GATORAID

School Phone: 408-252-5414 ~ Absence Line 408-252-5414-6 ~ FAX 408-996-9725

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
April 28, 2011
4/25-5/4 STAR TESTING
4/30 & 5/1 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. CUPERTINO CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL - MEMORIAL PARK
5/3 6:30 p.m. MUSIC CONCERT - GRADE 1 - ROOMS 24, 29 & 31 ONLY
5/5 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING
5/6 SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL NOMINATIONS DUE
5/9-5/12 STAR TEST MAKE UP
5/9 6:00 p.m. MUSIC CONCERT - KINDERGARTEN ROOMS 1 & 6
5/9 7:00 p.m. MUSIC CONCERT - KINDERGARTEN ROOMS 2 & 7
5/10 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING - COLLINS SCHOOL
5/11 6:30 p.m. S’COOL SPIRIT “INTERMEDIATE BAND” CONCERT
5/11 7:00 p.m. S’COOL SPIRIT “BEGINNING BAND” CONCERT
5/16-5/20 BOOK FAIR - GLC
5/18 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING
5/19 6:00 p.m. BOOK FAIR
5/19 7:00-8:00 p.m. OPEN HOUSE
5/20 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “DRESS MIS-MATCHED!”
5/23-26 STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
5/23 7:30 p.m. MUSIC CONCERT - GRADE 3 AND ROOM #26
5/24 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING
5/25 6:30 p.m. H.E.A.S.T. PERFORMANCE - GLC
5/26 6:30 p.m. MUSIC CONCERT - GRADE 1 - ROOMS #17, 18, 22, & 28 ONLY
5/27 STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL
5/30 MEMORIAL DAY - NO SCHOOL

Parent Traffic Duty: May 2nd - May 6th - Parents from Rm. 29
EVERY TUESDAY IS EARLY DISMISSAL – Students are dismissed at 1:30.
PRE-PAY FOR CUSD LUNCHES at PAMS (Parent Account Management System) Lunchroom! You can make payments and view
your students account balance online by going to http://www.pamslunchroom.com or by calling 1-888-994-5100.
TO EMAIL STAFF:lastname_firstname@cusdk8.org
ATTENDANCE: If your child will be absent, please call 252-5414. Ext. 6, by 8:30 a.m. to report the absence.
HOMEWORK: Homework may be requested for illness absences of three days or more. Please call the office before 9:00 a.m. to
request the homework for pickup after 3:00 p.m.
 FROM OUR PRINCIPAL....MS. HUCKO PAGE 2
STAR Testing
STAR Testing for grades 2-5 is currently underway. Students are arriving to school on time, having
enjoyed a good night's sleep and breakfast, ready to concentrate! Thank you parents, for your efforts in
avoiding the need to pull your children out of school this week and next. STAR Testing will conclude on
Wednesday, May 4.

Gator Gratitude
Thank you to the PTA and the many parent volunteers who helped to make our annual Walk Around a great success. We all
enjoyed walking to the tune of upbeat music and laughter as we raised money for our school...and the weather cooperated! What a
fun day it was! Please make sure pledges are turned in to your child's teacher by tomorrow, April 29. Thank you, Gator Parents, for
your continued support.

Eyes of Hope
In partnership with Vision Service Plan (VSP), CUSD is sponsoring “Eyes of Hope” for the second year. This eyewear donation
program will run from April thru the end of May. Garden Gate is collecting used eyeglasses so the glasses can be recycled and
distributed to children and adults throughout the world. The Eyes of Hope collection box is in the office. We will accept prescription
glasses, readers, and sunglasses – in plastic or metal frames. Cases can also be used if they are donated with the glasses inside.
Thank you for your donation.

Playgrounds Off Limits After Dismissal

Parents - please remember that children, whether they are supervised by you or not, may not play on any playground equipment after
school is dismissed. This includes both the time between primary and upper grade dismissal, as well as the time after upper grade
dismissal. After primary dismissal, parents and young children may wait for older children at the kindergarten tables in front of
Rooms 1 and 2. However, children are not allowed on the playground equipment. This policy is on page 11 of our Parent Handbook.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Traffic During Drop Off and Pick Up

When dropping off or picking up your child(ren), please pull forward and stop along the yellow curb. Do not pick up your child from
the second lane! Also, the yellow curb in the front of the school is for loading or un-loading only - it is not a place to park your car.
Cars parked along the curb not only back up traffic out onto Greenleaf, but in an emergency would prohibit emergency vehicles from
entering. Cars must be parked in designated parking spaces or on the street. Thank you for your support in this matter.

