GECKO GAZETTE

August 14, 2024

Dear Grant Families,

It is my honor and a pleasure to welcome you to the 2024 – 2025 school year! I hope you all have had a relaxing and fun summer break. I am extremely proud to serve as the Principal of this amazing learning community for the 7th year and to continue to support the students of Sunset Park! This year, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s theme is “Many Pieces, One Team” in addition to continuing our focus on Curiosity, Empowerment, and Belonging. As a school, we will be infusing these concepts in all that we do. As has been our mission at Grant School, we will continue to strive for academic excellence and social and emotional well-being for our students while looking through a lens of equity and inclusion. With that said, the Grant staff and PTA are excited to kick this year off in true Gecko style!

I would like to welcome all of our new families, whether you are joining us from another school in the district or have relocated from another city, state, or country. We are excited to share with you all that Grant has to offer and believe you will soon feel as we do; that Grant School is a special place for all children. Our educators, support staff, families, and other education partners are ready to welcome you into the Gecko Nation.

Our teachers and staff are eager to meet their new students and begin this year’s journey with them. The dedicated staff at Grant has been working tirelessly to finalize classes and schedules, engaging in professional development specific to our school and District goals, and honing our instructional strategies, class routines, and expectations, all with the goal of fostering academic success and a true sense of connectedness and belonging for our students. Our primary goal is to ensure student proficiency in core academic subjects, so we will continue to refine our Tier I instruction by analyzing data, conducting observations, and reviewing classwork to guide instruction and shape effective intervention. We also will be entering our second year of Project-Based Learning with the continued goal of engaging ALL of our students in grades TK-5. We immersed ourselves into learning Gold Standard PBL from the preeminent experts in this field, The Buck Institute for Education/PBLWorks and revisited our "why". Upon deep reflection, we as a staff, made the commitment to revolutionize our instructional model by integrating PBL philosophy and teaching and learning strategies to ensure we reached every one of our young scholars, neurodiverse, neurotypical, multi-language learner, and every other type of learner. Last year was both inspiring and reaffirming. In the words of one of our neurodiverse students at the end of the year when asked to reflect on her year engaged in PBL-driven activities, she said, "I'm not going back!" Well, neither are we!

Along with our integration of PBL, we will continue placing a focus on the integration of the Social Justice Standards, Responsive Classroom community-building techniques, Restorative Justice practices, and social and emotional support strategies into our students’ daily school experience. We will work together to create a solid foundation for our students so that they have the opportunity to become self-directed learners, collaborative teammates, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens. We will continue to offer intervention services for neurodiverse learners through specialized programs, counseling when appropriate, and the implementation of Tier II and Tier III programs and teaching and learning strategies. We ask that you play an active role in your child's journey this year whatever their path may be!

Please be sure to read the Gecko Gazette each Sunday night as it contains important information from the school, PTA, Santa Monica Education Foundation, City of Santa Monica, and other community partners. Links to each week’s Gazette are posted on our website.

We will be holding our traditional, in-person Back-to-School Night presentations on Tuesday, August 27th for Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, First grade, and Second grade, and Tuesday, September 3rd for grades 3-5. Both nights’ programs will begin with a short presentation in the Auditorium where you will meet our teachers, support staff, Assistant Principal, and me. While in the classroom, your child’s teacher will present an overview of the year’s instructional program, schedules, digital resources, and expectations for the coming year. Please refer to the school’s website for additional information on upcoming events: GRANT SCHOOL CALENDAR

As I have always said, Grant’s outstanding educators create the foundation for your child’s academic success. In addition, a large part of the Grant Learning Community’s success can be attributed to its active and engaged parents who are involved in the PTA, Education Foundation, and various committees. Please consider contributing to the Grant PTA so that we can continue to fund engaging enrichment programs, assemblies, and much-needed supplemental equipment, materials, and supplies that will support teaching and learning this year. Your donations directly affect your child’s education. Last year your contributions enabled us to provide digital learning resources in literacy, math, and science, musical instruments, field trips, supplemental materials and supplies, and a variety of outdoor equipment. Please visit the Grant PTA website at https://www.grantpta.org/ to become a PTA member and to learn of the many opportunities available to volunteer at Grant. In addition, we hope you consider donating to the Santa Monica Education Foundation. Donations to SMEF enable us to provide our students with a well-rounded and world-class education through music, visual arts, and instructional assistant support. Please visit https://smedfoundation.org/ways-to-give/ to donate today! Donations from last year enabled us to purchase an additional semester of Visual and Performing Arts programming and other important instructional supports.

