Will Rogers Roundup

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Mon. 9/14 PS Arts begins TK-5th grade

Tues. 9/15 4th/5th grade music begins on Tuesday and Thursday

Tues. 9/15 (NEW DATE) Back-to-School Music Night (Zoom), 6 pm -8 pm (flyer)

Thurs. 9/17 Fire Drill at 10:30am

Thurs. 9/17 ELAC Meeting in library 8:30 a.m.

Thurs. 9/17 School Site Council Meeting 3:15-5:00pm on Zoom

Fri. 9/18 Picture Day

Mon. 9/21 No school - Local Holiday

Tues. 9/22 School Tour for Prospective New Families @9:00-10:15am

Fri. 9/25 School-wide Assembly/IB Awards (Principled) at 8:30am on track/field ( Everyone welcome to attend)

Fri. 9/25 Fall Rodeo Dance in auditorium 6-8pm

Mon. 9/28 Monday “Meet up” with the Principal @8:15 a.m. ( in front of school)

Mon. 9/28 Spanish class begins 1st-5th grades

SMMUSD Calendar 2026-2027

WRLC PTA Calendar

*For a school instrument, fill out the form at this link:

https://smapa.formstack.com/forms/smmusd_instrument

Some families are choosing to rent their own instruments. Here's a link to do that:

Santa Monica Music Center (Located in Santa Monica)

https://santamonicamusic.com/smmusd

*For families requesting a school instrument, please keep in mind that music teachers often have to transport many instruments from other sites. This process can take up to two weeks. Thank you in advance for your patience as we try to fulfill all requests🙏. Everyone that requests an instrument WILL get an instrument. If your child does not have an instrument immediately, there is plenty to work on! Please review materials in their music book and start to work on note and rhythm memorization. Music classes review many concepts leading up to playing the instruments.

If you would like to review the Zoom Back to School Music Night presentation and materials, go HERE.

For class-specific questions, contact the following music teachers by class:

• Choir/Voice: Lindsay Okumura, lokumura@smmusd.org

• Flute/Clarinet/Bells(percussion): Heather Klenk, hklenk@smmusd.org

• Trumpet/Trombone: Sean Pawling, spawling@smmusd.org

• Violin: Jar-el Garcia, jgarcia@smmusd.org

• Viola/Cello: Kirsten Berch, kbersch@smmusd.org

The Read-a-thon is officially underway! We’re kicking off two fun weeks of reading, and there’s lots happening at Rogers. Check out this week’s newsletter for all the Read-a-thon details, upcoming events, ways to get involved, and more!

Sign up, track your reading minutes, and share your fundraising page with friends and family. Every page helps support Will Rogers students, enrichment, and PTA programs!

🎉 Fun prizes include:

• A Mini Reading Buddy just for registering

• Individual reader & fundraiser prizes

• A pizza party for the top fundraising class,

• The Golden Book Trophy for the class with the most minutes read!

https://willrogerspta.rallyup.com/c/b8b5eb

Dear Families,

In SMMUSD, safety is always our top priority. We conduct regular emergency drills (fire, earthquake, lockdown, and shelter-in-place) throughout the school year to build muscle memory and reduce panic. Practice helps young children stay focused instead of freezing, builds automatic reflexes, and ensures our students and staff can respond quickly and safely during a real crisis.

Upcoming Emergency Drill

• Type: Fire Drill

• Date: September 17

• Time: 10:30 AM

Important Information for Families

• Plan Ahead: Please make necessary arrangements to work around our scheduled drill times.

• On-Campus Visitors: If you are on campus when a drill begins, you must remain on campus for the entire duration of the exercise.

• Early Pick-Up Protocol: If you need to pick up your child early or during the drill, you must follow official drill safety procedures. Pick-ups during this time will take place exclusively at our designated locations:

• Request Gate: 16th St. staff parking lot gate (by the field)

• Reunion Gate: 16th St. sidewalk gate

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school community safe and prepared!

Parent can access to score reports for CAASPP, ELPAC and Star are available to parents in the Aeries Parent Portal. Hard copy score reports are not mailed home. This video helps explain to students & parents/guardians on how to access their portals. You can also share this guide with parents on how to locate their Test Scores and State Test Scores Reports: Parent Portal (English) and Parent Portal (Spanish)

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.
• There is drop-off valet available on 14th street

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 or the front gate

GOOD NEIGHBOR REMINDER:

• Parent parking can be found within our 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.
• Please be courteous and kind to our amazing crossing guards who help our students arrive safely at school each day!

Stay connected and informed by reading our weekly PTA Wednesday newsletter, filled with information about upcoming school-wide events and fundraisers, important opportunities, advocacy alerts, PTA meeting announcements, and more. To sign up for email updates, contact communications@willrogerspta.com.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is excited to launch free Folklórico dance classes for the 2026–27 school year! Students will meet twice a week after school to learn traditional Mexican folk dance — building skills, confidence, and cultural connection along the way. Class start dates are being finalized (details coming soon), and sessions will be offered at the following school sites:

Elementary Sites and Schedules

Edison Language Academy Cafeteria

2402 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Wednesday and Friday 3:30-5:00 P.M.

