Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School

Thank you to all our students and families for a great start to quarter 2! We’ve witnessed so many smiles and positive attitude among our students. Their excitement, resilience, and determination are always inspiring. Also, we want to extend our gratitude to you, as parents and guardians, for your continuous support in nurturing their academic and personal growth in each of our Snowy Owl students.

This week our 1st-5th grade Snowy Owls experienced an out-of-this-world adventure with the Sky Dome Planetarium, presented by Mobile Ed Productions! The inflatable dome transformed our multipurpose room into a full 360° night-sky theater. Students explored constellations, planets, and the solar system while learning how ancient civilizations used the stars for navigation and storytelling.

The interactive presentation sparked curiosity and wonder, connecting science and history in an unforgettable way. Huge shout out to Ms. Martinez and our Sonia Sotomayor PTA for bringing the universe directly to our school!

We have several events happening this quarter. Keep checking our school blog, our weekly happenings are updated every Sunday. You can also opt into following our blog and receive any new posts delivered directly to your email inbox. Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for your continued support!

Be sure to stay up to date on school expectations and guidelines, by checking out our 2025-26 Family Handbook.

Snowy Owl Expectation Focus

Our goal at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School is to create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment for all and hold students accountable for being positive forces within our school community. The Snowy Owl Expectations are taught, modeled, and practiced throughout all grade levels and locations around campus. For the next week two weeks, we will focus and reinforce the expected behaviors for restrooms. We appreciate your support in asking your Snowy Owls at home what specific behaviors allow them to be safe, respectful, responsible, and kind at our restrooms.

APEX Fun Run is coming!

PTA Updates

 Upcoming Events 

 APEX Fundraiser Kickoff – This Week!
We’ll start with a pep rally on Tuesday, followed by two weeks of leadership and character lessons for our Snowy Owls, culminating in the Fun Run on Thursday, October 23.
This is our BIG fundraiser for the year, and we’d love your support! We’ll need about 20 volunteers per run. If you’re available, please sign up here. Families are also welcome to attend as spectators, but we ask that everyone stay in the designated viewing area.

 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat | Thursday, October 30 | 4–5 PM
Trunk or Treat is back, so be sure to join us for some spooky fun! This year, we’re looking for 8–10 families to decorate their cars for this event. If you’d like to participate, please sign up here. We’ll also be collecting candy leading up to the event. If you’d like to donate some, bins will be in the main lobby. 

 Fall Festival | Friday, November 14
Our biggest event of the semester! More details and volunteer opportunities coming soon, so stay tuned.

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 Other Updates

 Spirit Wear Now Available!
New designs and weekly sales! Check it out and order your Sotomayor swag today: sotomayorspiritwear.com

 New Resource for Military Families
We’ve added a new page to our PTA website with resources for military families! From educational programs to community services, there is a ton of support available to help military families thrive. Check it out here: https://www.soniasotomayorpta.com/military-families

 SEPAC Committee
Our Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) collaborates with school leadership, special education teachers, support staff, and PTA to ensure that school events, programs, and resources are accessible and welcoming to all students. If you’re interested in joining, please reach out to our committee chair, Desiree Domingo, at sepac@soniasotomayorpta.com.

 Owl-Stars Spotlight
Each month, we highlight an outstanding member of our Sotomayor community: a student, staff member, or parent making a positive impact. Please submit your nominations by the end of the month. Owl-Stars will be featured on the PTA website and social media.

 PTA Membership
Our membership drive may be over, but it’s never too late to join! Membership is just $10 for the year and gives you a voice in supporting our school community. Encourage friends and family to join, too! Join here: https://jointotem.com/ca/chula-vista/sonia-sotomayor-pta

Grade Level Spotlight

This week our first grade classrooms were learning their doubles and practicing their math fluency. From Doubles Song to Math Talks to Try Discuss Connect Routines, our first graders were practicing and applying their knowledge about doubles and counting strategies like number bonds, tens frame, and number paths in engaging and innovative ways!

Literature Character Parade

Canned Food Drive

The Chula Vista Elementary School District is sponsoring a district-wide food drive in collaboration with the Chula Vista Welfare Council from October 20th – November 7th. We have a box in our main office for any family that would like to participate and drop off food.

