Lynhaven Lynxletter

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Upcoming Events

Embracing Our Diverse Winter Traditions

The winter holidays offer an amazing opportunity to explore diversity, traditions, and acceptance.

Photo of snowflake on a pine tree

The winter season is a tapestry woven with traditions from around the globe. In Campbell Union School District, we encourage students to share the unique ways their families mark this special time, fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and curiosity.

  • Global Festivities: Beyond familiar celebrations, our students teach us about the significance of holidays like Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights; Kwanzaa, which celebrates African-American heritage and community principles; Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings' Day) in many Latin American cultures; and festivals like Bodhi Day in Buddhism.
  • Learning Through Sharing: Classroom activities, cultural exhibits, and school-wide events provide platforms for students to discuss the history, customs, and symbolic importance of these different holidays. This shared learning deepens empathy and strengthens the bond among our student body.
  • The Power of Inclusion: By acknowledging and celebrating these diverse traditions, we send a clear message: every student's background is valued and integral to the fabric of our district.

We invite all members of our school community to participate fully in the spirit of this season:

  • Share Your Story: Speak with your child’s teacher about sharing a simple, appropriate aspect of your family's winter tradition with the class.
  • Attend School Events: Check your school's calendar and join us for the winter performances and gatherings. Your presence is the best gift!
  • Focus on Joy: Take a moment to pause, reflect, and consciously create a happy memory with your children this winter. These are the threads that build a strong family and a unified community.

We know that this time of year is a busy one and often involves family engagements and travel. While we encourage you to make the most of family time, it is also important that students are maximizing their instructional time. Please plan your travels around the planned winter break. 

The winter break is also an opportunity to visit your local library, museums, and parks. Learning can continue in conversations in the car, at the dinner table, and while running errands. Together, let's continue to illuminate our students’ lives with celebration, acceptance, and the beautiful memories we create side-by-side.

School Site Council Meeting: December 4th

Dear Lynhaven Families,  Our next School Site Council Meeting is scheduled for December 4th at 2:30. We will meet in the Library.  The agenda can be accessed  here .  In partnership,  Ms. Callaway-Wilson…

Dear Lynhaven Families, 

Our next School Site Council Meeting is scheduled for December 4th at 2:30. We will meet in the Library. 

The agenda can be accessed here. 

In partnership, 
Ms. Callaway-Wilson

Showing Our Appreciation: Cultivating Gratitude in CUSD

November is a month a gratitude practice in CUSD. Establishing a gratitude practice leans in directly to our District's core values.

Gratitude definition from CSI's student rally.

We know that life can be hectic and messy; school is no exception. With the bustle of lessons being taught, friendships being formed, and futures being shaped, it's easy to focus on the next goal or the immediate challenge. But sometimes, the most important lesson we can learn is to pause and give thanks. Gratitude isn't just a fleeting feeling; it's a foundational value that strengthens our schools, enriches our lives, and empowers our entire community.

Acknowledging Our Shared Foundation: We Are Learners

At the heart of our mission is the value that we are learners. We recognize that learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. Every challenge is a lesson, and every success is a chance to grow. This spirit of continuous learning is fostered by a deep sense of gratitude for those who guide and support the process.

We are grateful for our dedicated staff—our teachers, administrators, and support personnel—who commit themselves daily to helping students reach their highest potential. Your innovation in the classroom, your tireless effort, and your commitment to every student's potential make all the difference. We are learning alongside you, and for that, we thank you.

Strengthening Our Bonds: We Are Collaborators

Our success is built on teamwork. Our core value of being collaborators highlights the essential partnerships that create a thriving educational environment. We are thankful for the incredible synergy that exists between all members of our district family.

We extend immense gratitude to our students, who are not only the reason for our work but also active collaborators in their education. Your curiosity, your energy, and your willingness to work together in groups and teams are inspiring.

To our families, your role as co-educators is invaluable. Your partnership in supporting learning at home, communicating with our schools, and volunteering your time is the foundation of a strong, collaborative system. Thank you for entrusting us with your children and for being such active participants in their growth.

Impacting Our World: We Are Community Builders

The commitment to being community builders means recognizing that our schools are integral parts of the larger world around us. This is where the power of community partnerships truly shines.

We are deeply grateful for the businesses, local organizations, non-profits, higher education institutes, and countless volunteers who invest their time, resources, and expertise into our schools. These partnerships provide invaluable mentorship, real-world learning opportunities, and essential support programs. These partners are the visible hands of a caring community, and we are grateful for their commitment to building a brighter future alongside us.

The Ripple Effect of Thanks

When we intentionally practice gratitude, it creates a powerful ripple effect. It enhances well-being for students and staff, fosters a more positive school climate, and strengthens the ties that bind us together.

As we move through this academic year, let us all take a moment—students, staff, families, and community partners—to recognize and appreciate the unique role each of us plays. Gratitude is not just about what we receive; it's about acknowledging the effort, commitment, and kindness that surrounds us every day.

Thank you. Your dedication allows our district to live out its core values, ensuring every student has the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow into a strong community builder.

🍎 Making Every Day Count as we close out November!

Dear Lynhaven Families, As the days grow shorter, our school is buzzing with energy and incredible learning opportunities! November is a crucial month for building foundational skills, and we want to encourage you to continue to prioritize regular and…

Dear Lynhaven Families,

As the days grow shorter, our school is buzzing with energy and incredible learning opportunities! November is a crucial month for building foundational skills, and we want to encourage you to continue to prioritize regular and on-time school attendance for your child.

