RFK New Open World Academy

Dear NOW Families,

We are excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week at NOW Academy! This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the rich cultures, traditions, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities while celebrating the diversity that makes our school community so special.

🎉 Elementary School: Our elementary students will celebrate with a fun and engaging Spirit Week, giving students opportunities to show their pride, learn about Hispanic heritage, and celebrate the traditions that bring our community together.

🎶 Secondary School: Our students and families are invited to join us for our after-school Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Thursday, October 15th! We look forward to coming together to celebrate our cultures, recognize our shared heritage, and enjoy the spirit of our vibrant NOW community.

At NOW Academy, we believe that celebrating our identities and learning from one another helps us build a stronger, more inclusive community where every student feels valued, respected, and proud of who they are.

Thank you for partnering with us to make these celebrations meaningful for our students. Let’s continue to celebrate our diversity, embrace our traditions, and RISE to your PRIME!

With Bobcat Pride, 🐾

RISE to our PRIME

C. Vela, Principal

We are RFK NOW Academy! Bobcat Pride!

• The best attendance is in the 9th, 8th, 7th, and 11th! Congratulations to all of these grades for ensuring that our students are hear everyday to learn and achieve!
• Grade TK, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 5th, and 12th are in the decline this week! Teachers and family members lets continue to emphasize the importance of daily attendance. Learning happens when children are in seat! Parents ensure to send absence notes for all absent days.

We need your help! Join the team!

• Morning Valet
• Recess & Lunch Support
• Decorating for events
• Special Activities support

Upcoming Dates:

• October 20th @ 8:45 am
• December 1st @ 8:45 am

🎓 RFK NOW College Course Expectations

1. Own Your Learning
   • Attend every class, arrive prepared, complete assignments on time, and communicate with your professor when you need support.
   • “My education is my responsibility.”
2. Show Up as a College Student
   • Demonstrate maturity, independence, and professionalism. Follow college expectations for attendance, communication, academic integrity, and classroom conduct.
   • “I am learning to navigate college with confidence.”
3. Engage, Ask, and Advocate
   • Participate actively, ask questions, seek clarification, and use available resources. Don’t wait until you are struggling to ask for help.
   • “My voice and my questions matter.”
4. Represent RFK NOW with Excellence
   • Be respectful, responsible, and a positive representative of our TK–12 community. Challenge yourself to produce work that reflects your highest potential.
   • “I carry the Bobcat spirit wherever I learn.”

We offer the following college classes for our secondary students!

School Begins 8:30 am

Vela, ES, Lara Sec

Visual Arts Teacher Blasi

ES Dismissal 2:53 pm

Sec Dismissal 3:40 pm, ODD

SEC:

• Zone of Choice Student Selection: Ms.Regan's Advisory (Lara) 12:25-1:20 pm

ES:

• Hispanic Heritage Week Celebration-Sports Jersey
• Elementary Weekly Assembly-Zoom

ADMIN/Support Staff:

• Earthquake Search and Rescue Training Teams train, Zoom 4 pm (paid)
• ADMIN ILT-(Brier, Chong, Garcia, Gutierrez, Lara, & Vela) 9:00-10:00 am, Conference Room
• Vela, ETO School Leader Development 1-4:30 pm
• Vela @ Priority School Zoom, 2 pm

Weather: 64º, 57% rain

School Begins 8:30 am

Vela Sec, Lara ES

ES Dismissal 2:53 pm

Sec Dismissal 3:40 pm, EVEN

Tutoring 3:00-4:30 pm Math & ELA

ALL:

• Governance School Council, 4:15-6:15 pm, Zoom

SEC:

• Numeracy PLC 7:30-8:30 am
• 504 Parent Meeting 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Harper and Lara
• Zone of Choice Student Selection, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Ramirez and Lara
• MS Virtual Assembly, 12:30 pm-1:00 pm, ZOOM
• GAME ROOM-6th Grade Jimenez, 1:00-1:20 pm
• PSAT Digital Readiness 12:25 - 1:20 pm
• IEP Amendment 2:00-2:30 pm, Broussard and Lara
• Counseling Meeting @ 2:30 pm
• IEP 2:30-3:30 pm, Harper and Lara
• Literacy PLC 3:55 - 4:55 pm A210

ES:

• 1st/2nd PLC 7:15-8:15 am
• Hispanic Heritage Week Celebration-Concha Day
• TK/K PLC Meeting, 3-4 pm
• Theater

