Cheetah Chatter

Dear Central Elementary Families,

What an incredible first month of school it has been! As we wrap up our initial weeks together, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful energy, enthusiasm, and warmth that have filled our campus since the very first day. The start of the 2026–2027 school year has been nothing short of inspiring, and I could not be prouder to serve as your principal.

The vibrant positivity across Central Elementary is contagious. Every day, I witness our Central Cheetahs showing their PAWS, supporting one another in Central Circles, Morning Meetings and jumping into learning with bright smiles and eager minds. This uplifting spirit is felt not only among our students and staff, but also across our entire parent community. The collaborative, supportive culture we are building together ensures that every child feels valued, safe, and empowered to succeed.

One of the greatest highlights of my first month has been the fun and pleasure of meeting so many of you! Whether during morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups, during PTA and Guiding Coalition meetings, getting to know our Central families has been a true joy. Your warm welcomes, insightful conversations, and dedication to your children's education mean the world to us.

Together, We Are Central—A Coalition of Cheetahs!

Warmest regards,

Dr. Pablo Chavarin
Principal, Central Elementary School

• Wednesday, September 23: PTA Farmer Boys Fundraiser at 6:00 AM-11:00 PM (1333 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92027)

• Thursday, September 24: TK & K Movie Night Presented by PTA

• Friday, September 25: TK Lunch & Learn (Classes: Duarte, Peralta, Bautista & Rodriguez)

• Friday, October 2: Final Day for PTA Membership Competition (Ice Cream Party Incentive)

• Thursday-Friday, October 8-9: Parent-Teacher Conferences / NO SCHOOL

• Thursday, October 15: TK-5 Awards Assembly with a Special Presentation from 5th Grade

Our first monthly Dr. C's Fun Zone was a huge success with an epic Water Wars showdown! We had 18 amazing students split into two teams to battle it out for the ultimate title of Water Wars Champions. From high-energy relay races to action-packed reusable water balloon tosses, the excitement on the field was contagious!

How to Earn Entry to the Next Fun Zone:

This special event happens every month, and students can earn their spot by showing PAWS and choosing one of these paths:

• Ticket Booth: Purchase an event ticket at the Friday Ticket Booth using 30 Blue Slips.

• Gold Slips: Earn a Gold Slip during the month.

• VIP Pass: Receive a special invitation from a campus staff member.

Who knows what exciting theme Dr. C has planned for the next Fun Zone? Keep showing PAWS, making great choices, and earning those slips so you can join in on next month's surprise event!

Our intervention program is off to a wonderful start! We have assessed more than 150 students to identify specific areas of need and are using this data to strategically group students and provide targeted instruction in reading and math. Our intervention follows a consistent cycle of assessment, targeted instruction, guided practice, independent practice, and weekly progress monitoring. In reading, we use multisensory strategies to strengthen foundational skills such as phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. In math, hands-on manipulatives and visual models help students build strong conceptual understanding. Weekly progress monitoring allows us to celebrate student growth and adjust instruction when needed. We are excited to support our students as they build skills, confidence, and a love of learning. We look forward to celebrating their continued growth throughout the year!

In Ms. Bautista's TK classroom, students are actively engaged in hands-on learning as they practice identifying and constructing their names through multi-sensory activities. First, they build name recognition by searching for and finding their individual names. Next, they practice letter formation by carefully tracing each letter. Finally, students strengthen their fine motor skills and hand dexterity by rolling playdough into dynamic shapes to form the letters of their first name.

Our recent Family Literacy Night was a wonderful success! Hosted in partnership by the District Explore Team and the YMCA, the evening brought our YMCA families together for an unforgettable experience at the Central MPR.

Attendees enjoyed a captivating live theatrical performance by Mosaic Theatricals, interactive crafts, free book giveaways, and a delicious dinner provided by Chicken Lisa's. Translation devices were also on hand to ensure everyone could fully participate.

Thank you so much to all the YMCA students, families, and staff who came out to support our community, enjoy the show, and share a meal together. We appreciate your support in making this event such a special night!

Our School Site Council (SSC) Parent Representative Election is officially open! The SSC is a dedicated team of parents, staff, and school leaders who collaborate to review school programs and advise on our school plan and budget.

We need your voice! Please vote for one parent representative for the upcoming school year. You may select a candidate from the nominated list or submit a write-in candidate on the form.

• Eligibility: One ballot per family

• Deadline to Vote: Wednesday, October 7th

Cast your SSC vote here via Google Forms

Kick off your morning with fun activities, learning, and games before the school bell rings!

When & Where

• Days: Monday – Friday

• Time: 7:40 AM – 8:05 AM

• Location: Central Library

Weekly Schedule

• Monday: Imaginative Play (Puppets, Action Figures, Little People Sets)

• Tuesday: Reading Rocks! (Read with a Buddy or Stuffie, Poetry Reading, Read Aloud)

• Wednesday: STEM (Building Challenges, Science Concepts, Legos)

• Thursday: Sing a Song (Sing-a-Long, Karaoke)

• Friday: Game On (Group Games, Card Games, Board Games)

Everyday Choices:

• iPads for AR or i-Ready

• Drawing/Coloring

• Homework Table

Important Information for Families

• Early Arrival (7:40 AM): Students must be at the front gate by 7:40 AM to be escorted to the library promptly by Library Lab Staff.

• Gate Opening (7:50 AM): If space allows (max capacity is 15 students), additional students may join when gates open at 7:50 AM.

• Breakfast: Students needing breakfast will be released early from the Library Lab to eat.

Join us for a fun afternoon at the TK/Kinder Movie Night, presented by the PTA!

