Monday, January 6
STAR Window Opens (Jan 6-24)
District Music 3rd-5th
Chess Club, 5th grade lunch recess
Tuesday, January 7
Kinder Math Assessment Window Opens (Jan 7-24)
Garden Club 3rd-5th during lunch recess
Dance Class Starts 1st-3rd (during PE)
Wednesday, January 8
Coffee with the Principal and Experts (Mental Health), 8:30 am, Library
Thursday, January 9
Mathletes begins (5th graders who signed up)
Friday, January 10
District Music 4th-5th
Dear Edison Families,
Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope you had a peaceful and enjoyable winter break, filled with quality time with family and friends.
As we return to school, we are excited to continue supporting your child’s growth and development. We have a lot planned for the upcoming month, but we know it can be challenging transitioning back to school after a break.
To help ensure a smooth and successful start to 2025, here are a few tips that can make a big difference in setting your child up for success:
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Create routines: Establishing consistent daily routines at home—whether it’s for homework, family meals, or bedtime—can help your child feel more organized and ready for each day. A predictable schedule fosters a sense of security and helps children manage their time more effectively.
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Ensure your child gets enough sleep: Sleep is crucial for a child’s academic performance, mood, and overall health. Setting a regular bedtime and ensuring your child gets the recommended amount of rest will help them stay focused, energized, and ready to learn each day.
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Stay informed: We have a new communication system called ParentSquare. Please download the app and check it regularly for important school and district communications. It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on school events and other vital information that supports your child’s success both in and out of the classroom.
We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead and are so grateful for the partnership we share with our families. Together, we will make 2025 a year full of growth, learning, and achievement!
Warmly,
Directora Ipiña
Each Wednesday, from 8:30-10:00 am, we have parent meetings in the Library. All parents are invited. Meetings are bilingual and there is a Zoom option at this link (although in person attendance is recommended).
This week we will be hosting our Coffee with the Principal and Experts. Our experts this week are our School Psychologist, Yesenia Arriaran, and our School Counselor, Jesica Ixlahuac. They will be presenting on how to support the mental health of your child at home.
Although January is the beginning of the calendar year, it marks the end of our first semester. Teachers will be administering district and local assessments during the month of January to determine where students are in their learning journey. We use multiple modalities to determine student progress including one on one assessments, classroom observations, paper/pencil tests, and digital assessments. Progress reports will go home on Friday, February 7th to let parents know how their child is doing towards meeting grade level standards. You can help your child do their best by bringing them to school on time every day that they are well and ensuring they get plenty of sleep and a healthy breakfast.
We are beginning the process of enrollment for the 2025-26 school year this month. All interested new families must attend an orientation to learn about our dual immersion program in order to decide if we are the right program for their child. Famlilies sign up for an orientation on our website. Orientations will take place on:
Jan 16: PreK Orientation, 5:30 pm
Jan 18: TK/K Orientation, 10:30 am
Jan 21: TK/K Orientation, 5:30 pm
Jan 23: TK/K Orientation, 5:30 pm
Families of current Edison students who have a sibling applying for the next school year do not need to attend an orientation to apply, but do need to fill out an application by the deadline. We will be sending information about how and when to apply for siblings in the upcoming weeks. If you would like to review our admissions policies, go to our website and look under the ADMISSIONS tab.
Each year, our 5th grade students embark on a memorable trip to sleep away science camp on Catalina Island. When asked what students enjoyed most during their time at Edison, many will recall this trip.
This year students will be going to Emerald Bay Science Camp on March 24-26th. We had a parent informational meeting before break. If you missed it, you can refer to the presentation here.
Letters with payment information will be sent home with students on Monday. First payment is due January 10th. We were lucky to get a grant from the Assistance League of Santa Monica which lowered the cost. Parents who needed financial assistance, let us know in the interest form. If you have not responded to the interest form yet, do so ASAP here. We want all of our students to be able to attend no matter their financial situation.
Our PreK and 2nd graders completed their first 10 week garden session with our garden teacher Maestra Azita. The learning garden provides students with the opportunity for hands on learning and connecting with nature (something many students are missing these days). Studies show that spending time in nature increases children's sense of well being and helps them feel connected to the world around them. Our TK and 1st-grade classes will begin their 10 week session in the garden and our 3rd-5th graders will continue the garden club during lunch on Tuesdays.
Our 4th and 5th graders just completed their dance unit with SMC and had an energetic display of African, Mexican Folklorico, Hip Hop and Musical Theater dance styles. This year, for the first time, our 1st-3rd graders will also have a chance to take dance class. There is so much learning that takes place in dance class. Besides learning a fun, age-appropriate hip hop choreography during the class, students will gain skills in:
building kinesthetic awareness
executing age-appropriate dance moves
mimicking movements
remembering sequences
connecting movement to music
expressing themselves through dance
Classes will take place during PE on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Lisa (Leelee) Medford. Leelee teaches dance in the community to school-age children and was highly recommended by several families. The class will culminate in a performance of the choreography for parents during PE class time on March 13th.
Great news! Our students love to read and they are asking for more! We work very hard to ensure all of our students learn to read in both languages. Our skilled teachers and our wonderful collection of books play a crucial role in making sure that happens. Our students are always asking for more books, but we can't always meet the demand. Would you like to help? Click here to see our Edison Library Wishlist. If you would like to buy a book and donate it to our library, our students would be very grateful.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., our PTA will be hosting a Community Service Day on Monday, January 20th on campus. This day is a national holiday and there is no school for students, but many people chose to engage in community service efforts to honor Dr. King. At Edison, we will be working on cleaning and fixing things around the school. Students are welcome to help. We will also have a card making station for students who would like to make a Valentine Card for an elderly person at a nearby senior center. If you would like to help, and show your child the importance of giving back to the community, mark your calendars. More details to follow.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Jan 6-24: STAR Winter Assessment Window
Jan 10: Catalina Payment #1 Due
Jan 13: SSC Meeting, 4:30 pm
Jan 16: PreK Orientation, 5:30 pm
Jan 18: TK/K Orientation, 10:30 am
Jan 20: MLK Holiday - No School - Community Service Day on Campus
Jan 21: TK/K Orientation, 5:30 pm
Jan 23: TK/K Orientation, 5:30 pm
Jan 29: Kindness and Justice Challenge Assembly (Challenge Dates: 1/29-2/28)
Feb 7: Progress Reports go home
Feb 10: Catalina Payment #2 Due