February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER NEW DECADE! / Winter Edition

School Year 2019–2020

Our Principal,

Mr. Jonathan Saipe

We rolled out Kindness Week, January 27–31, with enthusiasm.

The goal of this week was to teach students that kindness is a

way to connect with one another and provide a safe, inviting and

inclusive environment for all. With different Spirit Days and

Kindness Stations, students engaged in the power of kindness.

Our children are taking action to ensure that ALL students are

included and feel a sense of belonging at Holmes! They are also

learning how to engage in ways that further develop their own

sense of belonging. We want all of our students to know that

what they say and do really matter!

In early February, we began the complicated work of building our

budget for the 2020–2021 school year. The district priority is to

protect the classroom and make zero cuts to schools. We will be

able to continue to fund critical positions of noon duty

supervision and our library assistant. Our 2020–2021 preliminary

mid–range enrollment forecast is projected to be 555 students,

or four less students than the current year. We will be accepting

CHOICE siblings next year. Class sizes will remain the same at 24

students per teacher in grades TK–2, and no more than 35

students per teacher in grades 4 and 5. (Continued on pg.2)

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Upcoming Events, Teacher of the

Year! & Faculty/Staff Updates

• Message from our PTA President

• “Kids in Motion” Jogathon

• Saturdays in Spring: Campus

Beautification & “Island Getaway”

• Dining for Dollars & Box Tops for

Education

• New on Campus: Student

Recognition Photo Backdrop &

Kinder Bathrooms Artwork

• Holmes Student Council Report

• Mileage Club

• A Look Back: Kindness Week

• Reminder Board! Social Media, Lost

& Found & Staff Appreciation Dates

On Pg.3: Our

2019-2020

Teacher

of the Year!

In Partnership for Excellence:

Principal Saipe (Continued from pg.1)

We strive to continually upgrade our school

facilities; we recently refinished the stage

flooring and hung new curtains in the

auditorium, and it looks beautiful! Currently the

district is installing a new fiberoptic network,

which will increase internet speeds for our

student technology devices; and soon we will be

switching to a Voice Over Internet Protocol

phone system. The Office Entry Redesign is nearing

completion and will improve safety and access for volunteers

and visitors to the campus.

2020–2021 will be a year of construction projects:

• The Campus Lighting Project will replace all fluorescent

lighting with new LED bulbs, which will greatly cut energy/

maintenance costs, improve safety and reduce eye strain.

• This summer, the entire school will be painted in new

school colors!

• The Joint–Use Field Project is scheduled to begin

construction in January 2021.

All of the projects we are undertaking will help us maintain a

safe, beautiful and welcoming campus!

As always, thank you for your continual support of the

students and staff at our school. You make great things

possible!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

Kindness Stations

during Kindness Week

News From Our PTA President

Holmes families are the best!

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Mar 3—Recognition Assemblies (gr. TK/K & 4/5)

• Mar 6—Family Friday (8:30–9:30am)

• Mar 6—Recognition Assemblies (gr. 1/2/3)

• Mar 13—Holmes Jogathon “Kids In Motion” (1:30pm)

• Mar 18—Dining for Dollars @ The Habit (all day)

• Mar 24—Spring Photos / 5th Grade Grad Photos

• Mar 26–27—Parent/Teacher Conferences (12:30 dismissal)

• Mar 30–Apr 3—Spring Break (no school)

• Apr 10—Family Friday (8:30–9:30am)

• Apr 10—PTA Movie Night (5:30pm)

• Apr 15—Dining for Dollars @ Blaze & Yogurtland (1–8pm)

• Apr 18—Saturday Campus Beautification Project (9:00am)

• Apr 20–24—Scholastic Book Fair

• Apr 23—PTA Assn. Mtg. and Open House (5–7:30pm)

• Apr 25—Island Getaway Spring Gala (6:00pm; adults only)

• Apr 30—Science Night (6–7:30pm)

Teacher of the Year:

“Coach” Sue Welker!

Heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to our talented

Physical Education instructor, Susan Welker,

for being awarded the honor of 2019-2020

Holmes Teacher of the Year! This special

recognition of hard work and positive energy is

voted upon annually by all of the teachers at

our school. Holmes is so fortunate to have you!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

FACULTY/STAFF UPDATES:

• School Secretary Linda Pepin retired in Dec. 2019

• Raquel Gonzalez has been promoted to School Secretary

• Ms. Amy Abbott joins the Holmes teaching staff (Kinder)

• We wish Kim LeBouef well in her retirement from teaching!

• Mrs. Brittni King (Speech/Language) will be taking

maternity leave soon with her first baby (girl)! Soon-to-be

congratulations to the young family!

• Welcome Lila Burchett, new Special Education Assistant

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

Your Holmes PTA

PRINCIPAL – JONATHAN SAIPE | PTA PRESIDENT – DEENA CARNEY

HAWKEYE EDITOR – JANET KNEIER

Full PTA Board list at www.holmespta.org (About Us)

Also visit www.sandiegounified.org/schools/holmes

The HAWKEYE is a quarterly newsletter sponsored on behalf of

Holmes Elementary School by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

We are currently filling the PTA Board for the 2020-2021

school year. Consider serving in an open position!

Message from our PTA President,

Deena Carney

I don’t know about you, Holmes families, but this school year is

flying by! I truly don’t want to miss a minute of watching my

daughter, Eden, tackle 4th grade with the force of the bubbly,

joyful, tiny hurricane that she is. It is one of the main reasons I like

being involved in PTA. I get to stay in the loop with everything

going on here at school, and I get to have a voice in activities and

programs that affect all of our students. It is also the reason I am

asking all of YOU to get involved throughout your children’s

elementary school years. The days when they run over to see you

and hug you, or want to hold your hand, may be gone sooner than

you think. If you have ever walked into your children’s classrooms

and seen them light up with pure joy, this is one of the best

feelings we will have as parents. Don’t pass up these opportunities

to volunteer for Arts Attack, Junior Achievement (coming up soon),

or at our spirited Holmes Jogathon in March. We are also currently

building our PTA Board for next school year! There are so many

ways to get involved and make lasting memories FOR and WITH

your little ones. You won’t regret it, I promise! See you on campus!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

Coming Up: “Kids in Motion”

Annual Jogathon

Our Kids in Motion Jogathon fundraiser is on Friday, March 13,

and it is time to start collecting donations from your family,

friends and colleagues! This is the PTA’s largest fundraiser of the

year and makes it possible for our school to continue providing

all of our students with critical enrichment activities such as Arts

Attack, Choral Music, Junior Achievement, field trips, school

gardens, a computer lab, community events like the Halloween

Carnival and SO much more!

Our goal this year is to raise $35,000; our school needs your

help to get there! We are asking each student to secure a

minimum of $60 in donations to support him/her in the

Jogathon. To assist with this process, we have created a personal

fundraising page for each student. Please note we are requesting

that each student secures flat donations, not donations based on

the number of laps run. Find your student’s fundraising page and

donate at http://www.holmes.myfunrun.com. The link on your

student's page is unique to him/her so copy, paste and share!

Donations can also be made by cash or check (payable to Holmes

PTA) using the pledge sheet and envelope that were sent home

with your child (extras are in the front office). All cash and check

donations must be turned in by Wednesday, March 11, and

online donations must be made by Friday, March 20 for your

student to receive contest credit. Prizes will be awarded!

A HUGE THANK YOU to our 2020 Jogathon sponsors to date!

Platinum Sponsor – Conveyor & Storage Solutions, Inc.

Rancho Santa Fe Audiology

Gold Sponsors – Law Offices of Jennifer B. Siverts

The Legacy Real Estate Co.

TimingHQ

Silver Sponsors – Copper Sponsors –

Allstar Premiere Insurance Services American Quick Print

Ascot Shop Bill & Judy Conklin

Ashley Ortega of CMG Financial Champs Lounge

Helix Electric Melanie Parker

K-Co Construction Orthodontics

Kickforce Martial Arts Simon De Lira of

Laura Kelley – Keller Williams Realty Movement Mortgage

Lawrence Lotzof, DDS

MidWest Financial Partners

Rode Family

Russ Eskilson Real Estate

Youth Pickleball Academy

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

Saturdays in Spring:

“Island Getaway” Gala & Auction

Adults with a connection to Holmes are invited out for an evening

of fun, dancing and dinner on Saturday, April 25 from 6:00 to

10:00 pm. All who attended the spring event last year had a great

time and appreciated the opportunity to meet fellow parents,

grandparents and staff/teachers that make up the greater Holmes

family. There is sure to be something for everyone at the silent

auction. Take out your island attire and buy your event tickets

today! Prices increase on March 16! Click here for tickets.

Saturdays in Spring:

Campus Beautification Activity

Approximately twice a year, students and staff come together on

a Saturday to keep our outdoor school environment clean and

inviting! It is only a two–hour activity, and yet it makes a huge

difference that benefits both our school and our community!

This semester on Saturday, April 18 at 9:00 am,

the focus will be a particularly fun activity: giving

the mulch area around the Hawk statue (near the

auditorium) a landscaping makeover! Bring your

work gloves and closed-toe “tennies”! By lending

your helping hands, you will take new pride in the

beauty of your school while meeting other families,

joining Holmes teachers and staff, and smiling

your way through a fresh-spring-air day!

Children are welcome

with parental/guardian

supervision.

Mark your calendar and

see you on April 18!

Did you know?

The painted metal

columns around

campus that look

like No.2 pencils

were created on a

Saturday Campus

Beautification Day!

Come have some

fun and keep your

school beautiful!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

Box Tops for Education

EVERY Box Top counts to keep our school programs running!

Review the “new process” and scan after each eligible purchase.

You are now able to designate a classroom for competition credit!

Visit https://youtu.be/qWuXDKejVEg for an easy tutorial.

Dining for Dollars

Dining for Dollars continues in 2020 as a fun and easy

way to help raise money with our PTA and to support

all of Holmes’ wonderful programs. Our goal is to

raise $5,000 each year through Dining for Dollars

(DFD) events. To date this school year, together we

have raised over $3,000 (60% of our goal) through

DFD opportunities! Here are the events still coming up

this year; SAVE THE DATES!

• Mar 18—The Habit (all day)

• Apr 15—Blaze & Yogurtland (1-8 pm)

• May 6—Islands (all day)

• May 20—Skateworld (5-8 pm)

Watch for Konstella reminders and fliers with details

on how to participate during each of our Holmes’

Dining for Dollars events. Thanks for your support

and see you all there!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

New on Campus:

Recognition Award Backdrop

The PTA has purchased a red carpet and cheerful, full-of-school-

spirit photo backdrop so that students receiving a recognition

award can pose for memorable pictures and have fun after being

honored. These big smiles seem to approve of Holmes’ new

awards-day feature!

New on Campus:

Kinder Bathrooms Artwork

The Scrimger family (with two students at Holmes) donated their

own products through the business they own, Volume 11

Graphics (https://www.volume11inc.com), to “refresh” the interior

of the kinder bathroom building with cute and bright wall wraps!

THANK YOU to the Scrimger family for this colorful improvement!

Student Leaders: Student Council

By Larsyn V., Holmes Student Council School Recorder

Hey Holmes Hawks! We've had some really exciting events these

past months with the Student Council. We elected officers from

the group of Classroom Representatives. Our new officers are:

President – Ellie D., Vice President – Hannah S., School Recorder –

Larsyn V., Safety Officer – Riley S., 2nd Grade Liaison – Emma L.,

1st Grade Liaison – Jacob C., Kindergarten Liaison – Chelsea K.

In November the Council started “Campus Beautiful,” with each

classroom assigned to a specific area of the school for trash pick-

up on Thursdays. We also set up Student Council judges to

review the areas. If the assigned areas are cleaned up well, those

classrooms earn 10 minutes of extra recess on Friday!

Our Annual Food Drive (sponsored by the Holmes Student

Council) in November was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday

season. We collected over 5,000 items! Thanks to all of your

donations, we made a lot of hungry families very happy.

Many students submitted their artwork for the Valentine Grams

and it was very difficult to choose. The winners were Abby N.,

Elise E., and Zane A. The Student Council sold the bright pink

Valentine Grams the week before Valentine's Day, attached a

sweet treat, and delivered them on Feb. 13 to the classrooms.

Coming Up! Save your pennies and dimes for our next event,

“Pennies for Patients!” Our collection drive in April will benefit the

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Watch for more information!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

2019-2020

Holmes Student Council

Grade 5 – Jacob C., Ellie D., Emma L., Zoie P.;

Carly H., Chelsea K., Madison W., Lawson W.;

Khloe G., California I., Coral J., Emma Y.

Grade 4 – Rhyan B., Teagan M., Jack O., Riley S.;

Evan D., Hunter D., Karis M., Drew R.;

Colton M., Nick R., Hannah S., Larsyn V.

Grade 3 – Wyatt B., Ellery K.; Jordan F., Kenzi M.;

Sawyer M., Taylor P.; Riley G., Leander H.

2019-20 Student Council 2019-20 Council Officers

Find waivers in the front office to participate!

Holmes Mileage Club

Our “running club” on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 8:05-8:20am

allows Holmes students to be healthy, have fun

and burn energy before class begins for the day!

There is no cost for this activity. Students can

join anytime after their guardians sign a waiver.

Kindergartners are welcome if their responsible

adults stay to supervise and walk them to class

after running ends. There is a Konstella group

for updates, and a website so parents can view

their children’s progress. Tokens are earned for

participation and special mileage milestones.

Parent helpers needed; contact the current

parent organizer Joanna De Vos (Konstella or at

mileage.club@holmespta.org). Join us!

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

A Look Back on Recent Events...

February 21, 2020

HAWKEYE NEWSLETTER

Holmes Elementary PTA

Reminder Board! Social Media...

JOIN HOLMES FAMILIES IN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP!

SEARCH “HOLMES ELEMENTARY PTA (SAN DIEGO)”

KONSTELLA IS WHERE HOLMES FAMILIES STAY

CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND THEIR ROOM

CAPTAINS/REPRESENTATIVES, SHARE PICTURES

AND RECEIVE REMINDERS! DOWNLOAD THE FREE

APP (OR VISIT KONSTELLA.COM) AND USE THE

HOLMES SCHOOL CODE: QQDKOM

Got Lost? Not Found?

Parents: When is the last time you visited the Lost & Found in the

lunch courtyard to check for your students’ items? It is growing

rapidly; stop on by (often) and bring back home what is yours!

ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY: APRIL 22

STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK: MAY 4-8