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Coleman Elementary School

Principal's Post: Sunday, February 22, 2026

Posted Date: 02/22/26 (04:00 PM)
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The Principal's Post
Dear Coleman Families,

Gung hay fat choy! Happy Lunar New Year, Lent, and Ramadan! A fun fact is that Tuesday, was the first time since 1863 that all three coincided on the same day.

Over the break, I had the privilege of celebrating Lunar New Year in New York with my eldest daughter while visiting my sister and niece in Brooklyn. We celebrated by attending the action packed 28th Annual Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival, and then we did my favorite thing: bringing our extended family together to eat Dim Sum and connect with one another for a fresh start to the year.

In our house, we value learning and sharing about different cultures with our kiddos. Below are ways that you can engage with our kiddos about the Lunar New Year.

Lunar New Year is essentially the world’s biggest birthday party and spring festival combined into one! Since it follows the lunar calendar (which tracks the cycles of the moon), the date changes every year, usually falling between late January and mid-February. Here is a simple way to break it down for the kids:

What is it all about?
Think of it as a way to "sweep away" the bad luck from the past year to make room for all the good things coming in the new one. It’s a time family, food, and fresh starts.

The Animals of the Zodiac:
Every year is named after one of 12 special animals. Legend says the Emperor held a "Great Race" across a river, and the order the animals finished determined their place in the calendar.
  • The Animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
  • 2026 is the Year of the Horse! People born this year are said to be energetic, kind, and full of life.

Why is everything Red?
You’ll see red lanterns, red clothes, and red decorations everywhere.
  • The Legend: Long ago, a scary beast named Nian would visit villages. People discovered he was afraid of the color red and loud noises.
  • The Tradition: Today, people hang red paper cutouts and set off fireworks to keep the "beast" (and bad luck) away.
 

Important Upcoming Dates:

Black History Month Celebration: Community Movie Night

Please join us this Friday, February 27, for a fun evening bringing our community together as we conclude our Black History Month celebrations.
The festivities begin at 5:15 PM with pizza and popcorn, generously sponsored by the Coleman PTO. We’ll be revealing the featured movie to students during Wednesday’s morning announcements.

Save the Date: March Conferences

Caretaker conferences will be held from March 16–20. Monday, March 16, is a Non-Student Day. There will be no school for students, as teachers will be conducting conferences all day. Please keep an eye out for a sign-up link from your child’s teacher in the coming weeks. Tuesday, March 17-20 are 11:50 am release.
 

Book Recommendation: Make Your Mark by Jacci Gresham and Sherry Fellores and illustrated by David WIlkerson

This inspiring picture book biography introduces students to Jacci Gresham, the first known Black female tattoo artist in the U.S., who co-authored her own story of creativity and courage. Through stylish artwork, children learn how Jacci broke barriers in New Orleans by developing new techniques for diverse skin tones and always "coloring outside the lines." It’s a wonderful resource for teaching kids about persistence, self-expression, and making their own unique mark on the world.

Coleman Handbook Highlight


Student Attendance Review Board (SARB)

Attendance plays an important role in student success. We want to partner with families to ensure their students attend school. As a school and district, we take a few measures to communicate with families when their students are missing significant amounts of school.  

Legally, we are required to inform you if your child is at risk for truancy or may be considered truant. The intent of the Student Attendance Review Team (SART) meetings are to ensure that we collaborate - home and school - to support your student in attending on time daily. Martha and I have held many SART meetings with families and will make our next big push during Family Conferences in March.

The California Education Code Section 48260 and Board Policy 5113.1 defines truancy as follows:

 “(a) A pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district.”

We will take the following measures to notify families before their students receive their fourth truancy notification:
  • As soon as teachers submit their attendance, the office staff contacts families to verify absences.
  • Initial truancy: SARB 1 Letter: a letter is mailed home after 3 unexcused absences or three 30-minute periods during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions. 
  • Second Truancy: SARB 2 Letter: A letter is mailed home after 6 unexcused absences or six 30-minute periods during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions. 
  • After a student receives a SARB 2 letter, a Student Attendance Review Team meeting will be scheduled with the family, administrator, teacher, and student.
  • Third Truancy (habitual truancy): SARB 3 Letter: A letter is mailed home after 10% of the school year is missed.
  • A student who is habitually truant, irregular in school attendance, or habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school may be referred to, and required to attend, a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) program, a truancy mediation program established by the school district. (Education Code 48263, 48264.5)
 

Important Resources, Links & PTO Weekly Newsletter


The Weekly Wrap - the Coleman PTO Weekly Newsletters

Important Dates and Upcoming Events

Coleman Family Google Calendar HERE