PRINCIPAL'S PEN
Dear Will Rogers Families and Guardians,
Happy Mother's Day, I hope this newsletter finds you well and surrounded by loved ones.
As we approach the end of the school year, our focus naturally turns to assessing student growth and celebrating the many ways our students have developed—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Beginning May 5, our 3rd–5th graders began the state’s CAASPP assessments in English Language Arts and Math, with our 5th graders additionally participating in the California Science Test. These summative assessments provide a comprehensive snapshot of students’ learning across the year, and results will be mailed home in the fall.
Over the past two weeks, we also administered the District STAR Assessments. All students in grades TK–5 participate, with our youngest learners (TK–1st) completing Early Literacy assessments and students in grades 2–5 taking assessments in Reading and Math. These digital assessments, taken on iPads or Chromebooks, help us track academic progress and tailor instruction. Families can access their child's results through the Aeries portal.
However, standardized testing is just one piece of a student's learner profile. At WRLC we believe that learning is multifaceted and that growth happens in countless meaningful ways. Our teachers assess student understanding through classroom work, end-of-year projects, collaborative tasks, and creative presentations that allow students to express their learning authentically. In line with our International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy, we are committed to nurturing globally minded, reflective, and principled learners. Our students are encouraged to live out the IB Learner Profile traits—such as being inquirers, thinkers, communicators, and caring individuals—both inside and outside the classroom.
This spirit of inquiry and creativity is alive across our campus. Our 5th graders are preparing for their Exhibition Projects, tackling real-world issues that matter to them. Our 4th graders are embarking on a mini-exhibition, exploring school based passion projects to make positive change at their own school. In 2nd grade, students are applying design thinking to build games for our annual Caine’s Arcade, an exciting event that blends problem-solving, innovation, and play.
At WRLC, we know that student success goes far beyond test scores. We strive to build a learning community where students are seen, valued, and inspired to be the best versions of themselves.
In partnership,
Principal Daruty
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon. 5/12 3rd- 5th grade CAASPP testing 9:00-10:15 a.m. and 11:00 -12:00 p.m. Mon-Fri .
Mon. 5/12 Griffin & Gonzalez Human Growth and Development Lesson @ 1:15-2
Tues. 5/13 Benitez Growth and Development Lesson @ 1:15-2
Tues. 5/13 1st grade UCLA Dental students visit at 2:00pm in classrooms
Thurs. 5/15 2nd Grade Field Trip - Natural History Museum
Thurs. 5/15 SMMUSD School Board Mtg 6:30 (agenda)
Fri. 5/16 Peacemaker Monthly Mtg 9-9:45am
Fri. 5/16 Jog-a-thon ice cream party in cafeteria at 1:45-2:30
Mon. 5/19 3rd- 5th grade CAASPP testing 9:00-10:15 a.m. and 11:00 -12:00 p.m. Mon-Fri.
Mon. 5/19 Music Rhapsody informance (Hill, Fujiwara, Prevett)
Tues. 5/20 4th grade dance performance at 2:15 on soccer field
Tues. 5/20 Prevett/Hill Walking Field trip to Bobs Market
Wed. 5/21 ELAC Meeting 8:30am in library
Wed. 5/21 Volunteer Tea & Honorary PTA Service Awards 3:15-4:00 cafeteria
Thurs. 5/22 Site Council Mtg 3:15
Thurs. 5/22 Schneider/Fujiwara Walking Field Trip to Bobs Market
Mon. 5/26 No School - Memorial Day
Tues. 5/27 3rd- 5th grade CAASPP testing begins 9:00-12:00 p.m. Mon-Thurs.
Tues. 5/27 4th and 5th grade Spring Music Concert
4th gr at 6:00pm
5th gr at 7:00pm
Wed. 5/28 End of Year 3rd grade music performance in classrooms
Thurs. 5/29 School Yard Rap Assembly for 4th and 5th grade @ 8:30 a.m.
SMMUSD 2024-2025 Calendar
Students in grades 3-5 will take the CAASPP/CAST tests beginning May 5 through May 30.
This week our 3rd-5th grade students will continue state testing. Let’s support them by ensuring they get plenty of rest, a healthy breakfast, and plenty of positive energy to start the day off right! While test scores are just one way we measure success, we want our students to take pride in their hard work and give their very best effort. Parents, we encourage you to send your child off to school with a few positive affirmations to help them stay focused and motivated. Remind them that they are capable, smart, and ready to rock it!
Here are a few affirmations to share with your child:
-
“You’ve worked so hard, and you are ready for this!”
-
“Believe in yourself — you’ve got this!”
-
“Stay calm, take your time, and do your best!”
-
“We’re so proud of you, no matter what!”
For more information, visit this link. If you have any questions, please contact Gabriela González, assistant principal, at ggonzalez@smmusd.org
Happy Bicycle Month, Will Rogers Families!
To celebrate, Wombi—LA’s first e-bike subscription service—is thrilled to donate a 2-month all-inclusive e-bike subscription (valued at $450) to one lucky Will Rogers family!
Subscription Includes:
🚲 Fully loaded e-bike of your choice
✅ Maintenance & protection
❤️ A chance to experience the joy and convenience of life on a Wombi!
To enter:
Fill out this form
Follow Wombi.LA on IG
The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Instagram on 5/16. Good luck—and happy riding!
Beat the Odds drumming at WRLC with footage from April 22nd
Will Rogers' home: What now?
There is an interesting and informative LA Times article about Will Rogers and his former home / museum we all knew and loved that was burned down in the Palisades fire.
I thought you'd enjoy some history and perspective:
Will Rogers' home: What now?
That was such a great hiking area. Such a loss for our community and international visitors. Hoping they find funds to restore this now owned by the state and had historical designations.
Planning for the 2025-26 School Year at WRLC!
Believe it or not, we are already beginning to plan for the 2025–2026 school year. To make the most informed decisions about the number of classrooms per grade and teacher assignments, we rely heavily on accurate projected enrollment numbers. Your input is essential to this process. Please take a moment to inform us of your plans for the fall by completing the enrollment form. We ask that you submit one form per student to indicate your family’s plans for the 2025–2026 school year. Your timely and accurate response helps ensure we are fully prepared to meet the needs of all our students. Thank you for your partnership! RETURNING TO WRLC FORM.
TRANSLATION: Click on the link for the form. Right Click anywhere on the form and several options will appear. Click on “Translate” or “Translate to ( to select a different language)
4th and 5th Grade DANCE instruction with SMC!
This is the seventh year that the Santa Monica College Dance Department will be providing World Dance for the SMMUSD Elementary Schools.
The Santa Monica College Dance Department is providing twelve lessons of dance through our SMC Dance Academy for our 4th and 5th graders. The SMC Dance Academy is an instructional program taught during the school day. This program is a part of an Arts in Education curriculum that will conclude with a Culminating Event (see dates below). This specialized college pathway program is designed to encourage students to think independently, to be able to work with others, to value creative thought and diversity, and to be responsible global citizens.
Our students have been working hard on their dances. Each grade has a different focus:
4th grade is learning both a Mexican Dance and a Hawaiian Dance
5th grade is learning musical theater/jazz dance with the theme of Westside Story and also elements of Salsa, Waltz, and a Hip Hop dance
Please save the date to attend the Culminating Events to be held on the soccer field at Will Rogers Learning Community on:
NEW PERFORMANCE DATES to be shared soon. Adjustments needed to be made!
We couldn’t have done it without the amazing support from our WRLC staff and PTA! A huge shoutout to all the volunteers who helped bring everything together – your time, effort, and enthusiasm made this event one to remember.
Special Thanks to:
-
The food vendors for filling our bellies with traditional Cinco food!
-
Our Teachers and students for their fantastic decorations that brought so much color and fun to the day!
-
Noelle for leading the impromptu Macarena dance party — you brought the energy and the fun to the next level!
Creative Face Painters- you had the longest line!
Art cart and Loteria with Araceli and Dr. Teplin!
And of course, a BIG THANK YOU to Let’s PLAY LA for the awesome carnival games that kept everyone entertained and having a blast. We had an incredible time coming together as a community to celebrate CINCO DE MAYO, on our beautiful new track and field. We’re so grateful for every single person who contributed to making this event a huge success. You made it unforgettable, and we can’t wait for the next one!
In APRIL our learner profile is THINKER!
As an International Baccalaureate Programme School, we believe there is a broad range of capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. We make a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
This month our Learner Profile is Thinker. A thinker can imagine many solutions to a question or challenge. Thinkers make good decisions and can predict the outcomes of their actions. They think creatively and critically.
How can parents help to develop students who are Thinkers at home?
Encourage your child to try to think of solutions to problems independently. Pose different real-life problems and questions to your child:
- “I’m not sure how to arrange the glasses so they can all fit in the cupboard.”
- “I wonder how much the groceries in the cart will cost… how can we make an estimate?”
- “We need enough cookies for the 20 people in your class. What kind of change should we make to our recipe?”
Ask your children questions when they are working on a problem:
" Do you have any ideas about how we might begin?"
" How can we do this differently?"
" I had never thought of that. Tell me more about it."
" What other ways can we show that?"
" Why do you think that?"
" How did you figure that out?"
Jewish American Heritage Month offers an access point for Jewish inclusion in community celebrations of diversity. Jewish American Heritage Month was established in 2006 via the work of Jewish museums and state and federal legislators. May was selected because of the successful celebration of 350 years of Jews in America in May 2004, organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. Today the US government maintains a website dedicated to Jewish American Heritage Month, the White House issues a yearly proclamation, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia organizes annual activities and celebrations. The U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism issued by the White House in May, 2023 urges federal agencies, state and local leaders, employers, and sports leagues to acknowledge Jewish American Heritage Month.
Like all history and heritage months, the purpose of Jewish American Heritage month is to highlight, for our children, the contributions of Jewish people, the diversity within the Jewish community, the triumphs and tribulations of Jewish people in America, as well as to honor Jewish joy. Jewish American Heritage month aims to celebrate achievements, validate experiences, but also to activate by showing how our community supports Jewish people.
Book Lists and Programming: Our school has many Jewish American books in our current collection. Mr. Sea is aequipped to pull and showcase these titles in our libraries, though parents are eager and willing to help with that task as needed.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Santa Monica Events/Activities/Opportunities
Santa Monica Events/Activities/Opportunities: Please click here to read about the upcoming family engagement events for families whose students attend school in Santa Monica, and for all other interested families.
ART CART at lunchtime!
Tuesday is our lunchtime ART CART day. Students are invited to participate in creative art projects and handicrafts during lunchtime. This is possible through the support of our parent volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for lunchtime on Tuesdays, please sign up using the link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050445AFAF28A2FB6-51251277-artcart
We would also love donations here is our wishlist for the art cart here.
The school provides the supplies, your support requires:
You are a level 1 cleared volunteer
You are willing to safely supervise students with proper use of art tools and materials
Enthusiasm for working with children
Enjoyment with crafts and art
Please do not forget to send with your child every day:
- School materials including books, homework, projects, etc.
- Re-fillable water bottle ( We have several refilling stations on campus)
- A morning snack
- Lunch is available to all students free of charge. You may also pack a lunch form home.
- Sunscreen (put on prior to arriving at school)
- Hat
- Layers of clothing (sweatshirt, windbreaker, etc.) Keep an eye on the weather.
- A growth mindset for a successful day!
LUNCH MENU
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students! Make a plan with your child each week about the days they will be eating food prepared at school or bringing lunch from home.
The IB Mission Statement
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Contact Us
Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM