Calendar and Bell Schedule 2025-2026

Juneteenth on June 19th

In honor of the federal holiday Juneteenth, which marks the effective end of slavery in the United States, I share this Juneteenth Spotify playlist, a potent Langston Hughes poem, and my favorite version of Lift Every Voice and Sing.

Berklee College of Music's rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing:

Happy Juneteenth!

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We Are One - Estamos Unidos

Culmination Remarks

“Belonging” by Rosemary Wahtola Trommer

And if it’s true we are alone,

we are alone together,

the way blades of grass

are alone, but exist as a field.

Sometimes I feel it,

the green fuse that ignites us,

the wild thrum that unites us,

an inner hum that reminds us

of our shared humanity.

Just as thirty-five trillion

red blood cells join in one body

to become one blood.

Just as one hundred thirty-six thousand

notes make up one symphony.

Alone as we are, our small voices

weave into the one big conversation.

Our actions are essential

to the one infinite story of what it is

to be alive. When we feel alone,

we belong to the grand communion

of those who sometimes feel alone—

we are the dust, the dust that hopes,

a rising of dust, a thrill of dust,

the dust that dances in the light

with all other dust, the dust

that makes the world.

I share this poem because I have been thinking about what it means to belong. 

 - To belong to yourself, which requires knowing yourself and giving yourself room to disagree with           yourself. 

 - To belong to others in a way that requires you to consider their penchants and perspectives. 

 - To belong to a place, such as home, even when home is gone and you are displaced. 

 - To belong to a world that sometimes doesn’t seem to know you or even want you. 

As you face the future – the uncertain and beautiful blank canvas that is whatever it is that you and we and the billions of others together create, please know that you do belong. You belong just as much as absolutely anyone else. 

Without you being you, the world and those of us in it cannot truly fulfill our collective purpose. 

Your many facets shed light on all of us. So, be fully you. Wholly you. Growing you. And give others the space and grace to be who they are, too. 

I have loved being your principal for the past seven years – growing alongside you, taking COVID tests alongside you, counting grains of salt alongside you in Advanced Math, singing the Lost and Found Song alongside you. Not running in the Quad alongside you, because I have boundaries. And bad knees. But being with you as you learn who you are, and as you support your friends on their journeys of belonging. 

Please know that you are important. You are loved. And soon, in about 28 hours and 17 minutes, you are sixth graders!

(Lord have mercy upon us!)

Congratulations, Monarchs! 

May all your flights be supported by the wind.

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Walgrove Weekly Message

Dear Walgrove Families and Staff, 

This marks the last Weekly Message (or Sunday Message) of the school year and of my tenure. 

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the last 7 years of ups, downs, highs, lows, and all-arounds as we have worked together toward the shared purpose of, as Zeena would say, "watching children." 

Watching them smile and cry and playfight and push and kick and giggle and sing and think (thank you, teachers!) and write in cursive (thank you, Mr. Merrick!) and run up the slide of life. 

Toward the end of saying "so long," here is Woody Guthrie saying it far better than I ever could:

Here, too, is some of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:

MONDAY

Instruction (or some facsimile thereof) from 8:05am-1:50pm

Culmination 9-10am or thereabouts

Dismissal 1:50pm

TUESDAY

Instruction (or some facsimile thereof) from 8:05am-1:32pm

Complete and total mayhem in several ways because not only is this the last day of school, but there will be a film crew on site taking over the Auditorium, the Cafeteria, and places near and far (most of the far bits will start after school). 

TEAM PRIME TIME WILL USE THE QUAD TABLES IN LIEU OF THE CAFETERIA. THEIR DISMISSAL GATE WILL BE THE WALGROVE GATE NEAR THE PARENT CENTER.

WEDNESDAY

Optional Work Day for some. Hangin' in there like a cat for others. You know who you are. 

The film crew will be everywhere. Thankfully, they will also have Craft Services? One can hope!

Let's have a great week -- AND SUMMER, Walgrove!

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Bus Transport to Paul Revere

Walgrove Weekly Message

Dear Walgrovers, 

There is SO much happening during May and June, almost too much to discuss!

Here are a FEW pics of SOME of the stuff. 

Thankfully, the yearbook is coming out next week with many more pics of much more stuff!

WEMOVES

JACK'S RAP

THE PLETCHER PLAYERS

VOLUNTEER BREAKFAST - THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS! 

I feel a song coming on for the 100+ volunteers who make Walgrove extra-extra Walgrovy!

COUNCILMEMBER TRACI PARK'S PIC WITH THE TOP WINNERS OF THE 

"KIDS ENVISION A HEALTHY LOS ANGELES" ART CONTEST

 

14 of those chosen to exhibit are from Walgrove. A grand showing!

Here are just two:

VISIT THE EXHIBIT AT WEST LA CIVIC CENTER TO SEE THE REST THRU JUNE, 2026

Here is SOME of what is coming up this week (and beyond) at Walgrove:

MON

Inspired instruction 8:05am-2:32pm

Mobile Tar Pits Museum per the schedule

TUE

Inspired instruction 8:05am-1:32pm

Mobile Tar Pits Museum per the schedule

"Wizard of Oz" cast party in the Auditorium 12:00-1:00pm

Staff Meeting and PD Rm 19 1:45pm

WED

Inspired instruction 8:05am-2:32pm

Mobile Tar Pits Museum per the schedule

4th-5th Grade Field Day at Penmar Park 9am-2pm

Chess Tournament per Jonney's schedule (which is a list of people to play by a certain day)

THU

Inspired instruction 8:05am-2:32pm

Chess Tournament per Jonney's schedule (which is a list of people to play by a certain day)

FRI

Semi-inspired instruction 8:05am-2:32pm

Final Friday morning assembly. 5th graders to lead the Pledge. Room 21 Pilots to perform 8:05am

Chess Tournament per Jonney's schedule (which is a list of people to play by a certain day)

GRADE VERIFICATIONS DUE

SAT

Final volunteer day of the 2024-2025 school year. Enter via the Morningside Gate. 9am-1pm

MON

Culmination. Enter on Walgrove. Procession 9am. Doors open at 8:45am

Shortened Day - Dismissal 1:50pm

TUE

Last day of school for the 2024-2025 school year. 8:05am-1:32pm

Banked-time Tuesday - Dismissal 1:32pm

WED

Optional day for teachers

Film crew in the Auditorium, cafeteria, and surrounding areas. Appleton blocked off. Cars and crew in the Upper Yard. This is LA, afterall! Yay for filming in Los Angeles!

______________________________________________________________

SAID ANOTHER WAY:

June 2-4 Mobile Tar Pits Museum in the Upper Yard

June 4 - Field Day - Grades 4-5 to Penmar Park 9am-2pm

June 4-6 - Chess Tournament (in coordination with mobile museum and field trips) details per Jonney

June 7 - Last Volunteer Day of the School Year 9am-1pm

Monday, June 9 - 5th Grade Culmination 9am - Shortened Day: Dismissal 1:50

Tuesday, June 10 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL -  Tuesday: Dismissal 1:32

Let's have a great week, Walgrove!

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