Newsletter – June 8, 2010

Important Dates

• “Carry On” will be performed in the auditorium at Marquez tomorrow, Wednesday, June 9th at 1 pm & 7 pm
• Final Alex’s Lemonade Stand this Thursday, June 10 after school
• OPEN HOUSE also this Thursday, June 10 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Early Dismissal

Early Dismissal schedule now in effect:  1:55 dismissal on Mon., Wed. and Fri., and 1:50 on Tues. and Thurs. Kinder early dismissal 11:30 everyday beginning Thursday, June 10.

School’s Almost Out

Well only one more newsletter to go for this school year—things sure have been hectic.  So much is going on. The Budget Committee has been meeting as has Curriculum and Technology. The last and final Governing Board meeting will be on Tuesday, June 15 at 2:00 pm.  Please come and hear all about the budget and the upcoming school year. First and foremost, your Friends of Marquez budget is being spent on purchasing teachers to keep class sizes down. Both Ms. Abrams and Ms. Hain will be purchased for this reason. Again this year, we will be unable to expand our technology program due to the priority of the teacher purchase.  We will be able to maintain our program, but we had hoped to be working towards developing a 1:1 program next year, but I suppose we can wait a bit longer.  So far our equipment is exceeding our expectations in longevity.  I received a great email from a parent and I thought that I might print you a quote regarding the technology program.  This was a parent that took advantage of our tour last week:

“Most public schools are taught
towards auditory learning style, however many elementary aged children who are born hardwired visual learners struggle in the classroom to access their everyday lessons. And unfortunately as classroom size increases,
distractibility increases, and the visual learner, as well as others get lost. These children tend to either shut down or act out, becoming disengaged or develop a behavioral problem that disrupts class time from the children that can stay on task. It is a no-win situation for everyone including many public school teachers—that even with good intentions appear frustrated. With the
 technology of the computer programs, you have not only equaled the playing
field of the boys to girls in elementary school, more importantly you have allowed the visual learning child to access the school curriculum. By changing the processing from auditory to visual, a young visual child plugs
into the early foundation years of K- 3rd grade, allowing for further
academic success. Once these children have mastered early
 language skills, the further use of the graphics programs in the upper 
grades motivates what might otherwise appear to be an overwhelming task as an opportunity for building self discovery in communication and
overall personal confidence.
The hope is when this type of child is tuned into school, they thrive, as well as everyone else in the classroom environment. With the aid of further
computer technology in schools, we can reach a larger population of children who might be at risk with early intervention, as well as promote a 
stimulating environment to the gifted child all in one classroom. This
 process of switching to computer technology to aid in our over crowded
 classrooms allows for a more individual learning environment within a
 smaller physical space, reducing the cost for school districts to expand 
school buildings and hire more teachers which doesn’t seem compatible to the
 world’s financial environment.
That being said, Marquez Elementary could be an example for LAUSD as a “computer technology learning environment,” if budgets were allocated correctly.”

Governing Board Nominees

We now have a third parent ready to sign on as a Governing Board parent member.  Moira Mayer is the parent of two first grade boys.  Her statement is as follows:

Dear Marquez Families,
As the proud parent of Jai and Zubin Shourie, and the daughter of school teachers, I would like to be considered for the Marquez Governing Board.

In the two years our family has been at Marquez, I have been an involved parent serving as 1st Grade Champion and running the Quiet Center during recess. Additionally, I took the initiative and have established a popular Special Events fundraising vehicle focusing on group tickets to sporting and family entertainment events like the LA Kings games and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Most importantly, I will be Co-Chair of Circle of Giving in the coming school year. For me to effectively raise funds for the school, I would like to be a part of the decision making process and represent the opinions of the generous donor families that support our school. Working to continue this school’s incredible upward trajectory would be an honor to me and my family.

I hereby submit my name for consideration,

Moira Mayer

Previously Phil Abrams submitted his statement which follows:

Dear Marquez Staff, Parents and Students,

I seek to serve on the Governing Board of Marquez Elementary School as an opportunity to give back to a school that has served my two children with such quality and care.  My son Elijah graduated last year from fifth grade and my daughter Vera is completing her first year as a third grader.  Both of them have had wonderfully rich experiences and I hope that as a board member, I can continue to assist in creating an excellent educational environment that serves the children of our community.

Respectfully,

Phil Abrams

abrams.phil@yahoo.com

Our 3rd parent up for consideration is Peter Duke whose statement follows:

I would very much like to be considered for the Marquez Governing
 Board.  I am the very proud parent of a 3rd grade daughter, Katie
 Rose.  Since joining Marquez, when Katie started in Kindergarten, I 
have been very active in working to make Marquez the very best school
 in the area, and a model school for others.
I have been a member of the Technology committee and designed and
 built the school website. Marquezcharter.org is a state-of-the art Web
2.0 communication engine that has streamlined communication with
 parents, teachers and students, and is well positioned as a plat form 
for any e-learning initiatives that the school may consider in the
 future. I believe in working together to continue to improve our very
 special school.  Marquez is a great place, and an terrific environment
 for our children to learn, share and thrive.  I would consider it an
 honor to continue to work with this Faculty, Administration and Parent
 Body to continue to improve and shine the light on this very important
 place in our children’s lives.

Respectfully,

Peter Duke

peter@dukemedia.com

Calling All Cub Scouts!  Sign Up for Cub Scouts Today!

Would you like to be a Tiger Cub, Wolf,  Bear or Webelo? If your son will be in first through 5th grade next school year, and would like to join a cub scout den at Marquez, or the Pack 223 Webelos  please contact Teresa Williams at TeresaW5@aol.com or 310-454-4680.  We have a great time, and learn lots of cool stuff.

“Carry On” News

Marquez STAR Production of “Carry On” to be performed at 2010 Los Angeles Festival of New American Musicals and 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival Student Cast of “Carry On” will be the youngest performers in history of both Festivals

“Carry On” written by Marquez 5th Grade teacher Jeff Lantos and his collaborator Bill Augustine, is a new musical that tells the story of Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka Kansas, the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that segregation in public schools in unconstitutional, because it could never really be equal. The choreography is by Jeanette Mills, and the production is co-directed by Jeff Lantos, Michelle Conn, Jeanette Mills, Alexandra Rubaum, and Josh Mills.

“Carry On” is part of an extraordinary program at Marquez in which students learn about history through performing musicals written to illustrate important moments from the past.  This program is a unique immersion into American history – with what musical theatre does best – a way to dramatize the passion of the historic moment, and to bring to light the story and issues to the students, and their audiences.  The selection of “Carry On” to participate in both the Los Angeles and the New York Musical Theatre Festivals is an affirmation of Jeff Lantos’ years of commitment, inspiration, and vision in having history come alive on stage for students.

“Carry On” will be performed in the auditorium at Marquez on Wednesday, June 9th at 1pm & 7pm and at Magicopolis on Sunday, June 13th at 6:30pm.  For further information please contact marquezmusicals@gmail.com or www.stareventtickets.org.

Walk-a-Thon Thanks

The PTA would like to give a big THANK YOU to everyone for making this year’s Walk-a-Thon a huge success!

This past Friday the sun was shining, the music was pumping and our students were running, walking and jogging around the track! Thank you to our kids and to our teachers and staff who supported their efforts. Thanks too to the Cub Scouts, Girls Scouts and Brownie Troops for kicking off the event. And thanks to all the parents! Whether you came to cheer the kids on, coordinated the event for your class or scooped ice cream at the ice cream party we simply couldn’t do it without you. Your support and donations to the PTA help stock the emergency shed, funds campus security, pays for parent education and student assemblies, fund the Quiet Center, pays for teacher appreciation events, helps provide field trip t-shirts, sponsors the Science and Art Fairs and so much more!

Thank you for helping make the event a success!

The PTA Team