Category Archives: Announcements

LAUSD Parents Surveyed On School Calendar Changes

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LAUSD logoLucky us! LAUSD Supt. Ray Cortines robo-called LAUSD parents today announcing we will be receiving a “telephonic survey” consisting of 5 questions, as the District begins planning the instructional calendars for the next 3 years. (Um, is telephonic a word? nvm.)

Hello folks!

This is our chance to return the start of the school year back to September and out of the heat!

Just say NO to Early Start!

I also propose we lose the whole week at Thanksgiving and make the holiday breaks more evenly distributed, but priorities! Return the after-Labor Day school start date. So parents, answer those survey calls and make your voice loud and clear!

#AugustIsForSummerVacation #FixTheAC #NoMoreEarlyStart!

UPDATE: They’re calling from 213.241.4544 – so look out for that number and answer it when they call you. It only took me 2 mins. 5 questions.

Courtesy of Angel Zobel-Rodriguez, MagnetAngel, here is the list of LAUSD survey questions:

First Question: School should start in Early August, Mid August, Late August, Early September.

Next questions use a five-point scale, Strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree or disagree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree.

Second Question: Winter Break should be 2 weeks,

Third Question: Elementary and Middle/High school students should be on the same calendar, (isn’t this a no-brainer?)

Fourth Question: Create a longer winter break with an “intersession*” (apparently a 5 day/wk – 5 wk intervention for those students needing remediation) and another one during the 7-wk summer. *think mandatory summer school during both the winter and summer breaks for kids below basic. And everyone else can just hang out for another few weeks while their parents go to work. Oh that’s gonna be popular! Not.

Last Question: First semester should end before Winter Break. (clue: that’s why we have the August start date to begin with.)

Be prepared. They will only make 3 attempts to call you, and once answered they will not call back. Good luck!  (Thanks for sharing the questions Angel.)

And, If you want to add more weight to your voice, sign the Change.org petition here:
LA Kids Deserve Summertime – Start School After Labor Day

Also, email Supt. Cortines and your board members directly here:
superintentdent@lausd.net
george.mckenna@lausd.net
monica.garcia@lausd.net
scott.schmerelson@lausd.net
steve.zimmer@lausd.net
ref.rodriguez@lausd.net
monica.ratliff@lausd.net
richard.vladovic@lausd.net

Drawn Together: Kid Book Authors Kinney, Pilkey, Peirce & Pastis to Benefit LA Libraries!

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Drawn Together cartoon flyerCome for a great family day with world famous authors. Children will be delighted to see and meet their favorite authors!  Drawn Together unites storytellers from around the country to support Access Books and school libraries. This once-in-a-lifetime event features four famous children’s book authors and illustrators: Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants), Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), and Stephen Pastis (Timmy Failure & Pearls Before Swine). During Drawn Together, the authors will discuss writing, drawing, and the creative process.

Hosted by Julie Bowen of Modern Family.

All proceeds benefit Access Books (www.accessbooks.net). Currently, the state of California provides NO funding for school libraries. To augment or update a collection, schools must do in house funding. For most schools who server children living in poverty, this is untenable. This results in libraries with outdated collections and few books per child.  Books can be as old as copyrighted 1950. There are no copies of current titles. Access Books provides refurbishes the library and provides new, high interest books.

PLEASE PRE-PURCHASE TICKETS

Saturday, June 20, 2015

DOORS OPEN AT NOON FOR BOOK, T-SHIRT AND POSTER PURCHASES;
EVENT STARTS AT 1:00 PM.

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

111 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012

Following the presentation, fans will have the opportunity to meet the authors and have their event tickets or posters signed.  Tickets are available for purchase at accessbooks.net

LAUSD Approves 2015-16 Calendar

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CalendarThe LAUSD School Board voted yesterday to approve the 2015-16 School Calendar.

First Day of School will be Tuesday, August 18, 2015. Last Day of School will be Friday, June 10, 2016.

Key recesses are:
Thanksgiving Break: Nov 23 – 29, 2015
Winter Break: Dec 19 – Jan 10, 2016
Spring Break: Mar 21- 27, 2016

Negotiations will continue however, and changes are likely for the 2016-17 calendar. Talks include the possibility of pushing the start date back after Labor Day and reorganizing the breaks so the first and second semester have a more evenly distributed number of instructional days. Perhaps the end of Early Start after all? Wouldn’t that be grand!

