Originally delivered on 11/17/2021 9:00 am

SUBJECT: Weekly E-News




Nov. 17, 2021

ISSUE 13

THE PRINCIPAL'S CORNER


Hello Flora Vista Families,


Thank you to all who came out for our Bike Rodeo on Monday. It was another really nice event bringing families back on campus, on a beautiful late afternoon as the sun was setting. Please look for more events throughout the year, and come on out! Special thanks to the San Diego County Bike Coalition for coordinating this bike safety event for our families, and remember - you can still complete their learning modules HERE to be entered into our raffle.

EUSD’s first Parent Equity Webinar was presented last week. If you’re interested in learning more about EUSD’s Equity Plan, how it supports all students in reaching their fullest potential, and some examples of what that looks like across classrooms and grade levels in EUSD, the recording is available HERE.

Lastly, we continue to be vandalized on a weekly basis by kids on e-bikes Saturday nights after 10pm (visible on camera but not yet able to be identified). We believe locking the gates would cut down on the vandalism, but would like to keep that option as only a last result so that the community is not impacted due to the actions of a few. So we are asking for your help again to please keep an eye out for us, and reach out to your friends to help with the same.

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the year!

In Gratitude,
Principal Juarez

The Flora Vista Jog-A-Thon is on!

Hi Falcon Families,


We are so excited to announce that the Flora Vista Jog-A-Thon is coming up on Thursday, December 9th! There will be three heats:

Kinder – 1st grade will run from 8:15am-8:45am

2nd – 4th grade will run from 9:00am-9:45am

5th – 6th grade will run from 10:30am -11:30am


Just like P.E., no masks are required for the students for Jog-A-Thon participation this year. We will Zoom all heats again this year as visitors are not yet allowed.


We are hoping this will be the biggest fundraiser of the year and this year we will be using Pledgestar again, an online fundraising system, to reach our goal. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the FVPTA.


Your donations allow the PTA to pay for the following, in addition to many other benefits:

  • Technology Software (BrainPop, Mystery Science, and Accelerated Reader)
  • Grade Level Mini-Grants
  • Individual Teacher Mini-Grants
  • School Supplies
  • Social Programs (Gratitude Event, 6th Grade Promotion, Spring Social)
  • Academic Programs (FV Reads, Reflections)
  • Health and Safety Programs (Inclusion in Action and Kindness Week)


This year our goal is for each child to raise at least $100, and with 400 plus students, we hope to raise over $40,000! In order to do this, we encourage each child with the help of their parents to send at least 10 emails to family and friends through Pledgestar. 

Register now at: http://pledgestar.com/floravista

· Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”

· Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit”

· Follow the instructions on-screen to register students


Individual and class award opportunities will be announced soon.


The classes are busy working on their Jogathon theme and class shirts. If you haven't already donated to the class fund, this is a great time to do so.


You may also order encouragement signs for your child for the Jog-A-Thon! You may purchase as many signs as you like- they are $10 each.

To order, follow the directions here:

Directions for JAT Encouragement signs


Please email Ari Blocksidge and Wyatt Barrett at fvjogathon@gmail.com with any additional questions.


Here comes the Book Fair!

The Flora Vista Book Fair is coming back to campus during the week of November 29. Please plan on joining us to help support our school. Help your child discover new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more! More details coming soon.'


 Here's a link to book fair videos that help promote some books in advance of the fair. 

Reflections Update

What an amazing year of Reflections submissions! We had submissions in every category and were fortunate to have so many enter! Thank you to all the participants who expressed their creativity and passion for changing the world! Thank you also for those who stopped by to support these artists at the Fall Gratitude Festival! If you would like to view all the entries, they can be viewed in this slideshow. We are excited to announce the names of those whose art will be continuing to the next level. They are:

Briana Aguirre

Annaliese Beyer

Jonah Beyer

Macy Brantl

Lisette D'Souza

John Galipault

James Hinds

Abby Kates

Hannah Kates

Guy Kernell

Aria Lerro

Dalia Levine

Fiona Mancuso

Sophia Mellet

Brody Tasker

Noah Travis

Good luck to these students! We hope to see even more entries next year, so keep an eye out for more information next Fall!

Walk, Ride, and Roll Week

Hello Falcons!


Here we are in the middle of Walk, Ride, Roll Week at Flora Vista. It's been great to see so many of you getting to school by "People Powered" methods. There was a great turn out Monday for the Bike Rodeo as well. Keep it up FV!


Remember, this Friday, 11/19 at 7:40, meet Principal Juarez down Wandering Rd  between Elon Lane and Valleda Lane and walk to school as a group, for those that normally get dropped off, or any and everyone.

Teacher Feature - Meet Mrs. Goyette!

Falcons, this week's Teacher Feature is Mrs. Goyette, one of our Fourth grade teachers and educator of the highest order. Learn more about this perennial favorite of students and teachers below.


My name is Kirsten (pronounced Keerstin) Goyette and I am a fourth grade teacher here at Flora Vista. This is my fifth year at Flora Vista! Before FV, I was a fourth grade teacher in San Diego Unified for two years, and taught kindergarten overseas in Taiwan for three years. 


