Will Rogers Roundup

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Dear Will Rogers Families,

We’ve just wrapped up our first full seven weeks of instruction, and it’s truly inspiring to witness the dedicated teaching and learning happening throughout our school. As I walk through the classrooms, it’s evident that our commitment to student growth is unwavering. I cannot emphasize how much (It's in our school name: the Will Rogers Learning Community), the value we place on continuous learning.

This is not a value reserved solely for students but staff alike. Ongoing professional development is a key part of our commitment as a learning community. Research is clear that the biggest factor in student success is having passionate and knowledgeable teachers. That’s why we prioritize continuous learning for our educators.

Whether new to the classroom or seasoned pros, our teachers benefit from learning together, staying updated on the latest research, and refining their teaching practices. This year, one of our important initiatives is in developing our foundational literacy instruction in grades K-3rd grades. This week, we’ll wrap up training for teachers in grades K-3 on the UFLI Foundations program. This evidence-based phonics initiative helps students build the essential skills needed to become confident readers. It emphasizes clear phonics instruction, guiding students in blending and segmenting sounds, as well as matching letters to sounds. The program follows a thoughtfully designed sequence to ensure students develop the skills they need to read with confidence. It’s not only great for core instruction in the early grades, but also serves as effective support for students who may be struggling, no matter their grade level. Developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute, this initiative aims to boost literacy for all students.

Our teachers have had the chance to dive into the program details and practice teaching the lessons, providing each other with valuable feedback and support along the way. A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers and trainers for their commitment to enhancing our reading and literacy instruction.

Together for Will Rogers,

Principal Daruty

Tues. 10/15 1st Grade Field Trip: Heal the Bay

Tues. 10/15 Make-up Picture Day ( please let your child's teacher know if you want your child to retake their photo)

Wed. 10/16 Digital Citizenship Student Assemblies 5th@10am and 3rd-4th @2:20 p.m.

Thurs. 10/17 ELAC mtg. @8:30 a.m. Agenda posted online 72 hours before here.

Thurs. 10/17 Great Shakeout Drill @10:17 a.m.

Thurs. 10/17 SSC mtg. @ 3:15 p.m. Agenda posted online 72 hours before here.

Fri. 10/18 NEW Peacemaker Training 10-3pm in room 508.

Mon. 10/21 5th Grade Parent Committee Mtg. Via zoom @ 6:00p.m.

Mon. 10/21 NEW Peacemaker Training from 2-3 p.m.

Mon. 10/21 NEW Peacemaker Training 2-3 p.m in the cafeteria

Fri. 10/25 Peacemaker Training for NEW and Returning 9:00 a.m. in room 508

Thurs. 10/24 Parent Workshop 9:30 a.m. in the SMMSUD boardroom. This will cover “Special Education:101” and dive into parts of the IEP including accommodations and continuum of service.Click here for the flyer

Sun. 10/27 Family Farming Day @10am- 1pm

Thurs. 10/31 Halloween Costume Parade @ 8:30 am. on the track/field. Families are welcome!

Fri. 11/1 Regenerative Farm Fall Festival 3-5 p.m

Fri. 11/1 WRLC Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda Viewing

Mon. 11/4 Dia de los Muertos Family Event @5:30pm

Mon. 11/4-8 Fall Book Fair

Tues. 11/5 Pupil Free Day- NO SCHOOL

Tues. 11/5 US Election Day

Tues. 11/5-8 Parent Teacher Conferences

Tues. 11/5 Title 1 Parent Information Meeting @6:00p.m.via zoom

Wed. 11/6- PTA Association Meeting @6pm

Wed. 11/6 Minimum Day. Dismissal at 12:10 ( TK-K) and 1:00 p.m. (1st-5th)

Thurs. 11/7 Minimum Day. Dismissal at 12:10 ( TK-K) and 1:00 p.m. (1st-5th)

Fri. 11/8 NO LATE START school begins @8:25 a.m. AND Minimum Day. Dismissal at 12:10 ( TK-K) and 1:00 p.m. (1st-5th)

Mon. 11/11 Veterans Day- NO SCHOOL

Sat. 11/16 Live Auction/Grown Ups Night Out

Mon. 11/18 Prospective Parent School Tour @9:00 a.m.

