GATORAID

School Phone: 408-252-5414 ~ Absence Line 408-252-5414-6 ~ FAX 408-996-9725

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
FEBRUARY 3, 2011

2/3 6:00 p.m. KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL - INCOMING 6TH GR. PARENT (ONLY) INFORMATION MTG.
2/3 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING
2/4 8:00 a.m. HEARING SCREENING FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 1, 2, & 5
2/7 CLASS GROUP PICTURES
2/8 8:00 a.m. VISION SCREENING GRADES 1 & 3
2/8 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING - D.O.
2/8 6:30 p.m. BOOK EXCHANGE - GRADES K-2
2/8 7:20 p.m. BOOK EXCHANGE - GRADES 3 - 5
2/9 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING
2/9 6:30 p.m. LAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL - INCOMING 6TH GR. PARENT (ONLY) INFORMATION MTG.
2/11-17 2011-2012 OPEN ENROLLMENT & ALTERNATIVE ED. PROGRAMS
2/14-18 GREAT SCHOOLS WEEK
2/14 VALENTINE’S DAY PARTIES
2/15 8:15 a.m. PRINCIPAL’S COFFEE - MEET OUR NEW PRINCIPAL, MS. HUCKO
2/15 6:30 p.m. CYBER SAFETY - PARENT ED. NIGHT - GLC
2/15 6:00 p.m. CUPERTINO MIDDLE SCHOOL - INCOMING 6TH GR. PARENT (ONLY) INFORMATION MTG.
2/17 12:00 p.m. YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST DEADLINE (STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5)
2/18 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “CRAZY HATS”
2/21-25 MID-YEAR RECESS - NO SCHOOL
3/1 2011-2012 REGISTRATION FOR GRADES 1 - 5 BEGINS

Parent Traffic Duty: February 7th - 11th - Parents from Rm. 16B

EVERY TUESDAY IS EARLY DISMISSAL – Students are dismissed at 1:30.

PRE-PAY FOR CUSD LUNCHES at PAMS (Parent Account Management System) Lunchroom! You can make payments and
view your students account balance online by going to http://www.pamslunchroom.com or by calling 1-888-994-5100.
TO EMAIL STAFF:lastname_firstname@cusdk8.org
ATTENDANCE: If your child will be absent, please call 252-5414. Ext. 6, by 8:30 a.m. to report the absence.
HOMEWORK: Homework may be requested for illness absences of three days or more. Please call the office before 9:00 a.m.
to request the homework for pickup after 3:00 p.m.
 FROM OUR PRINCIPAL....MS. HUCKO! PAGE 2

Dear Garden Gate Community,

I am thrilled to be the new Principal of Garden Gate Elementary School. In my three
days here, I have been welcomed with warm smiles, thoughtful cards and colorful
posters. This certainly is a gracious and caring school community.

In the coming months, I will be busy learning all I can about Garden Gate’s students,
staff and programs. I am also eager to work closely with parents, in support of our
students.

Please join me in the Garden Gate GLC on Tuesday, February 15 from 8:15 until 8:45 a.m.for a
Principal’s Coffee. I’m looking forward to meeting each of you and sharing a little about myself.

Again, thank you all for the very warm welcome. I’m proud to be a Garden Gate Gator!

Sincerely,
Ms. Hucko

Author Tyler Enfield Visits Garden Gate

Author Tyler Enfield will discuss his book, Wrush: The Secret Worlds of Tabetha Bright, during an
assembly, Wednesday, Feb. 9th for 2nd through 5th graders at Garden Gate. Tabetha, an 8-year-old girl
in a wheelchair, uses a magic pen to escape the dreary walls of her hospital, writing her way into
faraway worlds where adventure, friendship and incredible challenge reveal her inner strength. Wrush
was awarded the Writer’s Federation of New Brunswick Literary Prize, and is presently a finalist for the
Moonbeam Award. Signed copies of Wrush are available for $10 on the day of the assembly. A flier with
an order form will come home in your child’s Green Folder today, for students in grades 2-5.

Yearbook Cover Contest - Deadline February 17th!

