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Peterson Elementary

Igniting Young Minds to Reach for a Bright Future

This Week at Peterson . . . the week of February 9th

Posted Date: 02/08/26 (05:00 PM)


Peterson Elementary Newsletter

The Week of February 9th

Student cast of the Aristocats

Dear Peterson Families,

I am incredibly proud of our Dolphins for bringing The Aristocats to life on our school stage under the direction of Ms. Miars. Your commitment, teamwork, and enthusiasm have shone through every rehearsal and performance, reminding us that a successful production is built on creativity, perseverance, and collaboration. Whether you were singing, acting, dancing, working behind the scenes, or supporting one another along the way, you demonstrated confidence, responsibility, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. You embraced challenges with positive attitudes and showed what is possible when students work together toward a common goal. This production was not just entertaining—it was a powerful example of how the arts help us grow as learners and as people.

Bravo to our talented students for an outstanding performance and for representing our school with pride! I would also like to thank the following parents who helped Ms. Miars tirelessly press forward with the production: Alexa Featherstone, Becky Haberstroh, Christy Klements, Cindy Nguyen, D'chelle French, Emma Knudtson, Gee Fornasier, Jennifer Joho, Jenny Baker, Jessica DeArman, Jessica Miller, Justine Housh, Kate Price, Kristine Cross, Mandy Wheeler, Maria Heh, Mary Schiesser, Melissa Knudtson, Rob Knudtson, Michelle Poe, Rosann Marquez-Gaughan and Wendy Gray. . .it would not have been possible without your time and effort throughout the season.

Please see the following highlights of events happening at Peterson and throughout our district this week.

With Dolphin Pride,

Dr. Smith-Johnson
Principal

School News

Personal Electronics Policy Reminder . . .

I would like to take a moment to remind families of Peterson’s personal electronics policy, which was shared with all parents during Registration and reviewed with students by their teachers at the start of the school year and again during each PBIS lesson cycle following school breaks. This policy is based on HBCSD Board Policy 5131.8 and aligned with California Education Codes 48901.5 and 48901.7, as well as Penal Code 1546.1, and is designed to help us maintain a safe, focused, and positive learning environment for all students. For this reason, we strongly discourage students from bringing mobile communication devices to school (phones, watches, etc.).

If a student is found using a device, the following steps will occur: for a first offense, the student will be reminded to turn the device off and put it away; for a second occurrence, the student will be directed to turn the device off and it will be taken by a staff member to the office until a parent/guardian retrieves it from the office; and for a third occurrence, a meeting with the principal will be required.

We truly appreciate your partnership and support in reinforcing these expectations at home, as working together helps ensure our campus remains a place where our students can stay engaged, focused, and ready to learn each day without distractions. For any necessary messages to be delivered to your student, please contact the office directly and we will make sure they receive them in a timely manner.
 

Enrollment for the 2026–27 School Year Opens February 13th


Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 8th-grade Enrollment for the 2026–27 school year opens Friday, February 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM for new students joining Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD).

Families with young learners are invited to attend a Virtual Early Childhood Education Information Meeting to learn more about Preschool, TK, and Kindergarten enrollment requirements, immunizations and get questions answered:

  • English (Spanish translation available): February 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM
  • Spanish: February 19, 2026, at 9:00 AM

Families are encouraged to visit the Enrollment website to review required documents and enrollment steps.

Please note that enrollment is not official until all required documentation has been submitted and verified by the school, and students may not attend until the process is complete.

Enrollment is for new students only. Returning HBCSD students will complete Data Confirmation in August.
 
YMCA's Promo for Drive-in Movie
 
Important HBCSD 26-27 dates
 

Proposed Peterson Lighting Project – Upcoming Community Meeting

The Huntington Beach City School District (HBCSD) will revisit the Proposed Peterson Lighting Project during a community meeting on February 23, 2026.

Meeting Date & Details:
Monday, February 23, 2026 | 5:00 PM | Peterson Elementary School

This project is funded through a trust established following the sale of Gisler Middle School and is part of a broader effort to enhance local school fields. One of the proposed components includes the installation of field lighting at Peterson Elementary School.

The presentation from last year’s community meeting, along with an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document, is available on the project website. These resources provide helpful background information and address common questions from the community.

We encourage families and community members to review the materials, attend one or both upcoming meetings to learn more about the proposal, and share their feedback.

To receive updates about the Peterson Elementary Field Lighting Project, community members may join the project email list.
 
ECE dates for 2026-2027 in HBCSD

Early Childhood Education Informational Meeting . . .


Families with children entering Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten (TK), or Kindergarten are invited to attend HBCSD’s Virtual Early Childhood Education Informational Meeting. This session will provide an overview of our early learning programs and what families can expect as their child begins their educational journey.

Topics include enrollment and registration, immunization requirements, ways to support early learning at home, and a live Q&A.

Meeting Dates:

English Session (Spanish translation will be available) 
Date: February 12, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM Zoom Meeting Link

Spanish Session
Date: February 19, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM Zoom Meeting Link 

Both sessions will be recorded and shared on the TK/Kindergarten website for families who are unable to attend live.
 

Parent Education Series. . .


HBCSD invites families to participate in our 2025–26 Parent Education Series, a three-part workshop series designed to support your child’s academic success and future readiness.

