Principal's Message

Dear Cougar Families,

Welcome back to Sierra Oaks! I hope your summer was filled with rest, joy, and meaningful time together. As we begin this new school year, I want to personally welcome both our returning and new families to our Cougar community.

This is my 3.5 year as the principal at Sierra Oaks, and I’m proud not only to lead this amazing school—but also to have a personal stake in it. As a parent myself with children in 1st and 3rd grade, I understand just how much families invest in their children's school experience. I’m deeply committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and high-quality learning environment for every student on our campus—including yours and mine.

This year brings exciting updates, new opportunities, and continued growth across our school:

• We are piloting a new ELA curriculum—CKLA—designed to deepen students’ literacy experiences across grade levels.
• We’ll use mClass for schoolwide reading assessments, helping us track progress and tailor instruction to student needs.
• Our Multi-Purpose Room is getting a facelift—with brand-new windows and a Cougar mural coming soon to show off our school spirit.
• A Gaga Ball Pit is being added to campus to promote movement, fun, and community-building during recess.
• We’re implementing Universal Access by grade level 1^st -5^th, to ensure every child receives instruction that meets their individual learning needs.
• We're excited to expand our Special Education offerings and inclusive practices to support all learners.
• New and innovative electives are launching for our upper grades, including Green Light Goand Building Community & Career Exploration.
• We proudly hosted Summer School and Kinder Camp right here at Sierra Oaks to support ongoing learning and ease transitions.
• We welcome several new teachers and a new Vice Principal, who bring talent, energy, and a passion for helping students succeed.
• A new campus safety system is on the way to reinforce our commitment to student and staff well-being.
• We now have a full-time counselor to further support students’ social-emotional growth and mental wellness.
• This year, several of our teachers are piloting new math programs—including Eureka Math, Bridges, and Innovamat—to explore the best tools for deep mathematical thinking and understanding.
• We are also strengthening our behavior expectations and launching a schoolwide “Bell to Bell, No Cell” policy to minimize distractions and foster responsible habits.

Thanks to the generous support of our PTA, we are excited to offer many school events, as well as bring the Crocker Art Museum mobile exhibit to campus for a full week. Their support also helped us bring in the new Gaga Ball Pit and a refreshed Cougar logo to promote school spirit and pride across campus.

None of this would be possible without the heart of Sierra Oaks: our incredible staff, our enthusiastic students, and you—our families. 

Together, we are building a learning community where students are challenged, supported, and celebrated every day.

At Sierra Oaks, we believe that strong partnerships between school and home are the foundation for student success. I look forward to working together with you to make this school year one filled with growth, learning, and joyful experiences for your child.

Thank you for being part of our Cougar family. Let’s make it a great year—together.

With gratitude and Cougar pride,

Hady Chrostowski
Principal, Sierra Oaks K–8