Chuck E.Cheese's donates 15% of sales back to Nimitz School from all sales (food, merchandise and token deals at the register) generated by this event. Just remember to say that you are with Nimitz Elementary when purchasing food, merchandise or tokens. Please come and join your Nimitz friends and turn fun into FUNDS! The event is scheduled from 3pm - 9pm at the Chuck E. Cheese's located at 19805 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino.

Fifth grade parents are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday, February 2nd from 7:00-8:00pm in the Hyde multi-purpose room. Counselors will present information regarding the programs being offered to incoming sixth graders. You will also have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding middle school. This will be an information meeting only; therefore, we ask that only parents attend.

We need two parent volunteers who can assist with hearing screening on Monday, February 8th from 8am-2:30 pm. If you can help out, please contact the office at (408)736-2180.

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

To succeed, your child must attend school every day, and be 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, and leave a message including the child's name, room number, and reason for absence along with the symptoms of any illness. You need to call in every day that your child is absent. While informing the teacher is courteous, your excuse can only be verified if it is called into the office. Please note that absences due to vacation are not regarded as a valid excuse! Only personal illness, medical appointments, religious holidays, or family bereavement (death in the family) are acceptable excuses.

Please be patient and give yourself plenty of time to drive your students to school in the morning. It will take more time to drop off and pick up your children.

The Blue Dolphin ensemble is a percussion class open to fourth and fifth grade students. This class will be taught by our upper grade music teacher, Mrs. Grainne O'Flynn. Class will meet on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30-3:30pm starting Wednesday, January 20th and ending Wednesday, March 31st. For more information and a sign up sheet, please look in this week's Blue folder.

Family sing-along to your favorite songs from "Teaching Peace" to "I Think You're Wonderful" with Red Grammer at 3 p.m. at Carrington Hall, Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Ave., Redwood City.

Buy your $14 tickets by calling Music For Minors at 650-237-9130, online at www.mfm.org or at Artsopolis at www.artsopolis.com. Group discounts are available. Proceeds of the concerts will go to Music For Minors and benefit music education in local elementary schools, such as Nimitz school. If you would like to know more about the program at Nimtiz, or get involved in music in your own child's class, please contact Kathleen Virmani at kvirmani@aol.com.

Your question may be, "What should I, as the parent, do in the event of an emergency?" First remain calm, because your child at school is probably in one of the safest places to be in the event of an emergency. We are well prepared to take care of your child.

• Do not phone. If local lines are working, they will be needed for emergency personnel.
• Walk from your home. Leave the street free for emergency vehicles. The streets may be congested with traffic. You will get to school faster by foot or bicycle.
• Get news from radio stations. Tune your radio to KCBS 740 AM or KLIV 1590 AM for information, news, and directions.
• Go to the student release center on the blacktop. You must sign to have your child released. Students will be released only to persons listed on the emergency card. The staff will locate and bring your child to you. Remember that students will not be released until at least 15 minutes after the onset of an emergency.
• Volunteer to help. Report to the command center if you can volunteer to help with first aid, calming children, etc.
• If you are delayed and find the school has been evacuated, look for a notice posted in a visible location on the outside of the school which identifies where the remaining children and staff have been moved.

Kindergarten registration: February 1 - 11, 2010 at the neighborhood school. Parents may pick up a registration packet at their neighborhood school beginning January 25, 2010. Registration packets are numbered sequentially. The registration number on the packet is valid for packets returned between February 1 - February 11, 2010. Students must be residing in the district at the time of registration and be available for any necessary testing.

Open enrollment requests: February 5 - 11, 2010 at the school of desired attendance.

Alternative education program requests (Faria and Murdock-Portal grades K-5, McAuliffe, Mandarin Immersion and Home Study grades K-8) February 5 - 11, 2010 at the alternative program of your choice.

Registration for new students in grades 1 - 8 begins March 1, 201.

Parents may only apply to one school or program other than their neighborhood school.

Detailed registration and open enrollment information is available on the district website www.cupertino.k12.ca.us, by contacting the staff in your neighborhood school office or by contacting the Student Assignment Office, (408) 252-3000, extension 110.

The CST for Writing (the writing component of the CST for English-Language Arts [ELA]), and the CMA for Writing (the writing component of the CMA for ELA) will not be administered to students in grade four in the 2009-10 school year. The elimination of the writing task will have no effect on students' achievement of proficiency because the CST for ELA in grade four and the CMA for ELA in grade four will be scaled and equated on the basis of the multiple-choice questions only.

Please note that the CST for Writing and the CMA for Writing will continue to be administered in grade seven. Next spring's administration of those tests in grade seven will be on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, with makeup testing on Wednesday, March 3, 2010.

STAR Multiple Choice Testing for grades 2-8 will begin the week of April 26, 2010 and continues for two weeks. The STAR Program is a state accountability measure that helps us assess how we are meeting the needs of our students. You can help prepare your child for the test by ensuring your child goes to bed on time, eats a good breakfast, and leaves for school with a positive attitude. Please do not schedule any family trips or doctor appointments during this time.