Gecko Gazette

Whether we use spoken words, gestures, sign language, or communication devices, there are many ways to share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

At Creekside, we are grateful to be part of such an inclusive community where every voice matters, every student belongs, and everyone deserves to be heard!

We are excited to participate in Red Ribbon Week next week from Mon 10/26 - Fri 10/30. This year's theme is: 'Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.'

This is a special time when our school community comes together to celebrate healthy choices and a drug-free lifestyle. During this week, we encourage all students and families to participate in activities (listed below) that remind us how important it is to make good decisions for our bodies and our futures. We hope you'll join us as we show our commitment to being safe, healthy, and strong.

Warmly,

Cynthia Chambers

Principal

A school year is made up of 180 days, and being at school every day, on time, and ready to learn helps students make the most of every opportunity to grow and learn.

When students miss school, they miss valuable instruction, classroom experiences, and time with their teachers and classmates. Attendance also has an impact on our school’s funding, which supports the programs, resources, and opportunities we provide for students.

Between Oct 19 - 23, absences have resulted in an estimated $5,525 in lost funding for our school.

Thank you to all of our Creekside families for making attendance a priority. Every day counts, and every Gecko counts!

• Mon 10/26 - Fri 10/30 - Red Ribbon Week
• Fri 10/30 - 9am - Halloween Parade
• Mon 11/2 - Fri 11/6 - Scholastic Fall Book Fair
• Fri 11/6 - VAPA
• Wed 11/11 - Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL!
• Mon 11/16 - Parent/Teacher Conferences Day - NO SCHOOL!
• Tues 11/17 & Wed 11/18: Minimum Days - all grades dismiss at 12.45pm for Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Thurs 11/19: Regular dismissal time 1.25pm
• Fri 11/20: : Minimum Day - all grades dismiss at 12.45pm for Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Mon 11/23 - Fri 11/27 - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL!

At arrival and dismissal times the Creekside parking lot is very congested. Please keep the following in mind to keep everyone safe in our parking lot:

• Please be patient, kind and courteous. Thank yous and smiles are always appreciated!

• Please listen and follow directions from staff.

• Only use the pedestrian crosswalk to cross the parking lot. Do not dodge in and out of the traffic flow to get through the parking lot.

• Do not leave any cars unattended when Parked along the red curb. This causes a back-up into the street and there is a chance you will be ticketed by the city of San Diego.

• Have your child on the right (passenger) side of the car with materials ready to go. Please do not get out of your car to assist or escort your child.

• Continue to move forward as far as possible before stopping to let your child out.

• Do not drop your child off in the middle of the parking lot or expect them to cut through the lot on their own.

• Do not park in reserved spaces including Staff spaces.

• There is NO LEFT TURN out of the parking lot during arrival and dismissal times. There is also no parking in the bike lane along Springhurst Drive. SDPD patrols this area and will ticket.

• Refrain from using cell phones in the parking lot, stay alert.

We recommend using the back gate to ease parking lot congestion in the front.

Thank you for keeping yourself and our Geckos safe!

This month's Socio-Emotional Learning lessons focus on Gratitude. Here is additional information for families to support this learning at home.

To upload photos for the yearbook email them to: notification.photos.543151617@treeringphotos.com

To buy your yearbook login at Treering.com then use school code: 101597898327959

Please join us for our annual Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th at 9:00am. Families are also welcome to join us for the parade and may enter campus through the playground gates starting 8:55am.

The family viewing area will be on the blacktop between the little houses/play structure and the wall ball courts – facing the field. Students and teachers will be waiting on the grass area of the field for their turn to walk. They will enter the track in front of families and make their way around in counterclockwise direction re-entering the grass area once they have walked the full track.

The parade will last approx. 45mins. At the conclusion of the parade, all spectators must exit campus via the playground gate where they entered. If parents and/or other family members are helping with classroom activities, they must return though the front office to sign in before making their way to the various classrooms.

Students are encouraged to wear/bring a costume for the costume parade on. The below guidelines are for ALL students:

• Makeup should be minimal and applied at home.
• No offensive or inappropriate costumes. Avoid violent or bloody images. Costumes depicting excessive gore, horror, or violence (including weapons or replicas such as swords or guns) can be misconstrued and lead to unnecessary distress or concern.
• No pretend weapons, such as swords, knives, water guns, or pretend/fake blood.
• Please ensure that your child can see, hear, and breathe in their costume. Eye and face masks are acceptable if vision and hearing are not impaired. Masks can only be worn during the morning parade.
• Please ensure that your child can walk in their costume without tripping.
• Please ensure that your child can use the restroom while wearing their costume.
• Please ensure that your child can walk in their costume without tripping.
• Please ensure that your child can use the restroom while wearing their costume.
• High heeled shoes and bare midriffs are not allowed.

For our younger TK and Kinder Students: Please ensure that your child can get in and out of their costumes independently. Please label all parts of your child’s costume.

Thank you for helping us make Halloween a fun and memorable day at Creekside Elementary!

To get involved, please click HERE.

For E-Wallets, please click HERE.

Teaching students to develop healthy habits with technology is important for their well-being. As we launch this school year, establishing balanced technology routines at home helps set our students up for success both in and out of the classroom.

Small, intentional steps make a big difference:

• Designate Screen-Free Zones: Keep mealtime and bedrooms tech-free to protect sleep and encourage family conversation.

• Co-Create Family Rules: Work with your children to set consistent daily expectations around screen time and screen-free play.

• Model Healthy Boundaries: Show your children how you balance device use with daily life.

Resources for Your Family: Family Media Agreement: K-5 Printable Guide and Screen Time One-pager

Together, we can help our students build a grounded foundation for lifelong, responsible technology use.

• My Kid Isn’t Bad: Understanding What Your Teen is Really Saying – Grades 6th-12th
• Raising Pre-Teens in Immigrant and Multicultural Families – Grades 5th-8th
• The Life Skills Behind Learning and Success – Grades TK-5th
• Connection Before Correction: Supporting Teens with Anxiety, Stress, and Behavior – Grades 6th-12th
• The Parent Behind Parenting: Understanding Yourself and Parent with Confidence – All Grades TK-12th
• Parenting Preteens: Growing Confidence and Connection – Grades 5th-7th
• Personal Stress and Anxiety – All Grades TK-12th
• Calm in Chaos: Helping Parents Stay Regulated during Challenging Moments - Grades 4th-12th
• Free Bereavement Parent Workshop - All Grades TK-12th