The Weekly Roar
December 4, 2022
It's Parent Conference Week! Dismissal 1:45 Every Day!
Hello La Ballona Families,
It's Parent Conference Time. On December 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 13 school will be dismissed at 1:45. One of the most important times of the year for your child's education is when you meet with the teacher for a parent conference. As partners, teachers and parents must work together constantly, and the parent conference is a perfect time to come together to discuss progress and next steps. Here are some tips to help you have a successful parent-teacher conference.
Before the Meeting
- Find out your conference time and mark it in your calendar so that you do not miss your time.
- Regularly read all the correspondence from the teacher and the school. In this way, you are aware of the basics, and your conference can fully focus on your child's progress.
During the Meeting
- Ask clarifying questions so that you truly understand.
- Be honest and share any concerns you may have so that we can work together.
- Take notes. You'll be getting a lot of information all at once. It'll be helpful to have notes to refer back to.
After the Meeting
- Follow up with your child with any necessary next steps
- Show your appreciation to the teacher. Your positive reinforcement will go a long way.
- Stay involved. Continue to read the Weekly Roar and the teacher's communication.
Most importantly, it's essential for all of us to recognize that we all want the same thing: a successful educational experience for your child. Keeping an open mind and a willingness to work together to problem-solve ensures that your La Ballona Lion will have the best outcome during this school year.
In this newsletter:
- Around the School
- Counselor Corner
- Handbook Highlight
- School Meal Information
- Community & Afterschool Opportunities
- Our Calendar
Stay PAWSitive!
Dr. Becky Godbey & Ms. Brenda Selva
Our PTA website https://laballonapta.org/
Our facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laballonaelementary
Twitter https://twitter.com/LaBallona
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laballonaelementaryschool/
1. Around the School
Our Weekly Wednesday Principal Video Assembly
8 Days of School Winter Spirit Kickoff
Weekly Game Day
Our first weekly game day during recess was a success! We would love donations of used or new Uno, Taco Goat Cheese Pizza, Yahtzee, Spot It, Guess Who and legos for future weekly game days. Drop any donation at the front office. Thank you in advance! If you would like to help during recess on Wednesdays please message Liz Vila lizhagen@hotmail.com. You must be a cleared volunteer. Hours are 11:30-1:30. Thank you!
Teacher conference babysitting sponsored by the PTA
December 5, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 13th we are offering babysitting from 1:45-3:45. It costs $10 a day/ $5 for siblings. Please see the Google form below to sign-up.
If you can volunteer to help with the babysitting you get a free day of babysitting! We need volunteers to make this happen, please see the sign up below to volunteer.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084EAEAD2EA0FD0-volunteers
Library Remodel!
We have some exciting news to share! Our sweet little library space is going to get a much needed remodel over the winter break! Jeff Cooper, president of the Culver City Exchange Club (and former mayor of our great city!) has rallied community partners to donate not only money, but also time and expertise, to give the La Ballona library a whole new look - new shelves, new carpet, new furniture, etc. Won't it be wonderful to have a nice new space to house all the brand new books we will be able to purchase with funds we have received this school year?
Timeline:
- Dec. 5-9 - last week of library for 2022 (returns & read-aloud only, no check-outs)
- Dec.12-16 - library closed for packing up books
- Dec. 19-mid January - library closed for remodel (and reshelving of books upon completion)
Please make sure your students return ALL library books this week so that all the books can get packed away properly and so that they do not have to keep track of them for 5 weeks!
Running Club
Running Club with Coach Gary is underway. Join us Fridays 8am at gate 1. Open to 3rd grade- 5th grade.
*Automatically Canceled on rainy days
Halloween Photos
Vocal Music News:
In Ms. Gallagher's music classes, all singers have learned a bit of American Sign Language. Ask your child to sing and show you the "Hello Song" in ASL! They also know it in other languages, too! Ask them to sing for you! We have also been listening to and singing one of my favorite books, "Had a Little Rooster". I use this book to show the classes. Your local library might even have a copy!
The TK and Kindergarten classes have been singing "Shoo Turkey" and showing off their turkey feather shakes! Click on the link to sing along! We also have been sharing our favorite underwater animals while telling our story "This is the Sea". Ask them about their favorite sea creature as they tell you the story! In October, we sang our song "Black Cat". What is your favorite color of cat? And lastly, we danced to "La Vida Es Un Carnival" by Celia Cruz! Watch the video & have fun dancing with your kiddos!
In 1st Grade, our singers have been working on their steady beat playing a singing game called "Pass the Pumpkin". Have your child teach you the song and show you their steady beat! They have also been singing "Hey, Tommy Turkey" and may be able to sing that for you!
In 2nd Grade, the students have been singing "My Aunt Came Back" while doing some pretty crazy moves! Ask them to show you this echo song! We also showed off our singing voices by using our friend Armando the Avocado to demonstrate our head voice. Have them tell you all about it!
If you have any questions about the vocal music program, feel free to reach out directly: kimberlygallagher@ccusd.org
I hope you are having fun listening to your students' wonderful singing voices!
Videos from Native American Heritage Assembly
2. Counselor's Corner
Resources from last week's Parent Ed on Managing Emotions
Tips for helping children manage their emotions Resources
*English video recording
*Spanish video recording
*Presentation Resources3. Handbook Highlight
La Ballona School is a Secured campus.
