The Bulldog Bark Newsletter
Onward and Upward!
Issue #38: May 9 - May 13
Vessels Elementary School: A Great Place to Learn and Grow!
Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you to all the wonderful mothers out there! We appreciate all you do for our kids and families! On behalf our the Vessels Staff, we wish you all the best and hope your day has been a good one!
Attendance at Vessels

Testing season is here! State testing continues this week through Wednesday, May 11. It is therefore vitally important that all students are at Vessels every day.

School attendance can predict everything from high school graduation rates to whether a child attends college. Please have your child at Vessels every day. Your help makes a difference and ensures that students are learning and growing. Please click here to learn more about why attendance matters in elementary school.
Intent to Return

As we get closer to the end of the year, we are busily preparing for 2022-2023 and need your help to ensure a smooth start.

Please fill out the attached survey to let us know if you plan on having your child attend Vessels next year. This information will help us to place students in classes while having a better idea of how many staff we will need for each grade level.

Please remember to fill out separate surveys for each returning child!

Thank you for your help and support!
Coffee w/ the Principal
Join us once again for Coffee with the Principal! This round will be the last of the school year, and we will discuss depth and complexity, PBIS, and next school year. Please click the link on Friday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m. to join in the conversation!
STEM Night at Vessels
2022 - 2023 School Year

Although we do not take individual teacher requests for next year, if there is something vital that you need to let us know about your child and how they learn best, please email mholman@cypsd.org. Write a quick note to let us know how we can help your Bulldog learn and grow as they move to the next grade level.
2022-2023 Academic Calendar

Click here to access next year's school calendar!
Lost and Found

The lost and found pile is overflowing! We will have the cart out by the cafeteria gate before and after school for you to come to pick up any missing items. Chances are, your child has something in the pile.
Traffic and Safety at Vessels

We have had an uptick in traffic issues around the Vessels campus, and I wanted to send a couple of reminders about traffic safety:
1. Slow down and watch for pedestrians. There are kids and families everywhere! 
2. Do not make a u-turn anywhere on any street around the school. This can cause an accident and significantly slows the flow of traffic.
3. Do not leave your vehicle unattended in the loop. Please do not get out of the car for any reason. Once again, it significantly slows the flow of traffic.
4. Pull all the way forward if you are in the loop. If you stop by Carousel Daycare or by the upper-grade classrooms to load your child, it significantly slows traffic flow.

Please be respectful and aware that there are many other families and students around you at all times! If you are in a rush, I suggest leaving a tad bit earlier each day. We need to keep our kids safe and Vessels accident-free!
Kindergarten Informational Meeting

We invite you to another Kindergarten Informational Meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, May 11. Click the link on the day of the event to join.

Be sure to tell a friend that Vessels is the best place for kindergartners to learn and grow!
Math Practice

The math practice links are back! If you are looking for extra math practice for your child, click one of the links below to get started!
Internet and Cell Phone Safety

More kids are using cell phones than ever before and are often unequipped to handle the freedoms and/or dangers that cell phone use may cause. It is imperative that parents set guidelines for their usage to ensure kids are safe while protecting them from the harm that may come from unrestricted use of the internet.

I have included resources below for parents to provide an awareness of children and cell usage. Purchasing a cell phone for a child is a personal family decision, but adopting rules at home may help to protect your child and others from possible harmful effects.
Health Reminders

We encourage families to follow health and safety practices in accordance with the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency:

  • If your child has symptoms related to COVID-19, please make sure they stay home and get tested if necessary. 
  • Please keep them home from school if they exhibit the following symptoms: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
  • If a member of your household tests positive for COVID-19 or is awaiting test results, please do not send your child to school and notify the Vessels front office. 
  • Limit close contact with people who are sick, and avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils.

Thank you for helping us keep Vessels safe!
Vessels Core Values

Every great organization has core values or beliefs that drive its successes and focus on excellence. At Vessels, we have developed core values that center the team on student success and remind us of what we hold dear. Below is a list of our core values:

  • We value our students, encourage their academic and social development, and reward positive performance in and out of the classroom.
  • We develop the strengths and talents of our students so that they will grow to be passionate about learning and life.
  • We take risks and see mistakes as opportunities to grow! We find joy in our work and help others to do the same.
  • We develop positive, meaningful relationships with our students, parents, and colleagues to best support the learning community's needs.
  • We work together across grade levels and continuously adapt instruction to meet the needs of all learners in our classroom.
  • We value diversity and inclusivity in all that we do!
 
At Vessels, we love what we do, and it shows!

4/18 - 5/11 - SBAC Testing Window

5/13 - SOTM Flag Ceremony

5/13 - STEM Magic Night and Book Fair @ 6:00 p.m. at Vessels

5/20 - Coffee with the Principal @ 9:30 a.m. via Zoom

6/8 - 6th Grade Promotion @ 9:00 a.m.

8/2 - Vessels orientation for the 2022-2023 school year
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Bulldogs in Action