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Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE Maestra Elizabeth Ipiña will offer suggestions about how to have a great Parent Teacher Conference on Wednesday, November 2, at 8:30 am. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us in the cafeteria.
SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES – To give our teachers time to meet with the family of each student, we have a Pupil Free Day on November 4 and Minimum Days on November 7,8,9 and 10. Please mark your calendars with a reminder that there is no school on November 4 and that you’ll need to pick your children up early Nov 7-10. SITE COUNCIL NOMINATIONS – Enclosed in this week’s Wednesday packet is a nomination for Site Council. We have two parent positions available this year. If you would like to nominate yourself or another parent, please return the nomination form by Wednesday, November 9. Ballots will go out th on November 16 . INDEPENDENT STUDY -- If your child absolutely must be absent for five or more days in a row during the school year -for reasons other than illness -- please use the District Independent Study Program so he or she can keep up with instruction. You must notify the school and sign an independent study contract at least two weeks in advance of the planned absence. We will endeavor to work with you if there is a last minute emergency in your family (sudden illness or death, for example), but please understand that it takes time for teachers to prepare the work. And understand that teachers will be giving your child work that if the equivalent of what they would have done if they were in school. When your child completes the work specified in the contract and the teacher evaluates the work as meeting the terms of the contract, then those absences are excused. If your child will be absent for an extended period due to his or her own health, please talk with the office staff.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK: REFLECTIONS ON FALL FESTIVAL / DIA DE LOS MUERTOS I’m writing these lines just after our amazing 2016-2017 Fall Festival has wrapped up and am reflecting on what a very special few days it has been on the Edison campus. It begins with the teachers in the classrooms helping children learn about the ways that different cultures honor the dearly departed and leading them in making items to decorate the class altar. The morning before the festival is one of my favorite times, as so many parents come to school, streaming in all morning laden with flowers, fruit, bread, candles and other decorations for the altar. Over the space of just a few hours, the cafeteria transforms into a magical space with 20+ altars, twinkling lights, tea lights, student art work, and artfully placed flowers, papel picado, water, candles, and food. It’s beautiful to see parents working together to bring these altars to life. In the kitchen, another group of parents gather and work until late in the evening, making tamales. Some are parents of children currently in the school, some are grandmothers who have been making tamales for Edison’s fall festival off and on for 20+ years! Some are expert cooks and “tamaleras”; some are novices and are there to help and learn. These parents are back the next morning, cooking pozole and steaming tamales for most of the day! As well as the joy in watching our current students come to enjoy the festival, I love the fact that it brings many, many former students at JAMS and Samohi back to volunteer to do community service – supplemented by a wonderful group of Santa Monica College volunteers. One of my favorite parts of the festival is to see these graduates and their families again! It is exciting to see how they have grown, hear what they are doing, and listen to their beautiful Spanish and English and hear them share their memories of Edison. Everything about the festival is a great example of the multiculturalism of our school and community integration. The parent volunteerism, children (and adults) walking around with their faces painted calavera style, the wonderful musical entertainment, the games, the rides, the great food, and the very touching tours through the altars all make this a special family-style occasion. Each generation of Edison parents adds something great to the event – and while people come for old favorites, they also love to see the new additions. This year PTA Vice President for Special Events Maria Faillace took on the big job of organizing the event and she did a magnificent job! Many other parents took on responsibilities for different parts of the festival and I’m not going to try to name everyone here fear of leaving someone out, but I know Maria will have a list of “thank you’s” out soon. It takes a village in order to bring something like this to fruition, and our Edison families are phenomenal! Thank you to everyone who stepped up and shared their time and ideas!! Nov. 9 ELAC Meeting 8:30 am
Nov. 10 School Smarts Graduation 8:30 am
November 11 Veterans Day No Classes