4. School Meal Information
What's for Breakfast and/or Lunch?
5. Community & Afterschool Opportunities
CCUSD Sponsor-a-Family December Holiday Program
CCUSD Sponsor-a-Family December Holiday Program-
CCUSD recognizes that the holiday season can be stressful for families who are most in need. Again this year, CCUSD School and Family Support Services is coordinating various district-wide efforts to support our CCUSD families in need during the holiday season to increase the joy and lessen the stress.
At this time, we are excited to announce our Annual Sponsor-a-Family Program. The program will enable families to provide gifts for a CCUSD family in need. Both families will remain anonymous. Prior to the Thanksgiving break, sponsor families will receive the list of wishes and needs for each member of one family. Our request is that the sponsor family purchase at least one wish and one need for each member listed. All gifts will be dropped off at iAcademy (located between Farragut and Culver City Middle School) on December 7 and 8. School and Family Support Services staff will distribute the gifts on December 13 and 14. If you are able to make the holiday season special for another family, please click on the link below and complete the form.
Link to Form- Sponsor A Family
Patrocinar-una-Familia de CCUSD - Programa de Días Festivos en Diciembre
CCUSD reconoce que la temporada de días festivos pueden ser estresantes para las familias con más necesidad. Este año, los Servicios de Apoyo Escolar y Familiar de CCUSD están coordinando varios esfuerzos en todo el distrito para apoyar a nuestras familias necesitadas de CCUSD durante la temporada de días festivos y así aumentar la alegría y disminuir el estrés.
En este momento, nos complace anunciar nuestro programa Patrocinar-una-Familia. El programa permitirá que una familia pueda proveer regalos a una familia necesitada. Ambas familias permanecerán anónimas. Antes del descanso de Acción de Gracias, las familias patrocinadoras recibirán la lista de deseos y necesidades para cada miembro de una familia. Nuestra petición es que la familia patrocinadora compre al menos un deseo y una necesidad para cada miembro de la familia en la lista. Todos los regalos se entregarán en iAcademy (situado entre Farragut y Culver City Middle School) el 7 y 8 de diciembre. El personal de Servicios de Apoyo Escolar y Familiar distribuirá los regalos el 13 y 14 de diciembre. Si puede hacer que la temporada de los días festivos sea especial para otra familia, haga clic en el enlace a continuación y complete el formulario.
Enlace el formulario-Patrocinar-una-Familia
Equal Access Committee Meeting 12/14/22 @ 12 noon
Zoom Meeting ID: 834 8265 2554
Passcode: 226051
Save the date! 1/20/23- Family Movie Night
We will hold a family movie night at La Ballona 1/20/23. More details to come soon.
SHARKEY’S FUNDRAISER - ROUND 2
In case anyone wants to take a night off cooking dinner, we're in our second fundraising week at Sharky's! We won the first round so now we're in the finals against three other schools. If there's room in this week's social posts, would you please mention it?
Here's more info from our site: https://laballonapta.org/event/sharkys-restaurant-fundraiser-nov2022.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Parent Education
DEI parent education on 12/6 will have in person and zoom options. If you would like to attend via zoom, here is the info:
Topic: Parent Education Night 12.6.22
Time: Dec 6, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87281862963?pwd=MW4yS2xsSWFnRFpYVGdMZjF1Zng5UT09
Meeting ID: 872 8186 2963
Passcode: 155809
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion monthly meeting
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion monthly meeting
Join our DEI meeting 12/15/22, 630-730pm
https://lausd.zoom.us/j/87183893505?pwdK2dHaGFmeU11WFZUbzIxd25ObzZjZz09
Meeting ID: 871 8389 3505
Passcode: lions
Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)- LB Parent Rep Needed
LCAP
We need our school represented at LCAP. This is a district-wide group. Local Control and Accountability Plan. Apply below!
6. Our Calendar
This Week at La Ballona
One-time events in italics
Monday, December 5
- Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences at 1:45
- Sustainability Assemblies during PE
- PTA Enrichment Tennis, 1:45-2:45
Tuesday, December 6
- Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences at 1:45
- PTA Enrichment Class Chess, 1:45-2:45
Wednesday, December 7
- Early Dismissal Every Wednesday at 1:45
- PTA Enrichment Class Tennis, Group A 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm, Group B 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
- PTA Enrichment Class Garden Club 1:45pm - 2:45 pm
- PTA Enrichment Class 24th Street Theater 1:45-3:15
Thursday, December 8
- Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences at 1:45
- Vocal Music Classes K-2
- Choir, 8:00
- Choir Concert, 6pm, La Ballona Cafeteria
Friday, December 9
- Early Dismissal for Parent Conferences at 1:45
Upcoming Dates (New Dates in Bold)
December 5-14- Parent Conference Schedule. All Students dismissed at 1:45 daily.
December 13- School Board Meeting, 6pm
December 15- 3:15 Dismissal- NOTE: only 3:15 in next two weeks
December 16- Early Dismissal
December 19-January 2- Winter Break.
January 3- School Resumes
La Ballona Elementary School
Culver City, CA 90232
Email: erikaarredondo@ccusd.org
Website: www.laballona.ccusd.org
Location: La Ballona Elementary School, Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, USA
Phone: 3108424334
Facebook: facebook.com/laballonaelementary
Twitter: @LaBallona