Principal's Newsletter

May 7, 2008

Quote of the week
We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.
Nelson Mandela

STAR Testing
Just a reminder that all 2nd-5th graders will be taking the STAR test this week. Testing will be completed on May 16th. Please make sure that you schedule all appointments for after school. Once testing begins classes will not be interrupted and late students will have to take a make up test. Please be on time and considerate of others. There will bo no morning flag ceremony during the next two weeks. We will resume our regular flag ceremony on Monday, May 19th.

Thank You PTA
A big thank you is owed to the PTA for providing snacks and drinks for all students who will be taking the STAR test. Organizing and delivering these goodies to each classroom is a huge task. It makes an enormous difference to our students and ensures that they can focus on the test rather than worry about a grumbling belly. Again, a big thank you to all of our PTA volunteers.

Jog-A-Thon
Our Jog-A-Thon is just around the corner. It will be held on Monday, May 19th. The Jog-A-Thon is planned perfectly so that students can run off all the extra energy they saved up sitting through the STAR test. More information will be sent home in the Communicator.

Family Fun Carnival
On Friday, May 30th we will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary by having a Family Fun Night Carnival from 6:00-9:00 PM. We hope you will join us for this fun filled evening. This is an event not to be missed. During the Carnival, the Edison Elementary Adventures in Art Gallery will be open in the YMCA building. In addition, we will be hosting our 1st Annual BOGO Sale in the library. The BOGO sale is a buy one get one free book sale designed to provide an inexpensive opportunity for students to buy books for the summer.

Multicultural Fair
Our Multicultural Fair is just around the corner. It will take place during the week of May 27th. We are still in need of a few volunteers to help out during the week. Volunteers are needed to:

Perform at Flag Ceremony any morning that week at 8:30.
Create a display for the Fair on May 30th representing a culture.
Help monitor students at the Fair on May 30th 8:30 to 2:30.
Help set-up the Fair on Thurs. May 29th from 2:00 to 4:30.
Help decorate the quad on Tues. May 27th from 7:00 to 8:30.

To sign-up to perform, volunteer or if you have questions, please contact Ms. Yacoob at x2821.

As part of our Multicultural Fair we will be once again heading over to North High for an all school field trip. More details will be forthcoming soon.

Talent Show
Edison’s 22nd Annual Talent Show will be held on June 10th. If you are interested in performing there are still a few spots available. More information will be sent home in the Communicator.

April 21, 2008

Quote of the week
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Leo Buscaglia

Talent Show
There will be a Mandatory Parent & Performer Meeting this Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 pm in the Edison Cafeteria. Please make sure to bring completed application and a copy of the lyrics (if any) for your music to the meeting. If you and your child are unable to make this meeting for any reason and you want to be in the show, please contact Nancy Canady @ (310) 347-7684 by Friday, April 25th.

Math-A-Thon
A Math-A-Thon will be going on all week. Each grade level has been assigned a different time and day to participate. The goal of our Math-A-Thon is to help motivate our students to learn key math skills while also raising funds for our classrooms.

Progress Reports
Progress Reports will be sent home this week. Please check with your child and check their backpacks.

2008/2009 Edison Kindergarten Parent Information
On Monday, April 28, 2008 from 1:30 – 2:00 in the Edison Cafe all prospective kindergarten students and parents are invited to be a part of our Kindergarten Orientation Meeting. This will be an opportunity to hear about kindergarten schedules, our curriculum and philosophy of early childhood development and discuss what you can do over the summer to prepare your child for Kindergarten. This will also be an opportunity to be introduced to our Kindergarten teachers.

STAR Testing
As you know the STAR test is fast approaching. All 2nd-5th graders will take the state test. Below are a few suggestions to help your child be better prepared for taking the test.

Put the test in context. Remind your child that these kinds of tests are part of the routine of school. Tell them that you took them when you were in school and your child, no doubt, will face them a number of times throughout his or her school. Filling in those little boxes or circles with #2 lead pencils is something they'll have to do for years to come!
Keep your child’s routine the same. Don’t make any changes to your child’s routines leading up to the test.
Don’t over talk the test. We have been working hard all year teaching the state standards. This is an opportunity to showcase all that your child has learned.
Most importantly, praise your child and let them know no matter what you are proud of them.

