Dear Castlemont Families,

Our first week back with our students has been absolutely uplifting. With five weeks remaining in our school year, we will have time for a fun fundraiser for our classrooms, Fourth Grade Gold Rush Day, and end-of-the year celebrations.

First, some important dates-- dismissal on the last three days of school, June 8, 9, and 10, will be at 12:20 for K-3rd and 12:25 for 4th & 5th.  

The first day of school of the 2021-22 school year will be Thursday, August 19th.

Before we get to any of these dates we have a final fundraiser of the year, our Summer Send-off Sundae Kits. Just add ice cream to enjoy these yummy kits while supporting classroom needs!

Please keep watching your email for important messages regarding Gold Rush Day and promotions during this final part of the school year  

~Kristen

Hello Castlemont Families,

We are very excited to have the majority of our students return to us full-time starting Monday, May 3rd.  At our Coffee with the Principals parent meetings last night, we answered questions such as "Do we still need to come in gates by grade level?" and "What will lunchtime look like?" Please open this link for the full list of questions and answers:

Coffee with the Principals Question and Answers about May 3 Opening

Last week I shared the new start and end times that go into effect May 3rd.  Here is the complete daily bell schedule:

REGULAR DAY CLASS SCHEDULE 

8:10 Campus Opens

8:20 School starts – FINAL bell

MORNING RECESS 

* First 5 minutes have all students sit in designated areas and eat

9:50-10:10 K-1st, 5th     

10:15-10:30 4th

10:30-10:50 2nd-3rd       

LUNCH RECESS 

Student will first play 15 minutes, 5 minutes to get food and then eat for 15 minutes

11:20 – 11:55 K-1st

11:45 - 12:20 2nd-3rd     

12:10 - 12:45 4th-5th

PM RECESS (No Bell)

1:10 – 1:35           K-1st

15 min recess       2nd-3rd

DISMISSAL

2:20 M,T,Th, F K-3

2:25 M,T,Th, F 4-5

12:20 Wednesday K-3

12:25 Wednesday  4-5

Daily Bell Schedule

We are all looking forward to seeing you every day starting next week!

~Kristen

Dear Castlemont Families,

I am happy to tell you that our hybrid return is going well.  It is an absolute pleasure to see our students both in class and out on the playground at recess.  We continue to implement all of our COVID-19 precautions. Thank you for sending you student(s) to school with their face covering and for being so prompt with both drop-offs and pick-ups!

More of our present at-home learners will be joining our in-person hybrid starting next week-- Monday, 4/19 for the A Cohort and Thursday, 4/22 for the B Cohort.  If you currently have an at-home student, please check your email for the Choice Form emailed to you last night.  It is titled "Time Sensitive." If you do not see it in your inbox, check your spam folder, and then call our office if you did not receive it. 

You must complete the form and call our office if you decide to start in-person next week.

PLEASE NOTE: The Choice Form is only being sent to families that currently have students learning from home. 

Castlemont Main Office: 408 364-4233

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JOIN US FOR UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS

This Friday evening at 6:00 we will have our next ELAC meeting.  Topics will include parent input into our school plan.  Please contact the office if you are interested in attending but have not received the Zoom link.

Our next Home and School Club meeting is Tuesday, 4/20, from 7:00-8:00.  The link to the virtual meeting will be sent to all HSC members.  If you are interested in attending but have not yet joined HSC (it's free!), please call the office. 

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AND FOR SOME FUN...

One of our second grade students wrote a persuasive letter to me, asking if we could have an assembly with the San Jose Taiko drummers. What a great idea! Mrs. Stapes, who is our assembly point person, contacted the organization and made the arrangements.  This coming Monday, 4/19, we will have a schoolwide virtual assembly with this wonderful group.  Be sure to ask your student what they experienced when you see them Monday evening. 

Today, the last of our cohorts begin their first day back in-person. Yesterday afternoon, our staff participated in a debriefing activity regarding our reopening, and the overwhelming response was an expression of excitement and joy at having our students back with us.

I want to thank all of you for your flexibility and commitment to getting your children to school and then picked up during the hybrid schedule.  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being on time, especially during this phase. 

THE LATEST ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

• Please be in class on time whether in-person or online. 

• Starting 30 minutes after class starts, students who are not present will be marked absent for the day. We are not currently accounting for tardies.

• In-person students who do not come to school will be marked absent.

• Please call our attendance line to let us know if your student is ill or having tech issues on both synchronous and asynchronous days.

• Our attendance line is (408) 341-7047