Will Rogers Roundup

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The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District celebrates Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month with a range of resources and cultural events that honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year in the United States from September 15 to October 15. These dates align with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American countries in mid-September and with Mexico’s Día de la Raza, also recognized as Indigenous Peoples Day, on October 12. The theme for 2025 is Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past and Inspiring the Future, “highlighting the importance of recognizing the history and achievements of Hispanic and Latine American communities while also focusing on their continued role in shaping the future.”

Dear Will Rogers Parents and Guardians,

It’s almost here—Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Day is Friday, October 10! This event happens twice a year—in October and May—and it’s our chance to show school spirit while helping the environment.

Here are the standings from May 2025:

1. Franklin Elementary – 79.4%

2. Grant Elementary – 77.9%

3. Will Rogers Learning Community – 69%

4. McKinley Elementary – 66%

5. Roosevelt Elementary – 53%

6. SMASH – 47%

7. Lincoln Middle – 38%

8. Edison Language Academy – 33%

We’re IN THE TOP THREE, CAN WE WIN THIS YEAR? We want the GOLDEN SNEAKER trophy! To move up in the standings, all it takes is everyone choosing not to drive on October 10. Mark your calendars, MUSTANGS—let’s walk, bike, or bus together and show our community what WRLC can do!

With appreciation and excitement,

Ms. Lila Daruty

Principal, Will Rogers Learning Community
ldaruty@smmusd.org

Mon. 10/6 Volunteer Trainings 8:30, 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. in the library. Not offered in zoom due to the nature of the trainings.

Tues. 10/7 SMMUSD Board of Education meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at MALIBU CITY HALL (23825 Stuart Ranch Rd., Malibu, CA 90265) and on Zoom. The agenda posted online.

Tues. Oct. 7th 5th Grade Pali Science Camp Parent Info. Night @ 7:00 PM. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 847 7698 3549 Passcode: 706204

Fri. 10/10 Bike It; Walk It Day @ 9:45 a.m.

Mon. 10/13 Indigenous People's Day

Tues. 10/14 Regenerative Farming Classes Begin

Wed. 10/15 Make-Up Picture Day

Wed. 10/15 Jules Stein Vision Screening for TK/K ( rm 303)

Wed. 10/15 PTA Executive Board Mtg. @ 6:00 p.m. via zoom

Wed. 10/16 GREAT SHAKEOUT State-wide Earthquake Drill @ 10 a.m.

Fri. 10/17 Monthly Student Peacemaker Mtg. Group #1 @9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria

Tues. 10/21 Prospective Parent School Tour @ 9:00 a.m. (You may have visitors)

Fri. 10/24 Monthly Student Peacemaker Mtg. Group #2 @9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria

Fri. 10/24 Fall Festival in the Regenerative Farm @ 3-5 p.m.

Mon- Fri.10/27 Dia De Los Muertos, Ofrenda Viewing in the Cafeteria

Fri. 10/31 School-wide: Halloween Costume Parade @ 9:45 a.m. Grown-ups Welcome!

SMMUSD Calendar 2025-26

WRLC PTA Calendar 2025-26

On behalf of Vons, I would like to invite you and your staff to participate in the Grand Opening celebration of our new Vons store located at 710 Broadway. One of the traditions we have at our grand opening celebrations is to donate to local community organizations. I am pleased to share the news that the Will Rogers Learning Community has been selected by the store manager, Greg Teems, and his team.

We have been awarded a 5,000k donation from VONS market! We hope to put the money to use to help pay for students to attend Pali Camp! If your child would like to be of service, there will a ceremony at 7:15 a.m. on Friday October 17th. They would like to have a few Rogers students attend the ceremony and receive the check. If you and your student is interested please email Ms. Daruty! ldaruty@smmusd.org.

We are excited to invite you to an important Science Camp Parent Meeting scheduled for October 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM. This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom for your convenience.

A representative from Pali Science Camp will be joining us to provide an overview of the camp experience and answer any questions you may have about the upcoming trip. To help you get a better idea of what to expect and to prepare any questions in advance, we have attached a Pali parent video for you to watch before the meeting.

Meeting Details:
Date: October 7, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Zoom Link: Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 847 7698 3549
Passcode: 706204

We encourage all parents to attend to ensure you have all the necessary information and feel comfortable with the arrangements. If you have any questions before the meeting, please do not hesitate to reach out to your 5th grade teacher!

Pali parent video link

It’s almost here—Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Day is Friday, October 10!

Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! is a week in which Santa Monica and Malibu families are encouraged to forego driving in favor of eco-friendly modes of transportation, like walking, biking, or taking public transit to school.Launched in 2007 by the Samohi Solar Alliance and managed by the City of Santa Monica’s Mobility Division for over a decade, Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! Week is now a school & parent-led initiative with the support of SMMUSD Sustainability staff and the GoSaMo Transportation Management Organization. In a region that models heavy reliance on cars, how do we teach our kids that it’s actually a great idea to take greener modes of transportation? Through a lot of hands-on experience — and SMMUSD’s Bike It! Walk It! Bus It! week is a great way for youth to start getting that experience. When SMMUSD students walk, bike or bus to school, they help improve air quality and reduce traffic. Their presence on our sidewalks makes our cities a better place and demonstrates that we are family-first, family-friendly communities.

Do you love WRLC programs? Want to make a direct impact? Join us in supporting the Ed Foundation during Pledge Week, October 6-10!

Your gift powers the programs and staff that make WRLC thrive, from P.S. ARTS to instructional assistants and more.

Pledge Week is the perfect time to give in the way that works best for YOU: you can give a one-time gift, set up a monthly donation OR pledge your support that day and pay any time before June 15, 2026.

We will have exciting announcements throughout next week. Don’t miss your chance to support WRLC students and make a lasting difference!

To donate or pledge, visit: smedfoundation.org/giv

We are so proud of our 5th grade students for launching our very own WRLC school newspaper!

Check it our using the link below! We’re now inviting all WRLC students to be a part of it! Each issue will include contributions from students in every grade — whether it's a fun idea, a creative story, carton, or a cool event to report on.

If you're interested in contributing to the newspaper, simply fill out a comment card located in the front office. Let your voice be heard — we can’t wait to see what you’ll share!

Our 5th Grade Newspaper Team:

Editor in Chief: Rollins P.

Organizer- Nolan D.

Reporter #1: Milan S.

Reporter #2- Ryder C.

Fact Finder: Rhys C.

Typist- Leah P.

We are so excited to invite families to join us on Friday, October 31st at 9:45 a.m. for our special morning assembly and costume parade! This will be a joyful community event where students get to showcase their creativity and celebrate together.

Students should arrive at school already in costume and ready to parade for their classmates. We encourage costumes that are fun, imaginative, and festive while also being responsible, safe and respectful.

Here are our guidelines to help everyone enjoy the day:

• Costumes should be school-appropriate and not unduly revealing.
• Choose costumes that reflect fun and creativity while avoiding cultural appropriation. At Rogers, we celebrate and respect all cultures.
• Please avoid costumes that are overly scary or gory, as these may frighten our younger students.
• Masks/face coverings may be worn only during the parade, not during the school day.
• Face paint is welcome!
• No toy weapons or props that resemble weapons, please.
• Avoid oversized or inflatable costumes, as they can make moving around classrooms difficult.
• Students may bring a change of clothes, but they must be able to change on their own without adult assistance.

If a costume is not appropriate for school, students may be provided with loaner clothing, or families may be contacted to bring a change of clothes.

We can’t wait to see the wonderful costumes, share in the laughter, and make this Halloween a fun and memorable experience for our entire school community!

Dear Parents/Guardians of 3rd through 8th graders,

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is happy to offer FREE Folklórico dance classes again for the 2025-26 school year. Participants will attend two classes after school each week. Classes will BEGIN SOON (Date TBD) and will be available at the following locations.

Elementary Sites and Schedules:

Will Rogers Learning Community Cafeteria

2401 14th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Tuesday and Thursday 3:15–4:45 P.M.

Middle School Site and Schedule

John Adams Middle School Room 111

2425 16th St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Tuesday and Thursday 5:00--7:00 P.M.

If your student is interested in taking the class at any of these locations, please complete the registration form: Folklorico Registration Form.

Please note: The jpeg of the web banner has the access code embedded in it for your school to be able to put on the school’s website for parents to access the storefront ordering site.

Please share this banner with your families so that they have the opportunity to pre-order a picture package.

