Grab & Go Meals Over the Break

 

 

Testing and Vaccinations Over the Break

Vaccination and baseline testing info before our return to school Tuesday, January 11, 2022:

The District will have 12 stationary testing sites open Dec 1-22 and Jan 3-31 with extended hours (see the flyers below). 

Families are NOT REQUIRED to get tested prior to a return to school January 10; however, they are encouraged to get tested, and testing is available. AS OF JAN 3,THIS HAS CHANGED. PLEASE SEE ABOVE AND CHECK EMAIL.

Weekly onsite COVID testing will resume at Walgrove the week of Monday, January 10. All LAUSD folks (but especially Walgrove folks) are welcome to test at Walgrove on our testing day 7:30 - 3pm. 

It is preferred that parents come 1-3; however, parents may come anytime so long as they are willing to wait. We test students class by class in the morning, typically 8-11:30. The testers take a lunch break noon to 1. 

Please also get vaccinated. Vaccinated folks do not have to quarantine when there is a case. As soon as we are at 85% vaccination rate among students, we can take our masks off outdoors. Vaccines lower hospitalization rates and save lives. 

School Experience Survey DEADLINE EXTENDED

The School Experience Survey for Parents is now due January 14, 2022.

The School Experience Survey for Staff, Students and Parents is due Friday, January 14. 

Helpful Info:

Here are discipline documents. 

Our Uniform Complaint Manager/Title IX Managers are:

Andrea Kittelson, Laura Schussman and Tracy McCarthy. 

Please let me know if you have any questions 

Thank you!

Testing and Vaccinations Over the Break

Vaccination and baseline testing info before our return to school Tuesday, January 11, 2022:

The District will have 12 stationary testing sites open Dec 1-22 and Jan 3-31 with extended hours (see the flyers below). 

Families are NOT REQUIRED to get tested prior to a return to school January 10; however, they are encouraged to get tested, and testing is available. AS OF JAN 3,THIS HAS CHANGED. PLEASE SEE ABOVE AND CHECK EMAIL.

Weekly onsite COVID testing will resume at Walgrove the week of Monday, January 10. All LAUSD folks (but especially Walgrove folks) are welcome to test at Walgrove on our testing day 7:30 - 3pm. 

It is preferred that parents come 1-3; however, parents may come anytime so long as they are willing to wait. We test students class by class in the morning, typically 8-11:30. The testers take a lunch break noon to 1. 

Please also get vaccinated. Vaccinated folks do not have to quarantine when there is a case. As soon as we are at 85% vaccination rate among students, we can take our masks off outdoors. Vaccines lower hospitalization rates and save lives. 

Angel City Youth Chorale Performs Tonight!

 19 Walgrove Students are in the Angel City Youth Chorale!

And they perform TONIGHT. 

CLICK HERE FOR TIX TO TONIGHT'S SHOW AT ROYCE HALL "LIGHT UP THE WORLD."

Special Guest at Tomorrow's Coffee with the P

Please join us for a special Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal tomorrow at 9am in my Zoom room. Krista Schoenbaum from Share and Care will discuss how to help loved ones handle grief and loss during the holidays. 

Vaccines This Week!

Happy Hanukkah Nov 28-Dec 6

 Peace, love and light!

Grab & Go Meals Over the Break

 

Vaccines for Kiddos 5+

Regarding vaccines for kiddos 5+:

LAUSD is currently focused on kiddos 12+, because starting in January, all students 12+ must be vaccinated in order to attend school. 

This is the language from the LAUSD website:

With the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-old children, we are delighted to be able to offer voluntary vaccine access to students in this age group. The COVID-19 vaccine is highly encouraged for children ages 5-11. However, it will not be part of Los Angeles Unified’s current student vaccine requirement.

Beginning November 8, our mobile vaccination teams will offer the vaccine to students in this age group. 

Starting on November 16, 13 school-based family and wellness centers will offer the vaccine to students 5- to 11-years old. (These wellness centers already offer vaccinations to students 12 and older.) We will also have school-based clinics offering the vaccine on select Saturdays (more info to come). Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be made on the Daily Pass.

Venice Community of Schools Town Hall Wednesday 11/10 @4pm

Daylight Savings Ends Tonight!

 

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences

This year, we do not have shortened days for the purpose of parent-teacher conferences during the week of November 15. Therefore, just as last year, conferences will be spread out over several days/weeks, at dates and times convenient for parents and teachers. 

Your children's teachers will reach out with their respective schedules. 

Conferences may be in person or via Zoom.

In order to meet in person on campus, all adults must show a vaccination card and recent negative test.

Teachers will reach out (if they have not already) with either hard copy or electronic sign-up sheets. 

Food Bank Food Collection +

Dear Walgrove Community, 

The Student Council is collecting food for the West Side Food Bank and would love your donations of:

• Peanutbutter (in plastic jars)
• Canned soup
• Canned veggies
• Canned tuna
• Canned fruit
• Other canned goodies (e.g., pork and beans, Spaghettios...)
• Dry pasta
• Pinto beans
• Lentils
• Mac and cheese
• Instant soups

Please look for the donation stations around campus (currently decorated boxes). 

Additionally, they would like to create at least one (hopefully more) Thanksgiving bags for Walgrove families in need. If you are able to contribute Thanksgiving items, please send those items separately to the Principal's office (Rm 26). Please also feel free to share whom you think would most benefit, including yourself. Email that info to charlotte.jones2@lausd.net, cindy.mazariegos@lausd.net, matthew.stansbury@lausd.net, nlc0696@lausd.net, steve.choe@lausd.net, andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net.

The Student Council (Charlotte, Cindy, Matt, Nancy, Steve and imminently-elected students) thanks you!

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at Walgrove 2021-2022

LAUSD implements Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) district-wide. Each school in LAUSD must create school-site matrices, classroom matrices, minor-major matrices and more. 

The following documents are the current prevailing documents that govern student behavior, discipline, rewards, consequences., etc., at Walgrove. All documents were approved by the 2020-2021 LSLC and will be revisited by the 2021-2022 LSLC at the next LSLC meeting, which will be Thursday, November 18 at 3:30pm in Dr. K's Zoom room. 

In addition to posting the documents in classrooms and around campus, Walgrove teachers share the documents with students and teach overt lessons on the concepts. 

The decision-making body that resides over the area of student discipline at Walgrove is the LSLC. 

The 2021-2022 LSLC is comprised of:

• Principal Andrea Kittelson
• SAA Tracy McCarthy
• UTLA Rep and Gen Ed Teacher Jackie Lettieri
• SDC Teacher Kathy Elkins
• Gen Ed Upper Grade Teacher Lynn Webster
• Gen Ed Lower Grade Teacher Elvia Perez
• Parent Reps Shaina Shapiro and Maria Boyd
• Alternate Teacher Alejandra Biolatto
• Alternate Parent Danielle Barto

If you have any questions, concerns or awesome ideas, please forward them to any of the aforementioned LSLC members and/or to me at andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net. Or stop by Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal any/every Thursday at 9am in Dr. K's Zoom room. (Except Nov 4 and Nov 11. Nov 4, I'll be teaching a lesson in a classroom. Nov 11 is a holiday) and/or stop by any LSLC meeting, which are monthly and mentioned in the Sunday message, on the yearly calendar and on the electronic marquee. 

To translate this message, right click and choose "translate," or click here. 

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Factoids

>> Students in LAUSD may be designated Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) in 7 categories:

Intellectual Ability (K+, tested by LAUSD psych, once during K-12. Outside tests may supplement but not supplant)

High Achievement (OLSAT in gr 2 and/or two consecutive years of high achievement in reading and/or math, gr 5 and above)

Specific Academic Ability (gr 5+, three consecutive years of high achievement in reading and/or math)

Creativity (gr 2+, portfolio showing extraordinary visionary inventions and innovations)

Leadership (gr 2+, portfolio showing exemplary leadership, problem-solving, purpose and direction)

Visual Arts (gr 2+, portfolio showing exemplary visual artistry)

Performing Arts (gr 2+ audition in the Spring)

>> Students may qualify in more than one category.

>> The process at Walgrove involves: All second-graders take the OLSAT test in the Spring, the results of which determine GATE designation in the category of High Achievement (though, not the only way to be designated in the category of High Achievement) 

>> AND each year, each teacher marks any/all categories of potential GATE designation for each of their students on a school-wide roster. Dr. K (Walgrove's GATE coordinator) follows up to make sure those students are eventually referred in MiSIS and evaluated/approved by the SSPT (Student Support and Progress Team) and that their parents are informed so they have the opportunity to take the next steps, which may include participating (along with the school, in portfolio development). 

