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Dear Will Rogers Learning Community Parents and Guardians,

We are looking forward to another great week at Will Rogers!

If you haven't had a chance to attend one of our WRLC Parent Support Group sessions, this Tuesday evening @7:00 p.m is our next one! It is held via zoom. Come learn and commune with other Rogers' parents. This month's topic is EMOTIONAL REGULATION!

On Wednesday, I look forward to seeing you at Coffee and Conversation with the principal at 8:30 a.m. Pull up a chair alongside other parents, care takers and our principal for an open discussion on any topic you’d like to know more about. In addition to important school updates, we also welcome a special guest from the school district: Robert Howard, SMMUSD Restorative Justice Coordinator.

This Thursday, Will Rogers students will present at the SMMUSD board meeting at 5:30p.m. in-person and on zoom. Show your support of our students and their learning and join us! We will be sharing the many ways we celebrate and honor Native American Heritage Month at Will Rogers.

YEEHAW! Saddle up for another great WRLC community event. This Friday, come dressed in your cowboy hat, bandana and boots for our PTA sponsored RODEO Dance this Friday from 6-8 p.m. We are always looking for volunteer support, see details below. Please consider donating baked goods or fruit!

In partnership,

Principal Lila Daruty, WRLC

Mon. 11/13 Volunteer Trainings 8:30, 3:00 in library and 6:00 in cafeteria

Tues. 11/14 WRLC Parent Support group session @ 7:00 p.m. via zoom

Wed. 11/15 Coffee and Conversation with the principal

Thurs. 11/16 Second Grade Friendship Feast 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.

Thurs. 11/16 WRLC Presentation at the SMMUSD board meeting @ 5:30 p.m.Agenda can be found online. Our students will share how we celebrate National Native American Heritage Month.

Fri. 11/17 TK Friendsgiving 10:30-11:45 am

Fri. 11/17 PTA Fall Family RODEO Dance 6:00-8:00p.m. in the auditorium

11/22-11/24 Thanksgiving Break: No School

Thurs. 11/30 ELAC meeting @8:30 a.m.

Thurs. 11/30 School Site Council Meeting @ 3:10 p.m

12/6 PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

12/18 School Tour For Prospective new parents RSVP here @ 9:00 a.m.

12/25- 1/5 Winter Break

SMMUSD 2023-2024 Calendar

Maria Nielson is joining our front office team as our Senior Office Specialist (SOS). Let's give her a warm Rogers welcome!

Maria comes with 18+ years in supporting students, families, teachers and administrators in SMMUSD and Santa Barbara Unified School District. In addition, she worked and volunteered at the Alpha Resource Center of Santa Barbara (non-profit organization with lifespan services for families, children, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities).

Maria is a native of Santa Monica and attended Edison, John Adams, SAMOHI, and the Adult Education Center and is excited to be back in Santa Monica to be closer to family.

PHASE 1 construction area: In preparation for Phase 1 of construction, which is set to begin during winter break, (2) trailers were delivered afterschool on Nov. 7th Their location (on the current grassy field) will be the headquarters for the construction crew. Temporary fencing will be installed around the trailers to indicate the area is off limits. Students will be directed to play away from this area.

Shade structure update: This past weekend on the 1st grade yard poles and a portion of the shade structure were installed. The total shade shelter will be completed in two more weeks.

Portable restroom installation: TBD. Sometime between now and winter break, I will keep you updated.

At the 11/2 board meeting, the SMMUSD and Board of Education approved a resolution to recognize United Against Hate Week 2023, joining with the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs (SMMPTA), the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association (SMMCTA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to bring programming to students and staff during United Against Hate week, Nov. 13-17. Please use the 2-1-1 phone number and go to WeTip.com for victim assistance and/or to report hate anonymously. All district schools will host activities to foster a sense of belonging, encourage respect and inclusion, embrace diversity and reinforce anti-bullying through the Olweus program and restorative justice practices. Education, compassion, and cooperation are the keys to unlocking understanding and embracing differences between people. In support of these efforts, everyone is encouraged to wear orange on Wednesday November 15th as a symbol of community and unity.

Each month we conduct emergency drills at Will Rogers. The primary purpose of each drill is to follow directions of the adult in charge. Some drills require students to evacuate to the yard and other drills require students to drop, cover and hold on.

Last week, we conducted a shelter-in-place drill. A shelter-in-place may be necessary when there is a threat outside but near the campus. Students and staff remain indoors except for necessary movement between buildings (ex. trip to the bathroom). Talking and instruction can continue during a shelter-in-place. It is essentially the step just before we place our campus on lockdown, due to danger ON our immediate campus. During all emergency drills, we remind students of the procedures, so that if there ever is a real emergency, we are all prepared to respond quickly. Just as importantly, we remind them that teachers and staff are there to protect them and keep them safe.

Our students and staff did a great job and we were able to secure and clear the campus quickly.

Most grade levels are working on either their 2nd or 3rd unit. Here's what each grade level worked on this past week.

Kindergarten - The students learned to graph weather data. They also did a temperature lab where they learn how to use thermometers to measure temperature.

First Grade - The students learned about shadows. They came to the STEM Lab to do a blocking light activity where they investigated which materials block light and which create shadows.

Second Grade - The students finished up their Stellaluna unit by doing an 'Express Yourself' writing activity and a 'Wings Wanted' STEM Challenge.

Third Grade - The students began planning and creating their final project related to government. They also listened to books about people who took action to help them brainstorm for their final project.

Fourth Grade - The students learned about sedimentary rock layers. The students came to the STEM Lab to create a model sedimentary rock layer.

Fifth Grade - The students learned about consumers in an ecosystem. The students came to the STEM Lab to do an owl pellet lab where they learn about the food web of owls (see pictures below).

For our upcoming Rodeo Dance on 11/17, please sign up to help donate items for the event.

Please note that dinner will not be sold or served at the dance. Please eat beforehand, bring your refillable water bottle, and enjoy complimentary desserts, fruit and water!
Help make this event a success!

• Sign up to bring baked goods to the front office by Thursday Nov 16.

Tenga en cuenta que no habrá comida tipo cena y no se venderá comida en el baile. ¡Coma con anticipación, traiga su botella de agua reusable y disfrute de postres, frutas y agua de cortesía!
¡Ayuda a que este evento sea un éxito!
Regístrese para llevar productos horneados a la oficina principal antes del Jueves 16 de Noviembre.

We're thrilled to share that we've raised $15,437 for our fund, thanks to your incredible support! While we didn't quite meet our $20,000 goal, your contributions have been invaluable. Direct donations can be made any time during the school year! We still encourage everyone to support our PTA's important initiatives and our spring fundraiser later this year to be able to meet budget goals and provide important support to our teachers and students. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community.

¡Estamos encantados de compartir que hemos recaudado $15,437 para nuestro fondo, gracias a su increíble apoyo! No alcanzamos nuestra meta de $20,000, pero sus contribuciones han sido invaluables. ¡Se pueden hacer donaciones directas en cualquier momento durante el año escolar! Todavía animamos a todos a apoyar las importantes iniciativas de nuestra PTA y nuestra recaudación de fondos de primavera a finales de este año para poder cumplir con las metas presupuestarias y brindar un apoyo importante a nuestros maestros y estudiantes. Gracias por ser parte de nuestra maravillosa comunidad.

Membership-

Congratulations to Ms. Fujiwara's 2nd-grade class for winning our PTA membership class contest! We now have 286 members at our school, and we are well on our way to our 500 member goal. We invite all families to become PTA members. Let's make our school community stronger than ever!

¡Felicitaciones a la clase de segundo grado de la Ms. Fujiwara por ganar nuestro concurso de clases de membresía de la PTA! Ahora tenemos 286 miembros en nuestra escuela y estamos en camino de alcanzar nuestra meta de 500 miembros. Invitamos a todas las familias a convertirse miembros de la PTA. ¡Hagamos que nuestra comunidad escolar sea más fuerte que nunca!

