The Final Stretch of 2019-2020

Dear Families,

What a time this has been! I have been so inspired by your collective patience, resiliency, wisdom, creativity, calm, honesty, support, questions, offers and pleas.

In order to share with you important information about what is in store for fall and how we might prepare for fall, I offer you this hopefully helpful Q and A:

What will the fall trimester/semester look like?

The District is working tirelessly on this. As the second largest district in the nation, in the largest economy in the nation, and the 5th largest economy in the world, all eyes are on LAUSD and California.

Here are the possibilities Superintendent Beutner has discussed:

• 100% in-person, like always
• 100% virtual with enhanced access, capacity, facility and cohesion
• Hybrid of the two, with students attending in shifts in smaller groups for some of the time and attending online in a specified manner for the rest of the time
• Parent choice, so those parents who PREFER 100% virtual, can sign up for that option
• Anything and everything in between, as the District researches, troubleshoots and plans with the most vulnerable in mind alongside the most blessed

How long do I keep the device I borrowed?

Please keep your borrowed device for the duration of virtual learning. Please DO NOT return your device the District centrally, per their LAUSD website. We paid for it locally with Walgrove funds, and would like to keep it in our arsenal. We are not a Title I school. We do not receive federal Title I funds. We fight for every dollar. So, please help us to hold onto our locally funded devices.

If you need to swap it out because it's broken, please let me know via andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net.

If you are in Grade 5, keep your device over summer so you can study over summer, and return it to Walgrove in the fall (specifics TBD).

Why can't we do a "drive-by" event like others have done (or, so I have heard)?

The District banned such events. Then, last Friday, May 22, the District OK'd such events for culminations, within certain strict parameters, e.g., they happen AFTER school ends and two weeks after culmination. So, as it stands, we are not in a position to host one at Walgrove.

Students in other grades may engage in "drive-by" events only if:

• Parents organize the event entirely, and no teachers or other LAUSD staff help plan
• The event happens off LAUSD property
• No LAUSD staff attend the event
• It is effectively a giant private play-date (that honors state and local social distancing orders)

Alternatively, we may:

• Invite teachers to come during the week that parents come to collect belongings (June 15-19)
• Parents come by appointment Mon-Fri June 15-19 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (appt. process TBD)
• Appointments are according to grade level 
• Teachers of each grade level are present for three hours to wave and say good-bye to whomever from their grade level passes through during that time
• Because teachers work Monday, June 15, we could try to have as many as possible on that day...(I will look further into this!)

When is culmination, and can I attend?

• Culmination is Friday, June 5 at 11 a.m. It is a live Zoom event with embedded surprises
• Students in Grade 5 may invite 5 guests each. As well, certain staff may attend (speak with Dr. K and/or Ms. Elkins)

What is the last day of school?

Friday, June 12 is the last official day of school.

The last day of most Zoom classes will be Friday, June 5.

However, SOME Zooms may still take place during the final week. Your teacher will let you know.

Most teachers will be cleaning their classrooms, filling out cumulative folders, completing report cards, and more during that last week of school. So, that last week is a great time to finish everything up and submit it (the earlier the better) so that you can get credit for it.

How will my child be graded for report cards?

Your teacher has likely already shared, or will share with you imminently, that you may/should do one or more of the following:

• Document work done, both analog and technological work
• Have the work in your possession (or know how to access it online)
• Scan it or take photos of it (not all of it, necessarily, but representative samples)
• Compile journal entries about the work (if your child kept a journal)
• Write a descriptive narrative that explains what was done, why it was done, how it was done and what was learned, and provide samples 
• Upload work to Google Classroom or whichever system your child's teacher is using
• Complete a checklist for your grade level
• Use the school-wide grading rubric
• Administer the San Diego Quick Reading Assessment and share the results with your child's teacher
• Know that the District guidelines are:
• All children will be "held harmless" and will not receive a lower grade than they received previously on the most recent report card
• No child shall receive a 1
• All children who receive a 2 should have been notified that this was a possibility on or before May 21
• All teachers recognize that not all students had the same resources (which is why we are offering so many varied ways to prove academic might), and they recognize that we at Walgrove want for ALL students to be honored for what they accomplished no matter their circumstances
• Grades should not just be about work completion, but should also represent skill set. If you are a brilliant reader who read dozens of high level chapter books for pleasure but did not submit reading assignments in a particular way during this time, then you may still earn a 3 or 4. Just share with your teacher what you read, why you read it, what it meant to you, etc, and otherwise show your reading prowess (if you don't have access to Clever or Amplify or other program that demonstrates your reading skill, then perhaps take the San Diego Quick Reading Assessment, which takes 5-10 minutes). 

When will I find out who my child's teacher is next year?

