J A N U A R Y 3 0 - F E B R U A R Y
5 ,
2 0 1 9
El Semanario
Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:
ANNOUNCEMENTS WELCOME BACK MAESTRA JACQUELINE! – Música en Español classes, the Monday after school chorus (there’s still room available!) and the Family Singing Circle (Friday mornings) are launching their second semester this week. Maestra was able to spend some time in her native Chile over the holidays and enjoy some summer weather! THEATER INFORMANCES BEGIN NEXT WEEK – The informance for Seaside Preschool will be Tuesday, February 5 in Room 107. TK students will present on Thursday at 1:00 p.m in Room 107. We hope you can find a way to join us and celebrate what your children have been learning with Maestra Martha in their Theater Classes (in Spanish). VALENTINES DANCE AND DINNER – Join us as we celebrate the diversity in our community with raffles, delicious food, games, and dancing on Friday, February 8 from 5:308:30 pm. 5th grade parents are offering a delicious array of food (Pozole, Chicken Tinga, Venezuelan Empandadas, California Rolls and Veggie Sushi). Come celebrate! PROGRESS REPORTS COME HOME ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8 – These mid-year reports will let you know about the progress your child is making toward year-end standards. If progress is slower than expected, contact your child’s teacher for suggestions on how to help and/or to develop an academic improvement plan. Our goal is for ALL students to meet standards!
CELL PHONES AND SMART WATCHES AT SCHOOL We have seen a slew of smart phones and smart watches at school in January and they are a problem! We remind you that Board Policy does not permit elementary school children to bring mobile phones or signaling devices to school. We enforce the policy and you may need to come and pick up a device if we spot it and it’s out and on during the school day. Smart Phones and Smart Watches are devices that are more than a simple phone or watch. They provide access to the internet, take photos or video, send and receive texts, and are often loaded with game apps. They are generally quite expensive and break easily when dropped on concrete or blacktop. But even the basic flip phone with no internet access is not allowed at elementary school. These devices but can be very disruptive in class, often distract children from learning and physical activity in favor of trying to sneak in game or video time, and can give children unsupervised access to the Internet. They can also go missing – as we don’t have secure lockers where kids can store them while they move about the campus, go to lunch, recess, PE, etc. Here are a few actual examples of how disruptive these devices can be. A student’s watch goes off in the middle of a lesson in class. Everything grinds to a halt and all eyes are on this student – whose parent has texted to ask how their day is going. Several students are huddled in a corner of the yard around a device, trying to avoid staff attention and not playing at recess because they’re trying to play Fortnight or watch some cool video. Instead of paying attention in class, two students are trying to text each other under the table (the modern version of passing notes!). A child pulls out her phone and plays a favorite game each time her teacher’s back is turned. She’s missed valuable learning time -- but she’s great at Candy Crush! A child takes a device into the restroom and tries to take pictures of another student under the bathroom stall. An expensive device disappears from a child’s untended backpack. Child takes a device into the restroom and accidentally drops it in the toilet. We really want teachers to be able to focus their time on teaching and learning – not on trying to police devices that should not be on campus. If you believe that there is a safety reason why your child should be allowed to have such a device on campus (coordinating between two households, a frequently changing pick-up schedule, etc.) then come to the office and ask for a waiver. Write your rationale on the necessity for the device and sign the application. Please note that the school assumes absolutely no responsibility for these devices when they are on campus – with or without a waiver. Also, if a waiver is approved, the device must stay a child’s backpack the entire school day and may not be turned on during school hours. If these devices are turned on and if they are out during the school day, your child will lose the right to bring the device – even if we previously signed a waiver. Please help us keep the focus on learning!
January 30 – CRAZY HAIR/HAT DAY
February 5 – Lunar New Year – Happy Year of the Pig!
February 6 – Kindness and Justice Gallery Walk and Lunar New Year Cultural Tables