Will Rogers Roundup
For the week of October 17th - 21st 2022
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~ ¡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,
Parent Teacher Conferences are soon approaching. Teachers have scheduled times to meet with families to discuss the progress of your child(ren) this academic year. We ask that ALL parents arrange for a conference. Teachers will prepare for these meetings by providing assessment data and progress on the state standards. Please keep your appointments and communicate if you need to re-schedule. We ask that if you are from a two-household family you schedule one conference. This will ensure that the same information is shared to both households to work as a team to support your child(ren).
Why are Parent-Teacher Conferences important?
Parent-Teacher Conferences help promote a positive working relationship between parents and teachers. It is your opportunity to ask questions and hear how your child is progressing thus far. These conferences demonstrate to your child that you are committed to their education and to their school. Conferences typically last 20-30 minutes and your child's teacher will share information on their academic performance.
What if my child's teacher expresses concerns?
Ask questions to help you understand the concern. Teachers will always share areas of growth as well as areas of strength. This is your chance to ask for resources, ideas for support at home and how to speak to your child about any concerns. Teachers (just like parents) want to support your student(s) to be successful at school and beyond.
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:
Picture Day Information
Digital Citizenship Resources and information
In partnership,
Ms. Lila Daruty, Principal WRLC
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wed. 10/19 PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
Wed. 10/19 School Site Council @ 3:30 p.m.
Thurs. 10/20 CA Great Shakeout Drill @ 10:20 a.m.
Fri. 10/21 Bike It! Walk It! Day @ 9:45 a.m.
Fri. 10/21 Farm Fall Festival @ 3:00- 5:00 p.m.
Mon. 10/24 Prek-2nd Picture Day Information HERE
Wed. 10/26 3rd- 5th Picture Day
Wed. 10/26 ELAC meeting @ 8: 30 a.m.
Fri. 10/28 School-Wide Halloween Costume Parade @9:45 a.m.
Tues. 11/1 No School- Pupil Free day for Parent Conferences
Wed. 11/2 Minimum Day for conferences
Thurs. 11/3 Minimum Day for conferences
Fri. 11/4 NO LATE START and Minimum Day
Mon. 11/7 Volunteer Training @ 8:30. a.m.
Fri. 11/11 No School Veteran's Day
Wed.11/23-25 No School -Thanksgiving Break
Mon. 11/28 Volunteer Training @3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Safety First! Emergency Preparedness
On Thursday, October 20th Rogers will participate in California’s Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. This full-scale earthquake simulation drill will provide our students and staff the opportunity to practice earthquake emergency response. Please note that during drills - as well as true emergencies - the school campus will be locked until the drill/emergency is complete. All adults on campus at the time of the drill are expected to participate.
Please be sure that you have turned in your emergency cards and keep them updated with approved people who can pick up your child in the event of an emergency!
For our younger students, please speak with your children about the difference between a drill and a real emergency.
Bike it! Walk It Day.
Join us for Will Roger’s Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! event on 10/21/22.
For every student recorded walking, biking, scooting, skateboarding, or taking the bus to school, we get a tally. I have a feeling this is our year to WIN! The school with the highest single-day participation percentage will be crowned the winner!
* Grand Prize *
This year, in addition to taking home the Golden Sneaker trophy, the winning school will get to choose between an ice cream party or shaved ice party for their whole school!
The District will fund an ice cream or shaved ice truck to come for an after school event on the day of their choosing. (Gluten-free and dairy-free ice cream options will be available)
Volunteer to help us count; we would love your support. Sign-Up below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f49aca72ca5fa7-bike1
PICTURE DAY IS COMING!
We are excited to share that our studio is back to Will Rogers to capture your children's portraits again. The Spring Photo Days were phenomenal. In this new school year, we cannot wait to stamp this special time for your family!
When: Mon. 10/24( PreK-2nd) and Wed. 10/26 (3rd-5th)
10% of the profit will be donated back to Will Rogers Learning Community, which allows our children to benefit from your purchase.There is no minimum order requirement, and since all orders are placed after viewing your children’s photographs you are able to choose which, and how many, you order.
WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD WEAR?
You will have these pictures forever, and you will want to remember them exactly how they really are at this age. A cherished outfit will help make them feel as awesome as they truly are. Here are the basic guidelines for a timeless, classic outfit, that reflect what your child usually wears:
- Solid and/or muted tones and colors
- Limiting number of colors to 2-3, max
- Flattering, form-fitting clothing
Please keep in mind that we take full body portraits as well: the children's shoes will be visible in the pictures, too.
