Escalona Weekly Newsletter

Monday, September 28th

• Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) — First 10 min. of school📚
• Fire Drill @ 1 pm
  

Wednesday, September 30th

• College or Trade Shirt Spirit Wear Day
• Special Education classes field trip Irvine Regional Park 🎃🍁🌻
• PTA Silent Auction at La Mirada High School

Thursday, October 1st

• Fall Picture Day 📸
• Mr. Louie Day 😃💙🦅

Friday, October 2nd

• Escalona Spirit Wear Day 💙

• Fun Run Fundraiser Concludes 💙💙💙

• Professional Learning Day (PLC)

• Fitness Friday🏀🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️

As part of our commitment to keeping students and staff safe, Escalona will conduct monthly emergency preparedness drills, including fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills. Our first drill will take place next Monday, Sept. 28th at 1:00 p.m. Please remind your child that this is only a practice drill designed to help everyone learn what to do during an emergency. Families will receive advance notice before each drill so that you can prepare and reassure your child. Thank you for helping us keep our Eagles safe and prepared!

We are excited to kick off our Read Cart program on October 1! This is one of our favorite ways to encourage students to read, read, read! Teachers will be sending home reading logs along with instructions. Students who complete 35 reading entries will earn FREE books from the Read Cart! 📖💙 Keep an eye out for the reading log and help your Eagle get started. 35 entries = free books! 🦅

The PTA Reflections competition is back, and we would love to see our Eagles participate! This year’s theme is “What My Culture Means to Me.” Students have an opportunity to express themselves and share their creativity through the arts. Please encourage your child to participate! We can’t wait to see how our Eagles bring this year’s theme to life. 🎨🦅💙Please see the information below for details on how to participate.

I would love to create more opportunities for us to connect, talk, and hear directly from our Escalona families. I’m hoping to begin Coffee with the Principal, an informal time for parents to come together, ask questions, share ideas, and stay connected to what’s happening at our school. Before we get started, I want to hear from you! Please complete the short survey below and let me know what days and times work best for your schedule. I look forward to spending some time together! 💙

Dr. Okpara

This October, our PBIS focus is SAFETY! At Escalona, we want our Eagles to understand that being safe means making choices that protect themselves and others.

Families can help reinforce safety at home by talking about:

• Walking safely in parking lots, hallways, and public spaces
• Keeping hands, feet, and objects to ourselves
• Following adult directions the first time
• Using playground and sports equipment appropriately
• Speaking up when something feels unsafe
• Making safe and responsible choices online

Ask your child: “What does being a safe Eagle look like?” When school and home reinforce the same expectations, our students hear one clear message: Eagles are respectful, responsible, and safe! 💙🦅

Saturday School is open to all Escalona students! It’s a great opportunity for students to enjoy a fun morning of learning and activities while spending time with friends and our staff. If your child has missed a school day, Saturday School can also help recover that absence. However, students do not need to have an absence to attend. Everyone is welcome! Check out our upcoming dates below and join us for a Saturday at Escalona. We’d love to see your Eagle there! 💙🦅

“Kids don’t need us to make everything easy. They need us to make it safe to do hard things.”

Thank you to the families who have labeled their children’s belongings! Please label all backpacks, lunchboxes, water bottles, jackets, and other personal items with your child’s first and last name and grade level. Clear labels help us return misplaced items quickly. We currently have several unlabeled items in the lost and found near the front gate. Please stop by and take a look so we can help these belongings find their way home!

We encourage you to read the student handbook and other important information with your child. This helps everyone understand our school’s rules, policies, and the resources available to support your child’s success. Let’s work together to make this a great school year.

Click the link below to access the handbook.

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to finalize our after-school programs and anticipate beginning the week of October 12. More details will be shared soon!

Daily attendance is key to student success. If your child will be absent, please call the office at (562) 210‑2745 or use the link below to notify our attendance clerk.

Click here to report your student's absence

All students receive free, nutritious meals for morning snack and lunch. Families are also welcome to pack their own food, but please remember that Escalona is a nut‑free campus due to severe allergies. Our menu is designed to be well‑balanced and support your child’s learning and growth, with options for different dietary needs. Click the link below to see this month’s menu.

Our local library offers amazing programs, contests, and resources for students and families all year long. Click the link to explore what’s available:

If you haven't already, please consider joining the P.T.A. by clicking here https://jointotem.com/ca/la-mirada/escalona-elementary-pta. The PTA is a tremendous source of support for our students and the programs and initiatives at Escalona. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Vision

Escalona fosters curiosity, confidence, and community by creating a safe, respectful, and responsible place where every child can succeed.

Mission

Our mission is to inspire students to think, collaborate, and do their best while building knowledge, character, and confidence for life.

Dr. Nnenna Okpara

15135 Escalona

La Mirada, CA 90638

Phone: (562) 210-2745