Dear Thunderbolt Families,

At the beginning of the school year and again in January, I wrote about how much I enjoy fresh starts and new beginnings. Now in mid-April, Spring has finally showed its face and we find ourselves, once again, at a new beginning. Your children are thoroughly enjoying the beginning of the season, eating lunch and playing outside in the warm sunshine. Last Friday, our Food Services department organized a fresh fruit and vegetable “buffet” and students were served samples of locally grown produce.

Classroom Visits, 6-7pm

Open House is an opportunity to visit any Roy Cloud classroom, meet teachers, and see student work on display. Most families choose to visit their current students' classrooms, and then go to the next grade up to what is coming.

Art Show, 5:30-7:30pm

In conjunction with Open House, there will be an Art Show in the MUB, featuring the art work of all Roy Cloud students.

Visit the Garden, 5:30-7:30pm

Roy Cloud's garden will be open for visitors! The garden is located behind the MUB; look for the signs.

Food Trucks, 5-8pm

New this year, please plan to enjoy dinner with family and Roy Cloud friends! Food trucks will serve a varied menu for all ages, and accept cash, credit card, or apple pay. There will be music and plenty of seating at the student lunch shelter.

Go to  YearbookOrderCenter.com  and type in 14421 (or Roy Cloud) to pre-order your Yearbook today! They will be available for purchase today through April 27, and distributed to students near the last week of school. Pre-purchasing your copy online is the only way to guarantee a book; any remaining books will be available for sale on campus during the last week of school. Pre-ordered books are $28 online, whereas on-campus books will be $35 - so pre-order yours at  yearbookordercenter.com  today!

Any upcoming surveys and/or committee application information from RCSD will be posted in the Thunderbolt.

Twenty-one ASB students in grades 6-8 attended the three-day CASL (California Association of Student Leaders) conference held in San Jose during Spring Break. Students had the opportunity to hear renowned speakers, network with other school leaders, and experience leadership curriculum.

ASB President Zoe Cortez accepted the California Association of Student Activities Outstanding Leadership Program Award on behalf of the Roy Cloud during the conference.

Thank you teachers Anna Rivoli, Eve Avalos, and Michelle Ortez for facilitating the ASB program and attending the CASL conference with our students!

We hope to meet you at the Open House Art Show on April 25th from 5:30-7:30pm in the MUB. Every student, kindergarten through 8th grade, will have a piece of artwork on display. You are going to love seeing the students' art! Click here to learn more about the CSMA Arts4Schools program and the art curriculum at Roy Cloud.

Volunteers are needed for set up and break down on April 25th. If you can help, even for just an hour or two, please join in! Below is the volunteer link.

-Teacher Samantha (K-5) and Mrs. Vaughn (6-8)

Bring your bags of used books, ages 6-16, to the library NOW through May 10th. Simply drop them off in the library anytime during the school day - look for the bags of books, an add yours to the pile. Questions? Email Jenn Clark .

The Tall & Small Ball is a fun parent-child event held on Friday, May 3, 2019 from 6-9pm in the Roy Cloud MUB. Smalls must be currently enrolled Roy Cloud students. Click here to purchase your tickets. The cost is $40 per Tall and Small couple ($5 for each additional Small). Tickets include dinner, treats, dancing, games and a special gift for 8th graders. This event will sell out, so don't delay. We need volunteers! Check out the Sign Up Genius or contact Kristin Atkins with questions.

How is your class doing in the class contest? Check the standings and then send out your pledge request. The top earning classrooms win a Jamba Juice party!

Middle School parents/guardians, have you filled out the Color Run permission slip ? Has your student collected $25 or more in pledges? If not, please do so by l ogging your pledge on their teacher’s page ! Students can turn their permission slips into the school office.

Have you found a way to volunteer for the Jog-A-Thon? If not, please visit our sign up sheet for openings. Join us for a day of fitness and fun on Friday May 17!

