• Weekly Bobcat Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 10/2/2023 7:00:00 AM
    Weekly Bobcat Update
     

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • Check Lost and Found
    • New Spiritwear for Students
    • PTO Update

    Repeat in this Communication

    • School Pictures
    • Love and Logic Parenting Course

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Oct 2-6: Book Fair
    • Oct 9-13 Oct Break

     

    Check Lost and Found

    Is your child missing any clothes?  Please check the lost and found as it is full.  All items not picked up by Friday, Oct 6, will be donated to charity.

     

    New Spiritwear for Students

    We just got another shipment of student-sized spiritwear in.  Please visit the website https://tularcitos-pto.square.site/s/shop to find your style and order your size.  If you purchase online, make sure to email your child’s name and teacher information to tularspiritwear@gmail.com so we can deliver your items to your child’s class.  Online sales will end Thursday, Sept 28 at 10:00 pm.  The PTO Barn will now be open 8:15-9:00 every Tuesday to purchase spiritwear in person.

     

    PTO Update

    Please join us for our next PTO General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 5 starting at 6:30 pm. We will be meeting once again at the Carmel Valley Community Youth Center (CVCYC) and on Zoom. A link will be sent day-of for Zoom. Come hear committee updates and help us plan future events. We’d love to have you! Light refreshments will be served.  Our next PTO event will be the Movie in the Park on Fri, Oct 20 at 5:30.

     

    Repeat in this email:

    School Pictures

    Your Pictures Are Ready To Order!   You should have received an email from Generations with ordering information and proofs.  After you place your order, picture packages are mailed directly to your home. If you did not receive an email:

    Input your child’s information to prompt a gallery code. If you don’t know your students information, feel free to email:  Orders@gsp-photos.com and they will help you with the code.

    Make-up pictures will be done Thursday, Oct 19.

     

    Love and Logic Parenting Course

    We are excited to offer a Love and Logic parenting course at Tularcitos this year. The class format is primarily video-based with teaching and anecdotes from the curriculum founders, as well as workbook-based activities for reading and group discussion. The primary skills are:
     - Neutralizing arguments
     - Responding with empathy
     - Setting limits
     - Avoiding power struggles
     - Coaching our kids to be independent problem solvers
     - Handling chores/household contributions
     We are gathering feedback to gather interest and help us figure out what time/days would be best for families.  If you might be interested, please take this quick three-question survey to help us.  Thanks.  Suvery Link: https://forms.gle/3Aw3YERPwWXToMjEA

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Oct 2-6: Book Faire

    Thurs, Oct 5: 3:00-6:30 Book Faire Night

    Thurs, Oct 5: 6:30 pm PTO meeting at the Community Center

    Oct 9-13: October Break

    Fri, Oct 20 @ 5:30 pm: PTO Movie in the Park

    Tues, Oct 31: Halloween Parade: 8:50: Kinder parade on the Tular track and 1:30 1st-5th grade parade in the village.  Details coming in future communications

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Weekly Bobcat Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 9/25/2023 7:00:00 AM
    Weekly Bobcat Update
     

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • PTO Bucks for Bobcats Update and Thank You
    • Check Lost and Found
    • School Pictures
    • Love and Logic Parenting Course
    • New Spiritwear for Students
    • Volunteers Needed for Book Fair
    • Fall Festival Next Friday and Needs Your Help
    • PTO Update

    Repeat in this Communication

    • Tech Guidelines to Consider

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Fri, Sept 29, after school: PTO Fall Festival

     

    PTO Bucks for Bobcats Update and Thank You

    Thank you to everyone that contributed to our Bucks for Bobcats fundraiser. We were shy of our $45,000 goal, coming in at $41,458.68 raised with 72% participating. Still a very impressive showing! As you know, these funds go toward critical enrichment activities and supplies for students and staff alike. If you were unable to participate in this campaign, but would still like to donate funds in the future, please reach out to the PTO at tularcitos.pto@gmail.com, or you can continue to donate online at www.bucksforbobcats.org.  We will also have a way to donate at our Fall Festival.  Again, no amount, big or small, goes unnoticed. Goooooooooooooo Bobcats!

     

    Check Lost and Found

    Is your child missing any clothes?  Please check the lost and found as it is full.

     

    School Pictures

    Your Pictures Are Ready To Order!   You should have received an email from Generations with ordering information and proofs.  After you place your order, picture packages are mailed directly to your home. If you did not receive an email:

    Input your child’s information to prompt a gallery code. If you don’t know your students information, feel free to email:  Orders@gsp-photos.com and they will help you with the code.

    Make-up pictures will be done Thursday, Oct 19.

     

    Love and Logic Parenting Course

    We are excited to offer a Love and Logic parenting course at Tularcitos this year. The class format is primarily video-based with teaching and anecdotes from the curriculum founders, as well as workbook-based activities for reading and group discussion. The primary skills are:
    - Neutralizing arguments
    - Responding with empathy
    - Setting limits
    - Avoiding power struggles
    - Coaching our kids to be independent problem solvers
    - Handling chores/household contributions
    We are gathering feedback to gather interest and help us figure out what time/days would be best for families.  If you might be interested, please take this quick three-question survey to help us.  Thanks.  Suvery Link: https://forms.gle/3Aw3YERPwWXToMjEA

    New Spiritwear for Students

    We just got another shipment of student-sized spiritwear in.  Please visit the website https://tularcitos-pto.square.site/s/shop to find your style and order your size.  If you purchase online, make sure to email your child’s name and teacher information to Tularcitos.PTO@gmail.com so we can deliver your items to your child’s class.   Online sales will end Thursday, Sept 28 at 10:00 pm.  The PTO Barn will now be open 8:15-9:00 every Tuesday to purchase spiritwear in person.


    Volunteers Needed for Book Faire:

    To make our book fair a success, we need your help! We are looking for volunteers to facilitate book sales during the school day. Volunteer shifts are available in 2-hour increments. If you can spare some time, please consider signing up to help. Claire Cocchi will send you a reminder email the day before your shift. If for any reason you cannot make it to your shift please let us know as soon as possible.

     

    Fall Festival Next Friday, and Needs your Help

    Our annual PTO Fall Festival is next Friday, September 29th from 3 - 6pm. (Kinder hour is open for kinder and younger from 2pm with limited rides). This is a family event for our community and everyone is welcome. We will have bounce houses, cake walk, dunk tank, obstacle courses, face painting, a photo booth, prizes and raffles. Food is also available: Big Sur Taco, Kona Ice, Tatum's Tree House - ice cream, and PTO: Pizza, Chips, Drinks & PopCorn.

     

    GARDEN CHILL ZONE

    Be sure to check out the GARDEN CHILL ZONE for fun activities away from the chaos of the Fall Festival. We'll have some quieter activities including apple tasting, sensory bins, play dough, leaf rubbings, and more! This area has FREE entry and children will still be able to ‘win’ tickets for the raffle and prize booth. 

     

    VOLUNTEER – We need a little bit of your time to make this event happen

    This is a volunteer run event, so we rely 100% on volunteers to make this event happen. By now you should have received a ParentSquare from your class parents with two links - one to class volunteer assignments, and one for the PTO volunteer areas. Ideally, we would love to have a sign up for each area. Click on the links below to find a spot to volunteer!

