Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School

It was fabulous to have all our Snowy Owls back on campus last week! We hope everyone had a fantastic first week settling back into the rhythm of school life, while honoring and celebrating Month of the Military Child. Throughout the week of April 6th, our campus was filled with pride and joy as students and staff participated in spirit days, each one serving as a small but powerful tribute to the lives of military children. With the amazing support of our PTA, one of the highlights of the week was our Military Family Parade and Picnic. Seeing families gather, students smiling with pride, and our community connecting in such a joyful way was truly unforgettable. The garden games, paletas, and shared moments of laughter made the afternoon a beautiful celebration of togetherness and appreciation. To our military children, you are seen, valued, and deeply admired. Sotomayor is stronger because of you, and we are honored to celebrate you, not just this month, but all year long.

It has been an amazing week, but April is just getting started! Next week, we’ll be celebrating neurodiversity and the unique ways all of our Snowy Owls soar during Autism Acceptance Week. SEPAC has lots of exciting spirit days and events planned.

As we continue this final stretch of the school year, we have many exciting activities and updates to share with you. Let’s make this quarter the best one yet!

Autism Acceptance Week

We are proud to celebrate Autism Acceptance Week, April 13th–17th, as we continue our commitment to building an inclusive school community where every student feels valued, supported, and a true sense of belonging.

We will kick off the week on Monday with our 🫧 Super Bubble Buddies Run. Students will be thoughtfully paired as buddies, bringing together our SDC and general education classrooms to promote connection, empathy, and friendship. This joyful event highlights the power of inclusion and sets the tone for a week centered on acceptance and understanding.

We will wrap up the week on Friday with our 🎮 Acceptance Arcade: Inclusive Family Game Night from 3:15–5:00 PM. Families are invited to join us in the MPR for an afternoon of adaptive games, connection, and fun for all ages. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate inclusion in action.

Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering a culture of acceptance, celebrating neurodiversity, and ensuring every Sotomayor student feels seen, heard, and valued, this week and always. 💙

PTA Updates

Our PTA has an exciting month ahead, filled with opportunities to connect, celebrate, and get involved in our school community!

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our PTA and school community. Your involvement makes a difference in creating meaningful experiences for our students. We hope to see you at these upcoming events!

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, we will continue to focus and reinforce the expected behaviors for dismissal. We appreciate your support in asking your Snowy Owls at home what specific behaviors allow them to be safe, respectful, responsible, and kind at dismissal.

2025-26 Yearbook Pre-Sale

2026-27 SPSA Input

We need your input on our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) which organizes funds received by the school in order to most efficiently serve the needs of the students and increase their achievement. Through your input we can learn what’s most important in meeting our goals and achieving our annual measurable outcomes.

We will be using your thoughts to assist us in the development of our SPSA for the 2026-27 school year. Please see attachment below to view our SPSA Goals for the 2025-26 school year.

Please use QR code or link below and based on the strategies and activities outlined in the 2025–2026 SPSA, please share your thoughts on the following questions:

• Which strategies or activities should we continue because they are helping students succeed?
• What new strategies or activities should we consider adding to better support students and help us meet our school goals and annual measurable outcomes?

AGE Information – 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade

We invite you to participate in our upcoming A.G.E. (Adolescent Growth Education) Parent Preview Nights, hosted by the Chula Vista Elementary School District. These virtual sessions are designed to provide families with an overview of the instructional resources that will be shared with our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn more about the curriculum, ask questions, and feel informed and confident about the content your child will experience.

Preview Night Schedule:

• 4th Grade Families: Monday, April 20 | 6:00–7:30 PM
• 5th Grade Families: Tuesday, April 21 | 6:00–7:30 PM
• 6th Grade Families: Wednesday, April 22 | 6:00–7:30 PM
  📍 All sessions will be held online via Microsoft Teams

Sessions are offered in both English and Spanish, with access links available for each grade level. We strongly encourage all families of students in grades 4–6 to attend. Your partnership is essential as we support our students through important stages of growth and development.

For additional information, please contact: curriculum.instruction@cvesd.org

Thank you for your continued support and engagement in your child’s education!

Otay Water District Poster Contest

The Otay Water District has launched its annual “Being Water Wise is…” Student Poster Contest!

All K-12 students attending schools within the Otay Water District’s service area are invited to design a poster illustrating the importance of using water efficiently for a chance to win various prizes and have their artwork featured in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s 2027 Student Art Calendar.

The flyer, guidelines, and entry form are posted below.

Please note: The deadline is Friday, May 8, 2026.

Contest rules, prizes, and additional details are available at https://www.otaywater.gov/poster-contest/​​

Free Camp Grief for Students

Camp Hope California is offering a FREE Grief Camp on April 25–26, 2026 for children ages 7–17 who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Students will have the opportunity to share memories, express feelings, build friendships, and participate in fun, supportive activities.

📍 Boys and Girls Club, La Mesa, CA
🌐 Register: http://www.camphopeCA.com

This is a wonderful, no-cost resource to support students through grief. Please consider sharing with families who may benefit.

All-Inclusive Day of Play: Starry Cinema and Resource Fair

Join the Special Needs Resource Foundation on April 19 at the Salvation Almy Kroc Center for their All Inclusive Day of Play and Resource Fair — a free event for kids of all abilities and their families.