ADMIN/Support Staff:

• EDST Meeting: Corado 9:30-10:00 am, Lara

Weather: 73º, 5% rain

School Begins 8:30 am

ES Dismissal 2:53 pm

Sec Dismissal 3:40 pm ODD

ES Library

Tutoring 3:00-4:30 pm Math & ELA

ALL:

• Photo Day #1, MPR-Schedule
• ELAC Meeting #2, Parent Center 8:45 am-9:45 am, Garcia

SEC:

• IEP Amendment 11:00-11:30 am, Broussard and Lara
• Game Room 7th or 8th Grade-TBD 1:00-1:20 pm

ES:

• PLC 5th Grade 7:30 am, G205
• Hispanic Heritage Week Celebration-Bright Colors
• ES Library

ADMIN/Support Staff:

• A-G Principal Meeting 9:00-9:30, Zoom
• EDST 2:00-2:45 pm, Nunez and Lara

Weather: 81º, 1% rain

School Begins 8:30 am

Vela, Sec, Lara, ES

ES Dismissal 2:53 pm

Sec Dismissal 3:40 pm, EVEN

Tutoring 3:00-4:30 pm Math & ELA

ALL:

• Faculty Meeting 7:15 am-8:15 am, ESMPR Topic: Unified Against Hate, Advisory & Committees
• Photo Day #2, ESMPR-Schedule
• Great Shake Drill, Search and Rescue 8:30 am-9:30 am
• Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Event, 3:40-5:30 pm, HS Quad

SEC:

• IEP 11:00-12:30 pm, Harper and Lara
• 9th Grade Town Hall-Counseling, 12:15 pm-1:30 pm
• IEP 2:00-3:30 pm, Harper and Lara

ES:

• Hispanic Heritage Week Celebration-Fiesta Day
• 4th PLC 12:30-1:00 pm, 3-3:30 pm

ADMIN/Support Staff:

• School Counseling Dept. Meeting (Aquino, Martinez, Vargas-Rivas, Lara) 9:00 - 10:00 am Elementary Conference Room
• ETO-Impact Review Prep Session 9:30-10:30, Vela and Tanaka
• Vela B&G Weekly Check-in @ 12:00 pm, Vela
• Vela Building Council 1:30-3:30 pm

Weather: 89º, 0% rain

School Begins 8:30 am

Vela, Sec, Lara, ES

ES Dismissal 1:53 pm, PD Day

Sec Dismissal 2:40 pm, PD Day

ES Library

SEC:

• DUE: Off Track Letter 8th & 12th
• PD 2:55-3:55 pm, Topic: SCIENCE

ES:

• 3rd Grade PLC 7:25-8:25 am

• Hispanic Heritage Week Celebration-PJs

• PD 2:05-3:05 pm, Topic: SCIENCE

ADMIN/Support Staff:

• EDST 7:30-8:00 am, Corea and Vela
• EDST 7:30-8:00 am, Roque-Cuevas and Lara

Weather: 94º, 0% rain

"I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness-it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude."

-Brene Brown

This year, I ask that we lean into hope.

Hope for our students.

Hope for one another.

Hope for our school.

Hope for the collective future we are building together.

Let us begin and end this year believing that what we do together can make a difference—and that the best is still ahead. Let these snapshots be proof of the strength of our community.

We are still accepting students! Visit our main office to learn more!

October

10/15-Great Shake (FULL SAR)

10/15-Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Event

10/16-Class of 2027 and 8th Grade IGPs DUE

10/16-Data Dig

10/19-Red Ribbon Week

10/19-United Against Hate Assembly in Quad, 5th Grade Performing

10/20-Coffee with the Principal-5th Grade Performing

10/21-Faculty (Moved Due to Parent Conferences Sec.)

10/22-Parent Conferences Secondary

10/23-50th Day of School

10/23-HS Principals Organization Meeting 9-12

10/23-RDRS PM 5 DUE

10/26-ES Grade Entry Opens

10/27-Impact Review ETO

10/30-RDRS Screener DUE

10/30-Class of 2028 IGPs DUE

10/30-Annual Gate Report DUE

10/30-Fall Parade

11/9-11/13-Elementary Parent Conferences

11/23-11/27-Thanksgiving Week

12/18-Secondary Final Mark

12/18-Deadline for Mandatory Digital Citizenship Instruction