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Alicia Cortez Elementary

Cortez Elementary: Week of March 16, 2026

Posted Date: 03/15/26 (05:22 PM)
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Cortez Weekly

Week of March 16, 2026

Main entrance

Thank You

Thank you to all the families who joined us for Lunch with a Loved One on Friday. The event was a huge success, and it was wonderful to see so many families spending time together on campus.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Cortez PFA for organizing this special event. It’s important to recognize that it’s just a handful of dedicated parent volunteers who make events like this possible, and their efforts make a tremendous difference in the culture and sense of community at our school.
 

🌟 Show What You Know! CAASPP Testing Begins Soon

Our state testing window is approaching. The CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress), also known as the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment, helps measure how well students are progressing toward California’s academic standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Testing will begin with our 5th grade students taking the California Science Test (CAST) from April 14–16. Beginning April 20, all students in grades 3–6 will start the CAASPP assessments. Students will spend just over an hour each day completing portions of the test over several days.

To help families better understand the assessment, we have included Parent Guides to Understanding the CAASPP in English, Spanish, and Chinese, as well as links to short videos titled “Understanding the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment” in English and Spanish.

As a reminder, during CAASPP testing, students in testing grades will need to turn off all personal technology (such as phones, smartwatches, or other devices) and place them in their backpacks.
 
Example calendar with dates pinned

Upcoming Events


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 10th, 1:45pm: California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Red Carpet Event (Student Recognition Event)
April 13th - May 21st: California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress (CAASPP) Testing Window (grades 3-6)

Celebrating Student Achievement

On April 10 at 1:45 PM, we will recognize students who did well on last year’s state test. This includes students who scored “Standards Exceeded,” “Standards Met,” or made significant growth from the previous year.

We are proud of our students and look forward to celebrating their hard work. Invitations will be sent to families in the coming weeks.
 

March 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
 

Lost and Found

With Spring Break just three weeks away, it’s the perfect time for a little “spring cleaning” We encourage families to check our school’s Lost & Found for any missing jackets, water bottles, lunch boxes, and other items that may have wandered off.

All unclaimed items must be collected before the week of Spring Break. Any items not picked up by that time will be donated.

We encourage students and families to stop by and take a look. You might be surprised at what’s waiting to be reunited with its owner!
 

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 March 13, 2026.

Overall Attendance Rate Year to Date: 94.21%

Primary:
Mrs. Falkowsky: 97.65%

Elementary:
Mrs. Cutler: 96.13%

Preschool: 78.18%
Kindergarten: 86.51%
1st: 96.50%
2nd: 92.00%
3rd: 93.87%
4th: 93.96%
5th: 94.85%
6th: 91.48%

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
 
Image of an apple with "school counselor" written on it

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.”
 

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:
  • March 20: Jog-A-Thon
 

"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! 🐾
 

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.
 

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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