This month, we celebrated our 100th Day of School! We enjoyed many fun activities to honor the students’ hard work and dedication throughout these first 100 days. The children colored and wrote about what they have enjoyed most during the school year, and they also built a 100-piece puzzle as part of our celebration. It was a wonderful way to reflect on how much they have learned and grown.

We also continue practicing teamwork in our classroom. This time, we focused on how the older students (2nd grade) can support and guide the younger students (1st grade). The second graders are learning the importance of being positive role models, helping teach concepts, and building strong connections with their younger classmates. Through clear communication and cooperation, both grades are discovering how to work together successfully and accomplish great things as a team.

News & Information:

The third and fourth grade class started their skills labs.

"The iINNOVATE Regional Skills Lab is a new career-connected STEM initiative for the Central Coast that empowers all students, regardless of background, to explore regional careers and build confidence early."

https://k12skillslab.org/3/powerskills

Our fifth skills l is "Rocket Scientist; Blast off! Design and Launch Your Own Rocket." In this lab students will learn what a rocket scientist does. They will also learn about the different parts of a rocket and how they affect the flight of one. They will also get to design and test a part of a rocket collect data.

Dear Parents,

We have come to the end of the second trimester. We are going to power through the last part of the year. It's really important that you keep encouraging your child to keep trying their best in school. Keep having them read at home and doing their homework. Also keep practicing with them the multiplication tables.

Student have also finish the ICA practice state test. It really important that you also talk to your child of the importance of taking their time on this test and trying their best.

Thank You,

Miss Rodriguez

Learning Focus

Reading:

3rd: RL.3.9 Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (in books from a series). RL.3.1 Ask and answer questions. RL. Describe characters RL.3.4 Determine word meanings.

4th: RI.4.5 Describe the overall structure (chronology, comparison) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text. RI.4.1 Make Inferences. RI.4.4 Determine word meaning.

Math:

3rd: Unit 4: Fractions, Unit 5: Measurement

4th: Unit 4: Fractions, Decimals, Measurement, Unit 5: Geometry and Measurement

Grammar:

Parts of Speech

Spelling:

Unit 5: Long i  sounds

Vocabulary:

Student work on five academic vocabulary words per week.

Writing:

Step-Up-to-Writing: Informative Essay

Science:

Twig- Module 3: Time-Traveling Tour Guide

Social Studies:

Chapter 2: California's Early History

Calendar of Upcoming Events

• Conference Week
  • March 9-13
  • Dismissal at 1:30 pm
• Trustworthiness Award
  • March 16, 2026 at 8:30 am

Strengthening Multiplication with Area Models

Dear Families,

This month in math, we are focusing on fortifying multiplication skills by building deep conceptual understanding before moving toward full fluency.

In class, students are learning to use the area model strategy to multiply multi-digit numbers. The area model helps students break numbers apart using expanded form, which strengthens their understanding of place value and how multiplication truly works.

For example:
35 × 54 becomes
(30 + 5) × (50 + 4)

Students create a rectangle divided into sections and multiply each part separately before combining their products. This visual model builds strong number sense and prepares students for the standard algorithm with confidence and accuracy.

Our goal is not just to “get the answer,” but to understand why the math works.

Why Fluency Matters

While we are strengthening conceptual understanding in class, multiplication fluency (quick and accurate recall of basic facts) is essential for long-term success in math.

Students who know their multiplication facts automatically:

Solve multi-digit problems more efficiently

Experience less frustration

Build confidence

Perform better in division and fraction work

Mastery of multiplication facts up to 12 × 12 is a critical 5th-grade skill.

How Families Can Help at Home

You can support your child by practicing multiplication facts for 10–15 minutes daily. Consistency makes a big difference.

Here are simple ways to practice:

• Flashcards
• Timed practice challenges
• Multiplication war (card game)
• Skip counting aloud
• Online practice programs (e.g., Reflex Math, XtraMath)
• Writing fact families (ex: 6×7, 7×6, 42÷6, 42÷7)

Encourage your child to explain how they know the answer. Verbalizing their thinking strengthens retention.

Our Goal

By combining:
✔ Strong conceptual understanding (area models)
✔ Daily fluency practice
✔ Parent partnership

We will build confident, capable mathematicians who truly master multiplication.

Thank you for your continued support at home. Together, we can ensure every student develops both understanding and fluency.

If you have any questions about our multiplication strategies, please feel free to reach out.

Warmly,
Ms. Castro

Hello San Ardo Community. Currently, in the 7th and 8th grade class, we are working on getting 8th graders prepared for the academic expectations of becoming a high school student while preparing the 7th graders for the rigor of 8th grade.

In class, our students are about to start reading a novel named Bless Me Ultima for English Language Arts, where they will focus on the different types of conflict in literature while continuing to learn critical thinking and writing skills and how to draw evidence to prove their ideas about the novel.

For Social Studies They are going to conclude a unit on the Roman Empire and will get started on Islamic Civilization between 600 CE and 1600 CE. They also get to know about current events around the world through our daily watching of CNN10 News.

In Science, the students will get into a unit on Sleep and a Neurotransmitter called Dopamine. 

For Math, Mrs. Black and I are continuing with preparing the students for state testing where we are focusing on teaching the students math fundamentals that will help them through more advanced math seen in the state tests. Also we will be going over a unit on Ratios.

We have parent teacher conferences coming up from March 9th through March 13th. I look forward to meeting with parents again.

IReady Diagnostics are coming up from March 16th through March 27th.

Behavioral Expectations

We are now in our 3rd and last trimester of the year.  Behavioral expectations in class and on campus are going to be raised. Students from my class are expected to respect everyone in class, in interventions/arts, and during recesses. Also, all of my students are expected to respect any adults on campus regardless of their position of employment or status as volunteers.  Failure to do so will affect their eligibility to participate in future field trips including the 8th grade promotion trip to Knott's Berry Farm in southern California.

NOTE TO PARENTS: Please make sure your students are getting enough sleep.  Sleepy students cannot learn properly and it affects their mood and attitude.

Welcome to February!

As spring approaches, we will be working more and more on preparations for state testing (ELPAC and CAASPP). The more familiar students become with the types of questions they'll see on the tests, the more automatic it will become to answer the questions.

In April, some (not all) students will take the "English Language Proficiency Assessment for California" or ELPAC. This is a test of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

In May, students will participate in the "California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress" or CAASPP. CAASPP has math and ELA tests; each content area has two parts: a select-your-answer part and a writing part. (Students in grades 5 and 8 will also take the CA Science Test, CAST.)

Stop by if you want to talk about these assessments or look through sample questions.

Best,

Mrs. Bobbitt

To contact Mrs. Bobbitt:

kbobbitt@sanardousd.org

--or just stop by!

ELPAC Levels

Level 4: Well Developed

Level 3: Moderately Developed

Level 2: Somewhat Developed

Level 1: Minimally Developed

CAASPP Levels

Level 4: Standard Exceeded

Level 3: Standard Met

Level 2: Standard Nearly Met

Level 1: Standard Not Met

Visit Sample Test Questions

to view sample test questions.

3/3 School Site Council 4:00

3/5 Read Across America activities beginning at 1:00 p.m.

3/5 Supervisor Lopez listening session 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 

3/6 Basketball vs. San Antonio home 

3/7-3/11 - Dr. Reimer & Board members to Sacramento for SSDA conference

3/9 Basketball vs. San Lucas away 9:30 a.m. 

3/9-3/13 Parent conference week 1:30 p.m. dismissal 

3/11 Board meeting 4:00 p.m.

3/13 Accelerated Reader field trip to bowling alley

3/16 Second trimester awards 8:30 

4/3 - 4/10 School closed for spring vacation 

Dear San Ardo UESD Families and Community,

March is shaping up to be a month full of learning, celebration, and school spirit across our district!

We will kick off the month celebrating Read Across America Day on March 5, 2026.   Classrooms will be filled with special guest readers, themed activities, and plenty of great books. Events like these remind us that strong literacy skills are the foundation for lifelong learning, and we are so proud of the enthusiasm our students show for reading.

On March 16, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., we will hold our Second Trimester Awards Assembly. This is a special opportunity to recognize students for their academic achievement, growth, citizenship, and positive contributions to our school community. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication.

And of course, we can’t forget St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th! While we may not be searching for pots of gold, we are certainly lucky to have such an amazing community of students, families, and staff. We look forward to seeing a little extra green on campus as we celebrate together.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Spring is just around the corner, and we are excited for all that the remainder of the school year will bring.

Warm regards,
Catherine Reimer

Superintendent/Principal
San Ardo Union Elementary School District