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Aztec News

Volume XX, Issue X   Jan. 20, 2012

a PTA sponsored newsletter for    

Adobe Bluffs Elementary

Mark Atkins, Principal (858) 538-8403
8707 Adobe Bluffs Dr. San Diego, CA 92129

Krissa Jensen, Adobe Bluffs PTA President
Palomar Council, Ninth District, Inc. CCPTS
Jennifer Good, Aztec News Editor


In this issue:

Principal's Message 

Rubio's Night Cancelled

New CA Child Safety Seat Law

Parent Education - Siblings Without Rivalry  

Parent Forums - How to Protect Our Kids from the Dangers of Synthetic Drugs  

Life Lessons/Character Counts program 

Aztec Readers Program

Bigg Fitness After School Program

Doodle 4 Google 

Parent Education - How to Talk So Kids

Will Listen and Listen So Kids Can Talk

Black Mountain Middle School Parent Tours

AB Yearbook

New Kindergarten Eligibility Dates

Parent Info Night - Transitional Kindergarten

Traffic Circle, Mileage Club & Variety Show Help Needed

Healthy Tip

SD Foundation Greater Vision Initiative

Adobe Bluffs Principal's Message

 

Parents often ask how to best support their child with school experiences, here are a few suggestions on how you can use five minutes each day to encourage your student.

 

Take Five minutes to talk with your child each day about the following:

  1. What is your student goal?
  2.  
    What did you do today to help achieve your student goal?
  3. How did you make character count today?
  4. What can you do tomorrow to conduct yourself as a stellar student?
  5. Encourage your child in a very specific and genuine way.

 

Here are more suggestions from various research based resources.

 

Ways to Help your Child

When booklets and papers are brought home, look at them; comment on them; go over them with your child. Show genuine interest in the work. This communicates the idea that education is important and encourages your child to do well in school.

 

Talk with your child about school and everyday events.

 

See that your child gets plenty of sleep. Encourage exercise and good nutrition.

 

Monitor TV programs and video. TV can be instructional and also relaxing in proper doses at proper times. Talk with them about the programs they watch. Turn off the TV during meals to facilitate conversation. Supervise the content of the video games children play.

 

Encourage your child to do homework as early in the afternoon or evening as possible.

 

Provide a quiet, well-lit study area for your child. Set up a desk, table, or area designated for study, not far from the other family members. Remember to provide materials such as pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, paper, dictionary, ruler, crayons, glue stick, and scissors.

 

Take an active interest in your child’s schoolwork. Keep up with your child when he/she has a test and needs to study.

 

Orally quiz your child to help him/her prepare for a test.

 

If your child has trouble understanding something, try to help, but do not do it for them.

 

Be aware of numerous study strategies, such as flash cards, that can be shared with your child.

 

Provide learning experiences outside of school. Parks, beaches, libraries, zoos, and family games offer great learning experiences.

 

Encourage your child to write.

 

Read with your child. Discuss what was read.

 

Remember that you are your child’s first teacher.

Thank you for your support!

Mark Atkins

 

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Upcoming Events

this week

January 21-27

Saturday, Jan. 21

Winter Jamboree

11am-3pm on the AB playground

Sunday, Jan. 22

Monday, Jan. 23

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Wed., Jan. 25

Thurs, Jan 26

 Thursday Sing

 12:25 pm

early release  

Friday, Jan. 27

Professional Development Day

no school

 next week

January 28 - February 3

Saturday-Sunday, 

January 28-29

Monday, Jan 30

 Aztec Readers begins

Tuesday, Jan 31

Wed, Feb 1

Thursday, Feb 2 

12:25 pm

early release  

Friday, Feb 8

 

For future events

January Rubio’s Fundraiser Cancelled

 

Thanks to all those who supported our last Rubio's A.B. Foundation fundraiser!  We raised $118.00!  

 

The January Rubio's fundraiser has been cancelled so we can all support the PTA Winter Jamboree on January 28th from 11-3pm. Please join us at our next Rubio's fundraiser - Saturday, March 31.

 

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New California Child Safety Seat Law

Effective 01/01/2012, California Law SB 929 (Evans) requires children under the age of eight to be properly buckled into a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. In addition, children aged eight or older who are not tall enough for the seat belt to fit properly (4’9” or taller) must ride in a booster or car seat. The previous law required that children remain in a booster seat until the age of six or until they weighed 60 pounds. The fine for violating this law is significant. For each child under the age of 16 who is not properly secured, parents (if in the car) or the driver can be fined a minimum of $475 and get a point on their driving record.

