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Edison Elementary

3800 W. 182nd St.
Torrance, CA  90504
Office: 310.533.4513

CALL BACK: 310.329.4893

Website questions: jill393@gmail.com

Principal's Newsletter

June 23, 2010

Dear Edison Families,

I would like to take this opportunity to talk about student placement in combination classes in the event your child is placed in a combination class next year. It is my intent to offer some insight and explanation into how combination classes are formed and what you can do to best prepare your child for a positive school experience while in the combination class setting. While most of you are considering your summer plans, the staff and I are already planning for the next school year.  As we begin to look at the preliminary enrollment numbers, it is clear that we will again be faced with creating combination classes at multiple grade levels. 

Combination classes occur whenever two grade levels are co-mingled in a single class.  The need for these classes arises with the tight financial budgets facing our schools.  We are allocated staff according to the number of students at each grade level.


What is important to know about combination classes is while we do co-mingle students and perhaps some of the curricular themes, we do not co-mingle standards.  These students are instructed at their appropriate grade level and required to meet the same rigorous standards as set forth in the California State Content Standards as well as Edison’s own benchmark goals.

It is also important to keep in mind that combination classes are neither a half-grade up for the younger students nor a half-grade down for the older students.  It is simply students from two grade levels working with the same teacher.  Combination classes, however, do offer unique opportunities for growth, fostering independence, problem solving, and teamwork among the students. 

When selecting students for a combination class, we do our best to select students that will have the skills to succeed in this environment.  Students, who are independent, take initiative, are self-motivated, and work well with others, are usually the ones who adapt easily to the environment in combination classes.  Like all other classroom assignments, choosing these students is a delicate balance of considering both social and academic factors.  Much time goes into the decision making process.  I ask that you respect this when you view your child’s assignment and by chance find that he/she as been selected for a combination class.

Most students are likely to experience a combination class sometime during their years at Edison.  If you learn in September that your child has been assigned to a combination class, you can help by:


As with any other classroom assignment, I will be available to discuss your concerns after the first two weeks of school.  Keep in mind that both student and staffing assignments may change within the first couple of weeks.  I ask that you be patient with the process as this is a busy and challenging time for all.  We work very hard at trying to accommodate the needs of all students while maintaining our focus on high academic standards. 

Have a wonderful summer and see you in September.

Sincerely,


Erin Lahr, Ed.D.
Principal


May/June

Dear Edison Families & Friends,
As the 2009-2010 school year comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful Edison PTA for their dedication and service to Edison over the past year. I commend the PTA Board, chairpersons, committee members, and all the volunteers who have done an outstanding job this year of coordinating fundraisers, bringing programs to our students, and helping in our classrooms. Our home to school partnership is alive and well at Edison. Thank you for all you do!

I also want to thank our School Site Council representatives for taking on their positions and our Title 1 leadership team who helped plan school-wide improvements. Everyone worked collaboratively on our school plan and policies with careful thought and consideration. These groups are also to be commended for their dedication and service to our community. Thank you!

In addition, the Edison faculty and staff have shown tremendous dedication and commitment to our students and school community. They manage to focus on the success of each child and stay positive in light of increasing challenges. For this I want to acknowledge and thank them for their service! Times are tough, yet they come together, support one another, and strive to improve educational outcomes for all their students. Watching the staff unite and put children first shows me that we will get through these tough times and gives me hope for the future. I am very proud and thankful for all they do!

I look forward to a successful remainder of this school year and exciting summer programs at Edison. We will host our own summer intervention classes and SBEA summer school. Please look for events and announcements in the May/June Eaglet, the Wednesday Communicator, and here on the school website at www.EdisonElementary.org.

I wish everyone a relaxing summer vacation and look forward to returning in the fall. It is a great day to be at Edison!

Go forth Eagles and have a fantastic end to the school year and summer…

Warm Regards,
Erin Lahr, Ed.D.
Principal



April, 2010

Dear Edison Families & Friends,

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and fun-filled spring break next week, April 5th-9th!

I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Edison’s 2010 Honorary Service Award recipients! Barbara Smith, Tom Hua, and Dawn Mikkelson were recently honored for their outstanding commitment, dedication and service in our community! Thank you all very much for getting involved and making a difference! I would also like to thank the following people for making the recognition possible: PTA President Monika Ortiz, and committee members Tammy Clark, Cynthia Gasparro and Tina Ortega, Barbara Smith and Kenita Trinidad. This year our Honorary Service Awards were presented at our Ice Cream Social organized by Carla Benson. Thanks to Carla and all those who helped her with the event! It was a very fun evening and there was plenty of ice cream to go around. Also, thanks to the many family members, teachers, and volunteers who came out for and helped with the special evening.

Students making the news at Edison include all fifth grade students and fourth grade students from Ms. Hinman’s class, who entered a national essay contest. The contest was sponsored by Scholastic and they will notify the winners by the end of April. Each student wrote a five paragraph essay addressing the topic, “If I were President…”  Our teachers were so pleased with the quality of their students’ work that they selected and honored winners at a morning flag assembly as follows: First Place-Marisela S.; Second Place-Mishell R.; and Third Place-Angelena D. Congratulations to the winners and all the students for their wonderful effort!

In addition, the Edison Science Fair was a huge success! The cafeteria was overflowing with entries and the projects were terrific! Thanks to Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Branely for organizing the event and great job to each student who participated. Participation certificates will be distributed after spring break and the projects of the first place winners from each grade level will go on to the District Fair on April 1. The first place winners include: 5th- Hafsah M; 4th-April H.; 3-Katarina F.; 2-Nicholas S.; 1-Gavin H.; and K-Ella E. Well done!

Please save the date for Open House on April 22 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Have your child tour family members through their class to see all the exciting things they are learning about!
It’s a great day to be at Edison! Go forth Eagles…

Sincerely,
Mrs. Erin Lahr
Principal




March 2010


Dear Edison Families & Friends,

I want to thank Edison teachers for organizing and hosting our Family Math Nights in January and February. Thanks to Mrs. Branley, Mrs. Bubica, Ms. Marra, Mrs. Matoba, Mrs. Richardson, and Mrs. Viera for putting on these fun and educational events! Thanks to the YMCA for providing child care and to all the families that came in spite of the rain and rescheduling.

Jump Rope for Heart was another great event in February. Thank you, Mrs. Bubica for organizing this event each year. It is a worth while cause where students can make a difference and improve their heart health in the process. Thanks to Mrs. Branley and Mrs. Polun for helping with the event and all the families who contributed to the cause. Also, special thanks go to DJ Ozzie Vinueza for providing the upbeat tunes while we jumped!

Congratulations to our newly elected Student Council Officers!
Secretary of School Spirit - Jillian Glickman
4th grade Secretary of Activities - Samantha Pena
5th grade Secretary of Activities - Taylor Proo
Secretary - McKenna Peneueta
Vice President - Ikenna Maduno
President - Cruz Padilla

Thanks to these student officers, student council room representatives, and teacher Mr. Bradford, they are already hard at work. Their efforts helped with relief for Haiti and raised over 10 boxes of shoes for Souls 4 Souls and approximately $715 for the Red Cross. Way to go, Student Council and Mr. Bradford!

The Torrance Unified School District Board of Education and Cabinet Members held a special budget workshop on February 25, 2010 in order to hear concerns and work with Torrance community members. The District has to recommend budget cuts to the Board of Education before the March 15, 2010 deadline for the Board to take action. The ongoing budget crisis continues to impact school districts throughout California. Visit www.TUSD.org or www.cde.ca.gov for more information and to follow developments.

A few dates to note include:
Please refer to the Edison website, www.EdisonElementary.org and the Edison Eaglet for additional calendar items and other important school news.

It’s a great day to be at Edison! Go forth Eagles…

Sincerely,
Mrs. Erin Lahr
Principal





December 2009


Dear Edison Families & Friends,

Hello and Happy New Year! I would like to congratulate Jill Nowak and Toni Sciacqua on their elections as parent representatives to the Edison School Site Council for January 2009- December 2010. I also want to thank outgoing member Shannon Ahlemeir for her service. Thank you all! The next School Site Council meeting will be held on January 21, 2009 at 3:30 in Room 33. Anyone is welcome to attend.

I also want to thank PTA and many volunteers for the fabulous programs and events you have brought to Edison so far this school year including:

 
•    Monika Ortiz and the entire PTA Board for taking on their positions, setting the calendar, and delivering          programs
•    Tina Ortega for Fall Fundraiser
•    Gina Taualii for Membership
•    Sandra Olmos for the Directory
•    Toni Sciacqua for the Eaglet
•    Wendy McGuire, Dawn Mikkelson, & Marilyn VanHarligen for our Library and Book Fair
•    Jill Nowak for Volunteer Coordinator
•    Jill Nowak and Amy Caponpon for the Copy Center
•    Cynthia Gasparro for Adventures in Art
•    Dave Gasparro for the Marquee
•    Jo Telkamp for the Communicator
•    Tammy Clark for Red Ribbon Week, Safety & Jog-a-thon
•    Barbara Smith for Reflections & Fifth Grade Committee
•    Sugheim Gonzalez for Family Library Night
•    Beth Bedrosian, Dawn Mikkelson, Jill Nowak, Amanda Sheldon for the Canned Food Drive
•    Cheri Lackyard for the Winter Assembly
•    Tom Hua, Sandy Sanchez and George Cable for Valet, etc.
 

While this is only a partial list and does not name the many volunteers who helped out with each program, I appreciate all that has been done and your efforts have helped make Edison the great school that it is! Thank you!

Our community garden needs volunteers to help with maintenance and up keep. Currently the garden has been vandalized and needs help. If you would like to help clear away and trim the plants, please let me know. I have some North High students willing to help, yet we are seeking interested volunteers with gardening expertise to give input. Please call or email me if you can help!

As California continues to face financial challenges, districts and schools are experiencing budget shortfalls. Unfortunately, budget cuts have impacted many programs and services throughout the State. To stay informed, you can visit www.TUSD.org or www.cde.ca.gov. However, if you would like to help, there are many ways to support Edison in these tough times and some can be done without spending additional money. Click on the Fundraising link on the homepage of Edison’s website to learn more. Also, many employers have matching donation programs. Thank you for your continued support!
It’s a great day to be at Edison! Go forth Eagles…

Sincerely,
Mrs. Erin Lahr
Principal



November 2009

Dear Edison Families & Friends,

Hello and happy November! The School Site Council just approved our Single Plan for Student Achievement and I want to thank everyone for their commitment to serving our school. Teachers and parents put in extra effort recently to represent our community’s vision for student success. Thank you! I will share Edison’s plans at the next “Coffee with the Principal” on December 11.

School Site Council elections will be this month. Two terms are ending for parents and 1 term for staff, which will create 3 openings. Please watch for information in the weekly communicator on how to become a member. I look forward to elections and if you have any interest or questions please contact me. I am happy to chat with you about the important role that School Site Council members play.

We still need volunteers for PTA, computer lab, classrooms, and the community garden. Please see me if you would like to get involved! Edison has had a long-standing tradition of help from the community and we want to keep that spirit alive!

On October 15 we, along with other schools, districts, families and business throughout California participated in the Great California Shakeout. This was the largest earthquake preparedness activity in U.S history. Due to the rainy weather, Edison held a Duck, Cover, and Hold drill without the Search and Rescue simulations. We will hold monthly drills for the reminder of the year, including Fire, Shelter-In-Place, and Evacuation drills. For more information on how prepare for the “big one” visit www.shakeout.org.

I look forward to seeing you at our Book Fair during November 17-24 and at Family Library Night on November 19th.

It’s a great day to be at Edison! Go forth Eagles…

Sincerely,

Mrs. Erin Lahr
Principal





October 2009

Dear Edison Families and Friends,

Congratulations are in order for Torrance Unified School District Teacher of the Year, Martin Bray, who teaches the Preppy class in Room 1. Mr. Bray was honored at the September 21st School Board meeting and at a luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles County Office of Education on September 29th. We are fortunate to have him as part of our faculty. You can read more about Mr. Bray in the November Eaglet online at www.EdisonElementary.org. Congratulations and thank you Mr. Bray!

