Tag Archives: back to school

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

Countdown to Back To School! Checklist Included

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Back2SchlWe’re in the final decent to the start of the 2015-16 school year in Los Angeles…let the scramble begin!

For LAUSD students, school starts this Tuesday, August 18th. For Santa Monica-Malibu it’s Thursday, Aug 20th, and for Culver City you get ’til Monday, Aug 24th. And for some lucky indie charter students, you still have a week or two to go, but for others school started a few days ago on the 11th! Wah.

In any case, there are Back to School sales going on everywhere, even at your local drugstores, so now is the time to make sure you have everything you need to start the year off right. Here’s a quick basic checklist but check your actual school for particulars:

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backpack
lunchbox
food storage containers/ziplocks
water bottle
thermos
new sneakers and socks
other closed toe shoes
PE uniform (middle/high schoolers)
notebooks and binders
folders
filler paper
pencils and pens
erasers
school planner
sunscreen stick
lip balm
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And of course your stylish new school wardrobe…unless by that we mean the regulation khakis or navies and school logo’d polo shirts you’re required to wear.
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It’s also time to consider a haircut and perhaps a deep conditioner from so many sun-stripped summer days at the beach.
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Locker1Some lucky secondary (middle/high) schoolers will actually get the opportunity to deck out a locker, which opens up a plethora of over-priced fashion accessories like plastic chandeliers, stylish wallpapers, shelves, rugs, magnetic organizers, mirrors and cup holders. You can Google “Locker Makeover” for some fun ideas both retail and DIY.
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Depending on the school, your student might need to cram in any required summer reading if they didn’t get to it already – check your school’s website or enrollment/welcome packet. This is typically for secondary students, but you’d be surprised how many kids forget this one. Let’s just say there may be a last-minute trip to your local library or bookstore (or Amazon Prime!) in your future and some late-night reading in order to get your student up to speed for the first day of school.
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Also, make sure your child’s shots are up-to-date. There’s a host of required immunizations and corresponding paperwork needed in order to enter Kinder, and incoming 7th graders must also have proof of their Tdap shot or they will not be allowed into classes. (I’ve literally seen schools keep un-reported or un-immunized students in the auditorium until their immunization paperwork arrives.) Can’t get in to see your doctor? No worries. Shots can be had without an appointment at many local pharmacies, like CVS or Rite Aid. Note: With the recent passing of SB277, this is the last year for Personal Belief Exemptions until January 2016, when the new law goes into effect.
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Heads up, I’m still getting emails daily announcing school openings (I’m posting them on my FB wall as they come in*), so be prepared for the unexpected offer off a waitlist to literally fall out of the sky in the next few days or even weeks. Remember, Magnet programs have until Sept 14th to fill any vacant seats, many under-enrolled schools or expanding new charters are calling for students, which combined creates a corresponding ripple effect down all the related waitlists. It really does happen to many families this late in the game, so don’t be surprised if it happens to you.
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If your student has been having lazy summer sleep schedules, staying up late and sleeping until noon, you might want to roll back that schedule now, start setting their alarm for their typical school-day schedule, and practice getting up early in order to acclimate back, otherwise it will be a rude awakening the first day that alarm goes off at the crack of 6a!
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BeachFinally, do your best to RELAX and enjoy the final days of summer and get those end-of-summer pool parties, beach outings and BBQs booked. School will be here soon enough, and then we’re all off to the races once again.
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Cheers to my families for being ready for back to school!
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*If you hear of any school openings, please let me know and I’ll post them on my GMG FB wall.

August Is The New Fall: Back to School 2015

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Congratulations all you graduates. We wish you the best in your future endeavors! And to all the rest of you students, parents and educators, we hope everyone enjoys a restful, relaxing, wonder-filled summer.

