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

GATORAIDBoard of Education

Superintendent: Phil QuonBoard Members:

Anjali Kausar, Ben Liao,

Josephine Lucey, Gary McCue,Phyllis Vogel

GARDEN GATE ELEMENTARY

CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

10500 ANN ARBOR AVENUE

CUPERTINO, CA 95014

Nancy Wood- Principal

Merav Talmor - PTA President

SCHOOL CALENDAR JANUARY 20, 2011

1/21 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - EACH GRADE LEVEL WEARS A SPECIFIC COLOR1/21 3:00-5:00 p.m. MRS. WOOD’S RETIREMENT CELEBRATION - GLC1/24-2/3 2011-2012 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKETS DUE 1/25 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING - D.O.2/3 6:00 p.m. KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL - INCOMING 6TH GR. PARENT (ONLY) INFORMATION MTG.2/3 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING 2/4 8:00 a.m. HEARING SCREENING FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 1, 2, & 52/7 CLASS GROUP PICTURES2/8 8:00 a.m. VISION SCREENING GRADES 1 & 32/8 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING - D.O.2/8 6:30 p.m. BOOK EXCHANGE - GRADES K-22/8 7:20 p.m. BOOK EXCHANGE - GRADES 3 - 52/9 6:30 p.m. LAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOL - INCOMING 6TH GR. PARENT (ONLY) INFORMATION MTG.2/11-17 2011-2012 OPEN ENROLLMENT & ALTERNATIVE ED. PROGRAMS2/14 VALENTINE’S DAY PARTIES2/15 6:30 p.m. CYBER SAFETY - PARENT ED. NIGHT - GLC2/15 6:00 p.m. CUPERTINO MIDDLE SCHOOL - INCOMING 6TH GR. PARENT (ONLY) INFORMATION MTG.2/16 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING2/17 12:00 p.m. YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST DEADLINE (STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5)2/18 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “CRAZY HATS”2/21-25 MID-YEAR RECESS - NO SCHOOL

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.orgATTENDANCE: 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.

Parent Traffic Duty: January 24th - January 28th, Parents from Rm. 26

Dear Garden Gate Community,I am overwhelmed by the flowers, the balloons, the posters, the food, your good wishes, your smiles, your kind words… I could go on. I didn’t know that this was going to be “Mrs. Wood’s Week.” These past two days have been amazing! Thank you to everyone, especially Merav Talmor, for everything! I will be back next week as next Friday, January 28, is my official last date as principal of Garden Gate School. I will write more about the great experiences I have had and the wonderful people I have met here at Garden Gate next week. I may have some information about the transition of principals next week. Again, thank you for everything. This school is so dear to me!

Yearbook Cover Contest - Deadline February 17th! The annual Garden Gate Yearbook Cover Contest is here! Put your artistic thinking cap on and your winning artwork could be showcased on the covers of this year's yearbook. All 3rd through 5th grade students are encouraged to participate with their best creative work! Good luck, be creative, and have fun! The sky is the limit for your imagination and creativity.

Please be sure to design both a front and back cover for the yearbook. On the front cover, please include Garden Gate School, 2010-2011 and our school mascot - GATOR! Your name and room number must be written inside the cover. Be sure to make your work attractive and bright. All entries are to be submitted to the student’s teacher by Thursday, February 17th, at noon.

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

FROM OUR PRINCIPAL....MRS. WOOD! PAGE2

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

PTA CORNER PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES ! PAGE3

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

HelloGatorFamilies,Tomorrow‐Friday,January21st,3:00‐5:00p.m.‐Mrs.Wood’sReCrementCelebraCon.Please join us in honoring our principal, Mrs. Wood, and congratulating her on her retirement. The celebration will take place in Garden Gate’s GLC from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

BookExchange–Tuesday,February8th,6:30‐8:00p.m.We are now collecting books and DVDs for our annual Book Exchange that will be taking place in Garden Gate’s GLC on Tuesday, February 8th! Please remember to begin bringing in your gently used books and DVDs to our school librarian, Mrs. Gokhale, between now and the event. Your child will earn a ticket for each book they bring in. The tickets can then be used to exchange for other books, DVDs on the night of the event. We still need a few volunteers to help during the Book Exchange, so if you can help, please email Lavanya Sivakumar at lav29c@yahoo.com

