Will Rogers Roundup
For the week of September 12, 2022
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 Learning Community,
I hope you all were able to find ways to beat the heat this weekend! We are very proud of our students for coming to school each day during the heatwave with a positive attitude and ready to learn despite the challenges presented by the weather.
We are conducting elections this week for the open parent seats on the Will Rogers School Site Council. Please vote for the candidates by clicking the link HERE.
September is:
- Attendance Awareness Month. When you miss school, you miss out. Let's work together to be at school, on time and ready to learn!
- This week begins Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)!
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Did you know? 1 in 266 children will be diagnosed with cancer before they turn 20. That is over 5,200 students in LA County Schools. Wearing a symbol of support is one of the activities that Gold Together Champions for childhood cancer do this September. Learn more about how you can fight back at: www.ACSEngage.org/GoldTogetherChampionsLA.
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.
In this newsletter:
- Please complete the 1st day packet registration materials.
- Please vote for our School Site Council Nominees!
- Find out about volunteer opportunities and trainings.
- Attend Family Movie Night this Friday at 7:00 p.m.
- Antigen test kits will go with students every Friday.
- Learn about community enrichment opportunities.
Together for Will Rogers,
Ms. Lila Daruty, Principal WRLC
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon. 9/12 Volunteer Trainings @8:30 a.m.,3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Fri. 9/16 Movie Night @7:00 p.m. gate opens movie begins @7:30 p.m.
Wed. 9/21 School Site Council Meeting @ 3:30 p.m.
Thurs. 9/22 Coffee and Conversation with Principal @ 9:00 a.m.
Sat. 9/24 Regenerative Farm Volunteer Day 10am-2pm.
Mon. 9/26 Local Holiday -NO SCHOOL
Wed. 9/28 1st ELAC meeting of the year @8: 30 a.m.
Wed. 9/28 PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
Patriot Day and National Day of Service
National Hispanic Heritage Month
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
ECO-FRIENDLY FIRST DAY PACKET!
PARENT VOLUNTEERS TRAININGS!
Would you like to volunteer in your child's classroom? Please join us by attending the first volunteer training of the school year. On Monday, Sept. 12th @ 8:30a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria, you can learn how to be an active member of our community!
SMMUSD Level 1 clearance is valid for 4 years. Parents who hold a valid level 1 clearance issued either at Rogers or at John Muir will NOT need to attend the training. We are working on obtaining the John Muir volunteer records. If you are unsure if you are cleared, please contact Marlen Avalos@marlenavalos@smmusd.org.
EVERY FRIDAY AT-HOME ANTIGEN TESTS sent home in your child's backpack!
Please read a message from Dr. Drati regarding COVID testing for the 2022-23 school year.
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.
SCHOOL BEGINS at 8:25 a.m.
Free Breakfast is served beginning at 7:55 a.m. Enter through the front gate. When students arrive late and still want breakfast they are significantly late to class.
Use the 14th street valet option! Our staff is outside on the curb from 8:10- 8:30 a.m. Mon.-Thurs. and 9: 30 - 9:45 a.m. on Fridays. Once the bell rings, we need our staff to support students in the classroom. When you arrive late, you miss the opportunity to use the valet.
Be mindful of our neighbors. Please do not block residence driveways, as this creates even more congestion and forces neighbors take up valuable parking spots on the street to avoid being blocked in.
Pick-up Procedures for Playground Club, Crest and CDS
Playground Club (formerly Playground Access) at our campus for on-site supervision after school until 4:30 pm M-F started this week. Pick-up from the 14th street parking lot near the 1st grade yard.
CDS and Crest
Pick-up using the 16th street gate ( using the gate code). Please do not share this code with your children or other parents. It is meant to be provided ONLY to our CDS early express parents, and after school CDS and Crest parents.
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!
Raptor System
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.
The Weekend Bag Program
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.
Donate to the Will Rogers PTA and Santa Monica Education Foundation Today!
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!
REGENERATIVE FARM
Volunteer Saturdays have resumed! Saturdays from 10am-2pm. You can stay for the whole time or just stop by. The volunteer days at the farm are a great way to get a sense of what your children are so excited about while connecting with both each other and the earth. Be sure to bring sunscreen, plenty of water and a snack if you think you may need one. Bring your small gardening tools as well. We hope to see you there!
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.
ATTENTION: Free Big Blue Bus rides for all SMMUSD students (8/18/22 - 8/25/22) Effective August 18, 2022 through August 25, 2022, Big Blue Bus will provide a grace period for Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) students who need to obtain or renew their GoPass TAP cards. During the grace period, courtesy rides will be given to SMMUSD students. Students with school-issued ID cards are encouraged to present them to the driver when boarding the bus, but no student will be denied a ride during the grace period. After August 25, 2022, students will be required to pay a fare on Big Blue Bus, and there will be no exceptions. Questions? Please email Austin Toyama, Sustainability Manager (atoyama@smmusd.org)