Every day in the classroom counts. Consistent attendance ensures your child doesn't miss out on important lessons, collaborative activities, and the joyful connections that make learning stick.

Here is a glimpse of the exciting and enriching curriculum completed, in process, and planned for November: 

TK: Building the Foundation 🧱

Our youngest learners in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) are fully immersed in foundational skill development:

TK is all about school readiness! We blend social-emotional learning with academic foundations. 

  • SEL: Students are mastering self-regulation (sharing, taking turns, and managing emotions) and independence (self-help skills)

  • Fine Motor Skills: We focus on strengthening fine motor skills through hands-on activities. 

  • Pre-literacy skills: Academically, students are building pre-literacy skills like alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, and vocabulary. 

  • Number Sense:  Students are exploring math concepts like counting, geometry, and measurement to build core problem-solving abilities.

Kindergarten: Exploring Our World 🌎

Kindergarteners are becoming amazing writers and observers!

  • Writing & Vocabulary: We're engaging all five senses to describe the world around us.

  • Science: We'll explore the natural world, focusing on plants, animals, and people.

  • Math: Students are learning new ways to count by mastering counting by 2's and doubling!

  • Art: Our artists will create beautiful pastel fall pumpkin art.

  • SEL & Activity: We're focusing on gratitude, continuing to build skills in respectful listening and responsibility, and practicing friendships and boundaries. We have had a great transition to the big yard!


1st Grade: Building Literacy and Math Foundations ✍️

First graders are solidifying essential skills that support all future learning.

  • Writing: We are mastering the mechanics of writing, focusing on using complete sentences, proper letter formation, finger spaces, punctuation, and capitalization.

  • Math: We're developing strong number sense by exploring different strategies for adding and subtracting within the teen families.

  • Science & Art: Students will study the life cycles of pumpkins and learn about primary and secondary colors through Art Vistas. We will also explore the themes of The First Thanksgiving and use lines and color/shading to create fall pumpkins.

  • SEL: We are developing empathy and understanding how to be good friends.


2nd Grade: Developing Deep Comprehension and Fluency 🧠

Second graders are deepening their reading and problem-solving abilities.

  • Literacy: Students will write personal narratives, read about characters who face challenges, and practice reading fluency and note-taking for reading comprehension.

  • Science & Math: We'll be learning about different landforms. In Math, students are building addition/subtraction fact fluency using XtraMath.

  • SEL: We are focusing on cultivating gratitude.


3rd Grade: Research, Data, and Adaptation 📈

Third graders are becoming excellent researchers and scientists.

  • Writing & Math: We're concentrating on informational writing and understanding data through graphing.

  • Science: Students will learn about animal adaptations and observe the plant life cycle by growing plants in the classroom.

  • Math Fluency: A major focus is mastering multiplication fact fluency.

  • Art & SEL: Art Vistas lessons will explore portraits using warm and cool colors, and our SEL focus is on gratitude and cultural appreciation through Los Dichos.


4th Grade: California History and Advanced Math 🗺️

Fourth graders are launching into a fascinating study of our state.

  • Social Studies & Writing: We are starting Unit 1, focusing on the Regions of California, which will involve intensive informational writing.

  • Math: Students are diving into our double-digit multiplication unit and early division concepts.

  • SEL & Literacy: We are cultivating gratitude and reading and writing seasonal poems.


5th Grade: Exploring History and Decimals 📚

Fifth graders are engaging with complex literature and mathematical concepts.

  • Writing & Social Studies: Students are working on narrative writing and learning about Early Explorers in History-Social Studies.

  • Math: We are focusing on adding, subtracting, and rounding decimals.

  • Novel Study & Art: Students will engage with the powerful themes in our novel study: Esperanza Rising. Art Vistas will explore “American Artists.”

  • SEL & Literacy: We are working on Gratitude Writing and engaging with the ABC Reader/Los Dichos Reader.

By supporting excellent attendance, you are providing the foundation for their best possible learning experience.

We look forward to wrapping up this fantastic month of growth as we celebrate the great learning we have achieved throughout November!

In partnership, 

Ms. Callaway-Wilson

Autumn Wellness

As we enter into cold and flu season, here are some tips on how to help keep your student healthy.

Photo of preschool students and teacher with plastic fruits and vegetables

As the weather begins to transition and we adjust to the time change, children are spending more time indoors and in close proximity to each other while at school - permitting germs to spread more easily. Keeping students healthy is a partnership between school and home.

Cornerstones for staying healthy:

  • Frequent handwashing: Teach and reinforce frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice). Key times are after using the restroom, before eating, and immediately upon returning home from school or activities.
  • Respiratory Etiquette: Teach and reinforce coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crook of the elbow. Used tissues should be thrown away immediately, followed by handwashing.
  • Hands Off: Remind children to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth, as this is a common way for viruses to enter the body.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a flu shot for everyone six months and older.

To help boost the immune system:

  • Prioritize Sleep: Ensure your children get the recommended amount of sleep for their age (typically 9-12 hours for school-age children). A consistent bedtime routine is vital.
  • Fuel with Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides essential vitamins and minerals to bolster immunity. Think seasonal foods like apples, pumpkins, and dark leafy greens.
  • Stay Active: Regular physical activity, even simple family walks or an indoor dance party, helps support overall health.

When your student is not feeling well and needs to stay home due to a fever, vomiting or diarrhea, be sure to call the attendance line and note that your student may return to school once they are fever/symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.

Together we can create healthy environments where students can thrive.