Good evening, Caleb families! I hope you all had a restful break and spent some time away from your screens. We’re back at it with distance learning tomorrow at 8am, so let’s all take a few minutes this evening to make sure our devices are changed and our learning spaces are ready, and then be sure to get to bed on time for a school night so you’re ready to roll at 8am tomorrow morning. This week’s Cougar Video Message is live on our website so check it out this evening. 

There are just a few more days left for our SpiritWear sale with the deadline to order on Wednesday, December 2. Orders will be shipped directly to your home and are guaranteed to arrive by December 19th, just in time for holiday gifts. Here’s the link.  

Parent Conferences begin on Thursday of this week, though your child’s school day will only change with regards to synchronous and asynchronous instruction for the last 30 minutes or so of the school day next week. So please check schedules carefully to ensure your child is present and engaged during all expected learning times. And parents, please also double-check your parent-teacher conference time slot and be on time to the Zoom so your child’s teacher can share as many details with you as possible during your allocated time. If you’d like to have a conference and don’t yet have one scheduled or don’t remember when you signed up, please reach out directly to your child’s teacher. 

This month’s IB Learner Profile Focus Attribute is Principled, and we are working to take action through Participation. On November 19th, Superintendent Aguilar and Chief Business Officer Ramos proposed a Fiscal Recovery Plan to the Sac City Board to address our district’s structural deficit. Parents, as principled IB participants, please take some time to view the Fiscal Recovery Plan and/or the November 19th Board Meeting beginning at about the 90-minute mark, both of which are linked on this week’s email blast on our website. This proposed plan has far-reaching impact on students across our district and on our program at Caleb, including staffing reductions that directly impact our IB program and those at other sites. I recognize and appreciate that there are many differing perspectives and opinions about our district’s precarious financial situation and that there is much conflicting information available, so much so that it sometimes feels easier to ignore it altogether. If we wish to advocate for reducing our district’s deficit AND preventing cuts that impact our program and students, it’s time to get informed and take action. Before you start firing off emails to our School Board and Superintendent though, please join me and our PTSO and School Site Council for a parent information session on Zoom on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm where I will share additional details and offer suggestions for how to take action. Password is CalebFRP. 

Take care and stay safe, 

Principal Erin Hanson