I look forward to the start of the new school year and to continuing our collaboration of providing your children with an effective and engaging educational experience. As always, we will look to our families to be positive partners in their children’s educational journey. The Grant staff has always made a priority of working together as a caring and compassionate learning community with professionalism, teamwork, action, and expertise. We will always put the best interests of our students at the center of our purpose. Join us in ensuring the success of all Grant’s students. Stay healthy, stay positive, and stay connected.

As always, my door is open and our team welcomes your input. Please feel free to contact me via email at the address below or call to make an appointment to speak with me to discuss any ideas you feel will make this the best year yet!

GO GECKOS!

All my best,

Christian Fuhrer

Principal

Grant School

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

cfuhrer@smmusd.org

Please review these important dates:

AUGUST

• Sunday, August 18th: Grant Family Garden Day from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
• Monday, August 19th: Class Assignment Notifications for grades TK-5 (evening emails); Email us if you do not receive a notification.
• Monday, August 19th: New Family Orientation and Tour: 4:00 PM in the Auditorium
• Wednesday, August 21st: TK and Kindergarten Meet & Greet on the Kindergarten Yard @ 9:00 AM
• Thursday, August 22nd: First Day of the 2023-2024 School Year!
• Thursday, August 22nd: PTA First Day of School Parent Reception @ 8:45 AM in the Auditorium
• Thursday, August 22nd: Minimum Day for all grades: Dismissal times: PreK/TK/Kinder @ 12:15; 1st - 5th @ 1:15 PM
• Friday, August 23rd: Minimum Day for all grades: Dismissal times: PreK/TK/Kinder @ 12:15; 1st - 5th @ 1:15 PM.

• Tuesday, August 27th: Minimum Day for all grades: Dismissal times: PreK/TK/Kinder @ 12:15; 1st - 5th @ 1:15 PM
• Tuesday, August 27th: Volunteer Training @ 4:45 PM in the Library

• Tuesday, August 27th: Back to School Night Grades TK – 2 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM; begin in the Auditorium @ 6:00 PM

• Monday, September 2nd: No School in observance of Labor Day

• Tuesday, September 3rd: Minimum Day for all grades: Dismissal times: PreK/TK/Kinder @ 12:15; 1st - 5th @ 1:15 PM

• Tuesday, September 3rd: Volunteer Training @ 4:45 PM in the Library
  
• Tuesday, September 3rd: 5th-Grade Activities Information and Recruiting Meeting @ 4:45 in the Auditorium

• Tuesday, September 3rd: Back to School Night Grades 3 – 5 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM; begin in the Auditorium @ 6:00 PM

• Friday, September 27th: Grant World Cultures Festival - 3:30 PM on the Big Yard

Please do not forget to send with your child every day:

• School materials including books, homework, projects, etc.
• Water bottle
• Snack and/or lunch (lunch available to all students free of charge for the 2024-25 school year.)
• 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!

Ms. Kara Belsky joins us as Grant's new full-time Assistant Principal!

Ms. Belsky most recently served as an educator and teacher leader at LAUSD's Warner Avenue Elementary School where she worked closely with her administration to develop effective school policies and solutions-oriented strategies for student success. In addition, she was tasked with creating the school's intervention program for students needing targeted assistance. As an administrative designee, she worked closely with teachers, staff, and administration to support the needs of all in her community.

Ms. Belsky earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Miami University in Ohio and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. In addition, she holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential.

Ms. Belsky said, "I am so thrilled about the opportunity to join the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District at Grant Elementary! In only a short amount of time, I have come to find how warm and welcoming the administrative team is, which I am sure is only a glimpse into the entire district. I feel extreme gratitude to be a part of this wonderful community, and I am eager to immerse myself in the Grant Elementary family alongside the dedicated staff, teachers, families, and most importantly, students. It is evident that the teachers and staff are devoted to their craft, and I feel exceptionally proud to join such an amazing team. I look forward to getting to know each person at Grant.”

Please welcome Erin Urbina, our new Administrative Assistant. She comes to us from Roosevelt Elementary where she worked as a Health Office Specialist and prior to that worked for SOL-LA Music Academy as the Operations Manager. Erin also brings with her a wealth of knowledge in the areas of health and child development in her work with Early Head Start for 15 years. She is very excited to join the Grant family and looks forward to meeting everyone! Erin was born and raised in the Venice/Santa Monica area and she and her husband of 17 years have 3 daughters together. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and watching her daughters play softball.

My name is Genevieve Hernandez, and I am excited to be working with you all this school year! A little about myself is that I have been working with students since the age of 12, volunteering at first when I decided 100% I wanted to teach! Since then I have been a preschool teacher when my oldest, now 12, was little. It was there that I decided I wanted to go into special education where I went on to get my Master's degree in Special Education: Moderate/Severe disabilities. I had worked at a charter school via LAUSD for 5 years as the education specialist in a fully inclusive school then took a brief year off to help transition my youngest, now 3, into full time preschool. I am excited to be welcomed into a new school year in Santa Monica, and I look forward to meeting everyone of you!

Ms. Lockwood grew up in Southern California and this will be her 9th year teaching since she graduated from Sonoma State University. In the past 9 years, she has lived in Madrid teaching English in their public schools, then moved to New York City gaining more teaching experience in their public school system, and she moved to the Los Angeles area two years ago. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, cooking, watching sports, and spending time with family and friends. Ms. Lockwood said, "I am beyond excited to be part of this community!"

Kim Evangelho was born and raised in Santa Monica and is a product of SMMUSD, attending Grant, JAMS, and SAMO. Her daughters are recent Grant graduates as well.

She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with degrees in English and Spanish, and got her Master's Degree and Teaching Credential from Azusa Pacific University. She began her teaching career in a bilingual first grade class, and then taught fifth grade at the same school in Los Angeles. She then taught fifth grade in San Bruno, California as well. She has been working in the district as a substitute teacher for the past five years.

When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, hiking, reading, and enjoying the beach. She is very excited to be joining the Grant elementary teaching team.

Ms. Vasquez comes from a family of educators. Her mother is an elementary school teacher (happily retired). Her brother is a high school math teacher.

Her academic/professional background includes Kinesiology, Recreation and Leisure Studies in the focus area of Outdoor Education, Special Education, and Education Leadership.

Ms. Vasquez's hobbies include nature time with her wife, Dana, and son, Keanu (backpacking, camping, anything with nature), gardening, meditating, and enjoying life's moments with family, friends, and loved ones.

Favorite Quote: "Life is a journey, not a destination." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Madeleine (Maddie) is a first year Speech-Language Pathologist. She will be working at Grant Elementary and Lincoln Middle School. She completed her Master's program at California State University, San Marcos this past May. Maddie was born and raised in Mission Viejo, CA. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time at the beach.

• Sandy Youssef - Cafeteria
• Faten Matta - Campus Monitor
• Randy Davis - Campus Monitor
• Chae Persinger - Temporary Health Office Specialist

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO WATCH A SHORT VIDEO ON HOW TO CONFIRM YOUR CHILD'S INFORMATION: DATA CONFIRMATION STEP-BY-STEP

• NEW PROCESS: Grant School and SMMUSD have worked to digitize the compliance and document portions of the “First Day Packet.” The Data Confirmation process is easy for you and your student through Aeries Parent Portal in place of our previous process. This includes items like Emergency Cards, Parent Handbooks and Policies and Authorizations. We have many important documents and plenty of information for your family within the online registration site, accessed via your Aeries Parent Portal. Note: You must complete data confirmation for each student. Please be sure to read, review, and discuss all the materials with your student. We also need to gather information from you for emergency contacts and health documents. You may decide to print some of the documents for future reference. For a tutorial on how to complete this process, please click here [English]

• NUEVO PROCESO: [Escuela] y SMMUSD han trabajado para digitalizar el cumplimiento y las porciones de documentos del "Paquete del Primer Día". El proceso de Confirmación de Datos es fácil para usted y su estudiante a través de Aeries Parent Portal en lugar de nuestro proceso anterior. Esto incluye artículos como Tarjetas de Emergencia, Manuales de Padres y Pólizas y Autorizaciones. Tenemos muchos documentos importantes y mucha información para su familia dentro del sitio de inscripción en línea, al que se accede a través de su Aeries Parent Portal. Nota: Usted debe completar la confirmación de datos para cada estudiante. Por favor, asegúrese de leer, revisar y discutir todos los materiales con su estudiante. También necesitamos que nos proporcione información sobre los contactos de emergencia y los documentos de salud. Si lo desea, puede imprimir algunos de los documentos para consultarlos en el futuro. Para un tutorial sobre cómo completar este proceso, por favor haga clic aquí[Spanish].

Aeries Parent Portal (Elementary)

It takes a lot to get the school ready for a new year and we always have members of our community who step up and take the lead! Let's all give a big Gecko "THANK YOU" to the following individuals:

• Inessa Manevich - Inessa coordinated both TK/Kindergarten playdates this summer. Both events had a great turnout. These events give our incoming TK and Kinder students an opportunity to meet each other and for the parents and students to begin forming relationships that will last for years!
• Jennifer Saul - Jennifer has taken the lead in our Grant Grows Learning Garden program. Together with Farmer Mark Abraham they have nurtured our learning garden and the planter boxes throughout the school so everything will look fresh when our students return!

The Grant School Site Council is currently seeking parent volunteers to serve a two-year term. These are elected positions.

The purpose of the GRANT SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL is to develop the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) to ensure that all of the resources available to the school, the basic program, and the supplemental resources, are coordinated and focused on providing a high-quality educational program and learning environment in which students of all ranges and ability and background can succeed. This committee will meet once per month during the course of the 2024 - 2025 school year. The meetings are on the third Monday of each month unless there is a holiday.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the GRANT SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL please email Principal Christian Fuhrer by Friday, August 30th at 3:00 PM. Click the following link to email: >>EMAIL PRINCIPAL FUHRER<<

El Consejo Escolar de Grant actualmente está buscando dos padres voluntarios para servir por un período de dos años. Si más de dos padres están interesados ​​en las vacantes disponibles, entonces se llevarán a cabo ELECCIONES.

El propósito del Consejo Escolar de Gobierno es desarrollar el Plan Único para el Logro Estudiantil ( sigla en inglés SPSA) para asegurar que todos los recursos disponibles para la escuela, el programa básico y los recursos suplementarios estén coordinados y enfocados en proporcionar un programa educativo de calidad y un entorno de aprendizaje en el que los estudiantes de todos los rangos, habilidades y niveles puedan tener éxito. Este comité se reunirá mensualmente durante el año escolar 2024-2025. Las reuniones son el tercer lunes de cada mes a menos que haya un día festivo.

Si está interesado en ser miembro del CONSEJO ESCOLAR DE GOBIERNO de la ESCUELA GRANT, envíe un correo electrónico al director, Christian Fuhrer, antes del viernes 1 de agosto a las 3:00 pm. Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para enviarle un correo electrónico: >>EMAIL PRINCIPAL

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. For a detailed look at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District's attendance policies, please click this link > http://www.grant.smmusd.org/registration/.

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.

Your donation does so much for Grant!

Please consider donating to the two organizations that enhance education for all Grant students: the Santa Monica Education Foundation and Grant PTA. Your donations are so important in funding crucial staff, programs, technology, and and supplemental materials and supplies, among many other things.

Our goal is for 100% of Grant families to give to PTA and the Ed Foundation. ANY amount makes a difference to our kids. If you have already donated, thank you!

This event is not to be missed! Please email Diversity@GrantPTA.org if you would like to participate by having a booth and sharing your family's culture!

Grant School is known for being a “neighborhood school” and for its close-knit community. Our goal is to maintain the special characteristics of our wonderful school. It is important to understand that with these new procedures, we are not trying to remove our parents' and guardians’ access; we are merely trying to control who is accessing our campus and when they are visiting.

In an effort for parents to see where their child’s class is located on campus and to say hello to the teacher, parents in all grades may walk their child to the classroom for the first two days of school, Thursday, August 22nd, and Friday, August 23rd. It is important to remember that this time is not to meet with the teacher, rather, parents will have an opportunity to learn about their child’s class and ask the teacher questions at one of our Back to School Nights over the next two weeks.

DROP-OFF and PICK-UP PROCEDURES

Preschool and TK Drop-off: Due to State law, all Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten students must be dropped off to their teacher. Preschool parents will continue to enter the campus at the main gates after checking in with the Campus Monitor, proceed to Room 59, and sign their child in with Ms. Reed. TK parents will walk their children to the Transitional Kindergarten yard where Ms. Martinez and Ms. Cedillo will greet them each day.

Preschool and TK Pick-up: All Preschool parents will meet Ms. Reed at the main gates for dismissal. Students whose parents have not picked up their child at dismissal will check into the main office and then proceed to Room 59 to check their child out from Ms. Reed. All TK parents will enter the Kindergarten playground from the Pearl Street entrance at dismissal time and students will be checked out by Ms. Martinez and Ms. Cedillo.

Kindergarten Drop-off: Kindergarten students will be dropped off by their parent or guardian at the gate next to Room 2 beginning at 8:00 AM Monday - Friday. Students will walk to the Kindergarten playground where they will be met by a teacher or Campus Monitor. Students enrolled in SAP will be walked to their classrooms by SAP personnel.