Budget News. . .
As you may have seen in the news, the California state budget does not look optimistic, and the potential for
future cuts to education are real. In CUSD alone, we are facing an annual shortfall of between -$2.89 million and -
$7.81 million. Currently, the proposed CUSD cuts for 2011-2012 include 90 teacher positions and 27 classified
positions, and this includes 6 of our own Garden Gate teachers. Our district is working closely with CEEF and the
community to look for ways to bridge these budget gaps. Specific budget information can be found at
www.cupertino.k12.ca.us <http://www.cupertino.k12.ca.us> Volunteer information can be found at
www.ceefcares.org<http://www.ceefcares.org> . As the state continues to be an unreliable partner when it comes
to funding high-quality education in our local schools, the District is consistently seeking solutions to preserve top
quality educational programs and classroom instruction. That is why the Cupertino Union School District Board of Education recently
placed Measure C, a $125 parcel tax measure, on the May 3, 2011 all-mail ballot, to provide our schools with an additional, stable
source of revenue that cannot be taken away by the state.

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL SEEKS NOMINATIONS

The School Site Council (SSC) is asking for nominations for two parent positions on the SSC for next school year. The SSC
develops and monitors the School Plan and School Based Coordinated Program Budgets. The SSC is a great way to be involved
and to give input to our school programs. Our SSC is comprised of an equal number of staff and parent representatives. The
meetings are held once a month after school. If you are interested in serving on the SSC, or if there is someone you would like to
nominate, please complete the information below and return the form to school by May 6th. If you have any questions concerning
SSC, please contact Mrs. Patti Wolf at 252-5414 ext.156.
School Site Council Nominations for the 2011 - 2012 School Year
I am interested in a position on the School Site Council: Name: Phone Number:_____________

I would like to nominate: Name: Phone Number:

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
 PTA CORNER. . .! PAGE 3

Dear Gator Families,

I hope you had a great spring break!

The Walk-Around Went Like A “Walk-In-The-Park”!

Wow, what a wonderful day! Thank you to all the students, teachers, staff and parents who
walked with us! We had many, many volunteers in this huge event: Volunteers who marked laps,
distributed food and water, sprayed water, distributed popsicles, counted money, delivered
envelopes, managed the kitchen, set up and cleaned up, created banners, posters and flyers,
shopped, took pictures and of course fundraised prizes... Thanks to all the wonderful
volunteers who did such amazing work!!!

Special thanks to the people who volunteered the whole day:

•Rakhi, Azmeh, Mani, Indira who managed the kitchen.
•Uma, Mano, Carolyn, Angelia, Sophia, Lori, Spriya, Ellen, Sonika who counted
the money.
•Deepa, Anu and Chanchal who distributed popsicles.
•Hiromi, PTA historian - who took pictures.

Last but not least, the team who lead this effort and worked on this event in the past
four month: Uma Kishore, Anu Komawar and Chanchal Sahai under the
leadership of Ramya Vasudevan. Thank you for your time, effort and dedication.
The event was really well-organized - “Kudos” on a job well done!

What Comes Next?

The students are collecting their pledges (due April 29th), we will then tally the numbers and give out the raffle tickets.
They will have three days (May 2nd -4th) to get the raffle tickets into their chosen prize boxes in the GLC. The Raffle
Drawing will take place on Thursday, May 5th. Please assist your children with their pledge collection.

