Please do not forget to send with your child every day:
- School materials including books, homework, projects, etc.
- Water bottle
- Snack and/or lunch (lunch available to all students free of charge for the 2023-24 school year.)
- 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!
1st and 2nd grade collaborative learning in Spanish Class
For the past three weeks second grade classes have been studying a tierra (the earth) to correspond with the 2nd grade Landform unit. Students made mini books with Spanish vocabulary about la tierra. Second graders will have the opportunity to read their mini-books aloud to their 1st grade buddies during Spanish class on Tuesday 2/27.
The purpose of this activity is: (1) to give 2nd graders a fun and authentic way to share their mini books, and (2) to have 1st graders enjoy a Spanish language learning experience in preparation for taking Spanish next year as second graders. We did this shared learning experience with first and second grade last year - the current second graders remembered learning the song and reading the book in first grade, and are super excited to "teach" their first grade buddies! 🙂
Staff Parking Lots
Our parking lots on 14th Street, 16th Street and on the corner of 16th Street and Maple St. (next to the farm) are for staff only. These lots are not for parent drop off and/or pick up near arrival and dismissal time. Please help us ensure that our staff has a place to park each day they arrive to work. Parents and guardians may use neighborhood parking, please check the signs.
WRLC CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Will Rogers Learning Community Early Education Building Project
Phase 1 of the Campus Plan
(February 23, 2024 Update)
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is excited to share that construction has commenced at Will Rogers Learning Community. This initiative will introduce seven state-of-the-art transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, alongside a brand-new artificial turf multi-sports field. Additionally, the project encompasses the creation of outdoor natural learning areas adjacent to the new classrooms, as well as the installation of new basketball courts, handball walls, and various other amenities.
UPDATE: Construction commenced in December 2023, resulting in restricted access to the eastern segment of the outdoor play areas. Our team is diligently working on the development of a new multi-sport turf playing field, slated to be completed by 2024, exclusively for school use. We appreciate your patience and cooperation throughout the construction period.
Current Construction:
Continuous heavy rainfall has slowed down the work progress significantly. However, with sunny weather forecasted, the contractor was able to resume operations. Notably, crews have successfully demolished and cleared the exterior restroom along with two classroom buildings. Furthermore, on Feb. 17, 2024, the contractor completed saw-cutting of the asphalt in the playground. The removal of the asphalt is set to begin on Feb. 24, 2024 and will extend into the following week. Following this, excavation of the soil in the grass field is planned for the upcoming week. These preparatory steps are crucial for laying the groundwork for the new artificial turf field and establishing foundations for the new early elementary building.
Continued Work:
A. Temporary Restrooms: The contractor trenched and installed underground utilities to service a portable restroom located on the north side of the school. The restroom building is scheduled to be delivered at the beginning of March 2024, weather permitting.
B. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ramp and Access: The contractor is currently engaged in the installation of a new entry gate and ADA-compliant access ramp, connecting to the staff parking lot.
C. Site Demolition: The removal of asphalt and soil is scheduled to start on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 and will extend into the week of Feb. 28. This activity is anticipated to generate significant noise. The construction team will make efforts to minimize disturbances and will work swiftly to reduce the duration of the disruption.
D. Site Utilities: The contractor is in the process of constructing pathways to accommodate the electrical feed for the new elementary building.
E. City Utilities Service: The construction team is collaborating with the City of Santa Monica to relocate pedestrian crosswalks, driveways and connections to public utilities. This project is scheduled to commence in March and April of 2024.
Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding during the construction process.
For more information on Rogers campus projects, please contact Simpson & Simpson Consultant Senior Construction Operations Liaison Chris Emmett at cemmett@smmusd.org.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program of Inquiry Units of Study
Kindergarten - The students came to the STEM Lab to 'Save the Town From Falling Rocks,' which is an activity that combines force and motion (See pictures below). The students also learned about how to make an object change directions.
First Grade - The students began working on their biomimicry projects.
Second Grade - The students came to the STEM Lab to learn and compare different types of erosion (See pictures below). They also learned about what makes a cliff erode quickly.
Third Grade - The students learned about how and why meteorologists collect data.
Fourth Grade - The students learned about ranchos and the Mexican American War.
Fifth Grade - The students learned about integration and what impact it had on the Civil Rights Movement.
5th Grade Updates
The 5th grade is scheduled to attend Pali Camp May 1-3, 2024 (Wednesday-Friday).
If you were unable to attend the Pali Camp Information meeting last week below is the recording.
Topic: Pali Camp Zoom Meeting
Date: Jan 25, 2024 6:21 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Passcode: 5.4Gn86P
Join the 5th grade Parent Planning Committee. We need your voice and volunteerism. Sign-up here
THANK YOU TO SM ASSISTANCE LEAGUE!
Assistance League of Santa Monica (ALSM) is a non-profit whose volunteers are dedicated to transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. These programs include providing camp scholarships, backpacks with school supplies, eye examinations and glasses, and over $100,000 in college scholarships annually.
Many students at Will Rogers Elementary School have been recipients of these programs. This year, for example, ALSM is sponsoring winter science camp for several of Will Rogers's 5th graders.
ALSM funds its programs through its Thrift Shop, which has consistently been voted the best in Santa Monica by the SM Daily Press. Please check out the shop at 1453 15th Street from 11-3 Thursday and Friday, and 10-2 Saturday. Stop by to find great bargains and help support Will Rogers's students.
We greatly appreciate Mrs. Susan Ferrell, from the Santa Monica Assistance League for her genuine care and interest in all our students in helping them fulfill their dreams experiencing the great outdoors camping, connecting with nature and being with their friends. We are grateful to announce that once again the SM Assistance League will donate funds for our 5th grade trip Pali Camp.
"Oops, I forgot!" table - PLEASE SHARE AND USE
We have had an increase in requests from parents asking us to call classrooms to relay messages or have their child pick-up an item they left at home. Each time we call, we interrupt instruction which is disruptive to the students. Help us reduce these interruptions.
Please communicate the "Oops, I forgot table" plan with your child, so they know there is place for parents to drop-off items they may have left at home!
Mornings are busy and sometimes students leave for school without their water bottle, instrument or homework. In an effort to reduce classroom interruptions and to support students with developing responsibility, please use our "Oops, I forgot" table. It is located outside the main office.
Make a plan with your child that if they leave something at home, a parent may drop it off in the office. We will place their labeled item on the "Oops, I forgot table." During their recess or on their way to lunch, they may check the table for a forgotten item.
Counseling Services at WRLC
We have several community partnerships affording us the opportunity to provide school-based therapy services to the students at Rogers. If you are interested in this service, please reach out to your classroom teacher. We are fortunate to expand our services by offering free, tele-health counseling service through Hazel. Read more about this service below.
You are invited! SMMUSD: Special Education Parent Workshop Dates
- March 12th at 4:30 p.m. at Webster Elementary “How to prepare for your child to transition to their next school”
- May 15th at 5:30 p.m. at Grant Elementary “Special Education Year in Review”
Fechas de los talleres de educación especial para los padres
- 12 de marzo a las 4:30 p.m. en Webster Elementary "Cómo prepararse para la transición de su hijo a su próxima escuela"
- 15 de mayo a las 5:30 p.m. en la primaria Grant Elementary "Resumen del Año de Educación Especial"
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