El Semanario
October 3-7, 2022
This Week at Edison
- October 3 - Parent Volunteer Training 8:30 am Library
- October 3 - PTA Executive Board Meeting 6:00-8:00 pm - Zoom
- October 5 - Local Holiday -- No School
- October 7 - Fire Drill
From the Principal's Desk
Upcoming local school holiday --- Please note that there are no classes on Wednesday, October 5. School is closed in observance of Yom Kippur.
It's been a busy week at Edison with Safety Committee and Site Council Meetings, as we work on the annual update of our Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP). Additionally, on Thursdays we usually hold either Student Success Team, 504 or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings to support students with different learning needs. There are times when your child's teacher may have a substitute to cover the 45-60 minutes that they need to step away from the classroom to be part of these important meetings. School Psychologist Yesenia Arriaran began several months of parental leave this week as she welcomes her second child. We are delighted to welcome Deilyn González-Dávila as our interim school psychologist covering Yesenia's leave. Deilyn is no stranger to Edison, having interned here last year. Thank you Deilyn for supporting our students, families, and teachers!
This week our PS Arts Theater Program and Música en Español programs begin! Welcome back to Maestra Martha Ramirez Oropeza our Theater Teacher and Maestra Jacqueline Fuentes, who will again be making music with our Preschool through 2nd grade students. Science in the Garden classes began last week; many thanks to our PTA for both purchasing and distributing more than 60 bags of organic garden soil that will replenish the vegetable beds and help our students grow delicious organic vegetables as they study and learn. The start of these programs is a good moment to remember that they only exist because of donations by families like yours to the Santa Monica Education Foundation and the Edison PTA!
Thanks to everyone for supporting the Fall Book Fair. We appreciate the tremendous amount of work it takes to organize, set up, and staff the bookfair and thank all the volunteers who made it possible. I appreciate the commitment of our PTA to make sure we have good collections of books available in both English and Spanish. By partnering with both Scholastic and La Librería, they make sure our students have access to high-quality and authentic texts in both languages. Thank you to all the families who stopped by the Book Fair to purchase books for students -- and to those who purchased books from teachers' "wish lists" to expand the collection in classroom libraries. Our annual fall and spring book fairs raise funds that the PTA uses to support programming at Edison and to add to our library. As a dual immersion school, we strive to build and maintain a deep collection of books in a variety of genre's and reading levels in both languages -- and that takes resources each year. Learning to read, reading to learn, and developing a life-long love of reading are important elementary school goals and skills that will serve our students well all their lives. Thank you PTA and thank you families for your support of all of these aspects of literacy development.
Individual Reading Assessments -- Over the next two weeks, parents of students in grades 1-5 will see a sub day indicated on your teacher's weekly letter. That is because our teachers at those grade levels will be stepping away from the classroom to conduct 1:1 reading assessments. The teachers remain on campus and pull students one at a time to read with them. These assessments, sometimes called "running records" or Fountas & Pinnell or WRAP tests (after the specific tools we use) are invaluable in understanding a student's reading fluency, decoding skills, and comprehension of text. They are used to match students with text at their own reading levels and to know what specific skills students still need support to develop. Teachers will share this information, what it means, and how you can support students at home with reading during the November family-teacher conferences.
Staff Profile
Meet Jacqueline Fuentes
If you'd like to hear some samples of Jacqueline's professionally recorded music, visit https://jacquelinefuentes.bandcamp.com/ or click on the link below to listen to one of her albums Amo la Vida
Jacqueline's work with Edison is supported by the Stretch Grant we receive from the Santa Monica Education Foundation. It allows us to extend music education PreK-5th grade and provides an additional Spanish immersion and cultural experience for our students -- and to offer an immersion cultural experience for parents as well! Thank you Jacqueline for sharing your gifts with the Edison community.
October Calendar
- October 10 - Professional Development for Instructional Assistants
- October 12 - PICTURE DAY; ELAC Meeting 8:30 am Room 208
- October 13 and 14 - Visit from Crossroads High School Sophomores-- Collaborative Project
- October 14 - Safety Committee Meeting- 1:45-2:30 pm
- October 17 - PTA Association Meeting 8:30 am - Library (Hybrid Option)
- October 19 - Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Day
- October 20 - Great California Shake Out! -- Statewide earthquake preparedness drill
- October 21 - Olweus Anti-Bullying Program Training (Maestros Perez and Cachú, Coach Fabian, and Principal Orum)
- October 26-27 - Maestra Mejia and AP Ipiña at Restorative Justice Training
- October 26 - Site Council Meeting 4:30-6:30 pm via Zoom
- October 27 - Begin setting up Altars 3:00-7:00 pm Cafeteria
- October 28 - Decorating Altars 1:30-8:00 pm; Dia de los Muertos Altars Reception 6:00 pm
- October 29 - Fall Festival at Edison 12-5
- October 31 - Halloween Costume Parade at school 9:00-10:00 am
Covid Health Precautions
Antigen Testing
Please continue to use an antigen test on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings to make sure your child is testing negative for Covid and ready to attend school on Monday. Keep students home if they have symptoms of Covid and if they test positive. Notify the office to report any illness related absence (melinagarcia@smmusd.org) or (310) 828-0335, ext. 61-348. Antigen tests for students are sent home Fridays with students. And when classes have been exposed, students can continue to attend school if they test negative and are symptom free and IF THEY MASK indoors for 10 days.
Announcements
Volunteer Training
Join us this Monday morning October 3 at 8:30 am in the Edison Library for Parent Volunteer Training. Once you have completed the volunteer training, submitted an application, been screened by the Nurse for possible health concerns, and screened with Meagan's List, you will be eligible to volunteer in classrooms and accompany students on field trips. If you previously attended the September on-line training, Volunteer Applications are now available and we'll send you a link or you can pick up a paper copy in the office. If you have any questions, please contact Community Liaison Jessica Hernández at (310) 828-0335, ext 61-306 or at jessicahernandez@smmusd.org
Samohi Orchestra Plays Disney!
Experience the amazing Samohi Orchestras and enjoy an evening of popular Disney theme songs such as The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Frozen. Young musicians will connect with the familiar sounds as movie clips are projected above stage! Concessions open at 5:30 - food by Shores Kitchen and baked goods for sale. Dress in your favorite Disney Character and join the costume contest at 6:30. Concert begins at 7:00pm. Pre-sale tickets only $10 students/$20 adults. Purchase tickets now at samohiorhestras.com
Afterschool Programming and Safety
While we are so excited to have many different after school opportunities for children at Edison once again, we also have the responsibility to maintain the same safe school environment for children in after school programs that we do during the day. That means that children can only be on campus after school in the supervised programs in which they are officially enrolled. The school yards are NOT open for free play after school. Children need to be officially enrolled in one of the following programs to be on campus after the end of the school day: 1) CDS School Age Child Care Program; 2) CREST Club or CREST Enrichment Programs; 3) Boys and Girls Club Playground Club or Sports Leagues; 4) Ballet Folklórico; 5) Mariachi, 6) Elemental Choir; or 7) an Edison academic afterschool program.
We have 200-300 students on our campus after school and they deserve the same safe environment that we work to create during the school day. In the afterschool hours, that means that we keep all the gates locked after school and when the office closes at 4:00 pm, and parents must have the code to the Virginia Avenue gate to enter. You can get the code from your after school program provider. Please do not ever prop a gate open or attempt to enter campus through any gate except the main Virginia Avenue gate. It also means that we limit the number of unnecessary people on the grounds. So, when you pick up your children from SAP, CREST, sports, Playground Club or any of the other programs we host, we ask that you immediately exit the premises to limit unnecessary people on the grounds. The school is NOT a city park until the weekends so there should be no additional playing after programming ends.
Thank you for your assistance in maintaining a safe environment for all our students in after school programs.
Edison Portrait Day is Coming October 12
Portrait Details -- There is no need to prepay or submit any forms. Picture day is all about the portrait! Cornerstone photographers understand lighting, posing and most importantly, expressions! They will help your child create the best smile possible.
