• BID ON AUCTION BASKETS!!!
• BID ON TEACHER & STAFF "EXPERIENCES"!!!
• VENDORS & ACTIVITIES!!!
• AND, OF COURSE, PANCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞🥞

Last call for Presale Pancake Breakfast tickets!! This wonderful community event is here on Saturday, April 29th from 8:30am to 11am! Tickets can easily be purchased online!

Click here for Pancake Breakfast Tickets! Get your tickets now! Presale is $7 each and day of is $10. If you'd like to purchase tickets at school, we are selling tickets to Pancake Breakfast this week after school by the marquee.nAlso, if you have 30min, you can volunteer to help sell tickets here!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4FA8A62BA5F8C61-ticket

Want to help out AT the event?! WE NEED VOLUNTEERS AND IT's FUN!

So many time slots to choose from so Volunteer to Help Out at Pancake Breakfast Here

Below is the informational flyer for Pancake Breakfast with all of the specifics, in case you need it for reference. We will see you on Saturday!!

If you purchased a 5th Grade promotion yard sign, it will be passed out on Friday 4/28 from 2:45-3:45 in front of the school, by the marquee.

*Please note, only people who pre-purchased can get their sign.

PTA memberships are at 228 and we'd like to meet our goal of 275 members by the end of the year. If we can meet our goal by May 5th we will give all students an extra recess by grade level with the YMCA Playground hosting fun games and activities.

Joining Prisk's PTA for only $10 raises funds for field trip buses for all grade levels, YMCA Playground Partners, and other PTA-sponsored student and family events. Also, registering late in the year means your money will also go to supporting the activities for the following school year and setting the PTA up to run successful events for our community.

You can register here to bring some extra recess fun to Prisk: Prisk PTA

22-23 All-School Yearbook Orders Have BEGUN!

Capture Your Memories in this year’s Yearbook!

• Customize Your 2 Free Pages
• Add photos from your computer, Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive & more.
• Answer fun Memory Questions to help remember the year.
• The 2 Custom Pages are FREE and are printed ONLY in your book!
• Want more custom pages? Each additional 2 pages is just $0.99.

Click here or the attached image to view the flyer to get the website address and Prisk's passcode! Yearbooks are only $18.38!

ALL 5th Grade Student Yearbooks are FREE of CHARGE and will be distributed on the yearbook signing day during the final week of school!

Every 5th grade student will receive a complimentary (FREE) “SOFT cover” yearbook, which includes 2 customizable pages.

Please log into Treering.com to design those pages.

Also, when you log into Treering.com, you can purchase an upgrade to a “HARD cover” yearbook style and/or ADD more customizable pages to your child’s yearbook.

We are in NEED of PHOTOS of 5th graders throughout the year, including but not limited to these events (GROUP photos are BEST!!!):

• Baby Pics
• Group Friend pics (of 5th graders)
• Postcard Challenge
• Flocking
• Field Trips

***Send your 5th grade yearbook candid photos to Kat Dang at:

priskyearbook5thgrade@gmail.com

LBUSD filmed their latest episode of KidTok at Prisk in March! It is made up of several "shorts" which I'll share them as they're posted on Twitter... our kids are so adorbs!

Episodes 2 and 3 were in last week's newsletter... and episodes 4 and 5 are newly released this past week! We still have about 4 other students who participated in the filming, but have not yet been featured so I can't wait to see what comes next!

School Library Month is the American Association of School Librarians' celebration of school librarians and school libraries.

Every April since 1985, School Library Month gives communities a chance to celebrate the essential role that strong school libraries play in transforming learning (https://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/slm, 2023).

We want to take a moment to recognize and honor the hard work of Ms. Teresa and Ms. Bibi during Administrative Professionals Week! They both work tirelessly to ensure that our students, families, and staff have what they need to succeed.

In addition to answering phone calls and greeting everyone (students, staff, visitors, deliveries, etc.) who comes to the office, they manage attendance, enrollment, and scheduling of school activities and events. They also take on the responsibility of covering for the nurse and overseeing school operations when the principal and counselor are off-site - and this is only a FRACTION of their valuable role in our school community. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Ms. Teresa and Ms. Bibi for all they do!

Ms. Teresa and Ms. Bibi, please know that your efforts are recognized and appreciated not just this week, but throughout the entire year. We are so fortunate to have you leading our team, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do! Happy Administrative Professionals Week to you both!