Halloween Parade
We invite families to join our Friday Assembly on Friday Oct. 28th @ 9:45 a.m. It will be a fun-filled community event. Students should come to school in their costume ready to parade for their classmates. We encourage everyone to have fun and be creative while still being safe, respectful and responsible. As a reminder regarding costumes:
Parents/Students/Staff may wear costumes that adhere to the following guidelines:
Nothing unduly revealing
Age/school inappropriate content
Avoid costumes that may imply cultural appropriation. At Rogers we celebrate diversity and are protective and respectful of all cultures.
Masks or face coverings can only be worn during the parade and NOT during the school day.
Face paint is allowed.
No toy weapons or props that may be used as weapons are allowed.
Please avoid oversized or inflatable costumes that may make navigating the classroom and school day a challenge.
*Students not dressed appropriately may be provided with loaner clothing or we will request parents to bring more appropriate clothing.
On Halloween, Monday 10/31 students SHOULD NOT come to school in their costumes.
EVERY FRIDAY 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.
Help us make the Will Rogers Auction a success!
The Will Rogers Auction is coming up! Save the dates!!
Online Auction: October 27th - November 13th
Grown-Ups' Night Out: November 5th
Help us make the Auction a success. We need donations! Ask your favorite restaurant or shop. Ask a friend. Ask your employer. A donation can be a unique experience you provide or even a party you host. If every family at Will Rogers donated two items it would make a huge difference.
Popular and unique items
- Restaurant Gift Cards
- Tickets to music / sporting / cultural events
- Memberships or Tickets to museums
- Entertainment Industry experiences
- Lessons or enrichment experiences
- Popular toys & electronics
- Spa packages
- Host a Wine & Cheese Party, Movie Night, Cupcake or Pizza Party!
Bring Donation Requests Forms to all businesses you frequent. Donations are 100% tax deductible. Donations can be dropped off at the Front Office.
Tickets Are NOW on Sale for the Grown-Ups' Night Out on 11/5 Buy Tickets
Questions? Contact Pamela & Evan at auction@willrogerspta.com.
Folklórico Program for the 2022-2023
We are pleased to announce the beginning of our folklórico program for the 2022-2023 school year. This is a joint effort by Santa Monica Malibu School District and Teocalli Cultural Academy. The response to the program has been great! We grew from two sites to four for the current year. We will be offering classes at McKinley Elementary School, Edison Language Academy (Last semester sites) and adding Will Rogers Learning Community and Roosevelt Elementary School this year. If you know of a student who would still like to enroll, please share this link:
The schedule for the upcoming year, beginning the week of September 19 is:
Rogers 9/22 Tuesdays-Thursdays 3:30-5:00 pm
Performance opportunities. Students perform at least three times during the year, once the students are ready. These opportunities will be announced via “Band”, make sure that you add “Band” as soon as it is convenient. The biggest performance of the year will be on May 6 and 7, (Cinco de mayo weekend) during Mexico Magico, a SMMUSD sponsored festival that brings together groups from all over the state, New Mexico and Baja California.
Do I have to buy a costume or shoes? No, costumes will be provided by TCA and shoes and practice skirts by the district. The only thing we will ask you to get is your own child’s accessories.
Attendance policy? Students with 85 % attendance will be considered for upcoming performances. Students with 65-84 % will only be considered if the students make up the absences by documenting practices at home. Students with less than 55% will not be considered.
Digital Citizenship Week Oct. 17th-21st
Common Sense celebrates Digital Citizenship Week on the third week of October every year. Rogers teachers will provide lessons in their classrooms.
English: Parent Digital Citizenship Spanish: Parent Digital Citizenship-Spanish Translation
Citizenship Week is a week-long celebration promoting digital well-being within K–12 schools, advancing Common Sense’s mission of helping students thrive in a world of media and technology.
Every year, Common Sense Education provides activities that educators can do with their students based on lessons from the research-backed and award-winning
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.
Pick-up Procedures for Playground Club, CREST, SAP 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, SAP 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.
ECO-FRIENDLY FIRST DAY PACKET!
https://www.smmusd.org/domain/4328
It is important we have your current contact information on file. Should you need to update your email, phone number or emergency card, please email lisadavis@smmusd.org
or visit the front 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!
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.
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)