CUSDBoardofEducaCon‐BudgetInformaConThe governor released his 2011-2012 budget proposal on January 10, 2011. In response to this new budget, the Cupertino Union School District Board of Education will be hosting two informational budget discussion meetings during the next few weeks. The details of the meetings are as follows:

• Monday, January 24, 2011, 6:00 p.m., in the Lawson Middle School Event Center (10401 Vista Drive in Cupertino).

• Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 6:00 p.m., in the Sedgwick ElementarySchool Guided Learning Center (19200 Phil Lane in Cupertino).

Any individual may appear before the Board of Education to comment or ask questions regarding the District's current budget situation. The discussion items are for “information only” at this time, and the Board of Education will not be taking any formal action regarding this topic at these meetings. In addition, the Board of Education will be holding a public hearing regarding a potential education funding measure at the Monday, January 24, 2011, meeting at Lawson Middle School.

Sincerely,

Merav TalmorGarden Gate PTA President

GATORAID! PAGE4

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION MEETINGS. . .

LAWSON MIDDLE SCHOOLLawson Middle School will be having their incoming 6th Grade Parent Information Meeting on Wednesday evening, February 9th at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawson Middle School Event Center. They will be explaining to all parents the 6th grade Middle School program and what to expect during your child’s first year in middle school! This presentation is for parents only.

KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOLOnce again it is time for us to be thinking about our next year’s sixth graders – their questions and your questions about Kennedy Middle School. Parents of fifth graders are cordially invited to attend the Sixth Grade Information Night in the Multi-Use room on February 3, 2011, at 6:00 p.m.

It is important that sixth graders feel part of the school but not be overwhelmed by it. We will discuss what our program looks like from 6th through 8th grade: from required subjects to school activities. Because of space limitations this evening program is for parents only. We strongly recommend that you attend this important meeting and we look forward to seeing you on February 3rd.

CUPERTINO MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTThe Cupertino Middle School Parent Information Night for next year’s 6th graders will be held Tuesday, February 15 at 6:00 p.m. in the gym. The presentation will cover course selection, homework, expectations, extracurricular activities, and other topics.

Additionally, at 7:00 pm in the multi-use, our PTA will host an informal gathering so that incoming 6th grade parents can talk with CMS parents who have already experienced their student’s transition from elementary to middle school. Our counselors will also be available.

Due to facility limitations, this presentation is for parents only. An electronic copy of the presentation and any handouts will be made available upon request after the February 15 meeting.

LUNCH ACCOUNTS It is very important that students who eat hot lunch have a positive balance in their lunch account. Parents can prepay for as many lunches as possible so that students

do not run out of money. Students are only given one lunch on credit. If a student has used the credit, CUSD policy is that the cafeteria will provide a drink and the cold items, but not an entrée. All lunch money must be placed in a blue envelope and checks should be made out to CUSD Nutritional Services. Envelopes are available in the school office, and can be returned to your child’s teacher or to the office. To check your student’s lunch account balance, log on to: www.paypams.com or call 1-888-994-5100. You can also contact Mrs. Chen at 408-252-5414 ext. 132 for account balance information.

SAVE THE DATE - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH!This year’s Book Exchange will be on Tuesday, February 8th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the GLC (6:30-7:15 for Kindergarten - 2nd grade, and 7:20-8:00 for 3rd - 5th grade students). Remember to bring in gently used books, DVD’s and/or videos to our school librarian, Mrs. Gokhale, between now and the event. Your child will earn tickets for books given in exchange for the amount of books at the Book Exchange. We will be needing a few volunteers the evening of the Book Exchange. If you are interested in helping, please email Lavanya Sivakumar at lav29c@yahoo.com

REPORTING ABSENCES When a student is staying home from school with an illness, please remember that a parent must call into the school office every day that the student is absent from school. The 24-hour absence reporting line is (408) 252-5414 ext. 6. Please remember to spell both first and last name and give the room number. When calling in your child’s absence please include their symptoms: • Nausea or vomiting (must remain at home until free of symptoms for 24 hours).

