Dear Will Rogers Families,
Get ready for another fantastic week at Will Rogers! We love bringing our community together at WRLC, and this week is packed with opportunities for you and your family to get involved!
📅 Monday: Volunteer Training
Join us for one of our three volunteer training sessions at 8:30 a.m., 3:00 p.m., or 6:00 p.m. with our amazing assistant principal, Ms. Gonzalez. Whether you want to help in the classroom, chaperone field trips, or lend a hand at special events, this is your chance to learn how you can make a difference!
🎨 Thursday: PS Arts Family Night
Mark your calendars for Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m.! Bring the whole family to our PS Arts Family Night in the school auditorium. Get ready to unleash your creativity with fun hands-on visual arts projects. It’s a great way to bond and create lasting memories together!
🚴♂️ Friday: Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Day
Let’s get moving! This Friday is all about getting active as a community. Participate in Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Day with your family and help us vie for the Golden Sneaker award! Students who join in the fun will earn a special sticker to wear with pride. We’ll have volunteers at the arrival gates on 14th and 16th to make sure everyone gets counted. Let’s kick off the day with some fresh air and exercise!
📋 Important Info:
If you missed last week’s PTA Association Meeting, you can catch up and learn more about Measure QS by reviewing the information HERE.
📊 Academic Updates:
We’ve completed our initial benchmark assessments in Reading and Math. Our team is diving into the data to tailor our instruction and support where needed. Remember, you can access your child's assessment report through the Aeries parent portal.
Let’s make this week amazing by coming together and participating in these events. Your involvement makes all the difference for our students and school community. We can't wait to see you!
Together for Will Rogers,
Principal Daruty
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon. 10/7 Volunteer Training @8:30am/3pm/6pm
Mon. 10/7-11 Ed Foundation Pledge Week
Thurs. 10/10 PS Arts Night @6pm
Thurs. 10/10 SMMUSD Board of Education meeting @5:30 p.m. agenda posted online.
Fri. 10/11 Bike It Walk it! 9:00 a.m. at all arrival gates!
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)
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.
Mon. 10/21 5th Grade Parent Committee Mtg. Via zoom @ 6:00p.m.
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.
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
SMMUSD 2024-2025 Calendar
Community Event: New film called Screenagers: Elementary Edition
As you may be aware, there has been a great deal of meaningful discussion starting last year regarding students’ overuse of smartphones and other technologies. WRLC hosted a successful parent information night at our PTA Association meeting last week. We learned from Digital Health Educator, Julia Storm. We are currently scheduling her to present an assembly during Digital Citizenship Week (Oct. 14th) to our 3rd -5th grade students on safe internet use and digital citizenship.
To further this discussion, on Tuesday, October 8th at 6:00 PM in the Grant School Auditorium, they will be screening a new film called Screenagers: Elementary Edition which addresses issues that elementary school-aged kids, parents, and educators are facing such as smartwatches in class, monitoring video game usage, social media pressures, young children's exposure to information on the internet, and what research shows is a healthy amount of screen time. The film promises to present solutions to these and other challenges and is a valuable tool for all those looking to address and support mental wellbeing in the digital age.
WRLC READ-A-THON!
Congratulations WRLC for your participation in our READ-A-THON! We’ve have surpassed our fundraising goal! We have raised $20,268 so far! Our scholars have logged over 80, 276 reading minutes in our Read-A-Thon.
We would like to congratulate Ms. Uema's class for most minutes read!
Our TOP readers were:
- Raylan R.
- Emy K.
- Deven J.
We will announce the rest of the winners this week and our final numbers!
Looking for future leaders. Does your child want to join or run for 5th Grade WRLC Student Council?
Looking for future leaders. Does your 5th grade child want to join or run for WRLC Student Council seat?
Mrs. Griffin is hosting and information meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 8th in her classroom ( room 509) at 5th grade lunchtime. Let your child know they should attend this information meeting if they are interested in learning more about student council. We will provide them everything they need to know about the roles and responsibilities of a student council member. We will also discuss the election process, for students interested in running for a cabinet seat!
The election speeches will be shared the week of Nov. 4th (DATE TBD). ALL 4th and 5th graders at Rogers as well as supportive candidate parents are welcome to attend this exciting event!
Every Friday is WRLC Spirit Wear Day!
WRLC Spirit Wear RECYCLE COLLECTION
Do you have WRLC Spirit Wear that no longer fits and can be passed on to our WRLC community?
- We accept all sizes & styles from our different school events.
- Items being donated are to be cleaned and gently worn only.
- Please drop off your items in the school office.
- If you have any questions please contact Flory Vila, our Bilingual Community Liaison at 310-452-2364 ext. 67338 email fvila@smmusd.org.
Kayla Torrey, dedicated earth steward, herbalist and permaculture educator joins the WRLC Regenerative Farm instruction team to support our students' learning through collaborative, curiosity based learning. Exploring working with plants from seed to harvest through applied permaculture practices and systems based land tending, learning to grow gardens that care for all, and building a sense of bio-diverse community along the way.
Kaylisa McKeever, passionate expert in soil health and science, joins the WRLC Regenerative Farm instruction team to support our students in learning through projects soil regeneration, how to grow our own food and how to take care of mother Earth. A life learner in sustainable systems, she firmly believes in the power of teaching young students to become stewards of the land.
Margaret Vallese is a certified horticulturist, with a long lasting volunteering experience in teaching gardening and composting to young students in the SMMUSD. She joins the WRLC Regenerative Farm instruction team to share her gifts in making children thrive by fostering their connection to the earth, by helping them experience where our food comes from and by exposing them to the science behind it.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
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.
ART CART at lunchtime!
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
WRLC Cell Phone and Electronics Policy
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.
Oops, I Forgot!
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!
Please do not forget to send with your child every day:
- 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 NEED YOUR HELP!
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
Will Rogers School Site Council (SSC) (Site Governance)
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.
WRLC is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years School (PYP)
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.
LUNCH MENU
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.
Contact Us
Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM