1. education
2. school

SCHOOL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MS. DARUTY: ALL
As you all know, Ms. Daruty is going to be on leave from the start of winter break through
the end of spring break. My friend and colleague, Mary Anna Noveck, will be taking her
place during the leave. Let’s welcome her upon the return from winter break.
VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK: ALL
You may have seen a handsome, Jimmy Stewartesque dad walking through the kinder
yard as he drops off his daughter Stella for class each day. In case you were wondering
what he does for his day job, he is the deputy director at the Santa Monica Pier. In
addition to all the responsibilities of work and family, he has also decided to bust out 8
restaurant solicitations for the 2015 Grant Auction as well as a personal donation of a
walking historical tour of the pier AND a book on the history of the pier that he himself
wrote! What a super dad! Sure, it takes a few minutes to grab some donation forms from
the office or download them here, and then sign up for a couple of your favorite
businesses at volunteerspot. But Jim knows that our teachers our doing incredible things
with our kids, and he knows Grant is doing exciting things with the money that is raised
by the 2015 Grant Auction, and Jim wants to be a part of this groundswell of Gecko
volunteerism. Thanks Jim, Grant couldn't do it without you!
MISSION 7 PATCH: ALL
Lincoln Middle School was accepted to be a part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments
Program (SSEP). They have had all 8th graders working in teams to create research-based
experiments to be conducted in microgravity on the International Space Station
(ISS). One student team's experiments will be chosen by NASA to go to the ISS as part of
Mission 7.
Because they were chosen, they get to have our elementary and middle schools take part
in a “patch” contest. One patch will be chosen from the elementary entries and one
patch will be chosen from the middle school entries to go on Mission 7 to the ISS.
Attached is a flyer for the Mission Patch Design Contest. Attached is an entry form which
you can review so that students know the requirements. Do not complete the entry form
until we see your patch and write up. We are making our due date before
Lincoln's. Submit your patch entry by Friday, January 30.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE?: ALL
Give today to the Education Foundation and your donation is instantly doubled. Dun &
Bradstreet Credibility Corp. will match your donation, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000
through December 31st. No amount is too small or too large.
Even more exciting news! Everyone who donates $100 or more from now through
#GivingTuesday on 12/2 will be entered to win a weekend stay for two at the Beverly
Hilton Hotel, complete with spa treatments and brunch. Don't wait - donate today and
maybe that spa treatment will be yours!
KARAMU COMMUNITY CELEBRATION:
ALL
In honor of Kwanzaa, the
John Adams Middle School Pathway schools cordially invite you to the: Karamu
Community Celebration on Thursday, December 18 from 4:00-6:00pm at John Adams
Middle School, 2425 Sixteenth Street,Santa Monica, CA 90405 See attached flyer. This is a
joint activity and will replace our local activity at Grant. Please join in if you can.
There is not going to be a Kwanzaa activity at Grant. We want you to attend this at
JAMS.
FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE…AUCTION SEASON IS READY FOR BLAST OFF!: ALL
What? Grant’s annual fundraiser of cosmic proportions, an online auction leading up to
an out-of-this-world live auction party!
Who? You! Grant needs parents to collect tax deductible donations
from stellar local businesses to auction off online and live.
When? Now! Auction Mission Control is standing by to enter donations into our online
bidding system. The deadline for entry is Feb. 1.
How? Sign up to recruit your favorite businesses on VolunteerSpot
here: http://vols.pt/aMZEuA. Donation forms and solicitation tips from experienced
Grant solicitors can be found on the PTA website, in the school office, or from
the intergalactic emissaries landing in front of school this week.
Where? Donations can be sent to the address on the donation form or deposited in the
school office in the “Auction Donation” box.
Why? To raise funds for supplies and projects that will enrich the education of all Grant
students, including our future astronauts, astrophysicists, science fiction writers, and
stars!
If you need help signing up on VolunteerSpot or would like to add a business to the list,
please contact Matt at [email protected], and if you have any other questions,
please contact Michelle at [email protected]. Thank you for your help and
support!
DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT AMAZON & SUPPORT GRANT SCHOOL: ALL
It’s the season for giving …….. It’s the season for shopping…….. Turn your shopping into
giving!! NOTE: Don’t use Amazon Smile; it only donates .5% of your purchase price to
Grant. Instead, go through the Amazon link at www.grantpta.org and Amazon will donate
up to 10% of the proceeds from every purchase to Grant School!! This doesn’t cost you
anything extra.
Just bookmark the link: http://www.amazon.com/?&tag=grantpta-20 .
TIPS:
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•
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Always use the above link to access Amazon.com before you add items to your
cart. Check out promptly. Items left in your cart for 24 hours or more don’t
qualify. To save items to purchase later, please use your wish list.
Every purchase counts including gift cards, Kindle books, movie downloads,
groceries, even 99 cent music downloads!
Please participate and share the link with your family, friends and coworkers.
THIS WEEK AT GRANT
BOOK FAIR IS HERE! SHOP ONLINE NOW!: ALL
The Grant Book Fair closed last week, but GREAT NEWS!!!! We will be open Monday
morning ONLY! We still have beautiful hardback books suitable for gifts, popular series
books, kid's favorites, fiction and non-fiction, cookbooks, as well as affordable bargain
books for a couple of dollars. Shop online
here:http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/grantelementaryschool33 Online orders
will be delivered AFTER the book fair ends to your child's classroom.
Thank you for your support! All proceeds go directly to the Grant Library and Classrooms!
DECEMBER FOOD DRIVE WITH WESTSIDE FOOD BANK: ALL
It’s that time of year again! The district is hosting the Annual December Food Drive
benefitting the Westside Food Bank. The drive will run from Dec. 1-Dec. 17. We have 2
barrels to fill with your generosity. Stop by the office to drop off your canned food.
FIELDTRIP: WARE AND MAUCK: 4TH GRADE
Classes go to the Ballona Wetlands for a fieldtrip on Tuesday, December 9.
ADVANCED LEARNERS PARENT MEETIING: ANY INTERESTED PARENTS
Attend the first of 2 meetings this year to learn about advanced learners. The first session
will focus on the characteristics of gifted and advanced learners and motivational
strategies to support their growth. It begins at 5:30p.m. on Tuesday, December 9 at Will
Rogers Learning Communitylocated at 2401 -14th Street. Please rsvp to Lisa Montoya
at [email protected] call 310-450-8338 extension 70-285.
FIELD TRIP: MS. KOOY’S 5TH GRADE
Students in Ms Kooy’s class will attend the Debbie Allen production of The
Nutcracker on Wednesday, December 10.
THIRD GRADE TEAM TIME: 3RD GRADE
The third grade team will be working with Ms. Brossoit, our Literacy Coach for grades 2-5,
moving forward with assessments for selected Power/Essential Standards and to plan
lessons together while sharing best practices. This will occur on Wednesday, December
10. Thank you to your contributions to the Ed Foundation for this wonderful
opportunity! We could not do this important work without your donations to the Ed
Foundation to support VSS.
5TH GRADE VISITS JAMS: 5TH GRADE
All of the 5th graders in the JAMS pathway will be visiting JAMS as part of the transition
practices we do to help students become comfortable as they move from Elementary
School into Middle School. We do this walking trip together on Thursday, December
11. Please prepare a sack lunch for your child to carry. We will eat while we are there.
BOARD MEETING: ALL
Please be advised that the Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday,
December 11, at 5:30pm at the district office: 1651 16th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404. A
copy of the agenda will be available on the district web site later today, or Monday at the
latest. http://www.smmusd.org/board/index.html
SPIRIT DAY:ALL
Take some time to get your Grant spirit wear out so you can wear it on Spirit Day Friday,
December 12. If you have not yet purchased your Grant wear, you can wear a green tshirt.
SMMUSD FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: ALL
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) is
seeking qualified candidates who will bring a depth of business and/or financial expertise
to the committee. Application forms are available through the Superintendent’s Office or
via the website: http://www.smmusd.org/fiscal/financialDAC.html. The deadline for
applications is Friday, December 12. They can be mailed to the district office (1651
16th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404), faxed (310.581.1138), or scanned and emailed
[email protected].
