W E E K
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S E P T E M B E R
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El Semanario
Edison Language Academy – Together Through Two Languages (310) 828-0335 www.edison.smmusd.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:
FALL HAPPENINGS
Last Call for School Smarts Academy begins next Thursday morning (9/28) from 8:3010:00 am. Contact Yoly Gutierrez at ext. 61-305 or email her at ygutierrez@smmusd.org to enroll. If Your Child Missed Picture Day there will be a make-up day on October 3. Pre-School, TK or Kinder 2018-19? It’s hard to believe, but it’s already time for start the application process for next year and we always start by asking siblings to apply first. Eligibility is as follows: Kindergarten – Child will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2018 Transitional Kindergarten – Child will be 5 years old between September 2, 2018 and December 2, 2018, Seaside Preschool – Children who will be either three or four years old before school begins, but there is a strong preference for four-year-olds. Sibling admission is not automatic; we review each application to determine if the type of program we offer is appropriate for your child. But siblings of current immersion program students do have a priority in admissions. If your younger children meet the age guidelines for one of these programs and you would like to apply for 2018-2019, please see Yoly Gutierrez for an application. To take advantage of the sibling priority, you must submit an application by Friday, October 27, 2017.
Pre-School, TK, and Kinder Orientations for New Families are beginning soon. If you have friends or neighbors who are interested in Edison, please let them know that our application process includes a mandatory information session and that they should call our office and make an appointment to attend a session. Application deadline for Seaside Preschool is December 15, 2017 and for TK and Kinder the due date is February 28, 2018 .
It is now the sixth week of school! Children are settling into their new classroom routines and schedules. They’ve been learning about their brains and how they work, practicing tools for conflict resolution and problem solving, and learning how to take a breath (or two or three!) to help keep themselves calm and focused. Teachers are taking baseline measures of students’ skills in reading, writing, and math and each grade level team gets together to look at the results and discusses how to best meet the instructional needs of the children in that grade level this year. If your child’s teacher is out for a day or two this month, it is most likely because they are conducting the 1:1 reading assessments that really let us know children’s strengths and challenges as readers and help teachers match them with “just right” text at their independent reading level. As of this week, all the enrichment classes and “specials” have begun. The Pre-K, TK, K, 1, 2 music program in Spanish begins this week with Maestra Jacqueline. The District music program is well underway for children in grades 3-5. All children have begun their PS Arts theater classes with Maestra Martha. And now that we’ve finished with Book Fairs and new textbook inventories, the school library is now open for weekly visits with Maestra Carol. Edison is also preparing for its annual Fall Festival/Día de los Muertos observance. This is a wonderful event at which to do your volunteer hours as there are multiple,varied and fun ways to help. If you are new to Edison and are not familiar with this cultural observance, I think it will quickly become one of your favorite school events. This holiday is ancient in its origins and comes from the beliefs of Mesoamerican indigenous peoples that the spirits of the dearly departed were allowed to return for a brief visit in the fall. The Days of the Dead are days of remembrance – nothing like the sometimes scary Halloween. Families will set up a table (or altar) with the dearly departed’s favorite food and drink, pictures of the deceased, candles, water, papel picado (symbolizing wind). The pungent smell and bright color of the cempasúchil or flower of the dead (marigolds), representing the fragility of life, are said to lead the spirits home. Each classroom prepares a table honoring those who were dear to the children in that classroom. We set these “altars” up in the cafeteria and they form a beautiful and moving display. We also prepare a beautiful and very temporary artwork – a sawdust carpet or “alfombra de asserín.” All cultures have some sort of way of honoring and remembering the dearly departed. What are the traditions in your culture(s) of origin? October 4 – Bike It, Walk It, Bus It Day! Leave the car at home.
October 4 – PTA Executive Board Meeting 6:00-8:00 pm Community Room
October 11 – ELAC Meeting 8:30-9:30 am Community Room