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Closing out 2023 in Community: December SLUSD Update!
 
SAN LEANDRO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
"Making Excellence Our Tradition"
December, 2023
Greetings SLUSD Community,

I hope your Thanksgiving break was a rejuvenating experience! Amidst the holiday spirit, the San Leandro Community Food Pantry and John Muir Middle School collaborated on a food drive to support our neighbors—a heartfelt shout-out to the dedicated volunteers who invested their time and effort in uplifting our community.

As we approach the impending winter break, December unfolds with myriad opportunities to engage with our schools and extend a helping hand to one another. Beyond the festivities, our schools orchestrate food and gift drives to ensure everyone has the essentials for a joyful holiday season. Keep an eye on ParentSquare for ways to get involved. Should you know anyone in our district facing challenges, including your own family, connect with our parent facilitators at your school. Let's harness the strength of our community collective. You'll find their contact information on our website here.

Embrace the festive spirit and a big thank you for fostering mutual support within our district!

Dr. Mike McLaughlin
Superintendent


DE-STRESS DECEMBER

Happy December! With the holidays upon us, there are many reasons to be joyful. It's a time for sharing, laughter, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends. The holidays, however, can also be stressful. We may be planning to visit loved ones, managing our budget for gifts, or coordinating events with our community. With an already-packed schedule, these additional tasks can add stress to our lives.

Celebrating and connecting with family is important during the holiday season, but caring for your mental health is also essential. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month brings awareness to the harmful effects of stress and reminds everyone to take care of themselves as they approach the holidays. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:

  • Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health. It can be nice to stick with holiday traditions, but your mental health should take priority.
  • Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
  • Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and prepare for events. It can be stressful to shop on the same day as an event, so keep a list of tasks to prevent the rush.
  • Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not in this alone.
  • Take time for self-care. It's essential to take care of ourselves before caring for others. This holiday season, make time for yourself.
  • Find a therapist. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed. If you would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by San Leandro Unified School District:
  1. Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
  2. Visit www.caresolace.com/slusdfamilies and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
We wish you a joyous and stress-free holiday season!

DECEMBER RECOGNITIONS & CELEBRATIONS

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National Special Education Day

National Special Education Day honors the federal special education law instituted on December 2, 1972, and the students, teachers, and administration striving to make special education possible for special students. Read more about our Special Education programs, and thank you, Special Education students, staff, and families!


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Inclusive Schools Week (ISW)

ISW is celebrated annually during the first week in December by families, schools, and organizations in the U.S. and abroad. The Week highlights and celebrates schools' progress in implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for an increasingly diverse student population. Learn more at www.inclusiveschools.org.


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Computer Science Education Week

Celebrate the world of coding and innovation during Computer Science Education Week from December 4 to 10, 2023. Our school communities dedicate this week to fostering computer science education, promoting creativity, and shaping a future where technology knows no bounds. Read more about this celebration here, and let's code the future together!



SCHOOLS SHOWCASE

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Garfield Elementary
13050 Aurora Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4300
Principal Anna Malki

Here are the Gators enjoying one of our main PBIS incentive systems! Did you know that Garfield operates on its own currency? Gator Bucks are earned by any student being an outstanding student example or going above and beyond with helpfulness, safety, and kindness. Students spend these dollars at the "Gator Store" on exciting items like bubbles, pizza parties, squishy balls, coloring books, and more! The student leadership group suggests the items in the store!


 

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Halkin Elementary
1300 Williams Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94578
Phone: 510-618-4370
Principal Virginia Quock

Thank you to all the Halkin Dolphin families, teachers, and students who made Ruby Bridges Day an amazing event! Dolphins had a 5th-grade teach-in with guest speakers SLHS Coach Brad Bowers and Sandra Anderson-Knox, SLUSD Director of Business Operations, as the rally keynote speakers. The beloved community came together to acknowledge the strength of Ruby Bridges and other civil rights activists while uplifting their actions and bravery with a march to John Muir Middle School.


 

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Jefferson Elementary
14300 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94578
Phone: 510-618-4310
Principal Natalie Valencia

Jefferson's library is a welcoming and safe space to build community, learn more about yourself and the cultures of others. Ms. Taryn, the librarian, is intentional about building diverse book collections so that all students see themselves in the stories.


 

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Madison Elementary
14751 Juniper Street, San Leandro, CA 94579
Phone: 510-895-7944
Principal Paulette Smith


Madison students participated in a stem kit project called the Car on a Roll through the Raft Maker Mobile Visit! In this photo, 3rd grade students are testing their design models.


 

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McKinley Elementary
2150 E. 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4320
Principal Malika Campbell


TK students celebrated Diwali by crafting diya lamps and intricate rangoli designs. These photos capture the essence of their hands-on creativity, reflecting the joyous spirit of the festival. The students delved into the celebration by watching a video and enjoying a slideshow, deepening their understanding of Diwali's cultural significance.


