Will Rogers Roundup

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Dear WRLC Families,

I hope you had a wonderful spring break filled with time to relax and enjoy family, friends, and loved ones.

It was wonderful to close out before spring break with an amazing Open House and student showcase of learning. Our students did incredible work, and we are so proud of their growth.It is hard to believe we are now in the final stretch of the school year! We are excited about all that is still ahead and grateful for such a strong start to this final season.

We are looking for parent volunteers to help plan our annual Cinco de Mayo Festival happening in May—your support makes a big difference in bringing these community events to life. Join us for our first meeting this Monday at 7:00 p.m.via zoom.

Please join us this Wednesday for our PTA Association Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom or in the library.

We have many exciting events coming up, including:

• Career Day
• 5th Grade Pali Camp
• Family Farming Day

We are also so proud of the success of our Jog-a-thon! Thank you for helping us exceed our fundraising goal—your generosity and partnership made this possible.

As we begin planning for next year, please note that your child will be bringing home a Returning to WRLC Student Form this week. Completing this form lets us know your plans for the 2026–2027 school year and helps us begin building balanced class placements.

Additionally, you have the opportunity to share input regarding your child’s placement for next year. Please take a moment to complete this survey so we can thoughtfully consider your feedback as part of our planning process. The survey will close on April 25th.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are looking forward to a strong and joyful finish to the school year.

Ms.Daruty
Principal, Will Rogers Learning Community

Mon. 4/13 First Day back after Spring Break!

Mon. 4/13 Volunteer trainings cancelled ( rescheduled for 4/30 see below)

Wed. 4/15 PTA Association Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. in the library and on zoom

Wed. 4/15 Tap Into Giving at Santa Monica Brew Works in support of the Ed Foundation. 5:30-7:00 PM. This event not only helps support our schools, it also helps support our local businesses.

Purchase Tickets

Thurs. 4/16 First Grade Field Trip to Underwood Family Farm 8:45- 2:30 p.m.

Thurs. 4/16 Fire Drill @ 2:30 p.m.

Mon. 4/20 5th Grade Panorama Picture

Wed. 4/22- Fri. 4/24 5th grade @ Pali Camp

Wed. 4/22 PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

Wed. 4/22 Restaurant FUNdraiser with Wing Stop on Pico. Wing it for Rogers and let dinner do the FUNdraising! The more you order, the more our school soars! Show this flier at Wingstop on Pico anytime from 10:30am to midnight and 20% will fly straight back to support our PTA.

Thurs. 4/23 Sticks and Stones event scheduled on April 23 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Samohi Cafeteria.( flyer below)

Fri. 4/24 Earth Week Family Farming Day @ 3:00- 5:00 p.m.

Fri. 4/24 Class Placement Feedback for 2026-27 due today https://forms.gle/XS8zHoM9qj7dojK9A

Sun. 4/26 Join us under the iconic Fig Tree at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel for the 11th Annual Santa Monica Wine Auction. This unforgettable evening benefits our public schools.

Mon. -Fri. 4/27- 5/1 Spring Book Fair in the library

Mon. 4/27 School Tour for prospective parents @ 9:00 a.m.

Tues. 4/28 Family Talent Show submissions due!

Wed. 4/29 Career Day 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Thurs. 4/30 Volunteer Trainings @ 8:30, 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Fri. 5/1 Cinco De Mayo Festival 3:00-5:30 p.m.

Mon. 5/4 3rd- 5th grade CAASPP Testing begins 8:30-10:15 a.m. (Mon- Thurs.)

SMMUSD Calendar 2025-26

PTA Calendar

Join us for our 1st meeting on zoom

https://smmk12.zoom.us/j/7406000734?omn=84077224895
Meeting ID: 740 600 0734

The Cinco de Mayo Festival at WRLC is coming up on Friday, May 1st from 3pm to 5:30pm. We are excited to bring our community together again! This year we are looking to make it more of a community event by having parents partner with us & having each grade level create and run a game booth.

Each grade level’s room parents (TK through 5th grade) will help us coordinate a booth and recruit parent volunteers from their grade level to staff/run the booth the day of the event.

We have some ideas for booths but are open to your creative ideas as well. Please choose from the following ideas or let us know your thoughts about a new booth. If you want to create your own booth there will be a small budget available.

• Face painting

• Water balloon toss

• Pinatas

• Rubber duck pool game

• Soccer game- kick a ball into the net

• Bowling (knocking over pins)

• Additional game ideas: https://www.weareteachers.com/carnival-games/

Please join our FIRST planning meeting this Monday at 7:00 p.m. via zoom!

Join Zoom Meeting

We are incredibly proud to share that we surpassed our goal—and by a wide margin!

