Spring has Sprung! If you haven’t taken a trip to the local mountains or desert to see the fabulous wildflowers please do. For a couple more weeks the flowers will be in full bloom. They are spectacular . . . It is such a joy to live in the San Diego area.

Thank you to all those families who have been so supportive during our budget cutbacks. We are in tough times in the state of California as well as across the nation. We can only hope for better times and the reinstatement of school funding. Please write your state legislatures and governor to remind them that we have no future if we don’t invest in our future now – our children.

Did you know that healthy students learn better? Did you know that intense physical activity at school and at home, combined with a healthy breakfast, are linked to improvements in student achievement, test scores and over all character development? Our California Standardized Tests are approaching and we need your help – your child needs your help. It is important that each child has support at home to ensure readiness for each school day. Please provide your child with a breakfast every morning and an expectation that they get plenty of sleep every night. As you can see from the questions above – physical activity is very important in keeping the brain and body healthy. Proper nutrition and healthy bodies improve memory – brain function. Help us help your children to be the best learners they can be!

The teachers are busy preparing your children for a lifetime of success. Their goal is to make sure every child performs at grade level or above. We believe all children can and will learn. The end of April is testing time . . . our goal and expectation is that each child will score at the proficient level. Have a conversation with your child regarding the importance of these tests. They truly do need to do their personal best and with encouragement from you and their teachers I know they will. We appreciate the home to school support.

Our playground has been beautified by the addition of our new tables and umbrellas. These tables and umbrellas were made possible via a grant written through the American Academy of Dermatology. We appreciate the support of Dr. Alizabeth Tuong. Together with Donna Even they made the grant possible and attainable. Sun protection is so very important. These special shade areas provide the children with a place to enjoy the great outdoors while being protected from the sun. Thank you!!!

I hope you are enjoying the new call out system called Connect Ed. We have used it a couple of times along with sending you emails. The phone numbers and email addresses are taken directly from the emergency cards you filled out in the fall. If you have not received any of the phone messages and/or emails please let the office know.

Please remember to visit our Sandburg website at www.sandi.net/sandburg for all updated information regarding school letters. In an effort to protect our natural resources and environment Sandburg is GOING GREEN! Starting in May we will be posting our monthly calendars on the website for you to see and print for your refrigerators. PTA plans to put this newsletter on the website as well. We plan to do as much electronically as we can to save copy machine and paper costs. If you do not have access to a computer there will always be copies of these flyers in the office. We appreciate your understanding and support while we make this transition.

Happy spring and thank you again for your unconditional support of Sandburg. The Mira Mesa community is awesome and such a pleasure to be a part of!