 

Properly buckling your children in before every trip in your car is critical. Thousands of children are injured or killed every year by safety seats that are improperly fastened by parents or caretakers. Remember, most collisions occur within a mile of the home - so buckle your child in a safety seat for every trip, no matter how short. If you're not confident of how to properly secure your child in a safety seat, contact your local CHP Area Office, and set up an appointment for a lesson.  Click the Division you're in, then click the "Area Offices" link - the address and phone number for every CHP Area Office in your Division will display.

Find your local Area Office anywhere in California on this page.

 

For more information about car seats, the new law, or help in determining if your child still needs a booster seat, call your local health department or go to the California Department of Public Health’s web site.

 

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Ever wonder how to create harmony between your children?

  • Parent Education Workshop - Siblings Without Rivalry
  • 6:30-8pm, Wednesday, January 25, 2012
  • Multi-Purpose Room at Chaparral Elementary

 

Laurie Wong, our dynamic presenter of “Active Parenting of Teens” is back to help us create harmony between our children! Please join us for a fantastic 90 minute workshop.

 

The cost is $25 Individuals ($10 regist ration/$15 book) and $35 Couples ($20 registration/$15 book).

If you wish to register as a walk-in please arrive at least 30 minutes in advance.

Call the PUSD Caring Connections Center for more information at 858-668-4084

 

Click here for a registration form.

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Parent Awareness Forums

How to Protect Our Kids from the Dangers of Synthetic Drugs

 

Three forums have been scheduled for parents to learn about the dangers of synthetic drug use. Student Support Services Department, Safety Wellness Advocacy Community Coalition (SWACC), PTSAs, law enforcement and other community agencies have partnered to make this information available (alcohol abuse, binge drinking, marijuana and other drugs).

 

Come learn about the new and dangerous synthetic drugs: Bath Salts, Spice, and K2 that are available to your students in our own communities.

 

January 25 at the Rancho Bernardo High School Performing Arts Center    

6-7:30 pm

 

February 1 at the Del Norte High School Theatre

6-7:30 pm

 

February 15 at the Poway High Performing Arts Center in partnership with the Poway High PTSA

6:30 – 8:30 pm

 

Parents, students and all community members  are invited to attend.

Resources and handouts regarding substance abuse will be available.

 

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Life Lesson’s/Character Counts!

Returning to Adobe Bluffs in February 2012!! - January 30, 2012 registration deadline

 

Are you looking for fun classes that help build great character and strong bodies for you children?  The time is coming to sign up! These classes focus on how your child can be stronger on the inside by making good choices and stronger on the outside with exercise and karate techniques.

 

The following four classes will be taught from 2:15-3:00 beginning February 6, for only $69.00.  Adobe Bluffs Educational Foundation receives 100% of these finds. These classes will be taught in the Adobe Bluffs’ MPR by nationally certifies karate instructor and Poway unifies School District substitute teacher, Lori Calabrese.

 

Feb. 6           Life Lesson One: Courtesy/Caring/ Respect

Feb. 8           Life Lesson Two: Integrity/Trustworthyness

Feb. 13         Life Lesson Three: Perseverance/Fairness/Self Control

Feb. 15         Life Lesson Four: Responsibility/Citizenship/Indomitable Spirit

Feb. 15         Life Lesson Graduation: Belt promotions, medals, trophies & demonstrations (6:00pm at the PQ Family Karate studio)

 

Your child will bring home a registration form on January 17.  Please return it no later than Monday, January 30.  There is limited space, so don’t miss out!  These PUSD character building classes are only offered one time every other year!

 

For more information on the program click here to read the April 2009 Union Tribune Article: “Getting her kicks: Poway teacher's after-school program combines karate, character education and fundraising”.

 

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AB Aztec Readers Program

January 30 – March 29, 2012

 

AB students will keep track of teacher approved books, read at home during the reading program. Each Friday the tracking sheet should be turned in to the teachers and the students will be able to see their weekly progress on the thermometer in the MPR.

 

We will celebrate the end of the program at the March 29th Thursday Sing. Last year our Adobe Bluffs students read 5,793 books!

 

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Fitness for BIGG Results!  New After School Program Starting in March

January 31, 2012 – registration deadline


Boost your child’s physical activity and self-confidence with BIGG Fitness.  This 36 day challenge offers your child the opportunity to:
•    Set personal health/fitness goals and achieve them
•    Create healthier lifestyle habits
•    Build inner inspiration and an “I Can Do It” attitude
•    Experience fun and challenging fitness activities
Help your child live BIGG in 2012.  Only $64 when you register by Jan. 31st.  Sign up today at www.biggeducation.com.  Starts Monday, March 5 from 2:15-3:15pm.

 

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Doodle 4 Google Annual Competition – “If I could travel in time, I’d visit…”

  • doodle submission accepted: January 18 - March 23, 2012
  •  
    online voting: May 2-10, 2012
  •  
    click here to download an official entry form 

     

 

Doodle 4 Google is a competition open to K-12 students of U.S. schools to create their own Google doodle inspired by the theme If I could travel in time, I’d visit…”.  Last year more than 107,000 doodles from K-12 students across the country were submitted. 

 

Please note: AB PTA is not running a school-wide Doodle 4 Google competition but we still encourage your child to submit an entry. 

 

From the Doodle for Google website:

Parents or Legal Guardians of K-12 Kids: Parents or legal guardians who have children currently enrolled in U.S. based schools are allowed to submit artwork on behalf of their child as long as the parent or guardian signs and completes page one of the official entry form  for each child who submits artwork for the contest.

 

How do you enter the contest? The entry form is available needs to be completed as follows:


Page 1: This page needs to be completed and signed by the parent or guardian of the child entering the contest.

Page 2: The entrant's artwork needs to be drawn on the second page of the entry form. We have provided three options for page 2 of the entry form (two with the Google logo and one with a blank entry space). All are equally acceptable but only one may be submitted together with Page 1. We limit only one doodle per child. Duplicates are disqualified.

 

PLEASE DO NOT PRINT THIS FORM DOUBLE SIDED AS OUR SCANNERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ IT.

 

Read the complete entry rules, design guidelines and FAQs at the Doodle 4 Google website. 

 

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Parent Education Series - How to Talk So Kids Can Listen and Listen So Kids Can Talk

6:30-8:30pm on February 1, 8, 15 and 29, 2012

Library Resource Center at Pomerado Elementary

 

PUSD Caring Connections Center presents How to Talk So Kids Can Listen and Listen So Kids Can Talk, a new parent education series appropriate for parents of all children PreK-5.

 

Space is still available!  Parents can either register by mail or arrive 30 minutes early for the class to register on-site. 

 

Click here for a registration form and more information.

 

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Black Mountain Middle School Parent Tours

9353 Oviedo Street, San Diego, CA  92129

 

The following dates and times are reserved for prospective and incoming parents to meet with the Principal, Mr. Hall, to tour our campus: 

Thursday, February 16, 2012, 8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

 

During the tour visits will be made to:

The Library/Computer Lab(s)

The Welcome Center

A classroom (not in session)

The cafeteria

The Little Theatre

 

Space is limited for these tours.  Please contact Monique Cordeau, phone 858-484-1300 x-3923 or mcordeau@powayusd.com to reserve your spot. 

 

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AB Yearbook

order deadline - February 17, 2012

 

Yearbooks are now $25 each, and all book and love line
orders are due by Feb 17th. Send questions and PICTURES to
adobebluffsyearbook@gmail.com.

If you missed the deadline for 5th grade baby pictures, send us a
digital copy ASAP and we will try to work it in--sorry, no guarantees.

 

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New Kindergarten Readiness Act Changes Eligibility Dates for Enrollment in 2012-2013

 

The Kindergarten Readiness Act, SB 1381, moves up the state’s entry birth date for kindergarten students to September 1 through a multi-year, phase-in requirement for all California School Districts. The following will be observed:

 

School year                          5th Birthday on or before

 

2012-13                          November 1      

2013-14                          October 1

2014-15                          September 1

 

The law also creates a program called Transitional Kindergarten, which is the first of a two-year kindergarten program for students whose 5th birthday falls after the legal entry birth date through December 2nd. The current Poway Extended Primary Program (PEPP) meets these requirements and is being renamed the Transitional Kindergarten Program. As we have in the past, we will continue to allow children whose 5th birthday is between June 1 and December 2 to enroll in the two-year Transitional Kindergarten.

 

For Transitional Kindergarten enrollment information for the 2012-13 school year, please read the article below about the Parent Information Night or refer to the District website in early spring.  http://www.powayusd.com/kindergarten/

 

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Parent Information Night for Transitional Kindergarten 2012-2013

6:30 pm Thursday, March 29th

Painted Rock Elementary School

 

In accordance with the Kindergarten Readiness Act, students who turn 5 between November 1st and December 2nd will be enrolled in a Transitional Kindergarten Program.  In addition to offering Transitional Kindergarten to the required students under the Kindergarten Readiness Act, PUSD will also allow students with birthdays between June 1st and October 31st to enroll in the Transitional Kindergarten Program.

 

Transitional Kindergarten is offered at several schools within our District.  Placement in Transitional Kindergarten is offered first to students according to the following priority:

1.      Students who turn five between November 1st and December 2nd living within the attendance boundaries of the school offering Transitional Kindergarten.

2.      Students who turn five between November 1st and December 2nd who do not live within the attendance boundaries of a school offering Transitional Kindergarten.

3.      Students who turn five between June 1st and October 31st living within the attendance boundaries of the school offering Transitional Kindergarten.

4.      Students who turn five between June 1st and October 31st who do not live within the attendance boundaries of a school offering Transitional Kindergarten.

 

Parents wishing to transfer their child into a Transitional Kindergarten class MUST notify their home school at the time of enrollment.  Your home school will then place your child on the transfer list.  Beginning June 1, the assigned Transitional Kindergarten school site will notify parents on the transfer list of an opening in Transitional Kindergarten.  The parent will then be given 48 hours to enroll.

 

Students that participate in Transitional Kindergarten will be attending school daily on the half-day kindergarten schedule.  They will also be eligible for Extended Student Services (ESS) for before and after school care.

 

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Calling all Adobe Bluffs Parents!

 

We need your help!  A few of our PTA Programs are severely lacking volunteers.  One of the most crucial is our morning Traffic Circle.  Currently, we have only 4 parents helping.  This is an important volunteer position that helps traffic flow smoothly in the mornings and keeps our children safe.  If you have 20-30 spare minutes in the morning we could really use your help!  We need you from approximately 7:25am to 7:45am.   If interested, contact Krissa Jensen, Krissa.jensen@sbcglobal.net

 

Mileage Club could use a few extra hands, especially on Friday, from approximately 11:20am-12:20pm so that we can start up our “Fitness Friday” program.   We need extra volunteers on this day so that we can set up a fun fitness obstacle course.  If you’ve got some spare time on Fridays, please contact Kristine Brownlee, kristinebrownlee@hotmail.com

 

And finally, each spring many Adobe Bluffs students enjoy participating in the Variety Show.   I’ve begun hearing interest growing for this year’s show but sadly we have not been able to identify a Variety Show Chairperson for this year’s event.  Unless a parent or parents volunteer to Chair this event the Variety Show will not take place this year.  If interested, contact Krissa Jensen, Krissa.jensen@sbcglobal.net

 

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Healthy Tip

Start the New Year with a healthy routine for the whole family. Launch a family fitness night.  Here’s how:

  1.  Hold a family meeting.  Share the idea of having a fun family fitness time and the importance of exercise.  Perhaps your family can rename this special time together (Family Fun, Heart-pumping Night, etc.)
  2. Make a plan.  How often you will exercise together (once a week, two times per month)?  How long (10 minutes, 20 minutes, etc.)?  When will you workout (Friday nights, Saturday morning, or Wednesdays after school)?  Be realistic with your schedule and start slow.  You can always increase how often you exercise later.
  3. Celebrate your active lifestyle.  Create a family cheer that you say at the end each session such as “I’m healthy, I’m fit and I feel great” or “Exercise gives me energy and makes me strong!”  Perhaps your family earns a healthy reward at the end of the month such as a trip to the park/pool, fruit smoothie, or new equipment (jump rope, ball, pedometer, or water bottle).

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The San Diego Foundation Greater Vision Initiative

 

The San Diego Foundation Greater Vision Initiative is an online survey of San Diego residents designed to help map out the opinions of San Diegans on our future in four areas:

Work - jobs and economy

Live – future scenarios

Enjoy – community and culture

Learn - learning 

 

It takes about 5 minutes to complete one survey and no login or personal information is required to participate. Click here to share your vision of the future.

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