Lietz HSC April Newsletter
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Happy Spring, Lietz families!
As we begin a new month and a new season, there is much to celebrate. If you can use some fun ideas, add a few of these to your calendar, and share pics with us on Twitter @lietzhsc!
- April 2: Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
- April 3: National Chocolate Mousse Day
- April 5: National Caramel Day
- April 6: National Twinkie Day
- April 10: National Siblings Day
- April 11: National Pet Day
- April 12: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
- April 13: National Scrabble Day
- April 17: Haiku Poetry Day
- April 18: National Velociraptor Awareness Day
- April 22: Earth Day
- April 23: National Picnic Day
- April 26: National Pretzel Day
- April 28: National Blueberry Pie Day
- April 30: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day
I am definitely going to celebrate some of these with my daughters! It’s a great excuse to have some chocolate mousse and grilled cheese – as if we need one, right? Speaking of celebrations, this month, we are so excited to turn our Teacher Spotlight on our fourth grade team, all of whom opened their classrooms for in-person instruction to some of our students: Matthew Cunningham, Misha Heacock, and Justin Preza. We also get to know our Lietz Instructional TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment), Susan Lavelle, and one of our Resource Specialists, Sarah Paiva. Thank you, all, for all you do!
USD Superintendent Denise Coleman recently announced her upcoming retirement in her letter (dated March 26, 2021) to our community. For her dedication of 30 years to the field of education and six as our District Superintendent, and for the commitment and compassion that she exemplified during this past year of unprecedented challenges, I am so grateful for her leadership. The USD Board of Trustees posted a letter to the community, as well, sharing that they will begin the process of searching for the next superintendent.
At our local level, we are looking for leadership to join our next Lietz HSC Executive Board! We will have openings for our President and Co-Treasurer positions. It is such a wonderful opportunity to support our children and Lietz teachers and staff. As you know, HSC is completely volunteer- run, so we rely on the support and participation of our community to be able to provide valuable programs and events, such as Music, Art Vistas, Project Cornerstone, Create With Clay, Teacher grants, Drama Club, Walkathon, Back To School Family Movie Night, Sweetheart Dance, yearbook, Garden Club – and SO much more! Please consider sharing your time and talents to make our Lietz community thrive! We have an interest form online or you are more than welcome to contact me directly at kelli.martines@lietzhsc.com.
A heartfelt thank you to all of our HSC program and event leads. Everyone has truly stepped up with creative and inclusive options for our students and teachers this year. It is so hard to believe that we have just two HSC meetings left this year. Please JOIN US on Wednesday, April 21 at 7pm to hear updates and exciting announcements. Until then, please stay safe and well…and remember to celebrate each day, beginning with some peanut butter and jelly. 🙂
In celebration of each of you,
Kelli
GETTING TO KNOW OUR TEACHERS
A Staff Appreciation Initiative
This year has certainly been like no other! Thankfully, our teachers and staff have made it possible for some of our children to return to in-person learning on campus, while they continue to provide for others to continue learning from home. What many of us, as parents, miss is the chance to get to know the teachers and staff, on a personal level. We asked our teachers to share a bit about themselves – some of their favorite things, what they love and, maybe find challenging, about teaching, how they like to spend their free time, where they like to shop for themselves – helping to build the connection between home and school. This month, we are so excited to introduce our amazing fourth grade team, our Lietz Instructional TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment), and one of our resource specialists!
Kelli Martines | Staff Appreciation Lead
MATTHEW CUNNINGHAM
Fourth Grade Teacher
As a teacher, what are your greatest joys?
This is my 15th year teaching here at Lietz, and it has been one of the great experiences of my life seeing our school continue to grow as one of the major connecting points of our community. One of the greatest joys I find in teaching is seeing old students come back to visit. I love hearing about everything they have been up to since elementary school, and knowing I may have played a small part in helping them become the great person they are is a fantastic feeling. Distance learning has been a challenge, but I have been constantly amazed at how resilient the kiddos are when faced with such an unknown situation as this.
What would we find you doing on your ideal weekend?
My ideal weekend would find me doing pretty much anything, so long as it is with my family.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Amazon is my go-to. =)
MISHA HEACOCK
Fourth Grade Teacher
Tell us a little about yourself…
I grew up in the amazing Union School District and consider it a high privilege to now teach in this district. Being a member of the warm, tightly-knit Lietz family for 17 years has been a great joy. During summers, I enjoy visiting a village called Heeraraa in Ethiopia with my church. Children from around the world fill my life with so much love and inspiration.
What would we find you doing on your ideal weekend?
An ideal weekend would find me walking in the hills surrounding my home. I’d squeeze in a little gardening and watercolor painting as well. Connecting with others in my neighborhood and church would be a highlight.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
My favorite places to shop are Trader Joes, Bath and Body Works, and Amazon.
