Podesta Ranch Newletter 10/18/2026

Welcome to Week 11!

Welcome back, Red-Tailed Hawks!

It was so wonderful to celebrate our students for their attendance at last week's pancake breakfast. A huge thank you to Nutrition Services and our parent volunteers for serving our students an amazing breakfast! Please continue to remind your students of the importance of arriving at school on time, every day. Each minute counts!

This week will be busy here at Podesta Ranch:

🏆 District Spelling Bee: We are proud to host the District Spelling Bee for North Stockton schools on Tuesday! Best of luck to Dylan T. as he represents Podesta Ranch. You’re already a winner in our book, Dylan! We are cheering you on!

🌳 Lunch on the Lawn & Minimum Day: This Wednesday will be both Lunch on the Lawn and a Minimum Day. We look forward to seeing our families on campus and enjoying this special time together!

🎃 Harvest Festival: Our Harvest Festival is happening this Friday! Discounted tickets will continue to be on sale through Monday, so be sure to get your tickets now. We look forward to a fun-filled evening with our Hawk families!

🦅 A Reminder About Being a Red-Tailed Hawk: As we move through the school year, we continue to emphasize the importance of being Responsible, Kind, and Safe. Following these expectations helps ensure that all our Red-Tailed Hawks feel welcomed, respected, and safe at school.

Please continue to encourage your students to show kindness and courtesy to others. While we don't expect everyone to be best friends, we do expect all students to treat one another with respect and kindness. Small acts of kindness make a big difference in creating a positive school community!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Let's make it another great week to be a Red-Tailed Hawk!

With Red-Tailed Hawk Pride,

Magenda Cruz
Principal
Podesta Ranch Elementary School

For the safety of the students, NO PARENTS are allowed on campus beyond the front desk. Please drop off your child with a staff member in front and they will be guided to their designated area.

🎨 Art Club is back, and we're thrilled to invite your student to join the creative fun! All that's needed is a permission slip from Miss Lo to get started.

If your student isn't part of our Bridge after-school program, please be sure to pick them up promptly at 3:30 PM. We can't wait to see the wonderful masterpieces your young artist will create! 🖌️✨

Art Club meets every Monday and Thursday from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM!

📸 Picture day round two is coming! If your child would like to retake their photos, Monday, October 19th is the day to make it happen. Just let their homeroom teacher know, and we'll get them camera-ready! 📷✨

📸 Our yearbook orders has started! 📚 Capture the memories of this amazing year for just $15. Head over to shoobphoto.com to place your order and bring home a keepsake of all the wonderful moments we've shared together. Don't miss out! 🎉

Click the image on the right to place an order online.

Upcoming minimum days are the following:

• Wednesday, October 21st, 2026
• Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
• Wednesday, November 18th, 2026
• Wednesday, December 9th, 2026
• Friday, December 18th, 2026

Please be sure to pick up your children at their designated dismissal time as staff have meetings and professional development immediately after school. All PM TK and Kindergarten classes start at 8:15 AM.

🎨 Calling all creative minds! Our annual yearbook cover competition is here, and we want YOUR artistic vision to shine on next year's cover. This is your chance to make your mark and see your design celebrated by the entire school community. ✨

The deadline is this Friday, November 13th, so don't let this opportunity slip away! 📅 Whether you're a seasoned artist or just love to create, we'd love to see what you come up with. Your imagination could be the masterpiece that represents our whole year together. 🌟

Get those entries in by Friday and show us what you've got! 🎉

Click on the image on the right for the digital flyer.

🌉 Exciting news! Bridge After School program is here! If your child is interested in joining in on the fun, just click the link below to get them registered.

Please click on the image on the right for more information about the program.

🎃 Harvest Fest is almost here — Friday, October 23rd! 🎉 Our team is gearing up for a spooktacular celebration and we need your help to make it happen! 👻 We're looking for volunteers to contribute Halloween decorations 🎨, candy 🍬, and prizes 🎁 for our booths and high school volunteers who need community service hours!. Your support makes this event unforgettable for our students! More details about tickets coming your way very soon. Ready to join in the fun? We'd love to have you on board! 🌟

As Lodi USD continues to move towards our goal of clear, timely, and transparent communication, we want to ensure that our families are receiving communication with ease. You should already be receiving communication through email and text - if you're not, please reach out to our school's office to let us know. The next step with staying connected is downloading the ParentSquare app! Available for both iPhones and Androids, downloading the app ensures instant access to updates, and provides an easy way to interact with posts, direct messages, forms, and more.

If you need help accessing ParentSquare, please reach out to communications@lodiusd.net.

Click on the image on the right to download app.

The Imagine This... Story Writing Contest is now open, and we're inviting students in grades 3–8 to write and submit original stories—real or imagined—based on accurate information about California agriculture. This one-of-a-kind contest combines agriculture, creativity, and literacy. Each year, one state winner from each grade level is selected, and their story is illustrated by talented high school art students before being published in a beautifully bound book!

