Greetings!

While families welcome the “downtime” often associated with the summer months, many parents are interested in sprinkling in some educational opportunities for their children in addition to trips to the beach, visits to the park, and other recreational activities. With this in mind, the June edition of our e-News offers families a variety of useful resources available in our local community.

In July, please note our e-News will be on a short hiatus as our district staff prepares for the new school year. However, we will continue to email Board Highlights and e-Newsflashes in the meantime to ensure our community is kept up-to-date with the latest district information. Our monthly e-News publication will resume after school begins on August 8, 2019.

Speaking of August, all our schools will host their annual registration day prior to the start of the new school year. This event is for the families of all students, kindergarten through sixth grade. Parents will have the opportunity to complete the annually required school paperwork as well as get their child's classroom assignment for the new school year. We highly encourage parents to save the date and attend this important event at their children’s school.

On behalf of the Cypress School District, its Board of Trustees, and school district staff, we thank you for your ongoing partnership with us. We value the strong support we enjoy from our local community, and we wish everyone a very safe and enjoyable summer recess!

Sincerely,

Anne Silavs, Superintendent

Build Your Brain, Read a Good Book!

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 develop analytical thinking. For all these reasons and many more, there’s 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. In addition to providing a wide variety of books for children and adults of all ages, our local library offers a calendar of worthwhile activities to engage the whole family!

Making “Screen Time” Meaningful

Setting limits on children’s electronic device use is important 365 days a year. It’s also a good way to ensure that summer recess includes physical activity and face-to-face social interaction, too. When permitting screen time, consider encouraging children to explore applications and websites that are both fun and educational. For example, Code.org and Khan 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. There’s no cost or enrollment necessary. Simply 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 students retain their hard-earned 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, and our local Farmers Market provides easy access to locally sourced organic produce.

Making good nutrition a priority all summer long will help students return to school healthy, sharp, and ready to learn.

Celebrating Our Nation’s Independence

With Fourth of July festivities just around the corner, the Orange County Fire Authority has provided some important reminders for keeping your family safe while celebrating our national holiday. However, it is important to note that fireworks are illegal in most Orange County cities, including Cypress and La Palma. A great way to celebrate the holiday and enjoy a fireworks show is to attend the City of Cypress Salute to America Celebration on July 3 at Cypress College! The event is free and open to the public.

Summertime Safety/Summertime Fun

In addition to Fourth of July festivities, family barbecues , trips to the beach, and time spent in the backyard pool are all symbols of summertime fun. The Orange County Fire Authority offers some important reminders for keeping your family safe while enjoying these typical summer activities. If you do find yourself in an emergency situation and need help, call 911. If for some reason you can’t call, you can take advantage of the Text 9-1-1 Orange County Program.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES  

Candi Kern - Sandra Lee - Brian Nakamura - Bonnie Peat - Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D.

 

SUPERINTENDENT 

Anne Silavs