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

Will Rogers has earned the 2025–2027 National PTA School of Excellence designation, as well as being one of only three PTAs nationwide to earn the additional Hearst Award for family engagement innovations. These honors recognize our commitment to making a difference for students and families and reflect what we can accomplish together to strengthen our school community, support our children, and create meaningful opportunities for every family.

We’re proud to help build strong community that makes Will Rogers special. Through PTA events and programs that bring families and educators together, we create connections that help our students thrive. These shared experiences strengthen relationships, support our teachers, and make Will Rogers a welcoming place for every family.

Fostering a vibrant, supportive learning environment helps make learning more enjoyable and meaningful for your child.PTA efforts support student well-being, improve academic outcomes, strengthen school-family partnerships, and help every child thrive.

As a PTA School of Excellence, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where every family feels heard. Through family events, PTA meetings, and community initiatives, we elevate your voices by listening to your ideas, concerns, and priorities. Your input helps shape our community, strengthen family engagement, and guide the work we do together. Add your voice to the conversation by joining the PTA, volunteering, or supporting our initiatives.

Sign-up to help make this event a roping, romping good time! Whether you can volunteer during the event or bring a sweet treat, every little bit helps (especially a DJ — if that’s you, reach out)!

Ready to pitch in? Click the link to sign up!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0B4CADA82BA7FA7-61820866-family

We are hosting a FREE event for students to work with Ms. Heather and other teaching artists to help with their submissions!

Double Your Impact: $25K Match Challenge On NOW!

Right now until September 24th, every dollar you give to the Santa Monica Education Foundation will be matched up to $25,000 thanks to Kindo!

Your gift powers the programs our students count on in academics and the arts. This year, funding will also extend to competitive athletics in our middle schools and Samohi. Now, your donation goes twice as far to keep these opportunities thriving in every school.

Please give generously by Thursday September 24th smedfoundation.org/donate and watch your impact multiply for Santa Monica students!

Tickets on sale now for the Samohi Legacy Tailgate!

The Santa Monica Education Foundation and Tyler Skaggs Foundation proudly present the Samohi Legacy Tailgate, a celebration of the student-athletes, coaches, and community members who make Santa Monica school sports so special. Join us on September 18th for a fun-filled evening honoring the legacy of athletics in our schools and the exciting future we are building together. Enjoy the tailgate experience and watch the Vikings Homecoming football game from the top of the Exploration Building or down on the field.

Please note that this is an adults-only event (21+). Tickets are on sale now! Visit www.smedfoundation.org/legacy-tailgate to learn more and grab your spot.

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.

MENU HERE

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.

The Weekend Bag Program (WeB) provides SMMUSD students with nutritious, easy-to- prepare bags of food containing 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 snacks for the weekends. The Weekend Bag Program is available to serve to all SMMUSD students. Student names are not identified to Weekend Bag Program volunteers to ensure participant privacy. Weekend Bags are packed by volunteers with enough shelf-stable food (including UHT milk) for breakfast, lunch and snacks for two days. Participating students pick up the opaque nondescript bags, usually from the school office after school on Fridays, and stick them in their backpacks. The menus have been evaluated by a dietitian to meet federal school nutrition standards and provide a balance of healthy, nutritious non-perishable foods. Families wishing to enroll their students should contact our school’s Bilingual Community Liaison, Nallely Gutierrez, n.gutierrez@smmusd.org or 310 828-0335 X61311 and fill out a Program opt-in form.

El Programa de Bolsas de Fin de Semana (WeB, por sus siglas en inglés) proporcionará a los estudiantes de SMMUSD bolsas de alimentos nutritivos y fáciles de preparar para los fines de semana. Los estudiantes participantes de WeB se identifican a través de un formulario de registro de interés o de Enlaces Comunitarios Bilingües (BCL, por sus siglas en inglés). Los nombres de los estudiantes no se compartirán con los voluntarios de WeB para garantizar la privacidad de los participantes. Los voluntarios llenan bolsas de plástico reutilizables con alimentos no perecederos (incluida la leche UHT) que contienen dos días de desayunos, almuerzos y refrigerios, y luego las llevan a la oficina de la escuela o al espacio de distribución designado. Los estudiantes participantes recogen las bolsas de alimentos y las colocan en sus mochilas. Un dietista ha evaluado los menús para garantizar que cumplan con los estándares federales de nutrición escolar y brinden un equilibrio adecuado de alimentos no perecederos, nutritivos y saludables. Las familias que deseen inscribir a sus estudiantes en el Programa de Bolsas de Fin de Semana deben comunicarse con Nallely Gutierrez, n.gutierrez@smmusd.org o al 310-828-0335, extensión 61311, y completar un formulario para inscribirse en el programa.

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.

Email: ldaruty@smmusd.org
Website: https://rogers.smmusd.org/

Location: 2401 14th street Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: 310-452-2364