Mon. 11/18 Volunteer Trainings @ 8:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.

Tues. 11/19 Coffee with Principal @8:30am

Thurs. 11/21 ELAC Meeting @8:30am

Thurs. 11/21 School Site Council Meeting @3:15pm

Fri. 11/22 Fall Movie Night @6pm

Wed. 11/27-29 Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL

WRLC PTA Calendar 2024-2025

SMMUSD 2024-2025 Calendar

All across California, there will be an earthquake drill on Thursday, October 17th. It will occur at 10:17 am. Please note that the office will be closed as the entire school will be outdoors for the drill.

Teachers will be sharing lessons with our students each day and Wednesday we have student assemblies for 3rd- 5th graders! Parents can look to Common Sense Media for some ideas for at home tips! How to Get Your School to Teach Digital Manners and Skills. Common Sense is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Visit www.commonsense.org.

Monday 10/14

🎶What Is a Digital Citizen?

Tuesday 10/15

♥️Digital Well-Being

Wednesday 10/16

🏫Our School Community

Thursday 10/17

🔎Media Literacy

Friday 10/18

🔐Staying Safe Online

Do you love Will Rogers? Want to make a direct impact on keeping it great? Then please donate to the Ed Foundation during Pledge Week, starting Monday, October 7 through October 11! Your support fuels the programs and staff that make Will Rogers special, from P.S. ARTS to instructional assistants to our Regenerative Farm, and beyond.

Pledge Week is taking place THIS week and we have exciting news! When you donate now through Friday, an anonymous donor will match all donations up to $50,000!

Please consider making a gift this week. Your donation will be doubled and you’ll be helping our kids!

Our students love the staff and programs that your donation helps fund. Please keep it going for them and donate today at smedfoundation.org/donate.

This Wednesday our 3rd- 5th grade students will attend an assembly on how to become Digital Citizens and engage in safe, online behaviors. This is our student follow-up to the Parent Information Night hosted by Julia Storm, a Digital Media Wellness Educator and founder of ReConnect.Julia is dedicated to helping families navigate the challenges of the digital age, using a holistic approach that focuses on the social-emotional well-being of children. With a background in producing award-winning children’s media for platforms like Netflix and PBS, Julia understands firsthand the impact of screens on kids.

Student Assembly times:

5th grade @10 a.m.

3rd and 4th @ 2:20 p.m.

Please find a resource provided by Julia Storm, Digital Health Educator.

Our Rogers kids love to express themselves creatively, and this is a wonderful theme. Let's see what they can do!

Students from all grades are encouraged to create and submit original works of art that interpret this year's theme "Accepting Imperfections". Categories include visual arts, photography, literature, music composition, film production and dance choreography. Please visit the Will Rogers PTA page here for information on submitting works online. Paper submission forms will be available in the front office starting Monday 10/14 if needed. Submissions are due Friday, October 18.

For questions, please email reflections@willrogerspta.com or have students visit Ms. Kellie at the art cart on Tuesday during lunch.

Congratulations WRLC for your participation in our READ-A-THON! We’ve have surpassed our fundraising goal! We have raised an amazing total of $20,508! Our scholars have logged over 80, 276 reading minutes in our Read-A-Thon.

We would like to congratulate:

• The TWO classes that raised over $1,900 and will receive lunch with Principal Daruty. Ms. Trubo and Mr. Avita-Witt's classrooms.
• Our TOP student fundraiser was: 1st grader, Ava Radford-Fischer!
• Our TOP readers were: Raylan R., Emy K. and Deven J.

