Newsletter – November 22, 2009

Hello everyone. Yet again, we continue to be busy at Marquez.

New Parent Orientation

This week we hosted a technology tour and held a prospective parent orientation tour. Both tours were very well attended and Marquez came off like a shining star, just the way we should. Next week is of course Thanksgiving week and will be a short week with school closed on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is a shortened day with school dismissing at 1:55. I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent conferences will begin on Monday, November 30. The school bell schedule will be different. Please note that on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday school will begin at 8:55 and dismiss at 2:35. Tuesday and Thursday remain unchanged with school beginning at 8:15 and dismissing at 1:50. The kindergarten schedule will remain constant at 8:30 – 1:30. Report cards for the first semester will be issued on Friday, December 11. Kindergarten report cards will be available in late January when kinder parent conferences are held.

Latest Budget News

I choose to delay sending this newsletter so that I could include the latest budget information. On Wednesday during the regular Principal’s meeting, we were presented yet again the dismal news regarding the California State Budget and how it might affect public education in Los Angeles. On Monday morning, moral was very low among our teachers when to our surprise, Superintendent Cortines was reported to subject educators to a 12% paycut.

This was a surprise to all of us and no one knew what was going on or what to think. Here are the facts as I know them today. The LAUSD has already delt with the $838 million dollar shortfall for this school year. The District is asking for all employees to take 4 furlough days in addition to the cuts that have already been made. These are the only concessions that are being asked for this year. The Superintendent has informed schools that there will be mid-year renorming this year. What that means is that if we don’t have enough children, we will need to lose a teacher and be forced to restructure classes in mid year. We are not in any danger of this happening unless we lose children.

This idea makes no sense to me because teachers are already contracted for the year and would have to be placed somewhere. I don’t see the cost savings at all. Next school year, the LAUSD will have a $480 million dollar short fall to contend with. Luckily the board has already cut $238 million of this last June. In order to deal with this deficit, Mr. Cortines came out in public to suggest a 12% paycut would be in order. In fact, there a number of things being looked at including changing year round administrative employees to a shortened year to reflect a school year. It is possible that small schools (less than 300) to be administered by one principal. The district will likely delay adopting new textbooks, decrease psychologist time, eliminate some busing and eliminate music and art programs.

There is talk of additional class size increases to 29 in Kinder – 3rd. Our 4th and 5th grade would remain normed at 39 (of course we reduce that by purchasing additional teachers). Additional cuts in central office administration and in local district administration are also going to be looked at. It is possible that up to 14,000 more district personnel could receive layoff notices. All in all the news is not good, but it is also expected and will be expected again until the economy turns around. Marquez is better off than many schools because of our charter and our parent organizations. We will weather this storm and continue to provide the best possible education to all of our children. I will keep you informed of all the budget news as I receive it.

eScrip

IMPORTANT eScrip UPDATE: We now have an eScrip shopping link on our Marquez homepage. Whether you are a registered eScrip supporter or not and regardless of whether you have credit cards registered with eScrip … if you shop through this link … Marquez will earn a percentage of your online purchases! So … PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE … as this holiday shopping season fast approaches, think of your kids each and every time you shop online and start all of your online shopping excursions at www.marquezcharter.org … And have Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie and Uncle do the same!

Just in the past week, I booked a hotel stay at marriott.com, ordered a few things from Banana Republic and ordered shoes for my kids from ShoeBuy.com … all through the escrip website … and earned $48 for Marquez … in just three transactions in one week! But if I hadn’t started my online shopping through eScrip, that “found money” would have been lost! Have you “lost” money for Marquez recently?

A similar sized elementary school in Northern California claims to make $35,000/year with eScrip and Malibu High makes $30,000/year. The only way the parents at these schools make this possible is by participating. They register their grocery cards and credit cards and they do their online shopping thru eScrip. If parents at these schools can do this, so can we!