Join students from all of San Mateo county in their quest to reduce carbon emissions and leave the car at home. Find out how much impact this small change in your lifestyle can make on a national level  here, featuring a pilot performed in Marin County.

Click here for the other easiest 34 ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Need more reasons to walk? Click  here. Our  walking school bus routes will be operational that day - park your car along the way and walk with us!



The class with the highest participation will win one of our golden sneaker trophies!

We need volunteers for these CRITICAL positions that currently are OPEN for 2019-20:

Auction Chair - This large fundraising event in late February raises appx $150,000 for Roy Cloud programs. The chair (or 2 co-chairs!) manage a committee of volunteers doing work such as donation solicitation, event planning, data entry, invoicing, and decorating. Work begins in August.

Jog-A-Thon Chair - Coordinate this student-led fundraising event held each spring. This event raises appx $45,000 for the school each year. Manage a committee of volunteers to do work such as advertising, data entry, decorating, and hospitality. Great job for 2 co-chairs!

Art Program Coordinator - Work with teachers, administration and the art vendor to bring an art program to Roy Cloud. Work with the art teacher to coordinate the Art Show held each spring during Open House.

Room Parent Coordinator - Make sure each K-5 classroom and middle school grade has a volunteer to coordinate the PTO auction project and teacher appreciation. Set up and moderate email group for communications to all room parents.

Fall Family Event Chair - Coordinate this annual community-building event held each fall on the blacktop.

Interested? Email Yvonne Sarles , PTO President. Any job can be shared - grab a friend and share the workload! For a listing and description of all PTO roles, please click here . 

Nominations are now open for PTO officer positions. The PTO officers are President, Treasurer, VP Communications, VP Direct Donations, VP After-School Programs, Parliamentarian, Secretary, and Financial Secretary. Per the bylaws, elections will occur for all officers. Please email nominations to PTO Parliamentarian Alicia Truby. Nominations close on May 9, 2018. Any officers currently serving that wish to continue may also submit their names to Alicia. Voting by electronic ballot will be via the Thunderbolt newsletter on May 23, 2018.

A big  THANK YOU  to all those who came out on Sunday for an incredibly productive garden work day! Everyone went above and beyond to make the garden an even more beautiful and thriving place for our students. I deeply appreciate all of your hard work and wood chip moving abilities. -Ms. Becca

Did you miss last month's PTO meeting where Roy Cloud's Technology Integration Coordinator, Jennifer Nguyen, presented? Here you can view the presentation and see some examples of how technology is being utilized throughout all grades at Roy Cloud.

All PTO meeting minutes are located on the PTO website here.

Thank you parents! Your financial support of the PTO ensures Roy Cloud students have access to well-functioning technology! After evaluation of the age and status of all the equipment, it was determined that five existing chromebook carts were ready for replacement, and new equipment has been ordered using the technology allocation provided in the PTO 2018-19 approved budget. Classrooms affected are Reinke, McAdams, Morse, Avalos, and Coleman.

Roy Cloud students have been working hard on an Eagle Scout project to beautify the Jefferson entrance. The broken electronic sign has been removed and new seating and flagstone pavers are being installed. Thank you for your work!

The Peninsula Community Center (PCC) is hosting its 2nd Annual World Vision Global 6K for Water on May 4th in Redwood City. Six kilometers is the average distance that people in the developing world walk to obtain clean water. Every registration for this family-friendly run/walk provides a lifetime of clean water for one person in need. If running or walking isn't for you, you can support his effort by volunteering at the event.

The Super-Hip-Soul Musical based on the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. The 1975 Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This rarely performed show features a cast from around the Bay Area (including a student from Roy Cloud) and a 23-piece orchestra. 

Show runs from April 27-May 19.

Students receive 35% off of Thursday evening shows (coupon Wiz35), 30% off of Friday shows (coupon Wiz30) and 25% off all Matinees (coupon Wiz25M). All coupons will expire by May 5th.

Tickets:  www.sunnyvaleplayers.org