We will notify all families of their class assignments on August 5.

May I request a specific teacher for next year?

We take requests for kindergarten. We cannot take requests for the other grades.

Teachers and staff work together (along with administration) to place students into the groups that they believe, based on their expertise, will be the most conducive to student learning. Teachers and administration take into account skill sets, group dynamics, health and medical needs, and more. Walgrove teachers work like florists, placing the flowers lovingly into vases. When one flower is moved, the whole arrangement changes.

I want to share information about how this whole thing has been going for me and my family. Will you send a survey?

Yes. Please take this survey.

How do I participate in a Walgrove-specific task force to help decide what school in the fall will look like at Walgrove (assuming that we have a lot of flexibility within the LAUSD framework)?

Answer the survey.

How and when do I enroll my other child and/or my friend's children in Walgrove?

Email tracy.mccarthy@lausd.net, and she will walk you through the process.

How do I donate money to FOW via the WEMoves event?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofwalgrove/announcements

When is STAR registration?

Dear parents,

We hope that all of you are well and enjoying time with your family.

An email went out informing parents that registration for the school year 2020-2021 would take place on Monday. This is incorrect.The registration for the program being offered at your school campus will take place at a later time period. We will be sending you an email next week with the registration information for your school.

We are waiting for more information from the district outlining registration procedures.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We can’t wait to see all of you in the fall on the first day schools open their doors.

Stay safe and know that we are working with joy in our hearts to prepare a wonderful program for the children we love.

With warm regards,

Katya

Interview with Author Zeena Pliska Sunday, May 31 at 11 AM

Join us this Sunday, May 31, at 11 AM for an interview with author Zeena Pliska.

Ms. Zeena is our beloved Reggio-inspired TK-K teacher.

Her first children's book "Hello, Little One!" was just published this month by Page Street.

Ms. Zeena's inspiration were the many monarch butterflies around the Walgrove campus.

Zoom with Zeena about her inspiration and her process this Sunday, May 31, at 11.



Zoom Meeting Link
Meeting ID: 871 3556 2346
Password: Hello

This is a public event. The public is welcome. 

Upcoming Events and Info

UPCOMING EVENTS

Game Day w/Johnny B. Webinar Info TBD	Saturday 05/30/20 10 AM
Interview with Author Zeena Pliska regarding her book “Hello, Little One!” Zoom ID: 871-3556-2346	Sunday 05/31/20 11 AM
WE Moves Walkathon	Thursday 06/04/20 1:30 PM
Student Showcase: A Murder Mystery written and performed by five 5th graders	Thursday 06/04/20 2:30 PM
Last day of most Zoom classes	Friday 06/05/20
5th Grade Culmination	Friday 06/05/20 11 AM
Prospective Parent Tour Zoom ID: 876-7002-8007	Wednesday 06/10/2020 6 PM
End of the Year Housecleaning: Students turn in assignments and otherwise provide evidence of achievement Teachers finalize report cards, complete cumulative folders, clean classrooms No/few Zooms this week while teachers complete the aforementioned	Monday-Friday 06/08/20-06/12/20
Official Last Day of School	Friday 06/12/20
Essential Volunteers in the Wildlands Three Thursdays in June by Appointment	Thursdays 06/11, 06/18, 06/25
2019-2020 Yearbook Published and Distributed	Monday-Friday 06/15/20-06/19/20
Family Keepsake, (Yearbook) and Lost-and-Found Clothing Pick-Up	Monday-Friday 06/15/20-06/19/20
Summer School Begins Apply here: https://achieve.lausd.net/summer2020	Wednesday 06/24/2020
Notification of 2020-2021 Classroom and Teacher	Wednesday 08/05/2020
First Day of School 2020-2021	Tuesday 08/18/20

INFO
Regarding school in the fall, school in Southern CA in the fall MAY look like this:
·         100% in-person 
·         Hybrid in-person/virtual with students in small, rotating cohorts
·         100% virtual
·         Parent choice 
·         Expanded offerings

The Superintendent, along with other LAUSD leadership, community partners, and a task force of principals, teachers and parents, are creating a 2020-2021 fall semester/trimester that takes full advantage of LAUSD’s position in the nation, leveraging partnerships with businesses and nonprofits, and training staff to provide for LAUSD students the best education possible.

At Walgrove, we will assemble a Walgrove Task Force, as well, to make sure that we provide for Walgrove students the best possible education within the LAUSD framework, given our unique setting and population.

Please expect a LAUSD family survey sometime this week. 

Please also expect a Walgrove-specific survey on or before Sunday, May 31, 2020. 

Thank you for your partnership!

