It is hard to believe this is the final week before our winter break. Students are so excited. The energy is definitely high! We are still working hard in class. Students are working on their monarch butterfly books in their small groups. They began with a prototype book on paper and have started to turn their draft into colorful, detailed book pages using Google Slides. They are also learning what it is like to share a Google Slides project together and work on it using their individual Chromebooks. There have been amazing instances of teamwork and troubleshooting the technology as well as helpful feedback on graphics to add.
This week we are so fortunate to have the ASB students visit our class this week to read some holiday picture books from different holidays. On Monday we learned about Las Posadas. Today we learned about Kwanzaa, and tomorrow and Thursday we will be learning about Diwali and Ramadan.
We are finishing Module 4 in math with our end-of-module assessment, and on Thursday, we will take part in the school-wide Problem of the Month, "Party Time". Students have worked this week on different levels and are excited to show their thinking to other classes as well as see what other Steindorf students came up with.
On Thursday, we will have our Winter stations. Our Room Parents have been amazing in organizing this and securing volunteers. The students can't wait for some fun crafts to celebrate the season.
Students brought home a home-school connection activity to do this week. This can be done on a walk around the block, a walk to/from school, or even right outside the home. It is meant to be a fun way for the children to connect with you and explore earth materials and rocks in their lives. Please do not worry about filling the entire table. Moreover, "sizes of rocks" can be just words like tiny, small, medium, large, huge, etc. There is no need to measure with a measuring tool. Whatever you are able to complete is fine!
This week is a school-wide spirit week! Your child is welcome to participate!
Linked here is a document with 300 high-frequency words students should be comfortable reading and spelling by the end of this school year. They are good words to watch for and correct in any writing they might do at home. An activity from time to time would be to have your child write down 10 of them and see how they do.
Stay Updated: Visit www.cambrianef.org for the latest news.
Holiday Fundraisers – Support Cambrian Students!
• C’est Si Bon: Holiday desserts—pies, cocoa bombs, yule logs, macaron towers & more. 15% of purchases support Cambrian students. Order: https://cestsibon.typeform.com/CEFHoliday
• Minted: 20% off holiday cards & gifts with code FUNDRAISECAMBRIAN; 10% supports our students. Shop: https://www.minted.com/holiday
Kindergarten Holiday Tree on Display!
See the “Gnome for the Holidays” tree near Market St. & Park Ave., across from the Tech Museum. Designed by Price art students & decorated by Cambrian kindergarteners. On display through January 1st.
Teacher Mini-Grants – Apply Now!
Teachers can receive up to $1,000 for innovative classroom projects. Deadline: January 4th.
Apply: https://www.cambrianef.org/mini-grants
Save the Date – 6th Annual Read-a-thon!
Promotes reading and raises funds for mental health and social-emotional learning across Cambrian schools.
Registration opens January 12th | Reading begins February 2nd
Details: https://cambrianef.org/readathon
Year-End Giving
Support Cambrian students with a tax-deductible gift—cash or stock—and help fund programs in academics, arts, athletics, and mental health. Your generosity makes a real impact! Donate today: https://cambrianef.org/giving
Winter Break December 22-January 2nd
The reading log is to keep track of nightly reading at home and is part of the San Jose Sharks "Reading is Cool" program. It is due back at the end of the month. Remember, nightly reading can include independent reading, reading aloud, and listening to a grown-up read. 20 minutes each night is recommended. Students may bring books home from school to read. They can be both classroom and school library books These books come home in a plastic zipper pouch. Please help your children build the habit of keeping school books in the pouch when they are not being actively read. This helps prevent mix-ups with public library books and personal book collections.
Often after a holiday break it takes some time for all kids to get back into the swing of remembering all of the school rules. Please talk with your child about sharing, taking turns, and talking with teachers and staff when they are having trouble with other children. We also talk a lot about giving ‘Impact Statements’ when we have strong feelings about something.
If you would like to enroll your child in Math Kangaroo, a challenge math event on spring of 2026, the registration dates are listed here.
Please sign up to HSC Membership Toolkit to receive emails from the Room Parents about your child's classroom needs and how you can best support their teacher, as well as for communications about the HSC school events and programs:
The next Book Order will be sent home in January! I will not be submitting orders in December, as shipping tends to get delayed for Scholastic at this time of year.
Shop our class page: https://orders.scholastic.com/HG4Y8