PTSA and Foundation Biweekly News

As we head into our Thanksgiving break, we want to pause and reflect on the many reasons we are so grateful to be part of the Newcomb community. As Presidents of the PTSA and the Foundation, it is truly an honor to work alongside such dedicated, caring, and generous families. Whether you volunteer your time, share your talents, or donate to support our programs, you continually ensure that Newcomb offers the very best for our students and staff. We appreciate you more than words can express!

These past few months have been filled with exciting events and countless memory-making moments. Our students are thriving, and our campus looks incredible! We extend our heartfelt thanks to our exceptional teachers, nurses, administrators, custodial team, and support staff for everything you have already done this year. Thank you as well to our committed families, whose unwavering support makes all of this possible. And to our wonderful students—who look good, think they can, work hard, get smarter, and show kindness every day—thank you for striving for excellence and for being the reason we love what we do.

With gratitude always,

Amber DeVeny, PTSA President

Lauren Arevian, NAF President

https://www.newcombacademyptsa.org/

https://www.newcombacademy.org

Middle School Career Day, hosted by Newcomb’s Sankofa Village, was an absolute hit! Centered around the theme “Be Bold, Be Curious, Be You,” the event delivered an inspiring message to every student on campus.

Professionals from a wide range of fields—law enforcement, mental health, culinary arts, sports management, real estate, accounting, education, engineering, and many more—led engaging, exciting, and informative presentations that kept students captivated throughout the day.

A huge thank you to our incredible Sankofa Village for organizing this outstanding opportunity. We’re also deeply grateful to the many professionals who generously shared their time, expertise, and enthusiasm. Special thanks to our teachers and staff for their support in making the event such a success.

And of course, thank you to our students for diving in with curiosity, confidence, and boldness—you truly made the day shine.

Heartfelt THANKS to our very giving PTSA volunteers working on scores of student-experiences! Your time, dedication and efforts for our school and kiddos is purely magical and beyond measure!

We are honored to serve as co-chairs for this year’s Middle School Career Day, hosted by Newcomb Sankofa Village. As members of the Newcomb community, we are passionate about creating opportunities that bring people together — connecting students, families, and professionals through shared stories and experiences.

This year’s theme, “Be Curious. Be Bold. Be You.”, encourages students to explore new ideas, ask questions, and discover how curiosity and courage can shape their futures. Career Day is more than a glimpse into different careers — it’s a celebration of community, connection, and possibility. Our hope is that each student leaves inspired to dream boldly, learn from others, and see that their passions can lead them anywhere.

With gratitude,
Kenna Welch & Anaiah Younger
Career Day Co-Chairs | Newcomb Sankofa Village

Hi, I’m Lorin Lawler. I’m the mom of two delightful kiddos—one in third grade and one in kindergarten. I enjoy helping out with all the things! From VIPing in the classroom to setting up decorations at events, I just love being part of this community, and I’ve made so many great friends and fun memories.

I started volunteering as a way to get to know other parents and quickly learned how important the work our parent organizations do truly is. I was eager to join the boards of both the Newcomb Academy Foundation and the PTSA. It’s incredibly rewarding to help plan community events and fundraise for vital programs such as literacy intervention as well as STEAM enrichment programs including art, science, music, robotics, gardening, and computer lab.

I look forward to many more years of volunteering!

Friday, November 21, 2025 will be Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Students and families are encouraged to wear purple tops (with uniform bottoms) on this day.

This is an annual event commemorated by the California State Senate since 2021, meant to encourage dialogue about Ruby Bridges' historic steps to integrate her elementary school in 1960. The Newcomb Sankofa Village is hosting the event and also November's Friends and Family Friday. Please stop by the tables in front of the school on 11/21 to learn more about Ruby Bridges and how to further her message of spreading kindness and activism to make the world better! Students and families are encouraged to watch Ruby's video talking about this year's walk.

Click the image above to donate to the Middle School Luncheon.

Note that you will be linked to Venmo and able to send a contribution to Jennifer Hadley,

our volunteer coordinator of this year's luncheon.

​Congratulations to all the students who participated in this year's REFLECTIONS Creative Arts Competition

The first place winners in each category and each age group have moved on to represent Newcomb at the Division Level of the competition. From there, they could move on to the state level and ultimately to the National Level! We'll let you know how they fare!

Ary B.—Literature, Kinder - 2nd Grade

Kennedy C.—Visual Arts, 6th - 8th Grades

Payton D.—Photography, 3rd - 5th Grades

Olivia E.—Film Production, 6th - 8th Grades

Scarlett L.—Photography, 6th - 8th Grades

Elizabeth M.—Film Production, 3rd - 5th Grades

Hunter N.—Visual Arts, Kinder - 2nd Grade

Averie R.—Visual Arts, 3rd - 5th Grades

Alena S.—Literature, 6th - 8th Grades

Alena S.—Music Composition, 6th - 8th Grades

Dawson T.—Photography, Kinder - 2nd Grade

Thank you Newcomb for making our Friday Night Fever Benefit Bash event and auctions a dazzling success! A special shoutout to our co-chairs Jessica Hiruma and Nadia Kast, as well as our planning committee and parent volunteers for pulling together an incredible event despite the weather. Full event recap coming soon.

We also really appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigated the Golf Classic rain delay. Stay tuned for more updates as we have them. We look forward to seeing all of you out on the course this spring!

Follow us on Instagram for the most up-to-date Foundation news: @newcombacademyfoundation

Stay in the Loop!

Join our Slack channel to get updates on meetings, volunteer opportunities, and fun social events throughout the year. Join our Slack here

PTSA sponsors Newcomb's Ground Education Program. As part of the program Middle School enjoys Lunch in the Garden one Tuesday per month. This month students tasted Granny Smith apples with a sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice, went bowling with a pumpkin, and scattered the remains of the pumpkins in the garden… putting nutrients back into the soil!

Click Here to sign up!

• 5K Run/Walk

• 1K

• Toddler Run

• Virtual 5K

Medals will be given to all finishers with awards for the top three 5K finishers in each age group. FREE shirt and goody bag guaranteed if registered by January 7th, 2026 at 11:59 pm, after that date your shirt may not be available.

The Course: Flat, fast, and scenic. It takes place at El Dorado Park East in Long Beach, near the train and playground area. If you’re looking to set a personal record or if you just want to take it easy and take in the scenery, this is the perfect course.

Any parent or adult wishing to volunteer to help in the classroom, chaperone a field trip, or help during a classroom or campus event must have VIPS clearance. Please fill out the VIPS application and submit the application along with TB test results to the school office. VIPS clearance takes approximately two to three weeks.

· If you would like to apply to become a school volunteer, click here for details: https://newcomb.lbschools.net/nav-1/vips

For the latest on other school info, CLICK HERE to check out Principal Thompson's latest newsletter. Topics include:

• Traffic Safety
• 5th Grade Leadership Gobble Grams
• Lost & Found
• New Skate Dogs Session
• National Ruby Bridges Day
• Friends and Family Friday
• VIPs Information
• Attendance Notification Link
• School Meal Menu
• Middle School Corner
• High School of Choice Info
• Middle School Corner
• Sports Updates
• 2025/2026 Events Calendar Link
• Nurse's Corner
• Newcomb School Site Council Agendas & Minutes
• ELAC Agenda & Minutes
• 2025-2026 Schedules/Important Policies/Procedures
• After School Supervision
• Staff Contact Information
• Kids' Club Contact Information
• Title IX Parent Notification
• UCP