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Alicia Cortez Elementary

Cortez Elementary: Week of March 2, 2026

Posted Date: 03/01/26 (01:27 PM)


Cortez School Logo

Cortez Weekly

Week of March 2, 2026

Main entrance

Dr. Seuss Week

We are excited to celebrate Dr. Seuss Week this week! This special week is a fun way to promote reading. We invite all students to participate in our themed dress-up days:

Monday: Wear Your Favorite Hat
Tuesday: Pajama Day
Wednesday: Wacky Hair Day
Thursday: Twin or Triplet Day
Friday: Crazy Socks Day
 
Example calendar with dates pinned

Upcoming Events

March 13th: Lunch With a Loved One (come enjoy lunch with you student). Contact PFA for additional information.
March 18th: Spring Pictures and Promotion Pictures Day
March 26th: Cortez School Site Council Meeting #3 - 2:40pm
March 30th - April 3rd: Spring Break
April 6th: No School
April 13th - May 21st: California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress (CAASPP) Testing Window
 
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Intervention Counselor - Ms. E.

We are proud to highlight Ms. Esposito (“Ms. E.”), our Intervention Counselor at Cortez Elementary! Ms. E. plays an important role in supporting students as they learn and practice the Cortez 4 School-Wide Expectations through classroom guidance lessons, small-group counseling, and individual support. She also partners closely with families by connecting them to valuable community resources.

February Student Support Highlights
  • Tier 1: 8 classroom guidance lessons supporting all students
  • Tier 2: 25 students supported through small-group counseling
  • Tier 3: 13 students received individualized, intensive supports

If your child or family could benefit from support, Ms. E. is here to help! Visit the Alicia Cortez webpage, click “Popular Links,” and select “Request for Support.”
 

Attention 6th Grade Families

Do you have a female student preparing to transition to junior high school? Does she have questions of what to expect and would like to learn more? Then the Soroptimists of the Chino Valley would like to invite your student and you to the 17th annual Stepping Up event taking place on March 14, 2026, at 8 a.m. in the Magnolia Junior High School MPR.

Magnolia JHS
13150 Mountain Ave.
Chino, CA 91710

Attendees will hear from exciting guest speakers that include CVUSD junior high school principals to discover what extra-curricular activities are available on campus, learn about the latest fashion trends, mingle with peers while participating in group activities and games, enjoy a delicious lunch, and so much more!

This event is FREE to all CVUSD 6th grade girls. Don’t wait, space is limited! Please RSVP no later than March 6, 2026, by calling (909) 628-0966. For more information, please reference the event flyer attached to this newsletter. 

We can’t wait to celebrate your student as she steps up to the next adventure of her educational journey!

Sincerely,
Chino Valley Unified School District
 

Cortez PFA

🎉 Support Our PFA! (email: cortezcougarspfa@gmail.com)
Our Parent-Faculty Association (PFA) plays a big role in making school special for our students.

PFA Sponsored Events:
  • February 1 - March 3: 6th Grade Pick-A-Date Calendar Fundraiser
  • March 2 - March 6: Dr. Seuss Week
  • March 6: PFA Meeting at 8am
  • March 9: PFA Meeting at 2:30pm
  • March 13: Lunch With a Loved One (come enjoy lunch with your student)
  • March 20: Jog-A-Thon
 

Weekly Attendance

Our year-long goal for attendance is 97%
Congratulations to the classes with the highest percentage of students who were at school every day during the week ending February 27, 2026.

Overall Attendance Rate Year to Date: 94.21%

Primary:
Mrs. Murphy: 100%

Elementary:
Mrs. Cutler: 97.33%

Preschool: 80.00%
Kindergarten: 94.42%
1st: 96.00%
2nd: 95.20%
3rd: 95.48%
4th: 93.96%
5th: 96.31%
6th: 92.13%

Here are a few key pointers about attendance:

📉 Even a few absences can make it harder for students to keep up.
👩‍🏫 Frequent absences affect the whole class, since teachers and classmates have to work harder to review missed instruction.
🤝 Being present helps students build friendships and strengthen social skills.
⏰ Arriving on time builds strong habits for success in school and beyond.
💬 If your family faces challenges with attendance, please reach out—we’re here to help.
clip art image of attendance chart
 

"Spring Fever"

Each year, as we move towards spring, there is an uptick in student behavior incidents as students have more energy and look forward to the end of the school year. During this time, we continue using Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS) to teach and remind students about the Cortez 4:
  • Persistent Learners
  • Accountable
  • Respectful
  • and Collaborative.
We regularly review what these expectations look like in all areas of the school.

Families, we ask for your help by talking with your student about the power of words.
Most of the behavior incident I address begin with students using inappropriate language directed at their peers. Being Respectful and Collaborative means choosing kind, appropriate language and treating others with care.

If you ever have questions or concerns about something that happened during the school day, please contact your student's teacher first. Teachers usually have first-hand information and can provide details about what happened. When needed, teachers will involve school administration for support.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to help our students finish the year strong.
 

📸 We’re on Instagram!

Cortez Elementary is now on Instagram! 🎉 Follow @aliciacortezcvusd to stay connected and see what’s happening around campus and in your student’s classroom. Get updates, highlights, and a peek into what is happening every day at Cortez! 🐾
 

February Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Every student can receive free breakfast and lunch every day! Check out the attached menus to see what tasty meals are coming up.

clip art image that states school lunch
 

PFA Volunteers Needed

A huge thank-you to our Parent-Faculty Association (PFA) for all the time, energy, and heart they put into making Cortez such a wonderful place for our students! This small but mighty group of volunteers plans events, organizes fundraisers, and supports classrooms—all while balancing their own family and work obligations.

With the holiday season coming up, our PFA will be busy bringing lots of fun activities to our students. Now is a great time to get involved!

If you’ve ever wondered how to help, how donations are used, or just want to learn more, come to a meeting. Dates are posted on the school marquee and included in our weekly messages.

We’re so grateful for everything our PFA does to make Cortez shine! 
 

Morning Drop-Off Reminder ☀️

There is no student supervision before 7:40am. We have noticed some students arriving early and engaging in unsafe play and/or disagreements in front of the school, so please help us keep mornings safe and calm.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents: If you arrive before 7:40 a.m., please stay with your student until the gates are opened. For student safety, please do not drop off students before 7:40am.

 If your student walks to school, remind them to arrive around 7:40am.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and ready for a great day of learning!
 

Traffic Reminder: 🚫⬅️ No Left Turn From Carissa Avenue

Remember that Chino PD actively enforces the “No Left Turn” restriction when traveling northbound on Carissa Avenue into the parking lot during school hours. This restriction helps keep traffic flowing smoothly and, most importantly, ensures the safety of our students and families. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community safe.
 

🚗 Drive-Through Lane Reminder

Help keep our drop-off and pick-up times running smoothly. The drive-through lane is for a quick drop-off and pick-up. Students should be ready to exit the car within a few seconds so traffic can continue to move safely and quickly.

If you need extra time to say goodbye, help your child with their backpack, or watch them walk through the gate, please park in a designated parking space instead of using the drive-through lane.

Thank you for keeping our school safe and efficient during arrival and dismissal!
 

Important Reminders

  • Free Breakfast – Breakfast is available for all students beginning at 7:10 a.m. Students eating in the cafeteria will be dismissed to their classrooms at 7:40 a.m. Kindergarten students will be escorted by an adult.
  • Minimum Day Tuesdays – All kindergarten students should arrive by 7:50 a.m. Kindergarten dismissal is at 11:10 a.m., and dismissal for grades 1–6 is at 11:20 a.m.
  • Student Drop-off & Pickup – During morning drop-off, please have students ready to exit the car right away. If you need extra time, the parking lot is available. At pickup, please remain in your car and be prepared to pull forward as space opens up.
  • Questions or Concerns – If you have questions about your child’s academic progress or something that happened during the school day, please contact your child’s teacher first.
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Contact info

Please reach out to schedule a time to talk or just to share an idea.
  • Gerald_Matthews@chino.k12.ca.us
  • (909)627-9438
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