Newsletter – June 4, 2009

Two More Weeks!!!

It is hard to believe that the school year is finishing up.  Time flies when you’re having fun I guess.As we enter the last two weeks of school, please note that we have an early out schedule.  This is the 3rd year in which we have decided to have our early dismissals at the end of the year.  We are allotted a certain amount of time for early dismissals each year for professional development.  The school district, as you may know, has eliminated the professional development days it usually paid for for teachers each year.  We used to have 3 days before school started to complete some of the agenda items that we now complete at the end of the school year.  These items include training on closing the cumulative record, classroom organization, testing data, committees report out from this year and they plan for the upcoming year, as well as a review of certain professional items that we were unable to complete during the school year.  This time is valuable and we have found that grouping these days at the end of the year lessens the impact on the instructional program and gives us greater continuity in our discussions as they occur continuously as opposed to stretched out over the year – the conversations are more productive and the staff is more focused.  I hope this helps you to understand our reasons for completing the professional development days in this manner.

Principle for the Day

On Wednesday, June 3, I had the opportunity once more to have a visiting Principal for the day.  This time around, I was lucky enough to be trading with Jessica Bierschenk from Ms Abam’s room.  One of Jessica’s duties was to write a paragraph for the newsletter.  She did a great job and was very busy for the entire day.  Here is how she saw her day: ” When I was principal it was hard I had to give papers to all of the grades. It was not normal to have a schedule and now I can say I’ve used a schedule. The 2nd graders had a spring sing and I got to say stuff on the mike when it started. I extended recess for 5 minutes. During recess it rained. I was going to have lunch with my friends and we were going to order pizza. I got to help with the order. I got root beer for me and Sprite for my friends. Mr. Hollis stayed in my classroom and did my work. He also did P.E. but sometimes he came to the office. I also walked around the school to make sure that all the gates were locked. When the pizza & drinks came we ate in the office we had a good time we talked & laughed.”  Your child could also be prinipcal of the day – just participate in the live auction at the Silent Auction next school year.

Friends of Marquez Town Hall—Wed, June 10th @ 6pm

On Wednesday, June 10 at 6:00 pm we will be hosting a Friends of Marquez Town Hall meeting.  At this meeting, the budget and the next school year will be discussed among other necessary items for the structure of the Friends organization.  This is a time for you to come and have your voice heard.  I have input from surveys, word of mouth, but I would love the budget committee to hear what is on your mind before we make our recommendations to the Governing Board on the following Thursday.  I encourage you to come and listen and to be part of the decision making process.

Special Author Presentation

Peter Nelson and Rohitash Rao, the creators of the children’s novel HERBERT’S WORMHOLE, will be here at Marquez next Wednesday, June 10th giving a presentation, discussion and reading from their new book to the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students.  HERBERT’S WORMHOLE is a great new book about video games, aliens and time travel.  It is being compared by reviewers to DIARY OF A WIMPY KID.  Author J.K. Rowling has called the book, “Absolutely wonderful- fast paced, inventive, engaging and hilarious.  Full of good jokes and ideas with a fantastic plot.”  The author and illustrator will be available to sign their book after each presentation.  If you want to grab a copy of HERBERT’S WORMHOLE to bring on the 10th, it is available at Village Books or online at herbertswormhole.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. As the school year comes to a close, preparations are already under way for when we return!

Mark Your Calendars: The Back-to-School picnic will be held on Sunday, September 13th from 1-3

The Back-to-School picnic is a fantastic way to start off the school year.  It’s a great day to catch up with friends, enjoy lunch from the Tommy’s truck and have loads of fun on the giant inflatable.  It’s also an opportunity to purchase Marquez Spirit Wear and Green Team items, sign up for A Year of Parties and to learn more about the different Marquez programs, such as the newly expanded Scrip Program.

Parent volunteers are needed to get ready for this fun-filled afternoon.  Please contact Marlo Longstreet if you are interested in helping out (310) 454-4441 or longstreetcrew@mac.com.

Beach Clean-Up

Heal the bay and the Marquez Green Team have officially combined together for a community beach clean up this Sunday, June 7 at Temescal Beach. Parking is $1.00 and the clean up is from 9:00 – 11:00.  Hopefully the fog will burn off just about at the end of the clean up and you can stay and have a great family day at the beach and admire your handy work.

Attention, Parent Volunteers! Thank You Brunch.

Friday, June 12, after drop-off at Sara Margiotta’s home – a THANK YOU 
brunch for all volunteers!  Please come 
to a brunch thanking you for your invaluable time & contribution to 
Marquez!  Whatever you’ve done – classroom help, field trip driving, 
book fair, fundraising … whatever – we want to say thank you.  Bring 
a friend, and celebrate another great year at Marquez!

(Town Hall – I assume you’re covering)

Friends of Marquez/PTA Meeting – will be held *as scheduled* on 
Thursday, June 18, after drop-off.  We’ll be discussing next year’s 
priorities and officers – please attend!

Special Marquez Nite—Oak Room & Village Pantry on Monday, June 8th

Don’t forget to go to the Oak Room and Village Pantry on Monday, June 8.  They will be giving Marquez proceeds from ALL of their receipts that night.  Tell everyone – they don’t have to be Marquez students or parents to qualify.  Everyone that patronizes the Oak Room and Village Pantry on Monday will be helping us here at Marquez.

It was great to see so many of you at Open House!!  It was a great night with a great turn out.
As always you can reach me at phollis@lausd.net