September 2025

MSJE Office Staff

Katy Carter, Principal

Shanthi Sukumar, Secretary

Hazeena Azeez, Attendance Clerk

Office: 510-656-1200

Fax: 510 651-4211

Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Mission San Jose Elementary School

43545 Bryant St. Fremont, CA 94539 [MAP]

MSJE Parent & Student Handbook 2025-2026

Hello Mission San Jose Elementary Families,

What a Wonderful start to the school year it has been! Thank you to all students, families, and staff for your patience as we have been settling into our new routines. As we enter into the Fall season and wrap up our first weeks of the school year, I also want to thank each of you for working to sustain a strong home-school relationship. I encourage all families to partner with teachers and staff to maintain open lines of communication. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you throughout the year; my door is always open.

This month all grade levels will be focusing on growth mindset and goal setting. I encourage parents/guardians to reinforce these concepts at home. How can a growth mindset and goal setting help us at home, at school, and in our communities?

For any questions you may have or for more information about how you can support MSJE, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I look forward to the opportunity to partner with all members of the MSJE community to provide our students with an amazing year! GO MUSTANGS!

In Partnership,

Katy Carter, Principal

kcarter@fusdk12.net

Mission San Jose Vision Statement

Students are empowered to be caring and responsible global citizens, equipped with the knowledge, skills, values, and environmental stewardship to make a positive impact on the world.

Mark Your Calendars

September 1: Labor Day (No School)
September 2-5: Lost & Found Claiming Week
September 9, 7:00 PM: PTC Meeting- join on Zoom
September 10, 3:00 PM: School Site Council - room 13
September 15-19: Start with Hello Week
September 15, 3:00 PM: MSJE ELAC Meeting - join on Zoom
September 19: Fall Picture Day
September 26: Trimester 1 Progress Reports go Home

Back-to-School Night

Thank you to those of you who attended Back-to School Night on August 26. Here is the Principal/PTC Slide Deck Presentation for your review.

Fall Picture Day at MSJE

Smile and say "cheese."

Picture day at MSJE is on Friday, September 19. To order pictures, please click on the link found on the picture day flyer.

English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC)

MSJE is currently seeking parents of multilingual learners to be involved with MSJE’s ELAC.

The ELAC shall be responsible for advising the principal and staff on programs and services for multilingual learners and the School Site Council on the development of the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). This is a great opportunity to learn how MSJE is supporting out Multilingual Learners.

First meeting: Monday, September 15, 3:00 PM on Zoom (see MSJE’s ELAC Agenda)

MSJE Student Council

Calling all 4th and 5th grade leaders... Students who are interested in developing their leadership skills are encouraged to run for a student council position. Please see the information and timeline below.

Aug. 29: Information and permission form go out to students and parents
Sept. 12: Permission forms due (return to Mr. Singleton)
Sept. 15-19: Campaigning and Posters
Sept. 22-26: Speech Week (live speeches at lunchtime)
Sept. 30: Voting
Oct. 1: Election Results shared

Breakfast, Lunch, and Water Bottles

Free breakfast and lunch for students will continue to be available for the 2025-2026 school year. Breakfast is available for students on school days from 7:45-8:15 AM in the multi-use room. Students can receive their free lunch during their designated lunch period at school according to the 2025-2026 MSJE Bell Schedule. For menus, nutrition info, and more, visit fusdcafes.org. Students may also bring lunch from home. Home lunches should be brought in containers that students are able to open by themselves. NO GLASS CONTAINERS are allowed. Students should bring a pre-filled water bottle to school daily. Students may refill water bottles at our refilling station as needed. No lunches or water bottles (or school materials) are permitted to be dropped off after the start of the school day. Students who forget to bring lunch may receive a free school lunch.

Sports at MSJE

MSJE participates in girls & boys basketball and soccer. This year, 4th and 5th-grade students are able to try out for the teams. Participation in school sports requires the submission of the following forms prior to tryouts:

FUSD Insurance and Permission Form
Participation Physical Evaluation Clearance Form
1. - Some doctors may use a different form which is OK as long as "unlimited participation" is noted.
  - Physical forms must be current (dated August 12, 2025 or after)
Elementary Sports Player/Parent Code of Conduct

Basketball is a winter sport. Tryouts will be held in late November. Games and practices will be scheduled from December through February.

