School News

Updated Wed, Aug 12th

On August 10th, we received word from the California PBIS Coalition that Castlemont is being recognized for " its outstanding contribution of support and care during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and resulting disruptions to school. Your heroic efforts to provide support of all kinds to California’s students, families, and communities did not go unnoticed."

Much effort and coordination went into outreach and support of families.  The San Jose and Sunnyvale Lions Clubs, Bethel Chuch, Home Church of Campbell, and our own staff all donated generously toward the needs of the Castlemont community. A big shout-out to our Community Liaison, Irama Mendoza, and our teacher, Jennifer Bates, for their personal work in making these connections.

Updated Sun, Aug 16th

Third grade student, Kekoa Pagan.A Celebration of Life for our third grader, Kekoa Pagan, will be held on Saturday, August 15th at 10:00am in Edith Morely Park (635 Campbell Technology Pkwy, Campbell . Some seating will be available or you may bring a blanket for socially distanced seating on the grass. The Kona Ice truck, one of Koa’s favorites, will be there.Third grade student, Kekoa Pagan.

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Updated Thu, Jun 11th

Thank you for sharing all of your student farewell videos. Click the link to view our students sharing what they will miss and what they are looking to. Enjoy your summer, Dragons!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZcO10X2IRA&feature=youtu.be

Updated Thu, Jun 11th

We enjoyed meeting virtually with approximately 50 school community members on Friday, June 5th.  If you were not able to attend, please watch this video. 

https://youtu.be/23LPFhyDPug

 

Updated Thu, Jun 11th

Our volunteers make Castlemont a stronger, more connected community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who took the time to: lead Art Vistas lessons; check out and reshelve library books; read Project Cornerstone related books; raise funds for our school; sell tamales and popcorn; do copying and laminating; act as crossing guards on Payne Ave.; and chaporone field trips to give a partial list.  

In lieu of our usual Volunteer Tea, please watch this thank you video!

https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fsafeYouTube.net%2fw%2fkqQJ&c=E,1,rW32fXH06NtuJE2_sKfOvWCUFQef7KYP_qLcr3P64_f933Z3wrhPEQF6xeAILBprf5e02lmD1lq4r_mMn7vn4JgBKpo1DUEQd9pbVInwzAAre9YVaAu8&typo=1

Updated Wed, Jun 3rd

Despite our school building being closed, there is still quite a bit to share regarding end-of-the-year news and activities. 

Chromebooks and iPads  Students will keep the device they borrowed over the summer as long as they are returning to a Campbell Union School District school in the fall. Please take good care of your device and keep in mind that there will not be a process for repairs over the summer. Fifth grade students will keep their devices for now and they will be collected at a later time to be returned to Castlemont.  NOTE: If you are not returning to CUSD in the fall, please call our office (408 364-4233) to make arrangements to return your device before the school year ends on June 11th.  

Student Belongings Hand-Back  Each grade level will be handing back student belonging from the classroom at a specific date, time, and location. Please open this link to see the specifics.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-uxlJ1znGQ4VqiE0CiyD1h2RkszYEWbew4D1v3JeyYA/edit?usp=sharing

You will be given a bag containing the contents of your student's desk, art from Art Vistas, a yearbook if you pre-ordered one, and the end-of-year feedback form for your child.

Yearbooks  Our yearbooks are in, and they are beautiful!  If you would like to purchase one, it is not too late.  They be sold from the Barkwood and Castlemont parking lots during the hand-back times.  They are $25 each, cash (exact change only), or a check made out to Castlemont HSC.

Virtual Coffee with the Principals  Join us this Friday, June 5th, at 5:00pm for a live Zoom meeting with me and Mrs. Gonzalez. Complete the form linked below and we will send you a link to the Zoom meeting.  We ask that you pose your questions for us on the form. This will allow us time to prepare our responses ahead of time.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCOt3nZVaEWA1Vqs8WeeNp2IFkPSmAGrLHGcM8KA2HV7IF0g/viewform?usp=sf_link

5th Grade Drive-Thru Promotion  Tuesday, June 9th from 8:30-12:30 is our drive-thru promotion.  Please see the link below for the scheduled time for your child's class.  We are making the promotion as festive and special as possible for our students. Keep in mind that this is a scaled-back event that cannot accomodate extended family members and friends during the ceremony. Please do not block the sidewalks or streets around the drive-thru location. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X9KC7W3b88HuIYwMMiUvB6gUhJCiHR_Evk6REI26KYs/edit?usp=sharing

Spirit Days  Next week is our scheduled Spirit Week.  Celebrate the end of the year by dressing up using the following themes:

Monday: Sports Day

Tuesday: Disney Day

Wednesday: Crazy Hat Day

Thursday: Class Color Day (your teacher will let you know what your grade-level color is)

Have a great last week, everyone!

Sincerely yours,

Kristen Kimoto Prindle

Updated Fri, May 15th

Hello Castlemont Families,

As we find ourselves in the last month of this unusual school year, we are planning the next steps for 2020-21.  All district administrators are working in teams to plan for multiple scenarios for the beginning of next year.  With the coming school year in the forefront of my mind, I would like to share some thoughts with you.

No matter what the beginning of next year looks like, one thing is certain. Expectations for our students will be that of a regular classroom setting.  With only a few weeks of school remaining this year, if your child is having difficulty feeling motivated to complete assignments or to check in with his/her class on Zoom, we want to help.  We have been tracking student participation -- not as a means of "grading", but to see who we need to contact for further support. Your teacher is happy to talk to any of our students directly and both Mrs. Gonzalez and I are available to make personal calls to any of our students; just email us.  We are here for you.

Our entire team is currenly working on an end-of-the-year feedback form (aka "report card"). While we will not be assessing progress on standards as usual, we will likely have some feedback and a notation about the amount of participation each student has maintained.  This information will help us identify students who may need extra attention next year. I will be able to share the specifics of the form during our Coffee with the Principals at the end of the month.

A couple of weeks ago, we shared a video reading of the book, Rainbows in Windows. Some of our students have participated in the activity related to the story and have made rainbows to display in the windows of their homes. I am attaching two projects from Elias and Elliot S.  If you would like to share your child's rainbow, please send a photo in jpeg format to:

kprindle [at] campbellusd.org

I will include it in my next message.

Sincerely yours,

Kristen Kimoto Prindle

Updated Wed, Apr 29th

Dear Castlemont Families,

I have heartwrenching news to share. Last Thursday, we lost a precious member of our Castlemont family.  Our third grader, Kekoa "Koa" Pagán passed away on April 23rd. Koa had attended Castlemont since Kindergarden, and he and his family are beloved members of our community.  The Pagáns have graciously given me permission to share their Instagram page for Koa .  The family is creating a book and appreciate the cards and messages that have been left for them.  We will memorialize Koa's beautiful spirit here at school in a fitting way with the guidance of his family. I know we will all keep Koa and his family in our loving thoughts. Koa will always be one of our Castlemont Dragons.

~Kristen

We have counseling services available for any of our students who need support in processing the loss of their friend and classmate. Please contact your child's teacher or me directly at kprindle [at] campbellusd.org if you would like your child to speak with our counselor.

Updated Wed, Apr 29th

Mrs. Gonzalez and Ms. Prindle recorded themselves reading a book called Rainbows in Windows for our students.  This short story helps explain what is happening in our society due to COVID-19. We invite all of our students to watch and participate in the rainbow activity.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiZqvSIUjjA