Week 1
August 14, 2025 - August 15, 2025
Dear Students, Parents, and the Arroyo Seco Community,
My name is Tiffany Melgar and I am honored and excited to be joining the Arroyo Seco Museum Science Magnet team this year. I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning and growing with our students and working with our teachers and you, our parents and community members. It takes all of us working together to keep our school safe, collaborative, and successful. I know amazing things are already happening here and I cannot wait to contribute as ASMSM radiates great possibilities!
My main goal as an educator is to ensure that every child is given access to a high-quality education in a safe and supportive learning environment. Working together as a team with you and our school staff, we will continue to provide every child with the best academic and social-emotional opportunities. My vision is that all students will leave our school as critical and creative thinkers who are compassionate and confident, equipped with the skills and abilities to compete globally.
As a parent of two children, I recognize the importance of a strong home-school connection. Parents are every child’s first teacher, and the help and involvement of our parents will make sure that every child’s needs are met. Elementary school is where students develop the foundational skills they will use the rest of their educational careers. This is where students first develop and/or build reading, math, speaking, listening, and writing skills. And middle school is a critical step where students work to solidify their identity and independence as well as work towards a deeper preparation towards the future. Students will cultivate social-emotional skills and develop a mindset for learning that they will carry into adulthood.
I grew up not too far from here between Echo Park and Elysian Park before moving out of Los Angeles for high school. I have served the students and teachers of Los Angeles in a variety of teaching and educational leadership roles for almost three decades. As a National Board Certified teacher, I have taught grades K-8 as well as served as an instructional coach. As an administrator, I have worked at the Local District East and Central offices, writing and facilitating professional developments for teachers and principals, specifically supporting English Language Arts. I have also supervised our Common Core Experts and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support coaches. As a principal I've had the honor and privilege of leading a school that was running 4 concurrent programs into an award winning school. We earned the California Pivotal Practice Award, the California Distinguished School Recognition, and the Merit Award for Magnet Schools for both of the magnet programs; one earning the seal of distinction and the other the seal of excellence. These experiences have only strengthened my passion for equity and access in education and I look forward towards continuing this journey with you, my new Arroyo Seco family.
I look forward to getting to know each and every one of your children, their teachers, and you, our parents and community members.
Please continue reading as there is important information about the first day of school and other general school news. You can expect a weekly newsletter the weekend before the new week so that you can prepare with your child for a successful week ahead. Select the language of preference above and the platform will translate the entire newsletter into the language of your choice.
Let's have a spectacular year COUGARS!
In Partnership,
Principal Melgar
For the first day of school and every day thereafter, parents may drop off students at the main gate and/or valet line in the morning between 7:30 am - 8:00 am.
Upon arrival, students will enter campus to staff supporting students in finding their class line. Signs will have the teacher’s name and grade level. Please review with your child who their teacher will be. Bring the pink letter sent home to support you in finding the correct teacher quickly or write it on a post-it for your child to hold.
For kindergarten or new students, it would help if you send students to school with a name tag as sometimes they are not able to communicate their names.
Our school hours for the 2026-2027 school year will be as follows:
Elementary School:
8:00 am – 2:23 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
8:00 am – 1:23 pm on Tuesday.
Middle School:
8:00 am – 3:15 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
8:00 am – 1:28 pm on Tuesday.
Students who arrive after 8:00 am will be marked tardy.
Do not leave your child outside the school without any supervision.
Valet services will be available before school for students at the corner of Sycamore and Figueroa.
DROP OFF
- When dropping off, please make sure students only exit from the passenger side and that their backpacks are in the car with them.
- Students may not exit into street.
- Students should not have to get items from the trunk.
- DO NOT park in the valet line.
- If your child still needs help getting in and out of the car, please do not use the valet.
- Do not double park and let your child off in the middle of the street.
*Do not make a U-Turn in front of the school after you drop off your child.
Proceed down the block. Let’s keep everyone safe!
- Kinder and Middle School: Pedestrian Gate
- 1st grade and Middle School: Handicapped Pedestrian Gate
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th: Chain Linked Driveway Gate
There will be clear signage to support you in finding the correct gate.
If your child rides the bus, please confirm with the main office.
If you sign your child up with BTB, please ensure you have a verbal confirmation from Jocelyn for start date.
