Cortez Elementary: Week of April 6, 2026

Posted Date: 04/05/26 (09:06 PM)

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Cortez Weekly

Week of April 6, 2026

"Spring Fever"

Welcome back! We hope your family had a restful and enjoyable spring break.

As we return to school, we often see an increase in “spring fever”— students have more energy and excitement as the end of the school year approaches. During this time, we continue to reinforce Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and remind students of the Cortez 4:

• Be Persistent Learners

• Be Accountable

• Be Respectful

• Be Collaborative

We are actively reviewing what these expectations look like in all areas of the school.

Families, we appreciate your support by talking with your child about the power of words. Many behavior concerns begin with inappropriate language. Being respectful and collaborative means using kind words and treating others with care.

If you have questions or concerns about something that happened during the school day, please contact your child’s teacher first. Teachers have the most direct information and can best support communication. If needed, administration will be involved.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

April 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.

Breakfast Menu

Lunch Menu

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.

March Student Support Highlights

Tier 1: 6 Classroom guidance lessons
Tier 2: 25 Students participating in small group counseling & 19 Students participating in PALS program
Tier 3: 15 Students participating in miscellaneous Tier 3 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.”

Celebrating Student Achievement

On Friday, April 10 at 1:45 PM, we will recognize 4th, 5th, and 6th grade 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 home on Tuesday.

Final Essential Standards Assessment

This week, our students in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade will begin taking the third and final Essential Standards Assessment. This assessment is one measure of how well students have learned the grade-level standards throughout the school year. Please encourage your child to do their best!

Upcoming Events

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)

April 21st: Cortez English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting #4

April 30th: Cortez School Site Council Meeting #4

May 12th, 5:00pm: Cortez Open House

May 19th: 3rd Trimester Student Awards Ceremony

May 20th, 8:30am: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony

May 20th: MINIMUM DAY

May 21st: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (MINIMUM DAY)

🌟 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.

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 27, 2026.

Overall Attendance Rate Year to Date: 94.21%

Primary:

Mrs. Piaseckyj: 100%

Elementary:

Mrs. Pufahl: 97.24%

Preschool: 78.18%

Kindergarten: 92.92%

1st: 95.50%

2nd: 97.20%

3rd: 92.90%

4th: 92.08%

5th: 90.94%

6th: 92.79%

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.

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:

April 8th - PFA Meeting at 8:00am
April 9th - BMX Student Assembly

📸 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.

Contact info

Please reach out to schedule a time to talk or just to share an idea.

Gerald_Matthews@chino.k12.ca.us
Erin_Starks@chino.k12.ca.us
(909)627-9438

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