César Chávez Day is a state holiday in California so government offices, educational institutions and many businesses are closed. "Chavez left a legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader. And his cause lives on. As farm workers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages, we find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just, and more prosperous nation." -Barack Obama
Chávez was born on March 31 in 1927. He was a migrant farm worker from the age of 10. He became active with the Community Service Organization, which helped fight racial and economic discrimination against Chicano residents. Chávez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in the early 1960s. He focused attention on the plight of migrant farm workers and gained support to have his organization be the first successful farm workers’ union in the United States. He used principles of non-violence, with strikes and boycotts.
PRINCIPAL'S PEN
Dear Will Rogers Families and Guardians,
We are excited to remind you that Thursday, March 27th, is a minimum day with TK/K dismissal at 12:00 p.m. and 1st-5th grade dismissal at 1:00 p.m. That evening, we invite you to our Open House from 5:30–6:30 p.m.! This is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore the classrooms, see the fantastic work students have been doing, and celebrate all their hard work and achievements.
Here’s what you can look forward to seeing:
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IB Inquiry Units: Explore the current or recently completed inquiry unit and the student work related to it.
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Student Artifacts: Discover a variety of student work on display, from math and writing journals to projects that reflect your child's learning journey.
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Special Education Classrooms: Don't miss the chance to visit the SAI rooms and see the amazing progress and learning happening there.
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PS Arts Portfolio: Our talented PS Arts teacher, Heather, has prepared a wonderful art display, and families can join in on an art lesson in the art room!
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Spanish Class: For families with children in grades 2-3, stop by Room 508 to see what the students have been learning in Spanish class.
We are especially excited for students to take the lead during this event. They may guide you through a classroom tour or even lead you in a fun scavenger hunt! Be sure to check out the Lost and Found before you leave. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening!
Please join us for our annual JOG-A-THON this Friday, March 28th, on the track/field. See details and run times below. Although we won't have a school-wide assembly this Friday, we will host our 5th grade IB awards assembly in the auditorium at 9:45 a.m. We hope to see you there!
Finally, there will be no school on Monday, March 31st, in observance of Cesar Chavez Day. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on his legacy of justice, equality, and service to the community. We hope you and your family enjoy the long weekend!
In partnership,
Principal Daruty
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tues. 4th grade SMC Dance contiues during PE
Mon. 3/24- 4/4 SIGN UP for Talent Show
Wed. 3/26 5th Gr. Panoramic Picture 9:00am
Thurs. 3/27 LAST 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
Tues. 4/1 4th and 5th Grade Math Club Celebration for students and families @4:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Tues. 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
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.
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 SSC Student Forum 8:15-11:30 a.m.
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
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
CELEBRATE our 4th and 5th grade MATH CLUB Participants! Tues. 4/1 @ 4pm
Join us for a celebratory evening honoring all students and parents/guardians of our Math Club! The event will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Students will receive a certificate of completion and a Math Club T-shirt! We hope to see you there and look forward to celebrating this achievement together!
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
Career Day is coming! April 22nd 8:30 -10:00 a.m.
Join us for WRLC's Career Day on April 23, from 8:30-10am
Do you have a fun job, passion project or deep hobby to share with the kids?
Have you always wanted to talk to students about what you do all day?
Career Day is here for you!
Sign up here and we will match you with a classroom: https://forms.gle/5CQ6uZik4gDwQuuFA
The Will Rogers Family Talent Show is May 9 at 6:00pm!
The Will Rogers Family Talent Show is May 9 at 6:00pm! Because of the rehearsal schedule and Spring Break, 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. FIRST, please SIGN UP let us know that your child will be participating! Please use this form to provide details about your student's Family Talent Show act, and we will send a follow up email with the upload link and instructions.
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.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Santa Monica Events/Activities/Opportunities
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