Thanks to our amazing community, we raised $52,400, reaching 115% of our $45,000 goal. This is an incredible accomplishment, and it truly reflects the generosity and commitment of our families.

We are so proud of our runners, who did an awesome job showing energy, determination, and school spirit throughout the event. Our t-shirts were a big hit—please continue to wear them again and again as a way to thank our generous sponsors for their support!

A huge THANK YOU to our incredible PTA team (Kristin, Rebecca, Zayna, Sara and Johanna) for making this event possible, and to all of our parents and guardians for your partnership in helping us achieve this success.

We also have many winners to celebrate! Incentive updates, including important dates and student names, will be shared soon—stay tuned.

Class Incentives

• Every class that reached 100% participation by having all students registered online earned a popsicle party!
• The class that raised the highest amount in donations will receive a pizza party!

Student Incentives

• Students who raised $20+ earned a prize
• Students who raised $150+ earned an additional prize
• Students who raised $300+ will be invited to a special event
• The top 5 student fundraisers will win a special day with Ms. Daruty

Thank you again for your incredible support—we are so proud of what we accomplished together!

Ways to Foster a Thinker at Home:

• Instead of lecturing, ask questions that require reasoning, such as "How did you solve that?" or "What do you think will happen if...?".

• Create a "Wonder Wall" or notebook where children can jot down questions they have throughout the day.

• Encourage your child to try new things, even if they might fail, and then discuss what they learned from the experience.

• Model "thinking" by showing how you solve problems, research questions, and learn from mistakes.

• Encourage your child to find connections between what they are learning in school and everyday life.

• Provide resources (books, websites, materials) that enable children to explore their interests and answer their own questions.

• Allow for downtime, which stimulates imaginative thinking.

• When your child completes a task, ask about the strategy they used, rather than focusing only on the correct answer.

• Ask your child to reflect on their learning by asking, "What was challenging today?" or "How could you do that differently next time?".

• Let your child make choices about their learning, such as deciding what to read or how to structure their study time.

Sign up to volunteer before, during, or after school to help students find and purchase books.

Now is also a great time to visit our Book Fair homepage to set up your students’ eWallets, which help them shop cash-free during class visits. If you’ve created an eWallet for a previous Fair, any leftover funds will carry over after you complete the new setup.

Shopping the Fair is a great opportunity for students and families to find something new to read, and 35% of every purchase this spring goes toward supporting our library and classrooms.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2xJuzc2rDXYXnvqCnAMAmqKcYEe2w0_wyKNuDJB7qg2yIwQ/viewform?usp=dialog

April 22nd All Day: Wing it for Rogers and let dinner do the FUNdraising! The more you order, the more our school soars! Show this flier at Wingstop on Pico anytime from 10:30am to midnight and 20% will fly straight back to support our PTA.

Rogers hoodie pre-orders are open through April 17! Order your favorite style online, select PICKUP at checkout, and be sure to enter your student’s teacher/classroom name in the “COMPANY” field so we can get it to you. Every purchase supports the PTA — grab yours before the order deadline!

Link – https://vaalbara.com/collections/will-rogers-gear

Santa Monica Wine Auction: Tickets on Sale NOW! Join us under the iconic Fig Tree at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel for the 11th Annual Santa Monica Wine Auction on April 26th. This unforgettable evening benefits our public schools. Can't make the event? We've got you covered. Make sure to check out our Silent Auction, opening April 20. Closes April 27th at 8pm. Register now and make sure you don't miss out on bidding for a great cause! Purchase Tickets + Auction Registration

Have an auction item to donate? We are taking donations during spring break for silent auction items. A bottle of wine or a case, gift card to a local business, or anything else you would like to contribute. Please email info@smedfoundation.org if you can donate or fill out the online form.

Tap Into Giving

Wednesday, April 15th | 5:30-7:00 PM.Join us for flights and fun at Santa Monica Brew Works in support of the Ed Foundation. Enjoy a flight of craft beers and great company, while supporting our students. This event not only helps support our schools, it also helps support our local businesses.

Purchase Tickets

The January Campaign sparked amazing participation, with new donors joining in and longtime supporters stepping up. School leaders helped fuel the excitement with fun incentives, and it worked!

Some schools are still on their way, but here are a few that have already met their goals and celebrated in style (shoutout to the brave principals and staff!).

JAMS: John Adams Middle School

Will Rogers Learning Community

The event is hosted by the Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs' Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee and is open to all SMMUSD parents and guardians.

To register, please ask parents to use the QR code or this link: https://forms.gle/nPmGgGkCkFiqXjxA8

SAVE THE DATE: WRLC Career Day is coming up April 29. Come to school and share your passion or career with the students. We'd love to have a wide variety of occupations represented! More information and sign ups here.

