CORNELL CHRONICLE 10/23/26
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CORNELL CHRONICLE October 23, 2026 Cornell strives to support a safe and secure learning environment that treats all students with dignity, respect, and high expectations. |
| CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
| Oct 23-31 | Westbrae Pumpkin Patch PTA Fundraiser, Westbrae Nursery |
| Oct 30 | Halloween Parade, 2:20pm, gates open shortly before |
| Nov 1-15 | PTA & Five Little Monkeys Give Back Program, 15% of purchase donated |
| Nov 10-20 | Fall Conferences - minimum days |
| Nov 11 | No School - Veterans Day |
| Nov 23-27 | No School - Thanksgiving Break |
Regular Weekly Schedule
Remember to set a reminder for Wednesday's early dismissal!TK & Kindergarten: 8:30-1:30 (Monday - Friday)
1st - 5th grades: 8:30-3:05 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
Wednesdays for 1st - 5th grades: 8:30-1:45
| PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING |
Dear Coyote families,
The next month will be a busy one here at Cornell, with Halloween festivities next week, and report card conferences coming up in November. Keep reading for lots of important information!
Cornell Halloween parades will be on Friday, October 30.
TK and Kindergarten classes will have a parade in the morning, starting at 8:50.
TK/K students should come to school dressed in their costumes.
TK/K parents can come to the classroom in the morning to help with costumes, no visitor pass required.
Parents are welcome to join us on the playground for the TK/K parade.
1st-5th grade students will watch the TK/K parade.
1st-5th Grades Halloween Parade will be at 2:20pm.
Children bring their costume to school in a bag labeled with their name on it. Students will be changing into costumes in the afternoon at 2:05pm.
Parents are welcome to join us on the playground to watch the parade. The gates will be opened just before 2:20 and parents can enter.
Any 1st-5th grade parents who wish to come early to help with costumes should come at 2:05 and check in at the office for a visitor pass.
Please remember that Cultures are not costumes: Part of creating a safe school community for ALL students on Halloween is making sure racially, ethnically, and culturally based costumes are NOT part of our festivities. Many stores sell costumes that are based in traditional clothing, sacred regalia, and/or ethnic identities. Dressing as a person from another culture can perpetuate stereotypes and treat real people as a joke or a trend. Here is an Instagram reel for younger children explaining these ideas, and here is a video from Teen Vogue intended for older children and teens. Consider showing your child one of these videos and discussing with them as part of your family’s Halloween costume planning.
Some additional Halloween costume guidelines to keep in mind:
Costumes should not depict horror characters or be scary for our youngest students
Masks must not obstruct vision
No fake fingernails or complicated makeup at school
No weapons, even fake ones
Make sure your child can walk in their costume
We are also celebrating Días de los Muertos here at Cornell. Familias Latinas de Albany has collaborated with us to create our school’s ofrenda, now on display outside the main office. An ofrenda is a collection of meaningful offerings used to honor and remember loved ones who are no longer with us. In many traditions, photographs, candles, marigolds are displayed on ofrendas: photographs honor loved ones, candles offer light, and marigolds are believed to help guide them. Traditions vary, and each family remembers loved ones in its own way. We warmly invite you to contribute an item to the ofrenda. Because the ofrenda is in a public space, we ask you to contribute items you feel comfortable donating or have copies of (e.g. duplicates of pictures). Thank you for helping us create a meaningful ofrenda and celebrate together as a school community.
November Minimum Days and School Holidays
November 9: Regular Monday schedule
November 10: Minimum Day for report card conferences, TK/K dismissal at 1:30, 1st-5th grade dismissal at 1:45
November 11: No School (Veteran’s Day)
November 12-20: Minimum Days for report card conferences, TK/K dismissal at 1:30, 1st-5th grade dismissal at 1:45
November 23-27: No School (Thanksgiving)
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events for Albany parents and families:
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC) Meeting Oct. 28th, 6:00pm in the Ocean View library: Dinner and childcare are provided. Learn about Albany’s Master Plan for supporting multilingual learners, review recent academic data for our multilingual learners, and understand changes to the reclassification process under a new California law. Flyer here.
