Twain Community Newsletter

Dear Twain Staff and Families,

I hope you and your family had a wonderful, restful, and memorable summer break! It is my pleasure to welcome our entire Twain community back for the 2026–2027 school year.

As we begin another year together, we look forward to creating meaningful learning experiences, building strong relationships, and continuing to provide a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment where every student can thrive. We are excited to partner with our staff and families to make this another successful and Frogtastic school year!

Welcome to the Twain Family!

This year, we are excited to welcome several new members to our Twain team. Please join me in giving a warm Twain welcome to:

Adrienne Wong – 5th Grade Collaborative Co-Teaching (CT)
Rebecca Shelly – 4th/5th Grade Combination General Education
Jasmin Perez – TK Inclusion & 5th Grade Special Education Collaborative Co-Teaching (CT)
Kristin Cruz – 4th Grade General Education (Collaborative Co-Teaching Partner)
Linda Diep – School Nurse (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
Greg Pickens – Art Teacher (Mondays & Thursdays)
Minerva Juarez – Teacher Librarian (Wednesdays)
Coco Monroy- Cafeteria Aide

We are thrilled to have these talented educators and staff members join our school community. Their experience, dedication, and commitment to students will be wonderful additions to Twain.

New Classroom Teams

We are also excited to share several updates to our classroom teams and updates for the upcoming school year:

Mrs. Goodwin will be teaching our new 1st/2nd Grade Combination Class.
Mrs. Vandezande and Mrs. Garate will partner together as our new 2nd Grade Collaborative Co-Teaching (CCT) team.
Mrs. Cruz and Mr. Jessop will serve as our new 4th Grade Collaborative Co-Teaching (CCT) team.
Mrs. Celestial and Mrs. Perez (50%) will partner together as our new TK Inclusion Collaborative Co-Teaching (CCT) team and also support Mrs. Wong’s 5th grade classroom for the other (50%) of the time.

We also wish Mrs. Alford, Mrs. Ricard, and Mrs. Palacios-Ramirez the very best as they begin new positions at other schools within the Long Beach Unified School District. We are grateful for their dedication, contributions, and the care they have shown to our students, staff, and the entire Twain community.

These updates reflect our continued commitment to providing high-quality instruction, expanding inclusive learning opportunities, and ensuring that every student has the support they need to learn, grow, and succeed.

Celebrating New Chapters

As we welcome new faces and celebrate new beginnings, we also want to recognize several valued members of the Twain family as they begin exciting new chapters.

Please join me in wishing Mr. Leonard Hawkins, Mrs. Kelly Reed, Mrs. Shelly Gjersvold, and Mrs. Connie Broadway a joyful and well-deserved retirement. Their years of dedication, compassion, and service have positively impacted countless students and families, and their contributions to Twain will always be remembered. We wish them all the very best in retirement!

First Day of School

We can't wait to see our returning students and welcome our newest Twain Tadpoles on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 25th!

As a reminder, the first day of school is a minimum day for all students, with dismissal at 1:00 p.m., and as always, Thursdays are a 1:30 p.m. dismissal.

**ALSO, ALL TK AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS DURING THE FIRST 10 DAYS OF SCHOOL WILL BE MINIMUM DAYS (8/25-9/11). **

As always, thank you to our incredible staff and families for your continued partnership, dedication, and support. Together, we will make the 2026–2027 school year one filled with learning, growth, kindness, belonging, and many memorable moments for our students.

Lastly, please remember that Twain is a closed campus. During our regular arrival procedures, parents and guardians will drop off students at their designated gate entrance, where they will be warmly welcomed and supervised by our amazing recreational aides and Twain staff.

To help our students feel comfortable and confident as they begin the new school year, parents and guardians may enter campus with their child during the first two days of school. This will give families an opportunity to help their child locate their classroom and become familiar with where they will line up each morning.

Beginning on the third day of school (August 27), we will return to our regular closed-campus procedures, and families will say their goodbyes at the gate.

Thank you for helping us create a safe, smooth, and Frogtastic start to the 2026–2027 school year! 💚

LBUSD Back to School Guide: English and Spanish

Back to School LBUSD Informational video: English

Warmly,

Principal Gonzalez

Dear Twain Families,

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, I would like to share an important update regarding Twain’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P).

Beginning this school year, Action Youth America (AYA) will serve as Twain’s ELO-P before-school program provider. We are excited to welcome the AYA team to the Twain community and look forward to partnering with them to provide a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for our students before the school day begins.

Our ELO-P after-school program will remain with LBUSD, and families can expect the same program and support. The after-school program will continue to be overseen by our site supervisors, Jeanette and her team.

Our Twain team is working closely with Action Youth America, LBUSD, and our ELO-P partners to ensure a smooth transition for students and families as we begin the new school year.

