The Weekly Roar
October 22, 2022
Halloween and Dia de los Muertos
This week begins with two holidays that our school community celebrates. We begin with Halloween! All parade and costume details are listed below. Parents may come to the parade this year! Please leave early for school if you are planning on parking close to the school. Parking will be a Halloween Nightmare on Monday. I recommend walking!
On Wednesday, it's Dia de los Muertos. Ms. Selva shares a description of this holiday below.
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
Halloween Event at La Ballona Oct. 31, 2022 MONDAY!!!!!
Halloween Parade 9:00
We will be holding our annual costume parade on Monday, October 31st, at 9 a.m. Students will walk a large loop around our playground. Students are invited to wear a costume, but if they choose not to, they will still be able to participate in the parade. Any student not wishing to wear a costume and not wishing to participate in the parade will have the opportunity to listen to a story in the library for a special story time. Parents are allowed on campus (Parent directions below).
Costume guidelines:
Amended: No Costume masks may be worn to and during school. If your child can see out of it, they can wear it during the parade only.
No face make-up
Students must show respect for other students by not choosing costumes that are insensitive and/or offensive to the diverse background represented by La Ballona students and families.
Students must show respect to other students by not touching, defacing or insulting other students' costumes.
No weapons of any kind. (No fake guns, swords, knives, etc.)
No fake blood or other substances allowed.
Students will be allowed to wear wigs, hats and accessories during the parade, but must be removed if causing a distraction during class time.
After the parade, it will be a regular instructional day. Your child may stay in their costume IF the costume is easy to sit and learn in. If the costume impedes school learning, please bring a change of clothes for the school day.
Directions for Parents
Families are welcome to come to watch our parade on campus.
We will section off areas for parents to stand.
All parents may enter through the Back Gate 1.
Halloween Parade Map & Directions
- Families may enter through front or back of school
- Please sign in and obtain orange visitor sticker
- Parade begins at 9:00am. Be on time.
- We will march ONE LAP in this order: TK>Kdg>1st>4th>5th>3rd>2nd
- Families must leave immediately after the parade
- Families should stand BEHIND the classes in the green areas (see map)
October's American Citizenship Awards!
California Healthy Kids Parent Survey
Parent involvement is a Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) State priority. This short survey provides a means to confidentially obtain:
- parent perceptions about the school's learning environment;
- school climate;
- student supports; and
- parent outreach and involvement efforts (e.g., how welcoming, communicative).
It also provides data on the scope and nature of parent involvement at the school (relationships, activities) and in the child's education in general. This survey is designed to provide schools with data useful for fostering a positive learning and working environment that promotes academic success among all students. Your survey participation is very important to ensure accurate and useful data.
The survey window closes on Monday, November 7th. Thank you for your participation to help guide decisions that are made at La Ballona
2. Counselor's Corner
October Parent Newsletter
Belonging and Ability Assembly
You have been invited to the La Ballona School Counseling Advisory Council!
Please see the attached invitation and feel free to share with people who might be interested in joining.
Please use this link to confirm participation.
¡Ha sido invitado al Consejo Asesor de Consejería de la Escuela La Ballona!
Consulte la invitación adjunta y siéntase libre de compartirla con las personas que puedan estar interesadas en unirse.
Utilice este enlace para confirmar su participación.
3. Handbook Highlight
A Message from Attendance Clerk: Ms. Rosy Reyes
If your student is ever absent please email rosyreyes@ccusd.org with the
reason for the absence and the number of days that your student will miss. If you have a
Doctor/Dental/Court or any other legal form of an excused absence, please include attachment in the email.
If your student is late, please come in to the front office to sign them in. If the student is late
due to a Doctor, Dental, Court etc. appointment, please bring the note from the corresponding office verifying the appointment. Please feel free to email any digital note to rosyreyes@ccusd.org .
If you are picking up your student early, please let the teacher know ahead of time. This will
allow us to save time with having your student ready for you. Be sure to arrive to school with spare time, sometime students are out on Lunch/Recess and it is hard to locate their exact location. If your student is leaving early due to an appointment, please bring excused note from the appointment the following school day. You can also email the note to
If you have any attendance question please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for helping me keep our La Ballona Attendance records straight.
With love from Rosy Reyes
4. School Meal Information
What's for Breakfast and/or Lunch?
5. Community & Afterschool Opportunities
PTA Meeting, Thursday, November 3 at 6:30
The latest edition of the Culver Currents
Fall Festival
Fall Festival tickets are on sale before school in front by the lion or after school at gate 1. Come out for a fun filled day Saturday November 5th!
Don't miss your favorite staff member being dunked at the Fall Festival! OR come
and buy tickets to make sure they get soaked! Here is the schedule! Enjoy the dance party with Leo the lion! Or dance to the live tunes from the band The Rusties! Don’t miss out!
Please donate unopened candy for the upcoming Fall Festival in the donation box at the office. See you there!
We are also seeking donations of baked goods, water bottles, individual chip bags, unwrapped candy, and sodas for the PTA table!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/430408502417
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/430530005837
Hip & Historic Halloween in Downtown Culver City
Book Fair
Can you help with Book Fair?
The Book Fair is coming to La Ballona October 31 through November 5. We plan to have the event open from 8:15 to 4:15 Monday through Thursday (with hours extending to 6:30 on Tuesday) and then again during Fall Festival on Saturday. We need a lot of volunteer help to make this happen! If you are able to sign up to help us staff the event, please sign up here. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084DACAD2FA2FB6-book Volunteers working during school hours must have volunteer clearance, and all volunteers will receive a discount toward their purchases.
Remember that you can begin shopping online at our Book Fair website https://efairs.literati.com/?school=la-ballona-elementary-school-culver-city-ca or you can visit efairs.literati.com and search for La Ballona.
Please email Christine if you have any questions. cmaitkoeh@gmail.com
Bidding for Good Silent Auction
Hello La Ballona Families!
Our online auction fundraiser is in full swing now! There are still 9 days left to make your bids, so don't forget to check it out as it closes Sunday November 6th, 2022, at 8:00pm PST!
We have so many different wonderful items to bid on for holiday gifts. Sporting events, clothing, toys, Restaurant gift cards, Summer Camps for 2023, and don't forget about our always popular "Teacher Treats" just for our La Ballona families and much much more.
Restaurant Fundraiser - 10/31-11/6
Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill is hosting a fundraiser from Monday, October 31 through Sunday, November 6. Every order placed in our name will be added up and Sharky’s will donate 15% of the total to our school. For complete details, click here >>
The Tri-City SELPA will be hosting a 3-part parent training and support series on navigating the IEP process!
Flu Vaccines Available
6. Our Calendar
This Week at La Ballona
One-time events in italics
Monday, October 31
- Halloween Parade, 9am
- Book Fair- Library Closed
- PTA Enrichment Tennis, 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Tuesday, November 1
- Book Fair- Library Closed
- Before & After School Intervention Begins
- PTA Enrichment Class Chess, 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Wednesday, November 2
- Book Fair- Library Closed
- Early Dismissal Every Wednesday at 1:45
- PTA Enrichment Class Tennis, Group A 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm and 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, November 3
- Book Fair- Library Closed
- Before (8:00) & After School (3:15) Intervention
- PTA Meeting, 6:30 in Cafeteria & Zoom
- Vocal Music Classes K-2
- Choir, 8:00
- Young Storytellers, 5th Grade
Friday, November 4
- Book Fair- Library Closed
- Before (8:00) & After School (3:15) Intervention
- How to Help My Child With Math Parent Education (traducido simultáneamente al español), 9am. For Parents in grades TK-2
- Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Lessons, 5th Grade
Saturday, Fall Festival!!!!
Upcoming Dates (New Dates in Bold)
November 8- School Board Meeting
November 11- Veteran's Day School Holiday
November 18- End of Trimester 1
November 18- How to Help my Child with Math Part 2 (for TK-2nd families), 9am (Traducción simultánea en español)
November 21- Thanksgiving Holiday
November 30- 5th Grade to Pali Camp!
December 2- How to Help my Child with Math Part 3 (for TK-2nd families), 9am (Traducción simultánea en español)
December 5-14- Parent Conference Schedule. All Students dismissed at 1:45 daily.
December 13- School Board Meeting, 6pm
December 15- 3:15 Dismissal
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