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Dear Will Rogers Learning Community,

Fall Festival was a wonderful success! Thank you to everyone who joined and especially to our Farm Committee who made it happen.

Tomorrow is Picture Day for grades PreK-2nd and Wednesday for grades 3rd- 5th.

We look forward to seeing many of you this week at our Halloween Parade and Scholastic Book Fair in the library on Friday.

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 partnership,

Ms. Lila Daruty, Principal WRLC

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.

Fri. 10/28 Scholastic Book Fair Opens in the library ( thru 11/4)

Tues. 11/1 No School- Pupil Free day for Parent Conferences

Wed. 11/2 Minimum Day for conferences

Wed. 11/2 PTA Association Meeting @6 p.m. in the school library. Childcare provided.

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.

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)

PICTURE DAY INFORMATION

SCHOOL PRICE LIST (EDITED TO OFFER MORE PACKAGE PRICING)

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.

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.

Will Rogers Scholastic Book Fair begins this Friday! Please remember to sign up to volunteer and set up eWallets for your children so they can shop the fair independently with their classes!

The Book Fair will also be open to families during the following hours:

Friday, October 28 from 8:30-9:30 am (come dressed in costumes before the parade!)

Tuesday, November 1 from 9:00-3:00 pm (stop by before or after your parent teacher conferences)

Wednesday, November 2- Friday, November 4 from 12:00- 3:00 pm

Every other Friday free antigen tests will be sent home in your child's backpack. Please test your children weekly, at home. Last week we sent home test kits that have TWO tests inside.

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.

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

The theme of the Grown-ups' Night Out is a Salute to Our Namesake Will Rogers and the Silver Screen! Come dressed in 1920s/1930s Hollywood glam or ropin' western wear!

Questions? Contact Pamela & Evan at auction@willrogerspta.com.

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.

The Weekend Bag Program (WeB) will provide SMMUSD students experiencing weekend food insecurity with nutritious, easy-to- prepare bags of food containing 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 snacks for the weekends. The Fall 2022 startup date is September 16th. The Weekend Bag Program will serve students whose families have special situations resulting in food insecurity in the home. Student names are not identified to Weekend Bag Program volunteers to ensure participant privacy. Bags are packed by volunteers with enough shelf-stable food (including UHT milk) for breakfast, lunch and snacks for two days, and then brought to the schools. Participating students pick up the food bags, usually from the school office, and stick them in their backpacks after school on Fridays. The menus have been evaluated by a dietitian to meet federal school nutrition standards and provide a balance of healthy, nutritious non-perishable foods. Families wishing to enroll their students should contact our school’s Bilingual Community Liaison, Flory Vila fvila@smmusd.org and fill out a Program opt-in form.

ARRIVAL:
***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.

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.

Please review, sign and return the 2022-23 registration documents which are now online. Note that there are 6 items that must be completed and returned to the Will Rogers Office DUE NOW!

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.

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 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!

As you may know, SMMUSD is enrolled in Year 2 of LA Metro’s GoPass Fareless System Pass Program, which provides free public transit rides and TAP cards for all K-12 students through 06/30/2023.

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)

Students who participate in the Rogers Breakfast Club will still arrive at school under the same procedures as all students. Parents will drop their children off at the main gates by 7:55 AM so that there is ample time to eat and walk to their classrooms by 8:25 AM.

Will Rogers PTA Website

Instagram

Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/willrogersLC/?ref=share&fs=e&s=cl
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM

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