dolphinnews20080828.html

Dolphin Newsletter
August 28, 2008

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

August
28	6:30pm	Cupertino Middle School Back to School Night
September
1		LABOR DAY HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL
5		School Photos
11	5:30pm	School Site Council Mtg. in the Staff Room Hyde Middle School Back To School Night
13-14		Cupertino Fall Festival
18	6:30pm	PTA Meeting in the staff room
19		STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL
25	5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm	NIMITZ BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Kindergarten Grades 1-3 Grades 4-5

TRAFFIC AND BICYCLE SAFETY

One of our Nimitz students was hit by a car this week while riding his bike to school. Thankfully, the student's injuries were minor and he was wearing a helmet.

We would like to remind everyone that wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle is required by law for anyone under 18 years old. When crossing the street, students should get off their bikes and walk them across at a crosswalk. While driving your students to school, please slow down and stop when you see a child entering a crosswalk.

In order to keep all students safe, we are in need of volunteers to help with traffic control in the mornings from 7:55am-8:05am. Please call the office (408-736-2180) if you are available to help.

PICTURE DAY

Bud White will be here Friday, September 5th to take pictures. Order envelopes will be distributed to students the Thursday before.

If you wish to order a portrait, please complete the order envelope and return it with your payment to your student's teacher. We are in need of three parent volunteers to help with pictures. If you are available, please call the office at 736-2180.

BLUE FOLDERS

Please review your child's work sent home in the weekly "blue folder" on Thursdays, sign it, and return it every Friday. We have found this to be one of the best forms of communication between the classroom teacher and home. Please feel free to write down your concerns in the folder and the teacher will get back to you with a response. It is important that you work with your child's teacher to assure a successful year for your student.

NO SCHOOL MONDAY, SEPT. 1st,
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

SCHOOL PROCEDURES

During the first weeks at school, we spend time with the students reviewing the rules for safety and good manners that help everyone feel welcome and safe. This is also a good time for parents to review procedures that support a safe learning environment.

Students are not to be on campus until 7:45 a.m. This is a safety issue as there is no supervision on the yard until that time.
Students need to arrive at school in time to be in class at 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. will be sent to the office for tardy slips.
Please remember to pick your children up promptly:
- Grades K-3 2:00 p.m.
- Grades 4-5 2:30 p.m.
ON TUESDAYS ALL GRADES K-5 ARE DISMISSED AT 1:25 P.M.
Students are to go directly home at dismissal. Students may not play on the playground to wait for siblings.

NEWS FROM PTA

If you are interested in finding out more about Nimitz PTA, please visit our website at www.nimitzpta.org. You will find all the latest information on PTA news and events. Please join us at our first PTA meeting on Thursday, September 18th at 6:30pm in the staff room.

LIBRARY TO OPEN SOON!

We expect to open the library on the fourth week of September. If you have twenty minutes to an hour once a week or every other week, we need people to help shelve the books.

We will be glad to show you how to do this. In order for the kids to enjoy the library, the books need to be shelved in a timely manner. Even if you can only help for a limited amount of time, we would love to see you. Please think about what this will mean to your child. You don't have to let us know you're coming. If you have a few minutes, come on by. For questions, please call Mrs. Gallatin at 736-2180 ext. 150.

RUNNING CLUB NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Horn and Nimitz parent and teacher, Tracy Burriss, we have a Nimitz Running Club where students can take daily laps around the field during lunchtime.

Parents! You are welcome to join the children on the track for some mid-day exercise. Please check in at the office and get a visitor's pass and then come on out to the track to walk, jog, or run with the children.

SUPPORT NIMITZ THROUGH
THE eSCRIP PROGRAM!

Participate in the eScrip program and support the education of our children every time you shop! eScrip is a fundraising program that allows Nimitz to raise money through your everyday shopping at eScrip merchants such as Safeway, Pak'n'Save, PW Market, and Whole Foods. Simply register your Safeway, Pak 'n' Save, PW Market, or Whole Foods grocery club card at NO COST TO YOU. Every time you grocery shop and use your grocery club card, eScrip will send us a percentage of the money you spend! Fundraising has never been easier! You can also register a credit and/or debit card, and purchases made at participating merchants will benefit Nimitz. For a complete list of merchants, visit www.eScrip.com>.

Signing up is easy:

Log onto www.eScrip.com and go to "welcome", then "sign up".
Enter our School/Group I.D. 138057496.
Register your grocery club cards from Safeway, PW Market, Pak 'n' Save, Whole Foods, and/or your debit and credit cards.

You can still register with eScrip even if you don't have access to the Internet! For more information, contact your eScrip Coordinator Peggy Ngai at (408)720-8714 or by email at bradleyngai@yahoo.com. You shop - our school earns dollars!

DISTRICT NEWS

GATE REFERRAL PROCESS TESTING SCHEDULE

Fall Testing Only For: "New-to-District" students (Grades 4 - 8)
Referrals will be accepted beginning: August 25, 2008
Deadline for Fall GATE Referrals: September 26, 2008
(Referrals received after September 26, 2008 will be returned to the school site.)

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 current "new-to-district" student you would like to have tested this fall for the Gifted and Talent Education program, please contact your child's teacher or school office for a referral form.

If you have questions about the screening process, please call the GATE office at (408) 252-3000, Extension 199, between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm 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: November 3, 2008
Deadline for Spring GATE referrals: January 16, 2009
(Referrals for the above grades submitted before the November 3, 2008 or after January 16, 2009 date will be returned.)

NOTE: GATE testing of CUSD grade 3 and above students will take place during spring (March-April) 2009. This will be the only GATE testing offered during the 2008-2009 year.

CUSD STATE PRESCHOOL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

The Cupertino Union School District is currently taking applications for its free State Preschool Program for the fall of 2008. The program, which serves low-income three- and four-year-old children, is located at Sedgwick Elementary School, 19200 Phil Lane in Cupertino. Children who will be three or four-years-old by Dec. 2 may qualify. Priority is given to children who will be four by Dec. 2, 2008.

This free, parent participation preschool offers children many exciting learning experiences including math, pre-reading, science and creative arts, as well as the opportunity to work and play in group situations. Preschool activities are designed to help children make a successful transition to kindergarten. Children attend three hours per day, five days a week. Parents interested in enrolling their children should contact Ruth Wachob at Sedgwick Elementary School, (408) 252-3103 ext. 202.