Volume 3, Issue 10

June 2018

Greetings! Many times parents are interested in educational opportunities for their children when school is not in session. As we enjoy the summer months, we’d like to share some useful resources for families in our community.   Also, please note that our monthly e- Newsletter will be on a short hiatus during the month of July as district staff prepares for the new school year. However, we will continue to email Board Highlights and e- Newsflashes as needed to ensure our community is kept up to date with the latest district information. Our regular e- Newsletters will resume after school begins on August 9, 2018.   Speaking of August, all of our schools will host their annual registration day prior to the start of the new school year. Parents will have the opportunity to complete all annually required school paperwork and get their child's classroom assignment. We highly encourage parents to save the date and attend this important event.   On behalf of the Cypress School District Board of Trustees and district staff, we thank you for your ongoing partnership with us. We value the support we enjoy from our local community, and we wish everyone a very safe and enjoyable summer recess!   Sincerely, Anne Silavs, Superintendent

The Need to Read!

When it comes to your brain, researchers have found one of the best superfoods is a good book! For example, reading fiction increases creativity in the brain, especially at a young age. Students who read at least a half hour a day expose themselves to new vocabulary and different styles of writing. Reading can also enhance memory and help to develop analytical thinking. For all of these reasons and many more, there is great benefit in time spent reading a good book. To promote reading over the summer months, the California Department of Education provides a recommended reading list for kids and teens. The Orange County Department of Education offers an online portal to a number of fu n literacy activities , and the PBS Parents website has some good ideas, too. In addition to providing a wide variety of books for children and adults of all ages, our local library offers a calendar of worthwhile activit ies to engage the whole family!

Encourage Educational Screen Time

Setting limits on children’s electronic device use is a good way to ensure that summer recess includes physical activity and face-to-face social interaction, too. When allowing screen time, consider encouraging applications and websites that are both fun and educational. For example, both Code.org and Kahn Academy offer computer programming activities that are fun like games, but also promote creativity and develop computational thinking and problem-solving skills.

Summer Meals and Healthy Options

Learning does not end when school gets out, and neither does the need for good nutrition! Free nutritious meals are available this summer for children and teens 18 or younger in Orange County, as well as around the state and across the nation. Click here to find a location close to you. We know that good nutrition supports student learning during the school year, but continuing healthy eating habits is also important during the long hot summer months. Eating nutritious foods helps ensure students retain their hard-learned knowledge and also helps them to keep right on learning throughout the summer. For many children, summer vacation can bring the temptation of eating empty calorie snacks and foods high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and sodium. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are great options to ward off hunger in a wholesome way.   Making good nutrition a priority all summer long will help students return to school healthy, sharp, and ready to learn.

Safety Reminders for Summer Fun!

Fourth of July festivities, family barbecues , and trips to the beach or time spent in the backyard pool are symbols of summertime fun. The Orange County Fire Aut hority offers some important reminders for keeping your family safe while enjoying our national holiday and other summer activities.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES   Candi Kern - Sandra Lee - Donna McDougall - Brian Nakamura - Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D.    SUPERINTENDENT  Anne Silavs