Podesta Ranch Newletter 10/25/2026

Welcome to Week 12, Red-Tailed Hawks!

Thank you to our amazing PTA for hosting Harvest Festival and to our wonderful teachers, staff, and parent volunteers who helped make the event such a huge success! Our families had a fantastic time, and we are so grateful to everyone who contributed their time and energy to make this event special. It is wonderful to see our school community come together to create memorable experiences for our students and families!

This week is Red Ribbon Week, and our theme is “Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free!” I invite all our families to join in the fun by participating in our Red Ribbon Week spirit days! These activities are a great way to show our school spirit while reinforcing the importance of making healthy choices and staying safe. Red Ribbon Week also provides a wonderful opportunity to have meaningful conversations with our children about the dangers of drugs and the importance of making responsible decisions. Please remind your students to only take medication when needed and when it is provided by a trusted adult, such as a parent, guardian, or doctor. Together, we can help our Red-Tailed Hawks develop healthy habits and make choices that keep them safe and drug-free!

As we move through the fall season, we are also experiencing those chilly mornings followed by warmer afternoons. Please remind your students to bring their jackets home each day and check the Lost and Found for any missing items. We frequently find jackets left behind after students shed them when the weather warms up, and some are unfortunately discarded or misplaced. Taking a few minutes to check the Lost and Found now is a great way to reunite students with their belongings before they are needed again on those colder mornings. Thank you for helping our students practice responsibility by keeping track of their personal items!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to make Podesta Ranch a safe, welcoming, and positive place for every student. Let's make it a fantastic week filled with school spirit, healthy choices, and lots of learning!

Have a wonderful week, Red-Tailed Hawks! Our School Rocks!

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!

📸 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.

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.