Dolphin Splash

As principal, I often get asked questions like, "What's our social-emotional curriculum?" The short answer is Harmony SEL and Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, a comprehensive program and a structure for supporting our school's social emotional learning. This month, however, as I've walked through classrooms, attended school events, and parent conferences, it occurred to me that our social-emotional curriculum is also embedded in everything we do at JROB.

In our internal learning walks, I've watched as our teachers cued our students to watch each other, engage in active listening, and go back revisit or revise a math or writing assignment if they didn't get it quite right. Courage, determination, teamwork, persistence, integrity, citizenship, justice, commitment, and excellence (Jackie Robinson's Nine Values) are all essential to the success of our students in class, in WRAP, in sports and clubs, in musical performances, and in life. When our Band Spectacular was postponed due to inclement weather and everyone needed to readjust and regroup, we taught our students the importance of persistence (working toward a goal and continuing to move forward even though you face obstacles or barriers). When a student checks in to report they are concerned with a peer or to report an incident on campus, we validate and recognize the courage it took for them to speak up when they know it is the right thing to do.

All across our educational landscape, we see how JROB staff teach social-emotional skills through the whole child approach at Jackie Robinson Academy. When students are asked to edit, revise, and read each other's small moments during writing workshop, when we practice counting collections, when we re-engineer our science or PLTW project, when we talk about our math strategy in front of the class, when we take the lead in a collaborative group, and when we practice our songs for the concert, we are practicing and learning about social-emotional skills.

Social-emotional skills are a crucial part of the growth and development of our children. And they take the efforts of all stakeholders - parents, teachers, and staff. Together, we ensure our children learn to collaborate, communicate, reflect, and engage in positive ways throughout the school day and beyond.

Thank you for continuing to hone our students social-emotional skills each day as we work through challenges they face in and out of the classroom.

Your proud principal,

Rebecca Ngo

Saturday, December 9th

• 8:00 - Middle School Girls League Track Meet at Wilson High School

Monday, December 11th

• 2:30-4:30 Track & Boys Basketball Practice
• 4:30 - Boys Basketball Game v. IVA at Nelson
• 2:30-3:30 Student Council Meeting
• 2:15-3:30 Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Library After School for Families

Tuesday, December 12th

• 2:30-4:30 Track & Boys Basketball Practice
• 2:15-3:30 Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Library After School for Families

Wednesday, December 13th

• 4:00-5:30 JROB Winter Chorus & Middle School Instrumental Concert
• 2:15-3:30 Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Library After School for Families

Thursday, December 14th

• 2:30-4:30 Track & Boys Basketball Practice
• 1:30PM TK/K-5 Early Dismissal
• 1:30-3:30 Scholastic Book Fair Open in the Library After School for Families

Friday, December 15th

• Caught Being Good Raffle

Upcoming Dates

• Mid/End of November - Front of School Landscaping Project Breaks Ground (work on landscaping will take place after school hours. WRAP please pick up from metro gate)
• Thursday, December 14 - Coffee with the Principal & ELAC Meeting in the cafetorium, 8:00am
• December 18-22 - Winter Spirit Week (see flier below)
• Tuesday, December 19 - Winter/Santa's Workshop 2:30pm-4:30pm
• Friday, December 22 - Kindergarten/TK Winter Program, 9:00AM
• Friday, December 22 - 1st/2nd Grade Holiday Performance, 10:00AM
  
• Friday, December 22 - Minimum Day for All Students, 1:00PM Dismissal
• Winter Break 12/25-1/5
• January 26th - Last day of Semester 1
• January 29th - Spring Semester Begins

The Long Beach State Athletics Department and our Women’s Basketball team would like to graciously offer administrators, coaches, staff, and families of the Long Beach Unified School District Elementary Schools four complimentary tickets for our Women’s Basketball game on Saturday December 16th at 5pm in the Walter Pyramid! We will be having a glow stick giveaway for the first 250 kids in attendance!

To redeem the complimentary tickets please email Randy.Rigali@csulb.edu or call (562) 985-4870. If any families would like more than the four complimentary tickets, they could email Randy Rigali or call the same number and we can offer the group rate of $5.00 per person for additional tickets.

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way. Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming life long readers. AND--as always--every purchase at the Fair benefits our school!

Here's what you need to know about the big event, which will take place from December 11th to 15th from 2:15-3:30 daily (closed Friday after school) at the Jackie Robinson Library:

Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet--your child's digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child's eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.

If you can't make it to the Fair, then shop at our school's Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.

Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/robinsonk8academy1

The countdown to more book joy is on! Catch you at the Fair!

Join us for the next Coffee with the Principal on Thursday, December 14th to learn about resources in the student portal to support your student at home! We'll also make time for a trip to the Book Fair in the library to do some browsing and shopping!

Do you know an LBUSD certificated or classified staff member who embodies a Vision 2035 Core Value and deserves to be celebrated? Nominate a colleague for LBUSD’s Vision in Action Spotlight. Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, Superintendent Baker will recognize staff members who represent each of our nine core values. Those selected may also have the chance to be featured in the Vision in Action Spotlight series on the District’s School Bulletin and main social media accounts.

Vision 2035 Core Values:

1. Centering Student Needs and Voice

2. Authentic Community Engagement and Collaboration

3. Culture of Innovation and Creativity

4. Diversity and Inclusion

5. Environment That Fosters Connection, Respect and Safety

6. Equity and Social Justice

7. Excellence and Accountability Through Continuous Improvement

8. Fostering Joy and Commitment

9. Integrity and Responsible Leadership

Visit lbschools.net/vision2035 for complete descriptions of the nine core values (page 12). The nomination window is open from Wednesday, Nov. 29 to Friday, Dec. 22. Good luck! Staff selected will be notified in the new year.

Email: RNgo@lbschools.net
Website: https://robinson.lbschools.net/
Location: Jackie Robinson Academy, Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA, USA
Phone: (562) 492-6003