Soccer is a spring sport. Tryouts will be held in March. Games and practices will be scheduled in April and May.

Any parent or community member who may be interested in coaching should reach out to Principal Carter (kcarter@fusdk12.net).

New MSJE Lost & Found Policy

The purpose of MSJE’s Lost & Found Policy is to reduce the quantity of personal items students lose at school and to responsibly repurpose unclaimed items to maintain a clean and healthy school environment.

Students are encouraged to look for any lost items in the MUR at lunch time. During the 1st week of every month, all lost & found items will be brought out to the bike lock/Kindergarten area for families to search for missing items. After each monthly “claiming week,” remaining items will be properly disposed of. Items of greater value (ex. jewelry, money, glasses) may be kept at the office. Writing your child’s name on the inside of jackets and on water bottles, lunch boxes, and containers is strongly recommended and will help us return belongings to students.

This year's first Lost & Found Claiming Week will be September 2-5.

The Wonder Lab - MSJE Science Updates

Please read the September "The Wonder Lab" MSJE Science Newsletter for information and updates.

Cell Phone / Smart Watch Policy and Agreement

Will your students be bringing a cell phone or Smart Watch to school this year?

Cell phones/Smart Watches may be brought to school for safety purposes and students must follow the following guidelines:

Cell phone/Smart Watch must be turned off between 8:20 AM and 2:40 PM.
Cell phone/Smart Watch (and any watch with a digital screen) must be kept in the student’s backpack throughout the school day.
Cell phones/Smart Watches will not be loaned to another student.
Cell phones are used to make a phone call for a ride only. It is not allowed to take pictures, listen to music, call friends, etc.

The school is not responsible if the cell phone/Smart Watch is lost or damaged. Students who use cell phones/Smart Watches at any time during the instructional day shall be subject to the following progressive discipline procedures:

First Offense: the cell phone/Smart Watch will be confiscated and sent to the office with a referral slip. Parents will be called to pick up the cell phone.
Subsequent offense(s) - (defiance): Additional parent contact and more severe disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension.

Parents must fill out the MSJE Cell Phone / Smart Watch Agreement Form in order for their student to carry a cell phone/Smart Watch. By filling out this form, students and parent/guardian are agreeing to the MSJE cell phone policy.

School Site Council Membership

The 2025-2026 MSJE School Site Council currently has four open positions. We are still in need of new members. If you are interested in serving on the SSC as a member or alternate, please contact Principal Carter.

The Commitment: Elected members would serve a 2-year term and attend SSC meetings 5 times per year (2nd Wednesdays of September, October, November, March, and April, 3:00 to 4:00 PM). Parent/community members work with school staff to edit and approve the Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP) and the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for the continued growth of student success in order to close the achievement gap and enhance and enrich the school experience for all students.

Questions: Please address any questions to the principal, Katy Carter (kcarter@fusdk12.net).

Reminders for MSJE Volunteers

We require that all MSJE volunteers:

have pre-approval of the teacher/principal
sign in and out at the office
wear a visitor badge at all times
agree to uphold the FUSD Volunteer Code of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreement
submit an application through CiviCore
- Volunteers who are transporting students must submit proof of insurance
- CiviCore applications are good for 1 year and all FUSD children (even if at different schools)
- Science Camp chaperone volunteers who are independently supervising students must also undergo fingerprinting and a background check.

For more information, please see the Volunteer Page of the FUSD Website.

FUSD Family Resource Website

Welcome to the 2025 - 2026 school year! On this FUSD Family Resource Website, you will find resources, news, information about upcoming events that FUSD will host throughout the school year, past presentations, ways to encourage learning at home, and more. FUSD will continue to update this site so please be sure to bookmark this site and check back for more updates.

2025 - 2026 MSJE Bell Schedule

2024-2025 Bell Schedule / Minimum Days

Here you will find the 2025-2026 MSJE Bell Schedule.

Minimum Days:

Kindergarten:

First 4 Weeks (8/12 - 9/5) and Every Wednesday

1st-5th Grade:

First Week (8/12 - 8/15)
Back-to-School Night (8/26)
Halloween (10/31)
Family Conferences (11/19, 11/20)
Day Before Winter Break (12/19)
Day Before Spring Break (3/12)
Last 4 Days of School (5/28, 5/29, 6/1, 6/2)

On time Arrival: To ensure that your student is on time, we recommend arriving to school between 8:05 - 8:15 AM.

FUSD School Year Calendar

2025-2026 School Year Instructional Calendar

School starts on August 12, 2025

Counselor's Corner

Hello Families,

Lunch Bunches will begin this month. Lunch Bunch is a small group of 6-8 students who meet weekly with the school counselor during lunchtime. The primary goal is to help students connect with peers and build positive relationships through fun activities. Please note, lunch bunch is not a punishment or counseling session, but rather an opportunity for students to socialize and express themselves. Students may be recommended by teachers, parents, or self-referred by contacting the counselor.

The Wellness Center, also known as The Calm Room, will open this month. The Calm Room is a place where students can go during recess if they feel stressed, overwhelmed, or need a quiet place to have a brain break. In the Calm Room, students can use coping tools to reset, refocus and restart before they return to class. Every Wednesday, there will be activities in the Calm Room to promote wellness.

The Start with Hello Week will take place from September 15-19. This event was initiated to empower students to create a culture of kindness and inclusion. There will be spirit dress up days and lunch recess activities to promote the importance of welcoming all students. Please encourage your child to participate.

Second Step is the social-emotional curriculum we will continue to use. For August and September, students will focus on learning about the importance of “Growth Mindset and Setting Goals'' through the Second Step Curriculum. At home, we encourage families to engage in conversations which reinforce their student’s learning and support additional practice beyond the classroom. The following resources provide an overview of the ideas and concepts your student will be learning: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade.

Best Regards,

Ms. Vue, School Counselor

kvue@fusdk12.net

(510) 656-1200 ext. 33012

PTC Connections - Let's Do Something AMAZING Together

Dear Mustang Families,

The 2025–2026 school year is here — and we’re dreaming BIG for our incredible students! Imagine a school year packed with engaging programs, creative assemblies, exciting clubs, classroom upgrades, and enriching activities that light up your child’s face with joy and curiosity. Together, we can make all of this possible — and it starts with you.

This is your moment to make an impact!
Our MSJE Parent Teacher Club (PTC) is on a mission to go beyond the basics and bring extraordinary experiences to every Mustang on campus. We’re talking:

STEM adventures like Math Counts, Olympiad, and Robotics
Creative sparks through FAME, music, art, and assemblies
Classroom essentials for every teacher and student
Clubs and enrichment like Chess, Coding, and more
Technology tools, library upgrades, and much more
School-wide upgrades like new picnic benches, digital marquee, and more

This goes beyond what the school district provides — it’s all funded by parents like YOU. The sooner we hit our goal, the sooner the magic begins!

2025–2026 Goal:
We’re asking for a one-time donation of $300 per student to kick-start this amazing journey. If every family gives what they can, we’ll hit our goal fast — and your child will directly benefit from every single dollar.

Why now?
The earlier we raise the funds, the earlier we can launch programs and support classrooms. Let’s give our students the tools, creativity, and joy they deserve — starting right now!

Donate in Seconds:
Just scan the QR code on our Contribution Drive Flyer and tap the link that pops up. That’s it. No forms, no hassle — just one powerful step toward making MSJE even more amazing.

JOIN US!
Want to be part of the action? Our first PTC Zoom Meeting is on Tuesday, September 9th at 7:00 PM — open to ALL parents and guardians. We’d love to hear your ideas and share what’s ahead!

Let’s show our kids that when the Mustang community comes together, there’s nothing we can’t do.

Thank you for your heart, your support, and your Mustang spirit!

For more information, please visit the PTC page on the MSJE Website or email the PTC at msjeptcexecboard@gmail.com.

PTC Meeting Schedule: Every 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 PM (exception 11/18 instead of 11/11)

Next PTC Meeting: Tuesday, September 9, 7:00 PM - join on Zoom

MSJE Community

Paperless fliers for community events, programs, and resources can be found at https://app.peachjar.com/flyers/all/schools/51584 . To sign up for automatic notifications, go to www.peachjar.com and click on 'Sign Up'.

Remember to also check MSJE's School Website for updates and information.

Mission San Jose Elementary

43545 Bryant St. Fremont, CA 94539 [MAP]

Office: 510-656-1200 ┃Fax: 510 651-4211

Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

"Fremont Unified School District is part of a culturally and linguistically rich community. Our policies embrace a discrimination and harassment-free environment."

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