What to expect on picture day

1. Any student wishing to have a retake should bring their original picture package to exchange for the retake image.
2. When an order is placed online, the parent/guardian will receive a camera pass via email. This can either be printed or texted to the student and brought to picture day. The photographer will photograph the printed camera pass along with the student.
3. If a student is not able to print their camera pass, that is not a problem. We will match up the student to their order manually in the production process.
4. A parent may order from the flyer up until 24 hours after picture day. After 24 hours, the online ordering access may close. This will allow our imaging team to "Pull" all orders submitted and match them with the students photographed.
5. When pictures are returned to school, all students that purchased pictures will receive their prepaid package. Any student that was photographed but did not order a package, will receive a "Proof" (PX) of their picture that was taken on picture day.

All proof packages offer parents a second opportunity to order prints. All orders are subject to shipping and handling costs of up to $8.50 and will be shipped directly to home.

Access School Picture Day Flyer and Web Banner

Access our secure site by clicking here: www.pictureportal.org or copy and paste this into your Chrome browser. Google Chrome is the required browser to run this site.

If you do not have your login information, on the login screen you can click Forgot Password to have your password reset and emailed to you.

• Click on Photo Events on the left menu

• Find the event for your upcoming picture day (school pictures, class groups, etc.)

• Click the View (first icon) to download the Flyer or to resend the email for your web banner link

• Feel free to contact your Sales Representative with any questions that you may have about picture day.

Thank you for your cooperation, we look forward to a smooth and successful picture day!

The Barksdale Group:
Barksdale School Portraits
Pictures with Class by Barksdale

The FALL FESTIVAL at our Regenerative Farm is coming up on Friday, October 24, 3-5 pm !!

We are looking for Volunteers to help with the planning/organization of the booths and/or setting up the tents and booths the morning of the event. All the details are in the sign-up below.

JOINING the organization of the FALL FESTIVAL is an opportunity to JOIN the Parents/Guardians Regenerative Farm Committee that we are forming for the 2025-26 school year. The Committee's tasks are to:

• Support the stewardship of the Regenerative Farm.
• Help organize the Regenerative Farm Events ready in the school calendar (monthly Family Farming Days, Fall Festival, Earth Week Farming Day), in addition to organizing harvests and other school community engagement activities.

For any questions, contact:

Paola Vezzulli, Program Director - Regenerative Initiatives [Cayton Children's Museum] email: pvezzulli@caytonmuseum.org

Sign-up Genius below for the Fall Festival:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090844A4AE2BA4FA7-49089752-wrlc

Students who are REFLECTIVE know what are their strengths and areas for growth. They try to think about these things, and they make changes where they can. They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and consider their personal strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner.

How can parents help to develop students who are reflective at home?

Have your child stop and think throughout the day about their behaviors. Assist him/her with focusing on the following prompts:

• Is what I'm doing appropriate? If so, explain why it is. If not, explain how it is not.
• How can I change my behavior? Have your child think of positive ways to make changes.
• Is the situation I am in a positive situation? If not, how can I make it a positive situation?
• Am I doing my best? Am I working my hardest?

Parents can model the above thinking process by talking aloud to themselves, ask and answer yourself these questions about things you are doing throughout your day. This way your child sees you working through the Reflection process, and can use your examples as their models to learn from.

* Model how to make mistakes, how to fail. And then, how to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. It's okay to make mistakes, making mistakes is part of learning. Being Reflective teaches us how to grow and learn from both mistakes and from positive experiences.

Our STEM Lab is the center for hands-on learning and creativity — and we need your help to keep it clean and ready for inquiry! We are looking for parent volunteers to assist with a quick cleanup and organization at the end of the school day. Even 15-20 minutes makes a big difference.

If you’re interested in helping, please contact Courtney Hayes at chayes@smmusd.org.

We are still seeking Nominations or SSC council. We will accept applications through this Friday. A ballot will be sent out on Sunday, October 12th in the Roundup.

The School Site Council (Site Governance Committee) meets at least 8 times a year (meetings are Thursdays 3:15-5:00 p.m. via zoom to:

• To develop, approve, and annually review a school plan, to be known as the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA).

• To plan, monitor and evaluate the school-based activities and expenditures for Consolidated Application Programs, including Federal, State and local funds.

• To follow the requirements of the Greene Act.

• To carry out all the other duties and responsibilities assigned to it in the Educational Code of the State of California.

