Family Newsletter September 6, 2026

Posted Date: 09/06/26 (11:00 AM)

Santa Rita Elementary

Family Newsletter

September 6, 2026

Happy Sunday Hummingbird Families,

We hope you are having a wonderful, relaxing long weekend. It was another fantastic week on campus, and our scholars are settling into great learning routines.

Please remember that there is no school tomorrow, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day!

We have a busy month ahead with plenty of exciting news, important updates, and upcoming events to share with you. Please take a few moments to read through this week’s newsletter so you don't miss a thing!

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing partnership, trust, and support in making Santa Rita such a special place for our students.

Let’s make it another great week together!

Warmly,

Ms. K & Mrs. Zavala

Tuesday, September 8...Fundraiser

Join us for our next fundraiser to help raise money for our Trunk or Treat and Winter Wonderland celebrations! You can support our school by ordering online or showing the attached flyer at checkout. Thank you for helping us make these events magical for our scholars!

Pizza Factory Fundraiser

Showing up on time every single day is essential for student success! The class with the highest percentage of students with perfect attendance during September will win a Popsicle Party with the Principal!

Family Engagement

💬 Hummingbird Home Connection

To support our school goal of helping scholars speak and express their ideas clearly, try this week's conversation starter at home:

Family Talk Prompt: "Since we don't have school on Monday for Labor Day, what is one job or career in our community that you are curious about? Why do you think that job is important?"

Tip: Encourage your child to answer using full sentences and descriptive words (like "I am curious about..." or "Their job is important because..."). Asking "why" helps them practice explaining their reasoning!

🧥 Lost & Found Reminder

Our Lost & Found is filling up! Please stop by to check for any missing jackets, water bottles, or lunchboxes.

To help us keep items out of the Lost & Found:

Label everything: Write your child's name on jacket tags, lunchboxes and water bottles.
Remind your scholar: Ask your child to grab their jacket and belongings every time recess finishes.

Volunteers & Chaperones

If you are interested in volunteering or chaperoning this school year, please make sure to register through RAPTOR for clearance. Visit the District website and complete all the steps to volunteer.

After School Program

On site program-Right at School (RAS)

Pick up times

2:50-3:00 PM
3:50-4:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

(For urgent early pick-ups outside these times, call staff directly at 831-750-2119).

Safety & Wellness

When is sick too sick for school?

Keeping our Hummingbirds healthy, safe, and ready to learn takes all of us working together! While regular daily attendance is so important, we also want to make sure sick scholars get the rest they need to recover and protect our entire school community.

Please take a moment to review the attached guide, "When is Sick Too Sick for School?" It offers quick, clear guidelines on:

When to Stay Home: Specific symptoms (like high fevers, vomiting, or contagious illnesses) that require your child to rest at home until they are symptom-free.
When It’s Okay to Come to School: Mild symptoms (like minor sniffles or mild fatigue without a fever) where it is safe for your child to attend and learn.

If you are ever unsure whether to send your scholar to school, please reach out to our school front office for guidance. Thank you for helping keep Santa Rita healthy!

When Getting to School Feels Hard — Tips to Support for Your Child

School avoidance can show up in many ways — stomachaches before school, frequent requests to stay home, tearful drop-offs, or resistance in the morning. When going to school feels hard, it often signals that your child is struggling with something deeper.

This month, Daybreak Health and Santa Rita Elementary are sharing a short, clinician-led resource focused on understanding school avoidance and practical strategies to help your child feel more comfortable and confident — including validating their feelings, creating predictable routines, and knowing when to seek additional support.

🎥 Watch the 2–3 minute video

English Spanish

Looking for support for your child's wellbeing this school year?

Daybreak Health offers confidential teletherapy for students ages 5-19.

Daybreak is an approved partner of CYBHI, offering no-cost therapy for eligible families ages 5-19. Most families qualify.

🤍 Request care or learn more

September Menus

SRES Nutrition Menu Website

🌺 Fiesta of Cultures

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our "Fiesta of Cultures" Spirit Week! Here are the daily themes in English and Spanish for the week of September 14th-18th.

📸 Picture Day is Coming! (Friday, September 18)

Your child will soon bring home a Lifetouch picture envelope for our upcoming Fall Picture Day! You can order pictures using two easy options:

Pay with the Envelope: Fill out the paper form and return it with exact cash or a check made payable to Lifetouch (please remember to include sales tax!).
Order Online: Skip the cash and order your photo packages directly through the link below.

You have until picture day to turn in envelopes and you can order online anytime.

Lifetouch Website:Order Pictures

2014 Santa Rita St. Salinas CA 93906

(831) 443- 7221

Office Hours

7:30am-3:30pm

Click on the Hummingbird to visit our website