01 2016 rssnews - edltest.! 4)!!...

Inside This Issue:

The Blues News J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

Important Dates January

30th– Ice Skating Night

February

2nd – Coffee with the Superintendent, Dr Moore

6th – S.T.O.M.P. 17th – Art Fair March 2-‐‑8th – Book Fair 4th – Literacy Night 23rd – STEAM Night April 14th – Dance-‐‑a-‐‑thon 23rd – Run For Education 27th – Founders Day Tea May

2nd-‐‑6th – Teacher’s Appreciation week

19th – Open House

President’s Message 2

Principal’s Message 3

The Teachers Corner 4

Book Fair 4

Ice Skating Night 5

S.T.O.M.P 6

Art Fair 7

Box Top 7

THE BLUES NEWS JANUARY 2016

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The President’s Message Happy New Year!!! As we begin the second half of our school year and the last months of my Presidency, I am reflective. I recently reread my president’s letter from this time last year and most still holds true. I have learned quite a few things being the PTA President. Here are a few:

1. You cannot please everyone. If you try, everyone will end up being frustrated and no one wins. (This was hard in the beginning but I am learning to let it go :)

2. A strong Board and support system is the key! All of that “I can handle this” isn’t really true. You need help and support every step of the way. Who knew?

3. Volunteers are the backbone of this organization! They can move mountains, build bridges and help a school run like a well-‐‑oiled machine.

4. Read and live by the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, because it is a great reference when it comes to people wanting things from you and/or the PTA. If you give a group/vendor/organization a cookie, they will ask for milk. (Adjust this to the PTA and the people who want something because you are the PTA, and isn’t that your job?)

5. It is considered unacceptable behavior to tackle people waiting in line after school to pick up their children to try to gain more volunteers. It is frowned upon. They say it is a bit aggressive. I say do what works.

6. Remember what it was like when you were trying to get your foot in the door to volunteer and make sure everyone is welcome. Take everyone you can and find a place for them. (I mean, really, if someone wants to make copies for 2 hours, why would you not let them do so? It is them or you. Take them up on it.)

7. Ask questions. Sure, people see you as the leader and therefore you must know everything. Those silly people have obviously not met me if they think that. I ask questions on how to do things every day. To me that is what makes the position work. If I knew everything, I would not be a PTA President. I would be a Nobel Prize Winner and probably wouldn’t have time to volunteer.

I can spend hours reflecting on what I have learned and I hope to have the time to do just that when the year comes to an end. This fact still remains, the most important thing I have learned is this: You will have the time of your life! Working so closely with both the school and the parents. Seriously. Don’t be scared to step up and volunteer. You never know what you will learn and who will be the one to teach you.

I haven’t looked back once and am thrilled you trusted me to do it.

Are you up for a challenge, to help make a difference in your school? Email me and let me know how and when you can help!

Sincerely,

Bethany Gianusso

President, Richmond Street School PTA

[email protected]

http://www.richmondstreet.org


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The Principal’s Message Happy New Year Richmond Street Families! At the December 2015 School Site Council Meeting, the committee approved of our school’s Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) goals for 2015-‐‑2016. Please see below for the seven focus areas we as a site will be addressing this academic school year: 1) By June 2016, 100% of all students in K-‐‑5 and teachers will report having increased opportunities to participate in the STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) as measured by Teacher and Student surveys. 2) By June 2016, 85% of teachers, which reflects at least a 9% increase from 2014-‐‑2015 data, will incorporate and align technology in the California Standards based instruction as measured by lesson plans and frequency of technology use. 3) By June 2016, 70% of English learners, the same percentage as 2014-‐‑2015, will increase their overall language proficiency by one level as measured by the California English Language Development Test. 4) By June 2016, 50% of students in the low SES category will perform at the Standard Exceeded and/or Standard Met categories on the Mathematics portion as measured by the SBAC test. 5) By June 2016, 100% of teachers will incorporate the CGI Strategy of posing purposeful questions as measured by the ESUSD Administrative Instructional Rounds Observational Tool, which will be used at minimum three times per teacher by June 2016. 6) By June 2016, 75% of families will report being informed of changes in Math Education and Curriculum through engagement opportunities provided by the school as measured by parent survey. 7) 88% of parents and staff, which reflects a 2% increase from 2014-‐‑2015 Parent Survey, will agree that Richmond Street School is a safe and secure facility as measured by Parent and Teacher Survey. Later in the spring, a survey will be sent home via email requesting your thoughts and perceptions on a variety of school related issues. The results from this data will guide the SSC with next steps for the following school year as well as a reflective tool for how our current year went. Thank you always for your support and engagement in your child’s educational journey. Your participation and care now will reap rich fruit within your children for the future! Warmly, Alice Lee, Principal Richmond Street School 310.606.6831


