O C T O B E R
2 - 8 ,
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: SAFETY UPDATES
ANNOUNCEMENTS Cancellations Last Week – Unfortunately, I was down with the flu last week, so we had to cancel the Town Hall Briefings on Edison’s Achievement Data scheduled for September 25th. Some of this information will be shared at the ELAC Meeting on 10/16 at 8:30 am and at a special evening meeting on Wed 10/23 at 6:00 p.m. Please come if you’d like a look inside Edison’s achievement and survey data from last year and how we’re using it to inform instruction, programs and budget for this year. Welcome Back Maestra Jacqueline! Música en Español classes for PreK-2nd grade children have begun – as has a unique Edison program, the Parent Singing Circle! All are welcome to come learn about the music of Latin America, enjoy the fellowship of other parents, and learn and laugh in a supportive environment. Singers of all abilities welcome! Come on Friday mornings at 8:30 am in Room 109. Kid Biz/Achieve 3000 – In response to multiple parent requests to learn more about how to use this personalized learning program at home to support reading in two languages, Edison is holding a special Kid Biz Parent Seminar on Monday morning, October 14 at 8:30 am in the Computer Lab. This workshop will be most useful for parents of 2nd – 5th grade students. This program is a very useful tool for improving student reading. After School Music Enrichment in Spanish – This program is funded by PTA to provide students in grades 3-5 an opportunity to learn about, enjoy and perform choral music in Spanish. Led by Maestra Jacqueline Fuentes, this program meets Mondays from 3:10-4:10 pm in Room 107. There is no cost, but parental permission is required.
Strengthening Safety at Pick Up and Drop Off -- Our proposal to divide our campus during the school day into a Staff/Students Only Zone and a Family Waiting and Gathering area in “La Placita” was approved and is functioning well. Thank you for working with us so that we can still have on-campus waiting/ gathering areas for parents and have the fellowship of Cafecito on campus each Wednesday. I know it required an adjustment of some practices (and sometimes a longer walk!) but we are very appreciative of your support. To help increase at drop off and pick up, we also increased staffing to monitor gates and assist children at both front and back gates, and moved early morning waiting and games into the cafeteria, where Vicky Valadez watches over early arrivals. María Cortez watches the children in “La Placita” and Custodian Steve Morales monitors the internal gates. Coach Abraham Badillo, Campus Monitor Ofelia Rodriguez and I are at the Virginia Gate and Coach Alex Morales, and Campus Monitor Israel Valdivia are at the Kansas Gate. We’re also trying to make sure that every child gets a hearty greeting and welcome to school in the morning. Seeing so many of our students and families in the morning has become one of the most delightful parts of my day and I really miss being curbside when I have meetings that pull me away. In the afternoon, we’re asking that anyone needing to go into the Student/Staff Zone to pick up students from child care between 1:35 and 4:00 pm, stop in the office first, sign in and get a badge. After the office closes at 4:00 pm, only families who already have the code to the pedestrian gate can enter, so no badge is required. Practicing for Emergencies -- We’ve finished our initial round of all regular safety drills with students – fire/evacuation drills, duck and cover procedures, and practicing to shelter in place. These drills will happen on a regular schedule all year long. A little later this month, we’ll be participating in a statewide full-scale earthquake drill -- The Great California Shake Out! This drill -- on 10/17 at 10:17 am – helps us practice what to do in the aftermath of a large quake. The drill gives staff an opportunity to pull supplies out of our earthquake container and practice in teams for various scenarios that might occur in the aftermath of a quake. Care is taken not to alarm students during the drill and they bring books and games for the time that we are outside practicing. Should such a thing ever come to pass, we will care for children until parents can make it to campus. Parents would bring identification and come to a designated REQUEST GATE and be carefully reunited with children at a REUNION GATE. It’s a good time for all families to make sure that emergency cards contain the names of several trusted friends and family members who could pick up your child should you be unable to reach campus after a major quake. It’s also timely to review your home emergency supplies and earthquake plans! October 9 Yom Kippur Local School Holiday
October 16 ELAC – 8:30 am – Library Site Council – 4:00 pm, Room 100
October 17 The Great California Shake Out – 10:17 am