School News

December 3, 2025

Dear Monroe Families,

I hope this message finds you well. Please check out our website at monroe.campbellusd.org for up-to-date information, as well as be on the lookout for our communication that comes out on Wednesdays every two weeks.  For a student perspective on school news, please check out the Monday Minutes, our weekly student broadcast.

Upcoming Events

• 12/7 9 AM to 2 PM is our PTA Goodwill Donation Drive. 

• 12/12 6 PM Family Movie Night

• 12/17 5:30 PM Family Paint Night

Reminders

• Parent/Guardian To Do List: 

1. If you haven’t filled out your parental agreement form for this year please do so with this link.

2. If you have not filled out your student health information for this year  please do so with this link.

3. If you have not downloaded Parentsquare please do so to receive all updated information and school communications with the link below:

1.  Apple Phones

2.  Android Phones

Family and Community Engagement: 

Join us for a Family Paint Night at Monroe, hosted by AACI! All families are welcome to enjoy a fun and creative evening together. Children ages 5 and up will receive their own canvas to paint, and light snacks will be provided. Space is limited, so be sure to sign up soon. We look forward to seeing you there!

Health and Safety

As the days grow shorter and the sun rises later, we must remind our students to be extra cautious when traveling to and from school. With reduced daylight in the mornings and evenings, road visibility is lower, and we want to ensure every child gets to school safely.

Please take a moment to review these safety tips with your child:

1. Stay Visible: Encourage your child to wear bright or reflective clothing, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Consider adding reflective tape to backpacks, bikes, and scooters.

2. Use Crosswalks and Sidewalks: Remind your child to always use crosswalks and obey traffic signals. When riding bikes or scooters, they should stay on bike paths or sidewalks where possible and avoid busy roads.

3. Be Aware of Surroundings: It’s important that students stay alert by keeping headphones and mobile devices put away while crossing streets or riding.

4. Helmets and Safety Gear: If your child is riding a bike or scooter, make sure they are wearing a helmet and any other necessary safety gear.

5. Buddy System: Walking or riding with a friend can increase safety and make the journey to and from school more enjoyable.

Principal's Corner

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break and had time to rest, recharge, and connect with loved ones. As we return to school, we have three weeks ahead of us before winter break. This time of year can feel both exciting and overwhelming, and we want you to know we’re here to support you.

If you or a Monroe family you know could use any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Ms. Yesenia ymacshate [at] campbellusd.org (), our incredible community liaison, is here every day and has resources and supports available for our families.

During this busy season, we encourage everyone to prioritize self-care and take moments to nurture their well-being. Together, we can make this month meaningful and manageable for everyone in our community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s make these next few weeks productive and positive!

Attendance

• Report an absence, please call our 24-hour voicemail line at 408-341-7022 or monroe_attendance [at] campbellusd.org (when leaving a message or sending an email please let me know the student's first and last name, grade, and the reason for the absence)

• For information regarding the CUSD Attendance policy please click here

• ATTENDANCE MATTERS - REPORT STUDENT ABSENCES
  Students that are marked unexcused are unable to receive credit for assignments missed that day. If you call the school to verify your child’s absence with an allowed reason, your child can receive full credit for assignments missed that day. Please call the main office to report your child’s absence and refer to our student handbook for additional school policies.

Please review these important guidelines with your student to ensure a safe and healthy school year.

💊 Medication Policy and Procedures

For the safety of all students, we have strict rules regarding medication at school.

• No Student-Carried Medication: Students are not permitted to carry any type of medication (including over-the-counter items like Tylenol or cough drops) in their backpacks or pockets.

• Exception for Self-Administration: The only exception is if your student has a completed "Authorization for Student to Carry and Self-Administer" form on file, with both a doctor's signature and a parent/guardian signature. This form must be turned into the Health Office before the student carries the medication.

• All Other Medication: All other prescribed or over-the-counter medications must be dropped off and stored in the Health Office and administered by Health Office staff, with a signed medication authorization form on file.

📞 Contacting Parents During Illness

If your student is feeling unwell, the Health Office must be the first point of contact.

• Official Procedure: Students who are not feeling well must report to the Health Office. All necessary calls to parents/guardians will be made only by Health Office staff.

• Safety and Checkout: This ensures proper student safety, guarantees your student is logged out correctly, and provides official documentation of their illness and departure time.

• Cell Phones: Students are not permitted to contact parents from their personal cell phones during school hours if they are feeling sick. Please discuss this policy with your child to ensure they know to report directly to the Health Office.

Regards,

As always, we are here to answer your questions.  We appreciate you and your support for our school.

Regards,

Ruth Stephens Radle                     

rstephensradle [at] campbellusd.org       

Principal

Pat Sieler 

psieler [at] campbellusd.org

Assistant Principal        

Laura Hammersmith

lhammersmith [at] campbellusd.org

Dean of Students    

Many students at Monroe walk into classrooms every day with their own struggles: navigating new cultures, facing language barriers, or adjusting to unfamiliar environments. For students who have immigrated to the United States, these challenges are especially profound. Here at Monroe Middle School,  66  % of students have learned a new language, a task that can often feel overwhelming. 

There are staff members at Monroe who also share these experiences. Mr. Velasquez, an 8th grade social studies teacher, grew up speaking only Spanish. “Not knowing much English, school was difficult because I couldn’t get help at home because my parents only spoke Spanish.”

Mrs. Rubino, a 7th-grade teacher from Switzerland, recalls adapting to new surroundings and feeling isolated at first. "I didn't have anyone to talk to which made it a very lonely experience."  

Moving to another country can bring many changes such as new circumstances, new people, and often financial hardships. Mr. Arciga, a PE teacher, shared that he didn’t have a lot of money growing up,  started working at the age 13, and paid for his own expenses. 

These teachers had some advice for students going through similar experiences. Mr. Velasquez said  to be proud of where you come from and never forget who you are. Mrs. Rubino advises, “Give yourself patience and grace when going through these struggles.” She also shared that students should take advantage of the opportunities given to them. Mr. Arciga encourages students to surround themselves with good people and the people they aspire to be. He added, “Focus on family and friends.  Everything will work out…our story isn't over.”

 Written by student journalists Michaela E. and Jayleen V. (8th grade)