 

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Monroe Elementary
3750 Monterey Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94578
Phone: 510-618-4340
Principal Jeannette McNeil

Monroe had over 20 families come out on the rainy Saturday before Fall Break, to get their bikes fixed for free! The Alameda County Safe Routes to School team fixed 28 bikes that are now functioning nicely. Monroe is planning to schedule another Bike Repair Mobile for the Spring!


 

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Roosevelt Elementary
951 Dowling Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4350
Principal David Kumamoto

Roosevelt Hornets have a beautiful new mural in the Multipurpose room, highlighting their core community values as a visual reminder of what ideas feed their continual growth and joy.


 

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Washington Elementary
250 Dutton Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4360
Principal Monica Manriquez

Introducing the Peacemakers for the 2020-24 school year. Elected by classmates, they recently underwent a half-day training in the library with teacher leads Ms. Martin, Ms. Jimenez, and Mr. Francisco. These Wildcats are ready to foster harmony and make a positive impact with their peers!


 

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Bancroft Middle School
1150 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4380 
Principal Jeff Sloane
 

Every Tuesday, students flock to the Bronco Store at Bancroft, where they can spend hard-earned Bronco Bucks. Students earn Bronco Bucks as part of our PBIS for following our school motto: "Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care of Bancroft." Go Broncos! 



 

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John Muir Middle School
1444 Williams Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4400 
Principal Elisa Alvarez
 

John Muir’s After School Theater Club, led by multimedia specialist Charis Gibbs, allows students to immerse themselves in the world of creativity and drama as they explore their talents and passion for making stories come alive. This is just one of the many after-school programs available to Muir Falcons!


 

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San Leandro High School
2200 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4600 
Principal Reginald Richardson

The San Leandro High School Makers Club is at it again! In between winning robotics competitions, they decompress by building and launching rockets!


 

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Lincoln High School
1700 Leonard Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4460
Principal Matt Steinecke

To increase attendance, students have been earning “Lincoln Loot” when they’re caught being on time for class! The Loot is passed out sporadically throughout the week, giving every student a chance to earn "Loot" and use it to buy Lincoln Swag! They had a black Friday sale, and students really showed their Eagle pride, using their Lincoln Loot to purchase Lincoln Swag! 


 

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San Leandro Virtual Academy
1700 Leonard Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-618-4460
Principal Matt Steinecke

SLVA Sharks recently gathered for an engaging in-person meetup at Toyon Park, where students delved into the fascinating realm of flight science. Taking advantage of the pleasant weather and autumn breeze, our students eagerly experimented with paper airplanes and spinners, unlocking the secrets of lift and aerodynamics in a hands-on and enjoyable learning experience.

 

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San Leandro Adult and Career Education Center
1448 Williams Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-667-6287
Principal Bradley Frazier

Explore boundless opportunities at our Transitions Center! Community services, whether job hunting or navigating education paths, are available to you. Our Transitions Specialist offers FREE employment services, including career aptitude assessments, job search assistance, and other empowering workshops. Explore FREE college & training program services by scheduling an appointment at (510) 618-4521 or email kkaady@slusd.us. Your path to success starts here!


CELEBRATE WITH SOUNDS OF THE SEASON


Don't miss out on seasonal musical magic! The San Leandro High School Instrumental Music Winter Concert is just around the corner, happening on Thursday, December 7th, 2023, at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $5 cash at the door for a fantastic night of melodies. This event is essential for fundraising, so let's pack the house and make it unforgettable. Enjoy snacks during intermission – an evening you won't want to miss. See you all there!

UPCOMING FAMILY LEARNING SERIES

SLUSD offers online parent and community educational support sessions that provide essential information and strategies for parents/caregivers to support their child’s growth and development. Join an upcoming session:

Wednesday, December 13⋅5:00 – 6:00 pm

Topic: Family Night
Laughter is the best kind of medicine, and PLAY is a great way to bring laughter into the room. Join us for some family game night fun. Bring your children and whole family on-screen to play, laugh and connect. This will be an amusing way to counter the winter blues and move our bodies into Winter Break. The session is open to all San Leandro parents/caregivers with TK-12th grade students. Raffle Prizes! Spanish and Chinese translations will be provided.

Join Zoom Meeting


CALIFORNIA HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY

The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is an annual anonymous, confidential survey of all 5th to 11th-grade students, as well as all SLUSD families and staff. The survey is being administered between November 27 and December 21.
 
The survey helps us to analyze data on the following:
  • Youth health and wellness
  • School connectedness
  • School climate and safety
  • School violence
The results of this survey support our efforts to reduce student risk behaviors and build schools that are drug-free, safe, and supportive environments.
 
Watch for ParentSquare messages from your schools for how to complete the survey so we can hear about your experiences to strengthen our programs and services.


San Leandro Unified School District | 835 E. 14th Street, Suite 200, San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: (510) 667-3500
Email: communications@slusd.us

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