Family Newsletter September 13, 2026

Posted Date: 09/13/26 (11:00 AM)

Santa Rita Elementary

Family Newsletter

September 13, 2026

Happy Sunday Hummingbird Families,

Welcome to a very exciting week at Santa Rita! We are thrilled to kick off our Fiesta of Cultures Spirit Week tomorrow as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Please make sure to check out our daily themes below, starting with Celebration of Sound on Monday—scholars can wear an outfit or t-shirt representing their favorite music, artist, or cultural genre!

As you plan your morning commute, please be aware that the City of Salinas will be cleaning out the drainage ditch near campus this week. For everyone's safety:

Pedestrians: Please remind scholars to walk carefully and stay alert around all heavy machinery on their way to and from school.
Drivers: Please pay close attention to posted notices and do not park in designated work zones.

Finally, a quick reminder that Fall Picture Day is this Friday! You can pre-order photo packages online using the link below or send the physical Lifetouch envelope back to school with your child.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our campus safe and vibrant. Let’s make it a wonderful week for our Hummingbirds!

Warmly,

Ms. K & Mrs. Zavala

🌺 Fiesta of Cultures

Join us as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our "Fiesta of Cultures" Spirit Week!

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!

📸 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

Family Engagement

💬 Hummingbird Home Connection

To help build your scholar's speaking and descriptive language skills at home, try asking this week's conversation starter:

Family Talk Prompt: "This week we are celebrating our 'Fiesta of Cultures' Spirit Week! What is a favorite song, tradition, or custom from our family or culture that makes you feel proud, and why?"

Tip: Encourage your child to answer in complete sentences using descriptive words (for example: "I feel proud of... because..."). You can also share your own favorite family tradition to model rich vocabulary!

🧥 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.
Lost and Found will be cleared out 10/2/2026.

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