W E E K
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El Semanario
Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS Upcoming Concerts – families of second grade students, families of students in the afterschool Coro en Español, and families participating in the Parent/Family Choir, please mark your calendars for Friday evening, March 23 at 6:00 pm. These groups will all be singing at Edison’s Noche de César Chávez celebration. Take to the Stage! Maestra Martha Oropeza Ramírez is recruiting a small group of 4th/5th graders and some adults to perform a Teatro Campesino piece about farmworkers and the UFW on March 23 at Noche de César Chávez. If you’re interested, please contact Martha at martha@sparcinla.org. Crazy Hair and Hat Day on March 2 – We are celebrating more than a month of student actions that promote learning and inclusion! At this writing, students have very nearly filled a large jar with Golden Tickets given to recognize these pro-social and pro-learning actions. All Edison students are invited to come to school with either a crazy hairstyle or crazy hat on Friday, March 2.
Education Foundation Greg Coote Concert for the Arts - Featuring Rick Springfield, Terri Nunn, VENICE, and Student Musicians on Saturday, March 10, in Barnum Hall at 7pm. Tickets are available starting at $50.00 at https://forthearts2018.brownpapertickets.com
Read Across America – Edison is focusing on the joys of reading on Wed. 3/7, with guest readers, special programming in the library, a “Dress as your Favorite Storybook Character Day,” and a Book Swap! If you have books at home that your children no longer read, bring them to the library by March 6 so we can organize a “swap day” on March 7. Contact Carol Garcia Ramirez at cgramirez@smmusd.org to help!
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:
IT TAKES A VILLAGE Many African languages have an equivalent of the proverb “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” In traditional and small communities in a variety of cultures, extended family members are often involved in the raising of and care for children. In the best communities, children are regarded as treasures and blessings that are important to the whole community. If you’ve ever lived in a small community, you may have lived the reality that children are known by many adults outside their own nuclear families --- and often many adults feel comfortable (or even responsible for) correcting observed misbehaviors! In a big city, these smaller communities can sometimes be found in a church, synagogue, an apartment complex, a neighborhood block, a club or troop, and in schools. In a school community, it also takes a village to do right by our children. We all play important roles. Administrative staff are tasked with creating the conditions that make learning possible, using resources to maximum advantage, upholding laws, keeping children safe and healthy, and creating avenues for parent involvement. Teachers guide instruction and their classroom communities, use data to inform instruction, and collaborate to make sure that all classrooms offer highquality instruction. Support staff extend the teacher’s reach and provide critical small group support. Specialists bring unique skills to enrich the curriculum, differentiate instruction, and/or tend to physical and social-emotional needs. Families also play a critical role in a healthy school community – and like our school staff, they exercise that role in different ways. Some parents organize activities and carry out projects to build up our community (festivals, dances, family nights, communications, etc.). Some raise funds for needed programs. Some meet with district and city officials advocate for actions that support the welfare of all our students. Some participate in classes or workshops to enhance their own knowledge of how schools work, how to be an effective advocate, how to enhance learning, or how to raise physically and emotionally healthy children. Edison has hundreds of parents who regularly volunteer and an amazing group of parents in leadership positions (PTA, ELAC, Site Council) who do all of the above and more. I am enormously grateful for all parents’ hard and generous work. Some families have work schedules that mean they can rarely step foot on campus. But they make sure their children get to school on time, do their homework, read at home, and they connect with school as needed. All families who support the growth and development of their own children and instill in them the importance of being active and respectful learners and kind classmates give an amazing gift to our school. And all of us who make sure that gates are closed behind us and that any observed unsafe conditions are reported, keep us all safe.
Our children are fortunate to have you all in their village!
MARCH 7 PTA Board Meeting 6:00 p.m.
MARCH 8 5th Grade Play 6:00 pm
MARCH 12-16 Stairway to the Stars Concerts