James Monroe Elementary School

3750 Monterey Blvd, San Leandro, CA  94578

Office: (510) 618-4340, Attendance: (510) 618-4341, Food Services: (510) 618-4342

www.slusd.us/monroe

Jeannette McNeil, Principal

“Our community is inclusive, engaged, and collaborative; providing a safe, equitable, and rigorous learning environment, promoting resiliency and success for all.”

March Eagle Eye Newsletter

Greetings James Monroe Community,

As you know, this year we are transitioning to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS.) We are a part of nationwide educational movement to provide greater articulation and consistency in schools across the country, and at the same time strengthen our teaching and learning. This is an exciting time in education. Our new Common Core State Standards require us to go deeper with critical thinking skills and relevant content, as well as integrate technology into our daily curriculum. All this is in order to truly prepare students for our future! If you would like to research or learn more about the new CCSS, or the new aligned state assessment, you can go to the California Department of Education website at, www.cde.ca.gov. Click on the Common Core State Standards tab!

At Monroe we will begin our state testing on March 25th and it will be completed by April 4th. We call it a field test because it is a practice assessment, with the department of education using the data from this year’s test to inform future tests. Next year will be the first year the data is official.

It is critical that all students attend school every single day (no non-emergency appointments) during our testing window. If your child must be out of school during testing, please check in with their teacher to determine exact days and times of testing, so that they do not miss critical testing times.

All testing will be done on Google chrome laptops, which are exciting and also poses challenges! During testing, please check in with your children and ask them how it is going.

Remember that we always want to lessen any anxiety children may experience around testing. Some good reminders are as follows:

1.             Make sure your children get to bed early and get a good night’s sleep during testing. Make sure children are on time to school on testing days!

2.             Have your children eat a good breakfast during testing. Remember that breakfast is free to all Monroe children every morning!

3.             Be positive and remind your children that they are well prepared!

4.             Encourage your children to do their best, and check in with them about the testing!

Have a wonderful month, and don’t forget to stop by and say hi! 

                                                                                                                                            Jeannette McNeil, Principal

CHECK OUT OUR NEW JAMES MONROE WEBSITE @ www.slusd.us/monroe

INTENT TO RETURN

If you have not yet returned your Intent to Return form to your child’s teacher, please do so ASAP. We have extras in the office.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION PACKETS for the 2014-15 school year are available in the school office the first week of March. Your child must be 5 years old on or before:

·         September 1, 2014 to be eligible for Kindergarten in the 2014-15 school year

·         Must be 5 years old between September 2-December 2, 2014 to be eligible for

Transitional Kindergarten in the 2014-15 school year.

We are having Kindergarten Registration Wednesday, March 19^th from 2:00-4:00; however COMPLETED packets will be accepted in the office from 9:00-11:00 and 1:00-3:00.

RETURNING STUDENTS ENTERING FIRST GRADE IN 2014-15

Students entering 1^st grade for 2014-15 MUST have proof of a Physical Examination on file as required by the State of California. Written proof that your child has had this exam in the past 18 months is required. If you have not provided this document, you will be notified by mail. If you are not sure, please stop by the office and we will let you know.

NOTE: Students will NOT be placed on a class list if this document is not on file.

YEARBOOKS

Flyers went home to purchase yearbooks.  The pre-sale price is $20 before March 8^th and $25 after March 8^th. 

You can pick up more yearbook order forms in the office.

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS

February was a very busy month for Student Council.  We celebrated the Lunar New Year with a fortune cookie treat for every student.  For Valentine’s Day we enjoyed a school wide Valentine heart estimation contest.  It was not easy to guess how many hearts were in the jar.  Student Council also created portrait posters for the hallways to celebrate African American History Month. 

In March we will be having Pajama Day on Friday, March 28th.  Wear your favorite pajamas to school that day, but remember to keep your slippers at home.  We will also be asking students to March their Pennies to school throughout March to support a local charity. 

                                                                              Submitted by Kayla Hidalgo, Student Council Vice President

With your help, PTO can help raise money for Monroe students!

*Monroe T-Shirts – Order forms are in the office and online.

*Sign up for E-Scrip, Safeway/Pak`N Save/Macy’s accounts to E-Script (escrip group ID 5264931) Forms are available in front of the office.

*Bring Box Tops and Campbell’s Soup Labels, Bring Old Cell Phones

Stay informed about school events and meetings. Visit www.gojamesmonroe.org or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gojamesmonroe

San Leandro Education Foundation (SLED), Eat out for Education every 1^st Wednesday of every month, www.sledfund.org

TO DOWNLOAD COUPONS:http://www.sledfund.org/eatout_coupon.pdf

PAPA MURPHY’S – WIN A FREE PIZZA!

Drop off your 3/6/14 Papa Murphy’s receipt in the school office to enter the drawing for a FREE Papa Murphy’s pizza. Submission Deadline:    Wednesday 3/12/14