Outside of teaching and working with kids, my interests are beach activities such as volleyball and swimming in the waves, volunteering my time with the Baja Dog Rescue (where I rescued my dog, Bailey), listening to live music, and traveling. On most school breaks, you can catch me hopping a flight somewhere new, as I feel my greatest learning comes from understanding others and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. 


With my students, I focus on teaching strategies for social-emotional well being, building empathy with others through shared learning and experiences, and developing a safe learning community where our students can be authentically themselves. If you see me around, feel free to shout out “Buenas dias,” “Ciao,” or “Shalom,” or share stories of your travels so we can connect!

Library News

Hello Flora Vista Community,

November is a great time to carve out time in our schedules to read when we can. I urge all our Flora Vista families to take a break from their day with their students and cuddle up with a good book for at least 10 minutes. Finding time is not always easy. So try this saying to see if it helps you find the time in your busy schedule: Never leave home without a tome. You may not read that book while out and about but at least you'll have it for those moments when you are waiting for something or are bored. Feel like sharing your reading experience? Take a photo and send it to sarah.wilson@eusd.net and I will upload them into a Padlet. Let our youth see Flora Vista as a community of readers! Happy reading and enjoy your break!


Sarah Wilson

Flora Vista Librarian 

Fall Food Drive Continues

Before and after school through this Friday the 19th,the Flora Vista Girl Scouts will be standing in front of the school collecting food supporting the St. Andrew’s Food Drive.


Please donate non-perishable foods and full-size toiletries. 

Pop top & microwavable foods are helpful!


Did you know Flora Vista has 4 Girl Scout Troops? If you have any questions about your daughter joining a troop, please contact Katie Martinez at ksallard20@yahoo.com

Falcons - Got Talent?

Singing, skateboarding, cooking, go carts, poetry, your pets, rap, dancing, magic?


Our Flora Vista Virtual Fall Talent Show is accepting submissions! Whatever you can dream up or do, we can't wait to see you shine. 


Take advantage of technology and "wow" us with your video.


Submissions November 3rd -December 5th

Premiere is December 10th


Video submissions are approximately 1:30 in length with a name, grade and teacher via a vocal slate.


Drop all submissions here: 

https://www.dropbox.com/request/8f75bnGm2YsXimVkfwr4

If you're having trouble you can email them to:

 jeff.ladman@gmail.com


***Family and friends may help if you wish ***

General PTA Meeting

SAVE THE DATE FALCONS!

December 2nd 5:30PM via Zoom

Come join our PTA, Principal Juarez, and staff members as we update you on all things Flora Vista at our PTA General Meeting. We have Jennifer Bond, EUSD Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability, as our guest speaker. She'll be touching on the Equity training going on throughout the District. I was at the first District training session and can report this is good, important work. 


Please join us - you are the "P" in PTA!


Zoom information and question submission to follow in the coming weeks.

Notes from the Lunch Tables

Dear Falcons Families Past and Present,


I wanted to take a moment to honor Carol Giallombardo our long time School Secretary who was taken from this world on Sunday. She touched many people over her time at Flora Vista and I wanted to share a story.... Seven and a half years ago I was a nervous wreck checking our boys into the preschool and under going a series of three IEPs. I had come to the office and was greeted by Carol. As I sat waiting, we made conversation and I began to nervously open up about the triplets and I began to cry. I was overwhelmed and all these emotions just began to pour out. Carol got up from her desk and gave me a hug, some Kleenex,  told me I was going to be OK, and everyone at the preschool would take care of my boys. I will never forget her kindness that day, she gave me the best hug and boy I really needed it. She was right too, the preschool and Flora Vista took great care of us.


As I got to know Carol over the years through volunteering and then eventually working at Flora Vista we became friends. She possessed a wicked sense of humor, a tough exterior that quickly melted away into one of kindness, curiosity, and understanding. During her battle with cancer I often brought her flowers, cards, and occasionally gin. Below is the last picture I have of her, with our boys on a more optimistic day.


As we approach Thanksgiving, I appeal to all of you to tell those you care about how you feel. Our time here is finite, how we spend it is not.


Have a great week Falcons.


Jokes of the Day - Highlights 


"If a kindergartner refuses a nap, are they resisting a rest?"


"What do you call two monkeys that share an Amazon account?"

Prime mates

Flora Vista EEF Needs YOU!

Are you great on a computer, a social butterfly that loves to throw a party, or great with numbers? If you answered yes to any of the above questions the Flora Vista EEF needs you!


Flora Vista’s EEF is looking for volunteers to help plan our annual Gala and online auction. Our entire team is made up of volunteer parents - we have opportunities for all parent schedules! Our group is all about having a good time

while raising money so our children can continue their Enrichment Programs at Flora Vista! If interested, please contact EEF President Ally Hanlon at eef@fvpta.org.

SPIRIT WEAR

Falcons, 

We have some cool stuff in our Flora Vista online store. This holiday season, treat your family members by getting them a FV shirt! Grandparents love to celebrate their grandkids. They are great quality and comfy. Order yours today and it will be delivered right to your doorstep, contact free. 



FLORA VISTA STORE

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