Diane Prystas, Principal
Kristy Jackson, Assistant Principal
|
|
We are so glad to have your students back on campus. Their presence and laughter have brought life and spirit back to Roy Cloud!
K-5 Update
As we welcome students back and consider the San Mateo County Plan transitioning classroom distancing from 6’ to 3’, we are reviewing implementation with our current classroom square footage and individual class sizes. Students in 1st-3rd grades will pivot to a new schedule beginning Monday, April 26th. Kindergarten students in Mrs. Chapelle’s and Mrs. McGuire’s classes will also be transitioning to this schedule beginning Monday, May 3rd. New school hours will be 8:15-12:15, M, T, Th, Fr. Families have already received letters with notification of this change. Due to their larger class sizes, we are currently reviewing transition plans for grades 4-5 and determining whether the classrooms will accommodate the number of students. Wednesdays remain asynchronous until the end of the school year as part of the teacher MOU.
Middle School Update
The middle school team has agreed to implement a "rotation day" for all four days of instruction instead of the "HUB day" on Thursday/Friday. This will allow students the opportunity to see each teacher in person for the days their colored cohort is on campus. This will also allow students to receive more live instruction from their specific teachers. No change will be occurring to student schedules regarding when they are on campus. Teachers will explain to students how the new rotation days match the existing Monday/Tuesday rotation days. County guidelines prevent us from mixing cohorts, so this remains the best option, at this time, to increase middle schooler connection to their teachers. Again, here is the Middle School Spring 2021 Information summary.
2021-22 School Year Update
In district-wide news, Dr. Baker has announced a number of one-time supports for all schools next year through funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. For Roy Cloud, these one-time supports include:
- A full-time reading specialist for grades K-3
- Class size reduction (25:1) for grades K-2
- A full-time PE middle school instructor meeting middle school PE instruction standards at 400 minutes every two weeks
- A full-time therapeutic counselor
- 50% of a MTSS TOSA (Multi Tiered Systems of Support Teacher on Special Assignment). Note that our School Site Council voted on Monday to support an additional 50% to allow for a full-time position which also supports counseling, social groups, and continued work with our Character Strong program.
- Afterschool enrichment/electives for grades 4-8. Topics are being developed.
Finally, we are looking at our plans for 2021-22. The district calendar is not yet posted, however our first day back to school is planned for Wednesday, August 18, 2021. Our plan is to return to school five days per week, Monday through Friday, with a regular full-day schedule. More details will be shared as they are available and before the end of the school year.
In partnership,
Diane
|
|
This Week
-
Thur, Apr 22, 4:00 pm – Principal's Meetup | Zoom
Next Week
Upcoming
- Tue, May 4, 4:00 pm – Incoming Middle Schooler Accelerated Math Info Night
-
Wed, May 5, 7:00 pm – RCSD Board Meeting | Agenda & Zoom
- Fri, May 7 – Holiday, No School
-
Tue, May 11, 7:00 pm – Roy Cloud PTO Meeting | Zoom
- Thur, May 13, 4:00 pm – Incoming Kindergarten Parent Info Night
-
Mon, May 17, 3:00 pm – Roy Cloud School Site Council Meeting | Zoom
-
Mon-Sun, May 17-23 – Roy Cloud Jog-A-Thon | Info | Pledge Pages
-
Wed, May 19, 7:00 pm – RCSD Board Meeting | Agenda & Zoom
-
Thur, May 20, 4:00 pm – Principal's Meetup | Zoom
- Mon, May 31 – Memorial Day, No School
|
|
Note: All meetings are virtual |
|
Today marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day and an opportunity to engage Roy Cloud students in exploring, celebrating, and protecting our planet! The San Mateo Office of Education has put together a list of activities for kids to celebrate this day. Check them out and have fun going through these extra activities, or visit the official Earth Day website to find lots more resources and things to do for kids and adults alike.
|
|
|
Volunteer to be a PTO Officer Next Year! |
|
Did you know that one of the best ways to make a difference in your child’s school experience is to volunteer with the PTO? As we plan ahead for a back-to-normal school year, we are looking for volunteers to fill our eight critical PTO officer positions for 2021-22. Please take a moment to learn about these leadership opportunities and nominate yourself or others to get involved. Remember, you can even team up and split officer duties! Email nominations and/or questions to info@roycloudpto.com by April 26th. We will share the slate of nominated officers and hold an electronic election in the next Thunderbolt.
|
|
"Roy Cloud Strong" Jog-A-Thon Update |
|
We are hitting our stride as we head towards Jog-A-Thon Week, May 17-23rd. Students in grades K-8 will collect pledges from family, friends, and neighbors, based on the number of steps they take during the week. There's also a new scavenger hunt this year following the walking school bus routes. The goal will be for each student to find the stones and record all of the words on the stones. There are great prizes to win, so please see the event web page for more information.
|
|
Thank you for fundraising and helping our community be Roy Cloud Strong!
|
|
Say Hello to Some Friendly New Faces on Campus |
|
Your kids may have mentioned a few new friendly (masked) faces on campus. We'd like to unmask the staff members who have been helping with campus arrivals, dismissals, recesses, hallway monitoring during the school day, and delivering school-provided snacks to classrooms. They have been a great addition to our team! |
|
Raymond Alcantar, Campus Supervisor
Hey everyone! My name is Ray and I have been a Redwood City resident for almost all my life. I went to middle school at Selby Lane, I graduated from Woodside High School and now I’m attending Foothill College where I’m currently enrolled in the horticulture program. My goal in life is to one day open a family business nursery specifically for Orchids. In my spare time I enjoy outdoor activities like going to the beach, hiking, riding my bike or my electric scooter. I look forward to meeting and spending the rest of the school year with you all!
|
|
Eugenia Vorrises, Yard Duty Supervisor
Hi! I am the newest yard duty supervisor to join the staff. I have a background in financial services, early childhood development, and most recently I am a stay-at-home parent. As a parent of an incoming 4th grader, I'm excited to get to know the Thunderbolt community and support the students as they return back to campus. I enjoy outdoor activities with my family and like to sneak away to Orange Theory fitness
every chance I get!
|
|
|
|
Legarza Coaches
You may recognize some of our Legarza coaches, who in a regular year serve as our K-5 PE teachers. This year, we are grateful to have our coaches supporting us with arrivals, dismissals, and for recess games and supervision! Pictured from left to right are Eli, Luke, Dom, Justin, Jordan, and Dave.
|
|
STEAM UPDATE FROM MS. KWA
Students Learn About Setting Traps
|
|
Is something bugging you? Wish it would just go away? Inspired by "How to Catch a Leprechaun," students designed traps for animals using what they know about what the animals like to do. Here are a few creative traps:
|
|
An Invitation for Woodside High Incoming Families |
|
Let's give a big ROAR for the Woodside High School Class of 2025! As we ramp up for a full return to in-person classes in the fall, we’d like to welcome you to the WHS community and invite you to join our virtual live auction on Tuesday, May 4, from 7-8 PM.
You’ll hear from Principal Burbank and teachers about all the programs made possible through parent donations. This includes a closer look at this year’s fund-a-need, which will provide technology crucial for bridging the equity gap and generating enriched learning opportunities for all of our kids.
|
You’ll also get to bid on fabulous getaways and other premium auction items!
For more information, and to sign up for the Class of 2025 parent party, head to whsfoundation.org today!
|
|
RCEF and Bravemaker Present La Familia, La Comunidad
|
|
Join the Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF) for the premiere of mini-documentary La Familia, La Comunidad on May 26th at 6:00 PM to raise funds for three full-time mental health counselors at RCSD's most underserved schools. RCEF and Bravemaker present this film to highlight the resilience of Redwood City families during the pandemic.
|
|
Info & Support for RCSD Families |
|
Each week, new opportunities are shared within our community to support and engage families in the Redwood City School District. Here are just a few:
|
|
About the Roy Cloud Thunderbolt
For publication on Thursday, article submissions must be received by Monday and may be edited.
If you are a for-profit program or camp not located at Roy Cloud, please submit to Peachjar instead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
