News

Grab your cape, because we’re calling all super

parents!

The week of May 7th is a Superhero themed Staff Appreciation Week. An hour of your time is powerful!! Please email Linda Poggetti at poggetti@yahoo.com to volunteer for one of the following:

Friday, May 4th   

2:30pm-4:00pm.       Decorating Staff Lounge

Monday May 7th

7:00am-7:30am            Set up food

8:30 am-9:00 am          Clean up

Tuesday, May 8th

8:00am-9:00am Arrange flowers for staff

Wednesday, May 9th

10:30am-11:30am          Set up food

12:45 pm-2:00 pm          Clean Up

Friday, May 11th

2:30 pm-4:00pm            Clean Up

Thank you for joining this fun opportunity to connect with other parents while celebrating the superhero staff who as a team educate our children!!

Dear All,

Our online book fair is open for business 4/22- 5/5.

You can shop a wider selection of books at all age levels.

Create a wish list for your student and share it with loved ones all around the world.

All orders will be shipped to your child's classroom for free and help tp support our school.

Follow the link below to learn more and keep an eye out on a $5 off your order coupon being sent home in Wednesday envelopes. 

We are still looking for more volunteers to help out with the book fair next week. 

Contact Kathryn Curtis at curtis.kathryn.g@gmail.com

http://onlinebookfairs.scholastic.com/entrance.aspx…

Welcome back!

We have a busy week this week with classes resuming and the Book Fair getting ready to kick off. We hope our Central Park Community can join us as we welcome warm weather and complete our PTA Board Elections. 

Reminders:
Tuesday, April 24
PTA General Association Meeting: Executive Board Elections @7pm in the Library
*Please come out to vote for the 2018-2019 PTA Executive Board

Thursday, April 26
PTA Principal and Parent Coffee @ 8:15am in the Multipurpose Room
Grab some coffee and get to know our newly elected PTA Executive Board!

Thursday, April 26
ALL DAY Dining for Dollars at MOD Pizza
10:30am-10:00pm 
2000 El Camino Real, Suite 15, Santa Clara
*20% goes to the CPE PTA - look for a flyer in your Wednesday envelope or show a digital copy 
 

Kimberley Williams

PTA President

Ms. Berger has a DonorsChoose project up with full donation matches from the Infosys Foundation!!

I need a KCI Computer Science Crash course to bring innovative ideas to my school.

My Students

I teach in a STEAM/Project Based Learning school, with an emphasis on the Whole Child. I truly love these motivated students and their families, so we are continually trying to provide ways to better help everyone learn important foundation skills.

Curiosity is the basis of meaningful learning.

Our staff has worked so hard to learn new ways to reach our students. Research shows both parents and students are motivated by people that spark their minds with forward thinking subjects like Computer Science. Our school community needs someone who knows ways to customize this learning so everyone grows. Rather than me telling them what to learn, my goal is to invite them into ways to become a better teacher.

My Project

No great discovery or innovation happened solely on paper. A hands-on experience with KCI Computer Science Bootcamp experience is the very best way to help me experience, absorb, and understand deeper level Computer Science concepts. Research supports the idea that teachers learn best when they work with an engaged cohort and get both their hands and minds involved. Through this generous Pathfinders opportunity, I will not only receive stellar background knowledge, but also experience hands-on activities to help me create a Computer Science curriculum and support my practice and understanding of complicated concepts in ways that will go beyond this event.

Our students enjoyed a wonderful assembly, a musical journey through China.

Thank You to Santa Clara High Student student, Tristan Ranch, for designing and painting our mural. We love it!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is hard to believe the school year is in the final stretch. Staff is working hard and students are doing amazing things in classrooms. We are gearing up for our STEAM Expo/Open House, state testing in grades 3-4 and many end-of-year activities.  Please look carefully at the dates below and mark your calendars. 

I want to thank our PTA for a wonderful Multicultural Festival last week, and to the coordinator, Jill Peterson. Thank you to all of the parents that created rich and inviting booths representing the beautiful cultures that represent our school.  Thank you to our parents that spent countless hours working with students on performances! It was a wonderful experience.  

Huge appreciation to Coach, Chris for coaching our Volleyball team and to Jennifer Brickman for the rockin' Chameleon Team Shirts! 

This past week we honored two students and one parent volunteer at the district Public School Week Awards. Congrats to: Dasha Estes (parent) and students: Alisa and Kaleb in 4th grade. 

Thank you to Katie Curtis, our Book Fair Coordinator, for running the coin drive and coordinating another Book Fair! 

Important Dates:

April 16-20, Spring Break, No School

April 24 School Site Council meeting CANCELLED and rescheduled for May 1

April 24. PTA General Mtg. Board Elections

7:00 pm, Library

April 25, Administrative Professional's Day 

We celebrate our wonderful office staff: Cindy and Leanne! 

April 26: PTA/Principal Coffee

8:30 am-9:15 am, Multipurpose Rm.

April 26: Parent Education Night, Balancing the Scales

Time: 6:30 pm, Central Park Elem, Childcare provided

RSVP: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b4aacae2eaafd0-balancing 

April 30-May 4: Book Fair 

Multipurpose Room 

May 1: State Testing begins

grades 3rd, 4th 

May 1: School Site Council

6:00pm. Library

May 6: ELAC Mtg. (English Langauge Advisory Council)

6:00pm. Library

May 7-11: Staff Appreciation Week

We honor our incredible teachers and staff! 

May 9: Talent Show Auditions

More information to come

May 11: Music Performance, grades 3, 4 and Ukulele students

7:00 pm, Multipurpose Room

May 13th: Happy Mother's Day!

May 15: STEAM Expo/Open House

6:00-7:00 pm Classrooms open

7:00-8:00 pm other STEAM activities

May 22: School Site Council Mtg.

6:00pm. Library

May 22: PTA  Executive Board Meeting, 

7:00 pm,  Library, Old and New Board for transition

May 25: Volunteer Breakfast (We Celebrate our Volunteers)!

8:15am-9:15 am, Multipurpose Room

May 28: Memorial Day, No School 

June 6: Talent Show

10:15 am, Multipurpose Room

June 7: Minimum Day, Dismissal: 1:37 pm

June 8: Last Day of School, Dismissal: 12:30 pm

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal

Thank you Central Park families for being so generous. You donated $479.66 today. 

Our teachers will get to spend $1,038.66 during the book fair which opens April 30th.

Please consider volunteering for the fair so we can make it our most successful book fair yet. Even just 15 minutes can help so much. Email me at curtis.kathryn.g@gmail.com or follow the link below to sign up. 

https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/experience/login/xpUAClfkf

Central Park earns a portion of the sales which is then spent on many educational projects. From adding new books to the school library, equipment for the makers space, and so much more. 

Thank you again for making our second annual Coin Drive such a success. 

Kathryn Curtis 

Balancing The Scales: Letting Boys Be Emotional, Too

Why is that when we think about the genders, girls are seen as the “emotional” ones, while boys are categorized as the “active, strong” ones? How do we break the silence and allow boys to have their emotions heard and validated? The emotional illiteracy of boys has become a topic of discussion in the past couple of decades thanks to the work done by Dan Kindlon, PhD and Michael Thompson, PhD. In their book, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, they “unmasked” what life is really like for boys and how we as parents, caregivers, coaches and mentors of boys can help them to identify and express their emotions. Please join me for an evening of discussion on the importance of how to “Let” boys have emotional expression so that they can become men who are healthy, connected, courageous and happy.
 

Please join us on April 26th from 6:30-7:30pm

Central Park Elementary

Childcare provided

See flyer below

Please rsvp: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b4aacae2eaafd0-balancing

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal

Hello Wonderful Parents!

Below is our Intent To Return letter.  It will also be going out in the Wednesday envelopes.  Please take a moment to fill out and return this to us as soon as possible.

Thank you for your help,

Cindy

Cindy Howell

Secretary

Central Park Elementary

Dear Parents and Guardians,
The yearbook committee has extended extend the early bird to Feb 16th! Please find attached the new order form that allows parents to order with Cash/ Check. (Best option is online) Printed copies are available on the wall by the office.

The committee will also have a  table set up in the morning (next to D-4). 

We are looking for volunteers, if interested, please email centralparkyb@gmail.com 

Thanks,

David Woon

Yearbook Coordinator

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The year is racing by! It is time for the Yearbook Cover Contest!

If your child is interested in participating, please see the attachment for guidelines.

Your PTA and Yearbook Coordinator

City of Santa Clara Community Meetings to discuss new community facilities. (PDF of Flyer)
 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Please see the attached flyers for a fun and artistic opportunity! 

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal

Waiver Form PDF

Dear All,

Please see the attachment for the after-school program, "Bricks 4 Kidz."

If you would like to know the difference between the various Lego/Robotics programs, please note the write-up on the "Robotics Blog."

Go to the website and scroll down. 

https://centralpark-scusd-ca.schoolloop.com/

You will find it on the right sidebar. Keep scrolling down so that you see the entire write-up. Many parents have been asking about the competitive, parent led team. The parents leading this effort will send out more information soon. It does require a time and equipment commitment since it is a parent run program. 

Best,

Ms. Kamstra 

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have had a wonderful start to the school year. It is exciting welcoming back familiar faces and meeting new folks! 

Please note some important events coming up:

Solar Eclipse Viewing:

Date: Monday, August 21:

We have purchased an "approved" pair of glasses for all students. We will hold an assembly in the morning to teach students about the eclipse and to teach them safe practices for using the glasses.  We will then go outside for the viewing.  If you DO NOT feel comfortable having your child view the eclipse, please send your child's teacher an email or note. We will find an alternative activity for them. See below, the guidelines we will be following,

We would love volunteers to assist students! If you come on site, please sign in at the office and get a visitor's badge. Our assembly will be from 9-10am and then we will go outside. 

Parent Education Event, Dr. Kenneth Wesson, Neuroscience of how the Brain Works and STEAM

Date; Tuesday, August 22:

Time: 6:30-7:30pm

Location: Multipurpose Room

Adults Only

Please RSVP to Ms. Kamstra if you can attend as seating is limited. 

Back to School Night/PTA Member Mtg.

Tuesday, August 29

6:00pm: Kinder-2nd Grade parents attend classroom presentations (no students).

6:30pm: Principal speaks to K-4 parents (no students). PTA General Association Mtg. (Budget Approval. open position) .

7:00pm 3rd-4th grade parents attend classroom presentations (no students).

Note: Back-to-School Night is a time for parents/guardians to learn about the instructional program for the year. Please arrange for child care. Thank you!

Important Dates:

You can access our year-long "Important Dates" at:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Lc8HBH9kcpYgMcbVGkxq9ySCxY8QOpYq0XYnAck5sQ/edit?usp=sharing

SCUSD: Safety Guidelines and Resources for Upcoming Eclipse
Eclipse 101  

It’s easy to get carried away with all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming total solar eclipse scheduled for August 21, 2017, but it’s also important to remember to be safe while enjoying this natural phenomenon. The eclipse begins at 9:01 a.m., the max eclipse is at 10:15 a.m., and the eclipse ends at 11:37 a.m. Below are some guidelines and resources to help you make this a safe experience for yourself and your children.
 

Santa Clara Unified

• Teachers will be educating students about what an eclipse is and how to view it safely, following the eclipse safety guidelines provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the American Astronomical Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, and the National Science Foundation.

• Whether or not a class participates in an outdoor experience is up to each site. Those that do participate will be following the NASA eclipse safety guidelines. Some classes may also view the eclipse indoors by watching the eclipse live at the Exploratorium website.
   

Be Safe

• Looking at the sun is unsafe except during the brief phase of an eclipse where the moon entirely blocks the sun (totality), which is only visible along a 70-mile-wide path arching from Oregon to South Carolina.

• Use special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses, to look directly at the eclipsed or partially eclipsed sun — homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun.

• Inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.

• Review safe viewing practices with children so that they are aware of the dangers associated with looking at the sun without protective eye wear.

• Always supervise children using solar filters.

• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.

• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.

• Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device. Note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.

• If you normally wear eyeglasses put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

• More safety tips can be found on NASA’s Eclipse Safety webpage.
   

Resources

• Review NASA’s eclipse safety guidelines for yourself and with your child(ren).

• Visit the California Academy of Sciences website to watch a webinar about the eclipse.

• Become an eclipse explorer with the National Park Service’s activity book.

• Visit NASA’s How Eclipses Work webpage to learn all about the science and history behind eclipses.

• No solar glasses, no problem! Make your own pinhole projector.

• You can also watch the eclipse live at the Exploratorium website.

• Download the Exploratorium’s eclipse app for your phone to watch live.

• Additional educational resources are available on NASA’s Eclipse 101 website.

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal

Please see the following Cub Scout Flyer (PDF) and Cub Scout Information (PDF) if you are interested in Cub Scouts. 

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal

Nutrition Services has a new provider for applications and payments for the 2017-2018 school year

The new place for parents to make payments, monitor their students accounts and apply for free meals is https://www.schoolcafe.com/

Mrs. Goulette has a DonorsChoose project up because "It's All About The Base-10!"  Let's get math in the hands of our kids so they can have a stronger understanding of mathematical concepts!

"My students need hands-on tools to understand place value concepts to 100 and beyond. For many students, they need to hold and manipulate concrete tools to frame and solidify their thinking. These hands-on blocks for students and magnets for modeling will be available for kids to use on a daily basis."

Announcing 2017 Summer Breakfast and Lunch Program, available to all students and children in the Santa Clara Community (This program is free to all children between the ages of 1 and 18). The program begins June 19, 2017 and runs through August 11, 2017.  

Locations where the free meal programs are taking place: 

Club at Mayne

Meeting will be in the CPE library on Tuesday, May 30 @ 7:00pm

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

3. Financial Report

4. Financial Training (Pay Pal, Fundraising and Money Handling)

5. Presentation of Bills

6. Report of Executive Board (Summer and Fall Plans)

7. Report of Committees (Budget Committee Needed)

8. New Business

9. Announcements

10. Adjournment 

The 2017-2018 Central Park Elementary Bell Schedule has been published. (Printable PDF)

A draft of the 2017-2020 LCAP is now posted for public comment.  Information about the LCAP draft and other supporting documents can be found on our district website.  The comment period will close on June 14, 2017.

Ms. Miakje Kamstra

Principal