Will Rogers Roundup
For the week of March 6, 2023
Translation Feature
To read the Will Rogers Roundup in another language please look to the right of the newsletter and click "TRANSLATE NEWSLETTER". You can now choose from 100 languages!
~ ¡NUEVA OPCIÓN DE TRADUCCIÓN A 100 IDIOMAS! ~
Para leer la WILL ROGERS ROUNDUP en otro idioma, mire a la derecha del boletín y haga clic en "TRADUCIR EL BOLETÍN". ¡Ahora puede elegir entre 100 idiomas!
Great books to read with your children!
Why is Women's History Month celebrated?
Women's History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women's history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.
Principal's Pen
Dear Will Rogers Parents and Guardians,
I hope you received the correspondence from FIP regarding the WRLC ceiling and tile project that was emailed last week. If not, please read below:
**Email from FIP regarding the WRLC ceiling tile project**
Will Rogers Ceiling Tile Replacement Project in the Planning Phase:
Students will not be moved off the Will Rogers campus for this project!
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) is in the planning phase of a ceiling tile replacement project for Will Rogers Learning Community (WRLC). The site has experienced a gradual failure of the smaller (1’ x 1’) square tiles that were installed in 1948.
Recent heavy rains have caused some water issues on the campus that are not related to the failure of the old small square ceiling tiles. The SMMUSD facilities team is working to remedy the water issues as they arise. There were a few newer, larger (2’ x 4’) ceiling tiles that did get waterlogged and fell during recent storms. The two ceiling tile issues are not related to each other.
While the newer, large-size tiles will be replaced, the old square ceiling tiles were often attached with glue to no more than a heavy paper, leaving no current surface to reattach the tiles. After 75 years, the glue is failing, causing the tiles to sporadically fall. WRLC benefited by being the first school to receive the bond-funded window, paint, and floor modernization project. At that time, ceilings were not in the project’s scope of work. As the District better understood the issues, ceiling replacement was later included in some school projects.
The substantial ceiling tile replacement project at WRLC is not expected to start until 2025 or 2026. It will likely be coupled with the courtyard project that will make the areas between the finger buildings more educationally usable. The ceiling tile replacement process includes design, approval by the Division of State Architects (DSA) and contractor procurement. The project will be done on a phased basis, allowing WRLC students to remain on campus through the duration of the project. Additional bond funding will be required for a ceiling tile replacement project.
The project will include:
- Removing most or much of the furniture and materials in each room
- Removing all of the lighting, fire alarms, technology and other fixtures attached to the ceiling
- Abatement and demolition of current ceiling tiles (this occurs off-campus)
- Installation of a new structure to which the new tiles can be attached
- Consideration by DSA if a full seismic upgrade is required, based on the scope of the project for each building
- Installation of the new ceiling tiles
- Reattaching the fixtures / safety devices to the ceiling
- Returning furniture and materials to the rooms
The District is moving forward with the planned construction of a new one-story building at WRLC to house transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes. This building will replace six portable classrooms, with an expected completion of spring 2025. The ceiling tile project will follow the early childhood building project, so the vacated portables may be used as temporary swing space. Additional classroom space will also be available, with the expectation that some John Muir Elementary School students will return to their neighborhood school upon completion of their construction project, expected by fall of 2025.
The upcoming campus modernization project at WRLC also includes a new, centrally-located track and playfields on the 16th Street side of the campus.
The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. The old ceiling tile failure may be an occasional distraction, but is not a significant safety hazard.
Together for Will Rogers,
Principal Daruty
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wed. 3/8 Kindergarten Field Trip Cayton Museum
Thurs. 3/9 Parent Meeting for 5th Grade Parents (end of year activities) @ 6pm via Zoom. Please take this survey.
Thurs. 3/9 SMC Dance Department Mexican Dance Lessons for 4th grade begins
Thurs. 3/9 SMC Musical Theatre Lessons for 5th grade begins
Thurs. 3/16 Coffee and Convo with the principal @ 8:30 a.m.in room 508
Thurs. 3/16 Parent Info. night for incoming JAMS 6th grade students @ JAMS 6-7:30p.m.
Fri. 3/17 Spring Movie Night 6:30 p.m. Complete the Movie Poll !
Sat. 3/18 The 72nd annual Stairway of the Stars outdoor concert @4 p.m. in the Samohi Greek Theatre.
Thurs. 3/23: 4th grade Gold Rush Day
Sun. 3/26 Campus Beautification Day! 9:00a.m.- 12:00 p.m
Mon. 3/27 NO SCHOOL: CESAR CHAVEZ HOLIDAY
Thurs. 3/30 Minimum Day
Thurs. 3/30 Open House 6:00- 7:00 p.m.
Fri. 3/31 No Late Start and Minimum Day
Fri. 3/31 Jog-A-Thon (schedule TBD)
Fri. 4/21 Earth Day Festival at the Farm 3-5 pm
5th Grade Grown-Ups!
Please join us on Thursday March 9th at 6pm to discuss end of year 5th grade activities. We need as many people as possible to ensure a successful departure for our children who have spent the majority of their lives in elementary school, worked hard over the years and survived a global pandemic through distance learning / wearing masks / weekly testing / etc. These kids deserve a HUGE celebration. We hope you can take part in it. If you can't make the meeting but are interested in participating, please contact Pamela at pamelak@gmail.com.
Be sure to respond to our survey so that we know which areas you are most interested in participating.
Meeting Details
6pm on Thursday March 9th
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83050337093
Meeting ID: 830 5033 7093
Passcode: 764699
Thanks!
