3/20/26

Dear Old Mill Families,

Old Mill Garden Project Information Meeting Next Friday 

Please join us for an informational meeting about a proposed project to renovate and reimagine the Old Mill Garden. The meeting will take place right after morning drop-off @ 8:15am next Friday, March 27th, in the MPR.  Please join us to learn more about the incredible plans that have been developed and how the project would impact Old Mill students & staff and the greater community.  Below is a rendering of what the garden could become!

Common Ground Society Assembly

Today, we hosted Keely and Sahmina from the Common Ground Society as they held two grade level assemblies in the MPR.  Here is a letter from Keely and Sahmina to give parents a clear idea of what they discussed with the students around the topic of visible and invisible differences. The students did an OUTSTANDING job listening to the presentation and asked many excellent questions.  Thank you to the PTA for funding the assemblies!

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

Administration of the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments occurs this Spring for our 3rd through 5th grade students. Students will take the CAASPP in ELA and Math. Fifth grade students will also participate in the California Science Test (CAST). Please see below the testing schedule for our students. It is important that students are in attendance to take the assessments. 

Head Lice

Please know that there are cases of head lice circulating in our school community. We highly recommend checking your child’s scalp and hair shafts this weekend, as lice are easily spread and can be difficult to spot. Please see the Head Lice Flyer from CDPH as it contains information for treatment and prevention. Students who have live lice must be treated before returning to school.

Lunch Supervision

We need volunteers for lunch supervision.  Sign-up here!  As usual, come early, come often!  Sign-ups now open through MAY!

Elizabeth is continuing with her medical treatments and began a course of chemotherapy this week. As she focuses on her health, she will be in and out of the office in alignment with her treatment schedule. We are keeping her in our thoughts and wish her strength and a smooth recovery. During the times when Elizabeth is out, Esmeralda Mondragon is continuing to support our team and helping to ensure continuity in our work.

During Elizabeth’s visits to elementary sites last week, she observed students fully engaged in their learning and involved in hands-on experiences that promote learning through explorations and curiosity, including lessons on germs, explorations of owl pellets, studies of early Americans, and a special visit from a service dog. In math, students were also building their understanding of volume through interactive activities. These moments reflect the strong instructional practices and enthusiasm for learning across our schools.  

We are proud to implement a new cycle of professional development aimed to support this learning. Elementary grade-level teams are participating in full-day sessions designed to support guided instruction and collaborative planning, providing valuable time for teachers to align practices, share strategies, and strengthen instruction across classrooms.

Upcoming:

March 25th: Talent Show @ 5:00pm in the MPR!

April 17th: PTA Meeting and Lost & Found

April 29th: STEAM Night

May 15th: PTA Meeting and Lost & Found

May 28th: Open House

June 9th: Field Day (morning)

Jun 12th: Last Day of School and 5th Grade Promotion @ 8:45am on Lower Yard!

Have a great weekend,

Jason Matlon

Principal, Old Mill Elementary