Past Enrichment Programs

• Ellis Chess Class

• Young Rembrandt’s Art Class

• IES Language Foundation’s Spanish Language Class

• Fun on the Run: after school sports on Fridays

• One on one Basketball Class

• Girl Scouts (2nd and 3rd grade)

• STEAM Fun

• Crochet with Ms. Galvan (for 2nd-5th graders)

• 3D Toy Modeling club with Mr. Gerth (for 4th and 5th graders)

• Musical: Rock and Roll Forever with Mrs. Ross Mondays and Thursdays

• Beginning Guitar with Mr. Fortunato (for 3rd-5th graders)

The below details enrichment at Ellis that is in addition to our regular Common Core curriculum:

Parent Learning:

• PTA meetings: come learn how you can be involved in your kids’ school! (Spanish translation)

• ELAC: English Learner Advisory Committee meetings for all families where the parents speak another language than English. Quarterly meetings are extremely informative. (Spanish translation)

Play! (Families and Friends are Welcome at these Events!)

• Welcome Back Picnic*

• Halloween Parade

• Halloween Party

• Movie Night*

• Fall Carnival

• Winter Festival

• Pizza Night*

• Smalentines (Valentine-themed scented pencils and bookmarks)*

• International Festival

• Walkathon*

• School Store: run by 5^th graders in spring

Be Healthy!

• • • 5210 Healthy Eating Program (That’s 5 servings of fruit or vegetables a day, no more than 2 hours of screen time, 1 hour of physical play, and 0 sugary drinks.)

    • The Water District comes to talk about water conservation

    • The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety comes to talk about safety

    • Junior Achievement comes and teaches our children how to save and spend wisely as well as how cities, government, and banks work.

    • School Garden: Mr. Tuan Hoang leads students in raising fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You can find the garden beds between the 1^st and 2^nd grade wing, along Central Ave.

Just Plain Silly Fun:

• • • Spirit Week! This year we dressed as our favorite Star Wars characters, had an Ugly Sweater Day, a Peanuts Movie Day, Pajama Day, and an Ellis Spirit Day!

Get to know the school

• • • At Coffee with our Principals: Principal Eric Panosian and Vice Principal Stephanie Fischer

    • Site Council: Our principals give parents an opportunity to learn about and give input regarding school’s priorities

    • District Advisory Council: Our School District Superintendent gives parents an opportunity to learn about and give input regarding school district’s priorities

More fun extras!

• • • • • Ellis Hoodies/Sweatshirts! In different colors and sizes per your choice!

        • Student Photos: one session in fall and another in the spring. Photos are available for purchase from an outside vendor.

        • Yearly Yearbook are available for purchase (about $20) and are distributed in June.

        • Safe Routes to School program: continuous starting late fall

        • Bike Rodeo: in spring

        • Tennis Club: free tennis lesson on campus on a spring afternoon

During-the-School-Day Fun and Enrichment:

• • • • • First please note, covering all the Common Core learning requirements, including Reading, Writing, Math, Science, History, and Physical Education are the first priority in the classroom and are covered beautifully by our exceptional team of teachers. The below are in addition to that.

        • Art and Culture:

          • Starting Arts: Dance, Music, and Drama for all students, grouped by grade level

          • California Theatre Center: all students walk to see a live play at the nearby California Theatre Center (also listed under “Off Campus…”)*

        • Character Development:

          • Character Trait of the Month: classroom focus culminating in monthly school-wide assemblies celebrates students who have embodied the current trait of the month. This year we covered Leadership, Courage, Generosity, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Friendship, Appreciation, Respect, Compassion, and Perseverance.

          • Ellis Eagle Excellence program: promotes children being safe, respectful, and responsible.

          • Anti-Bullying Assembly week: a week of assemblies focused on bully-prevention

          • Playworks: an anti-bullying and all-student-inclusion program each recess and lunch break (We are one of the lucky Sunnyvale schools to have this every day of the year!)

          • Project Cornerstone: anti-bullying and compassion-building monthly discussions

          • Student Council: teaches leadership and student government

        • Technology:

          • iPads: 1 per student in 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade. 1 per 2 students starting in 1^st and 2^nd grade

          • Hour of Code: computer programming

          • Tech Night: students learn hands-on how technology works in a variety of activities

        • Off-Campus during the School Day:

          • Field Trips for all Students: some of the places our students have gone to are Ardenwood Farms, San Jose Tech Museum, San Juan Bautista Mission, Happy Hollow, and the San Francisco Zoo*

          • Fifth Grade Science Camp at Walden West

          • Flint Center for the Performing Arts and Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts: all students see a live play one theater (also listed under “Art and Culture”)*

          • Sunnyvale Library: kids walk to the nearby library, obtain a library card, and check out books