FEATURED ARTIST: PABLO PICASSO

Pablo Picasso was a famous artist from Spain who helped found the Cubist movement. This week, the kids will be learning about his unique art style and creating their own pieces of art inspired by him. Picasso's legacy continues to impact the art world, inspiring artists with his abstract shapes and vibrant colors. Through this experience, the children will learn about the importance of creative self-expression and appreciate the diversity of artistic styles.

*Thank you to all families and friends who participate in PTA and Foundation fundraisers throughout the year; it's because of your support that this program is offered three times per year for our Prisk students!

• It's our FOURTH Kindergarten Awards assembly of the year!
• Families of awardees are invited to attend.
• Families will be welcomed at the auditorium door (on Los Arcos) once all students are seated (approximately 1:55pm).
• Program begins at 2:00pm.

Prisk Talent Show Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 2:30pm in the Prisk Auditorium! If you are participating in the show, be sure to attend all rehearsals! If you cannot make a rehearsal, be sure to communicate with the Talent Show coordinators!

Our next parent meeting is 4/27 at 7pm over zoom. We will discuss end of year activities!!!

Topic: 5th Grade Parent Meeting
Time: Apr 27, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84418333159?pwd=UnNtL0RUUmNZTE4ycUNtb1FEd0VNZz09
Meeting ID: 844 1833 3159
Passcode: 171023

Below is a list of the activities that will be discussed... in addition to any updated information after the date of this posting 🙃

Monday, June 12th:

Whole-School Spirit Day: 5th Graders will Choose the Theme for All!

AM - Promotion Rehearsal for Students

PM - Nothing Calendared

Tuesday, June 13th:

Big Red Bus to El Dorado Frontier Mini-Theme Park (Games, Music, Lunch Included)

This will take up most of the school day, but actual times still TBD.

Wednesday, June 14th:

AM - Promotion Rehearsal for Students

PM - Yearbook Signing, TGA Pickleball, DJ, Photo Booth, and More... (Lunch Included)

Thursday, June 15th:

Promotion Day!

At Prisk on the Blacktop

Approximately 9:15am - 10:30am

Families may sign students out after the promotion concludes; students receive their 5th grade promotion certificates and "folios" from Pictures with Class at the sign-out tables.

Once again, all details will be finalized and sent to 5th grade families, but the dates/times/events above are those that should be noted and saved! :)

Any parents/guardians, etc. that want to volunteer to help with the activities or chaperone any of the events MUST BE VIPS, so PLEASE apply now if you plan to volunteer, but do not already have your VIPS badge. The process can take up to a month (or more) so please do not wait! We'd love to have you!

All students are invited to participate in Free Dress day on Friday, April 28th!

LBUSD and Prisk dress code guidelines for appropriateness apply, but students can wear any color tops and bottoms with appropriate logos or patterns! Pants with rips/holes are not allowed.. sorry!

This is a special day for students to have lunch with their parents/guardians/caregivers /grown ups!

Please enlarge the attached image above or scroll through the details below about this special activity. It is very important that all families read this information even if you are unable to attend!

*PLEASE NOTE THAT 5TH GRADE WILL BE ON A FIELD TRIP AND WILL NOT BE BACK IN TIME FOR POWER LUNCH. WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE POWER LUNCH IN MAY.

WE CAN"T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!

Thanks to the funding we received from Proposition 28, we submitted a request to the district to hire a theater arts teacher for two days per week for the 23-24 school year!

This will be a valuable opportunity for our students to explore the world of theater and develop their creativity, communication, and teamwork skills. We are excited for the fun and enriching experience this will be.

Please keep in mind that this funding is in addition to the arts we already have at Prisk (Instrumental & Vocal Music), not as a replacement! We will keep you posted when/if updates are available!

This is a Jamboard that anyone can edit and add MORE names of volunteers who help the PTA, Foundation, are a VIPS, or volunteer in general!

The board is started, but this is just scratching the surface..... so, please add to it by clicking this link or the attached image!

This image shows page 1 of 2 pages so far, but we can add as many as we want! We are so thankful to EVERYONE who lends a helping hand.

Our 23-24 Vice President of Communications is moving/has moved so the PTA is looking for another interested person/nominee! If you are interested in helping, here is the job description:

• Manage Electronic Communications (Social Media)
• Create and Print Calendar of Events (Contact Information for PTA Officers or Chairpersons)
• Oversee Backpack Mail
• Attend PTA Board Meetings and PTA Association Meetings

You can also find a dream team to help you with any/all of these items... as the VP, you have the oversight, but you don't have to do it all by yourself!

If you have questions, please reach out to Sarah Oxley!

Click here or the image below to view the flyers for community events, activities, clubs, teams, and extra-curricular activities in and around the Prisk area or in the city of Long Beach. All flyers from non-profit organizations must go through LBUSD for approval and are then posted on peachjar.com.

• LBUSD District Offices - (562) 997-8000
• Parking Enforcement (Non-Street Sweeping): (562) 570-2866
• Police Department (Non-Emergency): (562) 435-6711
• Long Beach Animal Control: 562-570-7387
• LBSUD School Safety - (562) 997-8101; This office is open 24/7 for schools and community members to help keep our campuses, staff, students, and families connected with our district police officers.

Report an Absence using this Google Form! You can even upload a note, test result, etc. These responses are checked daily!

*This form is also on the Prisk Website home page!

Click the link below or the attached image to go directly to the LBUSD Meal Menu Page

https://www.lbschools.net/Departments/Nutrition_Services/menu_nutrient_info.cfm#menus_es

Select "Elementary/K-8 School Menus"...

Then Select a Month from the Pull-Down Menu to View!

Click on the attached image to view and/or print a copy of the calendar.

More details for each of the spirit days will be in the newsletter the week(s) prior to the actual day, but most are self-explanatory and can be understood from the name of the day itself.

Do you want to help out in the classroom? Chaperone field trips with your child(ren)? Volunteer and cheer on our students at the Rocket Run on November 1st? And MORE???

All of these opportunities and activities require you to be a Volunteer in Public Schools (VIPS). Once you complete the application and requirements, your VIPS badge is good for FOUR YEARS!

Don't miss out on the chance to be a part of the school's volunteer community... it's the only way you can help out on campus with students or staff during the school day, so please become a VIPS today!

More information about VIPS can be found on the district website and/or you can click directly on this link to go straight to the online application.

It is so exciting to have filmed this video at Prisk featuring Nevaeh! It was shown at the Board of Education meeting this past Wednesday and is posted on LBUSD social media! Feel free to share!

A HUGE "shout out" to our SUCSESS program teachers and staff, our Speech & Language Pathologists, our Assistive Technology/Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AT/AAC) departments and EVERYONE who ensures that ALL STUDENTS are able to share their voice!

Prisk's amazing science lab teacher, Mr. Macander and our awesome Prisk student scientists were featured in this special video! Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ioTGl2JYw

The “Students, Staff and School Celebrations” portion of LBUSD's March 15th Board of Education meeting included a video featuring a program at Prisk Elementary School where students from the nearby Adult Community Transition (ACT) program work as recreation aides. Check it out!

Thank you to Troop 403 for the fabulous idea and the even MORE fabulous final product

that will leave a long-time legacy at Prisk!!!!!!

We receive numerous reports about vehicles that are illegally parked, double-parked, etc. While our staff will support our community with these types of violations in various ways, we encourage people to call parking enforcement (non-street sweeping) directly at 562-570-2866. With "all hands on deck", perhaps we can ensure everyone is accountable for the safety of our students and our community.

Double-parking completely stops the flow of traffic and creates serious safety issues for everyone! And when someone double parks, the cars behind it who pass by them on the wrong side of the street are also contributing to a dangerous situation. While your frustration is understandable, contributing to the safety concern by doing this maneuver is simply NOT worth it.

Here is an image representing double-parking. For those not familiar with the term, you can see that cars are parked properly in the street alongside the curb.

The car the man is getting into is DOUBLE PARKED! You can see his car is completely blocking all traffic driving on that side of the road. The only way to continue is to drive AROUND the car on the WRONG side of the road! This is SO dangerous in SO many ways! Please avoid doing EITHER of these things! Again, while your frustration is understandable, contributing to the safety concern by doing this maneuver is simply NOT worth it.

While our staff will always do our best to support the community in communicating the expectations and intervening whenever possible, we encourage people to call parking enforcement (non-street sweeping) DIRECTLY at 562-570-2866. With "all hands on deck", perhaps we can ensure everyone is accountable for the safety of our students and our community.