    • Class Assignments (Kinder Cake Walk will be sent separately), click HERE

    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084AA5A82DA2FD0-tularcitos1#

    • Volunteer at the CAKE WALK, click HERE

    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0444AEAF2FA64-44342200-cake#/

    • PTO Volunteer Booths sign HERE

    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4CA9A82FA6F94-fall1#/

     

    BUY WRISTBANDS

    You should have received an envelope that went home with your child to pre-purchase wristbands to the event (if you did not, please ask your child). These are for children K-5 only. Any children 3 or younger are FREE. Wristbands are $20 for everything BUT food. Food is available for pre-purchase or day of event for cash or card. Wristbands can be purchased on our Square Site for $21. We are adding the extra $1.00 to cover the Square Fees. https://tularcitos-pto.square.site/fall-festival

    Please return envelopes to the front office PTO BOX by Wednesday, September 27th.  If you need assistance in purchasing a wristband, please reach out to Lindsey or Kristen and we will take care of getting one for your child thanks to others who have sponsored wrist bands for students.  We do not want any child to not have the chance to attend Fall Festival.

     

    CAKE WALK 

    We ask that all families bring their famous baked goods (purchased or from home - cookies, cakes, cupcakes or pies) to BOBCAT HALL  on Thursday, September 28th after school, or on Friday morning, September 29th. These will be the CAKE WALK PRIZES. Please bring a cooler to store your winnings. PTO will NOT be ‘reserving’ anything for anyone to be picked up later on. Last year this caused many headaches, so please plan ahead and take your cake with you!

     

    SPONSORS:

    We are looking for sponsors to help offset costs. Thank you to ALVARADO STREET BREWERY $500 and JBH Woodworking $200 for their generous sponsorships. If you or your business is interested in sponsoring, please email: gina.nucci@gmail.com

    Sponsors help keep costs down: Pumpkins, Face Painting, DJ, Photo Booth - $500, $250, $100 or $50! Every bit helps!

     

    WE CAN'T WAIT TO CELEBRATE THE FALL SEASON WITH OUR AMAZING TULARCITOS COMMUNITY! THANK YOU!!!

     

     

    PTO Update

    Thank you to everyone who attended our last PTO meeting on September 7. We apologize for the delay in publishing the minutes from the meeting. You can find the drafted minutes on our PTO page HERE. Please take a moment to review the notes. If you attended the meeting and would like to propose an amendment to the minutes, please send an email to Tularcitos.PTO@gmail.com. Amendments will be discussed and finalized at the next PTO meeting on October 5. Save the date for our next meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 5 @ 6:30 pm back at CVCYC or via zoom.   

     

    Repeat in this email:

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Fri, Sept 29: PTO Fall Festival

    Oct 2-6: Book Faire

    Thurs, Oct 5: 3:00-6:30 Book Faire Night

    Thurs, Oct 5: 6:30 pm PTO meeting at the Community Center

    Oct 9-13: October Break

    Fri, Oct 20 @ 5:30 pm: PTO Movie in the Park

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Bobcat Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 9/18/2023 7:00:00 AM
    Weekly Bobcat Update
     

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • PTO Bucks for Bobcats – turn in donations by today
    • Campout Thank You
    • New Spiritwear for Students
    • Fall Festival Coming Soon and Needs Your Help
    • PTO Update

    Repeat in this Communication


    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Fri, Sept 29, after school: PTO Fall Festival

     

    PTO Bucks for Bobcats – turn in donations by today

    We are at a little over $34,000 of our $45,000 goal as of this morning.  Get your donations in today to help us reach our goal and keep all of the great things our PTO does in operation!  Please visit www.bucksforbobcats.org to donate online, or submit your check to the drop box in front of the school office. Goooooooooooooo Bobcats!

     

    Campout Thank You

    I want to especially thank Ben Salazar for our Campout this year.  He did a lot of the work to make sure it happened.  Thank you also to all of the other volunteers who helped out to make sure people could register and find their spots, put out the smores, pop the popcorn, wake up early to cook pancakes, and other things to set up and clean up.  It was a fun night.  Next year we are going to move our Campout up a week so we get it in before soccer starts.   I also want to thank the Carmel Valley Youth Community Center (who operates the pool) for all of the ways they partner with us to create amazing experiences for our students like opening the pool for events like the Campout in addition to allowing us to use the pool for PE.  If you would like to help put on our Campout next year, please email Mr. Peterson at rpeterson@carmelunified.org.  We will be starting the planning at the end of this year so we can be ready for the start of next year.

     

    New Spiritwear for Students

    We just got an initial shipment of student-sized spiritwear in.  More items will be added in the next couple of weeks.  Please visit the website https://tularcitos-pto.square.site/s/shop to find your style and order your size.  Barn hours to purchase in person will be coming shortly.

     

    Fall Festival Coming Soon (Sept 29) and Needs your Help

    Our Fall Festival is quickly approaching (Friday, September 29th from 2 - 6pm). FALL FESTIVAL is a 3 hour action packed fun for all Tular families (Open at 2pm for Kinder and younger). We have carnival games, inflatables, face painting, garden chill zone, cake walk, photo booth, and dunk tank. Wristbands for children are $20 and are all inclusive, except for food. Pizza, ice cream and popcorn will be sold (cash and cards accepted). Big Sur Taco and Kona Ice will also be present. As of now, bbq is not an option. Picnics are also welcome.  A flier is attached. 

     

    Next week, an envelope with pre-ordering information will be sent home. Please consider ordering ahead of time to prevent lines. Wristbands will be handed out in class rooms prior to the event.

     

    FALL FESTIVAL is a VOLUNTEER run festival. Meaning, we need enough volunteers to make sure we can host the event. Many hands make light work.  We are also welcoming high school students who need volunteer hours. Below are two SIGN UP GENIUSES, one is for CLASS ASSIGNMENTS. These are for the fun games, inflatables, and activities assigned to each class. The second, SIGN UP GENIUS is for the OPERATIONS (preparation and execution of setting up, tearing down and operating the food booth) during the event. 

     

    Ideally, we would love help on BOTH SIGN UP GENIUSES if you are able. 

     

    For those of you who are new, here are some photos from our 2019 Fall Festival!  Any questions, ideas or suggestions, please reach out to Gina Nucci at gina.nucci@gmail.com 

     

     

    PTO Update

    Thank you to all of the people who signed up to be room parents this year.  We greatly appreciate all you do to support our students, families, and teachers.  Next up we have our Fall Festival which is a highlight every year.  If you missed our first meeting, the minutes will be posted soon to our website to keep you up-to-date on PTO happenings and events. Save the date for our next meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 5 @ 6:30 pm back at CVCYC.   

     

    Repeat in this email:

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Aug 21-Sept 15: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Fundraiser

    Fri, Sept 29: PTO Fall Festival

    Oct 2-6: Book Faire

    Thurs, Oct 5: 3:00-6:30 Book Faire Night

    Thurs, Oct 5: 6:30 pm PTO meeting at the Community Center

    Oct 9-13: October Break

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Weekly Bobcat Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 9/8/2023 3:00:00 PM

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • PTO Bucks for Bobcats – turn in donations by Friday, Sept 15
    • CMS Bus Drop-off Location
    • No Screens Week
    • PTO Update

    Repeat in this Communication

    • Tech Guidelines to Consider

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Today: Campout
    • Fri, Sept 29, after school: PTO Fall Festival

     

    PTO Bucks for Bobcats – turn in donations by Friday, Sept 15

    We are approaching our final week of Bucks for Bobcats. While we have raised over $18,000 so far, we still have a long way to go to reach our goal of $45,000 and 100% family participation. Don't forget to extend the invitation to donate to grandparents, relatives, or even companies that may match your contribution. Every dollar counts! And remember, we will not ask you to sell candy, gift wrap, or any other unwanted household item in the future—this is it! Let's get the job done and support all of the amazing enrichment activities that these funds will provide to our students and beyond. Please visit www.bucksforbobcats.org to donate online, or submit your check to the drop box in front of the school office. Goooooooooooooo Bobcats!

