The Weekly Wave

Happy Weekend Short Avenue Families and Friends!

There are many exciting things happening at Short Avenue. The truth is that there are always exciting things happening at our school and in our community. We just sometimes get so locked into our routine that we forget to acknowledge the good.

On Thursday morning we hosted the principal and 4 teachers from a neighbouring school. We visited several classrooms and Rachel and I gave a brief education course introducing IB and our transdisciplinary method of teaching. The team left impressed by the work that we are doing and noted the cohesion and student-centered approach at our school. Each teacher and the Principal left with ideas that they intend to take to their school.

Our robust field trip experiences continue. Typically there are trips and experiences within every month. March alone has 7 trips. Our UTK classes walked to ReDiscover this week. Our 1st grade had an amazing excursion to the Petersen Automotive Museum on Friday. And our Kindergarten crew cannot wait to rediscover ReDiscover when their turn comes later in the month.

And finally, in a repeat from last week, I am calling on ALL FAMILIES to please complete the School Experience Survey. The push is for 100% Short Ave Participation. This tool gives information to the district and to our school about how we are doing in service to our students and families. Remember that each family only needs to complete the survey one time. When you complete the survey there is a page that indicates completion. Please print this or take a screenshot and share it with EACH of your children’s teacher. Our goal is 100% completion and you can CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE SURVEY.

Thank you for your continued support. Please enjoy the rest of your weekend.

See you Monday!

Mr. Lamb

March 24- Morning Brew with Mr. Lamb 8:20am in Room 12 and on

Google Meet: https://lausd.zoom.us/j/81633135663

March 24- Dolphin Discovery Club Spring session registration ends

March 31- No School, Cesar Chavez Day

April 8 & 9- Restaurant Night at Moto Ramen

April 10- Cultural Diversity Day

April 14-18- Spring Break

April 23- FoSA Community Meeting at 8:20 AM in Room 12

April 25- Dolphin Derby

May 5 - 9- Teacher Appreciation Week and Spring Book Fair

May 6- Spring Food Truck Fiesta

Jun 10- Last day of school

Dear Families,

We are so excited for Cultural Diversity Day on Thursday, April 10th. This will be a special day to celebrate and appreciate all the cultures that make up our Short Avenue community. The day will begin with a Cultural Cafe on the front lawn. After the cafe, families are welcome to join their children at our school-wide assembly for some fun cultural performances. Additionally, parent-led workshops will take place throughout the day, engaging students in cultural activities such as art, music, language, stories, and more. Students are invited to dress in clothing that reflects their personal culture and bring in any artifacts from home that represent their identity.

Click Here to view the flyer with additional information about Cultural Diversity Day. We are hoping for lots of parent participation so click on the links in the flyer to sign up. We have also included the links below for your convenience. It truly takes a village, and we are grateful for all your support and engagement.

Click here to sign up for a food donation.

Click here to sign up to lead a workshop.

Best Regards,

The Cultural Diversity Day Committee

This month's Morning Brew is going to be Open Forum. There will be updates on Attendance (as always) and a couple of minutes about the School Experience Survey but the balance of time will be Open to conversation/inquiry/etc - a chance to dialogue. We hope to see you on Monday morning either in person or virtually!

https://lausd.zoom.us/j/81633135663

For information about the classes offered and how to register, please check out the DDC FAQ here https://friendsofshortavenue.org/pages/dolphin-discovery-club

📅 Spring 2025 Season - 8 weeks!

• Duration: March 31st - June 2, 2025

• Registration Closes: Midnight, March 25th

📝 How to Register

• Register directly with vendors for Got Game, Prime Time, and Chess Wizards

• Register for Spanish classes via the FoSA store

• For the Zine Club, please contact Ms. Levy directly at naamafrenkel@gmail.com. She will be handling registration of past students for the spring session.
  💻 Registration links provided in the FAQ document (linked above)

🎨 Classes Offered - Many MORE TK/K options available!
From soccer and chess, from Spanish to fashion & design, culinary, and more—there's something for every student’s interests!

If you have additional questions not in the FAQ, please email us at DDC@friendsofshortavenue.org.

QUICK LINK ABOUT DDC: For all information related to DDC, please review the FAQ here - https://friendsofshortavenue.org/pages/dolphin-discovery-club

✨ Lock in Yearbook pre-sale pricing by April 4th! Prices increase on April 5th

Dedication page submissions close after April 4th!

Available Purchase Options:

✔️ Yearbook ONLY - $42 presale rate

✔️ Yearbook AND a Dedication Page (with or without design assistance) - pricing varies, see flyer for details

✔️ Pay it Forward Yearbook ONLY - $42

How to Order:

🛒 Order Online: Through our website LINK: https://friendsofshortavenue.org/collections/yearbook

- Include your child’s name and classroom number in the order notes

OR

💵 Order By Cash/Check: Pay in the school office

- Include "yearbook" and your child’s name and classroom number in the notes.

OR

To request a pay-it-forward yearbook please sign-up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA8A62DA1FBCE9-55823847-yearbook

DEDICATION PAGES – Make It Personal by creating a special tribute for your child with a Dedication page! 🎉

📩 How to Submit a Dedication Page Request:

1. Order your yearbook + dedication page bundle online through this LINK: https://friendsofshortavenue.org/collections/yearbook

or if by check indicate the dedication size and whether you are DIY or having yearbook team design the dedication page in the notes of the check

2. Email yearbook@friendsofshortavenue.org with the subject line: "Dedication Submission" and include:

✅ Student’s name

✅ Parent’s name

✅ Parent email address

✅ Dedication size: ¼, ½, or Full Page

✅ Whether you are DIY or asking for yearbook committee to design it for you

3. Dedication Page Creation

🎨 Designing Your own Dedication Page?: If designing your own, submit a JPEG file with these dimensions:

• ¼ page: 3.75” x 5”

• ½ page: 7.75” x 5”

• Full page: 7.75” x 10.25”

🎨Yearbook staff design your Dedication Page?: Please send your child’s name, high-res photos, and a dedication message to yearbook@friendsofshortavenue.org and our Yearbook Team will create it for you!

❓ Questions? Email us at yearbook@friendsofshortavenue.org

Check out PrimeTime Summer Camp at Short Avenue Elementary School! 🌟 Give your kids a summer filled with fun, learning, and adventure.

📅 Enroll now and use code FOSA to save 10% AND have PrimeTime donate 10% back to the school! 🙌

Don’t miss out—secure your spot today! 🔗 primetimesportscamp.com

📢 Attention Short Avenue Community!

Join us for the next FoSA community virtual meeting on Wednesday, April 23rd, 8:20 AM, in room 12. We’ll be discussing the funds raised to date, our expenses, and upcoming events and fundraisers. We also want to hear from you! We welcome your ideas and feedback.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay informed and get involved!

Meeting Link: https://meet.google.com/wqc-jsve-cnr

🍩☕️ Help Us Spread Some Friday Cheer!

We’re looking for volunteers to sign up and bring coffee & pastries to the Teacher’s Lounge every Friday! 🧁

✅ What’s Needed: Snacks (pastries, fruit, coffee, etc.)
✅ For: 40+ teachers, aides, and staff
✅ Drop Off: Front office, Friday morning between 8:30-9:30am
✅ Sign Up: In Class Dojo in events section

Let’s show our amazing teachers and staff some love! 💖

Do you have questions about what FoSA? Are there topics you want to learn more about, ideas you have or events/fundraisers or discussions you’d like to have in our community meetings?

Submit your comments, questions, ideas here! We will use these to guide discussions in our meetings staring in January 2025!

Del Rey Easter Egg Hunt:

Don't miss the Free Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12th. See the flyer for times.

Spring Break Camps:

reDiscover Spring Break Tinkering Camp See flyer below

Summer Camps:

Prime Time Camp at Short Ave this summer!

Little Yellow House Art Camp

Euro Soccer

Got Game Summer Camp

reDiscover Center Summer Camp

SOCIAL MEDIA: Last week of school, I posted on our Instagram and Facebook:

A Happy St. Patrick's Day post, The Starboard Restaurant Night flyer, A Happy Norooz, Persian New Year post, a visit from Regional Director Agnes Kamau and some Coeur D'Alene teachers, and pics from our Author's visit of the book Home.

Please set you Instagram notifications to be notified when I post, so you don't miss anything, and of course like and comment on our posts, it is the best way to see what is happening on campus and get important reminders!

Each year we ask EVERY family at our school to complete the School Experience Survey. This survey provides us with meaningful feedback from our families about the culture, climate, and instruction at Short Avenue. We strive to get 100% participation from our parent stakeholders each year and appreciate your support in helping us reach this goal. Only one survey needs to be completed per family so please fill out the form as soon as possible. We will be tracking participation rates. The deadline to complete the survey is April 11th.

Click here to complete the survey. You will receive a "Thank You" confirmation message once you are finished. Please take a screenshot of this "Thank You" page and share it with your child's teacher, as proof of your submission. You may review this FAQ resource if you need additional information. We appreciate your participation and look forward to using this data to improve our school!

Hello families with younger siblings who you would like to come to Short Ave for TK and other grades (BOTH neighborhood and permit families ). Please let us know who you are by filling out this google doc:

https://forms.gle/2Gjc8ireNMEPfbjA7

Current Short Avenue families on permit are NOT guaranteed a spot for their younger sibling, but will be given priority, when accepting students off of the waitlist. We have to see what our neighborhood enrollment looks like before we can offer spots. We might not be able to give an answer until late May. We encourage you to have a backup plan for your younger sibling. If you already filled this out, no need to do so again.

