October 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,

Beautiful weather, falling leaves, and the excitement of fall are in the air! I hope you are all doing well. We are now officially halfway through the first trimester. We are proud of the hard work and excellent progress we have already seen from our students.

MSJE has just completed "Start With Hello Week" during which students had many opportunities to get to know other students. It is great to see the beginnings of new friendships and kindness towards one another.

October 8 is International Walk & Roll to School Day. Students are encouraged to participate by walking or riding their bikes to school to celebrate our school spirit, our health, and the environment. October 22 is Unity Day. We ask for all students to wear orange to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. We are also looking forward to several Halloween-related activities this month.

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!

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy October!

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

October 6-10: Lost & Found Claiming Week
October 2-3: Book Fair Preview (for students)
October 6-10: MSJE Book Fair
October 7, 7:00 PM: PTC Meeting- join on Zoom
October 8: International Walk & Roll to School Day
October 8, 3:00 PM: School Site Council - see Agenda
October 13-23: MSJE Read-a-thon PTC Fundraiser
October 22: Unity Day
October 24: No School (No family conferences)
October 25: PTC Halloween Truck-or-Treat
October 27-31: Red Ribbon Week
October 27, 6:00 PM: DELAC Meeting - join on Zoom
October 28: Make-up Picture Day
October 31: Annual Pumpkin Carving & Decorating Activity
October 31, 1:00 PM: Halloween Parade
October 31: Minimum Day (1st - 5th) - 1:30 Dismissal

MSJE Receives State-Level Recognition for PBIS Implementation

We are thrilled to announce that MSJE has received GOLD-level State Recognition for PBIS implementation. We are one of four FUSD schools to receive GOLD level recognition this year. Many thanks the the amazing PBIS implementation team and to all staff and students of MSJE who made this achievement possible. Let's continue our efforts in supporting positive behavior and remember... Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.

MSJE Scholastic Book Fair

We’re excited to invite our students to the Scholastic Book Fair. This event is an opportunity for students to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. It is also a time for our teachers to expand their classroom libraries. Keep an eye out for the Scholastic flyer. Prices in the flyer do not include tax. Sales tax of 10.25% will be added to all purchases.

To help make the Book Fair a success, please consider volunteering Volunteer Sign Up.

All General Education classes will preview the Book Fair on October 2nd and 3rd. The preview is a time for students to look around the Book Fair and, if they’d like, make a Wish List. The Wish List is for students to talk to parents about what they might like to buy the following week. If you decide your child can make a purchase, please set up an eWallet or send cash for their class visit.

Scholastic offers a cash-free payment option called eWallet. It’s a convenient digital account that your child can use to shop.
If your teacher sets up an eWallet for the classroom, please consider donating to the class account for the purchase of classroom books.

Please take the time to discuss with your child what you think is a good purchase choice. There are no returns at the Book Fair. Talking to your child ahead of time will reduce unhappiness about a bad purchase decision.

General Education classes will come to the Book Fair for an opportunity to shop October 6 - 10. SDC classes are more than welcome to come shop after school with their parents. Book Fair Schedule

All parents are welcome to shop during the following times: October 6 - 10 between 8:20 am - 8:45 am & 2:40 pm - 3:30 pm

There is also an online Book Fair option. Dates for the Online Book Fair are October 1 - October 14. Online orders ship directly to your home and also benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/msje https://www.scholastic.com/bf/missionsanjoseelemsch

All Proceeds benefit the MSJE library!

2025-2026 MSJE Yearbook

It' not too early to order your 2025-2026 MSJE Yearbook. Order by 10/31 for a 10% discount.

To order your yearbook:

go to https://web.treering.com/validate
Enter school's passcode 1012826531584096.

International Walk & Roll to School Day - October 8th

Join MSJE for International Walk and Roll to School Day! We will celebrate our school spirit, our health, and the environment with the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools program. With your family and friends, you can participate by:

Taking a walk, or riding a bike, skateboard, or scooter
Biking with your child on their own or with a trail-a-bike
Taking the bus with your child and walking to and from the bus stop
Joining a Walking School Bus or a Bike Train

We look forward to walking and rolling with you!

Halloween at MSJE

Our Annual Pumpkin Carving & Decorating Activity will continue this year. Students can bring a decorated or carved pumpkin to enter the contest. We added a new category for a green ribbon award for the best-decorated pumpkin using recycled materials. Participating students must bring their pumpkins to school on October 31st for judging. The pumpkins will be displayed for our Halloween Parade. We look forward to seeing the creativity.

The MSJE Halloween Parade will occur on Friday, October 31 at 1:00 PM. This will be an outdoor event for staff and students. Parents are welcome to observe the parade on campus in designated areas.

Halloween Costumes: Dressing for Halloween is a fun and festive part of October that many of our students and staff are looking forward to. Please carefully review the MSJE Halloween Dressing and Celebration guidelines.

MSJE's Got Spirit!

Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated during the week of October 27 to raise awareness about bullying and drug prevention. There will be a spirit week and activities to learn more about how to make healthy choices.

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month is in October. MSJE will be celebrating Unity Day on Wednesday, October 22nd. We wear ORANGE on Unity Day to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Students will have the opportunity to engage in activities to learn how to create an inclusive school.

Basketball at MSJE

This year, 4th and 5th-grade students have the opportunity to try out for the boys and girls basketball 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 Season Timeline (subject to change):

Open Gym (not required to try out):
- 1. - 10/27, 7:00 - 8:10 AM (boys)
    - 10/28, 3:00 - 5:00 PM (boys)
    - 10/29, 7:00 - 8:10 AM (girls)
    - 10/30, 3:00 - 5:00 PM (girls)

Tryouts:
- - - 11/3, 11/5, 3:00 - 5:00 (boys)
    - 11/4, 11/6, 3:00 - 5:00 (girls)

Team Selections Posted on Friday, November 7th

Practices (beginning the week of November 10):
- 1. - Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:10 AM (girls)
    - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:10 AM (boys)

Games: January - February (TBD)

MSJE Halloween Carnival - Volunteers Needed

Put on your spookiest costume and join us for a day of thrills, games, and treats at our Annual Trunk or Treat — Saturday, October 25!

We need YOU to help make the magic happen: sign up to host a trunk or volunteer at the carnival games. Let’s make this a frightfully fun day together!

MSJE Spirit Wear

There is good new for those of you who missed the deadline for the MSJE Spirit Wear Flash Sale. The on-demand store is now open and will be open all year round! Some FUN new items have been added including blankets, mugs, tumblers, bags, and more!

Check out the Mission San José Elementary Spirit Wear On-Demand Store today.

As a reminder:

No minimums – Families can order anytime!
Free shipping on orders over $75
Orders ship directly to students’ homes for convenience

Outdoor Idea for Families...

This Fall, students and families can celebrate National Public Lands Day (NPLD) by becoming citizen scientists. The NPLD BioBlitz invites participants to use the free iNaturalist app to observe and identify plants and animals on public lands. Every entry contributes to real scientific data that supports conservation and land management. It’s a fun, hands-on way for young people to explore nature, learn about biodiversity, and be part of a nationwide effort to care for our shared lands.

MSJE Student Council

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 elected student council members:

President: Karan R.
Vice President: Caleb T.
Secretary: Rishaan A.
Treasurer: Aman S.
Sergeant of Arms: Joshua M.

i-Ready Diagnostic Testing for Reading and Math

i-Ready Diagnostics are assessments in reading (grades 1–12) and mathematics (grades 1–8) that help teachers understand student strengths and growth areas. The Fall diagnostic window ended on September 19, and results are now available to parents/guardians through the i-Ready “For Families” report.

To access the report of diagnostic results, your student should log in to their i-Ready account, and from there you can enter the FUSD access code W54RK3 to view results. For more help, you can download the step-by-step guide here: i-Ready For Families Reports 2025-26.

Questions, Comments, Concerns

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding anything at MSJE, please reach out directly to Principal Carter, office staff, or classroom teachers. Please be advised that any group chat that is used for PTC/parent communication is not monitored or verified by MSJE staff. Non-monitored forums such as WhatsApp are not appropriate forums to express concerns about MSJE staff, programs, students, etc. and we respectfully ask you to refrain from engaging in such dialogue.

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 October's Lost & Found Claiming Week will be October 6-10.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Water Bottles

In California, all students at public schools are eligible for free breakfast and lunch every school day, regardless of family income, as part of the Universal Meals Program. This statewide mandate, in effect since the 2022-2023 school year, ensures all students requesting a meal receive it free of charge, supported by federal and state funding.

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. Only students who are eating breakfast are allowed in the multi-use room at this time.

Each morning during "lunch count," students will raise their hand if they will be getting the regular or vegetarian lunch. It is important that students only take what they ordered to prevent meal shortages. Students can receive their free lunch during their designated lunch period at school according to the 2025-2026 MSJE Bell Schedule. In the event that the regular or vegetarian entree runs out, students will receive a nutritionally balanced "snack pack" and choose from a la carte items (e.g., milk, juice, fruits and vegetables). 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.

The Wonder Lab - MSJE Science Updates

Please read the October "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 next School Site Council meeting is on Wednesday, October 8 at 3:00 PM.

The 2025-2026 MSJE School Site Council currently has two 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).

English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC)

Attention parents/guardians of Multilingual Learners: Attending MSJE's English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) meetings in a great way to learn about MSJE's English Language Development instructional program. During these meeting, parents/guardians will be able to provide meaningful input on programs and services that support our English learners and on the development of the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).

2025-2026 MSJE ELAC meeting dates are September 15, November 3, December 15, February 23, April 13, and May 11. All meetings start at 6:00 PM (join on Zoom).

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,

It’s a great time to enjoy the benefits of Fall, such as leaves changing, cooler weather and the smell of pumpkin spice. As we move into October, there are some exciting opportunities to share with you.

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month is in October. MSJE will be celebrating Unity Day on Wednesday, October 22nd. We wear orange on Unity Day to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Students will have the opportunity to engage in activities to learn how to create an inclusive school.

Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated during the week of October 27-31st to raise awareness about bullying and drug prevention. There will be a spirit week and activities to learn more about how to make healthy choices.

Our Annual Pumpkin Carving & Decorating will continue this year. We would like to invite students to participate by bringing a carved or decorated pumpkin to school on October 31st for judging. The pumpkins will be displayed for our Halloween Parade. We look forward to seeing the creativity.

This month, students will learn about “Emotional Management” from the Second Step Curriculum. At home, we encourage families to engage in conversation 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 next PTC Zoom Meeting is on Tuesday, October 7th 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, November 18, at 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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