     

    No Screens Week

    I hope you enjoyed No Screens for Ice Cream week.   If you have any good stories of time spent together or how it benefitted your family, please let me know.  We are working on a day for the ice cream and will let you know.  Please make sure to turn in your participation form by Monday to your child’s teacher.

     

    CMS Bus Drop-Off Location

    If your child takes the bus to CMS after school, please make sure to be there when the bus arrives to pick them up.  Students are not allowed to go to the CMS library or be wandering the school (if you are running late they should wait in front of the office).   Thank you for your help with this.   

     

    PTO Update

    A hearty thank you to everyone who attended our first PTO meeting last night, whether in person or virtually. We had a lot of business to cover, and everyone hung in there until the end. Exciting things are coming next week from our Fall Festival Chair Gina Nucci-Hincks, as well as our Spirit Wear committee will be moving forward on new styles/designs. Meeting Minutes will be posted soon to our website to keep you up-to-date on PTO happenings and events. Save the date for our next meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 5 @ 6:30 pm back at CVCYC.   

     

     

    Repeat in this email:

    Tech Guidelines to Consider

    As you talk as parents and as a family this week, here are a few family guidelines that I would like to pass along for families to consider as you discuss what you want your family rules to be around screens.  (It is important to remember that smartphones and smartwatches are not just phones, but are computers connected to the internet and all that the internet offers so it is crucial to set firm boundaries with phones.)

    • Put a filter and parental controls on all your devices:  This is just good practice so children are not exposed to inappropriate content and you can monitor their activity. There are great apps and software you can install the provide you with lots of options.  commonsensemedia.org is a great resource for what is out there.
    • Set a screen time limit:  Whether it’s daily (i.e. 30 minutes a day), weekly (i.e. 5 hours a week), or conditional (i.e. you get screen time after you…) set a limit on screen time and hold everyone to it.
    • No Device Dinner:  Family mealtimes are extremely important.  TV’s, phones, tablets, all get in the way of the conversations families can have during that time.  Nobody, including adults, should be allowed to bring a screen to any meal.
    • No screens in the car:  There are two reasons for this.  First, I always recommend to parents that they volunteer to be the drivers for their child’s, and their friend’s, activities because it is amazing what students will talk about in the back seat of a car.  The children forget an adult is driving.   Overhearing those conversations provides a great window into what goes on in your child’s life.  In the car is also a time where you can have that precious uninterrupted time with your children (or family) to talk about how life is going and connect with each other.  Second, brain research is informing us of how important “down time” or “bored time” is to the brain’s development.  It is during those down times when you are staring out the window or waiting in line that the brain builds connections to all of the learning that happened that day.   The car can be a great place for this.   Today many children get in the car and immediately go on their phones.  When they do that, it takes away from time for interactions as well as time for the brain to grow.
    • Absolutely NO screens in the bedroom:  This one adjusts as the children get to middle and high school.   However, at the elementary level, there is never a time when a student should be alone in their room with a screen.   Today, computers and phones are a window to the world and all the world has to offer, both the good and bad.  As I said, as children get older, this rule will need to be adjusted because of homework demands, but screens behind closed doors is always a bad idea.  No matter where the screen is the screen should always be easily visible to the parent.
    • No phones, EVER, in the bedroom at night.  This should apply all the way up until, yes I am going to say this, they graduate from high school. People make poorer decisions as the night goes on.  Children struggle with this even more.   There is nothing a child needs their phone for when they are sleeping.  In fact, we know screens prevent students from sleeping well.  So, if you allow your child to have their phone in their room because it is an alarm clock (the biggest reason I hear), get them an alarm clock and take the phone out of the room at night. I would also recommend keeping your child’s phone in your bedroom charging each night so you can also see if anything is happening.   
    • Get a Family Cell Phone Basket or Common Charging Station:  Having a place where people put their cell phones when they come in the door lets your whole family know that your family relationships are important, and helps your kids see that you are not tethered to your own phone.  This helps keep people from being on their phones rather than engage in relationships with those present.  This also provides a place for your child’s friends to put their cell phones when they visit so that when the children are playing they are doing so together and not just playing side by side on their individual screens.
    • Wait on Social Media: No elementary student needs to be on social media (Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, etc.).   There is even a growing body of research questioning whether middle or high schoolers should even be social media.   In addition to the fact that the law requires someone to be 13 to be on social media, studies are beginning to show the numerous negative impacts of social media on children, especially girls, before they are mature enough to handle it.  In elementary school, kids are not mature enough and should not be on social media.
    • Sign a family tech use agreement: You can get ones that are already made (see commonsensemedia.org for some great resources), or create your own. These agreements should be signed by everyone in the household, child and adult, so everyone is held accountable.
    • Make Screens Social:  Whether it is watching a TV show or playing a videogame, resist the urge for everyone in the house to be on their own device and use the screen as a family time.  There is a lot of great bonding and conversation that can come from watching a show together or playing a videogame together.  When you, as the adult, takes time to engage with your child in their videogames, it demonstrates to your child that you are interested in them and their interests which goes a long way in building a positive relationship.  I can also pretty much guarantee that you’ll end up with some humorous stories and fun memories afterward of how your child destroyed you in the game.
    • Wait Until 8th: Resist getting your child a cell phone until as late as possible (thankfully, in response to all of the research, there is a growing movement in the country to wait until at least 8th grade).  If you feel an absolute need to get them a phone before 8th grade (when my own children got their phones), either do not make it a smartphone, or put enough parental controls on it to limit who they can call/text, the apps they can put on their phone, and shut off the internet on the phone altogether (thankfully parental controls are great now so you can have a lot of control over what your child can do on their phone – see commonsensemedia.org).  The other option is something like a watch that only calls a limited number of people.  
    • More on Phones: Over the years we have found that elementary students are not mature enough to handle a smartphone of their own, the access to the internet and social media, most of the apps, and especially texting appropriately.  Students are not missing out on anything by waiting until later to have a phone that does all of that.  At the elementary level, they only need to make a phone call.  As parents, we need to start thinking twice about how early we get our children a phone (or give them our old ones) and make the best decisions for our own children, and not give in to what “everyone” in society is doing.

     

    Even if you don’t adopt these recommendations, my hope is that these rules will at least spark a conversation in your family about screen time and help us start challenging the norm.  Setting limits now, when your children are in elementary school, will make setting the limits when they are older much easier, help establish healthy habits as a family along the way, and teach our students about the importance of relationships and face to face time.  We also want to make sure that as our children get older, we can begin handing them more and more responsibility.  If you just give them full reign now, you will not be able to put limits on later.  Children need our limits to not only thrive now, but also feel more responsibility as we give them more freedoms as they get older.  Finally, remember that children look to their parents as examples.   We have to behave as we want our children to behave.  

