Principal's Message
Hello Bobcat Families,
One tip to make this year successful is to check your child's backpack daily. Important flyers, homework, and other information are waiting for you to read! Help keep that school-home connection alive and well! Thank you for your partnership and support!'
Important reminder: There is NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, September 7, due to Labor Day. See you Tuesday!
Have a great week and let’s ROAR, Bobcats!
With Love,
Mrs. Higginbotham
Urgent! Student Safety Alert After School
We have seen a significant increase in students remaining on campus long past dismissal. Please remember:
School ends at 2:30 PM (12:15 on Thursdays)
Supervision officially concludes at 2:45 PM (12:30 on Thursdays)
The front office is not equipped to supervise students after hours.To maintain student safety and security, the following strict policies continue to be in effect:
Mandatory Photo ID: Anyone picking up a late student must present a valid photo ID at the front office—no exceptions, even if staff know you.
Alternate Plans Required: If you cannot arrive by 2:45 PM, you must arrange for an authorized alternate pick-up person or enroll your child in an after-school care program.
Notify the Office: Please contact the main office immediately if someone other than a parent will be retrieving your child.
Thank you for your prompt cooperation in ensuring all students leave campus safely and on time.
Valid Photo ID Needed to Check Out Students
A valid photo ID is required to sign out a student, even if we know you!
An early or late pick-up of a student also requires a valid I.D. of the parent, guardian, or authorized person. The following will be acceptable forms of identification to help facilitate this process the identification must be valid, or if the identification has expired, it must have been issued within the past five (5) years:
A valid state-issued driver’s license; a valid state-issued identification card; a valid United States passport; a valid foreign passport; a valid foreign driver’s license; a valid permanent Resident Alien Card; and a valid military identification card.
Valid identification cards must contain the following:
The photograph of the signer; the physical description of the signer; a serial or identifying number on the identification; and the signature of the signer.
No exceptions.
Meet Our Librarian, Ms. Janet
Our library opened this week, thanks to Ms. Janet. Get to know her by reading a lottle about her!
Meet the Librarian — Mrs. Janet
About Me
Hello! I'm Mrs. Janet. I have been a librarian at Felicita Elementary for almost a whole year. I was born and raised in Espanola, New Mexico. I'm married and have two children, a dog and a cat. I've lived in 7 different states but California is my favorite!
Books I'm Currently Reading
- Growing Home by Beth Ferry
- Dungeon Crawler Carl: Book 2 by Matt Dinniman
- We'll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida
Favorites
- Color: Pink
- Food: Tacos
- Season: Fall
- Hobby: Reading
- Holiday: Christmas
- Team: Padres
Contact Info
Call the library: 760-432-2444
Email Mrs. Janet (opens in a new tab)
Library Hours
Library open Monday - Friday during recess and lunch. Also open after school on FIRST and THIRD Thursday of the month for 30 minutes after release (Must be accompanied by adult)
PTA Corner: What's Happening Around Felicita
LAST CHANCE FOR FELICITA APPAREL!
Orders close Wednesday, September 9!
Don't miss your chance to order Felicita shirts and sweatshirts for kids and adults, starting at only $15! Pre-washed, pre-shrunk, and oh-so-soft! Orders will be delivered to the school for pickup in October (no shipping cost to you!). Show your school spirit every Friday for spirit day in your new Felicita gear!
Felicita Gear on EPI website (opens in a new tab)
Felicita Elementary School Spiritwear Sale
Order Deadline
Order by September 9
Items Available
- Long Sleeve Tees
- Sweatshirts
- T-Shirts
- Raglans
Details
See all items and pricing available online.
Shop Felicita Spiritwear (opens in a new tab)
Shop Felicita Spiritwear (QR code link) (opens in a new tab)
PTA ASSOCIATION MEETING
Join us for our first PTA Association Meeting of the year. New this year: attend all five meetings and complete your PTA Punch Card for a chance to win an end-of-year prize!
READ-A-THON IS COMING
Felicita's Read-A-Thon begins Monday, September 21!
Information will be sent home soon, but families can get a head start and activate their reader's page now.
Activate your student's Read-a-thon Page (opens in a new tab)
PARENTS' NIGHT OUT with Atomic Groove @ Belly Up!