JUSTIN PREZA
Fourth Grade Teacher
Tell us a little about yourself…
Pre-pandemic, my weekends were always devoted to spending time with friends and family. We would often take turns hosting dinner, board game night, or other fun get togethers. With social distancing, my weekends seem to be filled with virtual hangouts, catching up on my personal backlog of books and film, and spending quality time at home with my fiancé and our pet cat Onyx.
As a teacher, what are your greatest joys?
One of my greatest joys of being a teacher is helping students understand the value of working hard to play hard. This is one of our class mottos and we truly live by it. I love helping students build strong work and learning ethics, but also celebrating school as a fun environment for all.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Amazon, Target, Starbucks and Jamba Juice…. almost every teacher’s go to places!
SARAH PAIVA
RSP Teacher
Tell us a little about yourself…
I was born and raised in San Jose and attended college at UC Irvine followed by my masters degree at Cal Poly SLO. This is my 3rd year as a Lietz Lion and my 8th year teaching. I absolutely love being able to work with so many amazing kids every day.
What would we find you doing on your ideal weekend?
You would probably find me on my ideal weekend spending time with my husband, family, and adorable dog in the backyard having a barbeque and sharing many laughs together.
As a teacher, what are your greatest joys?
My greatest joys come when working with all students. I love to see their excitement when they start to understand a concept and seeing their big smiles (even through their masks 🙂 ). Hearing laughter and seeing those “ah-ha” moments is one of the best moments a teacher can have.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I love to shop at target and amazon.
SUSAN LAVELLE
Instructional TOSA
Tell us a little about yourself…
A fun fact about me is that I found my birth parents a month before I turned 50. No one was looking, and yet we were reunited in the most beautiful of ways. I talk to my Mom and Dad for an hour or more every Saturday and Sunday, which is what makes my weekend feel perfect. In addition to that, my perfect weekend would include baking my friend Sharon Conner’s famous chocolate chip cookies, digging in the dirt in the yard, going for a short hike, reading a good book with one of our four black cats, meeting a friend outside at Enoteca La Storia, and watching The Great British Baking Show with Mr. Lavelle.
As an instructional coach, what are your greatest joys?
As an instructional coach, my greatest joy is to support teachers as they try something new, and watch as they succeed and feel proud of themselves. Even during this challenging year, there have been so MANY moments of creativity and joy. I’m incredibly inspired by our Lietz teachers!
HSC EXECUTIVE BOARD OPENINGS
We have two Executive Board openings for the 2021-23 term: President and Co-Treasurer. Please complete the form or email board@lietzhsc.com if you are interested or if you just want to start a discussion around it. Candidates will be confirmed at HSC General Meeting on May 19, 2021. Looking forward to hearing from you!!
Jennifer Torres | Book Fair Lead
DID YOU KNOW ?
HSC Newsletter (and the website) can be read in multiple languages. You can look for a drop down menu near the top left corner. Please choose the language option. If you find that your language is missing, please let us know by adding a comment to the newsletter or emailing us at board@lietzhsc.com. We will add it!
WALKATHON
Far Apart, Yet Close at Heart
April 25th – May 1st
We will be raising money for Lietz HSC while we move our bodies! Each day we will challenge you to move your body in different ways like walking, dancing, jogging, yoga, jumping, etc. Can you move for 15, 20, 30 or even 60 minutes EACH DAY?!?
Ask your friends and family to sponsor your moves, decorate your driveway or living room, and take pictures as you shake, rattle, and roll.
We have lots of fun surprises to help you decorate, tunes to groove to, and even ways to track your minutes! Stay tuned for more info in the next few days.
Questions: walkathon@lietzhsc.comMUSIC PROGRAM
Lietz music classes have been back in session this school year since November. Some classes are meeting regularly on Zoom for a virtual face to face 30 minute class with Mrs. Malloy and/or accessing their grade level Google Music Classroom for assignments . 3rd, 4th & 5th graders are also invited to join a Zoom individually for instruction on recorder, ukulele, voice or help with other at home instruments per student request.
If parents have any questions they are encouraged to reach out to their teacher or contact Mrs. Malloy at malloys@unionsd.org
YEARBOOK
Jennifer Kubisz | Yearbook Lead
SCHOOLWIDE ASSEMBLY
We are excited to bring special School Assembly for you from ZunZunTunes. ZunZun is a performing arts group of husband and wife team/music educators well known in the Bay Area. They offer a unique blend of humor, movement and song, as they celebrate the environments and cultures of the Americas through music. ZunZun is best known for their work with performance programs about environmental protection, specifically about water issues. We have two assemblies planned on Wednesday, April 21st.
Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade – 10:00 am
3rd, 4th and 5th Grade – 11:00 am
SoYun Kim | Parent, Idea and Collaborator with ZunZun Assembly
Preeti Agarwal | Schoolwide Assembly Lead
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
In kindergarten, we read the book Accept and Value Each Person by Cheri J. Meiners. M.Ed. We discussed accepting and valuing people and groups who are different from oneself and one’s family. Our conversation and activities covered respecting differences, finding similarities, being inclusive, and appreciating people for who they are. Here are some ideas we discussed: • Treat everyone kindly. • Find ways you’re alike. • Include someone who is new. • Learn to give and receive help. • Appreciate others the way they are. • Overlook small differences. • Talk and listen when differences cause a problem. • Try to understand how others feel. • Forgive when you feel hurt. • Value each person as part of the group. Even in kindergarten we can teach children to be upstanders and how to include others regardless of their race, gender ethnicity, or religion. Being different is what makes us all special, let’s not only talk to our children about accepting others, but demonstrate it in our daily lives as well.
In our mission to teach our students to be Upstanders, we cannot leave out the conversation regarding racism. This
month all grades discussed this theme by reading books about Ruby Bridges. There were three books to choose from (Through My Eyes, Ruby Bridges Goes to School and This Is Your Time). All three books covered the poignant story of 6 year old Ruby Bridges and her role in the desegregation of schools in New Orleans. The message we tried to hit home is that racism is still ever present today and that the fight for equality is not over. We introduced children to words like bias, stereotypes, prejudice and racism. We explored how to be upstanders in the face of discrimination and support those who are experiencing it. We also highlighted how to embrace our differences and how blessed we are to attend a school that is so racially and ethnically diverse.
While the topic of Ruby Bridges was originally meant to be read during Black History Month, it is still relevant for Women’s History Month as well as in light of the Anti-Asian violence plaguing our community today. Children are not born hating, it is something that is taught to them. However, love and respect is also something that can be taught to them. The greatest way to show love and respect to others is to be an upstander. To be an upstander is to stand in solidarity with those who are being abused and oppressed. There is an Upstander inside of all of us, we just need to nurture them with knowledge, love and courage.
Sarah Rizvi at sarah.rizvi@lietzhsc.com
Lisa Valera at lisa.valera@lietzhsc.com
CHEF’S NIGHT OUT
Join us at KIRK’S STEAKBURGERS on Tuesday, April 6, 4-9pm
2388 S. Bascom Avenue, Campbell
Phone orders ONLY – (408) 371-3565
Not valid with coupon
20% to HSC
We ask that you RSVP here: www.groupraise.com/
Kirks Steakburgers knows roughly how many orders to expect & so you have access to all the event details.
Jessica Iwamoto Steed | Chef’s Night Out Lead
FARM FRESH TO YOU
We have partnered with Farm Fresh To You, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce and artisanal farm products delivery service. You can subscribe and receive fresh, organic produce conveniently delivered right to your home or office while earning 10% for Lietz HSC! Please use code “LIETZHSC”. If you an existing member you can add the code to your account. New members can add it when they purchase the subscription. 
Mathieu Olivari | Farm Fresh to You Lead
DRAMA
How to Manage “Big Feelings” Around School Re-Opening
By Lietz Elementary Project Cornerstone Team
The air feels thick with anticipation as we approach the re-opening of school campuses. No matter what choice your family made about returning to campus, we have confidence that you made the best choice for your family given your situation, your knowledge and your values. Transitions are often stressful and this document was created by the Project Cornerstone team to serve as a general guide to making space for “the Big Feelings” students might be dealing with in the coming weeks.| Situation | Talking Points | Validating Feelings & Meeting Needs |
| Your child is remote learning, but their friends are going back to campus. OR Your child is back on campus, but their friends are staying remote. |
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| Wearing a mask for the entire duration at school. |
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| Child afraid of getting COVID or getting someone else sick. Child is concerned about physical contact with others. |
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| Your child has to switch teachers. |
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HSC now announces its online store. You can visit our Lietz shop to place your order. Our amazing volunteer will deliver them to you. As of now, we have adult and youth Lietz HSC masks in the shop. More to come!!
Kelli Martines | Spiritwear Lead
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR
A NEW PROGRAM?
Are you thinking of starting a new program that would benefit the Lietz community? If so, please head to our website to complete and submit a simple Program Proposal Form.
We will work with you to make it a reality!
DONATIONS TO HSC
If your company is giving you money to give it to your favorite organization, please consider giving it to HSC either for General Donation or for Staff Appreciation. Or if you are planning to donate money, please check if your company matches the contribution. Please visit the Donate! page for making donation.UPCOMING EVENTS
April 5-9 Spring Break
April 12, Monday, 6pm, USD Board of Trustees Meeting
April 12, Monday, Project Cornerstone Leads Meeting
April 21, Wednesday, 10 am, School Assembly, Grade K-2
April 21, Wednesday, School Assembly, Grade 3-5
April 21, Wednesday, 7pm, HSC General Meeting
May 12, Wednesday, Chef’s Night Out at Chipotle
To find all the HSC events, go to the Events page here. To have always up-to-date HSC events directly on your phone, tablet or computer, just Subscribe to the calendar feed.
Contact US
Please use this link to find information to contact your HSC board. Please note that now HSC newsletter is only delivered digitally on the HSC website.