     

    Like mentioned above, if you are looking for a great online source for setting family rules and expectations for screen time and online behavior, commonsensemedia.org, is a great resource. Enjoy using your screens responsibly to have fun and enhance your relationships, rather than allowing them to get in the way.  

     

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Aug 21-Sept 15: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Fundraiser

    Fri, Sept 8&9: Bobcat Family Campout

    Fri, Sept 29: PTO Fall Festival

    Oct 2-6: Book Faire

    Thurs, Oct 5: 3:00-6:30 Book Faire Night

    Thurs, Oct 5: 6:30 pm PTO meeting at the Community Center

    Oct 9-13: October Break

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Bobcat Weekly Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 9/4/2023 7:00:00 AM

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    Please read the information below regarding the Campout.

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • Bobcat Family Campout
    • No Screens Week
    • PTO Bucks for Bobcats Update
    • PTO Update

    Repeat in this Communication

    • Morning Mile Starts Sept 5

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Mon, Sept 4: No School for Labor Day
    • Tues, Sept 5: Morning Mile Starts
    • Fri, Sept 8: Minimum Day for Staff Professional Development. Students released after lunch at 12:30
    • Fri, Sept 8: Bobcat Family Campout

     

    Bobcat Family Campout

    It is looking like we will have the insurance we need before our campout, so we are moving forward with planning on holding our campout on Sept 8 & 9.  This is an event designed for the whole family.  It will be held the night of Friday, Sept 8.  Registration is due Sept 6.  Spaces will be given on a first-come-first-served basis and are limited.   Please complete the online registration form below ASAP to reserve your spot.  We are asking a $25 donation for a camping spot, but if that is too much, feel free to give what you can.  Money will be collected when you check in on Sept 9.  You can also come for all of the festivities and not camp out that night.  Regular school rules apply for this event – no pets, wheels (bikes, skateboards, etc), knives, open flames, or alcohol.  All of the details were sent in the communication that went out on Thursday.  Please see that communication to sign up.

     

    No Screens Week

    It is time for what has historically become one of the most enjoyed weeks of Tular families each year… No Screens for Ice Cream Week… where you get a week without screens and more quality time with your family and your child gets ice cream for participating.   (A flier is attached and either came home today or will go home Tuesday with details and needs to be signed and returned next Friday if your child participates).  The challenge is simple: give up all screens—TV, computers, phones, iPads, etc.—for one week, and instead celebrate family time with board/card games, reading, cooking, puzzles, sports activities, and/or being free in the great outdoors. Be creative and we look forward to hearing about the positive experiences you are sure to have. 

     

    Our hope is that this coming week of No Screens Week will help your family evaluate your screen use and talk about what tech use/screen time in your home will look like going forward for the whole family (yes, that means you too!).  

     

    We have all been in plenty of places where we see entire families or groups of friends sitting together looking at their phones/tablets rather than interacting and two-year-olds begging for their parent’s cell phone.  And I am guessing that I am not the only parent who has stopped in my tracks in my own home when I suddenly realize that almost every family member is on their own device at the same time.  

     

    There is a significant amount of research out there about the impacts of screen time on children as young as 6 months.  And it all points to the fact that, in order to prevent the harmful impacts and gain from the positives, we need to put boundaries on screen time for our kids and be strategic in what we allow them to do with the technology and that time.   And most of us know from experience, if we are not strategic about it, the technology will take over and keep us coming back for more (and that is what it is designed to do!)

     

    As a school that has computers in every classroom and individual computers for each student starting in 3rd grade, this is something we have thoughtfully discussed over the years.  We see a lot of value in using technology strategically to enhance a child’s education, but we also want to make sure we use it in a limited fashion.  We want to make sure we are teaching our students to be creators with the technology, not consumers.  It is very important to us that the students not spend too much time on computers at school (or at home), and that screen time does not get in the way of people time.  

     

    Next week I will be sending out more information about what to consider for technology guidelines with elementary students and some thoughtful articles for us as adults as well.   One resource I always send people to is https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ This website is one of the best resources on the internet for assisting parents with technology use.  I hope you enjoy no screens next week and the extra time you have as a family.

     

    PTO Bucks for Bobcats

    We have had a great start to our Bucks for Bobcats fundraiser this week raising over $12,000 so far with about 20% of our families participating.  Our goal is to raise $40,000 with 100% family participation. Remember every donation, no matter how big or small helps.  You can place checks in the lockbox just outside the front office, or visit www.bucksforbobcats.org to donate online. 

     

    PTO Update

    Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Monterey Bay FC Union Community of Schools Program last Saturday night. Tularcitos families bought a whopping 80 tickets and the Union had a thrilling 2-1 win. AWESOME!

     

    Our first PTO meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 pm at the Carmel Valley Community Youth Center (CVCYC), or via Zoom. We have plenty of opportunities to help and committees are still forming. This is a great way to meet other parents and show your Bobcat Pride. 

     

     

    Repeat in this email:

    Morning Mile Starts Tuesday, Sept 5!

    If you are new to Tular, Morning Mile is an event that is hosted every Tuesday and Thursday morning before school starts from 8:15am-8:30am. We will start Sept 5. This is a great event in which students are able to run by themselves or with their families on our hilly track that encompasses our field. I will be playing music, there will be dancing on the hill, and it is genuinely a fun party environment twice a week. The primary intention for Morning Mile is grounded in the research that activity prior to academic learning increases cognitive retention and classroom behavior. It is also a great opportunity to establish an activity-based habit with you and your students to help your scholar grow as a healthy individual. I am a big believer in extrinsic motivation at primary grades, so as you run or dance around the track, I will be passing out popsicle sticks. Students will be turning in these popsicle sticks for twinkle toes and/or charms at certain times in the year. Each member of your family will receive a popsicle stick when you circulate the track, so invite grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, that long-lost cousin that came to town for the week, as the more popsicle sticks you collect, the more twinkle toes your student will receive. 

     

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Aug 21-Sept 15: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Fundraiser

    Mon, Sept 4: No School for Labor Day

    Tues, Sept 5: Morning Mile Starts

    Sept 5-8: No Screens Week

    Thurs, Sept 7 @ 6:30 pm: PTO Meeting at CV Community Center and via Zoom

    Fri, Sept 8: Minimum Day. Students released after lunch at 12:30

    Fri, Sept 8&9: Bobcat Family Campout

    Fri, Sept 29: PTO Fall Festival

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Bobcat Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 8/28/2023 7:00:00 AM

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    Please read the information below regarding the Campout.

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • Update on Bobcat Family Campout Sept 8
    • PTO Bucks for Bobcats
    • Monterey FC Union Game Tomorrow
    • Bobcat Spirit Wear
    • Morning Mile Starts Sept 5

    Repeat in this Communication

     

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Today, Fri Aug 25: Enrichment Signups go live at 5:00. The link is on the Tular website.  Be aware that, with everyone signing up at once, you may have to keep trying for a while.
    • Aug 21-Sept 15: PTO Bucks for Bobcats – see below for details
    • Sat, Aug 26: Monterey Bay Union Soccer Game
    • Tues, Sept 5: Morning Mile Starts

     

    Update on Bobcat Family Campout Sept 8

    Unfortunately, there are new insurance requirements on school grounds for outside organizations that just went into effect and we are still working with our PTO insurance company to verify that we have the correct insurance for our PTO events involving students on campus this year (everyone is dealing with this).  If obtaining the additional insurance is going to take us a while, we may have to postpone our Campout to a future date.  However, for now, we are going to move forward with our plans and keep our fingers crossed.  As soon as I know what we need to do, I will send out a communication.  For now, see below for how you sign up for a spot, swimming and dinner (optional), and ways to help (we need help to make this happen).  

