GECKO GAZETTE
GRANT SCHOOL - SANTA MONICA
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19 - 25, 2022
~TRANSLATION OPTION INTO 100 LANGUAGES!~
~ ¡NUEVA OPCIÓN DE TRADUCCIÓN A 100 IDIOMAS! ~
Para leer la Gaceta Gecko en otro idioma, mire a la derecha del boletín y haga clic en "TRADUCIR EL BOLETÍN". ¡Ahora puede elegir entre 100 idiomas!
~ በ 100 ቋንቋዎች ውስጥ አዲስ የትርጓሜ ምርጫ! ~
የጌኮ ጋዜጣ በሌላ ቋንቋ ለማንበብ እባክዎን በራሪ ወረቀቱ በስተቀኝ በኩል ይመልከቱ እና “የትርጉም ጽሑፍ” ን ጠቅ ያድርጉ ፡፡ አሁን ከ 100 ቋንቋዎች መምረጥ ይችላሉ!
~September 15th - October 15th, 2022~
The Grant Learning Community will be paying tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month through classroom and community activities, morning all-school announcements highlighting famous individuals who have had an impact on society, and assemblies.
“Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
“The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
“The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.”
-source: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/hispanic-heritage-month.html
~ IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER ~
Please review these important dates:
- Monday, September 19th: School Site Council Meeting @ 3:15 PM on Zoom: Meeting Link; Meeting ID: 885 1815 3307; Passcode: 659329
- Wednesday, September 21st: PTA General Meeting @ 6:30 PM in the Library or on Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83186958965?pwd=b3BBNlBuUEVZVGRhVHNqSy8xc1JHUT09
Meeting ID: 831 8695 8965
Passcode: 028683
- Monday, September 26th: NO SCHOOL - Rosh Hashanah
- Friday, September 30th: Multicultural Heritage Celebration from 3:30 - 6:00 PM on the Grant Big Yard
- Saturday 10/1 and Sunday 10/2: Grant Beautification Day! Sign-up info coming soon! Grant Beautification Days: October 1 and 2, 9 am-12 pm. Let us know which date you can help - as long or as short of a time as you can help. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qi_D3TujoR0qPFoVyveX1wvxWaZs31_tSKN-u80rfCI/edit?usp=sharing
- Monday, October 3rd: Make-up Picture Day - see flyer below
- Wednesday, October 5th: LOCAL HOLIDAY - YOM KIPPUR - NO SCHOOL
- Thursday, October 6th: PTA Reflections Art Contest entries are due today
- Friday, October 7th: Fall Family Movie Night @ 5:00 PM on the Big Field
- Wednesday, October 12th: ELAC Meeting #2 @ 8:45 in the Auditorium or Sky Room
- Friday, October 14th: Parent Mixer @ The Brixton from 6:00 - 9:00 PM
- Monday, October 17th: School Site Council Meeting @ 3:15 PM in the Sky Room
- Thursday, October 20th: The Great California Shake Out - Earthquake Drill
- Saturday, October 29th: Grant Fall Festival - Information coming soon! Save the Date!
- Tuesday, November 1st: Elementary Pupil-free day
~ WEEKLY REMINDERS ~
~ANTIGEN TEST KIT PICK UP INFORMATION~
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADMINISTER AN ANTIGEN COVID TEST TO YOUR CHILD(REN) EITHER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW MORNING.
WE SENT HOME ONE TEST KIT PER STUDENT ON FRIDAY. PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD'S BACKPACK. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET PICKED UP A TEST KIT YOU MAY DO SO IN THE MAIN OFFICE.
UPDATED LACDPH COVID PROTOCOLS: Updated T-1 and T-2 Exposure Management Protocols as of 8.10.22
Please do not forget to send with your child every day:
- Backpack with classroom materials (notebook, writing utensils, class books, etc.)
- Water bottle
- Snack and/or 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.
~ A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE GRANT PTA ~
CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
~GECKO ACADEMY INFO~
Level up your child with two days a week of Spanish and Mandarin or get their mind body aligned with weekly Yoga! Led by some of Grant's very own teachers, Grant's after school enrichment activities are finally back after 3 years of waiting! Check out all our awesome offerings in the attached.
Deadline to register: Friday, Sep 23rd.Some classes are filling, so do not wait!
Full scholarships available. Please contact Florencia Rams, Grant's confidential community liaison.
For questions, comments or concerns, please contact our PTA volunteer, Steve Atamian at execvp@grantpta.org.
Thank you!
~GECKO ACADEMY REGISTRATION IS LIVE NOW!~
To review the Grant School policies and the SMMUSD Annual Notice Handbook please click the following links:
~GRANT SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL ELECTIONS RESULTS & COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED~
- Aimee Koeplin
- Erin Bitar
- Costa Bargeliotes
- Laura Kachergus
- Julie Ross Lipman
- Amanda Robertson
Site Council seats are filled by election only. A ballot will be sent out by the end of the coming week.
The Grant School Site Council must have 12 members and have parity between school employees and parents.
Thank you to all of our parents who are willing to serve!
~MAKE-UP PICTURE DAY~
Please click the image to see a full-size schedule
~ GRANT LIBRARY NEWS ~
Grant is helping to support student reading by offering a Literati Book Fair online from 8/19/2022 to 9/23/2022 and in person in the library from 9/16 to 9/23. Every purchase made will benefit our school and help us achieve our goals.
There are two great ways to shop our book fair and everyone is welcome to participate! When you participate you can purchase books for your child, yourself, the school library or help build classroom libraries by purchasing a book from the teacher’s wish list or buying your teacher a gift card. You can also purchase a gift card for your child so they do not need to carry cash.
· In-person shopping: feel free to stop by Grant in person from 9/16 - 9/23 from
8:00 am-6:00 pm and walk away with an armful of books.
· Online shopping going on now: If you would like to shop for a student and support the school from the comfort of your home, feel free to visit our online companion fair at:
https://efairs.literati.com/?school=grant-elementary-school-santa-monica-ca
Orders purchased online will be added to our book fair earnings and ship at the end of book fair week. Please allow approximately 10 business days for orders to arrive at your school.
Would you like to support a child who may not be able to participate? We encourage you to purchase a Gift Card which can be emailed to our Bilingual Community Liaison, Florencia Rams to her email: frams@smmusd.org We will then use your donated gift card to help a child in our school community.
https://efairs.literati.com/product-category/gift-cards/
Grant is excited to offer an online fair option to help further support a love of reading for their students!
Volunteers needed to work at the book fair. Volunteers get 20% off all in-person book fair purchases. Click the link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044EA4AD2FA6FE3-fall
Feel free to contact Ms. Wolfe if you have any questions. pwolfe@smmusd.org
Grant está ayudando a fomentar la lectura de los estudiantes al ofrecer una Feria del Libro Literati en línea del 19/8/2022 al 23/9/2022 y en persona en la biblioteca de la escuela del 16 al 23 de septiembre. Cada compra realizada beneficiará a nuestra escuela y nos ayudará a alcanzar nuestras metas.
¡Hay dos excelentes maneras de comprar en nuestra feria del libro y todos son bienvenidos a participar! Cuando participa, puede comprar libros para su hijo, para usted, para la biblioteca de la escuela o ayudar a construir bibliotecas en el aula comprando un libro de la lista de deseos del maestro/a o comprando una tarjeta de regalo para su maestro/a. También puede comprar una tarjeta de regalo para su hijo/a para que no tenga que traer efectivo.
· Compras en persona: no dude en pasar por Grant en persona del 16 al 23 de septiembre
HORARIO: 8:00am-6:00pm
· Compras en línea ahora: si desea comprar para un estudiante y apoyar a la escuela desde la comodidad de su hogar, no dude en visitar nuestra feria complementaria en línea en:
https://efairs.literati.com/?school=grant-elementary-school-santa-monica-ca
Las compras realizadas en línea se agregarán a nuestras ganancias de la feria del libro y se enviarán al final de la semana de la feria del libro. Espere aproximadamente 10 días hábiles para que los pedidos lleguen a su escuela.
¿Le gustaría ayudar a un niño que tal vez no pueda participar? Puede comprar una tarjeta de regalo que se puede enviar por correo electrónico a nuestra enlace comunitario bilingüe, Florencia Rams a su correo electrónico: frams@smmusd.org. Luego usaremos su tarjeta de regalo que donó para ayudar a un niño en nuestra comunidad escolar.
https://efairs.literati.com/product-category/gift-cards/
¡Grant se complace en ofrecer una opción de feria en línea para ayudar aún más el amor por la lectura de sus estudiantes!
Se necesitan voluntarios para trabajar en la feria del libro. Los voluntarios obtienen un 20 % de descuento en todas las compras en la feria del libro en persona. Haga clic en el enlace para registrarse:
~FALL BOOK FAIR OPEN ON SEPTEMBER 16th!~
We need volunteers for our fall book fair! We can't have a successful fair without parent volunteers. Please sign up for one or more time slots by clicking this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044EA4AD2FA6FE3-fall
If you want to be more involved and help run the book fair email Ms. Wolfe at pwolfe@smmusd.org.
Book Fair dates: In Person - September 16 - September 23.
Book Fair hours: M, T, TH & Fri 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Wednesday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Online now through September 23.
https://efairs.literati.com/?school=grant-elementary-school-santa-monica-caPetra Wolfe
Library Coordinator
Grant Elementary School
310-450-7651 ext. 63152
~SEPTEMBER IS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH~
It is important that all students attend school every day. Exceptions may include if your child is ill. Please plan all family vacations during school vacation days. It is important to set your child up for success by assuring they are in school. For a detailed look at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District's attendance policies, please click this link > http://www.grant.smmusd.org/registration/.
We realize some absences are for health or other reasons. But, when students are absent they can fall far behind in what they learn. Whether the absence is excused or unexcused It means your child is missing important classroom learning time.
Some Attendance Tips:
- Make sure your students keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
- Turn off all electronics including TVs, phones, and tablets at bedtime.
- Make sure clothes and pack backpacks are ready the night before.
- Check with our school nurse or office staff if you are not sure about when to keep your child at home due to illness.
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your student feels anxious about going to school.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your student to school.
Please let us know how we can best support you and your student so that they can show up for school on time every day.
~ PTA REFLECTIONS CONTEST ~
Questions? Interested? Contact Jill Jurenka at reflections@grantpta.org!
~FALL FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT & PARENT MIXER COMING SOON~
~Suicide Prevention Walk~
Shuli Lotan, SMMUSD Mental Health Counseling Coordinator, is putting together a team for anyone connected to SMMUSD to walk in the upcoming “Out of the Darkness” 5k on October 22, to benefit the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. We would love to have you join the team and also would love if you could spread the word.
Bridget McCarthy, the parent of a former Samohi student who died by suicide in 2020, is the chair of the walk and we are very proud to partner with AFSP in Riley’s honor to bring attention to this important issue.
~FAMILY CHROMEBOOK GUIDE - PLEASE REVIEW WITH YOUR CHILDREN~
~EASY WAYS TO HELP GRANT SCHOOL~
~DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURES~
Safe Campus drop-off and pick-up procedures outlined below began last Monday, August 22nd. After observing drop-off and pick-up for a week we have had the opportunity to refine them so we can provide a more effective and streamlined experience.
As a reminder, all students in Grades Kindergarten through 5th grade will be dropped off at the main gate at the front of the school in the morning or at the pedestrian gate in the rear of the school and will be picked up at either the main gate or the Kindergarten yard. Your teacher will let you know where their specific pickup location is. If you are unsure, please ask.
*Please do not drive into the staff parking lot at either the front or the rear of the school to either drop off or pick up your child.
DROP-OFF and PICK-UP PROCEDURES
Preschool and TK Drop-off: Due to State law, all Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten students must be dropped off to their teacher. Preschool parents will continue to enter the campus at the main gates after checking in with the Campus Monitor, proceed to Room 59, and sign their child in with Ms. Reed. TK parents will walk their children to the Transitional Kindergarten yard where Ms. Herman and Ms. Cedillo will greet them each day.
Preschool and TK Pick-up: All Preschool parents will meet Ms. Reed at the main gates for dismissal. Students whose parents have not picked up their child at dismissal will check into the main office and then proceed to Room 59 to check their child out from Ms. Reed. All TK parents will enter the Kindergarten playground from the Pearl Street entrance at dismissal time and students will be checked out by Ms. Herman and Ms. Cedillo.
Kindergarten Drop-off: Kindergarten students will be dropped off by their parent or guardian at the gate next to Room 2 beginning at 8:00 AM M-F. Students will walk to the Kindergarten playground where they will be met by a teacher or Campus Monitor. Students enrolled in SAP will be walked to their classrooms by SAP personnel.
Kindergarten Pick-up: Kindergarten students will be picked up at the Pearl Street Kinder gate at dismissal at 1:45 PM. Teachers will be there to greet parents and guardians. No Kinder student will be released to anyone other than a parent/guardian or emergency contact. Students enrolled in SAP will be picked up from SAP personnel in their classrooms.
Grades 1 – 5 Drop-off: All students in grades 1 – 5 will be dropped off by their parent or guardian at the main gate in front of the school or at the 24th Street gate each morning. Students will enter the school and walk to the playground where they will be supervised by a Grant School Teacher, Campus Monitor, or Administrator. Drop-off will begin at 8:00 AM every day.
The start-of-school warning bell will sound at 8:25 AM. The final bell will sound at 8:30 AM. Students in grade 1 will walk to their lineup on the big map on the playground where their teacher will meet them and walk them to the classroom. Students in Grade 2 will walk to their lineup behind their classroom where their teacher will meet them. Students in grades 3 – 5 will line up in front of their classroom where their teacher will meet them.
Grades 1 – 3 Pick-up: Students in Grades 1 – 3 will be dismissed each day according to the bell schedule above. Teachers will walk students to the main gate at the front of the school where parents will meet their children at this time. Students in Grades 1 – 3 who are enrolled in an afterschool program, such as CREST or PTA enrichment classes, or Playground Club, will walk or be walked to the lunch tables where their program teacher will meet them.
Grades 4 – 5 Pick-up: Students in Grades 4 and 5 will be dismissed each day at 2:55 PM. Students will exit the campus either from the main gates or the 24th Street gate at the rear of the school. Students who are enrolled in an afterschool program, such as CREST or PTA enrichment classes, or Playground Club, will walk to the lunch tables where their program teacher will meet them.
Early Dismissal Procedures: Wednesday drop-off and pick-up procedures are the same as those during regular school days but will follow the Wednesday bell schedule. Please see the new bell schedule ABOVE.
SAP Drop-off: All students enrolled in SAP before-school care will be dropped off in Room 4. Drop-off begins at 7:00 AM.
Breakfast Club: Students who participate in the Grant Breakfast Club will still arrive at school under the same procedures as all students. Parents will drop their children off at the main gates by 8:00 AM so that there is ample time to eat and walk to their classrooms by 8:30 AM. Preschool, TK, and Kinder students will continue to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to Breakfast Club if the parent so chooses.
New Security System
Grant is very fortunate to have had new security systems installed over the last couple of years. In addition to new security cameras around the entire perimeter and interior of the school, we now have a new secure fence in the front courtyard equipped with a camera and buzzer. All visitors during and after school hours must be buzzed into the school by pushing the button on the panel. Once permitted entrance, all visitors must go immediately to the main office to receive a visitors' badge.
Raptor Security System
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will use the Raptor visitor management system to strengthen our campus safety programs for students and staff. All schools currently have this system installed.
An important aspect of keeping students and staff safe is for site staff to know who is on our campuses at all times. The Raptor system achieves this interest as it allows office staff to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers, in our schools and provides us with a safer environment for students, staff, and approved volunteers.
Upon entering campus, visitors will be asked to present identification such as a driver’s license, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian does not have a US government-issued identification, for any reason, the visitor may submit an alternative form of identification for school staff to enter into the Raptor system.
The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the identification is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not allowed on our campuses. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item at the front gate.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION IN KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE!
~COMMUNITY RESOURCES for FAMILIES~
~WEEKEND FOOD BAGS~
Grant families wishing to enroll their students should contact our school’s Bilingual Community Liaison, Florencia Rams at frams@smmusd.org, 310 450-7651, and fill out a Program opt-in form.
Las familias que desean inscribir a sus estudiantes deben contactar a la comunitaria de la escuela, Florencia Rams frams@smmusd.org, 310 4507651 x63110 y llenar un formulario para apuntarse en el programa.
~A MESSAGE FROM OUR LOCAL CUB SCOUTS PACK~
~FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR~
~METRO GO PASS FOR STUDENTS - YEAR 2 INFORMATION~
~A MESSAGE FROM THE BOYS' & GIRLS' CLUB~
As you may be aware Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club (SMBGC) have had a strong response to the on-site Playground Club (formerly Playground Access) at our campus for on-site supervision after school until 4:30 pm M-F.
In the interest of safety, we had waitlisted some families, but as we continue to hire & prepare, we are now able to open that enrolment up to a total of 50 students per site.
*This will relieve the vast majority of currently waitlisted enrollees.
Our Playground Club supervision program will operate at a 25:1 ratio (student: staff). Anything above 50 will be temporarily waitlisted until we can meet the need safely with staff, but we have also hired a recruitment firm to expedite this process. The maximum potential enrollment per site will be 75 students.
Enrollment is first come first served, scholarships are available for qualified members so don’t hesitate to register now: https://www.smbgc.org/memberships/become-a-member/
More comprehensive, structured programming is available, with transportation, at our Main Branch on Lincoln Blvd.
We appreciate your support and feel free to reach out with any questions.
Nina Kiefer the program lead will respond to families on August 31st nkeifer@smbgc.org
**Elementary sports Flag Football and Volleyball are also still available for grades 2-5 enrolment this Fall starting Sept 12th. For more information, please visit https://www.smbgc.org/sports/
Hola,
Como saben, El Club de Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club (SMBGC) ha tenido una muy positiva respuesta para el Playground Club en el sitio (anteriormente Playground Access) en nuestras instalaciones para la supervisión en el sitio después de la escuela hasta las 4:30 p. m. de Lunes a Viernes.
Por razones de seguridad tuvimos que poner en lista de espera a algunas familias, pero a medida que continuamos contratando y preparándonos, hemos decidido abrir esa inscripción hasta un total de 50 estudiantes por escuela.
*Esto aliviará que la mayoría de los que estaban en la lista de espera actualmente pueden entrar en el programa.
Nuestro programa de supervisión del Playground Club operará en una proporción de 25:1 (estudiante: personal). Mas de 50 estará temporalmente en la lista de espera hasta que podamos satisfacer la necesidad de manera segura con el personal, pero también hemos contratado a una empresa de contratación para acelerar este proceso. Nuestra meta es que las inscripciones llegue a 75 estudiantes.
La inscripción es por orden de llegada, hay becas disponibles para miembros calificados, así que no dude en registrarse ahora: https://www.smbgc.org/memberships/become-a-member/
Hay disponible una programación más completa y estructurada, con transporte, en nuestra sucursal principal en Lincoln Boulevard
Agradecemos su apoyo y no dude en comunicarse si tiene alguna pregunta.
Nina Kiefer, líder del programa, responderá a las familias el 31 de agosto
**Los deportes de primaria Flag Football y Voleibol también están disponibles para la inscripción de los grados 2-5 este otoño a partir del 12 de septiembre. Para obtener más información, visite https://www.smbgc.org/sports/
~ DONATE TO THE GRANT PTA AND SANTA MONICA EDUCATION FOUNDATION TODAY! ~
Your donation does so much for Grant!
Please consider donating to the two organizations that enhance education for all Grant students: the Santa Monica Education Foundation and Grant PTA. Your donations are so important. Check out the crucial staff, programs, technology, and materials funded by your donations in this chart!
Our goal is for 100% of Grant families to give to PTA and the Ed Foundation. ANY amount makes a difference to our kids. If you have already donated, thank you!
Grant’s outstanding teachers create the foundation for your child’s academic success. In addition, a large part of the Grant Learning Community’s success can be attributed to its active and engaged parents who are involved in the PTA. Please consider contributing to the Grant PTA so that we can continue to fund engaging enrichment programs, assemblies, and much-needed supplemental equipment and supplies that will support teaching and learning this year. Your donations directly affect your child’s education. Last year your contributions enabled us to provide digital learning resources in literacy, math, and science, musical instruments, field trips, new lunch tables, and a variety of outdoor equipment. Please visit the Grant PTA website at https://www.grantpta.org/ to become a PTA member and to learn of the many opportunities available to volunteer at Grant. In addition, we hope you consider donating to the Santa Monica Education Foundation. Donations to SMEF enable us to provide our students with a well-rounded and world-class education through music, visual arts, and instructional assistant support. Please visit https://www.smedfoundation.org/ to donate today! Last year’s, donations allowed us to purchase supplemental science programming and other important instructional tools!
*Students enrolled in Grant School are not required to pay any fee, deposit, or other charge for participation in an educational activity offered by the school or the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, except as authorized by law and consistent with the California constitution and Hartzell v. Connell (1984) 35 Cal.3d 899. Donations are sought and accepted for various activities and supplies, and are at times critical to the continued success of classes and activities, but donations are always voluntary, and no child will be denied the right to fully and meaningfully participate in any activity because he/she has not donated money or supplies. For more information, go to http://www.smmusd.org.
~ CITY OF SANTA MONICA CREST PROGRAM ~
*Some events and resources not sponsored by or affiliated with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
+Algunos eventos no están patrocinados o afiliados al Distrito Escolar Unificado de Santa Monica-Malibu