We are proceeding with today's LSLC meeting at 3:15 in my Zoom room.
The LSLC is where we discuss rules/guidelines around student behavior, the staff training calendar, the events calendar outside of FOW events, two small budget items pertaining to teacher supplies -- and this year, because we don't have an SSC, the Integrated Safe School Plan. As you know, I send surveys to get input on other matters.
While the LSLC is an elected body composed of Dr. K., Ms. Tracy, Parent Lisa Margeson, and three United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) reps (Ms. Lima, Ms. Perez and Ms. Sabrina), all stakeholders are ALWAYS welcome to attend.
I am also holding a Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal in the Parent Center tomorrow at 8:15am (right after school starts -- remember, there will be NO ASSEMBLY tomorrow) to discuss other pressing matters, including the many displacements, poor air quality, and frayed lives caused by the fires.
Please join us at one or both.
Best,
Dr. K
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Per my communication on Tuesday, we will proceed with indoor and outdoor options for today and tomorrow. ThePurpleAir system assures us the air is "good;" however, there are still concerns about toxins in the air that are not picked up by the sensors.
Breakfast IN the classroom today and tomorrow.
PE indoors (or if PE outdoors, the teacher provides an indoor option).
No assembly tomorrow.
Morning and Lunch recess -- family option. I will be in the Auditorium for both recesses; the library will be available as a Quiet Zone for a small few; and Jonney will be in the Hall of Wizardry (Rm 28) hosting chess.
The District delivered many masks of all sizes. All teachers have them in their classrooms, and there are hundreds in the front office.
For those in UTK-1, feel free to let your teacher know your preference so the teachers can remind kids to stay indoors and wear masks OR if you have already let your child know, great!
This is a challenging time for all. Thank you for respecting others' wishes to either frolic outdoors or remain cautious indoors for the remainder of this week. Thank you, teachers and staff, for managing ambiguity and uncertainty with such grace!
Best,
Dr. K
UPDATE: Here are pics from two of Thursday's indoor lunchtime options, chess and G-rated movie
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LAUSD just sent a message to all families and staff about the imminent return to outdoor activities. I would like to clarify that this is a "local" decision, meaning that each site administrator has been granted the authority to decide for their communities what such a thing looks like.
Because I know so many of you are concerned about the fine particles in the wildfire air that do not show up on air quality sensors, I am reticent to completely open the hatches and let kiddos run unfettered and free as early as tomorrow. Today, there were blue skies, yes, and cleanish feeling air, yes, but there were ashes and fine particles that tickled the nose.
Tomorrow, I won't be onsite. I return Thursday. Dr. Yinka Dallas Flanagan will be the Admin in Charge. We have discussed the plan for tomorrow, which is:
Tomorrow will look exactly like today with breakfast INSIDE the classrooms. Thank you for sending TWO students WITH MASKS or an adult to retrieve the rolling breakfast boxes for the entire class.
Morning recess in the auditorium with admin showing a G-rated movie. Tomorrow, we will continue with "Ratatouille" unless you convince Dr. Flanagan to show something else. She is prepared for whatever comes. OR, of course, and as always, teachers can host recess in their own rooms, working out with available aides when to take their breaks.
LUNCH ALL AT THE SAME TIME -- AT 12:00
> Lunch & Recess in the auditorium with Dr. Flanagan and a movie, OR
> Lunch & Recess in Rm 28 playing chess with Jonney, OR
> Lunch & Recess in the in the Upper STEAM Studio with Ms. Gela (you need to preplan and have a reservation)
> Lunch & Recess in the Library with Fiona with a reservation or admin approval -- because the Library will only be for those with sensory issues that cannot handle being in a large crowd. The Library will NOT be arts and crafts or buliding forts or any sort of wild frolicking. It will be our CALM CENTER for those who truly need along with their one-or-two invited guest(s).
After school will be just as today. NO OUTDOOR SPORTS JUST YET
On Thursday, I will take full stock of the air quality and stakeholder needs and wants and likely offer the CHOICE of indoor versus outdoor, providing an option.