     

    We will be holding our annual family campout on Friday, Sept 8 (changed from the 15th).   On that day anyone who wants to campout for the night comes back to Tular at 3:30, sets up a tent on our lawn in designated spaces, hangs out on campus or goes swimming at the pool.  Enjoy dinner (either purchased from the pool or bring your own), smores and movie at night, sleeps in their tents, and gets a pancake breakfast Saturday morning.  It is a fun night and another great way to hang out as a community.  For those of you who do not want to camp, but want to join the rest of the festivities, you can sign up to do that as well.  Remember: Because we are on campus, school rules apply and alcohol and personal stoves are not allowed.

     

    Signup for dinner and/or swimming (it is a package deal)

    https://www.cvcyc.org/event-details/tularcitos-family-camp-out-and-swim

     

    Signup to help

    https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4cacac23a3f58-2023#/

     

    Sign up for a camping spot or to tell us you are coming for the evening but not staying the night.

    https://forms.gle/scN9G1LPkrPDRosn9

     

    PTO Bucks for Bobcats

    We are kicking off our PTO Bucks for Bobcats fundraising campaign next week. You should receive a letter and envelope in your child's backpack next week explaining the program.  It's super simple. Between now and Sept 15 we ask for donations. A flat donation, big or small. We don't ask families to participate in any other fundraising activities, until our Spring Fling party in May. No caramel apples, wrapping paper or See's candy. Promise.  Bucks for Bobcats funds all the great things that PTO does for our school – Field Trips, Art Program, School Garden, Swim Lessons, Assemblies, School Supplies, Campus improvement, playground equipment, Classroom materials, and all the wonderful events the PTO puts on throughout the year.  On average we spend $181 per student.  Our goal is 100% participation, which means a donation made for every student at our school.  
     
     Donations can be made by check, cash or PayPal. There is a lock box in front of the office on the picnic table where you can place your donations. Or you can send it back to school to your child's teacher. You can also pay online at www.bucksforbobcats.org via PayPal. We understand that everyone is in different financial situations. All donations are kept private. For those who can donate extra, please consider doing so. For those who have businesses, family foundations, Grandparents, employers, neighbors - they can also donate! The Tularcitos PTO is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, EIN 77-0010111, so your donation is tax-deductible. Thank you for making Tularcitos such an amazing community for our children!
     
     HAPPY BUCKS FOR BOBCATS!!
     Tularcitos PTO

     

    Join fellow Bobcats at the Monterey Bay FC Union Game Tomorrow

    It's not too late to get your Monterey Bay FC Union ticket to tomorrow night's game! Remember to wear your Spirit Wear and show our Bobcat Pride by cheering on our local professional soccer team, Monterey Bay FC Union. Our special link will be open until this evening (see attachment), but if you need a last-minute ticket tomorrow, please contact Senior Sales Executive Brady Bergeron directly at (831) 718-0336. Looking forward to seeing all of you at Cardinale Stadium to cheer on the Union! #defendthe831

     

    Bobcat Spirit Wear

    The Spirit Wear Committee will be meeting this Monday, August 28, after school pick-up (3:00 pm) in CV park near the picnic benches. All are welcome to join the committee to help consider new spirit wear designs, and help create a schedule for selling at The Barn. Please reach out to Committee Chair Kelsey Pearson (tularspiritwear@gmail.com) with any questions.  

     

    Morning Mile Starts Tuesday, Sept 5!

    If you are new to Tular, Morning Mile is an event that is hosted every Tuesday and Thursday morning before school starts from 8:15am-8:30am. We will start Sept 5. This is a great event in which students are able to run by themselves or with their families on our hilly track that encompasses our field. I will be playing music, there will be dancing on the hill, and it is genuinely a fun party environment twice a week. The primary intention for Morning Mile is grounded in the research that activity prior to academic learning increases cognitive retention and classroom behavior. It is also a great opportunity to establish an activity-based habit with you and your students to help your scholar grow as a healthy individual. I am a big believer in extrinsic motivation at primary grades, so as you run or dance around the track, I will be passing out popsicle sticks. Students will be turning in these popsicle sticks for twinkle toes and/or charms at certain times in the year. Each member of your family will receive a popsicle stick when you circulate the track, so invite grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, that long-lost cousin that came to town for the week, as the more popsicle sticks you collect, the more twinkle toes your student will receive. 

     

    PTO Update

    Fall Festival is fast approaching and our first committee meeting will be next Thursday, August 31, after school pick-up (3:00 pm) in Bobcat Hall. Committee Chair Gina Nucci-Hincks (gina.nucci@gmail.com) is back at the helm for this family-friendly event, so please join us to make it the best yet! Thank you to everyone who has already expressed interest to help plan this event. We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact Gina with any questions.

     

    Repeat in this email:

     

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Aug 21-Sept 15: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Fundraiser

    Thurs, Aug 31: Picture Day

    Mon, Sept 4: No School for Labor Day

    Tues, Sept 5: Morning Mile Starts

    Sept 5-8: No Screens Week

    Thurs, Sept 7 @ 6:30 pm: PTO Meeting at CV Community Center and via Zoom

    Fri, Sept 8: Minimum Day. Students released after lunch at 12:30

    Fri, Sept 8: Bobcat Family Campout

    Fri, Sept 29: PTO Fall Festival

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Bobcat Weekly Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 8/21/2023 7:00:00 AM

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    I hope you enjoyed your time at Back to School Night last night.  It was so much fun to see everyone here, learning about how to make this the best year yet for your children, and connecting with one another.  I also hope the first full week of school was a great one for everyone.  I know I saw a lot of happy and tired faces by the end of the week.  

     

    In this Communication

    • Important Events
    • PTO Bucks for Bobcats
    • Monterey FC Union Game
    • Bobcat Spirit Wear
    • After School Enrichment
    • Bobcat Family Campout Sept 8
    • Swimming for 3rd-5th grade PE

    Repeat in this Communication

    • Morning Mile
    • First Emergency Drill
    • Emergency Student Pick-Up Area

     

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Mon, Aug 21: Swimming starts for 3rd-5th grade PE
    • Mon, Aug 21: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Starts – see below for details
    • Sat, Aug 26: Monterey Bay Union Soccer Game – see below for details
    • Correction from last week: Please note that the Fri, Aug 26 pool party and movie is not happening.        That was a mistake in a copy and paste from last year’s communication.  

     

    PTO Bucks for Bobcats

    We are kicking off our PTO Bucks for Bobcats fundraising campaign next week. You should receive a letter and envelope in your child's backpack next week explaining the program.  It's super simple. Between now and Sept 15 we ask for donations. A flat donation, big or small. We don't ask families to participate in any other fundraising activities, until our Spring Fling party in May. No caramel apples, wrapping paper or See's candy. Promise.  Bucks for Bobcats funds all the great things that PTO does for our school – Field Trips, Art Program, School Garden, Swim Lessons, Assemblies, School Supplies, Campus improvement, playground equipment, Classroom materials, and all the wonderful events the PTO puts on throughout the year.  On average we spend $181 per student.  Our goal is 100% participation, which means a donation made for every student at our school.  
     
     Donations can be made by check, cash or PayPal. There is a lock box by the front office door where you can place your donations. Or you can send it back to school to your child's teacher. You can also pay online at www.bucksforbobcats.org via PayPal. We understand that everyone is in different financial situations. All donations are kept private. For those who can donate extra, please consider doing so. For those who have businesses, family foundations, Grandparents, employers, neighbors - they can also donate! The Tularcitos PTO is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, EIN 77-0010111, so your donation is tax-deductible. Thank you for making Tularcitos such an amazing community for our children!
     
     HAPPY BUCKS FOR BOBCATS!!
     Tularcitos PTO

     

    Join fellow Bobcats at the Monterey Bay FC Union Game

    On Saturday, August 26, at 7:00 pm, let's wear our new Spirit Wear and show our Bobcat Pride by cheering on our local professional soccer team, Monterey Bay FC Union. Tularcitos PTO has partnered with MBFC by joining their Community of Schools Program. Please refer to the attached flyer for more information and to secure your discounted tickets online to the Aug 26 game. Don't delay, as this match will sell out!

     

    Bobcat Spirit Wear

    It was great to reconnect with everyone at Back-to-School Night! Thanks to all who purchased Spirit Wear, and offered their feedback about what you'd like to see in the future. If you haven't received your recent online order, please email tularspiritwear@gmail.com with your child's name, as well as their teacher's name and room number. We will be in touch soon to fulfill those orders. We are short on a lot of kid sizes and are putting in an order for more.  More details will be coming soon on when you will be able to purchase more Spirit Wear.

     

    After School Enrichment

    People have been asking about enrichment this year.  The first session will be Sept 11 – Nov 8. More info coming in the next couple of weeks.   

     

    Bobcat Family Campout Sept 8

    We will be holding our annual family campout on Friday, Sept 8 (changed from the 15th).   On that day anyone who wants to campout for the night comes back to Tular at 3:30, sets up a tent on our lawn in designated spaces, hangs out on campus or goes swimming at the pool.  Enjoy dinner (either purchased from the pool or bring your own), smores and movie at night, sleeps in their tents, and gets a pancake breakfast Saturday morning.  It is a fun night and another great way to hang out as a community.  For those of you who do not want to camp, but want to join the rest of the festivities, you can sign up to do that as well.  More details and signups will be coming next Friday, but mark it on your calendars now.   

     

    Swimming

    The third, fourth, and fifth grade classes will be starting their swim unit next week whenever they have PE. Please make sure they remember their swim suit, towel, goggles, and hair ties. We do not have any loaners at the beginning of the year, so if they forget their suit, they will be doing dryland exercises. If your student is a competent swimmer, they will be working with Ms. Di perfecting their strokes. If your student is an emerging swimmer, or if they are scared of the water, Mr A gets in the water with those groups of students and we focus primarily on water safety. It is truly a great time and though students get nervous that first week, please reassure them that we respect their boundaries and will work at their pace. 

     

    PTO Update

    There was a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy surrounding our scheduled events and committees, and we can't wait to work with all of you to make this a memorable year. To those of you who signed our interest forms, the specific committee or event chair will be in touch with you shortly. In the meantime, please reference our 2023-2024 PTO Activities Calendar to save the dates of upcoming events and see what you can be a part of.

     

    Repeat in this email:

    Morning Mile

    If you are new to Tular, Morning Mile is an event that is hosted every Tuesday and Thursday morning before school starts from 8:15am-8:30am. We will start in a few weeks once kids are settled into the swing of school! This is a great event in which students are able to run by themselves or with their families on our hilly track that encompasses our field. I will be playing music, there will be dancing on the hill, and it is genuinely a fun party environment twice a week. The primary intention for Morning Mile is grounded in the research that activity prior to academic learning increases cognitive retention and classroom behavior. It is also a great opportunity to establish an activity-based habit with you and your students to help your scholar grow as a healthy individual. I am a big believer in extrinsic motivation at primary grades, so as you run or dance around the track, I will be passing out popsicle sticks. Students will be turning in these popsicle sticks for twinkle toes and/or charms at certain times in the year. Each member of your family will receive a popsicle stick when you circulate the track, so invite grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, that long-lost cousin that came to town for the week, as the more popsicle sticks you collect, the more twinkle toes your student will receive. 

     

    First Emergency Drill

    Today we did our first emergency fire drill.  This is also a good reminder to parents to make sure your entire family knows what to do at home in case of an emergency.  Here is a link to the Monterey County Office of Emergency website where you can get information for what to do as a family:

    https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/administrative-office/office-of-emergency-services

     

    Emergency Student Pickup Area

    Every month we practice some sort of emergency drill (earthquake, fire, hostile intruder) so our staff and students know what to do in an emergency, and in October we do a full-scale drill with emergency personnel where we practice search and rescue and student release. More information will be coming about that drill when we get to October. I also know that the mention of a hostile intruder drill brings up a lot of emotions. For this drill we do it in a very age-appropriate way and more information will be coming home to parents before we do that type of drill so you know what to expect.  

     

    In a real emergency one of the biggest components is safely returning the students to you.  This is something we will practice in the coming months when we do a full scale emergency drill, but I wanted to take the time now to inform all of our families what you would do to pick up your child at Tular if there was ever a big emergency.  In every emergency training I have attended, the trainers emphasize the point that student release is the most complicated, emotional, and potentially volatile part of an emergency.  Parents come in, rightfully so, very concerned about the safety of their child, and at times can become impatient and hostile to the people trying to release students safely to their parents.  Our biggest concern in student release after an emergency is to safely return students to the right person.  In an emergency we all must work together, so the most important thing to remember in an emergency is to stay calm and know that we have a process in place to safely release your child to you.   However, with over 433 students, this process will take time so patience, staying calm, and helping each other is extremely important.  

    To pick up your child safely in an emergency you would go to the following locations:

    1. In an emergency where students cannot be in the classrooms, parents will be directed to check out their children from the gate along Pilot Rd near our garden.
    2. In an emergency where students are in the classrooms, parents will be directed to check out their children from Bobcat Hall.

    In any emergency, we will have staff and signs out directing parents where to go.  Again, the most important thing is to know that we have a process in place to safely return your students, and we need everyone to work together to stay calm so we can safely return students to their parents.   If you have any questions about emergency preparedness, please feel free to give me a call.  Here is also a link to our district’s emergency website: https://www.carmelunified.org/domain/29

     

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Mon, Aug 21: Swimming starts for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade PE

    Aug 21: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Fundraiser starts

    Thurs, Aug 31: Picture Day

    Mon, Sept 4: No School for Labor Day

    Sept 5-8: No Screens Week

    Thurs, Sept 7 @ 6:30 pm: PTO Meeting at CV Community Center and via Zoom

    Fri, Sept 8: Minimum Day. Students released after lunch at 12:30

    Fri, Sept 8: Bobcat Family Campout

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

     
    Comments (-1)
  • Weekly Bobcat Update

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 8/14/2023 7:00:00 AM

    Good Afternoon Bobcat Families,

     

    I hope everyone has had a great first week of school.  It has been so much fun to see all of the smiling faces and reconnect with people as well as meet new families.  I know this message is long, but there is still al lot of information to get out to all of you.  They will get shorter.

