February Gazette 2014

Volume 10 Issue 6• February2014 Mary Decker, Principal 3350 Becerra Way The Cowan Gazette Sacramento, CA 95821 916-575-2312 office Cowan Fundamental School Newsletter 916-979-8420 ext 02 absence line San Juan Unified School District www.sanjuan.edu/CowanFundamental.cfm

Principal’s Message NEWS Dear Cowan Families, Happy February Cowan Families,

STAR Testing/Smarter Balanced Field Test: As you may I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy our first Cowan Family know, with the exception of the fifth grade science test, Bowling Night. What a fun social activity for our Cowan families! the STAR Test(CST) will no longer be administered to Thank you to our Bowling Night committee co-chairs, Amber students. In the spring of 2015, students in grades 3-6 will Wheat and Alyssa Rose for all of your hard work! take the Smarter Balanced Test to measure their knowledge and understanding of the Common Core State Standards. This February brings our beloved “Daughter of My Heart” dance This April and May, third through sixth graders will take for all of our Cowan girls. We hope that you enjoy the magical the Smarter Balanced Field Test, known as CAL- MAPP. evening that our event co-chairs, Kara Talaska and Shyla We will not receive student scores from the field test, but it Olafsson, have planned! The dance is on Friday, February 7th will provide our students with valuable practice to prepare from 7pm-9pm. Tickets are required for this event. for the Smarter Balanced assessment. Students in grades 3-6 will also take the third round of the MAP (Measures of At this month’s PTC meeting (February 12th, 7pm-8pm in the Academic Progress) Test in the spring. From the MAP data library) we will be discussing some important items. We hope to we glean important information about students’ progress get feedback on how we should spend the fundraising money for which teachers share with them and with you, and which is the 2014-2015 school year, brainstorm ideas for a new large scale utilized to make the most effective instructional decisions. fundraiser for the next school year, and share ideas on how we Please join us at our February and March PTC meetings can encourage our Cowan community to continue to volunteer where I will talk more about the Common Core Standards and support our PTC activities. and upcoming assessments.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our Cowan Family Science Sixth Grade for 2014-2015: At the November PTC meeting Night on Thursday, March 6th. A big Bobcat thanks to Michelle the future of sixth grade at Cowan was on the agenda. As Fox Sullens for volunteering to chair this free family event! long as we maintain a robust enrollment at this grade level, As you are preparing your taxes for 2013, I wanted to let you we will continue to offer sixth grade. There is a possibility know that the Jog-A-Thon tax donation receipts are available in that we will have two sixth grade classes as well as a fifth/ the front office. sixth grade combination next year; this will depend on final enrollment numbers which will not be known until Thank you to those families who continually support our Parent the summer. Based on the results of a sixth grade interest Teacher Club! All of the students benefit in some way because of survey which was mailed to parents of Cowan fifth graders your efforts. School assemblies, enrichment supplies, technology in December, sixth grade enrollment for 2014-2015 looks for the classrooms, water for the portables, books in the library, quite healthy at this time. I will keep you posted and if you school events (and so much more) are available for our students have any questions about sixth grade, combination classes, because of the time and money that our engaged families or any other school matter please do not hesitate to contact contribute! Thank you! me. You can e-mail me at [email protected]

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions Thank you and I hope to see you at one of our fabulous please feel free to express them at our monthly PTC meetings or February events: the Daughter of My Heart Dance on the by contacting me at [email protected]. 7th, the band concert on the 10th, or the PTC meeting on the 12th. Kindly,

Megan Kanzler Respectfully, Cowan PTC President, 2013-2014

Mary Decker Principal The Cowan Gazette Page 2 February 2014

Mark Your Calendar

February 7 Daughter of My Heart Dance 12 PTC Meeting 7pm in the Library 13 Bobcat Assemblies: Responsibility Upcoming Event News - Save the Date 17-21 Presidents Break - No School All you Cowan cooks, gather up your chili recipes and head on March down to the County Fair! 7 Cowan Family Science Night - 6:30pm-8pm 11-15 Scholastic Book Fair April 4, 2014 is the Cowan County Fair Chili Cook-off and Auction. Enter your prize winning chili recipe by March 15 and you might 12-14 Parent/Teacher Conferences- Min Days get the blue ribbon! Entry fee is $25 and includes your ticket to the 19 PTC Meeting 7pm in the Library event. So bowl us over with your prize winning chili! There are only ten spots available, so be sure to sign up early! Contact Tracie Hewitt at [email protected] to secure your place. See you at the fair!

Cowan County Fair Chili Cook-off and Auction Friday April 4, 2014 from 6 to 11pm @ Carmichael Presbyterian Church

Dinner, no-host bar, games, and of course dancing! Not to mention fun auction items and raffle prizes. Be on the lookout for the invitation, it will come home with your child in February.

YEARBOOK UPDATE!

