Dear Will Rogers Families,
Have you ever wondered why we have late start Fridays? At WRLC, we believe that working together as educators is essential for enhancing student learning. Research by John Hattie shows that when teachers collaborate to improve their practices, it has a greater positive impact on student achievement than factors like past performance, homework or socio-economic status.
On Late Start Fridays, our teachers meet in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to focus on specific areas of growth. This year, our School Leadership Team (SLT) reviewed our data and identified "Comprehension and Collaboration" as a key area to develop. We aim to help our students engage effectively in conversations and collaborations, building on others’ ideas while expressing their own clearly.
Over the next few weeks, grade level teams will work on a 6-8 week inquiry study to design lessons that teach essential skills, including:
- Comprehension and collaboration as outlined in the speaking and listening standards for K-5.
- Following agreed-upon discussion rules.
- Building on others’ contributions and asking clarifying questions.
- Engaging in meaningful exchanges and active listening.
- Teach accountable talk language to scaffold conversation and deepen their comprehension ( see below).
We will monitor how these practices impact student learning and share our findings to enhance our collective teaching effectiveness. Our commitment to reflecting on and improving our practices is crucial for your child's progress.
We are excited to see the growth in our students and within our teaching community!
Together for Will Rogers,
Principal Daruty
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon. 10/21 5th Grade Parent Committee Mtg. Via zoom @ 6:00p.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 (NEW DATE) Dia de los Muertos Family Event @5:30pm
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
SMMUSD 2024-2025 Calendar
FREE vision and hearing assessments for students in grades TK, K, 2 and 5.
California offers vision and hearing screenings for students in grades TK, K, 2 and 5 free of charge at school. We will be conducting screenings Oct 23, 24 30th. Our nurse will I will be going to TK K classes to explain what we will be doing a few days prior. If student does not pass hearing they are asked to be re-assessed by their Private Medical Doctor (PMD). If they do not pass vision they can be seen by PMD or we give a voucher for a free screening and a pair of glasses.
Thursday, October 17th Will Rogers participated in California’s Great Shake Out Earthquake Drill.
This full-scale earthquake simulation drill provided our students and staff the opportunity to practice earthquake emergency response. Our students and staff did an excellent job!
Will Rogers has a detailed plan to keep all of our students, staff, and visiting adults safe in the event of an emergency. Thursday's earthquake drill was designed to provide us critical practice. In the event of an actual earthquake, all children will drop, cover and hold on in the classroom and then assemble on the soccer field with their teachers until the emergency is declared over or until released to an adult. In a true emergency, you or someone on your child’s emergency card should request to pick up the child at the “request gate” (in the 16th street parking lot) then you will go to the “reunion gate” to pick up your child. We cannot release your child to an adult who is not listed on your emergency card and we will not release until it’s safe to do so. Records will be kept on all children released to adults. In case of campus damage near this gate, alternative staging areas may be designated to provide safe shelter to our students so be prepared to 1) Look for “Request Gate”/Reunion Gate signs hanging on the fence to designate another pick up area, or, 2) receive an email or phone message that gives you more detailed information. If you elect to pick-up your child from school, you will first approach the Request Gate to show ID. Once we have safely located your child they will be ready for pick-up at our Reunion Gate.
Although we take the Great Shake Out drill very seriously, please be assured that teachers are responsive to the age group of students, as well as their developmental sensitivity. Teachers communicated clearly to all students that the drill is just a “drill,” and not an actual emergency. This exercise is not meant to be scary; it is simply designed to prepare our community should a real earthquake occur.
Thank you,
Gabriela González, M. Ed, NBCT
Assistant Principal
Will Rogers Learning Community
HALLOWEEN PARADE
We invite families to join us on Thursday, October 31st for a morning assembly @ 8:30 a.m. It will be a fun-filled community event. Students should come to school in their costume ready to parade for their classmates. We encourage everyone to have fun and be creative while still being safe, respectful and responsible. As a reminder regarding costumes:
Parents/Students/Staff may wear costumes that adhere to the following guidelines:
Nothing unduly revealing
Age/school appropriate content
Avoid costumes that may imply cultural appropriation. At Rogers we celebrate diversity and are protective and respectful of all cultures.
Masks or face coverings can only be worn during the parade and NOT during the school day.
Face paint is allowed.
No toy weapons or props that may be used as weapons are allowed.
Please avoid oversized or inflatable costumes that may make navigating the classroom and school day a challenge.
*Students not dressed appropriately may be provided with loaner clothing or we will request parents to bring more appropriate clothing.
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. For more information check here.
- 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
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