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Dear Will Rogers Learning Community Parents and Guardians,

Happy Sunday. We hope to see you all at our Family Farming Day today in our Regenerative Farm from 10-2 pm. This is a renewed opportunity for our families and outside community to come together to help us to turn our compost, prepare the beds for the new season, plant the new crops and clean up our work areas.When you arrive, please, sign-in at our volunteer station.

Get those wheels rolling! Bike it, Walk it Day is Wednesday Oct. 4th at Will Rogers! Physical exercise is so good for our bodies, and our minds! If you start your morning off with a bike ride/scoot/walk, your brain will be wide awake and ready to learn! Join us for Bike it, Walk it! next Wednesday, and help us earn a SCHOOL-WIDE ice cream party! We have been graciously allowed to park at the church around the corner at 1520 Pearl so that you can walk on over, get counted and help us get that ice cream!

Please join us in-person or via zoom on Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the PTA Association meeting! PTA's guest speaker will be a representative from the SMMUSD Facilities Improvements Department, and you can ask questions about the upcoming construction scheduled for our school.

Over the weekend, rooms 504 and 505 received new flooring. District staff will be on site on Monday, to clean and set-up the classrooms. Students and teachers will return to their classrooms on Tuesday morning. Thank you to everyone for your flexibility and patience.

Together for Will Rogers,

Ms. Lila Daruty, Principal WRLC

This week:

• 5th Grade student Council student information meeting at lunchtime. Room 509.
• Bike it Walk It Day Wednesday!
• Join us for PTA Association Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. on Wed. 10/4

In this newsletter:

• PTA Reflections Contest

• Sign-up to attend a Restorative Justice Parent session

• Learn how you can support the SM Ed foundation and Rogers PTA Fund

• Enroll in the SM Boys and Girls Club after school sports programs.

Sun. 10/1 Family Farming Day 10-2pm

Mon. 10/2 DELAC Committee meeting 9:00-11:00 am held via zoom.

Tues. 10/3 5th grade Student Council Information meeting ( for students) @ lunchtime in room 509

Wed. 10/4 (New Date) Bike It, Walk It, Bus it Day!

Wed. 10/4 PTA Association Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. in the library

Thurs. 10/5 @6:00 p.m not the usual 5:30 p.m. Agenda:

https://www.smmusd.org/domain/2977.

Sat. 10/7 SMMUSD Restorative Justice Training for Parents.Reserve your spot

Tues. 10/11 Parent Support Group Session #2 @ 7:00 p.m. via zoom ID: 838 9104 4294

Wed. 10/11 PTA Reflections Submissions are due online. See flyer for more info.

Wed. 10/18 PTA Executive Board meeting at 6:00 p.m. via zoom

Thurs. 10/19 Great Shakeout Drill @10:00 a.m.

Thurs. 10/26 ELAC Meeting @8:30 a.m.

Thurs. 10/26 School Site Council Meeting @ 3:15-5:00 p.m. in room 105

Sat. 10/28 ( new date) SMMUSD Restorative Justice Training for Parents.Reserve your spot

Fri. 10/27 Student Council Elections Assembly @ 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Parents are welcome to attend.

Fri. 10/27 Regenerative Farm Fall Festival 3-5p.m.

Mon. 10/30 SMC Dance Academy 5th Grade student performance @ 8:30AM (Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Griffin) and 9AM (Ms. Benitez, Mr. Brizuela)

Tues.10/31 Annual Costume Parade @ 8:45 a.m. on the big yard. Parents are welcome to attend!

Thurs. 11/2 SMC Dance Academy 4th grade student performance @ 8:30AM (Evangelho & Hill) & 9AM (Jaeger & Luciano)

SMMUSD 2023-2024 Calendar

Get those wheels ready to roll. Wednesday Oct. 4th is our Bike it ,Walk it, Bus it! to school event. Plan ahead to walk, scooter or bike to school. As you arrive at the gates parent volunteers will be ready to provide students stickers and tally the number of students who participated. The winning school will receive the coveted GOLDEN SNEAKER award and win an ice cream party. We have bike racks located both in front and inside school to assist with safe storage. If you child skateboards, they may store their skateboard in their classroom for the day!

PRO TIP: If you need to drive, to the area first, we have partnered with our local preschool at 1520 Pearl. They have agreed to allow parents to park there on Wednesday, ONLY and then bike it or walk it to campus to be counted!

