February 2024
IMPORTANT DATES:
Remember...it's a LEAP YEAR...there are 29 days in February this year:)
February is Black History Month!
February 2 - Groundhog Day
February 6 - Family Book Night (click on time for google meeting link) TK/Kinder 7 – 7:30pm 2nd grade 7:35 – 8:05pm
February 7 - Global Day of Play; School Smarts Begins
February 8 -PUSD School Board Meeting, 6:00pm
February 9 - Flag Salute - theme is Funky Day (wear funky clothes)
February 10 - Lunar New Year
February 12 - NO SCHOOL (Lincoln's Birthday Holiday)
February 13 - PTA General Meeting, 7-8:30pm in the Library
February 14 - Valentines Day
February 15 - Family Book Night (click on time for google meeting link) 1st grade 7 – 7:30pm; 3rd grade 7:35 – 8:05pm
February 19 - NO SCHOOL (Presidents Day Holiday)
February 20 thru 24 - 5th Grade Outdoor Ed
February 22 - PUSD School Board Meeting, 6:00pm
February 27 - MINIMUM DAY (all grades EXCEPT FIRST GRADE)
February 27 - Family Book Night (click on time for google meeting link) 5th grade 7 – 7:00pm ; 4th grade 7:35pm
"Family Book Club" - it's virtual, so it's easy to attend.
Mrs. Gates is hosting several family book club sessions for different grade levels online at night. She will read a book, then children and adults will have a chance to discuss some questions about the book. This is a first-time event and we are excited to see who can attend! Please note that the reading will start right on time, to make sure that tired children and adults (including Mrs. Gates) can make it to bed. Each grade level session has its own google meeting link attached below.
Thursday, February 15: *from 7 – 7:30pm. 1st grade *from 7:35 – 8:05pm 3rd grade
These norms of behavior are how we adults interact at Donlon . If you have any questions about our norms, please reach out to Janet Gates or Danielle Tremain, your Donlon administrators.
Donlon's Meeting Norms:
Stay student focused.
Assume positive intentions.
Be open to ideas.
Communicate clearly and succinctly.
Ask and welcome questions for clarification.
Allow others to complete thoughts before responding.
Listen carefully for understanding, and respect other’s views.
Honor time limits.
DONLON ATTENDANCE LINE
We have a 24 hour attendance line that you can call to leave a message about your student(s) absence. That phone number is 925-426-0403. Follow the prompt to leave the needed information for our records.
Attendance Matters!
February 5 is the start of our 24th week of school, so only 16 weeks are left for your children to learn all of the essential standards for their grade level! Each minute of school is important learning time (even recess and lunch minutes, as children learn how to interact, problem-solve, manage emotions, and communicate effectively during these unstructured times). Please do all that you can to have your students on time and ready to learn each school day.
For safety reasons, Students should not be dropped off before the gates open at 8:00am (9:00am on Wednesday) as we have no adult supervision until then. Children arriving after their start time will be marked tardy. After school, students must be picked up within 15 minutes of dismissal (see the bell schedule for your child's dismissal times).
Linked here are some tips from understood.org for less-stress mornings that help everyone (children AND their families).
Information Regarding Independent Study Contracts
The purpose of an Independent Study Contract is intended to be requested by a parent/guardian due to an emergency or illness. Independent Study Contracts may be used on a short term basis to ensure that the student is able to maintain academic progress in the student's regular classes. The contract assists in preventing your child from falling behind and gives your child attendance credit.
Per California Education Code, Independent Study Contracts are only issued to students who will be absent for a minimum of 3 school days. The maximum number of school days the contract will be approved for cannot exceed 15 school days. After 15 school days, PUSD cannot guarantee your child will return to the same classroom or the same school.
Independent Study Contracts may not be issued during the last 20 school days of the school year. Existing policies related to assignments and grading will be upheld for excused and unexcused absences if taken during the final 20 days of the school year. If your child is absent the last twenty days, we cannot guarantee your child will return to the same school the following school year.
FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE
KINDERGARTEN PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
Completed Oral Health Exam forms are due by May 31, 2024. Please drop off at the Donlon office or email to: jtompkins@pleasantonusd.net. Thank you!
**TK/Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-25 School Year**
PUSD is hosting one In-Person Parent Informational Meeting on January 24, 2024. Following the presentation, the slide deck will be available for viewing on the TK/K Parent Meeting page on the PUSD Website.
2024/25 New Student Enrollment will open on February 5, 2024. The link to begin the online enrollment process will not be available for the 2024/25 year prior to that date. PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS IMPORTANT PAGE REGARDING ENROLLMENT!
Transitional Kindergarten (TK): The child must turn 5 years old between Sept. 2, 2024 and June 2, 2025
Kindergarten enrollment: The child must turn 5 years old, on or before Sept. 1, 2024
REMINDER - VOLUNTEER CLEARANCE
If you want to volunteer on campus or on field trips this school year, please see the Volunteers page of the PUSD website to review the PUSD Volunteer Handbook. After reading through the handbook, apply to be a volunteer for the 2023-24 school year by using the PUSD Raptor Volunteer Application link. Please note: TB clearance is required for all volunteers.
Volunteer Clearance process - if you think you MIGHT want to volunteer in a classroom, please complete this process - you'll be ready!
Questions? Please email volunteerclearance@pleasantonusd.net
Thank you for your care and caution while driving!
Reminders about our Donlon traffic:
Honor the queue! Do not cut in front of others in our front loop. If you need to drop off your child in the front loop, you must wait in line. Do not use the left line to move to the front and cut over to the curb. Also, you may NOT drop off your child from the left lane - only drop off in the curb lane, and have your child exit from the curb side of the car.
Keep our traffic flowing! Our front lot has TWO exit lanes for after you have dropped off or picked up your child. You can see two arrows painted on the ground as a reminder. Please fill both lanes (they both turn right at the end of the loop - drivers must take turns exiting).
Keep our traffic flowing! (Part 2) Please don't block traffic by waiting for students on Dorman Road in front of our school. The southbound far right lane is for vehicles turning right into the Donlon parking lot. If you'd like to pick up your child elsewhere, the back of the school is an excellent spot, or you could have them walk to a different close location to meet you.
Cross safely! It is very dangerous to drop off or pick up your children in the middle of the road! Do NOT run across the road or encourage your children to run across the road. There are crosswalks designated, and all must use the crosswalks. A few extra steps to go to the crosswalk can be the difference between safety and tragedy. Also, please remind children that they must get off of their bikes and walk across the street. Riding a bike across the street is risky, because it doesn't allow time for car drivers to see the bike rider in time to stop.
AAFN Dates 23-24 (5).pdfAfrican-American Family Network Dates for 23-24 School Year
African-American Family Network meets quarterly for the 23-24 school year. The dates and locations can be found on the flier at left. Quarterly African-American Family Network Meetings are the first and broadest touchpoint for African-American families in PUSD to build community in affinity space, have culturally relevant and specific activities that are social and fun, and opt into other district programs.
Our School Plan for Student Achievement for 2023-2024 school year is attached here. Please take some time to review our goals for this school year! For a quick summary of our SPSA, click here.
School Site Council meets monthly to review data, consider options for improvement, and determine our focus for the school year. This important group of people represents and serves all aspects of our school community with 5 parents, 3 teachers, 1 non-teacher staff member, and our Principal. All are welcome to attend, and there is time allotted for comments from the community at the beginning of our meetings. Please see the Donlon Website for School Site Council meeting dates, agendas, and minutes. Click here to go directly to the Donlon Site Council page.
Cubs in the Community! See what our Cubs are doing...
Featuring our Cubs and the things that they are doing outside of their school day. Please use this form to submit information (keep it short and sweet) and a photo if you'd like. Then look for your child in our next Digest update!
For February: We had no submissions yet for this month - I'll add information as it is shared with me!