It is important that all students attend school every day. Exceptions may include if your child is ill. Please plan all family vacations during school vacation days. It is important to set your child up for success by assuring they are in school.

We realize some absences are for health or other reasons. But, when students are absent they can fall far behind in what they learn. Whether the absence is excused or unexcused It means your child is missing important classroom learning time.

Some Attendance Tips:

• Please notify the office within 72 hours to report your child's absence and the reason they were not in school.
• Illness, bereavement, and court hearings are the only reason for an "Excused" absence.
  
• Make sure your students keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
  
• Turn off all electronics including TVs, phones, and tablets at bedtime.
  
• Make sure clothes and pack backpacks are ready the night before.
  
• Check with our school nurse or office staff if you are not sure about when to keep your child at home due to illness.
  
• Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
  
• Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your student feels anxious about going to school.
  
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your student to school.

Please let us know how we can best support you and your student so that they can show up for school on time every day.

We want to ensure that our students arrive to school safely. I acknowledge that mornings are a busy time in our neighborhood please keep the following reminders in mind as you drop-off at WRLC.

• Do not park or leave your car unattended in front of school between 8:00-8:30 a.m. This is our valet lane.
• Be respectful to our neighbors. Do not block driveways.
• Please do not double park.
• Please support students to use the crosswalks, only.

If your child is enrolled in one of our afterschool partnerships, please be sure you have read and received the information regarding pick-up procedures.

• CREST students are to be picked-up from the gate in our 16th street parking lot. Key cards are provided to parents of enrolled students.
• CREST enrichment students are brought to the front gate after class.
• Boys and Girls (Playground Club) at the 14th Street Gate which requires a code.
• SAP at the 14th Street Gate which requires a code.

CREST ( 4th and 5th Grade) 310-458-8540

SM BOYS & GIRLS CLUB Playground Club (1st -5th) 310-496-8800 Register here

YMCA 310-393-2721

Tuesday is our lunchtime ART CART day. Students are invited to participate in creative art projects and handicrafts during lunchtime. This is possible through the support of our parent volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for lunchtime on Tuesdays, please sign up using the link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050445AFAF28A2FB6-51251277-artcart

We would also love donations here is our wishlist for the art cart here. We'd also love some brown paper bags if parents can bring them in for us.

The school provides the supplies, your support requires:

You are a level 1 cleared volunteer

You are willing to safely supervise students with proper use of art tools and materials

Enthusiasm for working with children

Enjoyment with crafts and art

At WRLC, we make every effort to avoid interrupting instructional time and therefore do not allow cellphones and other electronics to be used during the instructional day. Students are not permitted to wear smartwatches or Gizmos in the classrooms. If your child wears a smartwatch, or has a smartphone, please remind them they are to be kept in their backpack turned off or on school-mode during the school day. We encourage parents to support us by leaving these items at home.

Students are never permitted to use cell phones on campus. In the event of an emergency administration carry radios, teachers have cellphones and there is a school phone in every learning space. Under the advisement of our SMPD school resource officers, individual student cellphone use can actually hinder the delivery of important messaging necessary in a true emergency.

Other personal electronics from home such as Nintendo Switches, iPads, Kindles etc. are not permitted on campus. If a student uses their cell phone during school hours, it will be confiscated and held until the end of the school day and must be picked up by a parent. In no event or circumstance, will the district or its staff be held responsible or liable for the loss, theft, or damage to any such device.

Please help us ensure that our students have an electronics free learning zone at school.

Experience the amazing Samohi Orchestras at this year’s fall concert, Disney in Concert Around the World, on Friday, October 25 at 7:00pm in Barnum Hall. Enjoy an evening of popular movie themes such as Lion King, Mulan, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Aladdin. Bring the whole family to hear these iconic melodies as movie clips are projected above stage! Concessions open at 5:30 with tacos and baked goods for sale. Dress as your favorite Disney character and join in the costume contest prior to the show. This event sells out, so purchase your tickets now at www.samohiorchestras.org, $10 for students/$20 for adults.

