Family Newsletter October 11, 2026

Posted Date: 10/11/26 (11:00 AM)

Santa Rita Elementary

Family Newsletter

October 11, 2026

Happy Sunday Hummingbird Families,

Please remember that there is no school tomorrow, Monday, as our teachers and staff will be participating in a district Professional Development Day. We look forward to welcoming scholars back to campus on Tuesday morning!

Last week, we had an inspiring meeting with our Safe School Ambassadors and Student Leadership team. We are so excited to build student capacity on campus, empowering our scholars to take an active role in keeping Santa Rita a safe, warm, and welcoming place for everyone. Our student leaders are already eager to plan activities for Unity Week, which begins the week of October 19!

Here are the key updates and events for the week ahead:

🚨 Great International ShakeOut Drill (Thursday): On Thursday, our campus will participate in the annual earthquake drill to practice safety routines and emergency readiness.
🍫 Annual Chocolate Fundraiser: We are launching our chocolate fundraiser to support school programs! Permission slips will go home this week with 3rd–5th grade students (a signed form is required to receive a box to sell). All scholars are welcome to participate! For K–2 students, parents can visit the front office to pick up a box beginning on Monday 10/19.
🦅 Hummingbird Sports: Come cheer on our student-athletes! We have a Flag Football game on Thursday at 5:00 PM and a Volleyball games on Friday starting at 3:40 PM.

We are looking forward to a week filled with learning, leadership, and school spirit. Thank you for your continued support of our Hummingbird community!

Warmly,

Ms. K & Mrs. Zavala

Family Engagement

🍬 Trunk or Treat Donations Needed!

We are still looking for volunteers to set up at our annual Trunk or treat event. Please share with neighbors who may be interested in supporting this community event.
Individually wrapped snack size candies, snacks & treats are also being accepted to distribute to our community during the event.
Please consider donating and dropping them off in our office by October 21st.

Trunk or Treat Sign Up

💬 Hummingbird Home Connection

Since we are focusing on safety drills, student leadership, and caring for our bodies when we aren't feeling well, this week's prompt focuses on safety, community, and well-being:

Family Talk Prompt: "Our student leaders are working hard to make Santa Rita a safe and welcoming place, and we also practice staying safe during drills at school.

What is one way you can help make someone feel safe, cared for, or welcome—either at school or at home?"

Encourage your scholar to share using full sentences and thoughtful action words

I can help someone feel welcome by...
When someone is not feeling well, I can...

Practicing these ideas at home helps build empathy, clear speaking skills, and strong student leadership!

Toys for Tots Holiday Registration is Open!

Spread holiday joy this season! If your family would like to register to receive toys through the Toys for Tots program—or if you would like to refer a Santa Rita student—we are here to help. To sign up, please reach out directly to our Family Liaison, Blanca Valverde, or submit a referral using the link below.

Refer a student- Toys for Tots

Volunteers & Chaperones

We love having our parents and guardians involved in our school activities! If you would like to volunteer in classrooms or serve as a chaperone on upcoming field trips, please make sure to register and get cleared through the Raptor system. Because the clearance process takes a few days to complete, we strongly encourage you to sign up early so you are cleared and ready to go for upcoming events!

Raptor Volunteer/Chaperone Link

Safety & Wellness

Keeping Our School Community Healthy

We noticed a high number of scholars going home sick this past week. To help keep our classrooms safe, healthy, and ready for learning, please review the attached guidelines on "When is Too Sick for School?" as well as key facts about the flu season. If your child is experiencing a fever, persistent cough, or stomach issues, please keep them home to rest and recover. Thank you for helping us protect the health and well-being of all our Hummingbirds!

CDC Flu Information & Resources

Knowledge is the best defense against seasonal illness! Check out the CDC’s official resources to learn more about flu symptoms, fever guidelines, and care tips:

English: CDC Flu Signs & Symptoms Guide
Español: CDC Información y Síntomas de la Influenza

SRES Nutrition Menu Website

Hummingbird Highlights

We are so proud of our student-athletes who left it all on the field and court this past week! From flag football to volleyball, our Hummingbirds showed incredible teamwork, sportsmanship, and determination. Check out some of the action shots below from our recent games—we love seeing our scholars grow, compete, and represent Santa Rita with pride! Keep up the amazing work, team!