Friday, September 25 | 5–8 p.m. | Belly Up | 21+
Join us for Atomic Groove! $2 from every ticket sold goes back to Felicita PTA.
Facebook page to purchase tickets to Parents' Night Out (opens in a new tab)
PTA MEMBERSHIP
Our Membership Drive is over, and class winners will be announced soon! But you can join PTA anytime. We want all students represented by their families!
Thank you to everyone who joined and supported our Membership Drive this year.
ALL THINGS FELICITA PTA: PTA website (opens in a new tab)
Attendance Matters!
We are hosting an exciting Attendance Challenge over the next two weeks! Students will receive one raffle ticket for every day they attend school from September 1 through September 11. One lucky winner, announced on September 14, will receive four tickets to FUNBOX, Escondido's brand-new inflatable bounce park. Remember, Every Day Counts!
Jump Into Fun! Felicita Back-to-School Attendance Challenge
Win 4 Tickets to Funbox Indoor Inflatable Park!
Receive 1 raffle ticket every day you come to school!
Challenge Dates
- September 1 – September 11
- Winner announced September 14th
Regular student attendance plays a critical role in our collective mission to ensure every student achieves their fullest potential.
Why Attendance Should Be a Top Priority:
1. Academic Achievement: Regular attendance is fundamental to student success. Each school day is a building block in the learning process. Consistent attendance helps students keep up with coursework, understand key concepts, and perform better academically.
2. Social and Emotional Development: School is a place where students develop crucial social skills and emotional resilience. Frequent absences can hinder their ability to form strong relationships with peers and teachers, impacting their overall development.
3. Future Opportunities: Consistent attendance is linked to higher graduation rates and better long-term outcomes, including higher education and career prospects. By prioritizing attendance, we are directly contributing to students' future success.
4. School Culture: Regular attendance fosters a positive school culture and enhances the learning environment for everyone. It creates a sense of community and ensures that all students have equal access to the resources and support they need.
This year our attendance goals are as follows:
Average Daily Attendance: 94%
Chronic Absenteeism: 20%
Let's go, Bobcats!
Free EXPLORE Classes After School
EXPLORE Clubs begin on September 14, 2026 and end on November 18, 2026.There will be no EXPLORE classes on October 8 and 9 due to Parent Teacher Conferences and on November 11 due to the Veterans Day Holiday from school. All pickups from EXPLORE classes will be at the Tulip Street Gate.
There are still just a few spots available if you have not had a chance to sign up yet. You can sign your student up for more than one class as long as both classes are not on the same day.
Google Form to Sign-up for EXPLORE Classes (opens in a new tab)
Escondido Parent Leadership Institute Fall 2026 (Spanish)
Six-week workshop series – starting on September 18 – aimed at building parent capacity to engage as school leaders and essential partners in supporting academic success.
Registration link (opens in a new tab)
Note: These parent trainings will be conducted in Spanish.
Unleashing the Power of Parent Leaders: Their Actions and Impact — Empowering Families, Transforming Futures
About the Program
Our six-week, easy-to-understand learning institute is designed to be simple and enjoyable to equip parents and caregivers with the tools to become effective advocates for children and agents of positive change in their communities.
By exploring your passions, strengths, and ideas, you'll develop leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
The Parent Leadership Institute provides families with the opportunity to learn, grow, and strengthen their voice within schools.
Families Will Learn About
- The history about public education
- How schools make decisions
- School finances
- Student academic achievement
- ELAC/DELAC, which helps support students who are multilingual
Join us and become an empowered parent leader!
This training will be conducted in Spanish.
Session Dates and Topics
All sessions are held at Escondido Unified School District, 2310 Aldergrove Avenue, Escondido, CA 92029, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Free Opportunity for Families.
- September 18 — Understanding Our School System: How It Has Evolved and What It Means for Your Child
- October 6 — How Schools Work: Who Makes Decisions and How You Can Be Involved
- October 23 — School Funding Made Simple: How Money Supports Your Child's Education
- November 6 — Your Voice Matters: Understanding ELAC & DELAC and How to Participate
- November 13 — Supporting Your Child's Success at School and Beyond
- November 17 — Leading with Respect: Celebrating Growth and Graduation
Register
Register for the Escondido Parent Leadership Institute Fall 2026 (QR code link) (opens in a new tab)
Presented By
Kathia Lopez, Parent Education Specialist
Contact Information
Christine Carrera
Email Christine Carrera (opens in a new tab)
Dulce Cruz (Bilingual Spanish)
Email Dulce Cruz (opens in a new tab)
Call Dulce Cruz: (760) 432-2154
Additional Information
Participants may be photographed for use in promotional and/or news materials.