I want to thank everyone for returning registration forms and emergency kits promptly this year. Also, it was nice to see so many of you at Back-to-School Night. I hope you enjoyed the evening and had a chance to hear about the exciting plans your child’s teacher has underway.

This month teachers and School Site Council members will come together to refine Edison’s Single Plan for Student Achievement. We will analyze last year’s progress toward school goals and set new targets for academic growth. Edison met State Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals, yet school-wide proficiency levels on STAR achievement tests dropped slightly in English language arts from 74% to 67% and in mathematics from 73% to 69%. The District and State goal is to have 100% of our students score proficient or above by 2014. To hear more about Edison’s achievement and how you can help from home, please attend Coffee with the Principal on October 9, at 9 a.m. in the Café.

Fire Prevention week is October 4-10. Please ensure that you have established an evacuation route and meeting spot at home in the event of an emergency. October is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors and replenish your emergency supplies. We are doing the same at school and will practice evacuation drills on a regular basis throughout the school year. Edison will participate in the “Great California Shake Out” with an evacuation drill on October 15th. Safety and emergency preparedness are top priorities. Also, fifth grade students will receive Basic Aid Training on October 23rd sponsored by the Torrance Fire Department.
Please look for the Wednesday Communication Packet and check out the school website for important details and upcoming events.
It’s a great day to be at Edison. Go forth Eagles and have a great month!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Erin Lahr
Principal

September 2009

Dear Edison Families & Friends,

Welcome to the start of the 2009-2010 school year. I hope everyone had a great summer break and is ready to return to school. As a California Distinguished School, Edison Elementary continues to soar on many fronts and your children will experience many exciting programs, events and educational opportunities this year. The Edison faculty, staff and parent volunteers work hard to set high standards, ensure that every child is an integral part of the community, and see that every child reaches his or her full potential. I want to thank this year’s PTA President-Monika Ortiz, the entire PTA Board, and the many volunteers who help make Edison such a special place! I encourage everyone to get involved and join PTA.  Whether you help from home or at school, there are many ways to make a difference. Thank you all!

Families are invited to join us at morning flag ceremonies in the Quad each day at 8:50 a.m. Our first flag ceremony will be held on September 14. Also, Back to School Night on October 1 is an important evening for us all. You will get a chance to hear about the educational programs and specifics of your child’s class. Save the date and come meet the fabulous teachers as well as our amazing PTA. Our first Open Association meeting of the year will take place and you will have the opportunity to provide input on the school’s functioning. I hope to see you there!

We want to work closely with families this year to ensure the success of each child. In turn we ask that your child arrives at school on time each day, rested and ready to learn. With regular attendance and working together we can make a powerful and positive difference in the life of your child. With that said, the Center for Disease Control has issued guidelines for schools to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu. Please visit www.TUSD.org for current information, policy, and web-links regarding prevention and responses to influenza. While attendance is important, so is preventing the spread of illness. Families need to keep children home when they have a fever in excess of 99.9° or flu like symptoms. In fact, students need to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Covering mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing, washing hands frequently with soap and water, and staying home when sick are among the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of illness.

Traffic safety is an important topic at Edison. Please obey traffic laws at all times and practice safe, patient and courteous driving in front of our school. Our children and community require such diligence! We are located very close to a busy intersection and adjacent to the North High parking lot. Refer to the letter in your first Wednesday Communication Packet from the Torrance Police Department. They review the rules, state what will be cited, and frequently can be seen patrolling in front of school. It is best to park and escort your child to the front gate or use the “valet service” in the North High parking lot.

I have an open door policy and want to hear from you. Please stop by and introduce yourself or join me for “Coffee with the Principal” throughout the year. What a great way to stay informed on school happenings and share your thoughts. Our first “Coffee” will be held October 9th after morning flag assembly in the cafeteria. I look forward to many great conversations and I wish everyone a positive, productive and successful school year!

It’s a great day to be at Edison! Go forth Eagles…

Sincerely,
Mrs. Erin Lahr
Principal