Friday's assembly will be postponed. We will resume with morning assemblies next week.
We will indeed have Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal this Friday at 8:15 in the Parent Center. I moved the time up to 8:15 (in lieu of 8:30) because we won't have an assembly.
Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns or awesome ideas.
Please also know that all classrooms are outfitted with Merv 13 air filters, which were just changed, and there are enough KN95 masks for all.
Best,
Dr. K
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Today, we had a successful reopening of all schools and offices with the exception of some schools that remain closed in the highest impact areas. Thanks to the tireless work of District employees who cleaned schools and campuses, teachers and paraeducators who returned to classrooms, classified and certificated substitutes who helped provide coverage for displaced employees, the countless individuals who worked around the clock over the weekend, as well as school police, first responders, and local authorities who ensured the safety of our school communities, the District was able to restore regular school schedules and instruction. Our Maintenance and Operations as well as Office of Environmental Health and Safety teams ensure continued student safety on school sites through extensive safety checks and alerts which notifies the District of any issues that may arise. We are grateful to the entire Los Angeles community who continue to support during this unprecedented crisis.
Schools in the highest impact areas which remain closed due to mandatory evacuation orders include Canyon Charter Elementary, Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary, Palisades Charter Elementary, Marquez Charter Elementary, Topanga Charter Elementary, Lanai Road Elementary, Roscomare Road Elementary, Community Magnet Charter, and Paul Revere Middle School. The schools will reopen as soon as the conditions allow, at which time, we will notify families.
The District has implemented additional resources to support the well-being of students and employees as they transition back to school. Counselors and mental health professionals are available on-site to assist those in need. In addition, the District is providing impacted employees childcare, employee assistance, and other essential services.
As Los Angeles Unified moves forward, plans for rebuilding Palisades Charter Elementary and Marquez Charter Elementary Schools and addressing long-term recovery are underway. The District is committed to keeping families and the community informed throughout this process.
Red flag warnings are in effect, however, the National Weather Service does not anticipate wind conditions as strong as last week. We will be monitoring throughout the evening and overnight. A 10 p.m. update will be posted at lausd.org. Should anything change, we will begin notifying families and employees of any changes by 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Please visit lausd.org for the latest information.
Sincerely,
Alberto M. Carvalho
Superintendent
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For those of you experiencing hardship, I am so beyond sorry. This has been an awfully trying time. If you are in need of support, please reach out to Dr. Flanagan, APEIS; Ms. Tracy, SAA; Friends of Walgrove leadership: Danielle Barto (Co-President), Sharon Beam (Co-President), Cass Young (Vice President), Lindsey Rosenberg (Disaster Relief Liaison); your children's teachers and/or myself. We are here for you in whatever ways you need.
For your information, in case friends inquire, the students and staff of Palisades Elementary have been relocated to Brentwood Science Magnet while the students and staff of Marquez Elementary have been relocated to Norah Sterry.
If you know of folks who are not able to attend those new sites for reasons, such as convenience of location due to their current temporary location, then the usual permit rules apply, however, with this new caveat: we are not allowed to accept new enrollees beyond our capacity. All families who are concerned and who do not find a home at the school of their choice are to be forwarded to Region West leadership.
We look forward to welcoming all Walgrove students and staff to school tomorrow.
Teachers: All deadlines for assessments and other similar instructional things have been adjusted. I will share more info on this at Tuesday's meeting.
Here is some of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:
MON
School 8:05am-2:32pm
After-school program until 6pm
No virtual tutoring -- cancelled until further notice
Tap and Musical Theater schedule per Danielle Barto and Lisa Margeson
TUE
School 8:05am-1:32pm
Staff Meeting and PD in Rm 19 1:45pm
After-school program 1:32-6pm
Angel City Youth Chorale to start NEXT week, January 21 1:45pm
WED
Dr. K off-site, Dr. Flanagan AIC (Admin in Charge)
School 8:05am-2:32pm
After-school program until 6pm
Chess before, during and after school until 7:30-3:45ish
Tap and Musical Theater schedule per Danielle Barto and Lisa Margeson
THU
School 8:05am-2:32pm
After-school program until 6pm
Chess before, during and after school until 7:30-3:45ish
Welcome back from a Winterful Wonder Break! I hope your time has been happy!