The San Diego County Office of Education is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. SDCOE does not discriminate in its employment practices or educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, physical or mental disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender/transgender identity and expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, a perception of one or more of such characteristics, association with a person of group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law as applicable to educational services and/or employment.
SDCOE nondiscrimination policies and regulations (opens in a new tab)
Desatando el poder de padres líderes: Sus acciones e impacto — Empoderando a familias, Transformando futuros
¡Acompáñanos a una experiencia de aprendizaje divertida!
Nuestro instituto de aprendizaje de seis semanas está diseñado para ser sencillo y agradable, y para brindar a las familias las herramientas necesarias para apoyar a sus hijos y generar un impacto positivo en sus comunidades.
Al explorar tus pasiones, fortalezas e ideas, desarrollarás habilidades de liderazgo para apoyar a tus hijos y ser un líder en tu comunidad.
El Instituto de Liderazgo para Padres brinda a las familias la oportunidad de aprender, crecer y fortalecer su voz dentro de las escuelas.
ESTA CAPACITACIÓN SE OFRECERÁ EN ESPAÑOL SOLAMENTE
Las Familias aprenderán sobre
- La historia de la educación pública
- Cómo se toman las decisiones en los colegios
- Las finanzas de los colegios
- El rendimiento académico de los alumnos
- ELAC/DELAC, ayuda a apoyar a los alumnos multilingües
¡Únete a nosotros y conviértete en un padre líder empoderado!
Lugar y horario
Escondido Unified School District
2310 Aldergrove Avenue
Escondido, CA 92029
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FREE Opportunity for Families
Fechas de sesiones
- Sep. 18 — Entendiendo nuestro sistema escolar: cómo ha evolucionado y qué significa para su hijo/a
- Oct. 6 — Cómo funcionan las escuelas: quién toma decisiones y cómo puede involucrarse
- Oct. 23 — El dinero en las escuelas: cómo se financia la educación de su hijo/a
- Nov. 6 — Su voz importa: qué son ELAC y DELAC y cómo puede participar
- Nov. 13 — Apoyando el éxito de su hijo/a en la escuela y en la vida
- Nov. 17 — Liderando con respeto: celebrando el crecimiento y graduación
Presentado por
Kathia Lopez, Especialista en Educación para Padres
Para más información
Email Christine Carrera (opens in a new tab)
Email Dulce Cruz — Bilingüe/Español (opens in a new tab)
Llame a Dulce Cruz (Bilingüe-Español): (760) 432-2154
Regístrate en el Escondido Parent Leadership Institute Fall 2026 (QR code link) (opens in a new tab)
Participants may be photographed for use in promotional and/or news materials.
The San Diego County Office of Education is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. SDCOE does not discriminate in its employment practices or educational programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, physical or mental disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender/transgender identity and expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, a perception of one or more of such characteristics, association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law as applicable to educational services and/or employment.
More detailed SDCOE policies and regulations on nondiscrimination (opens in a new tab)
This Week in Pictures
The library officially opened!
We had our 1st dine out at El Pollo Loco!
4th grade went on a community walk to solve neighborhood problems.
We had our 1st ROAR Assembly. Congrats to all the Critical Thinkers who received awards!
Important Dates
SEPTEMBER
9/7 Labor Day No School
9/11 Patriot Day: Wear Red, White, + Blue + Felicita Families
9/14 Running Club Starts (permission slip needed) + Grades 1-5 Recess Reimagined
9/16 PTA Association Meeting
9/21 PTA Read-a-thon Begins
9/25 September Scavenger Hunt at Recess PTA Atomic Grove Parents' Night Out at the Belly Up
Felicita Social Media
Be sure to follow Felicita on Facebook (opens in a new tab) and Instagram (opens in a new tab)!