The Gator Gab 5th Edition🐊
Week of September 22nd - 26th
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 - October 15 to give recognition to the Hispanic and Latino history and culture, as well as the many contributions made to United States history and culture by the Hispanic American communities. Starting as a week-long celebration in 1968, it was expanded to a month in 1988.
The United States is home to over 60 million Latinos, nearly 19% of our total population. Hispanic people have been a part of our country from the very beginning, and continue to fuel our economy and enrich our culture as entrepreneurs, scientists, public servants, athletes, artists, entertainers, and much, much more. Our music, food, sports, art, architecture, and very history would be much the poorer without the presence and influence of Hispanic Americans. As the country continues to diversify, it's important for all of us to learn more about the Hispanic American experience.
Principal's Message
Dear Gators,
Happy first day of fall! It doesn't feel like it though. Don't forget to iron your Wednesday best for picture day on Wednesday, September 24th.
Have wonderful week.
Doyal Martin, Principal
Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School
Join the FCUSD Team
Lots of opportunities to be involved in the education of your child and their friends.
Picture Day
It's the day all grandparents love....PICTURE DAY! Put on your best and come to school like a shiny new nickel for Picture Day on Wednesday, September 24th.
Picture make ups are Wednesday, October 22nd.
Folsom Community Service Day
Our ball wall and the map of the continents were vandalized early in the school year. Sandra J. Gallardo was chosen as a project for the 12th Annual Folsom Community Service Day. This past Saturday a group of volunteers touched up the paint on the ball wall and the map of the continents. Thank you to the Folsom community, young and experienced, for your support of our students at SJG.
SJG 2025-26 School Site Council Nominations
Get involved in your child's school! We are in need of your help to serve on the School Site Council. Learn more about the inner workings on the school.If you are interested please nominate yourself or someone else using the link below.
Kindness Matters!
Gallardo’s Neighbors: Please be mindful of our neighbor’s property. We are not allowed to block driveways or wait on their property during morning drop-off or afterschool pick-up.
Stewart Street: Gallardo’s parents are asked to park in a designated space when dropping off or picking up a student. Stewart Street is an active lane of traffic and not an area to double park.
GATE Testing
All 3rd graders and some 4th and 5th graders will complete GATE testing on Modany.
Reminders
Early Release on Thursdays: Students in grades K-5 are dismissed at 1:15 pm.
Please check and update your access to ParentSquare. Make sure you are getting all the latest information. If you want to receive texts, mark that. We rarely use the “urgent” messages, so if that is all you receive you will not get weekly updates.
Upcoming Events
10/13 - No School (PD Day for teachers)
PTA News
🎵 ROCK & RUN SEASON IS UPON US! 👟👟
More than 60% of all of our funding for the year comes from THIS event! IT’S A VERY BIG DEAL! Our goal this year is to raise $38,000, and we cannot do it without support from generous donations from you, your family, and friends— to support your student participating.
✅Today, 9/19, your student will bring home a packet full of information and how to collect online donations. They must return a signed waiver to participate. Digital version of packet HERE.
✅Event day is Friday, 10/24. Come cheer on your student. Category 2-cleared volunteers are encouraged to sign up HERE to help!
✅💰To hit prize targets, start fundraising NOW by sharing and/or clicking the link HERE, search for your student by last name (1st initial and teacher will appear).
🏆Prize distributions for individual students hitting target fundraising milestones, will be Fridays in October.
THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS DONORS!
The PTA wants to recognize these generous businesses for their donations to our school! So far we have received $5,350 from local businesses to go toward Assemblies, STEM Lab, FAME and all of our amazing programming!
Top Gator Donors - Broadstone Sports Club, Dimples Pediatric Dental, and Leighton Dance Project
Gold Level Donors - Early Bird Plumbing, Coder School, Boost Swim, and The Curious Brush
General Level Donor - Bowman Martial Arts
The community support is beyond helpful and we are so appreciative. If you know of any businesses that would be a wonderful partner for our school please have them email GallardoPTA@gmail.com
DATE CHANGE-BLAKE BRANDES PARENT PRESENTATION ON GROWTH MINDSET & GRIT
Please note, due to circumstances out of our control, this event will now be held virtually on Thursday, October 23 from 6-7pm. We hope this will make it more convenient for parents to attend! Dr. Blake Brandes, a TedX speaker and America’s Got Talent performer will share powerful strategies to help your child thrive in school and life! You don’t want to miss it! The link to join will be sent out soon!
STARSTRUCK DANCE SHOW UPDATE!
Practice for our Starstruck Dance Showcase is underway and the kids are really enjoying it! This year there will be one night of shows at Sutter Middle School on Thursday, October 9th. Half the school will perform at 5:30pm and the other half at 6:45pm. Please consult the show schedule below. Students will need to arrive 30 minutes before their show time. We look forward to seeing them shine!
