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Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

This Friday, February 2nd, your child’s Standards Based Report Card will be sent home in your child’s backpack. It is remarkable to see how much students have grown and continue to make progress towards grade level standards. It is also a testament to the commitment and skill of our teachers and the partnership and active role parents have taken in your child’s learning. Teachers spend considerable time grading, assessing and crafting individualized comments to share with you regarding your student’s progress. Please take time to review the report and its contents. Please return the signed envelope to your child’s teacher. Should you have any questions or concerns please contact your child's teacher. For more information on grading you can reference these links: Report Card Guide and La guía de la libreta de calificaciones.

This week:

Wednesday, Jan. 31st is our PS Arts Family Night@ 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium. The whole family is invited to create art together, at school! The professional Teaching Artists from P.S. Arts will lead a hands-on project for all ages to experience the visual arts curriculum we’re fortunate to have at Will Rogers, thanks to donations to the Ed Foundation.

Please consider donating to the Santa Monica Education Foundation today! For those of you who have not yet made your donation to the Ed Foundation this school year, I encourage you to do so. Thank you to those Rogers families who have already made a donation! Help our students soar! www.smedfoundation.org/donate.

In partnership,

Principal Daruty

Wed. 1/31 PS Art Family Art Night from 6-7 p.m.

Thurs. 2/1 SMMSUD Board Meeting @ 6 p.m. (not the usual 5:30 p.m.) at the district office and on Zoom. View the agenda here.

Fri. 2/2 Standards Based Reports Cards go home to parents/guardians

Wed. 2/7 Crossing Guard Appreciation Day

Sat. 2/10 Will Rogers’ Grown Ups Night Out returns at 6pm at Solidarity Restaurant

Wed. 2/14 Valentine's Day please see communication from your classroom teacher about sending cards to school. Please, no candy.

Mon. 2/19 NO SCHOOL in observance of President's Day

Mon. 2/12 Volunteer Trainings 8:30, 3:00, 6:00p.m.

SMMUSD 2023-2024 Calendar

Will Rogers Learning Community Early Education Building Project

Phase 1 of Campus Plan

(January 2024 Update)

Construction of the new early education building, and new track and field is underway at Will Rogers Learning Community (WRLC). A groundbreaking ceremony held on Dec. 8, 2023 kicked off the start of Phase 1 of the Rogers’ Campus Plan.

The project will include: outdoor natural learning spaces adjacent to seven classrooms, new basketball courts, handball walls, and turf field for use of school and city use.

A. Construction crews have fenced off the following work zone areas:

· Large grass area used for soccer field

· Ball walls, asphalt court, basketball courts located on the east side of after-school play area

· Restroom building, building P1, P2, around afterschool program area

· Some parking stalls near the teacher parking lot adjacent to the garden area

B. Shaded structures:

Contractor has installed four new shaded structures adjacent to the small grass play area. Some asphalt repair will be completed near the shaded structures in early February 2024.

C. Temporary restrooms:

Contractor has trenched and installed underground electrical, plumbing, and piping to service a portable restroom located on the north side of the school. This will be for the use of parents and staff during after-school programs.

D. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp and entry gate access:

Contractor is preparing and installing footings for a new entry gate and ADA access ramp for teacher parking lot.

E. Site demolition- Contractor is preparing to demolish outdoor restroom building, two portable classrooms, and ball walls by removing utilities connections.

F. Site utilities- Construction crews are working on future pathway for main site electrical for the new elementary building.

G. City utilities service- Contractor is coordinating with the City of Santa Monica to relocate pedestrian crosswalks, driveways and connections to new public utilities.

Thank you for your ongoing patience.

This week the Ed Foundation’s last fundraising push of the school year comes to an end on Wednesday, January 31. The funds raised by your donations are vital to our school. Programs like PS Arts (15 weeks), World Compost, recorders for 3rd graders, music lessons for qualifying students, as well as staff including Farmer Mark and instructional assistants are only made possible by donations to the Ed Foundation.

Next month, the school district will decide on SMEF-funded programs for schools. Next year’s programs will be based on donations collected through 1/31. If goals are not met, it means funds may not be available and programs could be cut.

If you have already donated, thank you so much for supporting our enriching educational programs. If you have not yet made a donation, now is the time. I encourage you to make a donation to the Ed Foundation - of any amount - as even the smallest amount will make a difference and counts towards your family’s participation at any SMMUSD school where your children attend.

Currently participation in donations to the Ed Foundation from Will Rogers families is at 29%. The school goal by Wednesday is 40%. If we reach our School Goal, all students will enjoy a Dance Party at Recess. As an added incentive, the Roger grade level with the highest participation will receive a Popsicle Party!

Please join me to make a huge difference in your child’s education. Donations to the Ed Foundation can be made at SMEF.link/Rogers

Each day at recess we are rolling out a game cart for students! We are looking easy to set-up board (For example, (not monopoly) Jenga, Guess Who? Uno, chess and checkers. If you would like to contribute to our game cart please bring games to the front office!

If you were unable to attend the Pali Camp Information meeting last week below is the recording.

Topic: Pali Camp Zoom Meeting

Date: Jan 25, 2024 6:21 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Watch the Recording

Passcode: 5.4Gn86P

The 5th grade is scheduled to attend Pali camp May 1-3, 2024 (Wednesday-Friday). Be on the look out for a letter of intent and packet of information about the trip. It will be sent home this week by your classroom teachers!