     

    Typically, this weekly update comes out at 4:00 on Fridays, but I wanted to get it out a little earlier to remind everyone of the PTO’s Welcome Back Pool Party today after school.   It is at the community center pool next to Tular.  Everyone is welcome.  You must supervise your own children as this is not a drop-off event.  The pool will be open to Kinder and TK at 2:00 and everyone else at 3:00.  

     

    For Kinder families, class lists will go out this evening at 5:00.

     

    I hope everyone has a great weekend.

     

    In this email

    • Important Events
    • 1st – 5th Grade Back to School Night
    • Snack and Lunch
    • Bobcat Family Campout Sept 8 (change of date)
    • Swimming for 3rd-5th grade PE
    • Morning Mile
    • PTO Update
    • First Emergency Drill
    • Emergency Student Pick-Up Area

    Upcoming events

     

    Important Dates:

    • Thurs, Aug 17 @ 6:00-8:00 Back to School Night.  Details below
    • Fri, Aug 19: Minimum Day. Students released after lunch at 12:30
    • Fri, Aug 26 after school: PTO Pool Party and Movie Night at CV Pool and Park

     

    1st – 5th Grade Back to School Night 

    We will be holding our 1st – 5th Grade Back to School Night on Thursday, Aug 17 (kinder and TK already had their night).  This is a very important night to meet your child’s teacher and see how you can partner with us to provide the best year possible for your child.  We look forward to seeing all of the parents (this is a parent only event) that night. Here is the schedule for the 17th.

    • 6:00-6:45  1st and 2nd grade classroom presentations
    • 6:50-7:10  Principal and PTO Welcome in Bobcat Hall
    • 7:15-8:00  3rd-5th grade classroom presentations

     

    Snack and Lunch

    As a reminder, snack and lunch are free this year to anyone who wants it.  You can find the menu on our website or on the front office window.   Students can have just the snack, just lunch, or both.  Whatever they chose.  So you are aware, at the start of the year snack and lunch take a little longer to distribute because students have to put in their lunch code each time.  This gets better quickly and we always allow students extra time to eat if they are at the back of the line and get their snack or lunch a little late.  By next week the timing will work itself out.  If your child ever feels like they didn’t have enough time to eat, remind them that they just need to ask the yard duty or their teacher for more time.

     

    Bobcat Family Campout Sept 8

    We will be holding our annual family campout on Friday, Sept 8 (changed from the 15th).   On that day anyone who wants to campout for the night comes back to Tular at 3:30, sets up a tent on our lawn in designated spaces, hangs out on campus or goes swimming at the pool.  Enjoy dinner (either purchased from the pool or bring your own), smores and movie at night, sleeps in their tents, and gets a pancake breakfast Saturday morning.  It is a fun night and another great way to hang out as a community.  More details and signup will be coming as well as how you can help out, but mark it on your calendars now.  

     

    Swimming

    The third, fourth, and fifth grade classes will be starting their swim unit the week of Aug 21. Please make sure they remember their swim suit, towel, goggles, and hair ties. We do not have any loaners at the beginning of the year, so if they forget their suit, they will be doing dryland exercises. If your student is a competent swimmer, they will be working with Ms. Di perfecting their strokes. If your student is an emerging swimmer, or if they are scared of the water, I get in the water with those groups of students and we focus primarily on water safety. It is truly a great time and though students get nervous that first week, please reassure them that we respect their boundaries and will work at their pace. 

     

    Morning Mile

    If you are new to Tular, Morning Mile is an event that is hosted every Tuesday and Thursday morning before school starts from 8:15am-8:30am. We will start in a few weeks once kids are settled into the swing of school! This is a great event in which students are able to run by themselves or with their families on our hilly track that encompasses our field. I will be playing music, there will be dancing on the hill, and it is genuinely a fun party environment twice a week. The primary intention for Morning Mile is grounded in the research that activity prior to academic learning increases cognitive retention and classroom behavior. It is also a great opportunity to establish an activity-based habit with you and your students to help your scholar grow as a healthy individual. I am a big believer in extrinsic motivation at primary grades, so as you run or dance around the track, I will be passing out popsicle sticks. Students will be turning in these popsicle sticks for twinkle toes and/or charms at certain times in the year. Each member of your family will receive a popsicle stick when you circulate the track, so invite grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, that long-lost cousin that came to town for the week, as the more popsicle sticks you collect, the more twinkle toes your student will receive. 

      

    PTO Update

    Thank you to everyone who came out to the Meet & Greet on Wednesday morning! There was a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy surrounding our scheduled events and committees, and we can't wait to work with all of you to make this a memorable year. To those of you who signed our interest forms, the specific committee or event chair will be in touch with you shortly. In the meantime, please reference our 2023-2024 PTO Activities Calendar (attached to this message) to save the dates of upcoming events. If you missed the Meet & Greet, we will have additional sign-ups at next week's Back-to-School Night. We will also be selling Spirit Wear prior to the start of the event. Look for us at The Barn, near the entrance to the front office. 

     

    First Emergency Drill

    Today we did our first emergency fire drill.  This is also a good reminder to parents to make sure your entire family knows what to do at home in case of an emergency.  Here is a link to the Monterey County Office of Emergency website where you can get information for what to do as a family:

    https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/administrative-office/office-of-emergency-services

     

    Emergency Student Pickup Area

    Every month we practice some sort of emergency drill (earthquake, fire, hostile intruder) so our staff and students know what to do in an emergency, and in October we do a full-scale drill with emergency personnel where we practice search and rescue and student release. More information will be coming about that drill when we get to October. I also know that the mention of a hostile intruder drill brings up a lot of emotions. For this drill we do it in a very age-appropriate way and more information will be coming home to parents before we do that type of drill so you know what to expect.  

     

    In a real emergency one of the biggest components is safely returning the students to you.  This is something we will practice in the coming months when we do a full scale emergency drill, but I wanted to take the time now to inform all of our families what you would do to pick up your child at Tular if there was ever a big emergency.  In every emergency training I have attended, the trainers emphasize the point that student release is the most complicated, emotional, and potentially volatile part of an emergency.  Parents come in, rightfully so, very concerned about the safety of their child, and at times can become impatient and hostile to the people trying to release students safely to their parents.  Our biggest concern in student release after an emergency is to safely return students to the right person.  In an emergency we all must work together, so the most important thing to remember in an emergency is to stay calm and know that we have a process in place to safely release your child to you.   However, with over 433 students, this process will take time so patience, staying calm, and helping each other is extremely important.  

    To pick up your child safely in an emergency you would go to the following locations:

    1. In an emergency where students cannot be in the classrooms, parents will be directed to check out their children from the gate along Pilot Rd near our garden.
    2. In an emergency where students are in the classrooms, parents will be directed to check out their children from Bobcat Hall.

    In any emergency, we will have staff and signs out directing parents where to go.  Again, the most important thing is to know that we have a process in place to safely return your students, and we need everyone to work together to stay calm so we can safely return students to their parents.  