Mornings are busy and sometimes students leave for school without their water bottle, instrument or homework. In an an effort to reduce classroom interruptions and to support students with developing responsibility, please use our "Oops, I forgot" table. Make a plan with your child that if they leave something at home, a parent can drop it off in the office. We will place their item on a table outside the office. During their recess or on their way to lunch, they may check the table for their forgotten item.

Please communicate this plan with your child, so they know there is place for parents to drop-off items they may have left at home!

• School materials including books, homework, projects, etc.
• Re-fillable water bottle ( We have several refilling stations on campus)
• A morning snack
• Lunch is available to all students free of charge for the 2024-25 school year. You may also pack a lunch form home.
• Sunscreen (put on prior to arriving at school)
• Hat
• Layers of clothing (sweatshirt, windbreaker, etc.) Keep an eye on the weather.
• A growth mindset for a successful day!

We are currently looking for a Legislative Chair to join our PTA team! This important role involves staying informed on key legislative issues that impact our students and school, and helping to keep our community updated.

If you’re interested in supporting our school by tracking important education-related developments and sharing relevant information, we’d love to have you on board!

We're also in need of a Student Store Chair to help manage and run our student store on Fridays and during special events. The store is an important part of our school community, offering families and our community a chance to purchase school spirit wear and other fun items. We're planning to bring the store out this Friday, but we need help throughout the entire year to make this successful. If you're interested in helping out, please reach out to us!

Please email president@willrogerspta.com

Join the Will Rogers PTA for $10 to support activities and events that enrich your student's education and strengthen our school community.

https://jointotem.com/ca/santa-monica/will-rogers-elementary-pta

SEEKING TWO NEW PARENT MEMBERS!

The School Site Council (Site Governance Committee) meets at least 8 times a year (meetings are Thursdays 3:30-5:00 p.m. (calendar) to:

• To develop, approve, and annually review a school plan, to be known as the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).

• To plan, monitor and evaluate the school-based activities and expenditures for Consolidated Application Programs, including Federal, State and local funds.

• To follow the requirements of the Greene Act.

• To carry out all the other duties and responsibilities assigned to it in the Educational Code of the State of California.

The SSC is composed of elected members: staff (principal, teachers, classified staff) and parents/legal guardians, PTA board member of children currently enrolled at Rogers who are not employed by the school district. All members are elected for a two year term.

If you would be interested in join, please reach out if you have any questions. You will be notified when your nomination has been received.

Families wishing to enroll their students should contact our school’s Bilingual Community Liaison, Flory Vila, fvila@smmusd.org, 310 452-2364 x67338, and fill out a Program opt-in form.

Las familias que deseen

inscribir a sus estudiantes en el Programa de Bolsas de Fin de Semana deben comunicarse con Flory Vila, fvila@smmusd.org 310 452-2364 x67338, y completar un formulario para inscribirse en el programa.

As an International Baccalaureate Programme School, we believe there is a broad range of capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. We make a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them. We do this through the development of students according to the IB learner profile. The profile aims to develop learners who are:

Inquirers

Knowledgeable

Thinkers

Communicators

Principled

Open-minded

Caring

Risk-takers

Balanced

Reflective

The IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students! Make a plan with your child each week about the days they will be eating food prepared at school or bringing lunch from home.

https://www.smmusd.org/domain/476

We encourage you to pack a snack for your children for morning recess.

Please send your child to school with a re-fillable water bottle! We have water stations located throughout campus.

We encourage all families to submit the Free and Reduced Meals application by Friday, October 4. Although California provides free meals for all students, this application is crucial for determining eligibility for additional programs and resources, including Title 1 school designations for the 2025-26 school year. The state uses this form to assess which families qualify for benefits beyond free meals, so widespread participation is essential. To support this effort, please share the application link with your families and distribute the flier through your school's communication channels.

Application Link: https://bit.ly/MealApplications-SMMUSD

Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM