GECKO GAZETTE
GRANT SCHOOL - SANTA MONICA
WEEK OF DECEMBER 7 - 13, 2020
~NEW 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!
The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.
~ IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER ~
Please review these important dates:
- Sunday, December 6th: Grant Voices of Diversity Dialogue Series #2 >>> SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
- Wednesday, December 16th: PTA General Meeting: 8:30 AM >>> Meeting Link Here
- December 21st- January 3rd, 2021: NO SCHOOL >>> WINTER BREAK
- January 4th, 2021: Student Workday: All students attend Morning Meeting at 8:30 AM and then engage in asynchronous work the remainder of the day so teachers can plan for the second semester.
~SMMUSD REOPENING SCHOOL SURVEY CLOSES TONIGHT AT 5:00 PM~
English: https://www.smmusd.org/cms/lib/CA50000164/Centricity/Domain/1792/Drati-ReopeningSurvey113020.pdf
Spanish: https://www.smmusd.org/cms/lib/CA50000164/Centricity/Domain/1792/Drati-ReopeningSurvey113020SP.pdf
~GRANT SCHOOL INCLUDED IN 2020 TOP LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORT~
GRANT CONTINUES TO CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Read this announcement here: GRANT SCHOOL NAMED A 2020 TOP LA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
~GRANT SCHOOL VOICES OF DIVERSITY DIALOGUE SERIES: MEETING #2~
Join us Sunday, Dec. 6 at 6:00 pm for our next Voices of Grant Diversity Dialogue. This is an opportunity to connect with other parents and members of the Grant learning community as we discuss and create positive change around issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice in our school. We will build on the rich conversations we started in October and begin to make plans for future actions.
This event is open to all--parents, teachers, administrators, staff, even students! No prior experience or knowledge is necessary. Just a willingness to reflect and connect about how issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion impact and are impacted by our community.
Please note: This will be an interactive dialogue, not a webinar or info session, so it is recommended that your camera and microphone be turned on and that you arrive on time so you can fully engage. But we know that time, attention, and technology access are hard to come by these days, so we welcome you however you may come.
Please use the following Zoom link to join: https://smmk12.zoom.us/j/87027901182?pwd=UDJPNlFNWUtPcDU4Z0pYdnA0NVl4UT09 Password: Geckos
Translation will be available for our non-English speaking families.
If you have any questions, please contact our PTA VP of Diversity and Community Celebrations, Rachel Ketai, at diversity@grantpta.org.
~P.S. ARTS VIRTUAL DANCE PARTY NEXT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11TH!~
P.S.ARTS will be hosting a FREE Virtual Family Dance Night for the general public next Friday, December 11th from 4:30pm-5:30pm. Families can sign-up through the link on the flyer below, or by using the following link: P.S.ARTS Family Dance Night Sign-up!. Participants will receive the Zoom link via email the day before the event.
This event is open for all ages, no materials required!
We hope to see you there!
~GRANT AND CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL PARTNER AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR CHiPs for KIDS TOY DRIVE~
Click on the following link to view the CHP's promotional video: CHiPs for KIDS Video
~SAMOHI ORCHESTRA VIRTUAL WINTER CONCERT~
Join the Santa Monica High School Orchestras for their Virtual Winter Concert on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 7pm. Don't miss this opportunity to see all the orchestras perform! Tickets are FREE but registration is required. Visit https://www.samohiorchestras.com/.
Dear Grant Families,
Congratulations to all of the Grant students who took the time and energy to reflect this year on what was a very timely and important theme: "I Matter Because ..." and thank you to all of the caretakers who made it a priority.
What an amazing collection of art! If you haven't checked it out yet - spend some time looking at our wonderful gallery - https://www.grantpta.org/reflections2020 - created by Eric Canale, Grant's talented webmaster!
This year, Grant students created more Reflections pieces than any other school in our district! We have an extremely creative group of Geckos!
The pieces that have progressed on to the district level competition are:
Literature:
Primary - Dylan Fried 2nd grade - Ms. Neumann
Intermediate - Alexandra Bellanger 4th grade - Ms. Cordes
Dance Choreography:
Primary - Simona Cipresso 2nd grade Ms. Chen
Intermediate - Norah Moldanado 3rd grade Ms. Rattan
Film:
Intermediate- Aspen Penaloza 5th grade Ms. Kim
Music Composition:
Primary- Elodie Barker 2nd grade Ms. Neumann
Intermediate-Lucia Evangelho 3rd grade Ms. Ripley
Visual Arts:
Primary- Henry Harris 2nd grade Ms. Murcia
Intermediate- Quinlyn Kirtly 5th grade Ms. Kooy
Photography:
Intermediate- Ellowyn Searles 3rd grade Ms. Martinez
National PTA's Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+-year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
Join us in congratulating all of our talented students!
Best regards,
Christian Fuhrer
Principal
Grant School
~ GECKO WEAR SHOP VIRTUAL SALE🦎 - SHOP FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ~
Thank you Grant families for sporting your Gecko Wear gear throughout Santa Monica! It’s been fun and a comfort to see fellow Geckos showing their school pride around town, especially now that we’re not physically at school. If you are in need of Gecko Wear...not to worry! We will be holding one virtual sale a month starting in September. In order to have contactless payment, we are only doing online sales at this time. You will have a specific week (Monday-Thursday) to place your orders. They will be processed that Friday and ready for pick up the following week. You will receive an alert when your order is ready for pick up at school. Any orders placed outside of the sale dates will not be processed till the next sale date. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out and thank you for your continued support!
CONTACT:
VIRTUAL GWS SALE DATES 2020:
December- 14-17
~GRANT LIBRARY CURBSIDE PICKUP BEGINS WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9th~
Library Book Curbside pick up starts the week of Nov. 9th. Instructions for placing holds, accessing the library catalog, and the library website are all in the PDF attached. Students will be notified when holds are ready for pickup. Contact Ms. Wolfe if you have any questions. pwolfe@smmusd.org
Pick up days will be:
Monday - 9:00 - 11:00
Wednesday - 9:00 - 11:00 and 2:00 - 4:00
Friday - 9:00 - 11:00
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE BELOW INTERACTIVE DOCUMENT:
>>> CURBSIDE PICKUP INFO AND DIRECTIONS <<<
More Library News:
On materials pick-up day, November 4th Book Fair Flyers and bookmarks will be available for pick up in front of the school along with discard and donated books. Feel free to come by and grab a few books and a book fair flyer even if you have no materials to pick up.
~HELP WITH DISTRICT ISSUED LAPTOPS~
- Your child's laptop is not working
- You are moving out of the school district
- Troubleshooting issues
If your child is currently using a district-issued laptop to engage in distance learning and you require technical assistance, please email our technology specialist at:
If you require translation services for this assistance, please contact Bilingual Community Liaison Florencia Rams at frams@smmusd.org.
~ A MESSAGE FROM THE GRANT SCHOOL PTA ~
~ 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 still so important, even during distance learning. 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!
¡Su donación hace mucho por Grant!
Considere hacer una donación a las dos organizaciones que mejoran la educación de todos los estudiantes de Grant: la Fundación Educativa de Santa Mónica y la PTA de Grant. Sus donaciones siguen siendo muy importantes, incluso durante el aprendizaje a distancia. ¡Consulte el personal, los programas, la tecnología y los materiales fundamentales financiados con sus donaciones en esta gráfica!
Nuestra meta es que el 100% de las familias de Grant den a la PTA y a la Fundación Ed. CUALQUIER cantidad hace la diferencia para nuestros hijos. Si ya ha donado, ¡gracias!
~$65,000 Match to Support SED Students~
Content: $65,000 Match
Grant students need your financial support. Your donation to the Santa Monica Education Foundation is the only way to fund additional staff and programs at Grant that enrich our students’ education.
And now, your donation will have twice the impact, thanks to an extraordinary $65,000 match.
When you donate to the Ed Foundation to support arts, STEM, wellness and other essential programs, their match donors will make a dollar-for-dollar matching gift to fund tutoring for socio-economically disadvantaged youth in Santa Monica schools, up to $65,000. This match will run through December 18 and ensures socio-economically disadvantaged students receive the academic help they need during distance learning.
The $65,000 match is made possible by: $50,000 from an anonymous donor, $10,000 from the Nancy and Nimish Patel Family Foundation, and $5,000 from the Appelbaum-Kahn Foundation.
Please donate today at smedfoundation.org!
Los estudiantes de Grant necesitan su apoyo financiero. Su donación a la Fundación Educativa de Santa Mónica es la única forma de financiar programas y personal adicional en Grant que enriquecen la educación de nuestros estudiantes.
Y ahora, su donación tendrá el doble de impacto, gracias a una extraordinaria donación para igualar de $65,000.
Cuando dona a la Fundación Ed para apoyar las artes, STEM, bienestar y otros programas esenciales, sus socios de donación para igualar harán una donación equivalente dólar por dólar para financiar la tutoría para jóvenes en desventaja socioeconómica en las escuelas de Santa Mónica, hasta $65,000. Esta igualación se extenderá hasta el 18 de diciembre y garantizará que los estudiantes con desventajas socioeconómicas reciban la ayuda académica que necesitan durante el aprendizaje a distancia.
La contribución para igualar de $65,000 es posible gracias a: $50,000 de un donante anónimo, $10,000 de la Fundación de la Familia Nancy y Nimish Patel y $5,000 de la Fundación Appelbaum-Kahn.
¡Haga una donación hoy en smedfoundation.org!
~COMMUNITY RESOURCES for FAMILIES~
*Some events and resources not sponsored by or affiliated with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
~ CITY OF SANTA MONICA - CREST ~
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION IS HAPPENING NOW!
This fall, the City of Santa Monica's after-school programs will continue to reopen with limited capacity to ensure community safety. City staff are working to make the necessary changes to the schedule due to modified hours of operation, staff reductions, social distancing, and infection control guidance. The City of Santa Monica offers financial assistance to qualifying moderate to low-income Santa Monica Residents and non-residents attending an SMMUSD school. Financial assistance is available and can be applied to City youth program fees such as: CREST Club, CREST Enrichment, Santa Monica Swim Center classes, community classes, and seasonal day camps. A completed application for financial assistance is required annually. We are currently accepting applications for fiscal year 2020-2021. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
You may email completed applications (which must include the necessary income, address and identification information) to our office at crest@smgov.net or by drop-off through the mail slot at the CREST Youth Office at Reed Park 1133 7th St.
Did you know that CREST Club is running in-person camp from 12:00PM to 5:15PM at Reed Park for youth ages 8-14?
The health and safety of all participants, staff and parents is of the utmost importance. We would like to share that CREST Club will run and look differently. CREST will still be devoted to having fun-filled and engaging activities that you expect from our CREST Program.
We are taking guidance from the CDC and LA County Public Health Guidelines for programs providing Day Care for School-Age children, additional Safety Protocols and Procedures are being implemented to keep everyone safe while in programming.
Visit smgov.net/crest for more information