• When: Thursday, September 24, 2026

• Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

• Where: Central Elementary MPR

Space is limited! Please RSVP as soon as possible so we can ensure proper supervision and plenty of snacks for all of our little moviegoers. We can't wait to see you there!

TK and K Families RSVP for the Movie NIght HERE

Mark your calendars! On Friday, September 25, families in Duarte, Peralta, Bautista, and Rodriguez’s classes are invited to join us on campus for our TK Lunch & Learn.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to step into your student’s world, see how they navigate mealtime, and enjoy lunch together right here at school.

The Details:

• Date: Friday, September 25

• Time: Starts at 11:00 AM

• Classes Invited: Ms. Duarte, Ms. Peralta, Ms. Bautista, & Ms. Rodriguez

• Lunch Options: Bring a favorite packed lunch from home for yourself and your student, or grab a meal directly from our cafeteria line.

• Pricing: School lunch is FREE for all students. Adult lunches are $6.00 (exact change required for adult meals).

We can’t wait to welcome our TK families to campus to share a meal and build our school community together!

Central Elementary families are eligible for free support through ChildNET, a partnership between the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) State Preschool and the Vista Hill Foundation.

ChildNET provides no-cost services for children ages 0–5 and their families (for families with Medi-Cal or no insurance, funded by the County of San Diego) to help children navigate big feelings, build social skills, and feel comfortable at school.

Services Offered:

• Individual & Family Therapy and Case Management

• Incredible Years® Small Group Services & Parenting Classes

• Assessment Services and program psychiatrist consultation (when appropriate)

• Engaging Skill-Building: Uses friendly puppet friends (like Dina the Dinosaur, Wally, and Molly) to teach kids about friendship, problem-solving, following school rules, and managing emotions.

How to Get Started: To request services or get more information, speak with Khrystina Hendrickson, the ChildNET staff at Central Elementary, or contact the ChildNET Program Office directly:

• Phone: 760-280-5020

• Address: 425 W. 5th Avenue, Suite #101, Escondido, CA 92025

Thursday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room

Your time, your support, and your donation make a difference! PTA membership envelopes are coming home in student backpacks this week. Joining the PTA is the fastest way to directly impact our school, support our teachers, and fund the programs that make our community thrive.

The Great PTA Ice Cream Contest

We are kicking off the year with a little friendly competition: the classroom with the most PTA memberships will win an ice cream party and special recognition at an upcoming assembly!

Many Ways to Join by October 2nd:

• Paper Envelope: Complete the membership envelope coming home in your child's backpack and return it to school with your child.

• Scan to Join: Skip the paper and sign up instantly using the QR code on the flyer attached below!

• Use this link to join the PTA

Whether parents, grandparents, or guardians sign up, every single membership counts toward your child's class total. The final count takes place on Friday, October 2nd, so be sure to turn yours in soon. Thank you for your support, and good luck to all of our classes!

Please remember that all visitors must always sign in at the main office before coming onto campus.

It is with great joy that we invite all TK–5 students to participate in this year’s PTA Reflections Art Program! This annual program gives students a fun, imaginative space to express themselves, explore a theme, and earn recognition at our PTA council meetings—and even at the National level.

Students can enter original artwork in any of six categories:

• Dance Choreography

• Film Production

• Literature

• Music Composition

• Photography

• Visual Arts

PTA Help & Supply Sessions

To ensure every student can participate, the PTA is hosting two remaining 30-minute after-school drop-in sessions at 12:30 PM on October 1 and October 15. PTA members will be on hand to help students fill out entry forms and assist in providing needed supplies.

Final Deadline: October 15

Need some inspiration? Watch the Learn More about the PTA Reflections Art Program video and take a look at the California winners of the 2025–2026 Reflections Art Program to see what past participants created. Encourage your young artist to jump in and showcase their incredible talents!

Show your school spirit! The PTA is thrilled to announce that brand-new school T-shirts are officially available for purchase. They are just $15 each. Grab yours today to support our school programs and wear your school pride on your sleeve—literally!

Mark your calendars! Enjoy farm-to-table breakfast, burgers, and more while giving back to our organization. Farmer Boys will donate 20% of all sales from our supporters back to Central PTA!

• When: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM

• Where: Farmer Boys® – 1333 E Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92027

• Phone: (760) 739-0700

Thank you so much for your continued support—we appreciate you helping us reach our goal!

Get ready for some hauntingly good fun! Central Elementary PTA is hosting our annual Spooky-Run Fundraiser on October 23, 2026, and we need our amazing school community to help make it a success!

Here is how you can get involved:

• Volunteers Needed: We need helping hands to decorate both before and during the event.

• Item Donations: We are collecting Water Bottles and Kirkland Chocolate Chip Granola Bars.

If you are able to donate supplies, please drop them off at the school office by October 15.

Have questions or want to volunteer? Reach out to PTA President Marisol Fabian at central.elementary.pta.eusd@gmail.com or Family Liaison Gladys Zavala at gzavala@eusd.org.

Thank you for your support—we are looking forward to a spook-takular event!

95 OUR GOAL: 95% SCHOOLWIDE ADA!

What is ADA? It stands for Average Daily Attendance. It’s a simple way to measure how many students are in class learning every single day. When our ADA is 95%, it means 95 out of every 100 students are here!

THE CONTEST

Every single day your class has 95% or more of its students present, your class COLORS in a BUCKET OF POPCORN on your class tracker board!

THE REWARDS!

FOR STUDENTS: A POPCORN & MOVIE PARTY with the PRINCIPAL!

FOR TEACHERS: A period of FREE TIME while the Principal hosts the party!

EVERY DAY COUNTS! Let’s get our kids to to school, on time, every day!

122 West 4th Ave

Escondido, CA 92025

(760) 432-2431