PARENTS MAY ALSO REFER THEIR OWN CHILDREN FOR GATE. To do so, complete Attachment C of this document (for Intellectual Ability) or the equivalent form for one or more of the other categories:

High Achievement or Specific Ability

Creativity or Leadership

Visual and Performing Arts

While all submissions are all year long on a rolling basis, the District does set deadlines in mid to late April for students who will need Intellectual Ability testing before the subsequent school year and students who have to audition/demo in late May for VAPA: drawing/painting, drama, dance or voice. 

INFO REGARDING PORTFOLIOS AND AUDITIONS

>> The benefits of being designated GATE include, but are not limited to, having access to certain classes, such as honors classes (especially in middle and high school); certain programs, such as honors programs; and certain schools, such as magnet schools, Schools for Advanced Studies and schools for the Highly Gifted.

Magnet schools are typically schools with very particular foci, such as visual and performing arts, media studies, civic involvement, science, etc. 

Schools for Advanced Studies are schools that have applied for that particular designation (the process happens every five years). As part of the application process, schools must show a consistent commitment to training their teachers in strategies designed to meet the needs of gifted students. (Walgrove intends to apply for the next five-year cycle. All our teachers are trained to teach gifted students.) 

>> While students who are already designated GATE automatically qualify for magnet and SAS schools, students do NOT have to be designated GATE in order to attend such schools. Once a parent applies for such a school during the E-Choices Unified Enrollment period, their child's name appears in a database. The current principal logs into that database by a specific deadline (usually in January) and places a "YES" or "NO" next to each applicant's name based on certain criteria; see Section B #3. Many Walgrove students attend magnets and SAS middle schools this way. For all those within the Mark Twain footprint, I submit a list of qualified students (per the same criteria) to Mark Twain's Assistant Principal, Kerrie Egerton, and she places those students in SAS classes. 

>>There is no need to attend a magnet or SAS school in order to enjoy a robust GATE education. All LAUSD schools (and all schools in the nation, actually) are required to meet the needs of Gifted and Talented students, and your neighborhood school might have much more to offer than a gifted magnet.

  There are so many things to consider when choosing the right school. 

For more GATE info, please attend Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal, which happen weekly.

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Webster Middle School Tour Info!

Volunteerism at Walgrove Fall 2021

Thank you, all 27 registered volunteers, for applying here to become a registered volunteer. 

Here is our new sign-up sheet for upcoming on-campus tasks.

Here is our sign-in sheet for when you are actually on campus (feel free to complete before you arrive).

And, of course, here is where you get a Daily Pass. 

You are welcome to come and get COVID-tested Tuesdays 7:30 - 3, with our preferred parent time 1-3. But, anytime is OK if you are willing to wait behind a class. 

Thank you, SO MUCH, for making Walgrove a safe and fun place to learn and grow!

Halloween Spooktacular

Prepare for the 2021 Halloween Spooktacular!

Here is the gist:

More details to follow...

When you least expect it. Boo!

Tour of Webster STEAM Magnet Oct 20 4pm

 

Visitor Policy Oct 18 and Beyond

Dear Walgrove Community, 

As you surely know, LAUSD has mandated that all LAUSD staff become COVID-19 vaccinated as of October 15, 2021, therefore, we, at Walgrove, now require that all COVID-19-vaccine-eligible visitors to campus be vaccinated, as well. 

Therefore, as of Monday, October 18, 2021, all visitors 12 and over who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and/or Moderna) must now show both a negative PCR COVID test within the previous week and a vaccination card in order to enter and spend time on campus. 

To escort your child to class for a hot minute: Vax card and neg test within the last week.

To volunteer in myriad ways for longer than a hot minute: Vax card, neg test within the last week, and registered as a volunteer:

Thank you for your community spirit. Please consider the following data:

Prospective Parent Tour @ 6pm Tue Oct 19

 

https://www.wearewalgrove.com/tour/

Tuesday, October 19 at 6pm in Dr. K's Zoom room

with in-person component Sat, Oct 23 @10am.

Mark Twain IHP Program Info Session Nov 4 6pm

Mark Twain Tours Fall 2021

 

LatinX Heritage Month Arts Contest Due Oct 29

 

Free Vaccinations for Ages 12+ October 13

 

Enrollment Fair October 12

 

Venice COS Town Hall Wed Oct 6 4pm

Thank You, UCLA and Parent Volunteers!

On Saturday, September 25, approximately 30 volunteers from UCLA and almost 10 parents, staff and community members came to support Walgrove by working in the Wildlands, Edible Garden, auditorium and Blue Lagoon. 

They hauled, organized, weeded, harvested and set the stage for fall planting and for all things Walgrove. 

Thank you, all, for making Walgrove more beautiful!