Additional information regarding program hours, procedures, and other important details will be shared with participating families as we get closer to the first day of school.

We appreciate your continued partnership and look forward to another wonderful and Frogtastic 2026–2027 school year!

8/18-School Offices reopen to the public
8/21-TK/K Family Welcome Event 10-12 p.m.
8/21-Class Placements in ParentVue, 5 p.m.
8/24-Camp Oakes Registration Opens
8/25-First Day for students for the 2026-27 school year (1 pm dismissal)
8/25-9/11-**TK/K ON MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE**
8/26-Camp Oakes Student Orientation
8/27-Camp Oakes Parent Orientation 4-5 pm (Auditorium)
9/7-Labor Day-School Closed
9/8-908 Day, sponsored by 908 Magazine
9/10-Twain Back to School Night 5-6:30 p.m.
9/11-Rosh Hashanah
9/11-Big Smiles
9/14 - 9/18-Camp Oakes (Twain & Emerson)-Families mark your calendars!
9/17-District Back to School Night (1 pm dismissal)
9/24-District MS Back to School Night

October-National Principal Month

10/1-District High School Back to School Night

Dear Twain Families,

As we continue working together to support student success, we want to share an important update about school attendance and how it benefits our entire community.

Consistent, daily attendance is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s learning. When students are present, engaged, and connected to their school community, they have stronger academic outcomes and feel more confident in their learning.

We also want to share how attendance helps our district as a whole. Increasing attendance directly increases school funding, which supports classroom instruction, intervention programs, arts and enrichment opportunities, custodial services, safety, and so many of the essential staff who help our children learn and thrive. In fact, raising our district’s average daily attendance (ADA) by just 3% can generate approximately $24 million in additional funding.

To help you stay informed, LBUSD has created a Site Attendance Tracker, which allows families to monitor attendance trends across the district. You can explore it here:

🔗 Attendance Tracker: https://www.lbschools.net/about/budget-updates#attendance

Let’s continue working together to make attendance a priority. With your partnership, we can keep our positive momentum going and ensure every Twain student has the opportunity to succeed.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our students and please continue to help us Strive for 95!

At Twain Elementary, we are committed to fostering a respectful, safe, and supportive learning environment for all students, staff, and families. To ensure positive interactions and a strong school community, we ask all individuals on campus to adhere to the following Community Civility Agreements:

Respectful Communication

Speak in a courteous and professional manner with students, staff, and fellow parents/guardians.
Listen actively and seek to understand different perspectives.
Address concerns constructively, focusing on solutions rather than blame.

Appropriate Conduct on Campus

Use respectful language at all times; profanity, insults, or aggressive speech will not be tolerated.
Maintain appropriate behavior when engaging with students, staff, and other community members.
Follow school policies regarding campus visits, volunteering, and student interactions.

Conflict Resolution

If a disagreement arises, seek resolution through appropriate school channels.
Schedule meetings in advance to discuss concerns rather than addressing issues in an unplanned or disruptive manner.
Treat all staff and students with dignity and refrain from confrontational or intimidating behavior.

Student Safety & Well-Being

Model positive behavior and problem-solving skills for students.
Follow all school safety procedures, including check-in protocols and visitor policies.
Support a safe and inclusive environment by treating all students fairly and equitably.

These guidelines can also be found in Twain's Parent Handbook. Failure to follow these civility guidelines may result in restrictions on campus access or other appropriate actions in alignment with district policies.

Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and welcoming Twain school community!

As we begin another exciting school year, the safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority. With increased traffic around the school during drop-off and pick-up times, it’s crucial that we all take extra care to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

Most importantly, lets be kind, safe, and respectful to one another when dropping off and picking up.

Here are some important reminders:

Slow Down: Please drive slowly and carefully in the school zone. Reduced speed limits are in place for a reason, and adhering to them can make a significant difference in preventing accidents.
Be Mindful of Crosswalks: Always stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Our students rely on these crosswalks to get to and from school safely. Please be vigilant and patient.
No Double Parking: Double parking creates dangerous situations for both pedestrians and other vehicles. Please park legally, even if it means a short walk to the school.
Use Designated Drop-Off/Pick-Up Areas: To keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensure safety, please use the designated areas for dropping off and picking up your children. Avoid blocking traffic lanes.
Watch for Buses: Remember to stop when school buses have their stop signs extended. This is a critical safety measure to protect children entering or exiting the bus.
Stay Off Phones: Distracted driving is a major hazard. Please refrain from using your phone while driving, especially in school zones.

By following these guidelines and being mindful of our surroundings, we can work together to keep our school community safe. Let’s set a great example for our students by demonstrating responsible and respectful behavior on the road.

LBPD Traffic Complaint Form

This form can be used by anyone and it generates a log for our motors and patrol division to ensure that someone gets out to the location. (Click here)

Thank you for your continued cooperation and commitment to safety.