As always, let me know if I can help – Myra Tzung (mactzung@hotmail.com)

Ralphs Update: Have you registered your Ralphs card for Marquez yet? I’m happy to report that enrollment is up. However, based on past enrollment records, we clearly can do better. Please take a minute to register your card for Marquez at www.ralphs.com or use your Ralphs barcode letter at check-out. Do you need another copy of that letter? There are extras in the office on the magazine racks near the door. Fold up the letter and stick it in your purse or wallet so that you have it with you the next time you visit Ralphs. You’ll be glad you did! I’m happy to help.   Just ask! – Myra Tzung (mactzung@hotmail.com)

The STAR Report

At STAR we believe that exercise is important, especially for children. Exercise helps control body fat, builds stronger muscles and bones, and decreases the risks of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Children who exercise tend to sleep better making them more prepared to handle the pressures of the day. For these reasons and so many more, both STAR Galaxy and the Nova program offer physical activities daily. In the coming session STAR’s Nova program will be adding gymnastics, tennis, and basketball to the amazing list of enrichments already offered such as karate. If you are interested please stop by STAR in room 15, or as always you can contact us at Starmarquez@mac.com or (310) 459-4839.

The Christmas Scoop

Mark your calendars for Friday night, December 4th! Swing in the Holiday Season with Holiday Party Band “The Christmas Scoop!” and help support Marquez at the same time! Musician and Marquez Dad, Chris Schoop will perform with his band “The Christmas Scoop,” Friday December 4th at the Dakota Lounge in Santa Monica. Half of all proceeds go to Friends of Marquez! “The Christmas Scoop” performs holiday classics and original songs by current artists (including Chris!) with a twist: “We play music that makes people move and groove in ways they would not imagine when listening to this genre. You will never hear Christmas music the same way again.”

Start your holidays right. Come groove with style to the coolest Holiday Band on the West Side at Santa Monica’s Dakota Lounge! (If you are good at decorating, art work or if you have a fog machine (!) and would like to help please call Chris Schoop at 310-454-8066)

Friday December 4th — 7:00 p.m.

$20 per person – Coordinated by The Schoop Family

Parent Education

“The first Parent Ed session today was a huge success with a standing-room-only crowd of 30 parents in the Teacher’s Lounge to hear renowned family therapist, Richard Cohen. He shared highlights of his philosophy on child rearing and findings from Research Based Parenting with very interested parents who stayed almost until 10 am to ask him questions and listen to his suggestions. Everyone left eager for more info. He let us know about free Parenting Seminars he holds every other Wednesday evening at his Brentwood Center. The schedule can be found at www.ofonemind.net. We will be rebooking Mr. Cohen – and if needed, find a larger space to hold this very useful parenting session.

Don’t miss next week’s first ever evening Parent Ed session – scheduled for TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 in the Auditorium at 6:30 pm. Hopefully working parents who can’t the morning sessions can join us for this evening presentation.

Author, Lawyer, T.V. Commentator, Robin Sax, will be speaking on: Keeping Kids Safe, Online & Off. Ms. Sax is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney who has been a guest analyst and commentator for several national television shows, including CNN Larry King Live, HLN Nancy Grace, NBC Today Show, and Fox’s Geraldo at Large. Robins has been an expert for People Magazine, The Huffington Post, MomLogic , The Globe Newspaper and many other print and online publications. Through her Kid Scene Investigation programs, Robin teaches hundreds of parents how to get tech savvy, recognize the symptoms of Internet danger, identify cyber crimes and cyber bullying, and develop a personalized Internet protocol for their family.

Robin has written six books that draw upon her vast experience as a sex-crimes prosecutor, legal commentator, child advocate and parenting expert.

Titles include:

• Predators and Child Molesters: A Sex Crimes D.A. Answers 100 of The Most Asked Questions (April ’09).
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Criminal Justice System (April ’09)
• It Happens Every Day: Inside the Life of a Sex Crimes D.A., (Fall ’09)
• Women’s Legal Lives: Reaching the Bar (Book 1 in series-Spring ’09)
• Women’s Legal Lives: Raising the Bar (Book 2 in series-Fall ’09)
• Everything I Learned About Parenting I Learned In Court (June ’10)

(Please note due to a typo the date of Tuesday, Nov. 23 was posted before; please note the correct date is Tuesday, Nov. 24)”

Going Green

The Green Team has been very active at Marquez. We have been doing grade level assemblies sharing information on our new composting program and how to have a “GREEN” lunch. The children know we are striving for a no-waste lunch which includes reusable containers,and canteens for their drinks. The highlight of the assembly was when the green team kids showed a throw away lunch and threw it in the “landfill” can…the whole assembly yelled boo! All the kids have a lot to teach their parents. GO GREEN!

As always, you can reach me at phollis@lausd.net. Happy Thanksgiving