As we get back into the swing, soon facing the birds and flowers of Spring, here is some of what to look forward to during our first week back in action:
MON
PAJAMA DAY - Roll out of bed, hop on your roller skates (and into your helmet) and head on over to school! School starts at 8:05; however, morning supervision (free childcare) starts at 7:30am
Chess before, during and after school until 7:30-3:45ish
NO TUTORING OR TAP TODAY
THU - CANCELLED BECAUSE NO SCHOOL (UPDATED 01/09/2025 1pm)
Chess before, during and after school until 7:30-3:45ish
GATE testing for a particular gaggle 8:45am
NO TUTORING OR TAP TODAY
FRI - CANCELLED BECAUSE NO SCHOOL (UPDATED 01/09/2025 1pm)
Assembly in the Quad. Ms. Lima's class to lead the Pledge. Jack G. to perform. 8:05am
Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal in the Parent Center 8:30am
Violin in the Library 2:32-3:30
SAT - CANCELLED BECAUSE NO SCHOOL (UPDATED 01/09/2025 1pm)
Volunteer Day 9-1
Most after-school programs will start next week (except chess and violin which start this week) and Farmer Adam is on a light schedule. His full schedule is TBD.
Let's have a great week, Walgrove!
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This evening's message is a tad later because I was at UCLA's Royce Hall enjoying the glorious, festive and beautiful singing of the Angel City Chorale and members of the Angel City Youth Chorale. Congratulations, Walgrove's own Maddy P who performed today!
And while we're at it, let's not forget about the Room 21 Pilots who performed at Friday's assembly!:
Thank you to the mighty few who volunteered in the garden yesterday (Saturday). A special shout-out to the Jabara fam for helping me turn the PE office into a "Portal of Wonder" (room for reading support) and the former garden kitchen into the new PE office, AKA the "Den of Derring-Do."
Here is some of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:
MON
Advanced Math for some (last day) in Rm 202:32-3:30
NO TUTORING IN RM 24 THIS WEEK
Tap for the Littles in the auditorium (times per Ms. Danielle Barto)
Dr. K at ELPAC Training 8-3 (on campus; training is via Zoom)
NO TUTORING IN RM 24 THIS WEEK
Tap for some in the auditorium (exact students and times per Ms. Danielle Barto)
Alternate Winter Academy Staff Meeting for those working WA inDr. K's Zoom room 5pm
THU
Holiday Market out front on Walgrove Ave. 8am-4pm
Holiday Program in the Orlantha Ambrose Center for the Performing Arts (our auditorium)
8:30am and 1:00pm
NO TUTORING IN RM 24 THIS WEEK
Tap for some in the auditorium (exact students and times per Ms. Danielle Barto)
FRI
Assembly in the Quad. Ms. Zeena's class to lead the Pledge. Luna and Bea to perform
Shortened Day -- Dismissal at 1:50 -- STAFF LUNCHEON IN PARENT CENTER
VIOLIN TBD
MON-WED DEC 16-18 - WINTER ACADEMY. Extra school for those who need or want. Online applications are closed. Paper applications are available in the front office. Winter Academy hours are the same 8:05-2:32 with after-care until 6 (not with Team Prime Time but with another LAUSD group)
LAUSD WINTER BREAK DEC 16-JAN 5. SCHOOL RESUMES MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025
Let's have a great week, Walgrove!
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Please have a wonderful week replete with friends, family, books, music, games, laughter, volunteerism, gratitide, nature and/or complete and total solitude if that's your complete and total jam. I look forward to seeing you back at school Monday, December 2!
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In the last two weeks, and truthfully, since the first month of school, we have experienced some bigotry at Walgrove, and it must be met with powerful action.