Superintendent Beutner's Memorial Day Address

Superintendent Update - May 25, 2020

Grade Notification

Superintendent Beutner's Thank You to LAUSD Employees

Summer School Applications NOW Live

Dear Families, 

You may now apply for summer school here: https://achieve.lausd.net/summer2020

• Summer school is available to all LAUSD students
• Walgrove students may keep their borrowed devices over the summer (5th graders until Aug)
• Students are not limited by geographical area. Because summer school is virtual, students and teachers will all be assigned across the district. Students will not have their current teachers, and teachers will not have their current students. The wide catalog of course offerings is available to all, not matter where you live 

For more info, visit https://achieve.lausd.net/summer2020

Superintendent Beutner's May 18 Address

Superintendent Beutner's May 11 Address

Happy Mother’s Day and Other Info

Happy Mother’s Day! 

It is indeed fitting that Mother’s Day came right after Teacher Appreciation Week, because so many Walgrove warriors are both mothers and teachers: Teachers who are also mothers have had to teach and work, while mothers who are now also teachers have had to work and teach. 

No matter your family’s situation, we are all working diligently to adjust to the COVID-19 school closure, which has required all of us to rise to a new occasion where we must exercise immense creativity while sacrificing physical proximity.

Harvard Medical School says that a hug held for 20 seconds releases much-loved oxytocin, which lowers blood pressure, relieves stress, and makes people feel loved and close. 

So, hug those in your quarantine circle for 20 seconds several times a day and read aloud and play board games and cook together and laugh. 

Because what you cannot do through Zoom is touch. 

During World War II, soldiers relied on letters to feel connectedness and a sense of purpose. Because in order to feel that your life is worth sacrifice, one must feel that your life matters. 

So, stay connected to people who are faraway through letters -- and, where letters take too long, take to Zoom. 

During the Zooms that I have personally experienced over this past month or so, I have witnessed, up close, the innovation of children. Kids build forts and roller coasters and wire-hanger bicycles and cardboard skyscrapers and obstacle courses and hope. 

Like scientists harness the sun and wind to electrically power cities, let’s harness the creativity of children to power our houses and our hope. 

Thank you, mothers, for your unique capacity to cultivate the hope of children and to keep all of our lives together during difficult times. 

Thank you, fathers, for loving our mothers who do so. 

And thank you, children, for being the future and everything we exist for. Walgrove is because of you. 

Here are some announcements for the last month of school:

Yearbook dedications are due May 15. Please click here to dedicate a page (or a portion thereof) to your special kiddo. Let’s turn lemons into lemonade and make this year one to remember! (Check out photos of our kiddos here.)

Fundraising is down -- of course! Unemployment across the nation is the highest it has been in decades. 

While many Walgrove families have either stopped their monthly FOW donations or cut them in size, our expenses have not receded. We continue to employ Francesca, Johnny B, Donzell, Farmer Matt, Coach Rachel, Ms. Barbara and Ms. Macias. They are vital to our essence. They are a HUGE part of what makes Walgrove Walgrove. 

So, if you are in the unique position of thriving during this time, please consider increasing your donation to offset losses. In the spirit of this, I have increased my own monthly donation by 50% for the next three years. Please reach out to FOW president Emily Barton at emily.barton@wearewalgrove.com to donate today. 

Please subscribe to my blog: PrincipalKittelson.blogspot.com. Enter your email address underneath the blog’s title, verify your email, and voila. This way, you are sure to stay apprised of happenings.

Another distribution day is happening this Thursday, May 14, by appointment. The purpose of these Distribution events is to provide to students with the devices and materials they need to attend virtual school this Spring and beyond. These days are not days to collect completed work and projects, as there will be time in the future for that. These days are to make sure that everyone has what they need to move forward. There will be other events in the future for families and teachers to come and collect possessions and keepsakes. 

If you need a tech device and/or something from your child’s desk that is required to move forward, please make an appointment through email to andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net. Last Thursday, we served approximately 40 families.This Thursday, I imagine we will do the same. 

Thank you for your heartfelt partnership. 

Happy Mother’s Day, and many blessings!

Dr. Andrea Kittelson

Current Prevailing Master Schedule

<Reposted from April 1>

Dear Families,

Throughout this week, we have been refining our master schedule of VIRTUAL offerings, which currently includes video uploads, Zoom sessions, Google Classroom check-ins and more. This master schedule is for those of you would would like to connect with your teachers and with academic subjects through the powers of technology, which now, after loaning out approximately 75 devices, all Walgrove students should have (if you do not, please reach out):

• Schedule of Teacher VIRTUAL Offerings Organized by Subject Order 
• Schedule of Teacher VIRTUAL Offerings Organized Chronologically
• School-Wide Master Schedule of VIRTUAL Offerings 
• Ever-Evolving Catalog of Teacher Videos

For those of you who DO prefer technology, here is a sample STUDENT schedule of a day's worth of school:

• Sample Student Schedule for a Tech-Heavy Day of School

For those of you who DO NOT prefer technology, and instead prefer analog activities, here is a sample STUDENT schedule of a day's worth of school:

• Sample Student Schedule for an Analog Day of School

While the district is in the process of developing overarching guidelines for grading the student work that is completed during this time, we at Walgrove do have an Independent Study grading rubric that you might find helpful. It considers thoroughness of work, quality of work, presentation of work, grade-level skills and 21st Century skills.

