The Monthly Howl

Greetings, Jack London Families,

Fall is officially here, and the Holiday Season is around the corner!

We have settled into a routine here at Jack London, and Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up soon for the end of Trimester 1.

Please join us in welcoming Ms. Allen to Jack London - she is teaching our (previously open) 5th grade class and is taking over for Mr. Beck. Mr. Beck did a wonderful job getting our year going, and we appreciate his time and dedication to our school. Ms. Allen will be teaching the class for the rest of the year. Welcome to the Wolf Pack, Ms. Allen!

As the days grow shorter and cooler, this is an excellent time to snuggle up with a good book at home. Reading to and with your child can assist with language development and understanding of the world. Tap into their interests, as this encourages them to explore and learn to new vocabulary. Ask them questions about the story, including about setting, characters, and main idea. Was there a lesson in the story? What happened in the beginning, middle, and end? Which part was surprising or funny? These types of questions can assist with both listening and reading comprehension.

As we enter the colder seasons, please keep a few things in mind:

• Please put student names in all sweaters and jackets so they can be returned easily if lost.
• Please see the two photos below, which outline when to send/keep students home for illness and specific symptoms.
• If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please call the office for guidance and support.

We'd like to welcome the newest members to School Site Council (SSC):

• Marnie Hassig - Teacher
• Jenny Kartanegara - Teacher
• Ramona Torres - Parent
  
  

We are still in need of ONE MORE parent to serve on SSC, which is the group that monitors and approves our school's yearly site plan and related budget. We meet 4-5 times a year (one meeting has already occured). Please call the office if you are interested in serving on the council.

Please read all the way to the end of the newsletter for all important updates and reminders. We have a few upcoming events and Spirit Days here at Jack London - we hope everyone will participate!

Thank you,

Dr. Roat and Ms. Torres

• October 27th - Trunk-or-Treat at Jack London from 5pm to 7pm
• October 31st - Spirit Day - Students can wear costumes to school
• November 1st - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day
• November 2nd - Make Up Picture Day AND Day of the Dead Ofrenda goes up (info coming soon)
• November 3rd-9th - Conference Week for TK-6 - Minimum Day dismissal at 11:15am
• ALso November 3rd-9th: Red RIbbon Week AND Scholastic Book Fair in the Library
• November 10th - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day
• November 20th-24th - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
• December 20th - Minimum Day Dismissal at 11:15am - last day before Winter Break
• December 21-January 9th - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

On October 31st, students are invited to wear orange, black, fall attire, or a Halloween costume to school!

Halloween Costume Guidelines for October 31st:

· Costumes should not be revealing or include inappropriate messages.

· No fake blood, gore, face paint, fake weapons, or masks are permitted.

· Hats/hoods are permitted outdoors only.

· No inflatable costumes or costumes that prevent students from sitting at a desk.

· Appropriate shoes must be worn to school (close-toed; appropriate for P.E. and recess)

· Students will need to wear their costume all day – they will not be able to change in and out of their costumes at school.

· Students who do not follow these guidelines will be sent to the office to call home for a change of clothes.

Reminder: There is NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, November 1st for a Staff Development Day. Students return Thursday, November 2nd.

From our AUSD website:

Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but also can disrupt learning for the entire class. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college and at work. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.

Please call in all absences to 925-779-7455. Absences that are not reported are considered truant. Three truancies start the SART/SARB process. For more informaiton on attendance, please visit our district webpage: https://www.antiochschools.net/page/attendance

Dia de los muertos/Day of the Dead is an annual Mexican tradition where families honor and celebrate the life of their loved ones who have passed away through artwork, food, music, photos and stories. It is a celebration honoring how our loved ones lived not how they died.

A flyer will be coming home soon with information regarding how to participate in the ofrenda this year.

Please watch for a flyer coming home soon!