Families,

We want to remind you of our birthday party policy. In an effort to be equitable and keep our students healthy, we do NOT allow caregivers to send in cupcakes and treats for birthdays. While classes may organize celebrations for various occasions throughout the year, birthday parties should be held outside of school. Parents are welcome to arrange with the teacher to read a story in their child's class, or lead a fun birthday activity. Additionally, parents are welcome to donate something special to the class in honor of their child. We understand that birthdays are special , and every student and staff member will be recognized with a birthday song at our monthly assemblies.

We are hearing that there has been an increase in students with head lice. Please let the nurse and your teacher know if you have found nits or live lice in your child's head. We encourage you to do regular head checks and keep long hair pulled back to avoid spread. Click here to read important information from LAUSD regarding head lice.

Student attendance is a focus for us this school year. It is important that your child is present and on time for school EVERY DAY. An accumulation of absences can negatively impact students both socially and academically. The school is working closely with the District to monitor student attendance and reach out to parents when students are consistently absent from school. While it is understandable that students might become sick throughout the school year, the goal is for seven or less absences between now and June. Family vacations should take place during school holidays and scheduled during school vacations. Additionally, doctors' appointments should be scheduled after school or during vacations, whenever possible. If your child is out because of an appointment, we ask that you bring a note from your doctor to the main office, or your child's teacher. Please let us know if your family needs any support in getting your child to school.

Parents,

Please make sure that you have registered for an account on the Parent Portal. The Parent Portal is is an online system that connects parents and guardians to their child's information. The website to register is: http://parentportal.lausd.net. Once you are registered, you will be able to add your student(s) to your account with their student ID and your parent pin code. Letters were sent home last week with your parent pin codes. It is important that you link your student(s) to your account so you can view their information.. Please call the office if you need any help in obtaining your child's student ID # or any other assistance registering on the portal.

Click here for instructions to register for the Parent Portal.

Click here for instructions on how to add your student to your Parent Portal account.

VOLUNTEERING!

Are you interested in volunteering in your child's classroom, the library, or the garden, or going on a field trip? We LOVE volunteers and hope that you will be one!!

You must be an approved volunteer with a negative TB test to Volunteer for field trips, classroom projects, the garden etc.

1. All Volunteers must have a negative TB test. Please get your Negative TB test first, BEFORE filling out the Volunteer Application. New volunteers must have a recent negative test within 60 days of application. You must email your negative result to avril.lipsky@lausd.net so that they can be inputted into your application. TB tests for returning volunteers are good for 4 years.

2. Please fill out the Volunteer Application through this LAUSD VOLUNTEER LINK! This is for BOTH new and returning Volunteers. Do NOT check Tier 3 assignments unless you are willing to get a Fingerprint. Email avril.lipsky@lausd.net for more info on fingerprints. Here is a link the the most recent Volunteer Guide if you want a step by step visual of how to fill out the volunteer application.

3. Volunteers need to sign a Liability Waiver and the Commitment Form electronically in the application..You do NOT need to email them to me.

4. Please see the LAUSD Volunteer Page for answers to questions.

https://www.lausd.org/volunteer

5. ALL Volunteers (both new and returning) must watch the The Mandatory Volunteer Orientation Zoom Recording, if you did NOT attend the live Zoom on September 11th.

6. Here is the Materials Folder Link that we spoke about in the Zoom Orientation, that includes the Orientation, Zoom, the Guide to Volunteering, The Volunteer Commitment Form, and the Quick Guide.

If you are a RETURNING VOLUNTEER from last year, you still need to fill out the LAUSD Volunteer Application online at LAUSD VOLUNTEER LINK! You Negative TB test should Auto Populate, if it is less than 4 years since you did the test. It takes 4 to 5 weeks to get you approved AFTER I get the TB test, so please do not wait

Please be aware that ClassDojo will translate into over 130 languages!

Here’s a brief overview of how parents can set language preferences in ClassDojo:

1. Content Language: This allows users to select the language for story and message translations.
2. Communication Language: This option lets users choose their preferred language for emails and push notifications.

You can reach out to Rachel Burris @ rjs6223@lausd.net or Avril Lipsky @ avril.lipsky@lausd.net if you need any assistance with translation. We are here to support you!

Looking for a hidden gem for your child’s middle school years? Marina del Rey is a fantastic option for Short Ave Elementary families, offering unique opportunities like a Performing Arts Magnet which includes theater, dance and music, an honors track for high achievers, and exciting programs like Marine Science and a beautiful garden! Let’s support our local school and explore all it has to offer. Interested in learning more or joining our parent group? Email dave@jdpropertiesla.com to join our list of Short Ave families discovering MdRMS!

Email: wlamb@lausd.net
Website: https://shortavees.lausd.org/
Location: 12814 Maxella Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Phone: 310 397-4234