Sincerely,

Merav Talmor
GG PTA President

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
 GATORAID!
S’COOL Spirit Band Concerts
Wednesday, May 11th
Intermediate Band: 6:30 p.m. in the GLC (arrive at 6:15).
Beginning Band: 7:30 p.m. in the GLC (arrive at 7:15).
There is no strict dress code for these concerts, however
students are expected to dress "nicely" (no T-shirts or jeans).
We are looking forward to two great performances!
Keith Pennings, Director of S'cool Spirit Band
INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENT
HEALTH INSURANCE
If your child does not have health
insurance, free/low cost health
insurance is available through Medi-
Cal, Healthy Families/Healthy Kids, and
Kaiser Child Health Plan:
• Medi-Cal Eligibility: 1-877-962-3633 or www.sccgov.org/
portal/site/ssa/agency
• Healthy Families/Kids: 1-800-880-5305 or
www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov
• Kaiser Child Health Plan: 1-800-464-4000 or www.kp.org/
childhealthplan/
• Children’s Health Initiative: 1-888-244-5222 or
www.chikids.org
• Child Health & Disability Prevention Program:
1-800-689-6669 or www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/chdp
• SCVHHS Valley Connection: 1-888-334-1000 or
www.sccgov.org/portal/site/hhs/
• West Valley Community Services: 408-255-8033 or
www.wvcommunityservices.org
• Sunnyvale Community Services: 408-738-4321 or
www.svcommunityservices.org
Items you may need to apply:
• Proof of income (most recent pay stub, or copy of Federal
1040 income tax form from previous year; or employer
statement with gross monthly income including deductions).
• Documents for child support, alimony, social security or
disability, if applicable.
• Birth Certificate or immigration documents – for children
only!
• Proof of California residency.
• Social Security Card for each child (not necessary for
Healthy Families/Healthy Kids).
• Money order, cashier’s check, or personal check, if
applicable.
Cupertino Union School District is dedicated to improving the
health of its students and their chances for academic success.
Working in partnership with parents, school health staff,
administrators, government agencies and community groups,
our mission is to help students without access to health care
obtain comprehensive and affordable health coverage.
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
PAGE 4
Lost and Found
Please check the lost and found shelves
located at the back of the administrative
building for your child’s lost items. We
have many lunch boxes, plastic
containers, sweaters, hats, etc. that may
belong to your child. Items that are not
claimed will be donated to a local charity.
Thank you!
Don’t Lose Your Place at Garden Gate
We have noticed that many families are
starting to make travel plans for the
summer break. This is just a reminder
that CUSD policy states that all students
must be in class on the last day of
school. Students risk losing their
placement at Garden Gate School for the
2011 - 2012 school year if they are not present on the last day
of school, June 7th, 2011. Students must also be present on
the first day of the 2011 - 2012 school year, August 18th, 2011.
Updating Residency Information
Please be aware that district guidelines require that any
change of residence must be reported to the school office
within ten (10) days. This guideline is in place to ensure that
the address and contact information that the school has on file
is accurate. This information is crucial and is used to send
official school/district correspondence and it is used in the
case of an emergency. Failure to provide current residency
information could result in the immediate withdrawal of your
child. If you have any questions regarding this guideline,
please contact the school office.
Absences, Tardies and Attendance Hotline
408-252-5414 Ext. 6
The attendance hotline is available 24 hours
per day, seven days per week. Parents
keeping their children home at the FIRST sign
of illness may prevent longer absences. When
a child is absent or late for any reason, parents
should call the HOTLINE on the first and each
successive day of absence. Please call in
absences by 9:00 a.m. the day of the absence. It
is extremely important and helpful for you to call the HOTLINE
to report your child’s absences. The office is responsible for
ensuring accurate reporting of attendance to the District Office
and the State. If you are aware of upcoming medical
appointments, or other reasons for absence/tardiness, you
may call several days in advance and leave a message on the
recorder. If your child will be late due to a medical/dental
appointment, please remember to ask for a note from the
doctor indicating the appointment and return it with your child.
 GATORAID PAGE 5
CHILDREN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE HEALTH INSURANCE SIGN-UP DAYS
Graham Middle School: Immunization & Health Fair, 1175 Castro St., Mountain View, CA 94040 - 5/3/11 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
O’Connor Hospital: Immunization & Health Fair, 2105 Forest Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 - 5/14/11 – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Children’s Health Initiative (CHI) was established in 2001 to provide access to health insurance to the uninsured children in
Santa Clara County. The CHI includes three health insurance programs: Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and Healthy Kids.

Over the next few weeks, the CHI will hold events throughout Santa Clara County where families can apply for free or low-cost
health insurance for children and adults. In addition, the two locations listed above offer immunizations, which is an opportunity
for students to receive a Pertussis booster shot. A new state law (Assembly Bill 354) requires all students entering grades 7-12
for the 2011-2012 school year to show proof of the Tdap (Pertussis) booster shot before the first day of school. For more
information regarding the CHI, please contact 1-877-680-2566. Additional sign-up dates are posted in the school office and are
available at www.cupertino.k12.ca.us.

CUPERTINO CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Saturday and Sunday, April 30, and May 1, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Memorial Park in Cupertino Free Admission
The 28th Annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates community, culture, and supports Cupertino’s s Sister City
relationship with Toyokawa, Japan. This year’s festival features delicious Japanese and American food, outdoor entertainment by
taiko drum groups, classical Japanese dancers, martial art schools and musical groups, and more. There are indoor Japanese
cultural displays, demonstrations, and musical performances at the Cupertino Senior Center, adjacent to Memorial Park. This
year also features a special children’s play area with hands-on activities and a fundraising booth for our friends in Japan to help
them with the recovery effort. Parking is available at DeAnza College for $2.00. For information visit www.cupertinotoyokawa.org.
This event helps to support the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister City Exchange Program.

DISTRICT CALENDAR 2010-2011

May 27, 2011 Staff Learning Day

May 30, 2011 Memorial Day
June 7, 2011 Last Day of School

DISTRICT CALENDAR 2011-2012 (NEXT SCHOOL YEAR)

August 15, 16 and 17, 2011 Teacher Work Days

August 18, 2011 Students Return
September 5, 2011 Labor Day
September 23, 2011 Staff Learning Day
October 31, 2011 Staff Learning Day
November 11, 2011 Veteran’s Day
November 21-25 2011 Thanksgiving Recess
December 19-30,2011 Winter Recess
January 3, 2012 Students Return
January 16, 2012 Martin Luther King Day
February 20-24, 2012 Mid-Year Recess
March 19, 2012 Staff Learning Day
April 16-20, 2012 Spring Recess
May 25, 2012 Staff Learning Day
May 28, 2012 Memorial Day
June 12, 2012 Last Day of School

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014