Kindergarten Pick-up: Kindergarten students will be picked up at the Pearl Street Kinder gate at dismissal at 1:45 PM. Teachers will be there to greet parents and guardians. No Kinder student will be released to anyone other than a parent/guardian or emergency contact. Students enrolled in SAP will be picked up from SAP personnel in their classrooms.

Grades 1 – 5 Drop-off: All students in grades 1 – 5 will be dropped off by their parent or guardian at the main gate in front of the school or at the 24th Street gate each morning. Students will enter the school and walk to the playground where they will be supervised by a Grant School Teacher, Campus Monitor, or Administrator. Drop-off will begin at 8:00 AM every day.

The start-of-school warning bell will sound at 8:25 AM. The final bell will sound at 8:30 AM. Students in grade 1 will walk to their lineup on the big map on the playground where their teacher will meet them and walk them to the classroom. Students in Grade 2 will walk to their lineup behind their classroom where their teacher will meet them. Students in grades 3 – 5 will line up in front of their classroom where their teacher will meet them.

Grades 1 – 3 Pick-up: Students in Grades 1 – 3 will be dismissed at the following times: Grade 1 at 2:40; Grade 2 at 2:45; and Grade 3 at 2:50. Teachers will walk students to the main gate at the front of the school where parents will meet their children at this time. Students in Grades 1 – 3 who are enrolled in an afterschool program, such as CREST or PTA enrichment classes, or Playground Club, will walk or be walked to the lunch tables where their program teacher will meet them. Parents are not to enter the campus until after 3:00 PM.

Grades 4 – 5 Pick-up: Students in Grades 4 and 5 will be dismissed each day at 2:55 PM. Students will exit the campus either from the main gates or the 24th Street gate at the rear of the school. Students who are enrolled in an afterschool program, such as CREST or PTA enrichment classes, or Playground Club, will walk to the lunch tables where their program teacher will meet them. Parents are not to enter the campus until after 3:00 PM.

After-Care Program Pickup Procedures: Parents of students in after-school care programs will receive or have already received a key card that will give them access to the front gate only. Please see the office if you have questions about this.

Early Dismissal Procedures: Wednesday drop-off and pick-up procedures are the same as those during regular school days but will follow the Wednesday bell schedule. Please see the bell schedule ABOVE.

SAP Drop-off: All students enrolled in SAP before-school care will be dropped off in Room 4. Drop-off begins at 7:00 AM.

Breakfast Club: Students who participate in the Grant 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 and walk to their classrooms by 8:30 AM. Preschool, TK, and Kinder students will continue to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to Breakfast Club if the parent so chooses.

Raptor Security System

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will use the Raptor visitor management system to strengthen our campus safety programs for students and staff. All schools currently have this system installed.

An important aspect of keeping students and staff safe is for site staff to know who is on our campuses at all times. The Raptor system achieves this interest as it allows office staff to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers, in our schools and provides us with a safer environment for students, staff, and approved volunteers.

Upon entering campus, visitors will be asked to present identification such as a driver’s license, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian does not have a US government-issued identification, for any reason, the visitor may submit an alternative form of identification for school staff to enter into the Raptor system.

The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the identification is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not allowed on our campuses. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item at the front gate.

When you sign up for a box, not only are you supporting our school and local family farms, you’re also creating a healthy routine for your family!

Having fresh organic produce arrive at your doorstep each week is an easy way to build positive eating habits.

Boxes start at $20 and every box comes with delicious seasonal foods and easy recipes that the whole family will love AND 5% from every order comes back to school!

Use coupon code FarmtoFam for 25% off your first order.

Learn more and sign up at Good-Box.org

~ ¡NUEVA OPCIÓN DE TRADUCCIÓN A 100 IDIOMAS! ~

Para leer la Gaceta Gecko en otro idioma, mire a la derecha del boletín y haga clic en "TRADUCIR EL BOLETÍN". ¡Ahora puede elegir entre 100 idiomas!

~ በ 100 ቋንቋዎች ውስጥ አዲስ የትርጓሜ ምርጫ! ~

የጌኮ ጋዜጣ በሌላ ቋንቋ ለማንበብ እባክዎን በራሪ ወረቀቱ በስተቀኝ በኩል ይመልከቱ እና “የትርጉም ጽሑፍ” ን ጠቅ ያድርጉ ፡፡ አሁን ከ 100 ቋንቋዎች መምረጥ ይችላሉ!