The Prisk PTA and Foundation contribute to our school in so many ways, some of which you might not even realize! So... keep an eye out for the PTA & Foundation logos and when you see them you will know...

YES! OUR PRISK PTA & PRISK FOUNDATION DOES THAT!

JOIN US!

Here is some additional information on PTA & Foundation events, activities, etc. that you might want to consider based on your talents, skills, availability, and more....

• JOINUSEVERYFRIDAYat8:20am!
• We invite all Prisk Students to join this year’s Marathon Mile program.
• Grab your parents/guardians, grandparents, and siblings, too!
• Start walking/running once a week with us on Friday mornings starting at 8:20am.
• We will be recording the number of laps that our runners complete!
• At the end the year we’ll be recognizing any of our members who reach at least a half marathon (13.1 miles)

Team members are invited to practice EVERY DAY before school at 8:30 am with the YMCA Playground Partners. Practices are not mandatory but will help you get in shape to run the 1-mile course at Heartwell Park . You can also join our PTA’s Marathon Milers every Friday on the Prisk track starting at 8:20am to get in running shape as well! Click this link or the attached image to view the Mile Fun Run flyer.

READY TO JOIN THE TEAM? Scan the QR Code on the flyer or click this link, to join "Team Prisk". Remember, 4th & 5th graders only...

Join an amazing group of parents, guardians, staff, teachers, community members and more who make Prisk the best it can be for our students and families! Whether you can be involved a lot, a little, or can only help by getting a membership, WE WANT YOU to be a part of our team! https://jointotem.com/ca/long-beach/prisk-pta/join/register

Prisk Elementary PTA on Facebook

Parents of Prisk Pioneers Facebook Group

Instagram @PriskPTA

Earn $$ for Prisk Through Box Tops 4 Education!

Click this link or the attached image for more Information.

Help keep Prisk's surrounding streets clean! Sign up for Patch of Prisk here (or click the attached image).

Due to the size/font, here is the information written on the attached image:

• Homework Helpline is provided free by the LBUSD and consists of credentialed LBUSD teachers who guide students through homework assignments by telephone. The teachers are equipped with school textbooks and are trained to help the students help themselves.
  
• The teachers will ask for pertinent information such as full name and school of attendance. They enter this information into a student database to show a need for service.
  
• Students can call the Homework Helpline at (562) 437-2859 Monday through Thursday between 4:00pm and 6:30pm. Homework Helpline teachers can also be reached by email at homework@lbschools.net.

• This service is available to all students with an internet connected device in English and in Spanish.
• They do not need a public library card to access this service as long as your computer has a CA IP address
• Other languages are available between 10 am and 10 pm PST
• The average wait time for a tutor is less than 30 seconds
• https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/09/12/governor-newsom-announces-free-online-tutoring-available-to-all-californians-254-million-in-grants-to-improve-libraries-across-the-state/

Last year's School Site Council (SSC) worked to revise two required compliance documents. We intended to include them in the opening packet we sent home with the students on the first day of school but, in error, we did not. So, here's a copy of each for you now! These are public "living documents" that our SSC is able to revise any time it is needed so if you have any suggestions for updates/changes, etc. please email me, Principal Cohen at bcohen@lbschools.net or Mrs. Ruggiero (SSC Chairperson) at lruggiero@lbschools.net. Thank you!

There have been several inquiries into our library schedule and staffing for next school year, so this update to ensure all of our families know the plan for Prisk.

We have a library media assistant who schedules all classes to come through the library each week to check out books and hear at least one story that she reads aloud. Though our percentage of library media assistant time will be adjusted next year, our plan is to continue scheduling all classes to visit the library each week to check out books and have at least one story read aloud.

Thank you to those who inquired and for the recommendation to put this information in the newsletter.

Below are some helpful resources from LBUSD's Office of School Support Services (OSSS). It is encourages that you save these resources so you can easily reference them should you or a family member need help. (This information is now posted on Prisk's website and be moved in next week's Newsletter to the section for "Repeat, Please!" section below.)

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  (800-273-8255) or text 988 to talk to a Crisis Text Line counselor.

• Disaster Distress Helpline
  Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including public health emergencies.