• Diarrhea (must remain at home until free of symptoms for 24 hours).

• Severe headache• Continuous coughing or runny nose• Evidence of a communicable disease such as a

rash, swelling or unusual sore throat• A temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) degrees or

higher (must remain at home until he/she has a normal 98.6 F (37 C) degree temperature for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducer such as Tylenol)

• Conjunctivitis - pink eye• Undiagnosed rash (rashes must be verified by

your doctor that they are non-contagious before the child may return to school; a note is needed)

GATORAID! PAGE5

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

2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAROn January 11, 2011, the Cupertino Union School District Board of Education approved the 2011-2012 school year calendar. The full 2011-2012 calendar is available at www.cupertino.k12.ca.us. The start date for next year is as follows:

• District (all schools except Murdock-Portal) – August 18, 2011• Murdock Portal Elementary School – August 11, 2011

CUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION – BUDGET INFORMATIONThe governor released his 2011-2012 budget proposal on January 10, 2011. In response to this new budget, the Cupertino Union School District Board of Education will be hosting two informational budget discussion items during the next few weeks. The details of the meetings are as follows:

• 6:00 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2011, in the Lawson Middle School Event Center (10401 Vista Drive in Cupertino)• 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 8, 2011, in the Sedgwick Elementary School Guided Learning Center (19200 Phil

Lane in Cupertino)

Any individual may appear before the Board of Education to comment or ask questions regarding the District's current budget situation. These discussion items are for information only at this time and the Board of Education will not be taking any formal action regarding this topic at these meetings. In addition, the Board of Education will be holding a public hearing regarding a potential education funding measure at the Monday, January 24, 2011, meeting at Lawson Middle School.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION Students must be residing in the district at the time of registration and be available for any necessary testing. Registration and Open Enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year is as follows:

• Kindergarten registration for all Attendance Area Schools: January 24 – February 3 at the respective attendance area school. Only parents/guardians may pick up a registration packet at their area attendance school beginning January 14, 2011. Registration packets are numbered sequentially. The registration number on the packet is valid for packets returned between January 24 through February 3, 2011. Sibling priority will be given to siblings of in-district students currently attending their area attendance school who register during the registration window.

• Kindergarten registration for Stocklmeir and Eisenhower Schools: January 24 – February 3. Only parents/guardians may pick up a registration packet at their area attendance school beginning January 14, 2011. As the potential for new kindergarten enrollment at Stocklmeir and Eisenhower may exceed the schools capacity, parents are encouraged to ensure that the prospective kindergarten student (residing in the Stocklmeir/Eisenhower attendance area during the Kindergarten Registration Window) is registered during the registration window from January 24 – February 3, 2011. A Kindergarten Lottery for Stocklmeir Elementary and Eisenhower Elementary will be held on February 7, 2011 for Kindergarteners who registered during the Kindergarten Registration window only. Sibling priority will be given to siblings of in-district students currently attending Stocklmeir/Eisenhower who register during the registration window and live in the Stocklmeir/Eisenhower attendance area.

• Open Enrollment requests: February 11-17, 2011 at the school of desired attendance. Parents/guardians may only apply to one school or program other than their area attendance school. Detailed registration and open enrollment information is available on the district website www.cupertino.k12.ca.us by contacting the staff in your neighborhood school office or by contacting the Student Assignment Office, (408) 252-3000, extension 110.

• Alternative Education Program requests (Faria and Murdock-Portal grades K-5, McAuliffe, Mandarin Immersion grades K-8): February 11 - 17, 2011 at the alternative program of your choice.

• Sibling priority will be given to siblings of in-district students currently attending the respective school who register during the registration window.

• Registration for new students in grades 1 – 8 begins March 1, 2011

DISTRICT CALENDAR 2010-2011 February 21 - 25, 2011 Mid-Year Recess March 14, 2011 Staff Learning Day April 18 - 22, 2011 Spring Recess