Greetings!
 
It is our wish that 2017 brings health, happiness, and opportunity to you, your family, and our local community. Indeed, there are many great things happening in the Cypress School District this year, including plenty of opportunities for you to get involved! This month's edition of our e-newsletter focuses on our new parent education program as well as some community input sessions we have scheduled in the coming weeks on new trustee area maps. We hope you can carve out a little time to join us at some of these important events.
 
We look forward to seeing you soon!  

Sincerely, 
Anne Silavs, Superintendent
family_enjoying_caffeine.jpg
Protecting Our Children from the Effects of Violence
Safe from the Start!

"What we are as adults is the product of the world we experienced as children."
        -Dr. Bruce D. Perry, The Child Trauma Center

Safe from the Start is an evidence-based public health campaign sponsored by the Orange County Department of Education. The goal of the program is to empower individuals, families, organizations, and communities to reduce children's exposure to violence and reinforce the belief that "Every Orange County child is my concern." This workshop will educate parents, guardians, and community members about basic brain development and the effects of violence on child/adolescent behavior. Join us in learning how the brain can be rewired and healed by caring adults. 

To ensure we have adequate materials, please register for the workshop  here . 

When:
Friday, January 27, 2017
Where: Cypress School District - Education Center
9470 Moody Street, Cypress
Times:
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Download event flyers here:   English     Spanish     Korean
Community Meetings
Gathering Public Input on Trustee Area Maps

The Board of Trustees has initiated the process to change the manner in which members of the Board are elected. Currently, Cypress School District holds at-large elections, in which each member of the Board is elected by registered voters of the entire school district. Under the new system, Board members residing in each trustee area will be elected by the registered voters in that particular trustee area.
 
The district is hosting two community meetings to provide information on the new election system and gather feedback on three trustee area maps under consideration. The Board will ultimately select one map for adoption. 

Meeting 1
When:
Monday, January 30, 2017
Where:

Cypress School District - Board Room
9470 Moody Street, Cypress
Time:
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Meeting 2
When:
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Where:

Landell Elementary School - Multipurpose Room
9739 Denni Street, Cypress
Time:
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Download community notices here:     English     Spanish     Korean
The Next Generation Science Standards
What does this mean for my child?

Science is more than just a school subject and a bunch of facts; it is a lens through which to better understand the world. Given the significant role science plays in our lives, learning science must be a multi-dimensional process that includes asking questions, defining problems, developing models, planning investigations, analyzing data, constructing explanations, designing solutions, and engaging in argument. The Next Generation Science Standards will help our students do just that! Come learn more about our new science standards and things you can do to encourage student interest in the sciences.

When:
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Where:

King Elementary School - STEM Lab
8710 Moody Street, Cypress
Times:

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Preparing for Your Child's First School Milestone...
Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting

In February, the district will host its annual Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting. If you are sending a child to kindergarten in August, we highly encourage you to attend this important meeting. Parents will learn more about the enrollment process, residency requirements, and programs and services offered in the Cypress School District. School principals and PTA representatives will be on hand to answer parent questions. Child care and preschool providers operating programs on our school campuses will have information booths at this event. 

When:
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Where:

Cypress Community Center
5700 Orange Avenue, Cypress
Time:
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Download event flyers here:   English     Spanish     Korean
Understanding Smarter Balanced Assessments &
Supporting Student Success

With new academic standards, our students are working harder, thinking more critically, and applying their learning in the real world. To measure their progress in mastering English/language arts and mathematics standards, students in grades three through six take the Smarter Balanced assessments each spring. This workshop provides parents with an overview of the assessments their children will take and how families can support student learning at home. 

When:
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Where:

Cypress School District - Education Center
9470 Moody Street, Cypress
Times:

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
The Question is the Answer!
Using Effective Questioning Strategies to Foster Student Learning

When teachers ask questions, it helps them to check for student understanding. Effective questioning strategies also encourage students to think more critically about an issue, which is an essential skill for both school and life success. Come learn how you, too, can promote your child's critical thinking skills with simple techniques that can be used at home.

When:
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Where:

Arnold Elementary School - STEM Lab
9281 Denni Street, Cypress
Times:

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
NAMI Parents & Teachers as Allies

NAMI Parents & Teachers as Allies is a workshop designed to help better understand the signs and symptoms of emotional and behavioral difficulties that may be early warning signs of mental illnesses in children and adolescents. The workshop covers issues frequently faced by school professionals, parents, and other family caregivers to give them a better understanding of:
  • The early warning signs of mental illness
  • The experiences of parents raising a child with a mental illness
  • The challenges that children and adolescents face when emotional and behavioral disturbances are part of their school life
When:
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Where:
TBD
Time:
TBD
For more information or questions in Spanish, please call (714) 220-6752. 

For more information or questions in Korean, please call (714) 220-6928.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Candi Kern   .  Sandra Lee   .  Donna McDougall   .  Brian Nakamura   .  Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D.