April 14, 2008

Quote of the week
You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions.
Adin Sinclair

Edison awarded 2008 Distinguished School Status
On Tuesday of last week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell called me to personally convey some fabulous news. We are officially a 2008 California Distinguished School. Edison was the only Title I school and one of only four elementary schools in Torrance Unified to receive the honor this year. A total of 839 elementary schools submitted applications and were identified for eligibility on the basis of their Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress results. All told, there were 343 exemplary California public elementary schools from 189 districts in 39 counties that were selected for the honor of being a 2008 California Distinguished School. I hope you are as proud of our school as I am – thanks for making our school a place where children come first.

STAR Testing
I know all of you are well aware that the STAR testing is just around the corner. In fact, all 2nd – 5th graders will be taking the state standardized test during the period May 5th – 16th. Certain testing will begin the week of April 28th.

STAR challenges
Beginning next week, we will have our morning flag ceremony only on Friday. Once testing is over we will resume our normal routine. Each class will be participating in our STAR challenges. These are standards based skills that each grade level will focus on in preparation for the STAR test. While Kindergarten and 1st grade do not take the STAR test, they will also focus on key skills.

Math-A-Thon
We will have our Math-A-Thon during the week of April 21-25. The goal of our Math-A-Thon is to help motivate our students to learn key math skills while also raising funds for our classrooms. Pledge sheets will be in the communicator once again this week.

Kindergarten Round-Up
We will be conducting our Kindergarten Round-Up next week. If you know of any incoming K students please have them call the school for an appointment.

April 1, 2008

Quote of the week
It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.
Leonardo da Vinci

Thank You
A big thank you is owed to all the parents and families who gave so graciously of their time and volunteered for the Bike Rodeo and Pancake Breakfast last week. Both events were very successful because of the efforts of so many. I am deeply grateful for all of the efforts.

Open House
We are looking forward to our Open House this Thursday, April 3rd. Our teachers and students have worked very hard to get ready for this evening and we hope you will be attend. Research has shown over and over that the schools that are most successful have a high percentage of parent involvement. These evenings are so meaningful for teachers, students and parents. Open House will occur from 6:00-7:00. Students will be dismissed one hour early on Thursday.

Book Fair
The Book Fair is currently taking place in the library. All students will be able to visit the book Fair during their regular library time and before and after school. There are some wonderful books and bargains to be had. Don’t miss out on the chance to get some grade appropriate books to hold your children over during spring break.

PTA Assembly
The PTA has generously sponsored an all school assembly for this Friday. The assembly will be a musical rendition of Broadway tunes.

Spring Break
We will be on Spring Break the week of April 7-11. Have a safe and fun filled week. School will resume once again on Monday, April 14.

March 24, 2008

Quote of the Week
High achievement always takes place in a framework of high expectation.
Jack Kinder

Distinguished School visit
Just over a week ago we were visited by the California Distinguished School Validation team.
I am pleased to share with you that the visit was an absolutely thrilling experience. The Validation team was extremely impressed with our education programs, our focus on student success, support and intervention, and the quality and engagement of our students, teachers and parents. The team has recommended to the state that Edison be a 2008 California Distinguished school. This is a great honor, especially given the increasing amount of accountability schools must face. Less than 5% of CA schools achieve this award yearly. Thank you for being part of our school community and for making Edison the great place it is.

2nd Annual Pancake Breakfast
This Saturday we will be hosting our 2nd annual Edison Pancake Breakfast. I hope you will join us for some excellent food and conversation. Where else can you get a full breakfast at the price of $2 for kids and $3 for adults. Our Book Fair will also be open during the breakfast. If you are a great pancake maker or are simply willing to help cook please join us. Breakfast will be served from 8:00-10:00.

Open House
Mark your calendars. Open House will be on Thursday, April 3rd from 6:00-7:00. We will be moving the art show to later in the year to allow for more time for projects to be completed.

Bike Rodeo
Our Bike Rodeo will take place on Friday, March 28th. The Bike Rodeo is open to all 3rd -5th graders. Permission slips were sent home last week and students must have them signed in order to participate. We could also use a few extra volunteers during the event. Please let us know if you are available to help.

Spring Break
Spring Break will be during the week of April 7th. There will be no school April 7th-11th.

Printer and Cell Phone Recycling
We are continuing to collect old cell phones and used printer cartridges. This is a great fundraiser because we get to help recycle resources that would normally end up in the trash while also raising funds for our PTA. Drop boxes are in the office.

Intervention Support
We are continuing to offer a variety of intervention support programs to our students throughout the day. We will adding a new support program for our K students during the last 6 weeks of school. We will focus on helping those students who need extra support to develop the skills necessary to be ready for 1st grade.

March 10, 2008

Quote of the week
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Frederick Douglass

Read Across America
A big thank you is owed to all the parents and community members who gave so graciously of their time and volunteered to read a story in a class last week. Every class was visited by at least one volunteer.

Parent Education Night
I hope you will join me this Tuesday in the Edison café from 6:00-7:00 PM for a discussion featuring the book, The Essential Conversation: What Parents and Teachers Can Learn From One Another, by Sara Lawrence Lightfoot. Dinner and childcare will be provided.

Family Library Night
This Thursday is Family Library night. I look forward to seeing you all out at this fun filled event. In addition to great stories there will be ice cream for all students.

Student Council Elections
Student council elections will take place this Friday at 9:00 in the cafeteria. I am looking forward to hearing all the campaign speeches. Good luck to all.

Report Cards
Report cards go home this Friday. Please make sure to check your child’s backpack after school for the report card.

Read-A-Thon
Please make sure to send in any Read-A-Thon tracking sheets you have. I will be totaling them this week and announcing our grand total. Thanks for all your support in the Read-A-Thon and for helping create a successful and enriching new tradition at Edison.

YMCA building
As you know, the YMCA before and after school program has been housed in Room 31 while it awaits final approval from the various agencies that oversee permits. We are expecting the YMCA to receive all the necessary permits by week’s end. If all goes well, the Y will be able to use their new building in the next week or two. Yeah!!!!

March 3, 2008

Quote of the week
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.
Seneca

Read Across America
We will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday with our Read Across America event on Monday. Each class will be visited by a volunteer reader. Thanks again to all the parents and community members who volunteered to be a celebrity reader.

Read-A-Thon
This is the final week for our Read-A-Thon. All reading logs are due on Friday. Our school has read over 100,000 minutes to this point. I will be totaling up the number of minutes and pages read once I receive all the logs. Again, thanks for your support and for engaging your child in the wonderful world of reading

STAR writing test
On Tuesday, 4th grade students will be taking the STAR writing test. This is a special writing test that is given just to fourth grade students. Please make sure your 4th grader get s a good night sleep on Monday and has a healthy breakfast before coming to school.

Spring School Pictures
Spring school pictures are this Wednesday.

End of Trimester
Friday, March 7th marks the end of the second trimester. Report cards go home on Friday, March 14th.

February 25, 2008

Quote of the week
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
Aesop

Parent Education Series
Just a reminder that on March 11th I will be hosting a book discussion on the book, The Essential Conversation: What Parents and Teachers Can Learn From One Another by Sara Lawrence Lightfoot. I hope you will attend the meeting as we explore new ideas on how to build a strong connection between home and school. I have ordered some extra copies of the book and they will should arrive on Monday, February 25th. Many of you have already called to reserve a book so please check in later in the day to see if they have arrived. Childcare and dinner will be provided. Please look once again for the flyer in this week’s Communicator and mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 11 from 6:00 – 7:00 PM.

Read-A-Thon
Our students have already read over 100,000 minutes in our Read-A-Thon. Even so, many students have not yet turned in their Reading Logs. Please encourage your child to read each evening and fill out there Reading log. On many mornings, I will recognize students in front of the school who have turned in their reading log.

Cell Phones
Just a reminder that cell phones should not be used on campus. Please remind your child that if they bring a cell phone to school it should remain off and in their backpack until they leave campus after school.

Attendance
At Edison, we are committed to providing a world class education for your child. To be truly successful, we need your help. We cannot help your child achieve her/his potential unless she/he is in school. Regular school attendance is an important part of giving your child the best possible start in life. Please make sure that your child is not only in school each day but also on time. We monitor attendance and tardies very closely at Edison. Here are a few helpful hints to assist you in ensuring that your child is at school on time each and every day.

Make academics a priority. Let your child know that you expect them to go to school every day and do their best while there. At this stage in their life, learning should be "job one."
Help your child get organized. Create a space in your home for kids to store backpacks, coats, sneakers, homework, and other supplies.
Develop a routine to help your child in the morning. Take care of things in the evening that will make the mornings less hectic and make it easier to get out of the door in the morning.
Set reasonable bedtimes. The National Sleep Foundation suggests that on average, elementary school students require 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night.
Schedule medical and other appointments during non-school hours whenever possible. Schedule family vacations during school holidays or the summer recess so that students are not missing important lessons and struggling to make up for lost ground.
Keep track of your child's absences and tardies.

STAR Writing Test
On March 4th, 4th grade students will be taking the STAR writing test. This is a part of the standardized test students take at the end of the year. There is a special writing test that is given just to fourth grade students.