The food collected will be boxed and provided to families in Chula Vista. All food donations will be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 13th. 

Suggestions for donations:

Proteins: Peanut butter, meat (chicken, tuna, spam, chili w/meat), and bagged dried beans.

Healthy carbs: Mixed vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, soup, canned tomatoes, and green beans. 

Fruits: Any canned fruit.

Milk: Canned or powdered.

Sauces: Tomato, pasta, gravy, and broth.

Pasta/carbs: Bagged rice, pasta, mac and cheese, stuffing, rice mix, mashed potatoes, canned pasta, and peas.

Chula Vista Pledge Competition

From October 7th to November 1st, 2025, students across Chula Vista are invited to take the Student Safety Pledge to keep safety a priority while walking, biking, and rolling to school.

• The school with the highest percentage of pledges will win a Pizza Party!
• Pledge opens October 7th and closes November 1st.

Scan the QR code below and pledge today!

Free Child Museum Admissions through October 31st

San Diego is always a kids’ paradise, so how do you make this SoCal adventure destination even better? With FREE kids’ admission to dozens of San Diego County’s best museums and attractions for the entire month of October!

The San Diego Museum Council has announced the return of the popular Kids Free San Diego program, now in its 14th year, presented in partnership with the San Diego Tourism Authority and with support from First 5 San Diego.

From Oct. 1 to 31, children ages 12 and under can enjoy free admission to more than 50 museums, aquariums/zoos, gardens, state parks, historic sites and other family-friendly attractions throughout San Diego County. Sites include some of San Diego’s most popular sites, including the USS Midway Museum, Fleet Science Center, Birch Aquarium and San Diego Air & Space Museum, as well as many hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Some locations are free for the entire family or offer pay-what-you-wish admission year-round. A full list of participating museums can be found on the San Diego Museum Council website.

Budget Advisory Committee Representative

We are looking for a parent member to represent Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School in our district Budget Advisory Committee.Please email marthairene.garza@cvesd.org if you are interested in representing Sonia Sotomayor Elementary at these meetings, which are held at the district offices at 84 East J Street, Chula Vista.

Student Insurance and Consent Collection Form

To support students’ success and social-emotional well-being, CVESD provides behavioral health services funded in part through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). Completing the Student Insurance and Consent Collection Form helps the district access this state funding.

Providing your information is safe, confidential, and free. It will not affect your student’s insurance or ability to receive services. Please take a moment to complete the form in English or in Spanish here. For more information, click here. Thank you in advance for helping us provide these important services to all students.

Parent Professional Learning Opportunities

Please reach out to marthairene.garza@cvesd.org if you are interested in attending the opportunity outlined below as our school will pay for your registration fees.

• CABE Mini Conference will be held on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, at Otay Ranch High School Campus from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pupil Services Coffee Talk

 Special Education families are invited to join the Chula Vista Elementary School District’s Pupil Services Department for an upcoming Coffee Talk! This event is a chance to share conversations, ask questions, and strengthen the partnership between families and the district. Together, we’ll build connections and exchange ideas in a welcoming space designed to support your student’s success. 

• When: October 16, 2025 from 9-10 AM
• Where: District Board Room

YOU, ME, AND YOUR STUDENT’S IEP

This is a parent event to meet with Pupil Services Staff to review your child’s IEP. This event is an opportunity for parents to ask questions, gain valuable insight, and discover helpful resources.

• When: November 6th, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00PM
• Where: Greg Rogers Elementary

CVESD University: Anxiety

1 in 3 people experience anxiety at some point in their lives, and it is the most common psychiatric condition in youth. Understand what’s really happening in the brain to cause low frustration tolerance, emotional dysregulation, rigidity, aggression, and excessive worry and fear, and practice ways to manage.

• CVESD U: Anxiety workshop will take place at the district office located at 84 East J Street in Chula Vista. from 4-5 PM on Thursday, October 30th.

Raptor Passport Application

We have several school events taking place this quarter and to expedite the sign-in/sign-out process using the Raptor system, please use the QR codes below to download the Raptor VisitorSafe Application and generate your Raptor Passport. This will make check-ins faster and more convenient while upholding our district safety protocols. Please stop by the main office and ask for assistance if you need further assistance with downloading the Raptor VisitorSafe Application.