FOC meetings are currently scheduled once a month at the District Office at 7:30 p.m. in
the Testing Room.
NEXT WEEK AT GRANT
FIELDTRIP: HYNDING AND CORDES
Hynding and Cordes’ 4th graders go to Ballona Wetlands on Tuesday, Dec 16.
ENRICHMENT CHORUS CONCERT: CHORUS MEMBERS
Our holiday concert for the chorus students is on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:00.
HOLIDAY SING-A-LONG: ALL
On Thursday, December 18, we will have our annual holiday sing-a-long. Join us at the
following times for the varied grade levels: 10:00 grades 4 and 5 singing and our ballroom
dance finalists will perform. 1:00 grades K and 1 singing and 2:10 grades 2 and 3 will be
singing. Thank you to a Grant parent alum, Jane Docter, who has volunteered to
accompany our students on the piano.
BALLROOM DANCE COMPETITION: 5TH GRADE
All 5th graders will be going to Barnum Hall at Samohi on Friday, December 19 leaving
school at 8:15 to arrive on time. Students need to report to their classrooms by 8:00 that
day. Finalists need to be at Samohi by 8:30 so parents will need to drive the children
there. Any parent is welcome to attend, but be aware that all parents need to park at
the Civic Center so please account for that time when driving. The performance begins at
9:30.
DARE GRADUATION: 5TH GRADE
The culmination of the 5th grade DARE program will be on Friday, December 19 at
1:30(CHANGE OF TIME) in the auditorium. Fifth graders are to wear their DARE t-shirts.
SPIRIT DAY: ALL
On Friday, December 19, wear your spirit wear Grant t-shirts and if you don’t have one
yet, wear green.
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR 2 WEEKS: ALL
Friday, December 19, is the last day of school until Monday, January 5. Have a safe
and beautiful winter break and a happy and healthy new year!
DATES TO REMEMBER
PTA/ELAC JOINT MEETING: ALL IMPORTANT
Join us in the auditorium on Wednesday, January 7th at 8:30 a.m. to have a joint
meeting with our largest parent groups on campus. We hope to have either our Assistant
Superintendent of Human Resources with us to gather information from our community
regarding our new principal search or, if not, our Literacy Coaches will talk about their
positions and how they are benefitting our school. If HR cannot be here that morning, we
will reschedule this effort for another day and time during January. I will publicize this
more once we have a confirmed date. Mark your calendars in the meantime.
A GIRL'S VOICE: 5TH GRADE GIRLS
On Friday, January 9, our 5th grade girls and two 5th grade teachers will attend a day
long SM City/YMCA program focused on the goals of empowering girls’ confidence, voice
and self-esteem. Boys will have a focus on sustaining a green school and community,
participating in a school project and research.
GRADES OF GREEN ASSEMBLY: ALL
On Friday, January 9, students will learn the importance of being a “green” school
campus and community through an active assembly. We will use our typical assembly
times: 10:00 for grades 4/5, 1:00 for grades K/1 and 2:10 for grades 2/3.
SPIRIT DAY: ALL
Wear your Grant wear or green to be a part of spirit day at Grant on Friday, January 9.
PTA SPONSORED ENRICHMENT CLASSES:ALL
Enrichment classes begin on January 12 after school. Be sure to sign up.
COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPALS: ALL
Join Wendy Wax Gellis and MaryAnna Noveck on Friday, January 16 at 10:00 in the
Teacher’s Lounge for an informal chat, ask questions, discuss ideas and have a relaxing
conversation.
REMINDERS
READING MENTORS AT FAIRVIEW LIBRARY: ALL
Fairview Branch Library is piloting a new program, Reading Mentors, on Saturdays, 11/8 –
12/13, 10 – 11 a.m. Student volunteers from SMC will facilitate small read-aloud circles
for ages 4 – 12. Children will practice pronunciation, build vocabulary, and develop
reading comprehension skills by reading grade-appropriate books. The program is drop-in;
no registration required.
MATH CLASS AT SAMOHI FOR PARENTS: ALL
If you need some help doing computation, navigating websites, using word processing and
you need access to Spanish, join other parents on Saturdays from 9-1 in room T110. Just
go when you can until June.