Jessica (Kahlan's parent) and Pamela (Mia's parent)
Cinco De Mayo Festival. Join the planning committee!
Our Cinco de Mayo festival is coming up in a few months and we need your help! Please start saving your cracked and rinsed eggs so we can make cascarones or you can make them at home and send them in. Or… they should start appearing at stores soon if you would like to buy them. I typically see them at the 99 cent store. Thank you!!!! Here’s a link for how to make them:
The 72nd annual Stairway of the Stars outdoor concert is planned for Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 4 p.m. in the Samohi Greek Theatre.
This concert features nearly 900 students from all SMMUSD schools in Santa Monica and Malibu!
Read more about it here (or attached) and get your tickets: www.StairwayoftheStars.org
The 2023 Stairway Honor Award will be presented to Linda Greenberg, who retired recently as the executive director of the Santa Monica Education Foundation.
Check out this video from last year to see what is in store for this year!
Celebrate our great student musicians by attending!
2023 District Sumer School Locations
4-week programs (June 20-July 14)
Grant ES: IISS, ESY and SLA (two weeks only)
5-week programs (June 20-July 21)
Franklin ES
Pick-up your enrollment packets!
If you have an TK or K incoming student for the 2023-24 school year and were unable to attend the TK/K Roundup event you can review View the presentation here.
For incoming TK/K students enrollment packets are NOW available. Information and next steps can be found on our WRLC website.
Please visit our office between 9:00-2:30 to avoid heavy, traffic times.
SMMUSD Permits
Intradistrict permit applications are due April 30, 2023 and Interdistrict Permit applications are due June 30, 2023.
In addition, a district-wide notification was sent out to ALL district families to remind them to fill out a Verification of Continuing Enrollment. If your student is on an interdistrict permit please submit this form!
Oops, I Forgot!
Mornings are busy and sometimes students leave for school without their water bottle, instrument or homework. In an effort to reduce classroom interruptions and to support students with developing responsibility, please use our "Oops, I forgot" table. Make a plan with your child that if they leave something at home, a parent can drop it off in the office. We will place their item on a table outside the office. During their recess or on their way to lunch, they may check the table for their forgotten item.
Please communicate this plan with your child, so they know there is place for parents to drop-off items they may have left at home!
PLEASE DO NOT HAVE FOOD DELIVERED TO YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOL THROUGH A FOOD DELIVERY SERVICE. This brings unfamiliar adults and more traffic to our already busy office.
Please do not forget to send with your child every day:
- Backpack with necessary classroom materials (teacher will communicate)
- Re-useable water bottle. We have filling stations on campus.
- Morning recess snack
- Lunch (lunch available to all students free of charge for the 2022-23 school year.)
- Sunscreen (put on prior to arriving at school)
- Hat
- Layers of clothing (sweatshirt, windbreaker, etc.) Keep an eye on the weather.
*Please do not bring toys, Pokemon cards or PE equipment to school. We will provide your children all the learning tools needed to have a great day!
AT-HOME ANTIGEN TESTS sent home in your child's backpack!
We will no longer require COVID testing at school. Instead, we will provide free, at-home test kits. Negative test results do not need to be shown to school staff for admittance to school. If your child tests positive please stay home and contact our school nurse.
With this decision comes the expectation that parents and staff will be cooperative in weekly antigen testing at home. It is in our collective best interests to maintain in-person instruction without disruptions of class or school closures due to outbreaks. We want everyone to recognize that we are part of a school community that relies on each other to do the right thing, which is to support the health and safety of all students, staff and visitors to our campuses and offices, by taking these weekly tests.
***Tests are always available in the Rogers Health Office.
REGULAR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
***Students enrolled in morning care through CDS, enter on 16th street beginning at 7:00 a.m. using the gate code provided at enrollment.
We will pilot a morning valet on 14th street between 8:10-8:30 a.m. M-TH and 9:30-9:45 a.m. on Fridays. Will Rogers staff will support children to exit cars and enter school through the front school gates. You can help by ensuring that your children are ready to exit with their backpacks on, ready to go! Parents, please do not park in the valet zone and leave your car unattended, the area will be marked with cones. We kindly ask that you take direction from our staff who will help keep the line moving and our students safe.
Parents and guardians may drop-off and say their goodbyes at the gate(s).
- TK/Kinder use the designated gate on 14th street. There will be staff stationed at the gates to assist.
- 1st - 5th may use either the front gate on 14th street or the pedestrian gate on 16th street.
REMINDER: Parent parking can be found on the neighborhood streets. Be sure to read the street signs! Please do not park in the staff parking lots.
DISMISSAL: All students will be walked to their dismissal gate by their classroom teacher. Students who have not been picked-up shortly after dismissal, will be asked to wait near the office.
DESIGNATED DISMISSAL GATES:
- TK/Kinder: Pick-up students on the TK/K yard (on 14th street)
- 1st and 2nd: Pick-up students on the TK/K yard (on 14th street)
- 3rd: Front of the school (on 14th street)
- 4th and 5th: Pick-up students at the 16th street pedestrian gate
**If you have multiple children, please pick-up at the designated gate of your youngest student. Be sure you inform your child's teacher.
If it is raining: 1st- 3rd pick-up location will be the front of school, under the covered awning.
Donate to the Will Rogers PTA and Santa Monica Education Foundation Today!
The Ed Foundation’s January campaign has begun at our school! For those of you who have donated this year, thank you. For those families who have not yet made a donation, please consider it. Every dollar counts. Please visit www.smedfoundation.org/donate.
Our goal is for 100% of Rogers families to give to PTA and the Ed Foundation. ANY amount makes a difference to our kids. If you have already donated, thank you!