Students have made unkind comments to others about their weight, their height, their ethnicity, their religion, their parents' politics and recently their perceived gender.
It should go without saying that bigotry is unwelcome and unacceptable at Walgrove.
So that we are all on the same page, what bigotry looks like:
The Oxford Dictionary defines bigotry as:
An obstinate or unreasonable attachment to a belief, opinion, or faction, in particular prejudice against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular group.
Prejudice literally means pre-judging before fully understanding.
As a school, we will address this head-on with classroom lessons and grade level assemblies. (All in line with District policy.)
At home, perhaps share with your children the following list. While it may seem simplistic, it is at least a start and a touchstone for future conversations on how to better treat one another.
1. Treat others as you would want to be treated.
2. If you don't have something kind to say, then don't say anything at all, especially unsolicited. This doesn't mean you should be dishonest. Just don't offer unsolicited critique, and don't be mean.
3. Feel free to share who you are, but don't proselytize. Don't try to convince others to join your group. No matter if you are Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Anarchist, male, female, non-binary, etc. None of these choices should be anyone's business but your own. If your choices don't mesh with someone else's religion, they can privately ponder that seeming dissonance while they say nothing mean to you because your own religion (or non-religion) should guide your choices. My motto (even though I am an Atheist, or more accurately an Agnostic) is "Everyone is welcome at God's table."
Even though I am not a member of any one religion, I value the tenets of many religions and absolutely value each individual person's right to choose his/her/their own. While I was a member of the 110-person choir at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco's Tenderloin for several years until about 20 years ago when I moved to LA (see our video below), our Minister Reverend Cecil Williams would say at least once if not ten times each sermon "Everyone is welcome at God's table." He would say this while looking out onto a busting-at-the-seams room of over 1,500 congregants (at two consecutive services, so 3,000 congregants) composed of rich, poor, Black, White, straight, gay, trans, housed, unhoused, and more all sitting alongside one another. Maya Angelou was a member (and frequent speaker) as was Oprah as was Bono as were hundreds of unhoused neighbors. We all sat alongside one another in the pews. No special VIP section. We all sang alongside one another on the risers. It was the most incredible feeling. There was no room for judgement, shame, fear, or intolerance.
Now, even though I am not religious (but relish community spirit!) and even though I am now in LA and not San Francisco, and even though I am currently running a school and not a theater, as I was while in SF, I still have as my constant reminder the adage "Everyone is welcome at God's table." This adage informs the choices I make at Walgrove.
Your child wants to tap dance? Great! They can sign up!
Your child wants to sing in the choir? Great! They can sign up!
Your child wants to play violin? Great! They can sign up!
I try VERY hard to take away artificial barriers and to make as many offerings as possible as inclusive as possible. It is my job to give your child as many opportunities as possible to find themselves.
4. Finally, while I will continue to do what I can to make school as welcoming as possible for ALL students and staff, no matter their personal beliefs, and I will do what I can to employ restorative measures that give people some grace when they falter and that provide students who falter with opportunities to make amends and earn back trust, I will only do that so many times before exploring other options because it is not just tolerance that I am responsible for, but safety as well.
If you would like to discuss this topic with me, please join me at tomorrow night's Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal in my Zoom room at 6:30pm.
I look forward to the conversation!
Best,
Dr. K
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Happy mid-November! One more week, and it's Thanksgiving Break! Can you believe it?!
Lots of food from today's harvest to add to the Thanksgiving dinner table. Thank you to all the volunteers who came out today, our first Sunday volunteer day.
Here are are few pics from the week (or thereabouts):
And a clip of our very own Walgrove rock band "Room 21 Pilots"
Here is some of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:
MON
Tap for the Littles in the Auditorium 2:32-3:15
Advanced Math in Rm 20 2:32-3:30
TUE
Staff Meeting, PD and Grade Level Meetings in Rm 19 1:45-3:45
Angel City Youth Chorale in the Library 1:45-3:00
Musical Theater Auditions in the Auditorium 1:32-3:00
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