• Jewish Family & Children's Service
  (562) 427-7916 - Individual, family, couples and group counseling is available depending on your particular situation and needs. Our intake specialists will speak with you and pair you with a counselor who can respond with compassion to your specific needs. The fees for JFCS’ services are based on a sliding scale. We accept many PPO plans and Health Net.

• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
  Access Center 24/7 Helpline; (800) 854-7771; (562) 651-2549 TDD/TTY

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  (800) 950-6264; Monday-Friday, 10 am to 6 pm ET; Text NAMI TO 741741

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  (800-799-7233) - For survivors of domestic abuse, staying home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may further compromise survivors’ safety. The link above provides specific tips for survivors in regards to creating safety plans and reaching out for help.

• Teen Line
  (310) 855-4673 or Text TEEN to 839863. Teen Line was created in 1980 by a group of mental health professionals who, through their personal work with teenagers, realized that a more inclusive approach to adolescent mental health was needed. After extensive research and consultation, TEEN LINE – a teen-to-teen hotline with community outreach services – was born.

• Trevor Project
  (866) 488 -7386 or text START to 678678. A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.

• The LGBTQ Center - Long Beach:
  (562) 434-4455. The Center is committed to providing services to the LGBTQ community and approach treatment with an emphasis on trauma, anxiety, and/or depression informed by experiences of external and internalized homo-bi-trans-phobia.

Long Beach Unified School District partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of our community. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. This is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service provided by Long Beach Unified School District. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health care provider:

• Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in over 200 languages.

• Visit www.caresolace.com/lbusd and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Click here to view the information sent out about traffic & safety during the first month of school. It is now posted permanently on our website for easy reference!

A: For all students in grades K-5, the morning playground program logistics are as follows and are represented on the attached map:

• 8:00am - Morning play entry gate by kinder yard on Vernon opens (for students only) *Yellow and red star on the image below. Students can play in the supervised areas on the north side of the playground (in blue and red outline on the map). The south side of the school will be off limits during this time.
• 8:30am - Vernon gate continues to be open and cafeteria door on Los Arcos (blue star on the image below) opens for breakfast (students only).
• A bell will ring on the playground to signal to the morning play students that the cafeteria is open.
• They can choose to go to the cafeteria from the playground or they can choose to continue playing.
• If it is your desire that your child(ren) eat breakfast, please encourage them to make that choice. Our playground staff will also encourage children to eat breakfast, but cannot compel them to do so.
• 8:45am - All regular entry gates (hot pink stars plus yellow star on the image below) open for students and families for drop-off.
• 8:57am - Bell rings for students to line up for class.
• 9:00am - Gates closed and secured for the school day. All parents must exit the campus at that time.

In response to feedback about traffic around the school, we will be opening an additional gate on Albury (the Stanford side), as indicated by the star on the attached map, at dismissal time from 3:05pm to 3:30pm. If you'd like your 1st-5th grade student(s) to use the new gate, please talk with them about the change.

Please understand that additional gates can alleviate some congestion, but it still is incumbent upon the drivers to follow safety rules, including the one most violated which is DOUBLE-PARKING.

Double-parking completely stops the flow of traffic and creates serious safety issues for everyone! And when someone double parks, the cars behind it who pass by them on the wrong side of the street are also contributing to a dangerous situation. While your frustration is understandable, contributing to the safety concern by doing this maneuver is simply NOT worth it.

Our playground is open from 8:00-9:00am. The Vernon gate opens at 8am, the cafeteria door opens at 8:30am, BUT the majority of the traffic in the morning is from about 8:45-9:00 when we open the gates for parents to come on campus with their children.

If you are not coming on campus with your child, I highly recommend dropping them off at the Vernon gate from 8:00-8:40 or the cafeteria door between 8:30 and 8:40.

I am open to adding the same gate we are adding at dismissal time, we do not have the supervision to cover that gate at that time so if anyone would like to volunteer to supervise the Albury gate from 8:40-9:00, please let us know. If someone is interested in coordinating volunteers (via sign-up genius or something), that would be great as well. If we can get volunteers to cover each day of the week, we can open it daily.

Another option is to drop your child(ren) off on Albury and let them walk to any of the open gates available for students. It's not a far walk at all and then you can avoid the large amount of traffic on Vernon, Fanwood, and Los Arcos. Just food for thought!