February 19, 2008

Quote of the week
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”
Mary Anne Radmacher

Parent Education Series
In an effort to continue to build a strong connection between home and school, I will be launching a book discussion series. All parents and community members are welcome to attend. The first book we will discuss is The Essential Conversation: What Parents and Teachers Can Learn From One Another by Sara Lawrence Lightfoot. All that is needed is an open mind and a willingness to engage in an open dialogue. I have ordered several copies of the book so that they can be loaned out on a first come basis. Childcare and dinner will be provided. Please look for the flyer in this week’s Communicator and mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 11 at 6:00 PM. Click here for a flyer for more information .

Kindergarten Playground
The kindergarten playground is finally complete. The new swings and balance bar are now ready for use. Thanks for being patient while the work was completed. I am so pleased that we now have new playground equipment for our upper grade students and our kindergartners.

Read Across America
On March 3rd we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday with our Read Across America event. We will be asking for readers to come into our classes and read a story. Please keep a look out for a flyer in the Weekly Communicator.

Distinguished School
I am pleased to announce that we are one step closer to being honored as a California Distinguished School. We will soon be having a site visit from the state to review our school programs. A big thanks is owed to all the parents, teachers and staff that participated in the application process. We have a great school and it is wonderful when all of the hard work at our school gets noticed. Thanks again for being an active participant in your child’s life and our school community.

February 12, 2008

Quote of the week
What you are afraid to do is a clear indicator of the next thing you need to do.
Unknown

Thank you for all the kind thoughts
I am thrilled to be back at school after being out for a couple of weeks to care for my family. Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers and good wishes. I sure did miss Edison.

Read-A-Thon
We are at the half way point of our Read-A-Thon. Please make sure to continue to keep track of the books your child reads. I will be announcing this week how many pages and minutes our school has read up to this point in our Read-A-Thon.

Jump Rope for Heart
Jump Rope for Heart is coming on February 14th! Many kids are just now learning how to jump rope. All classes will be outside jump roping for heart. Encourage your kids to be active and healthy, and help others by donating to the cause. Join the fight against childhood obesity. Ask your kids about living "tobacco-free!" This is a great opportunity to change your habits, and teach your kids that it is never too late.

Library books
All of the new library books (over 200) are now on the bookshelves. A big thank you is owed to our wonderful parent volunteers who run our library and make so much possible for our students. Thank you!!!!!!

Intervention
I am proud of the intervention program we offer at Edison to provide support to our students. We are lucky to have such a talented group of professionals leading our efforts. Beginning next week, we will be providing additional intervention support for our kindergarten students.

Budget woes ahead
As many of you know by now, the state is facing a shortfall of approximately $14 billion. District budgets across the state will impacted greatly. TUSD will have to make approximately $8 million in cuts for the coming year. This will affect each and every school across the district. On the TUSD district website there are talking points to write a letter to your local and state representatives. Please take the time to write a letter and explain how devastating these cuts will be for our schools.

January 14, 2008

Quote of the week
Every decision you make is your advertisement to the world of who you are and where you’re headed.
Unknown

PLC Time
A big thank you is owed to all the parents and families for helping make the first PLC Wednesday run very smoothly. Thank you for being on time to pick up your child. Don’t forget that every Wednesday for the remainder of the year students in 1st – 5th grade will be dismissed 45 minutes early. 1st –3rd grade will be dismissed at 1:58 and 4th-5th grade at 2:07. Kindergarten students will continue to be released at their regular time.

Read-A-Thon
Last week we launched our first annual Read-A-Thon to inspire our students to reach for the sky and develop a love of literacy. Please remember to encourage your child to read every evening and note it on their reading log. The Read-A-Thon is not a fundraiser. Tracking sheets will be sent each week in the Communicator and they can also be downloaded from our website. See the main page of our website to download the forms.

Parents dressed up as book characters wanted
I am looking for any brave individuals who are willing to dress up as their favorite book character and come show off their costume at the morning flag ceremony. I want to try to motivate students to read and have some fun as well. Let me know if you are interested.

Online payments system for lunch
I am so happy to announce that TUSD now has an online payment center for parents. You can make payments to your child’s meal account anytime and any day. You can view cafeteria purchases, track meal account balances, set up low balance email reminders and schedule recurring payments. To set up your account go to www.myschoolbucks.com and follow the directions to set up your account. If you have questions please call the TUSD food service department at 310-972-6359.