Looking for future leaders. Does your child want to join or run for WRLC Student Council seat?

Mrs. Griffin is hosting and information meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 3rd 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 on Friday October 27th at 2:00p.m. to ALL 4th and 5th graders at Rogers. Parents are welcome to attend this exciting event!

Mark your calendars for the October 4 PTA Association meeting! It will begin at 6 p.m. in the school library and on Zoom to make it more convenient for everyone. In addition to voting on important PTA business, you will have a chance to ask our guest speaker questions about the construction projects planned for the school. Bring a friend, and we'll see you at the PTA meeting!

This week all grade levels began their first IB Unit. Here's what each grade level worked on this past week.

Kindergarten - They continued working on their 5 senses activities and they did an inquiry into feelings.

First Grade - They had a class discussion about who is responsible for making rules. Students created classroom agreement books.

Second Grade - The students completed their timelines for the family project. They also watched a video about how to interview someone in preparation for the family interview activity.

Third Grade - The students are working on learner profile books to better understand each learner profile. They are also learning more about their own personal identities through activities like the I Am Poem and Biography Bags.

Fourth Grade - The students had their first STEM Lab activity where they did several activities to better answer the problem: How does the brain control the body. They also worked on creating a human body diagram that will eventually show all of the human body systems and how they work together.

Fifth Grade - The students learned about why land is important by reading several articles, looking at maps of indigenous tribes, and having class discussions.

Please label your child's water bottle, lunchbox, and clothing! The racks are already getting full. All teachers have a designated wagon/lunch cart/bucket they take outside at lunchtime. After eating lunch your children should place their items in their classroom's designated cart, BEFORE they go play! Help us remind children to follow this procedure. It will help keep the yard clean and their items returned home each day!

Morning ARRIVAL:

**Students enrolled in morning care through CDS, enter on 14th street beginning at 7:00 a.m. using the gate code provided at enrollment. This is different from last year as our morning care room has moved locations.

• Supervision on the yard begins at 8:10 a.m.
• Morning Drive-up Valet is available on 14th street between 8:10-8:30 a.m. M-TH and 9:30-9:45 a.m. on Fridays. Will Rogers staff will support children to exit cars and enter school through the front school gates. You can help by ensuring that your children are ready to exit with their backpacks on, ready to go! Parents, please do not park in the valet zone and leave your car unattended, the area will be marked with cones. We kindly ask that you take direction from our staff who will help keep the line moving and our students safe.
• Walk-Up Drop off- Parents and guardians may drop-off and say their goodbyes at the gate(s). There will be staff stationed at ALL gates to assist.

1. TK/Kinder use the designated gate on 14th street.
2. 1st - 5th may use the front gate on 14th street or the pedestrian gate on 16th street.

REMINDER: Parent parking can be found on the neighborhood streets. Be sure to read the street signs! Please do not park in either staff parking lot or in a neighbor's driveway!

DISMISSAL: All students will be walked to their dismissal gate by their classroom teacher. Students who have not been picked-up shortly after dismissal, will be asked to wait in the office.

DESIGNATED DISMISSAL GATES:

• TK/Kinder: Pick-up students on the TK/K yard (on 14th street)
• 1st and 2nd: Pick-up students on the TK/K yard (on 14th street)
• 3rd: Front of the school (on 14th street)
• 4th and 5th: Pick-up students at the 16th street pedestrian gate

**If you have multiple children, please pick-up at the designated gate of your youngest student. Be sure you inform your child's teacher of this plan.

If it is raining: 1st-3rd pick-up location will be the front of school, under the covered awning.

Enjoy an evening of popular movie themes such as Harry Potter, My Neighbor Totoro, The Greatest Showman, and Aladdin. Don’t miss your chance to bring the whole family to hear these iconic melodies as movie clips are projected above stage! Concessions open at 5:30 - savory food and baked goods for sale. Dress as your favorite Disney, Harry Potter, or Studio Ghibli character and join in the costume parade prior to the show at 6:45pm. Concert begins at 7:00pm. Purchase tickets now at www.samohiorchestras.com for $10 students/$20 adults.

All Rogers students are invited to submit their original completed works of art to the PTA’s National Reflections contest. Available categories include Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. Last year 2 SMMUSD students progressed all the way to the state-level competition! This year's student chosen theme is "I Am Hopeful Because..." Contact reflections@willrogerspta.com for questions.

Reserve your spot for an empowering 2-day training for all parents, guardians and staff, aimed at fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment for our students. Gain valuable insights into building and strengthening relationships, conflict resolution, empathy building, and effective communication techniques.

This is a two-day event for adults-only.

• October 7, 2023 10am-3pm at SAMOHI room # D100
• October 28, 2023 10am-3pm at SAMOHI room # D100

You must attend both dates to be fully trained in Restorative Justice Level 1.

An effective school requires a joint effort of parents, students, teachers, administrators, and school staff.

Thank you to our 2023-24 School Site Council Members:

Jeremy King, teacher

Katja Alexander, teacher

Sally Miller, teacher

Mark Miller, parent

Paola Vezzulli, parent

Tristen Gartrell, parent

Gabriella Gonzalez, assistant principal

Florinda Vila, community liaison

Mornings are busy and sometimes students leave for school without their water bottle, instrument or homework. In an effort to reduce classroom interruptions and to support students with developing responsibility, please use our "Oops, I forgot" table. It is located outside the main office.

Make a plan with your child that if they leave something at home, a parent may drop it off in the office. We will place their labeled item on the "Oops, I forgot table." During their recess or on their way to lunch, they may check the table for a 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!

In a few weeks we are planning chalk designs. We are looking for blue tape and chalk donations. Please consider donating. You can drop it off to the front office!

BREAKFAST: Students who participate in the Rogers' Breakfast Club will still arrive at school under the same procedures as all students. Parents will drop their children off at the main gates by 8:00 AM so that there is ample time to eat breakfast in the cafeteria and walk to their classrooms by 8:25 AM. Please be sure your child arrives to school with enough time if you plan to have them eat breakfast at school.

LUNCH: Students may elect to bring a lunch from home or eat at school. Teachers will take a lunch count each morning to help the cafeteria plan for the day. You can find the lunch menu (subject to change daily) here.

We are a peanut free campus. Please be sure that you do not pack food items that contain peanuts.

We need your help to reach our school wide $20,000 goal! We still have a long way to go, and only 10 days left. If every Will Rogers family contributes $40 to our fund we can reach our goal! So please donate today and help us reach our goal before Oct. 5th - if we meet our goal, the whole school will earn a dance party at recess!

Please remember to join or renew your annual PTA membership! Membership gives you a voice in planning for the success of every student at Rogers.

PTA WRLC T-shirt Giveaway: Did you join PTA? If yes, we would like to gift you with a T-shirt as a thanks. If you haven’t gotten your shirt, please fill out this form and Tristen will get one to you by next Friday. (T-shirt form). And, it is still not too late to join PTA (See the WRLC website for details)

The Ed Foundation welcomes you to the new school year at Will Rogers! Your students at Will Rogers will be benefiting from Ed Foundation-funded staff and programs such as classroom aides, P.S. ARTS classes, teacher professional learning opportunities, additional library books and materials, music lessons for qualifying students and more this year, all thanks in part to donations made to the Ed Foundation. The Ed Foundation is the non-profit foundation to the district that exists solely to support Santa Monica’s public schools and students with Academics, Arts and Athletic programs. We’re aiming for 100% of Will Rogers families to give what you can to both the Ed Foundation and the PTA.

Will you make a gift today? You can donate online HERE.

Become a PTA member to lend your voice and make a difference in your child's school journey! Plus, there's an exciting incentive: the class with the highest memberships will enjoy a delightful ice cream party!

If you are looking for a way to volunteer or want more information please fill out our volunteer form. If you have any questions please email our Volunteer VP Jessica Lew at

volunteers@willrogerspta.com. https://forms.gle/CRHSPjfZymg2c846A

We are looking to hire 3-4 Instructional Assistants for the 23-24 school year (Job Duties).

• The position is for 3 hours / five days (5) week position, paid $16.00 - $20.45 Hourly. Ideally the hours are 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The Personnel Commission will be scheduling interviews soon. Click here to apply. If anyone may be interested, please apply! Parents and community members make great classroom assistants. Instructional Aides are critical to helping teachers differentiate instruction, prepare supplies, and supervise children at play.

Don't miss out on your chance to save 10% on the Will Rogers Community Yearbook! Order yours before October 31st to save! You'll get two free custom pages to customize by April 15th. Any questions, please reach out to wrlcyearbook@gmail.com

https://web.treering.com/create-account/1013782539131906?PassCode=1013782539131906

Principal, Ms. Lila Daruty M.Ed

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