Gecko Gazette

Dear Creekside Families, 

We are firm believers in the power of the growth mindset and approach each year with the belief that all of our students are capable of learning and growing. Especially in these unusual times, maintaining a growth mindset is critical to success. What is a growth mindset? Simply put, it is the belief that intelligence and ability are not fixed traits or that we are born with only so many of them. Rather, with effort and perseverance all students are capable of academic achievement.

Every day, your child will be immersed in the growth mindset in our classrooms. Our students will be and have been asked to take educational risks. They will be praised not for their mental quickness or natural intelligence but for approaching the process of learning with grit and determination. And they will grow in ways they never thought possible. 

But here’s the thing, these messages cannot only come from us, they must come from us all. How can you help? You can value growth and improvement in your home. Praise perseverance and grit, effort and attempts in learning. We are asking you to be mindful of where your children start and how they progress over time. In our estimation, continual progress, however incremental, is to be valued. 

Here are some things you can do to extend and promote growth mindset in your home: 

• Encourage your child to take risks and tackle new challenges. 

• Praise your child not for the ease with which he or she learns a concept but for the amount of effort put into learning it. 

• Communicate with us regarding learning challenges your child may be experiencing. 

• Emphasize perseverance and effort in extracurricular activities. For example, “I’m proud of how much effort you put into that basketball game” instead of “I’m proud of how many points you scored in that basketball game.” 

We hope you’ll commit to joining us on this growth-mindset journey. We cannot do it without your help. 

A reminder that Monday, September 30 is a day of professional learning for all staff and a non-attendance day for students. We will welcome our students back to campus on Tuesday, October 1.

Sincerely, 
Terry Worthington
Creekside Principal 

#GeckoGreatness

• Mon 9/30 - Faculty & Staff Professional Growth - Non-Student Day
• Tues 10/1 - First Full Day of Kindergarten - Kinder students will release at regular time with 1-5th grade.
• Thurs 10/3 - Dine Out Event at the Kebab Shop (Carmel Mtn branch)
• Fri 10/4 - 8am - Student Council Meeting 
• Fri 10/4 - VAPA 
• Tues 10/8 - 3.10pm - Jr. Musical Theatre Workshop begins
• Thurs 10/10 - 6pm - PUSD Board Meeting 
• Fri 10/11 - 8.45am - Friday Flag
• Fri 10/12 - 9am - 1st Grade Teddy Bear Breakfast 

• Liberty Bock-Heers, Assistant Principal 
• Heather Speer, Other Staff
• Lucy Wetherhold, Teacher
• Sam Yellen, Teacher
• Hala Bushra, Teacher
• Logan Chopyk, Parent
• Erin Fullenwider, Parent
• Azeem Choudhury, Parent
• Pallavi Surendranath, Parent
• Taylor Yoo, Parent 

Did you know that there are several Jewish holidays celebrated each fall? Sometimes they begin in September and sometimes they begin in October. Here are some highlights:

Rosh Hashanah (meaning “head of the year”) is the first holiday this year and begins at the sunset of Wednesday, October 2 and ends at nightfall on Friday, October 4th. It is the Jewish New Year and is the first of the High Holidays. Rosh Hashanah feasts traditionally include round challah bread (studded with raisins) and apples dipped in honey, as well as other foods that symbolize our wishes for a sweet year.

Yom Kippur, which follows 10 days later (sunset on Friday, October 11 through nightfall on Saturday, October 12), is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a more solemn holiday, called the Day of Atonement. Jewish people fast, pray, and seek forgiveness for their sins. 

Sukkot, this year beginning at sunset of Wednesday, October 16 through nightfall of Wednesday, October 23, is an agricultural festival of harvest and thanksgiving and a commemoration of the forty years that ancient Jews wandered the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. Jews build and decorate a Sukkah (plural is “sukkot”), which is an outdoor hut-like structure adorned with fruits and vegetables and often children’s artwork.  They spend time to enjoy meals and prayer in the Sukkah and this is a time of thanks, joy and happiness.

Simchat Torah (meaning “joy of the Torah”), this year occurring Thursday, October 24 through Friday, October 25, is also a very joyous and celebratory holiday. This holiday begins the annual Torah reading cycle, beginning with the Book of Genesis. This joyous milestone is marked with dancing as the Torah scrolls are held aloft and one tradition is for the children of the congregation to wave colorful flags in celebration. 

Recognizing the importance of these religious celebrations, our campus will remain sensitive and committed to student absences and work restrictions during this time, as well as expectations upon their return. We wish everyone a happy holiday fall!

The ELEMENTARY English and Spanish Positive Parenting Program Series will start next month for FREE. This workshop series is open to all our parents in any of PUSD's elementary school sites.

FREE ENGLISH Elementary Positive Parenting Program via ZOOM - Register Here 
Wednesday, October 2nd
From 6:00pm – 7:30pm