GECKO GAZETTE
GRANT SCHOOL - SANTA MONICA
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 5 - 11, 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!
Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
We hope you enjoy the day off school!
~ IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER ~
Please review these important dates:
Monday, August 29th - Friday, September 9th: TK-5 FALL STAR ELA and MATH ASSESSMENT WINDOW OPEN. Students will be assessed to learn their beginning-of-the-year levels.
Monday, September 5th: No School in observance of Labor Day
Tuesday, September 6th: SMMUSD/PTA After School Program Parent Info Meeting (Please see below for Zoom link info.)
Wednesday, September 7th: ELAC Meeting #1 @ 8:45 AM in the Auditorium
Wednesday, September 7th: PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 6:30 PM in the Auditorium
- Thursday, September 8th: Student Rules/Expectations Assembly Grades 2 & 3 @ 8:45 AM
- Thursday, September 8th: Volunteer Training on Zoom @ 5:00 PM. Join Zoom Meeting: https://smmk12.zoom.us/j/81158801121?pwd=aUV6cWIrYmZvRnd0dlNhMWE1bGJXUT09 Meeting ID: 811 5880 1121; Passcode: 682972
- Friday, September 9th: Grant Student Council Info Meeting for Students in Grades 4 & 5. Lunchtime.
- Monday, September 12th: Grant Neurodiversity Resource and Support Group Meeting @ 8:45 AM in the Auditorium
- Wednesday, September 14th: 3rd Grade music begins
Wednesday, September 14th: Student Rules/Expectations Assembly Grades TK-1 @ 8:45 AM and Grades 4 & 5 @ 9:20 AM
- September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Friday, September 16th: Fall Book Fair opens. See info below.
- Saturday, September 17th: SMEF/PTA Kinder Parent Night Out (Invitations to Kinder parents sent by PTA/SMEF)
- Monday, September 19th: School Site Council Meeting @ 3:15 PM in the Sky Room
- Wednesday, September 21st: PTA General Meeting @ 6:30 PM in the Library
- 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!
- Wednesday, October 5th: LOCAL HOLIDAY - YOM KIPPUR - NO SCHOOL
- Thursday, October 6th: PTA Reflections Art Contest entries due today
- Wednesday, October 12th: ELAC Meeting #2 @ 8:45 in the Auditorium or Sky Room
- Monday, October 17th: School Site Council Meeting @ 3:15 PM in the Sky Room
- Thursday, October 20th: The Great California Shake Out - Earthquake Drill
- 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.
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.
~GRANT PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW~
~TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY IN THE HEAT~
It will be hot again all this coming week so we will continue to monitor our students' activities. Below are some helpful tips for staying healthy in during this heatwave. Please review this information with your children.
Also, please be sure to send your child to school with a water bottle and hat, and apply sunscreen before getting to school.
~VOLUNTEER TRAINING ON ZOOM THIS THURSDAY!~
Meeting ID: 811 5880 1121
Passcode: 682972
~THANK YOU FOR A GREAT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT~
A very special "thank you" to our teachers and staff who worked so hard to create and share their presentations with all of you!
~Back to School Night Grades 3-5 Photos~
~ A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE GRANT PTA ~
CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGE
~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 COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED~
~DEADLINE EXTENDED~
The purpose of the GRANT SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL is to develop the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) to ensure that all of the resources available to the school, the basic program, and the supplemental resources, are coordinated and focused on providing a high-quality educational program and learning environment in which students of all ranges and ability and background can succeed. This committee will meet once per month during the course of the 2022 - 2023 school year. The meetings are on the third Monday of each month unless there is a holiday.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the GRANT SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL please email Principal Christian Fuhrer by Friday, September 9th at 3:00 PM. Click the following link to email: >>EMAIL PRINCIPAL FUHRER<<
El Consejo Escolar de Grant actualmente está buscando dos padres voluntarios para servir por un período de dos años. Si más de dos padres están interesados en las vacantes disponibles, entonces se llevarán a cabo ELECCIONES.
El propósito del Consejo Escolar de Gobierno es desarrollar el Plan Único para el Logro Estudiantil ( sigla en inglés SPSA) para asegurar que todos los recursos disponibles para la escuela, el programa básico y los recursos suplementarios estén coordinados y enfocados en proporcionar un programa educativo de calidad y un entorno de aprendizaje en el que los estudiantes de todos los rangos, habilidades y niveles puedan tener éxito. Este comité se reunirá mensualmente durante el año escolar 2022-2023. Las reuniones son el tercer lunes de cada mes a menos que haya un día festivo.
Si está interesado en ser miembro del CONSEJO ESCOLAR DE GOBIERNO de la ESCUELA GRANT, envíe un correo electrónico al director, Christian Fuhrer, antes del viernes 9 de septiembre a las 3:00 pm. Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para enviarle un correo electrónico: >>EMAIL PRINCIPAL
Please click the image to see a full-size schedule
~ GRANT LIBRARY NEWS ~
~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
~ SMMUSD AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS PARENT INFO MEETING THIS TUESDAY ~
Please use the QR Code in the flyer below or visit the website link to obtain Zoom link info.
~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.
~ GRANT NEURODIVERSITY NEWS ~
~What is Neurodiversity?~
Over the last few years, the Grant School staff has been trained to incorporate into the instructional day various strategies to reach all of our students and ensure they can access the curriculum, feel included in the overall school community, and thrive by identifying their unique learning styles and celebrating their many talents.
I am pleased to announce that four of our parents have volunteered to lead the Grant Parents of Neurodiverse Students Resource and Support Group this year! Our heartfelt thanks go out to Connie Shih Cohn, Brittany Graves, Ann Kelly, and Rashmi Mullur! This group was created in 2019 and designed to serve as a space where parents and guardians can share experiences of raising neurodiverse children, access resources, and learn from others including professionals in various specialties.
This Gazette column is designed to share information with our entire school community so that we can continue to make Grant the most inclusive learning community we possibly can.
This week, we take a closer look at the definition and examples of neurodiversity. Please watch the short clip below.
~ PTA REFLECTIONS CONTEST ~
Questions? Interested? Contact Jill Jurenka at reflections@grantpta.org!
~GECKO ACADEMY COMING SOON!~
~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~
~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