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Alicia Cortez Elementary

Cortez Elementary: Week of April 20, 2026

Posted Date: 04/19/26 (03:38 PM)
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Cortez Weekly

Week of April 20, 2026

Main entrance

Friday, April 24th is a Minimum Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences

On Friday, afternoon kindergarten students should arrive at school by 7:50 a.m. Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:10 a.m., and students in grades 1–6 will be dismissed at 11:20 a.m.
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Upcoming Events

April 20th - May 21st: California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress (CAASPP) Testing Window (grades 3-6)
April 21st: Cortez English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting #4 (Link to Agenda)
April 22nd - 5pm-8pm: McDonald's Family Night (12625 Central Ave, Chino)
April 24th: Minimum Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences
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)
 

CAASPP Testing Begins This Week

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.

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.

During CAASPP testing, students in testing grades will be required to turn off 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 April 17, 2026.

Overall Attendance Rate Year to Date: 94.21%

Primary:
Mrs. Falkowsky: 97.65%

Elementary:
Mrs. Pufahl: 97.14%

Preschool: 89.66%
Kindergarten: 92.38%
1st: 95%
2nd: 94.51%
3rd: 94.84%
4th: 92.08%
5th: 92.50%
6th: 93%

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.
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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.

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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.

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.”
 

Cortez PFA

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

PFA Sponsored Events:
  • April 22nd, 5pm-8pm - McDonald's Family Night
 

📸 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!
 

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
  • Erin_Starks@chino.k12.ca.us
  • (909)627-9438
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[Sunday, Apr 19 at 9:22 PM]