Good evening CSUS caregivers and scholars,
We hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend. We are continuing to work to find a new rhythm in these new and unprecedented times, and taking copious notes about what’s working and what’s not as we inform our next steps in preparing for the summer and fall. We are also finding some comfort in planning our usual end of year events, even though those events will look different now that we are teaching and learning remotely. We hope you and/or your scholar will be able to join us for some of the events below!
Listening Conferences
At CSUS we remain committed to continuing to build relationships with our scholars and families and during this time. Cobra Dens are one of many weekly opportunities for scholars to engage with staff and ‘check in’ around remote teaching and learning, and we think it is important for caregivers to have this opportunity as well. We are interested in hearing from you about your family’s experience during the building closure so that we can better understand how your child learns and the best ways for us to engage them and sustain engagement during remote teaching. We want to understand your family’s successes, struggles, and goals for next year, and consider the ways that we can strengthen our partnership with caregivers.
Over the next two weeks you should expect outreach from your scholar’s Den advisory or one of your child’s teachers to schedule a listening conference between June 8-15.
As was true last fall, Listening Conferences are a first step toward Challenging the Opportunity Gap for all scholars. We are looking forward to the opportunity to meet with you!
8th Grade Graduation
Upper schools around the district are in the process of finalizing what virtual graduations will look like for 8th graders. CSUS will be providing all scholars with graduation caps and tassels as well as t-shirts. The 8th grade teaching team reached out to scholars earlier this week asking them for information and materials so we can continue to plan and prepare for our virtual ceremony. Encourage your scholar to visit the 8th Grade Graduation Google Classroom to submit their t-shirt size and the most convenient/up to date mailing address so that we are able to get graduation materials to your child. They should also submit a baby picture/picture from when they were younger and a current picture for use in the graduation slideshow to Ms. Schwarz via email or the Remind app. Finally, CSUS will need your consent to share your scholar’s picture and, if they are speaking at graduation, a pre-taped audio or video of your scholar speaking. If you wish for your child’s picture to be featured at graduation, please complete
this form as soon as possible. It can be signed and submitted digitally. Your child’s Student ID number is required to complete this form; if you need to locate a Student ID number
follow these instructions.
If you contributed funds toward the eighth grade trip prior to the building closure but did not receive an email from CSUS about how to return your money to you, please email Assistant Principal Christen Sohn at
[email protected].
We will continue to be in touch with updates surrounding graduation and the 8th grade transition.
Grade transitions and welcoming 5th graders
CSUS staff have already begun preparing for scholars’ transition into, within, and away from Cambridge Street. Our teachers and related service providers are connecting with their colleagues across grade levels to share information, and are planning ways to introduce themselves to new scholars prior to the start of school. We have tentative plans to hold orientations for all incoming grades during the last few weeks of August. We also plan to distribute summer reading materials next month to all CSUS scholars as a way to begin building a community of readers before classes resume in the fall.
Families of rising 6th graders should expect communication from their feeder schools next week about upcoming meetings with CSUS staff for scholars and caregivers. We are looking forward to welcoming the CSUS Class of 2023!
We hope that this update has been helpful. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions please do not hesitate to reach out to any staff member. We may not be in the building but we are as always here to serve you.
Happy Memorial Day, and Eid Mubarak to those celebrating the end of Ramadan.
Stay safe everyone!
Peace,
Manuel and Christen