PRINCIPAL'S PEN
Dear Will Rogers Families and Guardians,
Celebrating Our Students and Teachers: The Power of Collaborative Conversations.
This past week, we had the privilege of welcoming principals and district administrators from across the district to Will Rogers. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the extraordinary work of our teachers and students in fostering meaningful, collaborative conversations in the classroom.
Our educators have been deeply engaged in strategies that encourage student dialogue across all subjects, and their efforts were met with overwhelming positive feedback. Our visitors were truly impressed by the sense of community and engagement within our school. Some key highlights included:
✅ Consistent conversation strategies used across grade levels
✅ A learning environment that promotes honesty, curiosity, and authenticity
✅ A strong sense of school culture, cohesion, and positive energy
✅ Clear alignment in teaching practices across all grade levels
✅ Teachers embracing student voice and creating space for meaningful discussions
✅ High engagement through connections to our IB framework
✅ A culture of collaboration and active participation
✅ Increased student talk time, supported by scaffolds and visuals to help students communicate effectively
We are so proud of our students and staff for their dedication to these collaborative learning practices. Their hard work is helping to build confident, thoughtful, and engaged learners every day.
Tardy Slips and Attendance:
You may have noticed that students who are tardy to school are sent to their classroom with a front office issued, "We're Glad You Are Here! ( Late slip) . Student attendance is a very important metric for public schools as we are required to report our data to the state. More importantly, it is critical to a child's academic, social, and emotional success to be in school on time. We thank you for ensuring your child is on time. Since the Pandemic we have lowered our chronic tardy and absence rates and we hope to keep dropping that number this year! Please remember that students are required to be at their line-up spot by 8:25 AM. If they want to enjoy breakfast, the yard and cafeteria open at 8:10 a.m.
In partnership,
Principal Daruty
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Mon. 3/17 Santa Monica Rotary Club Reader Volunteers visit all week!
Mon. 3/17 School Tour 9:00-10:00am
Tues. 3/18 1st Grade Reptile Assembly in the auditorium @10 a.m.
Tues. 3/18 5th grade parent info night at JAMS 6:00pm
Wed. 3/19 5th grade student tour at JAMS 9:00-12:00pm
Wed 3/19 Show the Rogers PTA flier or mention it at Rabano for a 25% give back all day!
Thurs. 3/20 Handel’s is giving back 20% of sales when you present the digital flyer in PTA NL between 2-5pm.
Thurs. 3/20 4th and 5th grade Math Club @7:45 a.m. rm 508
Thurs. 3/20 ELAC Meeting 8:30am in libraryThurs. 3/20 Site Council Meeting at 3:15pm on Zoom
Fri. 3/21 Schneider/Fujiwara/Prevett Field Trip to Morgan-Wixon Theatre
Wed. 3/26 5th gr Panoramic Picture 9:00am
Thurs. 3/27 4th and 5th grade Math Club @7:45 a.m. rm 508
Thurs. 3/27 Minimum Day (TK/K 12:10; 1st-5th 1:00)
Thurs. 3/27 WRLC Open House 5:30-6:30pm
Fri. 3/28 Jog-A-Thon on the track and Field. Volunteers needed and Parent/Guardian spectators are welcome!
- 10:00-10:30TK/Kindergarten
- 10:30-11:00 2nd grade
- 11:00-11:30 1st grade
- 11:30-12:00 3rd grade
- 12:00-1:15 Break for lunch
- 1:15-1:45 5th grade
- 1:45-2:15 4th grade
Mon. 3/31 No school - César Chavez Day
Mon. 4/1 Volunteer Training 8:30am (library), 3:00pm (library) and 6:00pm (cafeteria)
Wed. 4/2 5th grade leaves for Pali Camp
Wed. 4/2 PTA Gen. Mtg 6-7:30pm in library
Thurs. 4/3 School Board Mtg 5:30pm
Fri. 4/4 5th grade returns from Pali Camp
Sat. 4/5 Family Farming Day 10:00-1:00 in Regenerative Farm
Tues. 4/22 5th grade SMC Dance begins during PE
Tues. 4/22 Talent Show Rehearsal in cafeteria 3:00-4:00
Wed. 4/23 Career Day 8:30-11:00 a.m. Are you interested in speaking to a classroom about your job, hobby or passion project? Stay tuned for details!
Wed. 4/23 Field Trip to CA Science Center - all Kindergarten Classes
Thurs. 4/24 1st grade field trip Science Center
Thurs. 4/24 Field Trip all 3rd graders-Ms. Alexander, Turbo & Hoffman-Ellis Fowler Museum at UCLA
Thurs. 4/24 School Tour 1:00-2:00 pm
Fri. 4/25 Scholastic Spring Book Fair Begins
Wed. 4/30 Talent Show Rehearsal in cafeteria 3:00-4:00
SMMUSD 2024-2025 Calendar
From PE teacher: Coach Debbie Vasquez
This month the students have been introduced and are learning the overhand throwing pattern skill. Through guided practice the students are practicing and demonstrating the overhand throw, applying the skill in our football unit. The overhand throwing pattern skill is used for various sports and recreational activities that include football, baseball, softball, and just a simple game of throw and catch. The physical education standards addressed in this unit include the following:
Standards:
Demonstrate the overhand movement (throw) pattern.
Throw a ball for distance, using proper form.
Throw a ball for accuracy toward a target.
Demonstrate the characteristics of sharing and cooperation in physical activity.
Work in pairs or small groups to achieve an agreed-upon goal.
In MARCH our learner profile is KNOWLEDGEABLE!
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.
The IB Learner Profiles are the qualities we strive for all students to develop. For MARCH our learner profile is KNOWLEDGEABLE. To be knowledgeable means you study, learn, and understand. As a knowledgeable student, we explore knowledge across many subjects. We also make connections to important ideas and issues that have local and global importance. In so doing, they inquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Activities for parents
● Encourage your child to read books at home that correspond to the topics being covered in school.
● Ask your child about what they are learning in school and engage them in conversations about it: “Why do you think that is an important thing to know about?” “Can you think of anything happening in the world today that might be similar to that aspect of History?”
● Encourage your child to become familiar with current events and to read the newspaper and watch the news when appropriate.
New Wellness Coach @ Will Rogers!
Sam Snowden joins our mental health team of counselors @WRLC. She will help provide ind. and group counseling, teacher support, skills-based lessons and support developing our Social-Emotional Curriculum.
ABOUT HER:
With over 20 years of experience, Samantha has worked with individuals of all ages, from children to adults, in communities across the globe. She began her career as a teen coach at UCLA, where she focused on mindfulness education and coaching in diverse Los Angeles communities. Her volunteer work has taken her to Guatemala, Portugal, Spain, the UK, Sweden, and Peru, where she provided community-based psychological services to youth and families.
Samantha has consulted with several organizations, including the EduCare Foundation, Insight Seminars, the Canadian Association of International Programs (CADIP), UCLA’s MARC and Community-Based Learning Program, the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, St. Luke’s Medical Center in New York City, and various meditation centers both locally and internationally. She has designed and led SEL and mindfulness programs for schools in Los Angeles and adult education programs abroad.
Samantha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA, as well as Master's degrees in Clinical and Educational Psychology from Columbia University and Emotion Science from Mid-Sweden University. She has taught graduate-level courses at Columbia, including topics such as Mother-Child Matrix, Psychology of Adjustment, and Mindfulness with Youth, and was a lead researcher in the university’s mindfulness lab. Her additional training includes emotion regulation, behavioral neuroscience, guided imagery, self-compassion, yoga, and nutrition.
For over five years, Samantha was a content creator and main teacher on the Headspace app and a co-host on the award-winning podcasts Goodnight, World, Dear Headspace, and Radio Headspace.
Samantha is a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator from UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Inner Kids. She offers mindfulness coaching and facilitation for youth, adults, families, and educators, both in-person and online, with a focus on cultivating meaningful, lasting change
Link to book on Amazon: Link to Book
Link to Podcast Episodes
Radio Headspace: Connecting with our Five Senses
Dear Headspace: New Beginnings
YouTube Video with Headspace: Fear of Being Disliked
The Will Rogers Family Talent Show is May 9 at 6:00pm!
Tryouts will begin at the end of this month! Students who wish to participate in this year's show will be asked to send a video of their act (2 minutes or less) between March 24 and April 4. All kinds of talents are welcome! Singing, dancing, comedy, juggling, magic...we've seen so many amazing acts grace the stage at WRLC over the years.
Tips for helping your kids develop their Talent Show ideas:
- We really do love family acts. Moms, dads, siblings, cousins, come on down! This element of our show is a special tradition, and a unique opportunity to share the stage with your kiddo. Don't be shy!
- Small group acts are audience favorites! Working on an act with a friend or two (or more!) is a great way to ensure a crowd-pleaser. Solos are ok, but we especially love to see students collaborating and sharing the stage.
- When an act involves music (especially singing), upbeat songs are encouraged. Everyone loves a good ballad, but not everyone loves 20 ballads in one show. Just something to keep in mind when steering your little one toward a song choice.
- We usually have a lot of participants, so please be sure to manage expectations. Most acts will be asked to cut their time to 2 minutes or less.
- Everyone is asked to have a second choice ready if they're singing a song. Sometimes it happens that multiple acts will want to do the same song and we do our best not to have repeats, so our singers (and sometimes dancers) may be asked to perform their second choice.
- Students are limited to participating in one or two acts only.
We look forward to supporting our talented Will Rogers students in this wonderful annual showcase! Please email wrlctalentshow@gmail.com with questions.
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