Arleta K-5

Hope to see you at Back-to-School Night tonight! Our SUN Information Night begins at 4:45 in the cafeteria, then our Community Connect at 5:30 out front. In the spirit of our school motto, “I am Because We Are,” we hope you will join us! Attending B2SN shows your child you value the place they spend a major amount of their time over the year and creates a connection to supporting students to attend school regularly. That in turn helps them feel better about themselves and school. One of our action steps toward all three of our school goals this year (Reading and Math Achievement and Sense of Belonging) is to improve our percentage of “regular attenders” -- last year our rate grew 6% and we want to build on that!  We ask you to strive for your child to miss no more than 9 days of school, and we’re committed to making school engaging, meaningful and differentiated for your child’s learning. Here is a handy tool for you: “Keep Track of Time.” We’ll have copies out on our “Office” Table (look for Nicole!) at Back to School Night; please stop by and pick up a copy!  On the back side you’ll find this collection of tips and facts. (This Back to School Google site with resources to support you with PPS digital tools, might be handy as well.)

National Hispanic Heritage Month starts on the 15th!  Another of our action steps toward our school goal of increasing a sense of belonging for every student is to create student-centered, culturally affirming celebrations and teaching by weaving equity throughout our students’ experience at Arleta over their six years with us. Fourth grade teachers, for example, have adapted the readings in their first literacy unit called A Great Heart to include Simone Biles and Dolores Huerta, intentionally including African American and Hispanic American history, story and voice. A parent (thank you Sheryl Moren!) recently shared the idea of adding Hmong or other culture's mythology into our 4th grade “Myth Making” literacy unit, which centers Greek Mythology, to compare their similarities and differences and how that may reflect their respective cultures, values and societies. We can benefit so much in our efforts through collaboration and learning with all of you parents: as you look at the B2SN slides for your child’s grade level, please let us know if you see connections to diverse perspectives we could work to integrate. 

A few other components to highlight for you: at three of our school-wide assemblies this year, K/1, 2/3, and 4/5 grade bands will present something meaningful they’ve been learning about as part of their grade level standards, also highlighting connections to various heritage, cultures or identities. Up first in October will be 2nd & 3rd grades. We’re also working on ways to showcase other cultures via performance groups at some of our family events or assemblies. And, last but not at all least- something fantastic about our Arleta PTA is our Inclusion Committee. Each month 5th grade parents Sheryl Moren and Melissa Sircy create meaningful, informative and thought-provoking displays in our main entry and cafeteria; be sure to check them out when you pass by. These are some of the ways we are striving to affirm our student’s own identities (creating mirrors) and also teach about identities different from one’s own (creating windows). 

See you tomorrow night!

Principal Hawking