Did you know that in May we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage and Jewish American Heritage Month? Both of these heritages have made enormous contributions to our country. Our city is rich with museums such as the Museum of Tolerance, Skirball Cultural Center, and USC Pacific Asian Museum, to name just a few. Visitors to these museums will not only learn about the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans and Jewish Americans but also how much we share in common.

As the school year winds down we hope that you can join us for a couple of very special events. On Saturday, May 21st at 11 a.m. join us for the reception of a student art show at Oxy Arts. The theme is CommUNITY: Better Together. Each of the 22 schools in our community has submitted an art piece that will be on display for one week at OxyArts. The second event will be held on Saturday, June 4th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Several published authors will read their books to children and families. We will also end with a resource fair with guests from our community. For information on either of these events, please scroll down for flyers.

Have you heard about the summer loss? This term refers to students experiencing significant learning loss during the summer months. In LAUSD we are offering a myriad of summer programs for students. To learn about the various offerings, please visit https://achieve.lausd.net/summerschool In the Eagle Rock/Highland Park Community of Schools, in person TK-8 classes will be held at Eagle Rock Elementary and Monte Vista Elementary. Credit recovery for high school students will be offered at Eagle Rock High School and Franklin High School. Extended School Year will be offered at Toland Way Elementary. There are also online enrichment classes offered on fun and exciting topics. We included flyers below with more information.

Finally, The Los Angeles Unified School District is proud to introduce All Families Connected, a program to help ensure every student has reliable access to high-speed internet at home as well as at school. Made possible in large part by federal funding, the program is helping provide students with the access they need at home to complete assignments, interact with peers, track their progress, and more.

Thousands of families are eligible for this service at no cost to them. There are no income requirements. All that is necessary is for a family to inform the district that there are unmet needs in the home and to request support. Here’s how it works: Parents/guardians can log on to device.lausd.net and answer a few questions about computing device and internet connectivity needs. For those whose needs aren’t being met, our teams check in with contracted service providers to determine services available. The provider then reaches out to eligible families to assist with establishing service, and LAUSD covers all costs.

Learn more about this program, get answers to your questions, or sign up for service at device.lausd.net/connect.

By Anita Yousoofian-Adams and Sarah Concepcion,

Kindergarten Readiness Psychiatric Social Workers

There are already things you’re doing at home to encourage your child’s independence. From when you first taught them to feed then dress themselves, help with chores around the house, and how to be a member of the family, you, as a parent, were teaching your child to be independent.

Here are some key areas to continue encouraging your child to be more independent:

Organizational skills support independence at home and also at school.

• Create a space and supplies with minimal distractions to do homework.

• Use an “office divider” at the dinner table to create a private spot.

• Help organize homework, backpack, school supplies the night before school.

• Have child put on an alarm with a 5 minute reminder when it’s time to go to school

Sometimes as a parent, it’s easier to do something yourself or for your child rather than take the time for them to do it themselves. For younger ones, it’s time to let them start buttoning their own buttons, zip their own zippers on pants, jackets and backpacks. Even let them open their own snack or lunch containers. This not only fosters independence but also develops fine motor skills such as finger muscles & coordination. Fine motor skills are needed for your child to use writing tools and scissors at home or school. Older children can make their own lunches and even do their weekly laundry.

Having your child do age-appropriate chores is a fabulous way for them to foster independence and a sense of responsibility as part of the family unit. Depending on the child’s age and selected chore, it can be done by themselves or together with a family member as a special time to bond with your child. Here is a list of age appropriate chores (click here) so that you can also give your child more difficult chores as they grow older. Remember that even the youngest child can help put out napkins and silverware or help in the kitchen. The jobs and chores you give your child doesn’t have to be done to perfection- stirring ingredients together, rolling cookie dough into balls to bake etc. However, with your specific praise and guidance, it helps them develop the confidence in themselves to be more independent.

Understand the importance of Growth Mindset.

Growth mindset is the belief that you can grow your brain and that your intelligence grows with effort and with the right learning strategies.

A growth mindset is a positive way of thinking. It embraces mistakes as learning opportunities, not failures. It is an open-minded perspective that encourages improvement, which leads to success. We can achieve if we believe in ourselves, keep trying and don’t give up.

We all make mistakes, that’s normal. What matters is how we deal with them. Do we learn from the mistake and improve? Or do we continue to make the same mistakes over and over without trying different things or asking for help? Many times we think of making mistakes as an error or failure, when in fact it is actually a gift of learning. Lessons learned from our experiences are a great way of learning and growing. Mistakes are the greatest teachers, like the saying says we learn from our mistakes … and it helps to learn to ask for help when you are having trouble.

Understand the power of praise and why it is important.

Positive praise helps children increase their self-esteem, positive attention-seeking behaviors, intrinsic motivation, and be more open to try new things. All of this leads to a more independent child. Here is a list of examples of specific praise to use with your child (click here).

Remember to be sincere and specific in your praise - try praising their efforts rather than abilities.

• Avoid comparison praise and backhanded compliments

• Comparison praise leaves children vulnerable for future setbacks and they lose motivation faster if they’re told what they did was good; but not as good as their sibling.

• Controlling or conditional phrase: “You did good, but I know you can do better”

• Easy praise or over-praise: “great job!” is not specific enough.

Using the different strategies above will support your child to grow into the independent and motivated person you want them to be.