Important Dates:

📅 November 1 – Story Submission Deadline

🏅 December 1 – Regional Winners Announced

🏆 December 1 – State Winners Announced

Winners Will:

📖 Become a published author

🏛️ Travel to Sacramento to be recognized at the State Capitol (travel expenses covered)

🎨 Have their story professionally illustrated by high school art students

🖼️ Receive a giant poster featuring their story's illustrated book cover

Click on the image below for more information.

Phones down, heads up. Creating connections in the classroom.

As we settle back into the routines of school, please help us remind your children that their phones should be put away during school. During school hours, campuses are a "no phone zone" and students will be expected to keep their phones off and put away.

This initiative is designed to support a more focused learning environment while encouraging real, in-person connection outside of the digital world. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.lodiusd.net/be-present.

If your child is riding an E-Bike or scooter to school, please review the following information provided to Lodi USD by law enforcement to ensure that your child is following regulations and is riding with safety.

• E-Bikes - There are three classifications of e-bikes. All e-bikes must have an electric motor of less than 750 watts.
• Class 1 and 2: These e-bikes are similar to regular bicycles. They can be identified as pedal assisted with an electric motor that reaches a maximum speed of 20mph. Class 1 and 2 riders must wear a helmet while riding and adhere to the same regulations as regular bicycles.
• Class 3: These e-bikes are pedal assisted with an electric motor that ceases to provide power at 28mph. These e-bikes have age restrictions, riders must be 16 years or older, and must be wearing a helmet at all times when riding.

• Motorized Scooters - Motorized scooters are two-wheeled devices with a floorboard or seat, and are powered by an electric motor.
• Riders of motorized scooters must be 16 years of age or older, and must have a valid driver's license or learner's permit to legally ride. Riders must also wear a helmet.

Please help us keep students safe by ensuring these regulations are followed. Thank you!

Please click the image for our next school year calendar for planning.

To ensure compliance with California Senate Bill 848 (SB 848), all school volunteers who meet the requirements outlined in the law must complete Mandated Reporter Training before serving in a volunteer capacity.

Click on the image on the right for more information or the button below to create an account and complete your training.

Safety First for Our Red-Tailed Hawks

To ensure a safe and smooth experience for all students, please review and follow the guidelines below. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our campus calm, safe, and welcoming!

⏰ Morning Arrival – Begins at 7:45 AM

• 7:45 AM is the earliest students may arrive on campus.

• Breakfast is served at 7:45 AM in the MPR.

• Upon arrival, students line up outside and will begin entering the front doors starting at 7:45.

🚸 Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures

• The bus loop is for school buses and SDC families only. If your child is in an SDC class and you are using this loop, a visible parking pass must be displayed.

• Drop-Off Lane Guidelines:

  • Stay in your vehicle at all times.

  • Follow posted signage and staff directions.

  • Pull all the way forward to keep traffic flowing.

• If you need to exit your car (even briefly), you must park in a designated parking space and walk with your child using the crosswalks. Please do not leave your car unattended in the drop-off lane.

🏁 Dismissal Time Reminders

• The same traffic rules apply at pick-up:

  • If you plan to get out of your car, please park and meet your child at a designated crosswalk or sidewalk.

  • Do not ask your student to cross the parking lot or street at an unsafe location.

  • If you're in the pickup lane, remain in your running vehicle and move with the flow of traffic.

• No double parking, U-turns, or unsafe driving will be allowed. Your patience and cooperation helps us keep all students safe.

❤️ Thank You!

We know pick-up and drop-off may take a few minutes, but your patience and safety-minded choices are critical to ensuring every Red-Tailed Hawk arrives and leaves safely. We appreciate your cooperation!

Join us for FREE nutritious breakfast each morning at 7:45 AM!

Please click on the image on the right to see a live view of the cafeteria menu for our school. Make sure to click on the drop down menu for Podesta Ranch Elementary School.

Click the BLUE WORDS MENU below for the digital pdf copy of the lunch menu.

T1 MENU

For more information about lunches and nutrition on the LodiUSD website, please click on the BLUE words below.

FOOD SERVICES

Free breakfast is served every school day at 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM. If your child intends on eating free breakfast at school, they may arrive no earlier than 7:45 AM. If they are not eating breakfast, children should not arrive at school before 8:00 AM in lieu to safety concerns. No adults are supervising the students before 7:45 AM.

Please click on the blue words student and family handbook for the pdf of school rules/policies for 2026/2027 school year, as it has important information about all school expectations.

You may also click on the image on the right for the same document.

As a safety reminder, please send your student to school in appropriate attire, including shoes. Our dress code can be found in the Student Handbook in your student's planner or online. Students are expected to wear closed toe/heeled shoes. Students with sandals, slippers/UGGS, slides, or Crocs will be asked to sit out during recess and PE to ensure student safety on the playground, stairwell and in the bark box.

Please click on the image on the right for the digital Student Handbook regarding their dress code.