The SSC is composed of elected members: staff (principal, teachers, classified staff) and parents/legal guardians, PTA board member of children currently enrolled at Rogers who are not employed by the school district. All members are elected for a two year term.

Learn more on our website HERE.

APPLICATION Please email to Principal Daruty @ldaruty@smmusd.org

If you would be interested in joining and need more information, please reach out to Principal Daruty. I will notify you when your nomination has been received.

Have you done your AERIES student data validation this year? If no, log in now to complete.

https://santamonicamalibu.aeries.net/Student/LoginParent.aspx

Data Validation Flyer - English

Data Validation - Spanish

• Score reports for CAASPP, ELPAC and Star Renaissance are available to parents in the Aeries Parent Portal. Hard copy score reports are no longer mailed home. These videos help explain to students & parents/ guardians on how to access their portals. Student Portal and Parent Portal.

• This guide with help parents ocate their Test Scores and State Test Scores Reports: Parent Portal: Test Scores [Aeries]-attachment.

Arrival to school: Gates open at 8:10 a.m.

• TK/Kinder use the designated TK/K gate off of 14th street. Students and families may play, and wait for pick-up from their teachers on the (old) TK/K yard. @ 8:25 teachers will meet and walk students and accompanying grown-ups to the new early learning building.
• 1st - 5th may use either the front gate on 14th street or the pedestrian gate on 16th street. Students and families should proceed to their classrooms.

Dismissal from school: (All teachers will escort students to these areas)

• TK/Kinder meet your children at the designated TK/K gate (adjacent to the old TK/ K yard) on 14th street.
  
• 1st - 2nd meet your children the TK/K gate (adjacent to the old TK/ K yard) on 14th street
• 3rd should be picked-up from the front gate on 14th street.
• 4th and 5th should be picked up from gate on 16th street.

*Families with children in multiple grades should meet at the designated gate of their youngest child.

REMINDER: Parent parking can be found on the neighborhood streets. Be sure to read the street signs! Please do not park in the staff parking lots or block driveways of our neighbors. We will continue to offer a valet on 14th street in front of the school.

• At WRLC, we make every effort to avoid interrupting instructional time and therefore do not allow cellphones and other electronics to be used during the instructional day. Students are not permitted to wear smartwatches or Gizmos in the classrooms. If your child wears a smartwatch, or has a smartphone, please remind them they are to be kept in their backpack turned off or on school-mode during the school day. We encourage parents to support us by leaving these items at home.
• Students are never permitted to use cell phones on campus. In the event of an emergency, the administration carry radios, teachers have cellphones and there is a school phone in every learning space. Under the advisement of our SMPD school resource officers, individual student cellphone use can actually hinder the delivery of important messaging necessary in a true emergency.
• Other personal electronics from home, such as Nintendo Switches, iPads, Kindles etc. are not permitted on campus. 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.
• Please help us ensure that our students have an electronics free learning zone at school.

• School materials including books, homework, projects, etc.
• Re-fillable water bottle ( We have several refilling stations on campus)
• A morning snack
• Lunch is available to all students free of charge. You may also pack a lunch from home.
• 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!

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students! Make a plan with your child each week about the days they will be eating food prepared at school or bringing lunch from home.

https://www.smmusd.org/domain/476

We encourage you to pack a snack for your children for morning recess.

Please send your child to school with a re-fillable water bottle! We have water stations located throughout campus.

Join the Will Rogers PTA for $10 to support activities and events that enrich your student's education and strengthen our school community.

https://jointotem.com/ca/santa-monica/will-rogers-elementary-pta

As an International Baccalaureate Programme School, we believe there is a broad range of capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. We make a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them. We do this through the development of students according to the IB learner profile. The profile aims to develop learners who are:

Inquirers

Knowledgeable

Thinkers

Communicators

Principled

Open-minded

Caring

Risk-takers

Balanced

Reflective

The IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

We encourage all families to submit the Free and Reduced Meals application by Friday, October 4. Although California provides free meals for all students, this application is crucial for determining eligibility for additional programs and resources, including Title 1 school designations for the 2026-27 school year. The state uses this form to assess which families qualify for benefits beyond free meals, so widespread participation is essential. To support this effort, please share the application link with your families and distribute the flier through your school's communication channels.

Application Link: https://bit.ly/MealApplications-SMMUSD

You can view and download the flier here.

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