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Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS Applications for Next Year -- If you have a younger child that you hope to enroll in Edison for TK or K next year, you must obtain an application from Yoly (ext 61-305 or ygutierrez@smmusd.org ) and submit it by December 15, 2019 in order to claim a sibling preference. Enrollment is not automatic and if you apply after 12/15, you lose the sibling admission priority. If your older child is still an Edison student, you do not need to attend a TK-K orientation. All prospective Seaside Preschool Applicants must attend an orientation because the program, admissions requirements and priorities are different. There are only two scheduled orientations for Seaside -November 8 at 9:30 am or December 19 at 6:00 pm. – so call and make your appointment today! Nominations for Site Council Parent Members – There are three spots for parent members of Site Council open this year. Nomination forms are included in this Wednesday packet. If you’d like to nominate someone – or yourself --- please return the Nomination Form to the Edison office by November 6. Nominees who meet eligibility criteria (parent of a current Edison student through June 2021 and NOT an employee of Edison) will be included on the Election Ballot to be sent home on November 13. The three Site Council members whose first terms are ending this fall are eligible to stand for re-election if nominated and if they accept. These include: José Cervantes, Daniela Morato, and John Zimmerman. Site Council members review school data and surveys to assess school needs, develop and monitor the implementation of our School Plan, and review our Site Safety Plan. Please consider serving our school in this way. Halloween Parade – On Halloween morning, Edison hosts a Costume Parade from 8:45-9:45 am on the field. Parents are welcome to come (in costume if you wish!); sign in at the office and wear a visitor’s sticker. Students may come in costume (but leave any “costume weapons” at home). When choosing costumes, please keep in mind that we serve children from 4-11 years old and choose something appropriate for those ages. Send a change of clothes with your child or the rest of the school day. If you would prefer that your child not participate, there will be an alternate activity in the library.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK: FALL FESTIVAL AND DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS The Edison Fall Festival is this Saturday (November 2 from 1:005:00 pm). This is one of the most beloved and memorable traditions at Edison, attended by hundreds of Edison families (past, present, and future). Come and enjoy the home-made tamales, pozole, aguas frescas, Asian food, and deserts. Children love face painting, wearing flower crowns, playing games, making sugar skulls, doing cake walks and seeing balloon animals. On the stage you can see Flamenco dance and listen to the musical stylings of mariachis, the Family Singing Circle, Baila Baila, Mayaztek, LA Spanish School and Flaco. And you don’t want to miss this year’s the sawdust carpet, designed by Maestra Martha and assembled by Edison parents and students. If you’re new to Edison you might be wondering why we highlight Día de los Muertos at Fall Festival. Edison has a 20+ year tradition of creating and displaying ofrendas at Fall Festival – highlighting an observance with roots in the cultures of the Americas. Día de los Muertos originated in Mesoamerica (modern day Mexico and Central America) 2,500-3,000 years ago. It is a time for families to look back in love and remember their dear ones who have passed on and keep them alive in their hearts. While it happens close to the same time as Halloween, the two holidays and the beliefs behind them could not be more different. The traditional belief for the people who observe Día de los Muertos is that during a few days in November, the spirits of the dearly departed can come back and visit their living family members. Families often decorate the graves of loved ones and create a table of ofrendas (offerings) at home. An ofrenda is not an altar and is a cultural not religious observance. It is simply a table with pictures of deceased family members, and their favorite foods and other decorations. Generally ofrendas have something from each of the four elements/directions in Mesoamerican belief: fire (candles), water, earth (food/flowers), and wind (papel picado that will move in the wind). Observances vary by region. For example, the Purépecha or Tarascans in Michoacan where the Monarch butterflies come to winter, believe that the butterflies carry the spirits of the dearly departed. Guatemalen villages with Mayan heritage often make and launch giant kites and fly them over the cemeteries. Edison’s ofrendas include artwork prepared by each classroom, pictures of the dearly departed important to the children in that classroom – usually grandparents, aunts or uncles, and pets – and sometiimes victims of natural or man-made disasters. What is the tradition in your culture for remembering the dearly departed? November 5 Pupil Free Day for Conferences
November 6-7-8 Minimum Days for Conferences
November 11 Veterans Day Holiday No Classes