The annual Garden Gate Yearbook Cover Contest is here! Put your artistic
thinking cap on and your winning artwork could be showcased on the covers
of this year's yearbook. All 3rd through 5th grade students are encouraged to
participate with their best creative work! Good luck, be creative, and have fun!
The sky is the limit for your imagination and creativity.

Please be sure to design both a front and back cover for the yearbook. On the front cover, please
include Garden Gate School, 2010-2011 and our school mascot - GATOR! Your name and room
number must be written inside the cover. Be sure to make your work attractive and bright. All entries
are to be submitted to the student’s teacher by Thursday, February 17th, at noon.

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
 PTA CORNER. . .! PAGE 3

Hello
Gator
Families,
On
behalf
of
all
Garden
Gate
parents,
I
would
like
to
extend
a
warm

welcome
to
our
new
principal,
Ms.
Hucko
and
wish
her
good
luck
in

her
new
role.


Book
Exchange
–
Tuesday
Feb
8th,
6:30
‐
8:00
p.m.
Please
remember
to
bring
in
your
gently
used
books
and
DVDs
to
our
school
librarian,
Mrs.
Gokhale

between
now
and
the
event.
Your
child
will
earn
a
Ecket
for
each
book
given.
The
Eckets
can
then
be

used
at
the
Book
Exchange.


We
sEll
need
volunteers
to
help
during
the
Book
Exchange.
If
you
can
help
please
email
Lavanya

Sivakumar
at
lav29c@yahoo.com





Just
a
quick
reminder:
Our
next
PTA
meeBng
is

tonight
at
7:15
p.m.
in

the
GLC.



Sincerely,

Merav
Talmor

Garden
Gate
PTA
President





Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
 GATORAID!
CLASS PHOTOS
Your child’s class picture will be photographed as a
“Group” on Monday, February 7th! Order envelopes
are included in today’s green folders. If you wish to
order a class portrait, please complete the order
envelope and return it with your payment to your
student’s teacher no later than Monday!
MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION MEETINGS. . . .
LAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lawson Middle School will be having their incoming 6th
Grade Parent Information Meeting on Wednesday evening,
February 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawson Middle School
Event Center. They will be explaining to all parents the 6th
grade Middle School program and what to expect during your
child’s first year in middle school! This presentation is for
parents only.
KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Once again it is time for us to be thinking about our next
year’s sixth graders – their questions and your questions
about Kennedy Middle School. Parents of fifth graders are
cordially invited to attend the Sixth Grade Information Night
in the Multi-Use room on February 3, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.
It is important that sixth graders feel part of the school but
not be overwhelmed by it. We will discuss what our program
looks like from 6th through 8th grade: from required subjects
to school activities. Because of space limitations this evening
program is for parents only. We strongly recommend that
you attend this important meeting and we look forward to
seeing you on February 3rd.
CUPERTINO MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT
INFORMATION NIGHT
The Cupertino Middle School Parent Information Night for
next year’s 6th graders will be held Tuesday, February 15 at
6:00 p.m. in the gym. The presentation will cover course
selection, homework, expectations, extracurricular activities,
and other topics.
Additionally, at 7:00 pm in the multi-use, our PTA will host an
informal gathering so that incoming 6th grade parents can
talk with CMS parents who have already experienced their
student’s transition from elementary to middle school. Our
counselors will also be available.
Due to facility limitations, this presentation is for parents only.
An electronic copy of the presentation and any handouts will
be made available upon request after the February 15
meeting.
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
PAGE 4
LUNCH ACCOUNTS
It is very important that students who eat hot lunch have a
positive balance in their lunch account. Parents can prepay
for as many lunches as possible so that students do not run
out of money. Students are only given one lunch on credit.
If a student has used the credit, CUSD policy is that the
cafeteria will provide a drink and the cold items, but not an
entrée. All lunch money must be placed in a blue envelope
and checks should be made out to CUSD Nutritional
Services. Envelopes are available in the school office, and
can be returned to your child’s teacher or to the office. To
check your student’s lunch account balance, log on to:
www.paypams.com or call 1-888-994-5100. You can also
contact Mrs. Chen at 408-252-5414 ext. 132 for account
balance information.
SAVE THE DATE - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH!
This year’s Book Exchange will be on Tuesday, February 8th
from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the GLC (6:30-7:15 for
Kindergarten - 2nd grade, and 7:20-8:00 for 3rd - 5th grade
students). Remember to bring in gently used books, DVD’s
and/or videos to our school librarian, Mrs. Gokhale, between
now and the event. Your child will earn tickets for books
given in exchange for the amount of books at the Book
Exchange. We will be needing a few volunteers the evening
of the Book Exchange. If you are interested in helping,
please email Lavanya Sivakumar at lav29c@yahoo.com
REPORTING ABSENCES
When a student is staying home from school with
an illness, please remember that a parent must call
into the school office every day that the student is
absent from school. The 24-hour absence
reporting line is (408) 252-5414 ext. 6. Please remember
to spell both first and last name and give the room
number. When calling in your child’s absence please
include their 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 100.4 F (38 C) degrees or higher
(must remain at home until he/she has a normal
98.6 F (37 C) degree temperature for 24 hours
without the use of a fever reducer such as
Tylenol)
• Conjunctivitis - pink eye
• Undiagnosed rash (rashes must be verified by
your doctor that they are non-contagious before
 GATORAID! PAGE 5

BE A HERO! PROTECT OUR GREAT SCHOOLS!

Get ready to Dine, Shop and Play during Great Schools Week, February 14th thru 18th.

Remember the tremendous success of last year's Community Day? This year will be even better as we expand the event from
one day to a full week. Grab your family, friends and colleagues and show your support for educational excellence. Great Schools
Week spans FIVE DAYS, February 14 - 18!

A portion of sales from over 50 local businesses will be donated to benefit OUR 18,000 students! The list of
participating businesses is growing daily. Keep an eye out for your golden ticket next week! Additional information is
available at www.ceefcares.org/GSW.

There are many ways to participate:

• Dine out - Head to lunch with colleagues and friends. Take a break from cooking for the week and enjoy family dinners
at a favorite restaurant, or a place you've been meaning to try. There's American, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Chinese,
Mexican, Italian and pizza, lots of pizza.
• Spring Training - Gearing up for soccer and baseball? New shoes and equipment are available at Sports Basement and
All Star Soccer.
• Summer Reading - Stock up at Barnes and Noble.
• To-do Lists - Kids need a haircut? Outgrowing their shoes? Car needs service? How about dry cleaning or a mani-pedi
for you? Take care of all that!
• Take the kids out for a great time with classmates. Got swimming and piano? Stop for a short while in between
activities. The kids will have a blast helping out their school and hanging out with friends!
• Special Treat - Let them have dessert too! Stop in for ice cream, yogurt, crepes, baked goods, or drinks

Great Schools Week is sponsored by the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation (CEEF), a community partner for
excellence in local education.

CUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION – BUDGET INFORMATION

The governor released his 2011-2012 budget proposal on January 10, 2011. In response to this new budget, the Cupertino Union
School District Board of Education will host two informational budget discussion items. The first meeting was held on January 24,
2011. The presentation and other budget information is available at www.cupertino.k12.ca.us In addition, there will be a second
budget meeting with updated information:
• 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, 2011, in the Sedgwick Elementary School Guided Learning Center (19200 Phil
Lane in Cupertino).

Any individual may appear before the Board of Education to comment or ask questions regarding the District's current budget
situation. These discussion items are for information only at this time and the Board of Education will not be taking any formal
action regarding this topic at this meeting.

STAR WRITING TEST

Students in grades 4 and 7 will take the STAR Writing Test on March 1, 2011. The STAR Writing Test addresses writing
application standards for grades 4 and 7. At grade 4, these standards require students to produce one of four types of writing:
narrative, summary, information report, or response to literature. The grade 7 standards require students to produce one of five
types of writing: narrative, persuasive essay, summary, response to literature, or research report. Students at both grade levels
read a task and write a first draft of their essay. First drafts are submitted to the state for scoring. The two-week multiple choice
STAR Test window begins April 25, 2011.

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014