Friday, June 19, 2020

Juneteenth

Dear Families,

Happy Juneteenth!

Here is a list of books to read with children about the significance of Juneteenth:

"All Different now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom" by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

"Juneteenth for Mazie" written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper

"The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure" by Steven Otfinoski

"Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life" by Ashley Bryan

"Black History of Beginners" by Denise Dennis, illustrated by Susan Willmarth

"Wagon Wheels" by Barbara Brenner, illustrated by Don Bolognese

"Freedom's a-Callin Me" by Ntozake Shange, illustrated by Rod Brown

"Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave" by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier

"Escape from Slavery: Five Journeys to Freedom" by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Charles Lilly

"Sulwe" by Lupita Nyong'o

"Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson

When it comes to Juneteenth stories for the younger crowd, experts recommend picks like "Juneteenth for Mazie" by Floyd Cooper" and "All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom" by Angela Johnson.


Here is a link to the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, which was ratified approximately six months after Juneteenth.

And, finally, here is a link to the Berklee College of Music's lively rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing. I  recommend you prepare to dance.

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Walgrove Virtual Learning Survey

Dear Families, 

Please complete the following survey (if you have not already) to let us know what worked for you and what did not during Virtual Learning. 

English:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TFTN5PF

Thank you!
*****
Queridas Familias,

Por favor, complete la siguiente encuesta (si aún no lo han hecho) para informarnos qué funcionó bien para ustedes y qué no funcionó bien durante el Aprendizaje Virtual. 

Español:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/39F2XZH

Gracias!

Thursday, June 11, 2020

T'was the Night Before June 12

T'was the night before June 12 when all through the Wildlands

All the creatures were furring, including the Armadillidiidae

15 stumps were ordered in a circle for show

In hopes that poets would one day assemble and crow

The flowers stood steadfast in multi-colored glory

Yet few were there to witness their story

While visions of milkweed and lupine and wind

Summoned Monarchs and Mourning Cloaks and their butterfly kin

Possums and bunnies and lizards and hens

Wondered when they'd see families and children again

Then up rose a sunflower, heeding the call

Don't fret, my garden friends, don't fret at all...

When the virus is over and the children return...

We'll have grown wilder and taller despite nature's spurn

We'll have proven to the world just how mighty we are

When life plants seeds of darkness, we shine bright from afar

Our beauty is a lighthouse, and we flourish despite everything

Just like families and children and schools and Delphinium

Don't fret, my pastoral friends, don't fret at all

Resiliency is elemental until comes the fall

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Keepsake and Yearbook Pickup and Library Book Dropoff June 15-19, 2020

Dear Families,

We are scheduling folks to come to pick up their classroom belongings (shoes, journals, prized art work, etc) and yearbooks and workbooks for summer (if needed) and to drop off library books (if you have some) NEXT WEEK, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

We are scheduling by class so that if the teacher is able to attend, they may.

Here is what you will do on your assigned day:
  • Drop off library books
  • Pick up workbooks (if needed)
  • Pick up your labeled bag of belongings (shoes, journal, art work, etc)
  • Pick up medicine left with the nurse
  • Pick up your yearbook!
You may keep your electronic device over the summer. (However, if you are moving out of District, then please return the device to us next week!)

We are scheduling appointments in 10-minute increments. So please arrive on time, and please adhere to the following:
  • Enter via the staff parking lot on Appleton
  • Come only with folks with whom you are sheltering in place
  • Honor social distancing
  • Wear a face covering
  • Don't bring pets
If you DO NOT want to pick up anything now, WE WILL KEEP IT FOR YOU until fall.

We do want to limit the number of people who come to campus. So, this offering is by no means pressure to come and pick up stuff. It is simply an option.

If you DO NOT want to pick up your yearbook right now, we will keep it for you. The yearbooks will be labeled with names. So, it will be easy to keep it for you.

We will schedule additional pick-up dates in early August.

If you DO wish to make an appointment to pick up stuff next week, please email me at andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net

Thank you, and we miss you!

Monday, June 8, 2020

Superintendent Beutner's June 8 Address


Superintendent Update - June 8, 2020

No/Limited Zooms This Week

Dear Families,

This is a reminder that during this final week of the 2019-2020 school year, there will be no/few live Zoom classes this week as teachers do the following:
  • Collect/compile student work
  • Complete report cards
  • Clean rooms
  • Complete cum folders
  • Other duties, as assigned
The only live Zooms this week include:
  • Coach Rachel Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM
  • Utopian Planet Thurs 8:30 AM
  • Lunch with the Principal Friday 12:00 PM
  • Task Force Friday 1:00 PM (details forthcoming)
  • Other optional Zooms as communicated by individual teachers
This week is therefore a time for finishing and submitting work to teachers, at their direction. 

Thank you for your partnership, patience and strength during this unimaginable time!

Friday, June 5, 2020

Culmination TODAY

Dear Families,

Today, we celebrate the culmination of our fifth-graders. Nearly all have been with us since TK or K. All have shown incredible curiosity, creativity, collaboration, kindness, bravery, resiliency, Moxie, giddiness, enthusiasm, wisdom and hope.

They are all now fully formed butterflies ready to soar.

In honor of their achievements, we celebrate them today at 11 and forever afterward.

Due to the culmination event at 11, there will be NO Lunch with the Principal and NO Coffee with the Principal today.

Due to the technological restrictions, today's event is by invitation only. If you are therefore unable to attend today's ceremony, there are other ways to honor our graduates:

At 11:00 on the dot, honk your car horns wherever you are OR raise your head to the sky and smile and hope for them a beautiful migration over to Middle School.

Thank you, and congratulations to our majestic Monarchs!

Flight of the Butterflies

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Important Reminders

Dear Families,

Here are a few reminders/notices:

REGARDING MEETINGS:

Due to culmination activities tomorrow, there will be NO Lunch with the Principal and NO Coffee with the Principal this week.

There will be one final Lunch with the Principal next week on Friday, June 12 at noon.

There will be no more Coffee with the Principal meetings this year.

However, there will be Walgrove School-Return Task Force meetings three Fridays in a row starting next week, Friday, June 12 at 1.

In addition to these task force meetings, comprised of parents and staff who volunteer, there will be specific reach-outs to families unable to attend such meetings, We will reach out to these families in the following ways:
  • Bilingual surveys via email, text and various social media platforms
  • Phone calls to specific families who have let us know they are unable to attend daytime meetings, and/or they are uncomfortable sharing their opinion in a group setting
  • Other methods we come up with that help us get a range of opinions so that we are more apt to meeting everyone's needs
If you have not yet seen Austin Beutner's June 3 address, I highly recommend it. It will give you very helpful information about what the fall might look like. There are some great charts that explain the math in coming back to typical brick-and-mortar school.



REGARDING THE PICKING UP OF STUDENT BELONGINGS:

During the week of June 15-19, by appointment, families may come to pick up belongings left behind in the classroom and hopefully yearbooks. I am making the appointments by class, so that if the teacher is also available to be there for that window of time, they will be able to say hello.

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.in 10-minute increments.

EXAMPLE:

8:00
8:10
8:20
8:30
8:40
8:50
9:00
  • Arrive on time (or two minutes early)
  • Wear face coverings
  • Bring only those with whom you are sheltering in place
  • No pets
For an appointment, please email me at andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net. If you cannot email, then feel free to text me at 323-363-1934. However, in order to limit the texts I receive, and to make sure that I can successfully serve everyone, please only text if you CANNOT email.

When I respond to your appointment email, I will let you know if your teacher will be able to attend and if so, when.

Thank you, and stay strong, creative and beautiful!

Superintendent Beutner's June 3 Address

Monday, June 1, 2020

On Current Events

Dear Walgrove Community,

I could start by saying, "at times like these," but there have been no times like these. Never before in my lifetime have I had to manage the emotions that come with personal isolation due to a global pandemic coupled with the deep reflection that comes with sustained global civil unrest.

Just a few months ago, via Netflix, Marie Kondo had us all cleaning our physical houses. We were to take stock of what "sparked joy" and purge what did not.

Now, while in the throes of both COVID-19 and wide-spread protests inspired by a horrific act of brutality, we are tasked with cleaning our psycho-spiritual houses. We must take stock of what we believe and value. It is no longer about what we own but who we are.

All this inventorying of self affects children.

So, how do we help kids manage? How do we answer their questions? How do we teach them? How do we give them voice?

I would venture to say that we use the same tools we always use, which are listening, empathy, honesty and love.

Just as we learned to fold our shirts a new way to make more space in our drawers (and to see how many unworn clothes we have), we can learn to use our social-emotional tools more profoundly. We can listen more deeply, understand one another's perspective more earnestly, truly espouse empathy and engage in tangible and lasting acts of love.

With regard to LAUSD's guidance to staff and families, they created this resource.

The District also encourages the following:

When teaching:
  • Check in: "How are you today?" 
  • Offer focus: "What are your goals today?"
  • Offer support: "How may I assist you?"
When facilitating discussions:
  • Set ground rules, promote civility and guide students in meaningful discussions and interaction 
  • Create space for the expression of feelings
  • Demonstrate respect and validation of each person's feelings even if we don't share them
  • Strive to utilize instructional time for content (after check-in, focus on instruction)
  • With young kids, don't venture into conversations that the students may not be ready for and/or that their parents may not have had yet. Let parents be the first person to teach students about a potentially traumatic topic (I added this one). 
When planning, schools should adhere to the following guidelines:
  • Students have a right to freedom of speech and may participate in free-speech activities, including political or religious speech
  • Students may distribute literature reflective of their views and opinions
  • Students may participate in virtual peaceful demonstrations during non-instructional time (e.g., a self-moderated web conference session in a controlled environment)
  • Students may exercise these rights as long as their speech, expression of conduct is not obscene, lewd, libelous or slanderous; does not incite students to destroy property or inflict injury upon any person; and/or does not cause a substantial disruption to school operations
  • While many schools had planned to be open for essential closing procedures this and next week, it is not recommended to allow any students on campus for any demonstrations, as schools are still closed other than for essential business
As always, if you need support during this unprecedented time, please reach out to the aforementioned resources or to these additional LAUSD resources.

Or email me at andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net, or call or text my cell at (323) 363-1934.

Thank you, stay strong, may your hearts be filled with peace, and may we all -- as people, as a nation and as a world -- find ways to purge what does not serve us.