To those of you already eyeing the calendar wondering how will we ever get through summer with no childcare I mean when will school start back up again, here are the start and end dates. Plan accordingly.

calendar

2015 School Calendars
(Click district link in blue to view full calendar.)

LAUSD: Tues, Aug 18, 2015 thru Fri, June 10, 2016

SMMUSD: Thurs, Aug 20 thru Thurs, June 9, 2016

CCUSD: Mon, Aug 24 thru Fri, June 10, 2016

Note: The LAUSD calendar impacts all neighborhood schools, magnet schools, dual-language immersion programs, SAS programs and affiliated converted charter schools. Independent charters, however, get to set their own calendars and may opt for different start dates. To be sure, check their website or call the school directly.

Back To School With Tanya Anton of GoMamaGuide

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KC iHeartMomsGMGMommyMonday

If you missed the special Back-To-School #Mommy Monday Show with host Kristin Cruz and Tanya Anton this week, do not stress. The show is archived and ready to be streamed or downloaded for your listening convenience. It’s Kristin’s first day of school (well, her daughter’s anyway) and there’s lots to learn to about the public school journey, including tips to make it the most successful ever. Click HERE to listen in.

LAWeeklyLAWkly

Hey, while I’m linking to recent media, here’s that LA Weekly profile piece on GoMamaGuide that came out last week.

WWLA LAUSD

And, for more on school choice, check out the recent KCRW Which Way LA show with host Warren Olney and guests Tanya Anton and Gary Orfield.

There you go. That ought to be enough school talk to get you going! Cheers, and welcome back!

GoMama Talks ‘Back-2-School’ Tonight Live on The MommyMonday Show!

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GMGMommyMonday

Tune in tonight, Monday, August 18 at 8p Pacific, for a special Back-to-School live radio show with host Kristin Cruz and special guest GoMamaGuide’s Tanya Anton on the #Mommy Monday Show, powered by iHeart Moms.

Call in LIVE with your question about the LA Unified School District on tonight’s show. Follow on Twitter to get the call-in number, show reminders, and live Tweets! We’ll help you tackle school concerns, such as:

What is the secret to winning that “School Lottery”?

I want my kid’s teacher to like me. Anything I can do?

I still don’t get the difference between a Magnet & a Charter?

Top tips for making a smooth back-to-school transition, for everybody…and so much more.

It’s LIVE, it’s fun, and anything can happen with these two moms! So pour yourself a little sippy, tune in tonight at 8p, and Let’s Talk School!

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.

Early Start Calendar…It’s EARLY!!

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Aug 2013Hard to believe that for hundreds of thousands of LAUSD students and families, not to mention our teachers, school starts back in just a week. Yes, a week! Where DID the time go? Did we even have a summer?

With the adoption of the Early Start Calendar, and I’ve heard a lot of grumblings* from parents on this topic, the first day of school this “fall” (and I use that term lightly), is Tuesday, August 13th, 2013. Next Tuesday.

This Early Start date applies to all LAUSD Neighborhood schools, Magnet schools, Affiliated Converted Charter Schools, Language Immersions and Pilot Schools. Independent charters, however, have the autonomy to set their own calendars, so many will start in late August or after Labor Day in September.

Not to feel left out, the surrounding school districts are also upping their start times into August this year. So gather up your back-to-school supplies, dust off those backpacks and sharpen your No 2 pencils…it’s going to be another great, albeit early, year! Hey, it just means that next summer vacay will come sooner too!

To view the entire 2013-14 LAUSD calendar, including winter and spring break dates, see:
2013-14 LAUSD Calendar

Santa Monica-Malibu Schools start back on Thursday, August 22nd.
2013-14 SMMUSD Calendar

Culver City schools will start on Monday, August 26th.
2013-14 CCUSD Calendar

Tip: If you are headed to an independent charter, check their website, Facebook feed or newsletter to find out their start date. Each one is unique.

Alright kids, enjoy what’s left of it! Summer, that is.

*Note: to read through previous grumblings on this topic, see the comment thread from when I originally posted the new calendar. Here.