Order Yours Today! Place your order now at ybpay.lifetouch.com (Yearbook ID code: 6510814) -- only $21. Daughter of My Heart Event Volunteers are Welcome! Valentine’s Day is upon us so what better way to celebrate than Still looking for volunteers for Daughter of My Heart Dance (2/7) and Mad Science Family Night (3/6). Cowan’s 5th Annual Daughter of My Heart Dessert & Dance Photos Wanted! Friday February 7th, 2014 Upload photos from Cowan school-wide events to be from 7:00-9:00pm in the MP room. considered for the yearbook visit community.lifetouch.com. If you are already a member you can just login, if not then Invite your dad, grandfather or uncle to this priceless use the access code SBARLC and sign-up. Follow the evening of desserts and dancing! There will be wonderful instructions (basically, there will be a folder for each event sweets, a DJ & dancing and a professional photographer and when uploading each photo it will ask for identifying to capture the memory of your special night! Don’t miss your chance to dress up and spend the evening at one of information). Please be selective in the photos you upload Cowan’s most loved and cherished events! since space is limited. Only upload carefully chosen, high- quality photos. Tickets went on sale January 17th so be sure to look for flyers coming home with your daughter(s) or you can pick Thank you. one up in the office. Danielle Geary, Yearbook Chair Please contact Kara Talaska at [email protected] [email protected] or Shyla Olafsson at [email protected] for any further questions. The Cowan Gazette Page 3 February 2014 HELP NEEDED!

Chess News If you are looking for a way to share your talents and time, we invite you to become a committee chair or co- On Saturday, January 25th, 24 Cowan students were among the participants in the 16th Annual Cowan Scholastic Chess chair for the following PTC committees: Tournament. - Cowan Boy’s Night Event co-chair (position needs to The Cowan primary grade team won first place and was led be filled immediately) - a night for Cowan boys to spend by Kira White, Kyle Li, Miles Peterson, Annabella Ross, Brock some time with the “mother” figure in their life. Christensen, Hana Kenyon, Javanna Pedigo, Elijah Reedy, Tommy Mason, and Alexis Geary. Kira White won all 5 of her - Cowan Gazette Editor (position would begin 2014- games and finished 1st in the section. Kyle Li won 4 of his 5 2015 school year, but could be a co-editor now to ensure games and finished 2nd in the section. Miles Peterson, a seamless transition) - gather articles from the PTC Annabella Ross, and Brock Christenen earned 3rd, 4th, and executive board, committee chairs and the staff for our 5th place individual trophies respectively. monthly publication; add articles in the template and then The Cowan intermediate grade team won first place and was send to PTC President and Cowan School Principal for led by Joseph Kenyon, Maxwell Tafoya, Ethan Brock, Lance approval. Johnson, Igor Romantsov, Erik Christensen, Lilith Delimont, Christopher Montez, Matthew Montez, Ryan Mack, Xavier Please contact our volunteer coordinator, Kristie Delimont, Jacob Zamora, Skyler Hopkins, and Bailey Waldrep. Johnson, at [email protected], if you are interested Joseph Kenyon earned a 2nd place trophy by winning 4 of his in any of these positions. 5 games while Maxwell Tafoya placed third, and Ethan Brock placed fifth with 3 1/2 wins apiece.

Congratulations to all of the participants! Chess club is now Cowan Wear over for the school year, but there are more local scholastic chess tournaments throughout the remainder of the year for Show your Cowan spirit! those who are interested in Cowan t-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, competing. bows and more all available for purchase. They make great birthday gifts for your Thanks, favorite Bobcat! Andy Parnas Contact Devan at [email protected]

Art Class News Ms. Walker, Cowan art teacher, is in need of baby wipes to clean busy creative hands after working with paint, Rapid Learner News oil pastels, glue, etc. If you would like to donate baby wipes please send them to school with your child and Parents interested in the Rapid Learner Program Ms. Walker will collect them. should apply online through the district website. Online applications will be accepted through Thank you so much for supporting the arts. March 1st. This year all students in first grade and second grade who are interested in Rapid Learner placement for second or third grade will take the MAP Primary Test during the first two weeks in March at the school site. If you have any questions please call 979-8049 or email [email protected] ��

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Board of Education Superintendent’s Cabinet Cowan PTC Board 2012-2013 Megan Kanzler, President Kent Kern, Acting Superintendent of Schools Lucinda Luttgen, President Meghann Burnett, Vice President Pam Costa, Vice President Derk Garcia, Interim Chief Academic Officer Nikki Cooper, Secretary Saul Hernandez, Clerk Kent Stephens, Chief Financial Officer David White, Treasurer Linda C.T. Simlick, J.D., General Counsel Greg Paulo, Member SSC Board Annette Buckmaster, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Larry Masuoka, D.M.D., Member Mary Decker, Principal Beth Davies, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Education Chad Geary, Parent Rick Messer, Acting Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education Nassrine Nourredine, Chairperson Trent J. Allen, Senior Director, Community Relations Alyssa Rose, Parent Jenna Wolff, Teacher Carl Fahle, Senior Director, Technology Sara Casagrande, Teacher Jim Shoemake, Senior Director, Labor and Employee Relations Elizabeth Spackman, Parent