Thank you to every family who has pledged their support to continue programs and staff funded by the ED Foundation. As a final wrap up from Pledge Week efforts, we had 12% of families participating moving into 10/23 and exited the week at 23% of families with a donation year-to-date. Contributions are graciously received and needed throughout the year to continue to provide P.S. Arts, Music curriculum and instruments, classroom Aides, Farmer Mark, as well as Academic grants for our teachers. Thank you for making the Ed Foundation a priority that provides our students with unique advantages throughout the educational experience. For questions or to join Rogers’ Ed Foundation efforts, please email edfoundation@willrogerspta.com.

Every year, our district asks our staff and families to complete the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), an anonymous, confidential survey of school climate and safety, student wellness, and youth resiliency. Your input is very important to us. Please go to this link for more information. Use this link to complete the survey. We really appreciate your time and input on this.

Cada año, nuestro distrito les pide a nuestro personal y familias que completen la Encuesta de Niños Saludables de California (CHKS), una encuesta anónima y confidencial sobre el entorno y la seguridad escolares, el bienestar de los estudiantes y la capacidad de recuperación de los jóvenes. Su opinión es muy importante para nosotros. Por favor haga clic en este enlace para más información. Haga clic en este enlace para realizar la encuesta. Agradecemos su tiempo y aportes en esto. Por favor, háganos saber si tiene alguna pregunta. ¡Muchisimas Gracias!

CREST is still enrolling for both weeks of Winter Break and will soon open Registration for Winter after-school enrichment classes, Mondays-Fridays at Will Rogers. Please save the date for registration that begins 11/127 at 6am online and at 9am at Virginia Park. The full schedule will post in next week’s PTA newsletter.

Please label your child's water bottle, lunchbox, and clothing! The racks are already getting full. All teachers have a designated wagon/lunch cart/bucket they take outside at lunchtime. After eating lunch your children should place their items in their classroom's designated cart, BEFORE they go play! Help us remind children to follow this procedure. It will help keep the yard clean and their items returned home each day!

Will Rogers Learning Community is dedicated to creating a cooperative community where students can learn the value of conflict, strategies for managing conflict, and problem solving skills for win-win solutions to conflict. Near the close of last school year students in 3rd and 4th grades, nominated peers to be trained as a Peacemaker. We encouraged students to apply based on their desire to help others and their school. Peacemakers are current 4th and 5th grade peer mediators who are trained in mediation and negotiation skills in order to assist other students in resolving conflicts peacefully.

We are very proud of our Peacemakers for their dedication and support of the community at Will Rogers. They are easy to spot on the yard proudly wearing their Peacemaker jackets ready for service!

If you have any questions about this valuable program you can reach out to our school counselor Khatija Dadabhoy kdadabhoy@smmk12.org who helps facilitate this NEW program!

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.

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!

If you would like to help us with art cart during Tuesday lunchtime, please volunteer using the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040848ADA72EA0FF2-44895972-wrlc

We could use your support at recess lunchtime! If you would like to volunteer your time to support our students during recess or lunch, please complete this Google Form. We can really use your help and it can be a lot of fun! You can facilitate an organized game and just be there to support students as they play with each other. If you have already been cleared as a volunteer, you’ll meet with our assistant principal, Ms. González, to review yard expectations before starting. If you have not been cleared, you’ll need to complete the process to be a volunteer. Yard expectations will now be included as part of the volunteer training. Our volunteer training dates are listed on our school calendar.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Gabriela González, M. Ed, NBCT

Assistant Principal

ggonzalez@smmusd.org

If you are looking for a way to volunteer or want more information please fill out our volunteer form. If you have any questions please email our Volunteer VP Jessica Lew at

volunteers@willrogerspta.com. https://forms.gle/CRHSPjfZymg2c846A

Don't miss out on your chance to save 10% on the Will Rogers Community Yearbook! Order yours before October 31st to save! You'll get two free custom pages to customize by April 15th. Any questions, please reach out to wrlcyearbook@gmail.com

https://web.treering.com/create-account/1013782539131906?PassCode=1013782539131906

The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. Once a child or senior adult has been registered and accepted as an Angel their Christmas wish list is shared with donors in your community who purchase gifts of new clothing and toys. The gifts are distributed to the family to place under their family Christmas tree. Sign-up here information below.

Principal, Ms. Lila Daruty M.Ed

Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM