The Weekly Roar
October 15, 2022
Safety First
One of our PAWS/PATA values is SAFETY FIRST. On a daily basis, we have many procedures that ensure safety. Asking for IDs when there is an early pickup, using visitor and staff badges, and maintaining a secured campus at arrival and dismissal are examples of how we prioritize safety.
This week La Ballona will join schools and businesses across the state in participating in California's Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill. District wide, all sites will participate in an earthquake drill on Oct. 20st at 10:20 am where students will be instructed t0 "Drop, Cover, Hold” wherever they may be. Thereafter, everyone will evacuate the building to their designated locations on the main field. Guardians, if your child has an appointment or needs to be dismissed early on this day for personal reasons, please come before 10:00 am or after 11:00am. During the drill, we will not be dismissing students for appointments.
As a reminder for all guardians as to our emergency procedures:
- Primary emergency assembly area is the blacktop at the back of the school.
- In the case of an actual emergency, every student will be kept at school until an authorized adult who is named on their Emergency Form arrives with a Photo I.D.
- Due to the details involved in a release process, please be aware there can be a significant wait time. We ask you to remain calm and patient.
- Communication of any incidents will be made via School Messenger and school website. Site administration will work as quickly as possible to disseminate information.
- For messages from the school, please make sure La Ballona has current emails in Aeries and up to date phone numbers. For assistance updating your information, please follow these steps Parent Portal Directions or contact the main office.
- We encourage families, particularly those of our lower grade students to review the “Drop, Cover, Hold” process at home so that your child is familiar with the process. This video may help.
Additional Notes
- Beach Day Cancelled- Here's why https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-10-05/beaches-bacteria-los-angeles-santa-monica-manhattan-beach-marina-del-rey
- We are planning a 4-part Math Parent Education event. The first one is postponed due to some timing and staffing. Please stay tuned.
- Below is a quick survey asking you about September's Back to School Night. All sites are conducting this quick survey. It's in Spanish and English.
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
Recording of 4th & 5th Grade Instrumental Music- Parent Information Night
Halloween Event at La Ballona Oct. 31, 2022
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.
Dr. Godbey's Wish List
Dr. Godbey's Wish List
- Boxes of Tissue
- Hand Sanitizer
- Clothing for the Health Office: especially children's leggings and shorts (sizes 5-12)
- Non-perishable snacks to distribute to teachers at staff meetings (chips, cookies, etc)
October - Disability Awareness Month
October is Disability Awareness Month! La Ballona will be celebrating diversity and differences all month long while raising disability awareness! Please take some time to speak to your students on the importance of this month and we’ll be sharing more opportunities for awareness in the coming weeks.
Attention 5th Grade Families
2. Counselor's Corner
October Parent Newsletter
3. Handbook Highlight
Class Parties and Birthdays
As we continue to shift towards our normal schooling, it's important for all of us to remember the particular policies and procedures of our school and CCUSD district. Each week, I will try to highlight a few of these policies so that we are all aware and can move forward together. Here is the Student Handbook in its entirety. (It's on our website https://laballona.ccusd.org/).
This week we will highlight our Class Parties and Birthdays
The CCUSD Wellness Policy mandates that classroom celebrations that involve food during the school day must be limited to no more than one party per class per month. It is against Board Policy, PB 5030(a), to provide foods, such as pizza or sweets i.e. cupcakes, for an entire classroom at any time prior to the end of the last lunch period. Also, foods containing trans-fats cannot be offered or served to students during classroom celebrations .
In order to prevent health risks to students from potential allergic reactions (to peanuts, wheat or soy) as well as safety and sanitation issues please comply with the above stated CCUSD Board Policies. Prior to bringing treats to the classroom, you must obtain permission from the classroom teacher. Foods such as fresh fruit or vegetables, popcorn (no caramel corn – it is considered candy), baked chips or 100% fruit juice such as Capri Sun are recommended. It is very important that we demonstrate our compliance with these standards for wholesome nutrition and wellness. Thank you for your cooperation.
Birthday parties take away from crucial instructional time so a better suggestion is to purchase and donate a book to the La Ballona Library in commemoration of the child’s birthday. Balloons or flowers for individual students' birthdays are not appropriate or permitted at school.
4. School Meal Information
What's for Breakfast and/or Lunch?
5. Community & Afterschool Opportunities
New STAR NOVA Class Offerings- Begins Week of October 31
LA County Library Bookmark Contest 2022
Culver City Julian Dixon Library would like to invite La Ballona students to participate in LA County Library’s 43rd Annual Bookmark Contest, an annual program that encourages a love of books and reading while also promoting creativity, artistic expression, and community engagement. Students will have the chance to see their bookmark designs featured at their local library and throughout Los Angeles County. Participants compete in the following age categories:
• Kindergarten – Grade 2
• Grade 3 – Grade 5
• Grade 6 – Grade 8
• Grade 9 – Grade 12
Completed entry forms can be dropped off at individual library locations, sent in by mail, or submitted digitally via a link on the Library’s website. The deadline for entry is October 29, 2022.
The winning bookmarks from each library will be shared with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who will select winners that reside in their District from each category. Winners selected by the Board of Supervisors will be recognized by the Board in the spring of 2023.
The pdf Entry form is below
Book Fair Coming soon - flyer attached
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
Join the PTA!
School has now started and so does our PTA membership drive! Joining the PTA is a great way to get involved and show your support for La Ballona students. Membership dues are just $8 per person and all dues-paying members can vote at PTA meetings, which are held the first Thursday of each month. Member dues are used for programs, resources, and activities that benefit our students. Click below on the link to pay your membership today, thank you so much for your support
Sign up with TOTEM: https://jointotem.com/ca/culver-city/la-ballona-elem/join/register
Sign up with Squareup: https://la-ballona-elementary-pta.square.site/s/shop
What did I miss from October's PTA Meeting?
PTA Sponsored Before/After School Enrichment (forms attached):
Session 2 for the PTA after school enrichment is now available.
Register by Monday, October 24th. Instructions on flyer. Sign up here or print & complete the pdf below.
https://laballonapta.org/enrichment
Please join our DEI Committee meeting:
6:30pm - 7:30pm
(Meeting ID:898 5866 8508 Passcode:lions)
Contact:Candice or Ti to get involved
Email:ladycjbaker@gmail.com-or-nghhuo@gmail.com
Fall Festival is coming!
The Tri-City SELPA will be hosting a 3-part parent training and support series on navigating the IEP process!
Last week before our Online Auction fundraiser starts! (Oct 21st)
We are collecting new items for our online auction, one of our biggest fundraisers of the year.
Do you have unused gift cards from restaurants or retail stores you'd like to donate? Are you a photographer, yoga Instructor/Baker or anything else in the service industry who can donate time/session/food? Do you have brand new items you don't need like toys, kitchenware/clothing with tags or jewelry? Then please donate them to La Ballonas "Bidding For Good online auction" which starts October 21st, 2022. All proceeds benefit our school in the form of technology, assemblies and more.. Please contact Michele at michelej75@gmail.com or Lisa at chicklet71@gmail.com to coordinate drop off. Thank you so much for supporting our school
6. Our Calendar
This Week at La Ballona (One-time events in italics)
Monday, October 17
- PTA Enrichment Tennis, 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
- Unity Spirit Week- Be Someone's Hero: Wear your favorite super hero shirt, outfit, or color
Tuesday, October 18
- PTA Enrichment Class Chess, 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
- Unity Spirit Week- Mismatch Day: Wear mismatched clothes
Wednesday, October 19
- ELAC Parent Meeting, 9am in Cafeteria (flyer above)
- 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
- Unity Spirit Week- School Unity: Everyone wears orange or school spirit wear
Thursday, October 20
- Vocal Music Classes K-2
- Choir, 8:00
- Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill, 10:20
- Young Storytellers, 5th Grade
- Unity Spirit Week- We're All on the Same Team: Wear your favorite team color or shirt
Friday, October 21
- Postponed: How to Help your child with Math Parent Education
- Symphonic Jazz Orchestra Lessons, 5th Grade
- Unity Spirit Week- Inside Out: Wear clothes inside out
- Bidding for Good Online Auction Begins
- PTA Enrichment Session 2 Signs Up Close
Upcoming Dates (New Dates in Bold)
October 25- Picture Make-Up Day
October 25- School Site Council Meeting, 3:30p
October 28- Tea with the Counselor, 9am "Bullying Prevention" in English
28 de Octubre- Té con la Consejera, 10am "Prevención del Acoso Escolar" en Español
October 31- La Ballona Costume Parade, 9am (Parents welcome on campus)
November 3- PTA Meeting, 6:30
November 5- Fall Festival
November 11- Veteran's Day School Holiday
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