ANXIOUS GENERATION PARENT DISCUSSION SERIES
Our first session in this two-part discussion series was held this week. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this very important topic affecting our youth today--how screens, cell phones and social media impact mental and physical health and well-being. As a reminder, our second session is coming up. If you’d like to join, please email GallardoPTA@gmail.com for availability.
Session 2 - October 2 @ 6:30-8pm Gallardo Library
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!!
Believe us when we say your future self who might forget to do this in April will thank you! We use the company Treering to publish our school yearbook. Yearbook sales are completely online and if you order now, there is a 10% discount! Current cost is $24.61 each. After you order, you can even start working on your custom pages added to your book(s) only. This year’s deadline for custom pages is April 6, 2026. For more information on the yearbook, visit the Yearbook page on our PTA Website. Gallardo’s passcode is 1015682215844355.
Upload your photos to Treering for the First Day of School and Gators on the Green
REFLECTIONS ART CONTEST
Gallardo Students! Do you enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! This year's theme is "I Belong!" Submission guidelines and entry forms are available on the PTA website. Contest deadline is October 24, 2025.
Parents and teachers interested in helping with promoting, judging, and celebrating the winners of the Reflections art contest, please contact Reflections Chair Andrea Peterson at andreapeterson724@gmail.com. Virtual judge training is Thursday, September 18.
😋🍽️GALLARDO MONTHLY SPIRIT NIGHTS
Thank you to all the families who supported Beach Hut Deli Spirit Night! And thank you to Beach Hut for supporting our students with the giveback!
We love seeing our Gator families out in the community—eating, laughing, and supporting Gallardo together! Visit this restaurant at this day/time and they give a 💰portion to Gallardo!
📌Monday, October 20
🌯🌮Dos Coyotes (Folsom Blvd.) | 4:00–8:30 p.m.
PTA EVENTS CALENDAR
We are thrilled to kick off the new school year with a full calendar of programs to educate, engage, and entertain all students at Gallardo! Check out our Calendar of events here.
Please consider getting involved as a way to get back to our wonderful community. We have many volunteer opportunities available, and would love to have your help to make our programs a success!
Please reach out to our general inbox (gallardopta@gmail.com) or our Director of Programs, Rachelle Schulken (rachelles.pta@gmail.com) to inquire about opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the lives of the students and faculty at Gallardo!
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS & ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES
Interested in joining Cross Country or taking a Spanish class? Registration is open until 9/26.
Cross Country (Grades 3, 4, 5)
Monday & Wednesday 2:50-3:20pm
Practice: 10/1, 10/6, 10/8, 10/15, 10/20, and 10/27
Meets: 10/22 and 10/29
10/22 3pm - 4:30pm @ Gold Ridge
10/29 3pm - 4:30pm @ Gallardo
Spanish Enrichment (Grades 3, 4)
Tuesdays, 2:50-3:40pm
Meeting: 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4
VOLUNTEERS TO PAINT EVENT BANNERS
We need a few creative volunteers to help make banners for our events. We’ll provide the banner paper — you just bring the creativity! Sign up to help
Starstruck Dance Showcase
Rock & Run
Red Ribbon Week
Trunk or Treat
And More!
Important Dates from PTA:
Oct 2 Anxious Generation Parent Discussion- Session 2
Oct 8 Walk & Roll to School Day
Oct 9 Starstruck Dance Shows (One Night Only)
Oct 10 Minimum Day, 1:21pm Dismissal
Oct 13 No School, PD Day for Teachers
Oct 20 Dos Coyotes Spirit Night 4-8:30pm Folsom Blvd. Location Only
Oct 23 NEW DATE- Blake Brandes Parent Night 6-7pm (Virtual)
Oct 24 Rock & Run
Oct 27-31 Red Ribbon Week
Oct 29 General PTA Meeting at 7pm, Multi
Oct 30 Trunk or Treat
Oct 31 Super Minimum Day
Oct 2 Anxious Generation Parent Discussion- Session 2
Oct 8 Walk & Roll to School Day
Oct 9 Starstruck Dance Shows (One Night Only)
Oct 10 Minimum Day, 1:21pm Dismissal
Oct 13 No School, PD Day for Teachers
Oct 20 Dos Coyotes Spirit Night 4-8:30pm Folsom Blvd. Location Only
Oct 23 NEW DATE- Blake Brandes Parent Night 6-7pm (Virtual)
Oct 24 Rock & Run
Oct 27-31 Red Ribbon Week
Oct 29 General PTA Meeting at 7pm, Multi
Oct 30 Trunk or Treat
Oct 31 Super Minimum Day