• Independent Study/Continuity of Learning Grading Rubric

As you continue to provide for your children the most robust learning experience possible during this time, please know a few things:

• The Superintendent does not require or expect that elementary school students will complete an entire six-hour day of school every day during this time. While we at Walgrove are doing our best to give you the resources you need to replicate an entire school day at home, should you choose to, that is not the requirement. The district would like for elementary school students to focus foremost on foundational skills, such as reading, writing, computation, critical thinking, creative thinking and Social Emotional Learning — basically, reading, writing, math and fun. Superintendent Beutner has said that elementary school students should be able to accomplish this in approximately three hours of focused study per day. Obviously, this might vary according to age, circumstance and parental desire. Nonetheless, rest assured that you are not obligated to present to your children a full day of replicated school. 
• Certificated teachers are all expected to work full time (or nearly full time, per UTLA agreement) during this crisis. As you can imagine, due to the learning curve of this experience and certain logistics, teachers are actually working far more than their typical, contractual 7 hours per day. Most are currently working 10-14 hours per day. As part of their contractual day, during this crisis, teachers are expected to provide a minimum of four hours per week of virtual education, generally in ELA and math, and typically through video uploads, Zoom sessions, Google Chat and more, plus three hours per week of office hours where parents and/or students can expect an immediate response. The other time is spent creating lessons, personalizing lessons, uploading lessons, reading student work, giving students feedback, answering emails, taking workshops to learn the tools they are now expected to use, and more. All while taking care of and teaching their own children.
• While teachers are expected to provide virtual activities, families are not obligated to access these virtual offerings. Some parents do not want their children in front of a screen. That is OK. That is why we at Walgrove have provided families with analog lessons, as well. Do what works for you and your family.
• While we have all been inundated with an abundance of resources, including videos, on-line programs, software, etc., please know that you are under no obligation to try or use ANY of them. Do what works for you and your family. Indeed, it can feel very overwhelming to be presented with so many options. If you prefer to read books aloud, play board games, bake bread, sew and work in your garden side by side with your children and have them journal about it or sing a song about it, do that. If children are reading, writing, computing, thinking critically, thinking creatively and experiencing love and joy, they are learning. 

Please stay in touch with your teachers and with me. Feel free to reach out to me via email at andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net or cell at (323) 363-1934. 

Thank you for your partnership.

Stay safe, and be well!

2020-2021 CLASS MATRIX

Superintendent Beutner's May 4 Address

Share and Care at Home

Our beloved Share and Care service providers offer advice for home mental health care:

Materials and Technology Pick-Up May 7+

Dear Families,

Because the District has expanded Continuity of Learning beyond May 1, and because the district has also expanded their provision of technology, we will host Materials and Technology Pick-Up Days at Walgrove the next two Thursdays, May 7 and May 14 from 10-4 by appointment.

This is what will be available:

• My Math workbooks (why not pick up the next grade level for an extra challenge?)
• Phonics workbooks (take an extra for your younger sibling)
• Decodable sets
• Benchmark Advantage Vocab and Grammar workbooks
• Items from your child's classroom
• Technology (hot spot if you don't have the internet; iPad, Chrome Book or Mac Book Air, depending on grade level)

Please also know that sometime over the next two weeks, you will also be receiving via snail mail one of these "Kids Learn! Getting Ready for..."workbooks for each of your children. Superintendent Beutner is mailing one workbook to each student in the district.

If you don't get yours by May 18, call (213) 443-1300.




To make an appointment for materials and/or technology pick-up, please email me at andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net with the following:

• Preferred date, either May 7 or May 14
• Preferred two-hour window, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4 (I will assign you a specific time, like 12:15)
• Your name
• Your child's name
• Your child's grade level
• Workbooks you are interested in (though you can get extras when you arrive, if we have)
• Technology, if you need (e.g., if you don't have the internet at home and you need a hot spot AND/OR you need one of our iPads, Chrome Books or Mac Book Airs -- we still have a few available)

If you don't get the Kids Learn! workbook by mail by May 18, all (213) 443-1300.

Due to staffing issues and social distancing concerns, there will be different days set aside for teachers to collect their things before summer. These two days are for families to obtain additional materials they might need for the next six weeks of school.