Sessions focus on family involvement, understanding academic progress, and building college and career readiness, with both virtual and in-person options available. Families are welcome to attend one or more sessions based on their interests and needs.
HBCSD's LEA series-Eng
HBCSD's LEA series-Span
 
25-26 Peterson Yearbook Promo
 

English Learner Advisory Council

The English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) consists of parents, staff, and community members who advise the principal and school staff on programs and services for English Learners. The committee helps review and provide input on the school’s English Learner program, language development strategies, and how Title I and other funds are used to support these students. ELAC also promotes communication between English learner families and the school, encourages parent involvement, and ensures that the needs and voices of English Learner students and their families are represented in the school’s decision-making process. We are seeking up to five parents of English learners to serve on this committee that meets three times per year. If you are interested in serving personally or you would like to nominate somebody, please email Dr. Smith-Johnson at KSmith-johnson@hbcsd.us
 

HBCSD School Lunches & Menus:

School breakfast and lunch will be offered free of charge throughout the 2025-2026 school year.
Please refer to the HBCSD Food & Nutrition Services website for more information.
HBCSD Breakfast menu for elementary
HBCSD Lunch menu for elementary
 

Campus & Classroom Volunteers:

At Peterson, we pride ourselves on our strong sense of community and we love campus and classroom volunteers!

Parent & community volunteers are welcome to support our various classroom activities with proof of a negative TB test, Raptor clearance, and a signed Peterson Volunteer Agreement. All campus visitors must enter and exit through the main office.

Please contact the Peterson office with any questions regarding this requirement or to check the date/status of TB results you may have on file from last year.

PTA News

 
Come volunteer in the Peterson Patch!

Peterson Garden Days for 2025-2026

Garden Days & Themes: Snacks and crafts provided, 10am - 1pm 
3/15/25 - Spring Planting at the Garden 
4/12/25 - Flower Harvest Garden Day Gather flowers to press 
4/22/25 - Earth Day: Dinner Social  
5/3/25 - Celebrating Moms’ Garden Day:bookmarks for mom from pressed flowers 
6/7/25 - Annual Peterson Garden Party

The Amazon Garden Wishlist
 
Annual PTA national call for entries announcement.

Birthday Announcements on the Marquee

Birthdays are a BIG deal at Peterson! Every student gets recognized on their birthday on the morning announcements and gets a special Happy Birthday pencil from Dr. Smith-Johnson. Want to make your student's day even more special? Visit the PTA website www.PetersonPTA.org and order a special 'happy birthday' message on the school's marquee on their birthday!

Upcoming Events & Dates

Upcoming important dates and volunteer reminders:


02/09 - Lincoln's Birthday Observed - No school

02/10 - 02/12 Scholastic Book Fair in the Learning Commons

02/10-02/20 - Open Enrollment for HBCSD

02/12 - K.R.O.C. Training Day - Kickoff at 8:00a.m.

02/12 - T.K. & Kindergarten Registration Zoom (Eng. w/Spanish translation available)

02/13 - HBCSD Enrollment Opens for 2026-2027

02/13 - 5th Grade Walk Through the Revolution

02/16 - Presidents' Day - No school

02/19 - K.R.O.C. Training Day @ 8:00a.m.

02/19 - Dolphin Depot Delivery

02/19 - T.K. & Kindergarten Registration Zoom (Span.)

02/19 - PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 6:00p.m.

02/19 - Peterson's S.S.C. Meeting #2 via Zoom @ 4:00p.m.

02/20 - 3rd Grade field trip to the Shipley Nature Center

02/23 - HBCSD Field Lighting Project Info. Meeting in the Clapp Wing @ 5:00p.m.

02/24 - Harvest of the Month

02/24 - 4th Grade Field Trip to Irvine Regional Park

02/26 - K.R.O.C. Training Day @ 8:00a.m.

02/27 - Read Across America Celebration 9:00-11:00a.m.

03/24 - Peterson's TK Tour & Info Session 9:30-10:30

03/25 - Peterson's Kindergarten Tour & Info Session 9:30-10:30

04/02 - 5th Grade Whale Watching field trip

05/01 - 3rd Grade field trip to Bolsa Chica Wetlands

05/29 - 1st Grade field trip to the O.C. Planetarium

06/03 - Kindergarten Assessments (by appointment only)

06/04 - Kindergarten Assessments (by appointment only)

As a reminder, if you plan on participating / volunteering in any of our special activities in our classrooms or on campus, please be sure you have the appropriate documentation on file with the front office. If you are unsure of your volunteer status, please simply call the office and we can verify what you have on file or we can tell you what we are missing.

District Updates

School Accountability Report Card . . .

Peterson Elementary School’s School Accountability Report Card (SARC) is now posted on the HBCSD District website under the "About" tab. Navigate to School Accountability Report Cards and click on our school name on the bottom of the page. Our SARC is also posted on our school website https://peterson.hbcsd.us The purpose of the report card is to provide parents and the community with important information about our school and to report our school’s progress in achieving goals. Hard copies of the report are available upon request by contacting our school office.

Las Tarjetas de Informe de Responsabilidad Escolar (SARC) de la escuela Peterson Elementary School están publicadas en el sitio web del Distrito de HBCSD bajo de la pestaña “About" (o "Acerca de"). Vaya a las “School Accountability Report Cards” (o "Las Tarjetas de Informe de Responsibilidad Escolar (SARC)") y haga clic en el nombre de nuestra escuela en el navegación. Nuestro SARC también está publicado en el sitio web de nuestra escuela https://peterson.hbcsd.us El propósito de la boleta de calificaciones es proporcionar a los padres y la comunidad información importante sobre nuestra escuela y reportar el progreso de nuestra escuela en el logro de las metas. Las copias impresas del informe están disponibles a pedido comunicándose con la oficina de nuestra escuela.
 
Master calendar for HBCSD 2025-2026

Quick Links

2026-2027 HBCSD Calendar
2025-2026 Student Handbook
2025-2026 HBCSD Calendar
HBCSD Website
Peterson PTA Website
HBCSD Food Services (Menus)
Peterson Elementary Website