News

New Family Tours
Do you know of families that are interested in having their child attend Phoebe? If so, please share this link with them to sign up for our in-person or virtual tours.  Please also share the link on social media platforms.  

At Home COVID Tests
Today, your child brought home a free at home COVID test and informational flyer.  The box they received contains two tests.  Please read the flyer that came home and follow the directions.  Taking these tests will ensure that our students are healthy when returning to school on January 3rd.

Email issues
Yesterday, I discovered that hundreds of parent emails were going to my junk folder.  I can only access emails from 30 days prior.  Please know that I answer all emails as quickly as possible.  I have since remedied this issue. I apologize to any individual that did not receive a response from me due to this flaw in our system.  

GATE Testing
If your child is in grades 1st-4th they will participate in our universal GATE assessment.  These assessments will be administered before February 25th. We do not have a specific date for testing quite yet. You should have received a letter sent home with your child earlier this week explaining the process.  Please email [email protected] with any questions. 

Holiday Drive
The Holiday drive was a huge success, the Phoebe community has done it again!
Together we collected over 500 items and helped 25 families have some extra joy this holiday season. 
Thank you for your generosity! Pictures will be available on our  website.
A big thank you to Jessica Tindel and team for their volunteerism in spearheading this event.  

COVID Testing and Vaccine Mandate

Our district uses an outside company to conduct all weekly COVID testing on our campus.  That company, for unknown reasons, was absent today from our site.  If your child was signed up for our original weekly COVID testing, they were not tested today.  Testing will resume next week only for those students that are signed up for weekly COVID testing.  Beginning in January unvaccinated students will be tested weekly and will need to sign up for testing through Primary.  

If your child is fully vaccinated (no matter their age) and you have not submitted it yet, please send in a picture of your child’s vaccination card to [email protected].  If your child is 12, proof of vaccination or exemptions are due no later than January 31st.  

Holiday Drive Final Push! 

The 2021 Holiday Drive is in full swing! 

Please make sure your ordered items arrive before the December 15th deadline, or shop locally and avoid the wait!

The gifts you purchase will support foster youth in our community. 

December Spirit Week – 
December 13th-17th Daily Themes
Monday – Pj Day 
Tuesday – Holiday Hats & Socks Day
Wednesday – Winter Wonderland (Wear your blue and white best!) 
Thursday – Flannel Day  
Friday – Festive Friday! (Wear your holiday inspired finery!)

Spelling Bee Top Spellers!
What a week for spelling at Phoebe Hearst this week!  Over 150 students participated in the first round of competition, including almost every 3rd grader!  Late next week, the competition heats up as the top spellers will face off in a grade-level oral competition.  Be on the lookout for a dedicated email with updated study list instructions, times, and locations for this exciting event.

Winter Break
Winter break will be from December 18th – January 2nd.  We will see you back on January 3rd.  Have a wonderful winter break!

Phoebe New Family Tours
It’s that time of year for new family tours.  This year, we have received permission to hold in-person tours with limited capacity.  We are allowing one adult per family to attend.  That adult must show proof of vaccination or have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the tour date and time.  If you know of families that are interested in seeing what our amazing school has to offer, please share this sign-up form with them.  2022 TOUR SIGN-UP

COVID Testing & Vaccination Records
On December 10th we will begin testing all students that have signed up for testing through the Primary application.  At this time our district is processing vaccination records that have been submitted. If your child is fully vaccinated and you would like to submit their vaccination record you may do so here or bring their vaccination card to the office and our front office staff will be happy to help.  

Spelling Bee
It has been such a treat to see so many champions-to-beeeee sign up to compete in this year’s Phoebe Spelling Bee!  There is still time to study those words and participate in next week’s first round of competition.  Grade level written test competition begins this Tuesday, December 7 in the multipurpose room, with 6th grade at 8:30 am that day, 1st grade at 10:00 am that day, 5th grade on Wednesday, December 8 at 8:30 am, 2nd grade later that morning at 10:00 am, 4th grade on Friday, December 10 at 8:30 am, and 3rd grade at 10:00 am that day.  Students who advance to the next round will participate in oral competition the week of December 13.  Our final group of top spellers will show off their stuff in a school wide competition when we return from Winter Break in early January. Sign up through the link   here  and as always, do not hesitate to email   [email protected] for more information or to answer any questions.

Holiday Drive
2021 Phoebe Holiday Drive:  Items due by December 15 (NEW DATE)
It’s that time of year! In past years, our wonderful Phoebe Community has come together and impressively gathered over $25,000 worth of donations for families in our local community. This year, we are supporting foster youth right here in Sacramento. This time of year can be particularly difficult for these kids, many of whom would typically not receive anything for the holidays. Some kids on the list have NEVER received gifts. With your help we can make their holidays brighter.
How to get involved:
Reserve a gift on your class list which can be found here:  https://phoebehearst.org/holiday-drive/ It’s s important to have the same number of items per child so please keep this in mind when selecting a gift.

Deliver your NEW, UNWRAPPED gift LABELED with the recipient’s name and family name by  December 15 to your child’s classroom.

SEL Monthly Theme for December
Perseverance

Vaccination update:
On November 2nd the CDC approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11.  Please refer to the board presentation from Victoria Flores, Director of Health Services, for more information regarding vaccine mandate timeline.  If you are interested in having your child vaccinated, SCUSD will be hosting a vaccination clinic on November 10th from 4:00-7:00pm at the Serna Center.  

Parent/Teacher Conferences:
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on December 3rd-10th.  You should be hearing from your child’s teacher soon regarding date and time.  Conferences may be held in-person or via Zoom. Please note that conference days are minimum days.  Dismissal times are as follows:

Kinder 8:00-11:40
1st-3rd 8:00-12:10
4th-6th 8:00-12:24

Dollar Free Dress Day – November 18th:
On Thursday, November 18th we will have a dollar free dress day.  Sixth grader, Taige Benham, has partnered with Principal McGill at Ethel I. Baker to support a family returning from Afghanistan.  The money raised from this dollar free dress day will aid this family with rent, food and other necessary items.  Any amount is much appreciated.  

Book Fair:
There is still time to order through our online book fair.  The last date to order is November 14th.

PTO News:
A HUGE thank you to our PTO for putting on yet another fabulous jog-a-thon.  There were very few volunteers this year but the event went on without a hitch.  Thank you to all of our community members that donated, as well.  

Movie Night:
There will be a Family movie night at East Portal Park on November 12th.  Please see link for more information.  https://phoebehearst.org/family-movie-night/

Dine & Donate:
Who doesn’t love PIZZA! Skip cooking and help fundraise for your favorite school!
Where: Round Table Pizza –  5101 FOLSOM Blvd, CA 95819
When: Wed Nov 17, 2021 3pm – 8pm
Order ahead or dine in, just mention Phoebe Hearst at checkout. 

Online Phoebe Gear Store:
Our online Phoebe Gear Store will close on October 24 ^th.  Please add your child’s name and teacher in the note box. https://phd.justprintitink.com/

School Site Council

Are you interested in serving on our School Site Council?  Our school site council is a decision-making body with regard to site funds and other duties.  We have 3 openings for parents/community members.  These are elected positions.  If you are interested in having your name on the ballot, please submit your bio to [email protected] by November 4th.  Electronic ballots will go out to our families on November 5th.

Spirit Week is Next Week
Don’t forget that we will have spirit week next week.  Below are the daily themes:

Monday – Wear Red (Red Ribbon Week)
Tuesday – Dress like your Hero
Wednesday – Wear Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness)
Thurs day – Sports Day 
Friday – Wear Black & Orange

Scarecrow Contest
The scarecrow contest is on!  Entry forms are in the office and are due October 26th.  Please email Mrs. Rupert with any questions: [email protected]

Jog-a-thon
Our annual Jog-a-thon has been rescheduled for Friday, October 29th.  We are looking forward to seeing all of those bright orange shirts!

Picture Retakes
Picture make-up and retakes will be Friday, October 29th.  If your child is retaking their photos, please have them bring their original package on Friday to turn in.  We will ensure that pictures are done before Jog-a-thon.  

Dine & Donate
Thank you for all that participated in our Dos Coyotes dine and donate night.  We raised $316 for our school.  A special thank you to Marcy Jorgensen for heading this fundraiser.  

Michelle Pechette
Principal

Online Phoebe Gear Store:
Our online Phoebe Gear Store is re-opening for our families from October 15 ^th – 24 ^th. Please add your child’s name and teacher in the note box when you order.   https://phd.justprintitink.com/

Garden volunteers:
We are seeking adult family members that are cleared volunteers that would be willing to volunteer in our garden on Fridays.  Any amount of time that  you can donate would be much appreciated. No experience necessary.  Please email [email protected] if you are interested.

COVID Testing:
If you would like to have your child surveillance tested once a week during their instructional day please fill out this  form.  This testing will happen once a week for those families that are interested in having their children regularly tested.  You must also register your child(ren) through our system to give permission for testing.  This new system will begin next week.  

Spirit week is coming up October 25 ^th – 29 ^th. Below are our daily themes:

Monday – Wear Red (Red Ribbon Week)
Tuesday – Dress like your Hero
Wednesday – Wear Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness)
Thursday – Sports Day 
Friday – Wear Black & Orange

PTO News:
Costume Contest
There will be a virtual costume contest Oct. 22-27. Please email [email protected] the photos by the 27th. We will have three winners per grade level and the prize will be a Yume gift card.

Be sure to title your email with Costume Contest, and include your child’s name, grade, and teacher in your email.

Jog-A-Thon
We are so excited about our Jog-a-thon happening on October 22 ^nd.  As a service to families we will be live streaming the event so that you can observe your child during their run time as we are not able to have parent spectators on campus at this time.  October 22 ^nd will be a free dress day so have your student wear their jogging outfit so they are ready to run.