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Dear Cougar Families,

We have so much to celebrate, and so many people to thank! Our Drive for Schools fundraiser brought in almost $8,000, exceeding our $6,000 goal. Combined with the incredible $20,000 raised through our Jog-a-Thon and another successful Trunk or Treat fundraiser, these efforts reflect the generosity and commitment of our Cougar community!

A HUGE shout-out to our Home and School Club President, Jenny Cyr, for leading these fundraising efforts, and to the volunteers, families, and community members who helped make them successful. We truly cannot thank you enough for your time, energy, and support!

Your contributions help support our art and music programs with our talented Suzie Blackburn and Diane Bock. These experiences nurture creativity, build skills and confidence, and give students meaningful opportunities to express themselves. Thank you for helping make them possible!

We also want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our Family School Climate Survey by Friday, November 6th with the new extended deadline. Your feedback helps us understand what is working well and where we can strengthen our school community. Thank you to everyone who has already shared their perspective!

In our classrooms, teachers continue to use student data and insights from parent-teacher conferences to guide instruction and connect students with support. Our focus on Academic Conversations helps students explain their thinking, listen to different perspectives, and learn from one another.

We’re looking forward to celebrating together at our Halloween parade! Please review the parade details and costume guidelines below. Costumes should allow students to move comfortably and participate in the school day. Please leave face-covering costume masks and all real, toy, or replica weapons at home, and choose costumes that are respectful and appropriate for our youngest Cougars.

Please also review the information below about our Día de los Muertos celebration, upcoming meetings, and other school happenings. We encourage you to stay connected through Home and School Club, School Site Council, and ELAC. Your voice and participation help shape our school!

Thank you for the many ways you support our students, staff, and one another. I’m grateful to be part of this Cougar community!

With Gratitude,
Principal Brittany Birchall

Words Matter: Kindness the Cougar Way

At Soquel Elementary, we teach our Cougars that being kind includes the words we choose. Racist, homophobic, sexist, and other discriminatory or demeaning language has no place at school. This includes hurtful jokes, slurs, and put-downs—even when a child says, “I was just kidding.” We help students understand that words can hurt, regardless of intent, and that every person deserves to feel respected and included.

Please take a few minutes to talk with your child about choosing kind words, respecting differences, and telling a trusted adult when they hear hurtful language. When children make mistakes, we work together to help them understand the impact, take responsibility, and practice a more respectful response.

Thank you for reinforcing the Cougar Way at home and helping every child feel safe, valued, and welcome!

Helpful resources for families:

• Talking to Children About Racial Bias — American Academy of Pediatrics

• 5 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About Swearing—and Why — Common Sense Media

Halloween Fun: Keeping Our Cougars Safe!

Halloween brings plenty of excitement and creativity! As families plan costumes for school, please help us keep our celebrations safe, comfortable, and welcoming for all students.

• Keep faces visible. Costume masks that cover students’ faces are not permitted.

• Leave all real, toy, and replica weapons at home.

• Choose costumes that respect others. Costumes should not mock or stereotype anyone’s culture, race, religion, disability, gender, or other personal characteristics.

• Keep our youngest Cougars in mind by avoiding graphic or overly frightening costumes.

• Make sure children can see clearly, move comfortably, and participate in regular school activities.

For families celebrating beyond school, remember flashlights or reflective accessories, use sidewalks and crosswalks, and have children stay with a trusted adult or supervised group. Drivers, please watch carefully for excited children in our neighborhoods!

You can find more guidance in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Halloween Safety Guide.

Wishing our Cougar families a fun and safe Halloween!

SSC - Wednesday, November 4th at 4pm

Veteran's Day - No School - Wednesday, November 11th

ELAC - Thursday, November 12th at 5pm

Home and School Club - Tuesday, November 17th at 6pm

Thanksgiving Break - Thursday, November 23 - 27

We are always grateful for the support our volunteers provide to our school. Your help in classrooms, on field trips, and at special events is an important part of our school community.

Recently, the State of California passed a new law requiring school volunteers to serve as Mandated Reporters. As a result, all volunteers are required to complete Mandated Reporter Training each year.

We use Keenan Safe Schools Training to provide this online training. Please click the self-registration link below and complete the training at your earliest convenience:

Keenan Self-Registration Portal:
https://soquel-keenan.safeschools.com/register/c02ca60f

After completing the training, please email it to ddamer@suesd.org or bring a copy of your certificate of completion to the school office.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email or call the school office at 831-464-5655.

Beginning November 13, volunteers who have not completed the required training will not be able to volunteer until the training is completed.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and our school community!

Please check the Lost & Found rack for your student's missing items. It is very full of jackets, sweaters, and other items. All items not claimed by Winter Break will be donated to charity.

Your child’s artwork has been included in our school’s art fundraiser through Square1Art. Please check out the flyer to view the QR code;

English

Spanish

Coming home to you soon will be your child's custom catalog from Square1Art. You can get a head start on ordering keepsakes featuring your child's art, online NOW, if you like!

Orders will arrive in time for the winter holidays.

Simply search for your child's art using Art Search, and enter state, school name, and your student's

name. Your student's art and code will appear, and you may order!

Upload additional art if you like, using Art Upload!

Thank you for supporting Soquel Elementary!