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Dear Parents, Happy New Year! I am excited to let you know that Richmond and Center Street are inviting you to an Elementary Math Night at Center Street School on January 20th at 7pm in the Library. The night will be hosted by myself and Sue Kim, the Math Coach at Center Street. We will address the common core shifts and CGI’s role, do some problem solving and strategy sharing, take a look at what math looks like in the classroom, share resources on how to support your child at home and answer your questions. I hope you can join us! Please email me with any questions at [email protected]. Thanks so much, Christine Quinn

RSS Book Fair is coming Spring 2016

Mark your calendars! The RSS Book Fair will take place March 2nd-‐‑ 8th. Our theme this year is Feeling Groovy. This is a great opportunity for you and your kids to shop for great books while earning money, supplies and books for our school. Planning is underway now and we are always looking for volunteers to help out before, during and after the event. Currently, we need a person to head our Book Fair raffle. If you are willing to get involved with Book Fair, please contact Caroline Dawes at [email protected] Expect more information to come your way in February. We are looking forward to a wonderful event


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(Sons Take Out Mom Party)

Saturday, February 6th 6:00pm - 9:00pm

At the North Gym at El Segundo High School Center Street School & Richmond Street School PTAs are coming together to

give you an 80’s celebration of sons and their moms. S.T.O.M.P. is a party event for you to share a night to be remembered.

S.T.O.M.P.

The night of fun will include: DJ with Light Show Dancing Live Performances Ice Cream Games Desserts

Red Carpet & Photo Booths and More!!

Please remember that any significant female in your son’s life is welcome to attend as an escort. YES! We will be at S.T.O.M.P. at El Segundo High School on Saturday, February 6th at

6:00pm –9:00pm in the North Gym. Student’s Name: _____________________________________________________________

Student’s Teacher & Grade: ____________________________________________________

Adult’s Name: _______________________________________________________________

Parent Email Address: ________________________________________________________

Name(s) of Additional Son(s): __________________________________________________ Tickets are available online at http://rsspta.myschoolcentral.com

$25 for mom and one son, $5 for each additional son! Buy online or send in to your child’s teacher for $25 before Jan. 29th. Tickets will be $30 the

week of Feb. 1st. NO sales at the door.

For more information contact Peter at [email protected]


RSS Art Fair February 17th The 8th annual Richmond Street School Art Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 17th from 5:00-‐‑8:00 pm in the RSS auditorium. The room will be transformed into an art gallery with pieces displayed from every student, celebrating creativity inspired by this year’s theme -‐‑ Poetry. Families may purchase a professional mat package for your student’s artwork for $15. 100% of Art Fair sales go directly to provide art supplies for the RSS Art Program. New this year, the Art Fair evening will include a “make and take” project with Galileo Innovation Camp, and there will be live poetry readings. The art fair gallery will also be open for preview from 12:30-‐‑1:30 pm (pre-‐‑sales accepted, but we request that the art stay displayed until the evening event). For your convenience, credit cards will be accepted (checks payable to RSS PTA). The class with the highest percentage of art fair sales will earn a prize for their classroom. Please join us for a fun, art-‐‑filled evening! If you would like to volunteer to help with the Art Fair, please e-‐‑mail Julie Bustrum: juliehope@alt-‐‑routes.com

Box Tops For Education I wanted to say thank you to all of the families who have saved their Box Tops this year. We have already collected and counted almost

10,000 this school year! I also wanted to congratulate Mrs. O'ʹBrien and Mrs. Elder'ʹs class! These were are top two classes in our December collection

contest. Students in these classes will be receiving a prize this week to celebrate their win! Continue to collect those Box Tops and bring them to your class collection box. The next collection will be the first week of March. Barbara Tank Box Tops Coordinator

Richmond Street School 615 Richmond Street El Segundo, CA 90245 www.richmondstreetschool.org

Richmond Street PTA Officers

President: Bethany Gianusso 3rd VP-‐‑Fundraising: Danielle Christian Financial Secretary: Lisa Thiel


1st VP-‐‑Leadership: Kirstin Stickland Recording Secretary: Becca Blake Treasurer: Sasha Taylor

2nd VP-‐‑Programs: Casey Gruber Historian: Lupita Henriquez Auditor: Melissa McCaverty

01 2016 rssnews - edltest.! 4)!!...

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