El Semanario
September 12-16, 2022
This Week at Edison
- Monday, September 12 – Coffee with the Principal 8:30 -9:30 am Library “Discipline Policies”; 3rd grade teachers attending science adoption training
- Wednesday, September 14 – Parent Training on ST Math 3:30-4:30; ELAC Meeting 4:30-6:00 pm -- Via Zoom.
- Thursday, September 15 - 2nd grade teachers attending science adoption training
- Friday, September 16 - 1st grade teachers attending science adoption training
From the Principal's Desk
National Hispanic Heritage Month, Heat Precautions, and Coffee with the Principal
The month that stretches from September 15 to October 15 is designated as National Hispanic Heritage Month. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was expanded 1988 to cover a 30-day period. The month is designed to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The dates for the observance are tied to the Independence Days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (September 15), Mexico (September 16) and Chile (September 18). The theme for 2022 is "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation ."
The Hispanic/Latinx population in the US is diverse, large, and young. The US Bureau of the Census tells us that, as of 2020, there were 62.1 million persons of Hispanic/Latino/Latinx heritage in the US -- comprising 18.7% of the U.S. population. The majority (over 37 million) are of Mexican Ancestry, followed by nearly 6 million who identify as Central American and approximately 6 million who claim Puerto Rican Heritage. Other large groups of Hispanic/Latinx residents include 2.4 million Cuban Americans, 2 million persons of Dominican heritage, and 3.9 million who have various South American heritages. At Edison, 61% of our students identify as Hispanic/Latinx -- the majority of them being of Mexican or Mexican American heritage, followed by students of Central American heritage. Hispanic/Latinx Americans are also one of the youngest racial/ethnic groups in the US, with a median age of 30 -- compared to median ages of 44 for Whites, 38 for Asian Americans, and 35 for African Americans.
Learn along with us this month as we learn more about the Hispanic/Latinx population at Edison and the many contributions of this community. If your family is of Hispanic/Latinx heritage, contribute to one of the "cultural tables" the PTA will be organizing this month and share something about your family's background. To get us started in learning more about notable Hispanic/Latinx Americans, how many of the following of this diverse group of individuals can you identify: Julia Alvarez, Jovita Adar, José Andrés, Sylvia Méndez, Arturo Alonso Schomburg, Xavier Becerra, Justin Favela, Patricia Guerrero, Gabriela Alemán, Victoria Villasana, Fernando Llort, Helen Rodriguez Trias, Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski.
Hot Weather Precautions - Thank you for dressing your children in lightweight clothing, sending them with a refillable water bottle, and giving them a hat and sunscreen for outdoor play. Hopefully we're about at the end of this current heatwave, but historically we know these hot days can persist through October. To keep students safe and healthy in hot weather, we monitor the temperatures and air quality, restrict the kinds of activities students can do outside and limit the amount of time they are outside according to district guidelines. We call for water breaks and move children to shaded areas to cool down and, when indicated, we adopt an "inclement weather schedule" and move PE and lunch recess indoors. We are fortunate to have plenty of shaded areas for lunch and line ups. We appreciate your messages to your children about the importance of frequent hydration breaks and less energetic activities when it's hot outside!
Coffee with the Principal -- Grab a coffee or tea from the PTA Cafecito Cart and join me and Assistant Principal Elizabeth Ipiña in the Edison Library on Monday, September 12 at 8:30 am for Coffee with the Principal. Learn more about Responsive Classroom and Edison's discipline policies and chat about how the school year is going so far. It's wonderful to be able to interact with parents in person again!
September Calendar
- Monday, September 19 – PTA Association Meeting -- 8:30- 9:30 am Library; Kindergarten teachers attending science adoption training
- Tuesday, September 20 – Fall Book Fair – Library (September 20-23); TK teacher attending science adoption training
- Thursday, September 22 – Fire Drill 10:45 am
- Monday, September 26 – Local Holiday/Rosh Hashanah – No Classes
- Wednesday, September 28 – Site Council 4:30-6:30 pm – Via Zoom
- Friday, September 30 – Duck and Cover Drill – 1:30 pm
Policy Focus
Independent Study Policy
If a student is going to be absent for 5+ consecutive days, he/she might qualify for Independent Study (IS). A student on IS completes the work that he/she would have done at school on the days missed. The expectation is 6 hours of schoolwork for each day missed.
- Independent Study is appropriate in these situations: 1) Out-of-state or Out-of-country emergency; 2) Catastrophic family situation; 3) Legal or government situation; 4) Severe health issue; 5) Special circumstances.
- A student is not eligible for IS and the request will be denied in these situations: 1) Extending the length of school holidays, 2) vacations or trips; or 3) visiting friends or relatives.
Parents requesting an IS MUST contact the teacher at least two weeks before the absences. If the request meets guidelines and the request is approved, the parent picks up an IS Contract/Agreement form from the Office (Melina Garcia), competes it and submits it to the teacher at least a week before the absences. All work must be turned in to the teacher on the students' date of return for review and awarding of credit. Approval of IS is at the discretion of the school.
English Learner Policy: Identification, Assessment and Reclassification
This is the time of the year when we are assessing students with a home language other than English with the ELPAC to determine their English proficiency. Because we're a dual language program with a high percentage of students who have home languages other than English, we typically assess lots of students. The whole process of identifying and assessing students' language proficiency is governed by state and federal laws centering on providing equal educational opportunity. There are a few questions that typically arise about this process, so, here is a brief outline. If you'd like to learn more, join us at the ELAC meeting this week.
When students first enroll in school, all parents complete a Home Language Survey. That survey asks about the presence of a language other than English in the home. The survey asks four questions: 1) What language did your child learn when they first began to talk? 2) What language does your child speak most frequently at home? 3) What language do you use most frequently when you speak to your child? 4) What language is most frequently spoken by other adults in the home? If there is a language other than English indicated in questions 1-3,, schools are required by state and federal law to do an initial assessment to determine the English language proficiency of the child. In California, this assessment is called the ELPAC.
Can we go back and change our answers on the Home Language Survey (HLS) ? Based on your response to the HLS, you will receive a letter notifying you that the school will give your child an assessment (Initial ELPAC) to determine your child's language proficiency, If you believe that you have filled out the HSL incorrectly, you can amend the survey, IF you do so BEFORE your child is assessed. By law the HLS is only given once and parent responses cannot be changed after children are assessed. If your child is already proficient in English, they will test as such on their initial ELPAC and be designated as Initially Fluent English Proficient (IFEP). Students who are IFEP may be bilingual, but they don't need specialized English instruction or support to access a curriculum delivered in English because of their language proficiency.
Classification - Students whose initial ELPAC indicates that they are fluent in English, are designated as Initial Fluent English Proficient (IFEP). Those whose assessment indicates they are not yet fluently proficient in English are designated as English Learners (ELs). ELs need and are entitled to receive specialized instruction to develop proficiency in English. They receive daily designated English Language Development (ELD) Instruction as part of their core program (in the classroom with their classroom teacher). Teachers also integrate ELD into content instruction. The student's growth in English is assessed annually with the Summative ELPAC (along with the reading, writing, and math assessments that we do for all students).
Reclassification -- When a student scores a 4 on the ELPAC, has a CAASPP score of 3 or 4 on the English Language Arts test (or a passing score on two consecutive administrations of a district designated assessment), and confirmation from their teachers that they have classroom skills comparable to their native English speaking peers, they are considered eligible for reclassification. The school will notify you when your child has met the criteria and invite you to a reclassification meeting. These formerly EL students then are referred to as RFEP (reclassified fluent English proficient). Because of the cognitive advantages of bilingualism, by the upper grades, students in the R-FEP and I-FEP categories typically outscore native English speakers on achievement tests.
How long does it take for students to meet criteria for reclassification? Research indicates that full proficiency in English can take 5-7 years, so we don't expect most Edison students to reclassify until upper elementary grades -- or sometimes even middle school. All language domains are assessed -- listening, speaking, reading and writing -- it is not enough to just understand and speak English. Writing proficiently in your second language is generally the last skill to develop. There are several windows each year when we examine the progress of EL students. And when their ELPAC scores, achievement test scores and teacher recommendations indicate that they are ready, we notify parents and students are reclassified.
How does my child's program change when they are reclassified? Because they are already in a dual immersion program, their instructional program does not change very much while they remain at Edison: they no longer receive designated ELD in a small group in their classroom, they no longer need to take the ELPAC annually, and they are no longer eligible for services that may be targeted specifically to English Learners. But we keep working on their language development in both languages the entire time they are with us.
Is there anything parents can do to accelerate their child's reclassification? The place where students typically have the greatest challenge meeting proficiency standards is in the area of writing on the ELPAC and the English scores they receive on the CAASPP. Consult with your child's teacher for specific advice. But in general, make sure they do their classwork and homework. Make sure they read regularly with books at or slightly above their independent reading level, and, if afterschool or summer academic programs are offered, try to take advantage of them.
Focus on Staff
Custodial Change
We're excited to announce that Mark Aguilar is moving to the daytime custodial shift! Mark has been at Edison for approximately 10 years, working as one of our night custodians. Because he has often filled in for absences, worked special events -- or gamely donned the Blue Dog costume to greet students in the morning --- many of our students and families already know Mark. He knows every nook and cranny of our campus and is well acquainted with staff, students, and parents. He will be a great addition to our daytime team. We'll be in good hands at night as Richard Blanco will continue as the other half of our team of night custodians while we hire to fill Mark's former position.
Good custodial staff are critical to the operation of a high functioning school and we are very fortunate to have had such hardworking and committed colleagues. Thank you gentlemen!
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 and will be sent home Fridays with students. Masking continues to be highly recommended indoors. 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
ST Math: Parent Workshop
Edison purchases an annual subscription to ST Math (Spatial Temporal Math) for all its students in grades K-5. ST Math is organized around games -- more than 35,000 puzzles with interactive representations of math topics that align to all state standards with learning objectives that target key grade-level concepts and skills. ST Math also features JiJi a
penguin character on a journey through the world of ST Math. Students help JiJi overcome obstacles by solving math puzzles and JiJi crosses the screen every time a student successfully completes a puzzle -- leading them to the next challenge. JiJi is curious, persistent, patient and friendly. ST Math is a flexible instructional tool that can fit easily into many different curriculum implementations. In a computer lab, during designated classroom time, station-rotation, or at home - as long as students are using ST Math for 60-90 minutes per week, you will see gains in their math achievement. Come learn mo9re about this wonderful math tool and how to use it to support your student's growth in math skills! Wednesday, September 14, 3:30-4:30 pm via Zoom:
https://smmk12.zoom.us/j/5851786538?pwd=UVlwQ0hPRkttNDVLc25iYi9CVG9HQT09
(Meeting ID: 585 178 6538, Passcode: Orum)
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting
Please join us for the first 2022-2023 meeting of Edison's ELAC on Wednesday, September 14 at 4:30 pm via zoom. The English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) is established by state law in all public schools with 21 or more English Learners and exists to:
- Advise the principal and staff in the development of a site plan for English learners and submitting the plan to the School Site Council for consideration of inclusion in the School Plan for Student Achievement.
- Assist in the development of the schoolwide needs assessment.
- Help make parents aware of the importance of regular school attendance.
Agenda for September Meeting:
- Conocimiento -- getting to know each other and Community Liaison Jessica Hernandez;
- Training on Role and Responsibilities of ELAC
- Elect new ELAC leadership and DELAC Representatives;
- Informational presentations about: Attendance Awareness month, initial ELPAC testing and reclassification windows
- Updates from the Edison PTA and Edison's Site Council.
Come and get to know other parents of English Learners and about Edison's upcoming Festival de Otoño and Día de los Muertos celebrations. If you have questions about ELAC, Community Liaison Jessica Hernández can assist you at jessica.hernandez@smmusd.org or (310) 828-0335, ext. 61-306.
Use this zoom link to join us:
https://smmk12.zoom.us/j/5851786538?pwd=UVlwQ0hPRkttNDVLc25iYi9CVG9HQT09
Meeting ID: 585 178 6538; Passcode: Orum
The Research Corner
The Promise of Bilingualism and Guidelines for Educating English Learners
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine Report on Promoting the Educational Success of Children and Youth Learning English; Promising Futures(February 2017)
"Two broad approaches are used to teach English to English learners in [K-12]; (1) English as a second language (ESL) approaches, in which English is the predominant language of instruction; and (2) bilingual approaches, in which both English and students' home languages are used for. instruction. Though students' learning under the two approaches may follow different trajectories, syntheses of evaluation studies that compare outcomes for the two approaches find either no difference in outcomes measured in English or find that students in bilingual programs outperform students instructed only in English. Two recent studies that follow students for sufficient time to gauge longer-term effects of language instruction on outcomes find benefits for bilingual approaches compared with English-only approaches.
The National Academy also has identified important seven guidelines for educating English learners in Grades K-5:
- Provide explicit instruction in literacy components
- Develop academic language in the context of content-area instruction
- Provide visual and verbal supports to make core content comprehensible
- Encourage peer-assisted learning opportunities
- Capitalize on students' home language, knowledge, and cultural assets
- Screen for language and literacy challenges and monitor progress
- Provide small-group academic support in literacy and English-language development for students."
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