The purpose of Back-to-School Night is to begin the important communication link between home and school. Parents will meet with teachers in their classrooms to discuss their educational programs, learn about the school day, and find out how to help their child be successful in school.

This is a very important evening designed for PARENTS ONLY. Children are not allowed to wait for parents on the playground or in the corridors as there will be no supervision, and the noise is a distraction to those listening to the presentations. Please make arrangements now for babysitters to watch your children at home. Thank you for your cooperation.

Last week your child's Enrollment/Health Card came home in the blue folder. If you haven't done so already, please review and update the card as soon as possible. Please make changes or additions directly on the card and then sign and date the bottom of the card. Be sure to include emergency contacts, so that we have family and friends to contact in the event that you cannot be reached. It is very important to have these returned as soon as possible and that you notify the school office immediately if any changes take place during the school year.

Mark your calendar for the Cupertino Fall Festival, which will be held this Saturday and Sunday, September 13th and 14th. On Sunday, September 14th, at 11:20am our Kindergarten classes will be performing the Chicken Dance.

Please ensure that your child is at school every day and that she/he arrives on time. If your child will be absent from school for any reason, you must inform the office by calling our 24-hour attendance line at 736-2180 ext. 6. You need to call in every day that your child is absent. If your child arrives after 8:00 a.m., she/he must report to the office for a late slip before entering the classroom. Under state law, three unexcused absences or tardies may be considered truancy. Absences are excused for the following reasons only:

• Illness
• Medical/dental appointment
• Bereavement (death of family member)
• Religious holiday

The After-School Enrichment Program provides fun classes for students for a small fee. In past years we've offered classes such as Spanish, Sports, Cooking, Art, Chess, Yoga, Computers, Fishing, Three-Dimensional Design, and much more. Most classes are one day a week.

Many of our Enrichment teachers are parents who volunteer their time. If you have an interest or skill that you would like to share with children and have time one afternoon each week, please contact Mr. Jones for more information.

We hope to begin the Enrichment program in two or three weeks.

Parents who have signed up as part of the parent email group will receive the Dolphin Newsletter by email instead of a paper copy starting in October. This will help the school save on duplicating costs and legal-sized blue paper. This email group is used only by the school and PTA to announce activities on campus. Also, the group will not be shared with anyone outside of school. It's not too late to sign up. Please fill out the green form that was included in the first day packet and return it to your child's teacher by tomorrow, riday, September 12th. Additional forms are available in the office.

There is no district music provided at these grade levels. Volunteers are trained by Music for Minors on rhythm and movement activities, songs, dances, classroom management and music theory. You do not have to be a trained musician. Training is in Cupertino on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and will begin soon. Call for information, 650-237-9130.

We will be glad to show you how to do this. 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. For questions, please call Mrs. Gallatin at 736-2180 ext. 150.

No medications, whether prescribed or over the counter, may be brought to or distributed at school unless a Medical Authorization Form is on file in the school office. Both the parent and the child's physician must sign the Medical Authorization Form. Please stop by the office if you need a Medical Authorization Form before seeing the doctor.

We need parents to help out during lunch (11:45-12:55), Monday through Friday. If you are available to punch cards or help supervise students one day every week or every other week, please email/call Tracy Burriss at burriss_tracy@cupertino.k12.ca.us or ph. (408)732-4563.

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 with eScrip 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!