Black Parent Advisory Group (BPAG) Meet and Greet Oct 29th, 7:00pm: Join us next week for a virtual meet and greet. Connect with other parents in the district, and hear from BPAG leaders on strategies for a successful school year in Albany. Zoom Link
Diwali Celebration Nov. 1st, 4:30pm: Join the Southwest Asian and North African Parent Engagement Group (SWANA) in celebrating and learning about Diwali, The Festival of Lights. Enjoy an exciting afternoon featuring live dance performances by Sanskriti Dance Studio, henna, Chai and Samosa's, and arts and crafts. Everyone is welcome. Please rsvp using this link.
Recording of ADHD Workshop: The Albany Disability Squad (ADS) recently hosted a live workshop with Dr. Hawley about navigating ADHD at school. You can find the recording here. You can email Dr. Hawley with questions at: drhawleypractice@gmail.com ADS offers a support group every third Wednesday at 7pm - The next one is scheduled for November 18th.
Have a great weekend!
jen
Ms. Ellen's 1st grade students wearing their classroom color - red!
| CORNELL ANNOUNCEMENT |
Attendance: Early Pick-ups
A note should be e-mailed, ahead of time, to the teacher and the attendance clerk, cornellattendance@ausdk12.org, when it is necessary for your child to be excused for any reason during the school day. Parents/guardians must come to the office to pick up and sign out their children. The office will call the classroom to have your child come up to meet you.
Remember to bring a note from your health care provider (doctor, dentist, optometrist, counselor, etc) when returning back to school, either on the same day or the next day. This will excuse the absence.
| CORNELL LIBRARY CORNER |
Weekly Library Spotlight
During library classes we discussed United Against Hate Week through read-alouds. We discussed why it’s important to be upstanders in the face of hatred and what does unite us here at Cornell– empathy, inclusion, and respect. Kids had a chance to take those ideas and create art that shows what those values look like in action.
TK/K read I See You, a wordless book about the importance of belonging and how small acts can make others feel seen and cared for.
1st enjoyed The Big Umbrella that teaches us that there is always room for everyone, differences and all.
2nd read Strictly No Elephants about the impact of exclusion and ways to include others, even those who caused harm in the past.
3rd really enjoyed Jon Agee’s The Wall in the Middle of the Book, which shows how prejudice and hatred are formed and how minds can be changed in this playful tale.
4th watched a read aloud of Something Good that focuses on something hateful written on the walls of the school, how it impacts the community, and how they heal together.
5th read Red and Green & Blue and White about a true hateful act against a family and how the whole town showed up as upstanders.
Update–Halloween Poster Contest
The posters are all AMAZING and now up for all to see! The librarian-selected finalists are on display and Kids’ Choice voting took place all week. All artists will be recognized for their hard work next week with certificates and Kids’ Choice Winners announced. I hope that you come see them when we have our parade next week, you’ll be inspired!
Ms. Kate, Cornell’s Teacher Librarian, is reachable anytime at kbowman@ausdk12.org to respond to any questions, needs, or requests.
| PTA NEW |
This is the last week to get your Pumpkin at Westbrae!
Remember to visit the Westbrae Nursery Pumpkin Patch this weekend! The pumpkin patch is Cornell’s biggest fundraiser so spread the word to family and friends!
November 1-15 - Five Little Monkeys Give Back Program!
Shop at Five Little Monkeys and use code CORNELL2026 between November 1-15 to donate 15% of sales back to the Cornell Elementary PTA!
This promotion is valid for purchases made November 1-15, 2026 only.
Use the code CORNELL2026 online or tell the cashier in-store
Free delivery over $100 and free in-store pick-up when shopping online!
Free gift wrapping is provided
Support your school and a local business at the same time!
Share with friends and family!
Cornell Wear!
Check out our Cornell Wear Store! A great place to get shirts, hats, bags and hoodies for Cornell kids, parents and grandparents!
Cornell PTA Instagram @cornellpta
Cornell Wear eStore is always here with t-shirts, hoodies and more for the whole family!
| FROM AUSD |
Superintendent's Community Update
Community Update from the Superintendent – September/October 2026
| COMMUNITY |
Link to AUSD Events and Announcements. This page features districtwide events, community events, and opportunities for AUSD students and families.
Diwali Celebration
| NOTES FROM THE OFFICE |
Please visit the Cornell website for general information.
OFFICE HOURS
Office Hours: 8:15am – 3:30pm
Office Phone: (510) 558-3700
Email: Sui-Ling (sangelidis@ausdk12.org), or Margaret (mglendening@ausdk12.org)
LINK TO 2026-27 AUSD SCHOOL CALENDAR
LINK TO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS