Will Rogers Roundup
For the week of January 2, 2023
Translation Feature
To read the Will Rogers Roundup in another language please look to the right of the newsletter and click "TRANSLATE NEWSLETTER". You can now choose from 100 languages!
~ ¡NUEVA OPCIÓN DE TRADUCCIÓN A 100 IDIOMAS! ~
Para leer la WILL ROGERS ROUNDUP en otro idioma, mire a la derecha del boletín y haga clic en "TRADUCIR EL BOLETÍN". ¡Ahora puede elegir entre 100 idiomas!
Principal's Pen
Dear Will Rogers Families,
I hope you all enjoyed the Winter break and had a relaxing and fun holiday season with your families and friends. As I reflect on 2022, I continue to believe that Will Rogers School is a special place for kids because of the dedication to excellence the community shows every day. Great schools don't just happen; they are carefully cultivated by all of their members. In addition, effective and caring schools only remain so through collective vision, teamwork, and appreciation. As we near the midpoint of this school year I want to share our school team's appreciation for you and all the ways in which you contribute to this great school!
A couple of upcoming events to note:
- Students in TK through the 5th grade will be taking the Winter Star ELA and Math assessments beginning on Tuesday, January 3rd. These assessments give us a snapshot of each student's proficiency levels in Reading and Math and help our teachers guide instruction.
- We hope you will join us for our next PTA Meeting on Wednesday, January 4th. Attending PTA meetings is a great way to learn about the many events that are coming up at WRLC. It's also a great way to find out how you can get involved in planning and running the events and meet new friends!
- Remember that there is no school on Monday, January 16th in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
- Finally, we have a special adult education presentation on Tuesday, January 24th. Dr. Julia Storm will be educating us on keeping our kids safe in a digital world. The event will be hosted at Grant Elementary but I encourage ALL Rogers parents to attend.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be sure to administer an antigen COVID test to your children either tonight or first thing Tuesday morning. If your child is exhibiting any signs of sickness (not just COVID) please keep them home until they feel better.
With optimism for the new year,
Ms. Lila Daruty, Principal WRLC
Please be sure to read the WILL ROGERS ROUNDUP each Sunday night as it contains important information from the school, PTA, Santa Monica Education Foundation, the City of Santa Monica, and other community partners. Links to each week’s newsletter are posted on our website.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tues. 1/3 Classes resume
Wed. 1/4 PTA Association Meeting @6:00 p.m.
Mon. 1/16 NO SCHOOL: MLK Holiday
Tues. 1/24 Parent Education Night: Helping Parents Raise Safe, Conscious, & Healthy Kids in the Digital Age with Digital Media Wellness Educator Julia Storm: Time TBD in the evening at the Grant School Auditorium.
Wed. 1/25 School Site Council Meeting @ 3:30 p.m.
Thurs. 1/26 TK/K Roundup @ 9:00 a.m.
Fri. 2/3 Standards Based Report Cards go home
Thurs. 2/16 Coffee and Convo with the principal @ 8:30 a.m.
Mon. 2/20 NO SCHOOL: Presidents' Day
Fri. 2/24 Pali Camp Final day for donations!
NEW OR GENTLY used clothing!
T-shirts
Sweatpants
Jeans / pants
New socks
New underwear (boys size 5 and up... girls size 5 and up)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
Please do not forget to send with your child every day:
- Backpack with necessary classroom materials (teacher will communicate)
- Re-useable water bottle. We have filling stations on campus.
- Morning recess snack
- 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.
*Please do not bring toys, Pokemon cards or PE equipment to school. We will provide your children all the learning tools needed to have a great day!
AT-HOME ANTIGEN TESTS sent home in your child's backpack!
We will no longer require COVID testing at school. Instead, we will provide free, at-home test kits. Negative test results do not need to be shown to school staff for admittance to school. If your child tests positive please stay home and contact our school nurse.
With this decision comes the expectation that parents and staff will be cooperative in weekly antigen testing at home. It is in our collective best interests to maintain in-person instruction without disruptions of class or school closures due to outbreaks. We want everyone to recognize that we are part of a school community that relies on each other to do the right thing, which is to support the health and safety of all students, staff and visitors to our campuses and offices, by taking these weekly tests.
***Tests are always available in the Rogers Health Office.
Oops, I Forgot!
Mornings are busy and sometimes students leave for school without their water bottle, instrument or homework. In an an effort to reduce classroom interruptions and to support students with developing responsibility, please use our "Oops, I forgot" table. Make a plan with your child that if they leave something at home, a parent can drop it off in the office. We will place their item on a table outside the office. During their recess or on their way to lunch, they may check the table for their forgotten item.
Please communicate this plan with your child, so they know there is place for parents to drop-off items they may have left at home!
REGULAR ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
***Students enrolled in morning care through CDS, enter on 16th street beginning at 7:00 a.m. using the gate code provided at enrollment.
We will pilot a morning valet on 14th street between 8:10-8:30 a.m. M-TH and 9:30-9:45 a.m. on Fridays. Will Rogers staff will support children to exit cars and enter school through the front school gates. You can help by ensuring that your children are ready to exit with their backpacks on, ready to go! Parents, please do not park in the valet zone and leave your car unattended, the area will be marked with cones. We kindly ask that you take direction from our staff who will help keep the line moving and our students safe.
Parents and guardians may drop-off and say their goodbyes at the gate(s).
- TK/Kinder use the designated gate on 14th street. There will be staff stationed at the gates to assist.
- 1st - 5th may use either the front gate on 14th street or the pedestrian gate on 16th street.
REMINDER: Parent parking can be found on the neighborhood streets. Be sure to read the street signs! Please do not park in the staff parking lots.
DISMISSAL: All students will be walked to their dismissal gate by their classroom teacher. Students who have not been picked-up shortly after dismissal, will be asked to wait near the office.
DESIGNATED DISMISSAL GATES:
- TK/Kinder: Pick-up students on the TK/K yard (on 14th street)
- 1st and 2nd: Pick-up students on the TK/K yard (on 14th street)
- 3rd: Front of the school (on 14th street)
- 4th and 5th: Pick-up students at the 16th street pedestrian gate
**If you have multiple children, please pick-up at the designated gate of your youngest student. Be sure you inform your child's teacher.
If it is raining: 1st- 3rd pick-up location will be the front of school, under the covered awning.
AMAZON PURCHASES!
As we get closer to the holiday season, remember that you can enroll to automatically donate a percentage of your Amazon purchases to our PTA whenever you shop. It's easy!
To connect to our school and help us earn a small percentage back from your purchases from Amazon, visit smile.amazon.com.
If it's your first visit, you'll be prompted to choose a charity. Look for "Will Rogers Learning Community PTA". If you've chosen a different charity previously and would like to change it, visit smile.amazon.com/change.
Donate to the Will Rogers PTA and Santa Monica Education Foundation Today!
DONATE HERE:https://www.willrogerspta.com/direct-donation-will-rogers-fund
Please consider donating to the two organizations that enhance education for all Rogers students: the Santa Monica Education Foundation and Rogers 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 Rogers families to give to PTA and the Ed Foundation. ANY amount makes a difference to our kids. If you have already donated, thank you!
LA Metro’s GoPass Fareless System Pass
For Year 2 Metro is requiring both new enrollees and renewals to register with a unique Eligibility Code (One code per student). Please submit the form to reactivate your TAP card OR register for the first time: https://bit.ly/MetroGoPass22-23form One form per student please.