Most grade levels are working on either their 3rd or 4th unit. Here's what each grade level worked on this past week.

Kindergarten - The students began their fourth unit - How the world works. The students engaged in a provocation with the game rug ball. They also focused on learning what is motion and force.

First Grade - The students began their fourth unit - Sharing the planet. The students were introduced to the unit phenomena and began learning about Animal survival.

Second Grade - The students began their fourth unit - Sharing the planet. The students were introduced to the unit phenomena and began learning about what land is made of. They also observed landforms and soil.

Third Grade - The students learned about behavior vs inherited traits. The students came to the STEM Lab to do the Fish and Sharks game where they learned how animals can survive in their environment (see pictures below).

Fourth Grade - The students began their third unit - Where we are in place and time. The students began this unit by discussing their understanding of key words for the unit. They also reviewed California geography.

Fifth Grade - The students finished their unit by presenting their learning about colonization and engaging in a Grand Conversation to share their learning.

Our PTA nominating committee is currently seeking applicants to consider for next year's leadership. We need to fill all positions to maintain programs we love, including movie nights, dances and fundraisers that support every classroom. There are lots of ways to help, from Career Day, STEM Expo and Book Fair (VP Enrichment), to building community with Incoming Kindergarten Events, Movie Nights, and Family Dances (VP Events), and more. Our PTA has several talented and tenured Committee Chairs supporting open VP positions. Please consider nominating yourself and others to help shape the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Nominations will prompt outreach providing more specific information to help you determine what may work. Please complete

Join fellow Will Rogers families, teachers and staff for GROWN UPS NIGHT OUT, February 10th at Solidarity Restaurant. Enjoy dinner, s'mores, and drinks at Solidarity's cozy outdoor patio while we raise a glass in support of our school. A live auction will include Lakers tickets, Principal for a Day, tickets to show tapings and more! Bring your best partner or your best pal to kick up your heels at our once-a-year party! Tickets available here:https://biddingforgood.com/willrogers/2024

We are grateful for community partnerships. Generous donations from the nonprofit organization, Santa Monica Assistance League, has afforded opportunities for Will Rogers students to experience camping opportunities during the school year and summer. We greatly appreciate Mrs. Susan Ferrell, from the Santa Monica Assistance League for her genuine care and interest in all our students in helping them fulfill their dreams experiencing the great outdoors camping, connecting with nature and being with their friends.

We are grateful to announce that once again the SM Assistance League will donate funds for our 5th grade trip Pali Camp.

Visit their website: https://www.assistanceleague.org/santa-monica/vc-home/about-us/

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.

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.

In November 2022, California voters approved Proposition 28: The Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, to provide additional funding to “supplement arts education programs” in schools. Proposition 28 will provide annual funding for arts education programs. The California Department of Education (CDE) anticipates providing these funds to SMMUSD for use beginning the 2024-25 school year. Allocated funds will be available for use for up to three years. The Prop 28 funds will come EVERY year as it was passed by California voters to support ongoing funding for arts education.

WRLC Advocacy groups such as School Site Council, ELAC and PTA have provided input to the school on the best use of these funds to enhance our existing arts programming. More weeks of visual arts instruction and TK-2 music or dance are some of the highly requested ways we will enhance arts education at Will Rogers!

If you would like to help us with art cart during Tuesday lunchtime, please volunteer using the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040848ADA72EA0FF2-44895972-wrlc

• February 8th at 9 a.m. at Roosevelt “Preschool and Kindergarten Programs and Readiness”
• March 12th at 4:30 p.m. at Webster Elementary “How to prepare for your child to transition to their next school”
• May 15th at 5:30 p.m. at Grant Elementary “Special Education Year in Review”

Fechas de los talleres de educación especial para los padres

• 8 de febrero a las 9 a.m. en Roosevelt "Programas y preparación para la preprimaria y jardín de niños"
• 12 de marzo a las 4:30 p.m. en Webster Elementary "Cómo prepararse para la transición de su hijo a su próxima escuela"
• 15 de mayo a las 5:30 p.m. en la primaria Grant Elementary "Resumen del Año de Educación Especial"

We could use your support at recess lunchtime! If you would like to volunteer your time to support our students during recess or lunch, please complete this Google Form. We can really use your help and it can be a lot of fun! You can facilitate an organized game and just be there to support students as they play with each other. If you have already been cleared as a volunteer, you’ll meet with our assistant principal, Ms. González, to review yard expectations before starting. If you have not been cleared, you’ll need to complete the process to be a volunteer. Yard expectations will now be included as part of the volunteer training. Our volunteer training dates are listed on our school calendar.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Gabriela González, M. Ed, NBCT

Assistant Principal

ggonzalez@smmusd.org

If you are looking for a way to volunteer or want more information please fill out our volunteer form. If you have any questions please email our Volunteer VP Jessica Lew at

volunteers@willrogerspta.com. https://forms.gle/CRHSPjfZymg2c846A

Don't miss out on your chance to save 10% on the Will Rogers Community Yearbook! Order yours before October 31st to save! You'll get two free custom pages to customize by April 15th. Any questions, please reach out to wrlcyearbook@gmail.com

https://web.treering.com/create-account/1013782539131906?PassCode=1013782539131906

Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://www.smmusd.org/rogers
Location: 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90406
Phone: 310-452-2364
Twitter: @WillRogersSTEM