The Weekly Roar

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Hello all!

This weekend will begin with needed rain and end with fun Halloween festivities. Here are some reminders and updates.

Anticipated Rainy Day Monday

Although folks from all other regions may laugh at us, "Rainy Day" Schedule is a big deal here in Southern California. Because precipitation is not normally a big factor, when the rain falls, everything changes at the sites. Our buildings are just not set up for rain. The students and staff get a shorter lunch and all activities must be indoors.

With our campus set up for Covid, Rainy Day Schedule will definitely challenge us. Because our lunch tables are all outside, our children will be "picnicking" in the cafeteria at lunch time. Feel free to send a small towel with your child to "picnic" on the floor. Here is the Rainy Day Schedule. PE will occur under some canopies so that the children can at least get a bit of air and release. Please know that we gathered a group of teachers to brainstorm how Rainy Day could occur. It's definitely not a perfect solution and we ask for your grace (and maybe your sense of humor).

Food Guidelines at La Ballona

All food brought to school should be nutritious (i.e. fruit, vegetables, cheese, crackers). Based on our handbook, there is no candy, gum, hot cheetos or the like allowed at lunch. Lately, we've seen an increase of students bringing large bags of chips. Not only are these against school policy, but it's not a great idea to encourage unhealthy habits at such a young age (all of us junk-food lovers understand). Please be mindful of what you are packing or allowing your children to eat at school. If we see the unhealthy food, we will ask children to put it back in their backpacks.

Speaking of healthy habits- Cell Phones

Almost everyone we know depends on their cell phones for almost everything. Unfortunately, our elementary children's brains are not quite ready for the world of social media and the impact it can create. If you have purchased a phone for your child, please remind them that they may not use their phone from arrival to dismissal. All phones should stay in backpacks or follow the teacher's cell phone systems. If you have NOT purchased a phone for your child, we strongly encourage you to wait. I'd like us to start a La Ballona tradition, for those willing, of students receiving cell phones as a 5th grade Graduation gift. If we unite on this, our students won't pressure parents with statements such as, "but Jonny has a phone...." This article may help: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cellphone-parenting/whats-the-right-age-for-parents-to-get-their-kids-a-cellphone

Friday's Booooo-k or Treat Event, 3:15

We are grateful that our PTA group is creating a fun community event for everyone to enjoy. The main purpose of this time is for folks to gather and enjoy one another (social distancely, of course). If you choose to come to Friday's event, you must be able to verify that you and your children either have a Negative test result or a vaccination.

The Auction is Live

The La Ballona Bidding For Good Auction is live. What a great way to purchase items you want/need and help the school at the same time! Please take a look at all the things! La Ballona Elementary 2021 Online Auction.

ELAC & Coffee Chat

Stakeholder involvement is so important to our school and district. If you are parent of an English Learner (this means that they probably speak an additional language at home), the ELAC is a special meeting just for you. We want to hear from you. Our first ELAC is Friday, October 29th at 9:15. See below. Also, our second Coffee Chat is November 12th. This one will be simultaneously translated so that we truly hear from from everyone. Save the date!

Have a PAWSitive week!

Dr. Becky Godbey

La Ballona Principal

Dear CCUSD staff and families:

We are ready to go with the new COVID testing provider - Living Fit Nation (LFN). Testing will begin next week for all staff and students, with the first week (similar to the last rollout) acting as our pilot to make sure everything runs smoothly. We will monitor the registration status to ensure everyone is registering and contacting those who do not.

To be tested this Tuesday (10/26), you must be registered by Saturday 10/23 at 8:00pm.

Registration for this system is similar to the last one with several improvements:

• One parent email is able to register multiple students
• Once registered, you are set - no need to “order tests”
• Assistance is available directly from LFN
• Step by step instructions are attached here to assist you

You will have to provide insurance information if available, as billing is done the same way. LFN will bill insurance if available and if not will bill the Federal grant program, which is why they need further information if you select “no insurance”. You will never be charged anything for these tests.

With this new provider, we will be able to do all the testing in one day. The schedule for now will be Tuesdays:

• All elementary schools and OCD first thing in the morning until 10:00am

For more information, please go to the district website: 2020-2021 Updates & Communications - ES: COVID-19 / Distance Learning - Culver City Unified School District (ccusd.org)

Click on the video to show your child what to do.

Oct. 29- Halloween Parade & Book or Treat Community Event

Oct. 30- Bookmark Contest ends

Nov. 4- PTA "parent community meeting at 6:30pm. Simultáneamente en inglés y español

Nov. 7- Online Auction Ends

Nov. 11- Veterans Day Holiday

Nov. 12- Coffee with the Principal

Nov. 16- SSC Meeting

Nov. 22-26- Thanksgiving Break

Click on the Calendar Below to access many October activities.

In October, we observe National Disability Awareness Month by paying tribute to the accomplishments of people with disabilities. Through-out this month we will be featuring various people who have given credit to their disability for teaching them skills which are instrumental to their success. Stay tuned to the school social media sites for these and more.

There are two main events occurring on October 29, 2021

9:00am- During School Halloween Parade

3:15pm- Booooooo-k or Treat PTA event.

Halloween Parade 9:00 (During School, students only)

We will be holding our annual costume parade on Friday, October 29th, at 9 a.m. Students will walk a large loop around our playground. Students are invited to wear a costume, but if they choose not to, they will still be able to participate in the parade. Any student not wishing to wear a costume and not wishing to participate in the parade will have the opportunity to listen to a story in the library for a special story time. Due to Covid mandates, parents are not allowed on campus. We will be filming the parade and taking pictures to be shared in the Weekly Roar.

Costume guidelines:

• No Costume masks may be worn to and during school

• No face make-up

• Students must show respect for other students by not choosing costumes that are insensitive and/or offensive to the diverse background represented by La Ballona students and families.

• Students must show respect to other students by not touching, defacing or insulting other students' costumes.

• No weapons of any kind. (No fake guns, swords, knives, etc.)

• No fake blood or other substances allowed.

• Students will be allowed to wear wigs, hats and accessories during the parade, but must be removed if causing a distraction during class time.

• After the parade, it will be a regular instructional day. Because there is also an event after school, your child may stay in their costume IF the costume is easy to sit and learn in. If the costume impedes school learning, please bring a change of clothes for the school day.

• Face masks for Covid are required.

Boooooo-k or Treat PTA Event 3:15 on the Blacktop

This is a community-building event for students and families to spend time together that will be held on campus after school.. There will be a place for picture opportunities, bake sale, book sale, and lots of fun. Vaccinations or proof of Negative Covid test is required. See the flyers from PTA.

At La Ballona, we have three amazing educators working in the intervention program this year. Ms. Reynolds will provide math intervention, Mr. Proctor will provide English reading intervention, and Ms. Horowitz will provide Spanish reading intervention. The intervention program supports all grade levels and provides a boost to students who may have some gaps in their foundational skills. Intervention groups take place during W.I.N. time, a 30-minute block during the school day in which no core instruction is taking place in the classroom. This ensures students are getting what they need and not missing out on any key instruction in their classroom. Intervention groups are selected using data-based decision making and collaboration across grade levels and the school as a whole.

For all our PTA members at La Ballona, here are even more discounts for you to enjoy with your $8 membership, yayyyyy!!

*** The Council PTA has partnered with local businesses to provide perks with your PTA card. If you signed up through Totem, you can download a digital card and take advantage of the perks right now! If you signed up with cash or Square and you wish to have a digital card, email me and I'll add you to Totem (so you won't be charged the $1 service charge that Totem has). Then you'll need to register an account with Totem. Email me back and I can send more instructions. You can also show your paper membership card to get these perks! Email me to coordinate a pick up or see me at the Membership table on October 29th at the school to pick up your paper membership card. (from Laura....info@laballonapta.org)

Sign up with TOTEM: https://jointotem.com/ca/culver-city/la-ballona-elem/join/register

Sign up with Squareup: https://la-ballona-elementary-pta.square.site/s/shop

Culver City Julian Dixon Library would like to invite your students to participate in LA County Library’s 42nd Annual Bookmark Contest, an annual program that encourages a love of books and reading while also promoting creativity, artistic expression, and community engagement. Students will have the chance to see their bookmark designs featured at their local library and throughout Los Angeles County. Participants compete in the following age categories:

• Kindergarten – Grade 2
• Grade 3 – Grade 5
• Grade 6 – Grade 8
• Grade 9 – Grade 12

Completed entry forms can be dropped off at individual library locations, sent in by mail, or submitted digitally via a link on the Library’s website. The deadline for entry is October 30, 2021.