Presentation Slides Linked Here

Recorded Sessions Linked Here

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks

by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi Cabrera

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) is known for her poems about “real life.” She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty—showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression—all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize, receiving the award for poetry in 1950. And in 1958, she was named the poet laureate of Illinois. A bold artist who from a very young age dared to dream, Brooks will inspire young readers to create poetry from their own lives.

I Am Every Good Thing

by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon James

I am
a nonstop ball of energy.
Powerful and full of light.
I am a go-getter. A difference maker. A leader.

The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. There are superheroes in our midst!

I Talk Like A River

by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith

I wake up each morning with the sounds of words all around me.

And I can't say them all . . .

When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he'd like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognize a father's ability to reconnect a child with the world around him.

Poet Jordan Scott writes movingly in this powerful and ultimately uplifting book, based on his own experience, and masterfully illustrated by Greenaway Medalist Sydney Smith. A book for any child who feels lost, lonely, or unable to fit in.

Packs: Strength in Numbers

by Hannah Salyer

Groups, packs, herds of millions, and more—our world teems with animals on land, air, and sea.
Packs is an inspiring celebration of how togetherness helps many creatures thrive, in both nonhuman and human communities.

Hannah Salyer’s stunning selection reminds us that teamwork is universal, there is brilliance in biodiversity, and there is strength in numbers. Includes an author’s note encouraging community engagement and activism, as well as a fun visual index of the animals featured.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

by Rite Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora

Imagine learning to read at the age of 116! Discover the true story of Mary Walker, the nation's oldest student who did just that, in this picture book from a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and a rising star author.

In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read. From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and rising star Oge More comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who--with perseverance and dedication--proved that you're never too old to learn.

by Erica Granados, Editor

We caught up with a Panther who graduated as part of the Class of 2006. Very much a social butterfly, Ms. Arceo was well known amongst her peers as the life of the party. She played Soccer for the school team and participated in many school clubs. After graduating from Franklin High School in 2006, Ms. Arceo took 2 years off to contemplate on her future aspirations. In the meantime, she started working at Subway as a Sandwich Artist. In 2008, Ms. Arceo decided to go back to school and signed up at East Los Angeles College. In the following two years, Ms. Arceo attended school full-time, worked at Subway full-time, and had her first child. In 2010, she earned her Associates degree in Administration of Justice from ELAC, and then transferred to Mt. Saint Mary's University to pursue her Bachelors. Realizing that Criminal Justice did not align with her goals anymore, she switched to a Business Administration major. Due to switching majors, Ms. Arceo has to complete 21 units per semester in order to stay on track to graduate in 2 years. Not only did she graduate on time, but she did so while working and while having a second child in 2011. By 2012, Ms. Arceo had completed her Bachelors, had two daughters, and had worked for Subway for a total of 6 years.

Post-graduation, Ms. Arceo decided that she would like to continue working for Subway. She landed a job with the Developmental Agency branch as an Accountant. She would continue to work there for the next 5 years and by the end of her career there, she was overseeing benefits, payroll, budgeting, and reconciliation of 36 Subway restaurants and 700 employees. Although she was fond of the company and had spent 11 years in service, she decided to try her hand at accounting in the education sector. For the next three years, she managed the budgeting department for the William S. Hart Union High School District in Santa Clarita County. There she was able to learn the fundamentals of school business accounting, which led her to her most current role. Now, Ms. Arceo is an Internal Accounting Analyst for the Antelope Valley Union High School District. In this position, she oversees funding & budgeting for Special Education, targeted populations, and significantly disproportionate students. She finds this new career path fulfilling because she is able to ensure that the district has the means to support all the programs that affect underrepresented groups.

Throughout her educational and career trajectory, Ms. Arceo is most proud of doing it all while being a mother. When she isn't on the clock, you can find her serving on the local AYSO board, volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader, or volunteering for her children's folklorico group.

What originally started as a group of community members looking to support students facing homelessness due to the pandemic, has now evolved into a community organization seeking non-profit status. Local school counselors, community representatives, and business owners united forces back in 2020 when school staff were made aware of the plight of students and families who now found themselves without a job, without a home and more often that not, without both. Since its inception, the organization has assisted with clothing drives, food distributions and have even partnered with local supermarkets and small businesses to provide gift cards. Two years later, as most Covid relief programs and resources are ending, their mission has stayed the same; to help students and their families who are displaced. If you'd like to learn more about the organization, how to get involved or would like to learn more about their offered resources, reach out to communityforstudents1@gmail.com

On May 4th, 2022 The Eagle Rock/Highland Park Community of Schools honored 22 teachers who were selected by their principal as their school's "Teacher of the Year". In light of Teacher Appreciation Month, we are sharing photos from the memorable evening.

Thank you to all of our school principals for their leadership and dedication to students, families and staff.

We appreciate teachers and out of classroom support staff for doing their very best for students everyday.

• Los Angeles Unified has a new Superintendent

• Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho is excited to engage with schools and communities across the District

• He also launched a 100-Day plan, which we will take some time to learn about today.

• There are some opportunities to contribute your input to the plan, too.

Check out the LA County Library website (linked below) to see their offered programs, events, and many other resources. Just click the "Resource" tab!

Examples of offered programs:

• Work Ready
• Earn Your High School Diploma
• Tools for Job Seekers
• Business Resources
• Citizenship
• LGBTQ+ Pride