Preview Before PurchasingPreview Purchasing --Approximately 2-3 weeks after Picture Day, you will receive an email link to view and order your portrait online with a secure personal access code. You will be able to select from a wide variety of backgrounds, packages, instant downloads and portrait gifts. All orders are placed online and will be shipped directly home.
What to Wear -- Solid colors, collars and detailed necklines photograph nicely. Avoid large logos and busy patterns.
If you need assistance viewing or purchasing on line, contact Community Liaison Jessica Hernandez at (310) 828-0335, ext 61-306 or jessicahernandez@smmusd.org
PTA Reflections Art Contest
PTA is sponsoring the Reflections Student Art Contest inviting Edison students to submit original works of visual arts, music, dance/choreography, photography, film, or literature. All works should reflect the theme "Show Your Voice" and should include an artist's statement that connects to the theme. Student submissions are due by October 7 and may be turned in at the main office or submitted online, To obtain a digital form, go to https://tinyurl.com/EdisonReflections
Please Support the Ed Foundation and the Edison PTA
In order to enrich the educational experience of all Edison students, we ask families to contribute to the Ed Foundation and the Edison PTA. Without your support, our Edison students’ education would look vastly different.
Your donation to the Education Foundation benefits all Edison students by funding essential staff and programs such as our Música en español program, PS Arts/Theater program, Science in the Garden, additional campus monitors, and more! Your donations help fund essential staff and enrichment programs – programs that are only possible with your support. Please give any amount that you can.
Every Edison student also benefits from your contribution to the Edison PTA. Your donation to the Edison PTA provides supplemental classroom supplies and equipment, assemblies, field trips, library books, school safety, parent education, the cultural festivals that enrich our program and more! Please give at whatever level is meaningful to you. At Edison, we say that every dollar counts / cada dólar cuenta.
Thank you for being a part of this important annual tradition of enriching Edison students’ academic and creative experiences. Our Edison families in the past have had one of the the highest participation rates of all the Santa Monica schools and we again are setting a goal of 100% participation to both the Edison PTA and the Ed Foundation at whatever level is comfortable for your family. Both have monthly giving options to make giving easier.
The Research Corner
4 Benefits of Dual-Language Immersion Programs
Did you know that while roughly half of the world's population speaks at least two languages, only about 20% of U.S. residents can say the same?
I thought you might enjoy this recent article from US News and World Report that continues to document the benefits of Dual-Language Immersion programs such as the program at Edison. Of the two program models discussed in this article, Edison uses the 90-10 model in which 90% of initial instruction (Pre-school through 1st grade) is provided in Spanish, with the % of instruction in English increasing by 10% per year beginning in 2nd grade. By 5th grade, half of our instruction is provided through English and half through Spanish. Edison's program is one of the longest established programs in California -- this year celebrating its 35th anniversary -- and is part of SMMUSD's PreK-12 grade immersion pathway.
The four benefits highlighted in this easy to read article include:
- Biliteracy is good for your brain.
- Learning a language is easier for young children.
- English learners succeed while maintaining their native language.
- Students build strong social connections and cultural awareness.
About Us
El Semanario is the weekly family newsletter from Edison Language Academy in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District. Edison is a school of choice and offers a 90-10 Spanish-English dual immersion program for all students. Edison's PreK-5th grade program is the first of three schools hosting SMMUSD's PreK-12 grade Language Academy. Students promoting from Edison can continue the dual immersion program at John Adams Middle School (JAMS) and Santa Monica High School (Samohi).
Edison is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, twice named as a California Distinguished School, a multi-year recipient of the State of California's Title I Academic Achievement Award, holder of a Seal of Excellence from the California Association for Bilingual Education, and a multi-year Honor Roll designee from the Education Results Partnership. This is Edison's 35th year as a dual immersion academy.
Email: lorum@smmusd.org
Website: www.edison.smmusd.org
Location: 2402 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
Phone: (310) 828-0335