Principal's Pen
🌞 Welcome back, Will Rogers Parents and Guardians! 🌞
We hope your Spring Break was filled with sunshine and relaxation, because we're diving back into the excitement of learning with a solar twist! As we embark on the final stretch of this school year, we have some stellar science-related activities lined up just for you and your young scholars.
🔭 Eclipse Extravaganza: Get ready to witness a celestial spectacle on Monday, April 8, 2024! While we may not experience a total eclipse, a partial one promises to captivate us all. Starting at 10:06 a.m., watch as the moon gracefully glides across the sun's path. Remember, safety first! Our students will be provided with special ISO 12312-2 standard glasses for safe viewing. Rest assured, our dedicated teachers and staff will ensure every budding scientist enjoys this rare event safely.
🚀 PTA Association Meeting: Join us on Wednesday, April 10, at 6:00 p.m. for our April PTA Association Meeting. Whether you prefer in-person or virtual attendance, your presence and input are valued as we continue to support our learning community.
⚙️ STEM Challenge Family Night: Calling all families to a night of hands-on STEM exploration on Thursday, April 11, at 5:30 p.m.! Engage in exciting challenges and ignite your curiosity alongside our vibrant community of scholars.
Let's kick off our return from Spring Break with a bang! Together, let's make this week unforgettable as we delve into the wonders of science and solar phenomena.
Looking forward to seeing you all shine bright!
Warm regards,
Ms. Lila Daruty
Principal, Will Rogers Learning Community
STEM Challenge Family Night
We are excited to host our first STEM Challenge Family Night on April 11th from 5:30-7 PM in the cafeteria. Join us for a fun-filled event with other students and families at Rogers!
We would like every student and family member to have the best STEM experience and one thing we need to ensure this happens is preparing enough supplies for the challenge. For this reason, we are kindly asking any families who are interested in attending to please RSVP using this Google Form by Friday, April 5th. Here is the proposed schedule for the evening:
1. 5:30-6:00 PM - What is the Engineering Cycle? (This is when the challenge will be introduced.)
2. 6:00-6:30 PM - Building Challenge (Brainstorm, Plan, Create)
3. 6:30-7:00 PM - Testing and Share
RSVP to attend the event HERE, we look forward to this event!
IB Learner Profile of the Month: THINKER
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program of Inquiry Units of Study
before Spring Break classes completed:
Most grade levels are working on either their 3rd or 4th unit. Here's what each grade level worked on ...
Kindergarten - The students started their final unit - Sharing the Planet. This week, students were introduced to the phenomena about caterpillars. They also began thinking about why there aren't any monarch caterpillars since the Field was made into the Garden?
First Grade - The students came to the STEM Lab to learn about why do stars come out at night (see pictures)? They also learned about why does the moon look different in different places?
Second Grade - The students learned about heroes in our society.
Third Grade - The students did their House Building Engineering Challenge (see pictures below).
Fourth Grade - The students learned about the industries in California.They also continued building their towns and working on persuasive writing for the unit.
Fifth Grade - The students came to the STEM Lab to create a freshwater collection system (see pictures below). They also learned about water vapor and condensation.
WRLC CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Will Rogers Learning Community Early Education Building Project
Phase 1 of the Campus Plan
(March 28, 2024 Update)
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is excited to share that construction at Will Rogers Learning Community is underway. The 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. The construction team is diligently working on the development of a new multi-sports turf playing field, slated to be completed by 2024.
Environmental Safety Note:
Most school construction projects, both in the state and nationwide, incorporate an asbestos abatement phase. We adhere strictly to environmental regulations, which mandate testing prior to commencement of construction. In a recent case, asbestos was detected within the tar content, sandwiched between layers of asphalt. Similar to older homes or buildings where asbestos remains inert and occupants live without health risks, the asbestos found in this instance posed no threat as there was no potential pathway for exposure. The asbestos content originated from adhesive used to bind a layer of asphalt to another during a maintenance endeavor conducted decades ago. Proper removal procedures necessitate that workers adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, donning protective suits and masks. Importantly, students and staff are not exposed to this material as it is encapsulated within the tar of the asphalt. Site monitors diligently record air samples and dust contents, and work halts whenever wind speeds exceed 15 mph.
Current Construction:
The contractor has finished removing the asphalt from the play area and basketball courts, necessitating the use of 40 truckloads. Next, the soil in the grass field will undergo excavation and removal to create space for the foundations of the new building. These initial steps are crucial for preparing the groundwork for the upcoming artificial turf field and laying the foundations for the new early elementary building. Currently, the contractor is in the process of obtaining permission from the designated dumpsite to accept around 200 truckloads of soil extracted from the large grass field.
Continued Work:
A. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ramp and Access: A fresh pathway will be established for teachers and staff, connecting the 16th street parking lot directly to the classrooms. The new entry gate will be positioned near the garden fence line, granting access to the site through Buildings U and Q. The contractor is currently engaged in installing the new entry gate along with an ADA-compliant access ramp from the staff parking lot. Completion of the ramp and paving is anticipated by the end of March 2024. Following spring break, this upgraded pathway will serve as the designated entrance for teachers and staff.
B. Temporary Restrooms: On March 3, 2024, a semi-permanent restroom facility was transported to the school premises to serve students and parents during after-school events. This new addition replaces the previous restroom located near the basketball courts and ball walls. Presently, the contractor is in the process of connecting water, power, fire alarms, sewer lines, and ramps to facilitate the functionality of the new restroom building.
C. Site Demolition: The process of removing asphalt began in late February 2024 and concluded by mid-March 2024. Soil excavation and removal are slated to commence during the spring break period and may entail occasional loud noises. The construction team is committed to minimizing disruptions and will strive to expedite the work to reduce the duration of noise. Dust control measures are being implemented by the contractor, with daily monitoring conducted by a testing agency using specialized equipment.
D. Site Utilities: The contractor is constructing pathways for the electrical supply to the new elementary building as well as for the exterior light poles.
E. City Utilities Service: The construction team has collaborated with the City of Santa Monica to rearrange pedestrian crosswalks, driveways, and connections to utility sites. This project is scheduled to commence during the spring break period and will primarily affect the 16th Street roadway. Closure of the street is planned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, students will not be affected as they will be away during the spring break. 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.
FIFTH GRADE UPDATES and INFORMATION
Wed. 4/17 5th grade Panoramic Photo @ 11:00 a.m. Wear a big smile!
ISPE applications for 2024-25
We wanted to share with you for your 5th grade parents that may be interested in applying for Independent Study PE next year for their child.
Here is the link to the ISPE applications for the 2024-2025 school year that are due April 12th 2024 by 4:00pm. It is important to remind families that late applications will not be accepted.
If parents have any specific questions that you do not have the answer to, you can refer them to me.
Dr. Joseph Eure, Assistant Principal. 310-452-2326 x 72-217
The 5th grade is scheduled to attend Pali Camp May 1-3, 2024 (Wednesday-Friday).
Final day for donations for Pali camp are due on April 12, 2024. Please consider making a donation to WRLC, if you have not already. If you were unable to attend the Pali Camp Information meeting last week below is the recording. Watch the Recording Passcode: 5.4Gn86P
Join the 5th grade Parent Planning Committee. We need your voice and volunteerism. Sign-up here
Student Council Newspaper!
We are proud to publish the Student Council Newspaper! Read all about Will Rogers from the student perspective! Great job students!
WRLC Cell Phone and Electronics Policy
This is a friendly reminder regarding students who wear Smartwatches. At WRLC, we make every effort to avoid interrupting instructional time and therefore do not allow cellphones and other electronics in classrooms. If your child wears a smartwatch, please remind them that they are to keep it in their backpack or on school-mode during the school day.
Students are not permitted to have cell phones on campus. If it is an emergency, students can go to the main office and call home. Other personal electronics from home such as Nintendo Switches, iPads, Kindles etc. are not permitted on campus. WRLC is not responsible for lost or stolen items. If a student uses their cell phone during school hours, it will be confiscated and held until the end of the school day and must be picked up by a parent. In no event or circumstance, will the district or its staff be held responsible or liable for the loss, theft, or damage to any such device.
IMPORTANT: During our upcoming 3rd- 5th grade state testing, students may not wear iwatches, gizmos etc. in the classroom. Students will be asked to place electronics watches in their backpacks or better yet, please leave them at home.
ED FOUNDATON
Although Ed Foundation funding for Instructional Assistants has been secured for next year, schools’ discretionary Stretch Grants and P.S. ARTS are at risk of having less funding or not being funded at all next year. WRLC uses its discretionary Stretch Grant funding to fund our Regenerative Farm!
The time is now to donate! I am challenging everyone in Rogers Learning Community to make a donation today to the Santa Monica Education Foundation so that we can be sure to fund all of this in the coming school year!
Please visit the Santa Monica Education Foundation's website to be part of your child's success.While we’ve seen a surge, still more is needed to ensure retention of Ed Foundation-funded programs at Rogers - and at all Santa Monica public schools.
If you haven’t had a chance to contribute, please donate today at:
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!
"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.
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