February 2026

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,

As we approach Lunar New Year, I send my best wishes to all and am hopeful that the Year of the Horse brings us all positive energy, freedom, and personal growth.

February is Black History Month. Throughout the month, MSJE will be recognizing and celebrating the contributions and achievements made by African Americans and recognizing their central role in U.S. History. I encourage families to continue this learning at home.

I want to express my unwavering gratitude to parents/guardians, families, students, and staff. Together, we have successfully navigated through the first 100 days of the school year. Every day, I am thankful for the unwavering support from the MSJE community. With our continued focus on academic, social-emotional, physical, behavioral, and linguistic learning, it is a true joy to watch our amazing students moving forward. 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

February 2-6: Lost & Found Claiming Week
February 5, 3:30 PM: Basketball Game - MSJE @ Mission Valley
February 6: MSJE Spirit Day = Silly Hair/Silly Hat Day
February 6, 6:00 - 8:00 PM: PTC Movie Night
February 9, 3:30 PM: Basketball Game - MSJE vs Chadbourne
February 10, 7:00 PM: PTC Meeting - join on Zoom
February 11: Spring Pictures
February 13: No School
February 16: Presidents' Day - No School
February 17-20: 5th Grade Science Camp
February 23, 6:00 PM: MSJE English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting - join on Zoom
February 27: End of Trimester 2
February 27: MSJE Spirit Day = Character Day

2026-2027 Enrollment Information

2026-2027 NEW student enrollment is starting in December 2025. For your child that is currently enrolled with us, there is nothing you need to do. If you have other children not currently enrolled in FUSD, that you need to enroll, please visit FUSD's Enrollment Website for more information, dates, and the enrollment application. Sibling priority runs from December 1, 2025 - April 17, 2026. Complete the enrollment by April 17, 2026 to have the best chance of keeping your children at the same elementary school.

Residency Verification

On February 2, you will receive an email from Informed K12 "Informedk12.com" with a link to the annual residency verification form. The form can be submitted online. If you are not able to submit online you can provide hard copies to your current school site. The deadline to submit the form is February 27, 2026.

MSJE Yearbook Cover Art Contest

It's time to get creative! We are holding a yearbook cover contest for our 2025-2026 yearbook. Students are encouraged to participate by showing off their artistic capabilities that will last as a lifetime memory. The winner of the artwork contest art will be published as the front cover of the yearbook. The 2nd runner-up will be published as the back cover of the yearbook. Additional entries will be published in the yearbook as well.

Please see the entry rules below:

Artwork should be hand-drawn on 8 x 10 paper.
Artwork should be in Portrait format
On the back of the artwork, please include the following information - Student's full name, grade, and teacher name

Turn in entries to your class teacher by Friday, February 27, 2026.

Drop off & Pick-up Reminders

Morning drop begins at 8:05. When dropping off and picking up students on Bryant street, please note these reminders to ensure safety for all:

When a crossing guard is present, all children and adults MUST comply with their directives.
Please be courteous of the neighbors that surround our school. Do not block driveways or mailboxes, and do not move neighbors' trash cans to park your car.
Stay in your car when in the pick-up/drop-off zone on the school side of Bryant Street.
Be slow and cautious when pulling forward.
Please watch your speed when driving on all neighborhood streets.
No left turn on Cedar Street, 8:05 - 8:20 and 2:40 - 3:00 PM.
All students should exit the car on the right side.
Students should keep their backpacks and other items in the car, not in the trunk
No U-turns on Bryant Street
Cross only at designated crosswalks. Please, no jaywalking.
Recommended drop-off time is 8:05-8:15 AM (students are at risk of being tardy if they arrive later than 8:15)
At 8:18 when the warning bell rings, students must WALK to class.
Please note: The valet area on Bryant Street is a no-idling zone; drivers of non-electric vehicles are kindly asked to turn off the engine while waiting for student(s).

Spelling Bee

Congratulations to all 10 of our MSJE Spelling Bee contestants. After 7 rounds, Srikrishna S. was declared the winner and Zachary L. was declared the runner up. They both will be taking a test to qualify for the San Ramon Valley Rotary Regional Spelling Bee.

School Use After School Hours

Students and families are kindly reminded to use our school campus respectfully after school hours. Students must be supervised at all times, and everyone is expected to follow all school rules and guidelines to ensure a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environment for our entire community (Please review school rules starting on page 13 of the MSJE Parent & Student Handbook 2025-2026.) Help us keep the grounds clean by disposing of all trash properly and leaving no litter behind. School equipment and facilities should be used only as intended and not misused or damaged. No person may ride skateboards, rollerblades/skates, bikes, or scooters anywhere on campus. Dogs are not allowed at anytime on campus.

English Language Proficiency for California (ELPAC)

Every Year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, classwork, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. Families can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support.

Initial & Summative ELPAC: Students who have a home language survey that lists a language other than English will take the initial test, which identifies students as a Multilingual Learner student or as initially fluent in English. Students who are classified as Multilingual Learner students will take the Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English.

What is the test format? Both the Initial and Summative ELPAC are computer-based.
Which standards are tested? The 2012 California English Language Development Standards.

Alternate ELPAC: Students whose IEP identifies the use of an alternate assessment and who have a home language survey that lists a language other than English will take the Alternate Initial ELPAC, which identifies students as an English learner student or as initially fluent in English. Students who are classified as Multilingual Learner students will take the Alternate Summative ELPAC every year until they are reclassified as proficient in English.

What is the test format? Both the Alternate Initial and Alternate Summative ELPAC are computer-based.
Which standards are tested? Alternate achievement standards derived from the 2012 California English Language Development Standards.

More information on ELPAC:

MSJE Summative ELPAC Testing Window: March 2 - May 27

SBAC/CAST State-Required Assessments

Beginning April 27 and throughout the month of May, all 3rd-5th grade students will be taking the following state-required assessments:

SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) - State mandated test for grades 3-8 and 11
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
CAST (California Science Test) - State mandated test for grades 5, 8, and 12
CAA (California Alternate Assessment) - For eligible students only
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science

Prior to the May test administration, students will have the opportunity in and outside of school to practice for this assessment through the CAASPP Online Practice and Training Test Portal. (At home, students can take practice tests as a "guest user" without needing a session ID or SSID number.)

All 3rd - 5th grade students should have a personal pair of earbuds or headphones to use for testing, beginning on April 27.

Additional information about State-Required CAASPP can be found on the FUSD Website.

Score Reports for SBAC Tests are shared in June or July via email and parent portals.

MSJE Soccer

We are excited to soon begin the 2026 girls and boys soccer season.

Required forms

Interested participants must complete and submit (to the MSJE office) the following forms prior to tryouts:

2026 MSJE Soccer Permission Form
FUSD Insurance and Permission Form
Participation Physical Evaluation Clearance Form (must include physician’s verification with signature or stamp)

Note: Physical form must be dated on or after August 12, 2025. If a student turned in a physical for the 2025-2026 Basketball season, a new physical form does not need to be resubmitted.

Player/Parent Code of Conduct

Season Timeline (subject to change):

Try-Outs (during school recess time):
- Girls: February 23-24
- Boys: February 25-26
Practice Schedule: TBD
League Games: TBD (beginning March 30)
Tournament: May 7, 2026

Please Note:

Tryouts are open to all 4th and 5th-grade boys and girls.
Teams are limited to a maximum of 15 players. Regretfully, not all players who try out for the team will be selected.
Paper copies of these forms are available in the MSJE office.

Please direct all questions to Katy Carter (kcarter@fusdk12.net)

Basketball at MSJE

Basketball Game Schedule (subject to change):

- Tues. 1/13: MSJE @ Gomes (girls, 3:30; boys, 4:30)
- Thurs. 1/15: MSJE vs. Mission Valley (boys, 3:30; girls, 4:30)
- Thurs. 1/22: MSJE vs. Chadbourne (girls, 3:30; boys, 4:30) - CANCLED
- Tues. 1/27: MSJE vs. Gomes (boys, 3:30; girls, 4:30)
- Thurs. 1/29: MSJE @ Chadbourne (boys, 3:30; girls, 4:30)
- Thurs. 2/5: MSJE @ Mission Valley (girls, 3:30; boys, 4:30)
- Thurs. 2/9: MSJE vs. Chadbourne (girls, 3:30; boys, 4:30)

2025-2026 MSJE Yearbook

It' not too early to order your 2025-2026 MSJE Yearbook.

To order your yearbook:

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

Attention parents/guardians of 5th graders: One of the special ways we celebrate our 5th graders is by including their baby pictures in the MSJE yearbook. Please use this 5th Grade Baby Picture Form to submit a baby picture of your student no later than March 31, 2026. Please carefully fill out the form with the requested details to avoid last minute confusion about whether your child's picture uploaded successfully. You will receive a copy of your form response to verify that your form was submitted.

2025 - 2026 Spirit Days

January 16: Sports Day
February 6: Silly Hair/Silly Hat Day
February 27: Character Day
March 27: School Colors Day
April 17: Twin Day
May 8: Tie Dye Day
May 29: Sunglasses Day

School Attendance Awareness

The Fremont Unified School District is excited to provide ongoing opportunities for students to learn and engage with peers and staff! As we head toward the holiday season, we want to make sure you know that continuing the habit of daily attendance is more important than ever; please make all attempts to restrict family travel to non-school days.

Good attendance helps to:

● Build routines that help reduce stress

● Make new friends or reconnect with their friends and teachers

● Engage in learning

● Gain access to meals, health care, or fun activities

Every absence is a missed day of learning. Let’s work together to make daily attendance a top priority. Too many absences, excused or unexcused, can keep students from succeeding in school and in life.

How many are too many? 10% of the school year, that’s 18 missed days or 2 days a month, can knock students off track. Remember that good attendance benefits your child’s education. Students who miss a day of school not only miss instruction but must make up work and catch up with the new material at the same time.

For more information regarding the importance of regular school attendance, please see the English | Spanish | Chinese attendance flyers.

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

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.

School Site Council Membership

The next School Site Council meeting is on Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 PM.

The 2025-2026 MSJE School Site Council currently has two open positions. We are still in need of an alternate member. If you are interested in serving on the SSC as an 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).

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

2025-2026 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

First Day of School = Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Last Day of School = Tuesday, June 2, 2026

2026-2027 School Year Instructional Calendar

First Day of School = Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Last Day of School = Tuesday, June 1, 2027

Reminder to Families: To ensure regular attendance, please plan travel on non-school days.

Counselor's Corner

Hello Families,

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Our Kindness Club is creating Valentine cards for seniors at the Age Well Center in Warm Springs. The cards will be enjoyed during a lovely Valentine's Day lunch event held at their facility. Though Valentine's Day is a great time to express our appreciation to our loved ones, it is also a great time to express self-love. During Valentine’s week, there will be a lunch recess activity that students can participate in that promotes self-love.

National School Counseling Week is from February 2-6th. This week is celebrated to promote the school counseling profession. Learn more about how school counselors support students by visiting the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) webpage.

This month, students will continue to learn about Empathy & Kindness 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, November 18 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, February 10, 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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