Dear 3rd-5th grade Will Rogers Families,

Beginning Monday, May 4, students in grades 3–5 will begin taking the state test, the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

This assessment is only one method we use to measure our students’ academic growth. Throughout the year, our teachers gather data in multiple ways on student progress and adjust their instruction accordingly. Please read this letter for more information about the CAASPP. If you have any questions, please contact our assistant principal, Ms. González.

This is not a test you can study for, but you can help your child by doing the following:

1. Ensuring a good night’s sleep before testing days.

2. Providing a healthy breakfast to keep their energy up.

3. Encouraging them to do their best—remind them that this is a chance to show what they've learned, not something to be stressed about!

4. Arriving to school on time each day - testing will begin by 8:45 a.m. on Monday-Thursday

Resources for Families:

• Practice Tests: You can see what the test looks like at caaspp.org.

• Starting Smarter: Visit ca.startingsmarter.org to understand your child’s score reports.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0545A5AE23A7F5C25-62055415-5thgrade#/

1. Tues. 3/24 Incoming 6th graders to JAMS Info night RE: Math Pathways @ 5:30 p.m. hosted by Dr. Chacon via zoom Spanish Interpretation will be available. See presentations:

2. English:

   https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQbrmbplCI8SuVVDH7JF1NIGKv_ZOxDxpwkWm0PQP94qvErRKuYl7-gFRG2DQqQICXgg2mKEjGed8MS/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

   
   

   Spanish:
   https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vThGNexHraDm7-DM6dj77H32iGBh2dGg23s1QAp-CSy0aZTGHrAMVi6aHW9NSWsYpz5Mz1swmHQdISX/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

   
   

3. If you missed the Parent Information night held on March 17th you can view the presentation here.
4. Please let us know if you would be interested in JAMS PTSA positions for the 2026-27 school year?
5. Interested in joining the JAMS science board for the 2026-27 school year? Join here:

Monday, June 22 - Friday, July 24 (no July 3)

8:30am - 12:30pm

Roosevelt Elementary School

Registration opens on Monday, March 2 at 7:30am at www.summer-adventure.org.

Please note that Summer Adventure is open to IISS- and ELOP-eligible families; they were notified this week about their summer options.

Please reach out if you have any questions. I have copied SA Principal Barry Yates and Administrative Assistant, Dinora Duarte, on this email.

school passcode:1013782539131906

Below please find a list of links to local, seasonal happenings, including special events featuring technology, arts/culture, civics, and literacy, application support for social services and government benefits, and free ESL and citizenship classes via SMMUSD Adult Education

• Santa Monica Events/Activities/Opportunities

We’re excited to announce the return of ART CART at lunchtime! Starting this year, students can enjoy creative art projects and hands-on crafts every:

• Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for grades 1st-5th

• Fridays from 11:30 -12:45 p.m. for grades TK/K

ART CART offers students a chance to express their creativity, relax, and connect with others—all thanks to the support of our incredible WRLC Wellness Team of counselors. We need your help!

Many hands make light work, and we’re looking for parent volunteers to help supervise and support our young artists. If you’re interested in volunteering on Mondays or Fridays, please email Mariela at mmartinez@sewi.org.

Volunteer Requirements:

• Level 1 volunteer clearance

• Willingness to supervise students using art tools and materials safely

• Enthusiasm for working with children

• A love of crafts, creativity, and fun!

Let’s make lunchtimes a colorful, creative experience for all our students!

• Score reports for CAASPP, ELPAC and Star Renaissance are available to parents in the Aeries Parent Portal. Hard copy score reports are no longer mailed home. These videos help explain to students & parents/ guardians on how to access their portals. Student Portal and Parent Portal.

• This guide with help parents ocate their Test Scores and State Test Scores Reports: Parent Portal: Test Scores [Aeries]-attachment.

• 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 from 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!

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.

https://www.smmusd.org/domain/476

We encourage you to pack a snack for your children for morning recess.

Please send your child to school with a re-fillable water bottle! We have water stations located throughout campus.

JOIN the Parents/Guardians Regenerative Farm Committee that we are forming for the 2025-26 school year. The Committee's tasks are to:

• Support the stewardship of the Regenerative Farm.
• Help organize the Regenerative Farm Events ready in the school calendar (monthly Family Farming Days, Earth Week Farming Day), in addition to organizing harvests and other school community engagement activities.

For any questions, contact:

Paola Vezzulli, Program Director - Regenerative Initiatives [Cayton Children's Museum] email: pvezzulli@caytonmuseum.org

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. We do this through the development of students according to the IB learner profile. The profile aims to develop learners who are:

Inquirers

Knowledgeable

Thinkers

Communicators

Principled

Open-minded

Caring

Risk-takers

Balanced

Reflective

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.

Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://rogers.smmusd.org

Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364