January 7, 2008

Quote of the week
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

PLC Time begins this week
Don’t forget that beginning this Wednesday and every Wednesday for the remainder of the year, students in 1st – 5th grade will be dismissed 45 minutes early. Kindergarten students will continue to be released at their regular time.

Read-A-Thon
This week we will be launching our first annual Read-A-Thon to inspire our students to reach for the sky and develop a love of literacy. We expect every child to participate in the Read-A-Thon and we hope that you will make reading a priority in your home. The Read-A-Thon is not a fundraiser. It is, however, a mindraiser. Tracking sheets will be sent home this week so that you and your child can keep track of the books read. This is an exciting and wonderful way to motivate your child to read.

New Playground for upper grades is ready for use
Great news to share! I am thrilled to announce that the new upper grade playground is installed and ready for use by our students. Please stop by and check it out. Unfortunately, the contractor made a huge mistake and accidentally dismantled part of the Kindergarten playground. A new swing set and balance beam have been ordered for the K playground and should be installed in a few weeks.

After school enrichment programs
In an effort to provide more after school opportunities for our students, we will soon be adding an after school art program. More details will be forthcoming shortly.

December 17, 2007

Quote of the week

Live out of your imagination instead of out of your memory.
Les Brown

PLC Time
As I previously mentioned to you, beginning January 9, 2008, the first Wednesday after we return from winter break and every subsequent Wednesday for the remainder of this school year, students will be dismissed 45 minutes early so that the staff and I can meet for Professional Learning Community (PLC) time. Kindergarten students are not impacted by this change. They will continue to be dismissed at their regular time of 1:30 p.m.

The staff and I realize that moving to the PLC model is a big change, so I want to make sure that I clarify how this transition will take place. In an effort to help with this transition, and to support those families in need of childcare during that 45-minute timeframe, the following will be in place:

Students should either walk home as they normally do or be picked up accordingly unless one of the child care options below is needed;
Students who regularly attend the YMCA will report directly to the YMCA for their regular activities;
The YMCA will also offer a special after school program for all interested students for a cost of $20 a month. This will cover the 45-minute timeframe each Wednesday (YMCA sign up forms were sent home last week and are available in the office);
Students who currently attend the Torrance After School program will report directly to the cafeteria. The After School program will not begin 45 minutes early to accommodate the change in schedule. A substitute teacher and members of our Para Educator staff, however, will provide supervision to students until the program begins at its regularly scheduled time. Students will work on completing their homework and/or reading a book; and
Students who need childcare and are not signed up for the YMCA program or the Torrance After School program will also report to the cafeteria to complete homework and/or read a book.

With any change there are always unforeseen situations that arise that will need to be worked out. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as we begin to implement the new PLC model. The staff and I are excited at the prospect of being able to better support the students at Edison and we are glad to be able to clarify the process in advance of our return to school after the holidays. Please feel free to ask any questions or share any concerns you have regarding this matter.

Honor Roll
I was so pleased to recognize so many students last week as Honor Roll recipients. As you can imagine, a lot of hard work and effort went into earning this high honor. Over 80 students were awarded Honor Roll this semester.

Winter Break
Winter break will begin this Friday, December 21. There will be no school on Friday. School resumes on January 7, 2008. Have a safe and wonderful holiday break.

December 10, 2007

Quote of the week

The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
Tom Bodett

Project Dictionary

I am please to announce that on Friday, December 14^th, all 3^rd grade students will be presented with a dictionary free of charge compliments of the Torrance Elks. The Torrance Elks Lodge Dictionary Project is supporting our third grade teachers in their goal of ensuring all students leave at the end of the year as solid writers, active readers and creative thinkers. Thank you Elks Lodge #1948.

Book Fair

The Book Fair will be open all week for students and parents to shop. By popular demand, the Book Fair will be open after school for those parents who would like to be able to stop by and shop. The Book Fair will also be open during Family Library Night on Thursday.

Conferences

I want to extend a big thank you to all of our parents for taking time to meet with your child's teacher and discuss his/her progress. As you are aware, conferences provide a great opportunity for you and your child's teacher to share insights and information about the progress your child is making. Remember, we need your help to do a first-class job helping your child learn. Thanks again for making education a priority.

Cell phone and ink cartridge recycling

We are currently collecting empty ink cartridges and old cell phones. We will be helping the environment by recycling them while also earning money for our school. Drop boxes are located in the office.

December 3, 2007

Quote of the week

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Helen Keller

Spell-A-Thon

I wanted to say thanks to all of you for your help making our 1st annual Spell-A-Thon a smashing success. During the week I overheard some of the best student conversations I have witnessed in a long time. At virtually every lunch, students were talking about spelling and testing each other on spelling words or talking about which words they misspelled. Even the kindergarteners were talking about their ABCs. It was thrilling to hear students have these conversations. Please make sure to support your students and send in your contributions as soon as possible. Remember, all donations will be used to support classroom activities.

The new playground is coming!

Great news to share! I am pleased to finally announce that the new upper grade playground will be installed over the holidays. Once we return from the winter break, the new playground will be ready for use. So, stop by after the break and check out our new playground.

Breakfast with the Principal

The next Breakfast with the Principal will be on Friday, December 7, 2007. I hope you will be able to join me. I will be discussing programs and policies at Edison and, as requested, I will once again be sharing specific activities you can work on with your child at home to reinforce and build math and literacy skills. I will have a coffee cart available. So, please stop by and grab a cup of coffee or tea and join me and other parents for what I hope will be a very helpful and informative dialogue.

After School Program

Hip Hop classes have arrived at Edison. There are still spaces available if you are interested in singing up your child. The classes are open to all grades and are for boys and girls. Applications are available in the office.

Distinguished School Application

As I mentioned previously, we were one of a select group of schools in Torrance eligible to apply for distinguished school status this year. I am happy to announce that the application is complete and in Sacramento. A big thank you is owed to all of the parents and the entire staff at Edison who helped participate in the writing and editing of the application. We should hear back from the state before the end of the school year. I’ll keep you posted as events unfold.

YMCA

The YMCA building is close to completion. The final touches are being put in the building. Last week a wheel chair ramp was installed. There are still permits to be cleared but the Y is very close to inhabiting their new home.

Parent Teacher Conferences

This week is, of course, parent teacher conference week. We will be on a minimum day schedule all week. Please see the calendar for minimum day schedule.

November 26, 2007

Quote of the week

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. John Wooden

Spell-A-Thon

Now that Thanksgiving is over we are ready for our highly anticipated Spell-A-Thon. The teachers and I are very much looking forward to seeing our students shine this week. Thanks in advance for all of your support. I am certain it will be a great success.

Professional Learning Community

A letter was sent home last Wednesday announcing the Torrance Unified School District Board of Education approval at its November 13 meeting to implement Professional Learning Communities (PLC) for all of our elementary schools.

We are very excited about this news and are looking forward to beginning. As I have mentioned previously, the purpose of Professional Learning Communities is to increase students’ academic achievement by creating a collaborative school culture focused on student learning. We believe all the students at Edison will benefit from the PLC model. Some of our families with middle school children should be familiar with the term PLC since all Torrance middle schools implemented this model back in September of 2006.

So, beginning January 9, 2008, the first Wednesday after we return from winter break and every subsequent Wednesday for the remainder of this school year, the students will be dismissed 45 minutes early so that the staff and I can meet for PLC time. Kindergarten students are not impacted by this change, they will continue to be dismissed at their regular time of 1:30 p.m.

We still have many details to work out to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to the new schedule. More information will be forthcoming shortly.

Lightspeed technology in our classes

I am pleased to announce that over the Thanksgiving break we outfitted an additional five classrooms with Lightspeed technology. Lightspeed is a hands-free, wireless microphone teachers and students use in the classroom. We are very close to having every classroom outfitted with this technology.

Education council of Torrance

On Monday, December 3rd Edison will be highlighted as a featured school at the Education Council of Torrance monthly meeting. During the meeting, a presentation of Edison’s accomplishments and programs will take place. However, the highlight of the meeting will be a performance by our students from Mr. Bray’s, Mrs. T’s and Ms. Bubica’s classes.

Upper grade playground moving forward

The proposal for the new upper grade playground equipment is continuing to move forward. I am now working with our district official and the contractor to schedule a date for installation.

New library books

Over 200 new books for our library should be arriving soon. We have also purchased the Reading Counts tests and quizzes that go along with each book.

November 13, 2007

Quote of the week
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I... I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

Professional Learning Community

This week, the Board of Education will be considering a proposal to implement Professional Learning Communities in elementary schools. The proposal would enable staff at each elementary school to collaborate and provide professional development opportunities weekly, similar to what is currently occurring at the middle school level. If the Board approves the proposal it would include a shortened day, one day a week. Most likely this means elementary schools will be ending 45 minutes early every Wednesday.
I will keep you posted as details become available.

Make up Picture Day and Volunteer Picture IDs

Our make up picture day is scheduled for this Wednesday. I invite all parent volunteers who have been cleared through the office to come and have their picture taken so that a volunteer ID badge can be made. The ID badge will make checking in at the office a little easier and allow students to readily recognize adults on campus who are volunteers. Photographers will be available until approximately 11:00. Please call the office to check on specific times.

Spell-A-Thon

We are all very excited about our 1st Annual Spell-Thon. It is just two weeks away. Please continue to encourage your child and work with them to memorize their words or their upper and lower case letters, if they are in Kindergarten. This is a great opportunity to help build literacy skills while also help our school raise funds.

November 5, 2007

Quote of the week
Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.
Carl Shurz

School Site Council Election Results

The results of our School Site Council are in. Congratulations to Shannon Alhemeir, Jill Nowak, Elizabeth Schonholz and Khalid Shariff on being elected. I look forward to their contribution to helping our school continue to succeed and prosper.

Fundraiser Pick-up

The fundraiser products just arrived at school. Fundraiser orders will be available for pick up Monday and Tuesday from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Cafeteria.

Parent Volunteer Pictures

Our make up picture day is scheduled for October 14th. During this time all parent volunteers are invited to come and have their picture taken so that a volunteer ID badge can be made. The ID badge will make checking in at the office a little easier and allow students to readily recognize adults on campus who are volunteers.

After School Enrichment Programs

Hip Hop is coming to Edison. We will soon be adding a new Hip Hop after school program for our students to attend. This is the second new program added this year to provide after school enrichment opportunities for our students. Mad Science is currently being offered to students. Academic Chess sign ups will also be coming out in the Communicator in the near future as well. Stay tuned for more new programs after the first of the year.

A New Playground for The Upper Grades?????

Is it possible that a new playground for the upper grades with more exciting and engaging activities is coming to Edison? The answer is maybe. If all goes well and a little luck is on our side we will we have an entirely new upper grade playground in the not so distant future. The playground has been designed with 4th and 5th graders in mind and to help build their physical fitness ability. We have received a grant and will be using other grant money and funds to pay for the playground equipment. I’ll keep you posted as things progress. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

Spell-A-Thon

Our first annual Spell-A-Thon is fast approaching. The Spell-A-Thon is an educational FUNdraiser! It is NOT a Spelling Bee. Students in 1st-5th grades will receive a list of high frequency, grade appropriate words and will be tested with a written test. Kindergarten students will be expected to write the alphabet (upper and lower case). This is a great opportunity to help your child at home and motivate them to be successful at the Spell-A-Thon. On a specific day during the week of November 26th each grade level will come to the cafeteria to participate in the Spell-A-Thon test.

Academic Achievement Night at North

I wanted to say thanks to those of you who attended the Academic Achievement Night at North High last week. The more I speak about Edison the prouder I am about what a wonderful learning community we have at Edison. Thanks for being part of our community.

October 30, 2007

Quote of the week
It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.
Helen Keller

Edison Awarded a Grant for a PE Teacher

Great news to share! We were awarded a grant by the state to fund a half time PE teacher. The PE teacher will work with all students on a weekly basis. I anticipate that the PE teacher will start in January. The staff and I will soon be sitting down to work out the details. We are thrilled to have received this grant and we look forward to implementing this new program. I’ll keep you posted as things progress.

School Site Council Elections

Please make sure to vote for the open positions on our School Site Council. Election ballots will be coming out in this week’s Communicator and they need to be retuned by Thursday.

School Garden

A big thank you is due to all the volunteers who have worked so hard on our school garden. It looks amazing and we are so excited to have our students begin planting flowers. Thanks again for all the HARD work and hours.

YMCA

I am very excited to let you know that the YMCA building was delivered on Thursday of last week and placed on its foundation on Friday. I anticipate the building being open and ready for students in approximately a month.

Air Quality and Student Activity

Fortunately, the fires stayed away from our immediate area. Even so, the fires posed a serious challenge to the air quality. For most of last week, we were on rainy day schedule. This meant that all student activity outside was limited to the necessities. There was no recess or playing during lunch. On Friday, the air quality report improved and students were allowed outside. We will continue to monitor the air quality reports and make decisions about whether or not our students should be outside on a day by day basis. As always, we thank you for your support.

October 15, 2007

Quote of the week

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.
Dan Rather

Edison Site Visit from Dr. Mannon and Dr. Kim

Last week Dr. Mannon, Superintendent of TUSD and Dr. Kim, Senior Director of Elementary Schools, were both on campus for a site visit. I am pleased to share with you that we had a terrific site visit. We walked through classrooms, discussed our Single Plan for Student Achievement and goals for the coming year. A huge round of applause is owed to our teachers who work tirelessly on behalf of our students.

Distinguished School

I am pleased to announce that the state of CA has notified me that Edison is eligible to apply for Distinguished School status. In order to be invited to apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress and the Academic Performance Index requirements. Beginning next week, the staff and I will be undertaking a rigorous review of our school programs and begin writing the necessary documents that will be judged by school leaders from the northern part of the state. Wish us luck!

Staff Development

When we think of schools we often think in terms of what students are learning and how well they are mastering key skills. As we all know, students are not the only learners on campus. In fact, our teachers also need to continue to hone their craft and develop their skills.

This year, we are continuing our focus on developing competent writers. To that end, staff development is being provided to our staff on Writer’s Workshop. Consequently, we are intentionally incorporating into our practice what we believe to be a central tenet of what we do—help learners develop, change and continue to grow. This year our Kindergarten and fourth grade teachers are participating in the training. The training lasts 10 weeks and requires each teacher in K and 4^th grade to be out of their class from 8:00-11:30 approximately once a week. While this is a huge amount of time out of the class it is also a big investment in the development of our staff.

50th Anniversary Family Movie Night

It is amazing to think that Edison is turning 50 this year. The PTA is planning a great event for this Thursday to commemorate Edison’s anniversary. There will be a movie, pizza and lots more. I hope you will join us for this fun filled evening.

School Site Council

As I mentioned in previous updates there are several open positions on our School Site Council (SSC). Information will be forthcoming in this week’s Communicator. The SSC meets six times a year and serves a critical role at our school as both a decision-making body and advisory group.

YMCA Building

If you have been on campus any time recently I am certain you have noticed the construction work going on the field to prepare a foundation for the YMCA building. Now that the foundation is poured, the YMCA has informed me that the if all goes well the building should arrive within a month. Yeah!!

October 09, 2007

Quote of the week

Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It’s not hard. Character is doing what’s right when nobody is looking.

Author Unknown

Mad Science

I am pleased to announce that Mad Science will be offered at Edison as an after school program. Last year we provided a Mad Science assembly for the entire school and it was a huge hit. It is a fabulous program. Sign up sheets went home in last week’s communicator and are available in the office. The cost is $90 for a six-week session. Spaces are limited so make sure to sign up as soon as possible.

Volunteer Pictures

All parent volunteers are invited to Picture Make Up Day on November 14^th to have their picture taken for a Volunteer ID badge. We would like to have ID badges for all parent volunteers so that our children can safely identify you.

School SIte Council

Our first School Site Council (SSC) meeting of the school year was this past Thursday. The SSC approved our Single Plan for Student Achievement. There are several open seats this year. The SSC is made up of community members, parents, teachers and classified staff and meets six times a year. The SSC plays an essential role at our school as both a decision-making body and advisory group. Information will be forthcoming in the weekly communicator. Stay tuned for more details.

Breakfast with the Principal

Thank you to all the parents who turned out for the first Breakfast with the Principal this school year. We had approximately 85 parents in attendance. I look forward to future meetings and to continuing the dialogue.

Academic Acheivement Night

Mark your calendars! On Monday, October 29^th, Edison, along with 7 other schools from the North area, will be at North High. This will be an opportunity to hear me discuss Edison’s school mission, test score results, focus for the school year, and instructional plan to ensure that all students succeed. It will also be an opportunity to hear and learn about the other schools in the North area, including the middle and high school your child will be attending in the future. Dinner and childcare will be provided along with an opportunity drawing for a computer. The event will take place from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

October 01, 2007

Quote of the week
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.

Dr. Seuss

Fundraiser

Last Friday was the last day of our fundraiser. Please make sure to send in all order forms immediately. Thank you Mrs. Benson for doing such a great job leading our fundraiser. You are awesome!

Dropping off and picking up of students

Because of the recent concerns about the safety of our students, the police have started patrolling in front of school during drop off and pick up. Cars that illegally park are being ticketed. Please plan an appropriate amount of time into your schedule to arrive at school to drop off and pick up your child. A few extra minutes will ensure that there is no need to rush and that all of our students are safe.

Back to School Night

Thank you so much to all the parents and family members whop came to Back to School Night. We had a fabulous turn out. These events are so important to fostering a solid school to home relationship.

School Site Council

Our first School Site Council (SSC) meeting of the school year will be this Thursday, October 4^th at 3:15 pm.