Questions: sblackburn@suesd.org

Current construction is focused on preparing the sports field for its new synthetic turf surface and advancing the new trash enclosure. November’s planned work includes finishing the field base, installing protective padding, and beginning turf installation later in the month. Crews will also advance drainage, underground utilities and grading in the staff parking area, while working toward completion of the trash enclosure. Site preparation and foundation excavation for the future amphitheater and shade structure are scheduled to begin in November, bringing the campus closer to new outdoor spaces for students and staff.

Projected completion date: Februrary 2027

Cougar Cubs

Hi Soquel El families, I am so excited to continue working with our school community, classroom chorts, and students this year. Last year we successfully launched CYBHI (Children's and Youth Behaviors Health Initiative), receiving money from the State of California for mental and behavioral health support we already provide! In order to continue receiving reimbursement, we need families to update the consent to share information from each school year. If you did not do this with your back to school registration, please complete this consent form.

I am so thankful for your ongoing support as we start the new school year.

Jessica Hassani,

School Counselor

jhassani@suesd.org

(831)464-5655

If you would like additional information about the CYBHI program you can check out this informational FLYER or reach out to me at any time!

-Parents Night Out —Saturday, November 7 at 5:30pm

Dinner, drinks, and live music for $100 per person + free childcare! (Spaces limited)

Email soquelelevents@gmail.com to reserve your spots.

-Dining for Dollars at Yogurtland in Capitola

Wednesday, November 18

12-8pm

-See’s Candy Fundraiser — Now Through Friday, December 4

Shop here: See’s Candy Fundraiser

-Save the Date: Winter Boutique — Friday, December 11

Want to sell your crafts? Does your student make something special they’d love to sell? We’re looking for volunteers to help organize the event and school families or community members who are interested in being vendors! Email WINTERBOUTIQUESE@GMAIL.COM to sign up.

-Next Home & School Club Meeting

Tuesday, November 17 | 6–7 PM

To keep arrival and dismissal safe, smooth, and welcoming for everyone, please help!

🐾 Slow Down
Please drive slowly and cautiously at all times while entering, exiting, and moving through the parking lot.

👀 Watch for Pedestrians
Students and families are walking through the area. Stay alert, look carefully, and always yield to pedestrians.

🚙 Pull Up to the Curb for Drop-Off & Pick-Up
When dropping off or picking up your child, please pull all the way forward along the curb. This helps traffic continue to move safely and creates space for other families.

🅿️ Parking? Please Use a Parking Space
If you are walking your child onto campus in the morning, please park in one of our beautiful new parking spaces. Please do not park or leave your vehicle along the curb, as the curb needs to remain available for safe and efficient student drop-off and pick-up.

❤️ Kindness + Patience + Safety = A Safe and Positive Experience During Arrival/Dimissal for All

Busy arrival and dismissal times work best when we all slow down, stay alert, show a little patience, and look out for one another. Thank you for helping us create a safe, kind, and welcoming environment for every student and family.

When we work together, we keep our Cougar community safe and joyful! 🐾

Supervision at Soquel Elementary begins at 8:00 a.m. If your student arrives before 8:00 a.m., an adult must remain with them until school supervision begins.

TK and Kindergarten students should be dropped off and picked up at their classrooms. When the morning bell rings, all families must exit campus, including the TK/K yard. At dismissal, please wait outside the TK/Kinder gate until the dismissal bell rings before entering campus.

• Home and School Club: meets monthly, fundraises for art & music and provides community events for Soquel El. The first meeting will be on August 12th at 6:30pm with childcare provided.

• School Site Council: meets monthly, and is an oversight committee for the school. A great way to learn a lot about Soquel El. and to give input in a short amount of time.

• English Language Advisory Council: meets monthly and is an advisory group for parents of multilingual students.

• Cradle to Career: parent advocacy group supporting parent leaders to lead initiatives at Soquel El.

• Classroom/school volunteers: more information will be shared at Back to School Night. To volunteer during school hours, fingerprinting (once at Soquel El. - not annually) and a TB test (every four years) are required. Please review the guidelines:

BREAKFAST and LUNCH MENUS are available on the CNS website here. Sign up to receive the monthly menu automatically by email here.

Remember to order LUNCH! Raise your hand and be counted! Students should tell their teacher if they want lunch during morning attendance.

When are Meals Served?

MONDAY through THURSDAY

Breakfast is served during morning recess.

Lunch is served during lunch recess.

FRIDAY

Breakfast is served before school.

Lunch is served during morning recess.

Questions about CNS? Please contact Amanda Timar, CNS Director, atimar@suesd.org or 831-464-5649

If your child requires medication during the school day, please have their doctor complete the appropriate health care plan and medication authorization form. These forms are available in the school office.

Once the forms are completed, please bring them with the prescribed medication to the office. Whenever possible, we ask that all forms and medications be submitted before the first day of school to ensure we are fully prepared to support your child’s needs.

Student Insurance

Please see this link if you are interested in Student Accident & Health Insurance: https://www.peinsurance.com/products/student-insurance/student-accident-insurance/

SUESD Parent Letter regarding Student Insurance:

English & Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ChiIPFOnSe9gF2dQAv-rI2pdmEkzOv-Q/view?usp=sharing