The Dolphin Splash vol. 3

Dear Peterson Families,

What a great first week of school! It has been wonderful seeing our Dolphins back on campus and feeling the excitement and energy that comes with the start of a new year. Our students have been busy getting to know their teachers and classmates, learning new routines, and settling into their classrooms.

Throughout the week, our Dolphins have also been learning what it means to S.U.R.F. at Peterson—being Safe, United, Responsible, and Focused. I have already seen so many great examples of our students putting these expectations into action across campus. It’s a perfect way to begin living out this year’s theme, “One Pod, Waves of Possibilities,” as we work together to make Peterson a place where every Dolphin can learn, grow, and thrive.

We also kicked off our student-led morning announcements this week! Our student announcers are doing a great job, and the daily riddles have quickly become a fun favorite for students (and staff, too!).

Thank you, families, for your patience, support, and partnership as we all settle into our new routines. We are off to a great start, and I can’t wait to see all the possibilities this year brings for our Pod! 💜🐬

-Principal Angeles

We have quite a few families who have not yet completed their annual data confirmation on their Aeries parent portal. 

Here is a link for information on what the annual data confirmation is. 

Here is a link to the district webpage where parents can begin the process by signing in to Aries using the same email address they used to create the account. 

This is a reminder that we will begin our regular early release Thursdays this week. It will be a planning day this Thursday, September 10. Dismissal is as follows:

School Spirit Day- Please wear red, white, and blue on Friday, September 11 for Patriots Day. 

Our fall pictures are coming up quickly. Please save the date for Tuesday, September 15.

Back to school night is coming up on Thursday, September 17. Be sure to save the date! More details coming soon. 

Just a reminder that keeping our Dolphins safe during arrival and dismissal takes all of us working together. Please carefully review our arrival and dismissal information so that everyone knows where to go and what to expect.

Students arriving after 8:45 a.m. will need to enter through the front office and obtain a tardy pass.

For families using our vehicle drop-off and pick-up lane, please remember that traffic enters through the main parking lot entrance off Farnsworth & Reilly Drive.

Please pull forward as far as possible, follow the directions of staff and volunteers, and only load or unload students within the designated yellow-cone area along Gates 5 and 7.

The right lane is for immediate loading and unloading, while the left lane is for through traffic.

When exiting the Peterson parking lot during school hours, please turn right only.

Planning and minimum days can be especially busy because our dismissal times are staggered. Please do not enter the loading lane before your child’s scheduled dismissal time.

Students who have not been picked up within ten minutes of their dismissal bell will be brought to the office, where a parent or guardian will need to sign them out.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is hosting the first E-Bike and E-Motorcycle Buy Back Program on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Angel Stadium, offering up to $1,000 in gift cards and tickets to a Los Angeles Angels baseball game in exchange for E-Bikes, pocket bikes, E-Scooters, and E-Motorcycles, in an effort to reduce injuries and deaths. E-Bikes and E-Motorcycles have become the number one reason Orange County children are admitted to the emergency room, with injuries increasing 430% in just the last four years across Southern California.

OCTA has shared important updates to the Youth Ride Free Program for this school year.

There will be district communication regarding this program coming this week. There will also be the Wave Open House on September 10 at OCTA headquarters for in-person help.

If you are interested in purchasing spirit wear this school year, please be sure to access the store link via the PTA website page. 

The spirit wear store will be open through September 14. Don't delay and order your spirit wear now!

The PTA Parent’s Approval, Student, Family, and Participant Waiver form was provided to you in the first week of school packet. This must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to school. 

This year's theme is What My Culture Means to Me.

The Reflections Art Program is a National PTA sponsored art event, which allows students to participate in creating an original entry in any of the following categories: Visual Arts, Literature, Writing, Dance, Music, Photography, Film, and Accessible Arts.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students in divisions T-K through grade 2, and grade 3-5 create original works of art in response to a student-created theme. Students submit in one or more of the available arts categories and, based on grade and/or support needs, participate in one of the program divisions.

The digital submission form is due by October 9th.

Physical copies of Visual Arts and Photography must be dropped off in the School Main Office after submission of the digital form. Visual arts and Photography also need an uploaded picture of the art submission in the digital form.  Visual Arts must not exceed 24" x 30" and must be mounted onto a hard backing (no frames). Photography must be between 3"x 5 " and 8" x 10"  and must be mounted onto a hard backing (no frames).  

Entries for all other categories are submitted only digitally in the submission form. 

Questions? Contact petersonptareflections@gmail.com

Raising Cane's PTA dinner night is coming on Wednesday, September 30. Please review flyer for additional details.