Gecko Gazette
August 7th, 2026
Happy Halloween
What a fun-filled Halloween it has been at Creekside! Our campus was buzzing with excitement, from festive activities to countless smiling faces and wonderful memories. A huge thank-you to all the volunteers who helped make the celebrations so special for our students. Your time and support truly make a difference!
Wishing all of our families a safe and joyful Halloween with your loved ones. As a friendly reminder, don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 1, as daylight saving time ends.
Safety at Creekside Elementary is one of our top priorities, and the unsafe behaviors we have observed during arrival and dismissal cannot be ignored.
Over the past two weeks, we have seen a significant increase in adults and students failing to follow established traffic and pedestrian safety procedures, creating dangerous situations on and around our campus.
Examples of unsafe behaviors observed include:
- Failing to use designated crosswalks and walkways, including illegally crossing the street.
- Running through the parking lot instead of using designated pedestrian pathways.
- Dropping students off in the driving lane of the parking lot rather than using the designated valet area alongside the curb.
- Stopping to load or unload students near the playground gate.
- Making illegal U-turns on Springhurst Drive.
- Failing to watch for bicycles, moving vehicles, and pedestrians.
These are serious safety violations that put our children, families, and staff at risk. Being in a hurry or seeking a more convenient drop-off or pick-up does not justify putting another person's safety in danger.
Due to the significant increase in unsafe behaviors, we have reached out to the San Diego Police Department for support in promoting a safer environment in the areas surrounding our campus.
We are asking all families to:
- Follow all posted traffic signs, directions, and procedures in our parking lots.
- Use designated crosswalks and walkways at all times.
- Use the designated valet area for student drop-off and pick-up.
- Do not stop in driving lanes or near the playground gate to load or unload students.
- Remain alert and watch carefully for our students, both walking and on bicycles, at all times.
Student safety is nonnegotiable. We understand that arrival and dismissal can be busy. Please plan accordingly and allow sufficient time to follow procedures safely.
We need everyone's immediate attention and cooperation. We must work together to ensure that every student can safely arrive and leave school each day.
Our children learn so much by watching the adults around them, and following school traffic rules is a wonderful way to model responsibility and respect for our community.
Thank you for doing your part to keep Creekside safe.
This month's Socio-Emotional Learning lessons focus on Gratitude. Here is additional information for families to support this learning at home.
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.
As we enter cold and flu season, we are seeing an increase in the number of students coming to school feeling ill. We understand that families have busy schedules and that missing school can be challenging; however, we ask for your help in keeping our school community healthy by ensuring that children are well enough to return to school after an illness.
Our Health Office supports a school community, with one Health Technician available to assist students who become ill or injured during the school day. When many students are experiencing symptoms of illness, it can be challenging to provide timely care to everyone who needs assistance.
Please help us reduce the spread of illness by:
Keeping your child home when they are sick. If your child has a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or symptoms that prevent them from comfortably participating in school activities, please keep them home.
Waiting until symptoms have improved and your child is ready to return. Please follow school district guidelines for return to school, including any applicable fever-free requirements.
Encouraging good hygiene. Remind your child to wash their hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid sharing food or drinks.
Monitoring your child throughout the day. If your child is not feeling well before school, please consider whether they are ready to participate in a full day of learning.
We recognize that some symptoms, such as a lingering cough or runny nose, may persist after an illness. Please use your best judgment and follow school guidelines when deciding whether your child is well enough to attend. Our shared goal is to maintain a healthy learning environment for all students and staff while ensuring that students who need care during the school day can receive appropriate attention.
For more information, please follow our Health Services webpage.
Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and consideration for the health and well-being of our entire school community. We appreciate your partnership in helping keep our students healthy and ready to learn.