The winning bookmarks from each library will be shared with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who will select winners that reside in their District from each category. Winners selected by the Board of Supervisors will be recognized at a Board Meeting in 2022.

Here’s the Bookmark Contest Entry Form

Join us for a scary fun time on October 29th from 3:15-5:00pm at the soccer field for a small Halloween Festival hosted by the PTA. There will be the $1 books sale, a PTA bake sale and a spooky fun photo spot to take your child's pics in front of. Please note that as per CCUSD's rules, all people coming onto the campus must show either their vaccination card OR a covid-19 negative test within 3 days of the event.

Attention La Ballona families! We are asking for baked goodies/treats to be donated for next Friday's Halloween school event at 3:15pm where we sell them and 100% of the profits go back to the PTA. If you are able to bake cookies/muffins/brownies or more (and have them individually wrapped in Saran Wrap for sale) it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support. Please contact Jamie at msjamiedoody@gmail.com if you are able to help out.

La Ballona Elementary Schools online auction (our 2nd biggest fundraiser of the year) is NOW OPEN for bidding! Please check it out, as it has lots of absolutely FANTASTIC items to bid on from restaurant gift cards, tons of toys, teacher treats, gym memberships, clothing and MUCH MUCH more, so don't delay! This fundraiser is from Friday, October 22 until Sunday, Nov 7th at 9pm!

www.biddingforgood.com/laballona

Our next PTA "parent community meeting" is Thursday, November 4th at 6:30pm by zoom and we have a very special guest who will be joining us for it, our very own Superintendent Quoc Tran!! The code and password will be sent out to everyone by Dr.Godbey a few days before and posted on social media as well.

School has now started and so does our PTA membership drive! Joining the PTA is a great way to get involved and show your support for La Ballona students. Membership dues are just $8 per person and all dues-paying members can vote at PTA meetings, which are held the first Thursday of each month. Member dues are used for programs, resources, and activities that benefit our students. Click below on the link to pay your membership today, thank you so much for your support

Sign up with TOTEM: https://jointotem.com/ca/culver-city/la-ballona-elem/join/register

Sign up with Squareup: https://la-ballona-elementary-pta.square.site/s/shop

The PTA Room Parents need your help. They want your contact information so they can keep you updated on your child's classroom (especially teachers birthday gift, teacher Appreciation Week info etc). The school is not permitted to give out your information, so if you'd like correspondence from your Room Parent, click here.

La Ballona's "Student Store" has brand new facemasks for sale, 1 for $4, or 3 for $10. Stop by the Student Store today (during their new hours listed below) to purchase some and support the PTA. They also still have some "tie-dye" shirts available for purchase and are taking new orders for the sizes that they are currently sold out on, so don't delay in putting in your order for the family. Please email laballonastudentstore@gmail.com to place your order or drop by at the front of the school across from the entrance to the main office to see them in person.

Hours are Monday 8:50-9:30am, Wednesday 1:50pm-2:30pm and Friday 8:50-9:30am, thank you!

Our month-long restaurant fundraiser for this fall goes until October 31st! It is at "Quicksand" sandwich shop, right across the street from La Ballona. They are open from 9am-2pm and the La Ballona PTA will receive 10% of your purchase, at no extra cost to you.... Thank you very much for your support.

The promoters from LA County Department of Mental Health are excited to begin their mental health workshops for our Spanish speaking families in CCUSD. These workshops are held in spanish. Look below for the schedule.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support La Ballona's 3rd annual Family Beach Day cleanup! It was a very successful morning keeping our beaches clean for everyone to enjoy and tons of fun afterwards where a bunch of the kids either enjoyed the playground or jumping in the waves. Please see the list of winners below for the random draw that was done afterwards. Congratulations kids!.

Hi Parents, With a goal of raising $150K (approx $300/child) for this year's programs and supplies, we're in need of community support. Every donation pushes us closer to our goal; allowing us to create a platform for our students to access educational opportunities, tools and experiences the school might not otherwise be able to afford.

Ways to donate and help out:

• Go to bit.ly/laballona and donate what you can!
• By check, make payable to "La Ballona PTA" and return in an envelope to your classroom teacher.
• Share this flyer with your friends, family, and local businesses!

10915 Washington Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90232

Email: erikaarredondo@ccusd.org
Website: www.laballona.ccusd.org
Location: La Ballona Elementary School, Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, USA
Phone: 3108424334
Facebook: facebook.com/laballonaelementary
Twitter: @LaBallona