence.

Justifiable Absence for Short-Term Independent Study Request Form

District Illness Policy Reminder

Our District Illness Policy specifies that individuals should be free of contagious illness prior to attending school. Those who are ill should remain home until their symptoms have resolved or significantly subsided for at least 24 hours without the use of over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms.

If a child arrives at school with or develops active illness symptoms while at school, we will phone parents to pick them up with instructions to keep them home until the illness has resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms.

The following symptoms would warrant a child staying home from school:

Persistent headache and fatigue
Elevated temperature (99.0 or above)
Body aches
Sore throat
Congestion
Cough
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Diarrhea
Loss of taste or smell
Pain severe enough that the child has difficulty participating in routine school activities

Thank you for all your efforts in caring for your families and for your support in helping us maintain a healthy school environment.

Birthday Book Club

This notice is to tell you about our voluntary program designed to build the RHD library and foster your child’s love of reading.

Here is how it works: To join the Robert H. Down Birthday Book Club fill out the information below (scroll way down to the bottom of this message to print the Birthday Book forms) and deposit it in the Drop Box at school along with a check for $20.00 (please make the check payable to the P.G.U.S.D. and write R.H.D. Birthday Book on the memo line).

When your child’s birthday month comes around Ms. Scanlon will present a new book in honor of your child’s birthday. Your child will be the first one to check out and read the book that has been donated to the library to celebrate their birthday. A bookplate with your child’s name will be affixed to the inside cover for all future readers to appreciate.

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Update - Life-Threatening Allergy Awareness and Education

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Otterly Adorable

Flyers

Purchase Tickets for the SPOOKY SOIREE

REGISTER FOR CAMP ERIN HERE

Robert Down Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum Information for Parents

Robert Down is proud of our commitment to social and emotional learning (SEL). Both of the programs we use, Toolbox and Second Step, are aligned with the Center for Social and emotional learning (CASEL). You can learn about CASEL and our SEL programs below.

https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-is-the-casel-framework/

Robert Down SEL Programs:

1. TOOLBOX

Toolbox is taught in every classroom at RD and on ‘Toolbox Tuesdays’ during P.E. time with Mrs. Tobin and Mr. Dixon. Robert Down has embraced this program for over ten years.

https://toolboxproject.com/https://toolboxproject.com/

2. SECOND STEP

We are in our second year of piloting the Second Step program. Second Step is a research-based program that focuses on developing human skills. Students (K-5) have two second-step lessons per month and 15 in total throughout the year.

https://www.secondstep.org/digital-k-12-curriculum