     

    If you have any questions about emergency preparedness, please feel free to give me a call.  Here is also a link to our district’s emergency website: https://www.carmelunified.org/domain/29

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Thurs, Aug 17 @ 6:00-8:00 Back to School Night

    Fri, Aug 18: Minimum Day. Students are released after lunch at 12:30

    Mon, Aug 21: Swimming starts for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade PE

    Aug 21: PTO Bucks for Bobcats Fundraiser starts

    Thurs, Aug 31: Picture Day

    Mon, Sept 4: No School for Labor Day

    Wed, Sept 7 @ 6:30 pm: PTO Meeting at CV Community Center and via Zoom

    Fri, Sept 8: Minimum Day. Students are released after lunch at 12:30

    Fri, Sept 8: Bobcat Family Campout

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Go Bobcats!

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Bobcat Brief

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 6/5/2023 7:00:00 AM
    Weekly Bobcat Update
     

    Happy Last Day of School.  I hope everyone has a great summer vacation.  The first day of school next year is Wednesday, August 9.  Looking forward to seeing all of you returning Bobcats then. 5th Grade families, I hope you have a great time in middle school.  We will miss you.  Go Bobcats!

     

     

    In this email

    • Important Events
    • Yearbook Reminder
    • Mental Health Services over the Summer

     

     

    Important Events:

    Wednesday, August 9, 2023: First Day of School for next year. You can find a copy of the 2023-24 calendar on the Tularcitos website.

     

     

    Yearbook Reminder

    I am sorry to announce that our yearbooks are still not arriving until next week.  In order to get everyone their yearbooks and still provide a time when students can hang out and sign each other's yearbooks, we are going to do the following.
     
     On Friday, June 9, students can come to pick up their yearbooks at the following times and hang out in front of their classrooms on the playground and sign each other's yearbooks.  Parents, all students will need to be supervised during this time by you.  This is not a drop-off event as there is no school staff to supervise the students.
     
     9:00: Kindergarten
     9:30: 1st Grade
     10:00 2nd Grade
     10:30: 3rd Grade
     11:00: 4th Grade
     11:30: 5th Grade
     
     If you cannot make that time, you can come pick your yearbook off at the Tular office anytime during the following times:
     1:00 pm - 3:30 pm on June 9 
     8:00 am - 3:30 pm June 12-16
     
     We have a handful of yearbooks still available to sell.  If you did not order a yearbook and would like one, they are $30 and available on a first-come-first-served basis.  To make that purchase, you will have to come by the Tular office as soon as you can and pay and we will put your name on the list for distribution on June 9.  
     
     I am sorry the students will not have their yearbooks before tomorrow.  It is highly disappointing.  We hope you will be able to make the signing times above.

     

     

    Mental Health Services over the Summer

    Our Wellness services will be closed during summer break, but we look forward to connecting with you in August. If you need immediate assistance for mental health concerns, please consider some of the following resources:

    ·       Reach out to your current mental health provider for assistance

    ·       Call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room

    ·       Kinship Center Mobile Response Team 24-hour support line (831) 687-4379

    ·       Crisis text line text CTL or Listen to 741-741

    ·       National suicide prevention lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255)

    ·       California Youth Crisis Line 1-800-843-5200

    If you are interested in connecting with outpatient mental health care, consider using Care Solace as a resource. Care Solace a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by Carmel Unified School District is available 24/7/365 to help find mental health care or substance use treatment providers for you.

     

     

     

    Happy Summer!

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)
  • Bobcat Brief

    Posted by Kristen Bartoli on 5/30/2023 7:00:00 AM
    Weekly Bobcat Update
     

    Can you believe that we only have one more week of school left?  Where did it all go?  Enjoy this long weekend.

     

     

    In this email

    • Important Events
    • PTO Stampede Thank You
    • Lost and Found
    • Spring Music Concerts
    • Yearbooks 
    • PTO Message

    Repeat in this Email

     

    Upcoming events

     

     

    Important Events:

    • Mon, 5/29: No School for Memorial Day
    • Wed, 5/31 @ 1:30: 5th Grade Promotion on the field
    • Fri, 6/2: Minimum Day for Last Day of School. Students out after lunch at 12:30
    • Fri, 6/2: Tularcitos Office Closes at 1:00
    • Wed, Aug 9, 2023: First Day of School next year

     

    PTO Stampede – Thank you!

    Thank you to everyone who made it to our amazing fundraiser last Saturday. We raised over $78,000 for our amazing school! 

     

    Thank you to our amazing sponsors, in-kind donors, and silent auction donors! Link here: Tularcitos Stampede 2023 SPONSOR THANK YOU.pdf

     

    Thank you to our amazing LIVE AUCTION Donors & Buyers! Our Live Auction brought in $29,100! Mr. A - Caton Avilla, The Guidi Family, Halleh Photography & Films, The Hincks Family, Wendy Kitchell, Monterey Bay Eco Tours, Mr. Peterson & School Staff, The Marsh Family, The Nault Family, The Salazar Family, Rob Slawinski & Theresa Wan, The Tarantino Family! We promise to promote the LIVE AUCTION sooner next year for better planning. 

     

    Our Fund-A-Need this year was our Swimming Program. We raised over $11,000 to offset the cost of our Swimming Program ($14,000). For those of you who couldn’t make it, you still have an opportunity to help us reach our 100% goal by donating to our Fund-A-Need and or buying tickets to one of our remaining SIGN UP PARTIES. Please check out the link here for more information: https://tularcitos-pto.square.site/


     Our raffle winners: Janka Gabrielova won the $500 VISA GIft Card. Kevin Berry won the 24 bottles of WINE!

     

    SAVE THE DATE - TULARCITOS STAMPEDE 2024, Saturday May 18th!

    We hope everyone has an amazing summer!

    -Tularcitos PTO

     

    Lost and Found Overflowing

    Are you missing a jacket or sweatshirt?  It is probably in the lost and found.  Make sure to check it before the last day of school.  Anything left after that will be donated to charity.

     

    Spring Music Concerts

    Well done, 4th and 5th graders.  You sounded great in the concert on Wednesday night.  5th graders who are continuing with music next year, we cannot wait to see how you continue to grow.  4th graders, we are excited to see which instrument you choose for next year and see you perform.  

     

    Yearbooks

    Unfortunately, there was a problem with our yearbook order and the company has notified us that the shipment got postponed to 6/5.  We are working with them to get it rushed and to us before next Friday.  However, we will not know if that is possible until next week.  If we end up not getting our yearbooks until 6/5, we will notify you about when you can come get them from the office.  We are sorry about this. We know the yearbooks are a great celebratory item for the end of the year and we want time for students to sign each other’s yearbooks.   We are doing all we can to get them rushed to us so the students can get them before last day of school.  

     

    PTO Message

    Thank you for such a great year.  We greatly appreciate everyone help in making Tular such a great school and community to be a part of.  We are looking forward to next year and hope you all have a great summer.

     

     

    Repeat in this Email

     

     

    Upcoming Events

    Mon, 5/29: No School for Memorial Day

    Wed, 5/31 @ 1:30: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony

    Fri, 6/2: Last Day of School and Minimum Day

     

    Wednesday, August 9, 2023: First Day of School for next year. You can find a copy of the 2023-24 calendar on the Tularcitos website

     

     

     

    Stay Bobcat Strong and Tular Proud

    Ryan Peterson

    Proud Principal, Tularcitos Elementary School

    Nurturing Hearts, Expanding Minds, Inspiring Actions, Broadening Horizons

    Comments (-1)