Calendar Link
News Release

When Does School Start?

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Back2Schl

Or more to the point, how soon does school start?

Answer?

Soon!! (August is the new September!)

Here’s a breakdown of the First Day of School 2014-15 – because I know you’ll ask:

LAUSD – Aug 12 (This Tuesday!!)
Goethe Charter – Aug 18
Wish Charter – Aug 18
LACHSA – Aug 19th
SantaMonicaMalibuUSD – Aug 19
City School Charter – Aug 19
Las VirgenesUSD – Aug 20
Culver CityUSD – Aug 25
Larchmont Charter – Aug 25
Ocean Charter – Aug 25
New West Charter – Aug 25
WSCS – Aug 25
CWC MV – Aug 26
El SegundoUSD – Aug 26

Got any more to add to this list? Leave me a note in the comments and I’ll add it to the list.

Chance To Win $100K For Your School!

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Earth to Echo Your school can win $100,000
in 3 easy steps!

Go to www.echopostercontest.com

1. Enter the name of your school
2. Watch the Earth to Echo trailer
3. Vote on your favorite poster image

 

The school with the most votes wins $100,000. Plus your vote will help determine the fan favorite EARTH TO ECHO special edition poster. echopostercontest.com

Voting ends on June 2, 2014 at 11:59p Pacific Time. Good luck!!!

Tanya Anton to Present at InnovatED LA This Sat, April 26 at New Roads School

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innovatED.LAJoin an amazing group of key Ed innovators and Edupreneurs for a day of presentations, discussions, inspiration and action, as we tackle how to bring change to our middle and high schools. InnovatED.LA‘s inaugural event will be held this Saturday, April 26th, from 9:30a-3p at New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Larry Rosenstock, CEO and founding principal of High Tech High, will highlight the event with his keynote presentation. Event organized by IncubatorSchool (LAUSD), PlayMaker School @New Roads, and New Learning Institute of the Pearson Foundation. InnovatED.LA

Among the hand-picked collection of presenters which includes public and private school teachers, school founders, and local innovators, Tanya Anton, founder of GoMamaGuide.com will lead the following workshop:

 Empowered Choices: Transforming Our Schools Together

Our world has expanded, yet our education system has, for the most part, remained flat. Many of us, no longer satisfied with the traditional model of top-down, assessment-driven, fear-based environments, are re-envisioning what school is and can be. With the multitude of options available to us now in the second largest school district in the country, each of us, whether parent or educator, has the potential to become an invaluable partner in shaping the future of “school” as we know it. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore our end goals including why we teach and the characteristics we hope to cultivate in students, unpack challenges both immediate and long term, learn how to maximize our communities, and share successful strategies on how to transform our schools.

It’s not too late to register for this event. Join us!
Schedule
InnovatED LA

Magnet Deadline In 3 More Days!

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Hey LAUSD Parents,
I’ve got a guest post over at MomsLA today announcing the looming Magnet deadline. You’re getting those applications in, right? Remember, you have until 5p this Friday, November 15th to get your application in to echoices.lausd.net.

Check out Yvonne and Sarah over at MomsLA:
http://momsla.com/lausd-magnet-choices-final-call-parents-1115-deadline/

MomsLA

 

Hot Off The Presses! New School Guidebooks for 2014!

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P1110150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westside Guide to Public Elementary School

and

Westside Guide to Middle School

newly revised and updated for the 2014-15 school year!

$20 each. Click HERE to purchase.

Updated Flier: Westside Middle School Forum Thurs, Oct 24

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Middle-School-Forum-Final

Shopping Middle Schools on the Westside? Then you’ll want to check this out.

Thurs, October 24th starting at 6p, a dozen area middle schools will be under one roof at Mark Twain Middle School presenting their pitches, power points and pamphlets. Come, listen, learn. Afterward there’ll be a chance to walk up to each school table and ask questions.

And of course, I’ll be there to help focus you on your options.

WESTSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL FORUM!
Thurs, October 24, 2013 6-8:30p
at Mark Twain Middle School
2224 Walgrove Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90066
It’s FREE!