dolphinnews20071206.html

Dolphin Newsletter
December 6, 2007

Dale Jones, Principal
545 E. Cheyenne Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 736-2180
www.cupertino.k12.ca.us/Nimitz.www
www.nimitzpta.org
Attendance Line: (408) 736-2180 ext. 6

CALENDAR

December
7	3:30-4:45pm	Report Cards sent home ACE and Enrichment Classes: Session 2 Ends
13	5:30pm	SSC Meeting in the staff room
14	3:30-4:45pm	Football at McAuliffe
17	7:30pm	PTA Meeting in the GLC
19	7:00pm	Winter Sing - Rms. 3,4,5,6,30,907 (see article)
24-Jan.4		WINTER RECESS - NO SCHOOL
January
7		School Resumes
10	5:30pm	SSC Meeting in the staff room
14	7:30pm	PTA Meeting in the GLC
18		STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL
21		MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY - NO SCHOOL

WINTER SING CONCERT

The teachers and students of rooms 3, 4, 5, 6, 30, and 907 have been working hard to prepare their music program, which they will perform on Wednesday, December 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the GLC.

The classes will entertain us with lively songs in celebration of the holidays. All students need to stay for the entire performance, as there is an all school sing for the concluding song. Parents are encouraged to join in too!

FAMILY GIVING TREE

In an effort to give back to the community, Nimitz is hosting a Family Giving Tree in Room 16 and the GLC. These trees have tags with gift requests from needy families in our community. Just pick up a tag in Room 16 or the GLC, purchase the gift, and bring it back to Room 16 unwrapped with the tag attached. All contributions must be received by Friday, December 14th at 2:30pm. Thanks in advance for your generosity.

COPY CENTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

If you have a few extra minutes, consider helping out the Nimitz Copy Center. Volunteer times are flexible and only require an initial half-hour training. Give the teachers more time to teach our kids! Please contact Lenora Louie at lenora-pta@fortun8.com or call 408-737-7787.

PARENTING CLASS RETURNS IN JANUARY

Pat Belvel will be teaching a class on parenting skills beginning on Monday, January 28 and running for five weeks. Classes will be held from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the GLC on Monday nights through March 3. (There will be no class during the February vacation.)

This class focuses on positive parenting skills and provides specific strategies for dealing with problem situations.

Pat taught this class here at Nimitz two years ago, and it was received very positively.

A flier with more information and a sign-up form will be sent home next week. Be sure to return the form as soon as possible as space for the class is limited, and it will be open to other schools in the district.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS AND VISITORS

All parent volunteers and visitors are required to sign in at the school office upon entering school grounds. Parent volunteers and visitors must wear a nametag during their visit and sign out upon leaving the school grounds. We appreciate your attention to this policy as it helps ensure the safety of our students. If you are taking your child out of school for any reason, always sign your child out from the school office and sign in when he/she returns. Thank you.

LOST AND FOUND

Our lost and found bags are overflowing with shirts, jackets, lunchboxes and backpacks. Please remember to check the bags located near the restrooms. Any unclaimed items will be donated to charity.

REPORT CARDS

Your child will be bringing their report card home this Friday. This is a very important teachable moment for you and your child. The way parents react to report cards can determine how your children view themselves as a person and as a learner.

What can parents do to support their children?s academic growth?

Do not ever open the report card at school, in front of the carpool, or in front of siblings. Children need respect and dignity. All report cards are to be discussed at home and in private.

For kindergarten and first grade students, do not talk to your child about their report card. Instead, when reviewing the weekly folder, highlight the main points of the report card. (Say: "You are getting stronger and stronger in reading. Look at what good work you did on this paper. I can tell you are checking your work for errors.)
For children in grades 3 and up: When you get home, read and review the report card alone without your child. Plan what you want to say to your child, and always end your conversation on a positive note. Organize no more than 3-4 questions for your child. Some questions for grades 3-5 are:
What did you learn this grading period (in math, science, literature, etc.)?
What are you most proud of?
What was most difficult for you?
What was the most enjoyable?
What are you going to work on next trimester?
What help do you need?
If your child is not making progress, make sure your child is in bed at 8:30 p.m. Next, look at the listening and following directions marks on the report card. Then, review your child's organization and study habits. Usually, when parents focus on these areas, students make progress.
Avoid comparing one child with their siblings. Try not to praise one child in front of the other.

A report card is about the past. The way your children view themselves shapes the future. You play a major role in how children think about themselves. When parents become skillful with report card discussions, their children grow up to be happy and successful.

DISTRICT NEWS

GATE REFERRAL PROCESS TESTING SCHEDULE

The focus of Cupertino's Gifted and Talented Education Program is to identify and serve those students who have demonstrated exceptional intellectual ability and outstanding academic achievement. Referrals for Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) testing may be initiated by teachers, parents, or the student. If you have a student you would like to have tested this spring for the Gifted and Talent Education program, please contact your child's teacher or school office for a referral form.

GATE testing of CUSD grade 3 and above students will take place during spring (March-April) 2008. This will be the only GATE testing offered during the 2007-2008 year. If you have questions about the screening process, please call the GATE office at (408) 252-3000, Extension 199, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. or the GATE website at: http://www.cupertino.k12.ca.us

Dates for Referrals for Spring Testing - Grades 3 and above
Referrals will be accepted beginning: Nov. 1, 2007
Deadline for Spring GATE referrals: Jan. 11, 2008
(Referrals for the above grades submitted after January 11, 2008 date will be returned.)

DISTRICT HEALTH GUIDELINES

In preparation for the upcoming flu season, it is important that our children follow good health practices at all times and be kept at home when they are ill. A child should not be in school when he or she is ill and is experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

Nausea or vomiting (must remain at home until free of symptoms for 24 hours),
Diarrhea (must remain at home until free of symptoms for 24 hours)
Severe headache
Continuous coughing or runny nose
Evidence of a communicable disease such as a rash, swelling or unusual sore throat
A temperature of 100 degrees or higher (must remain at home until he/she has a normal 98.6 degree temperature for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducer such as Tylenol)
Conjunctivitis-pink eye
Undiagnosed rash (rashes need to be verified by your doctor that they are non-contagious; a note is needed)

If a student is sent home from school for feeling ill, the child may not return that day. A doctor's note for absences over five (5) days is required. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep all children and staff healthy.

CEEF GALA 2008: "Majestic India"

Saturday, January 26, 2008
6:00 p.m. Social
7:00 p.m. Dinner
Cabana Hotel, Palo Alto
Save the date and plan now to join friends in celebrating educational excellence in our district schools at the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation's (CEEF) annual Gala on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto. Proceeds from our 2008 "Majestic India" themed Gala will benefit arts, technology, and math programs at each of our district schools. For more information or to add your name to the invitation mailing list, please call (408) 446-2333 or email inquiries to gala@ceefcares.org.

OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS 2008-2009

Due to increased enrollment, the district has not taken any new out-of-district students for the last two years. Therefore, we will not be accepting out-of-district transfer requests during the open enrollment period in February. If, after the first ten days of school, there is space available for out-of-district students, we will have a one-week registration period and hold a lottery to determine the order of registration for all students who apply during the week. This applies to all out-of-district requests including alternative programs. Questions should be referred to the Student Assignment Office at (408) 252-3000, Extension, 110.