Hello Friends of Glenfeliz parents,
It's been a while but I have a project for some people if they want to help.
Many of the graduating 5th graders from Glenfeliz Elementary will be going to Thomas Star King Middle School next year. And when our kids are old enough that is where they will most likely be going as well. The problem is King is overcrowded to the point its basically at double occupancy. It has also been on the state fail test for ten years now when it comes to testing and is getting worse rather than improving.
About a year ago some parents in Silver Lake and Los Feliz got together and started a grass roots campaign to lobby the LAUSD to instigate a pretty dramatic overhaul of the school. I believe the plan is based on the "Green Dot" approach. Green Dot is a non-profit that has helped reorganize schools in Boston and other parts of LA and has been pretty successful in getting schools to improve pretty quickly.
Anyway, their model calls for the school to be reorganized into four separate "schools" for the different grades. Think of it as a university campus model with different "schools". Each school would have at max 500 kids and have its own principal to make it easier to keep and maintain control. They also are calling for 90% of the funds allocated to the school by LAUSD to be spent in the classroom and not the current 60% that is spent now (40% goes to "administrative costs").
So, the LA Parents Union is now to the point that they have teachers and parents on board and the LAUSD has signaled that they would be willing to talk with the group about the changes if they can get 5,000 signatures on a petition by May 30.
I went to a meeting last night and found out the goal for getting signatures in our area is about 300. I have emailed Principal Rosenblum about getting permission to have someone stand out in front of the school to get signatures and am waiting to hear back. But the school PTA could get involved and send a newsletter out to parents. We can also go to the farmers market and other locations and get people to sign there. The priority is to get parents of 5th graders to sign, then parents with kids in school, and then all local stakeholders.
Working full time I cannot do all this myself so I wanted to see if any of you would be willing to help. Obviously if all of us sign the petition that is a good head start. Please let me know if you can/want to offer up some time, as it could benefit all of our kids in the long run.
And if you want more info:
http://www.parentsunion.org/
Here's another idea I had. I don't know how many of you watch Noggin with your kids but they have been playing a PSA lately a lot for a trike-a-thon fundraiser for St. Judes which is a hospital for kids with cancer. Once again I'm waiting to hear back from Principal Rosenblum to see if she's in to the idea but if she is would anyone like to help spearhead it. I talked to the St. Judes people on the phone and it sound relatively easy. They send the school DVDs and coloring books about trike and bike safety. The preschool teachers take some time out of their days for four days in a row to watch the DVDs and talk about riding safety. All during that week the parents of the kids are encouraged to donate and get others to donate to St. Jude's. The fifth day is the trike-a-thon where the kids get to demonstrate what they learned. Let me know if you are interested.
Thanks,
Tim
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Dear Friends! LONG TIME NO SEE...!
Now, let's see...
It's been almost a year since I last posted a memo here.
Time goes by, and our kids are growing FAST!
Our daughter will be starting her Kindergarten this fall, and I was wondering how you're all doing with the parental awe of choosing "the perfect school" for your child?
Our first choice remains Glenfeliz, our local favorite! But, I'm sure we're all on the same boat, asking ourselves series of questions, like "Will the school be accommodating to our child's needs?" and "How about after school programs???"
I was wondering if you guys want to get together sometime in February for an easy pot luck or pizza night? If weekend days work, perhaps we'll get together at Shane's Inspiration Playground (in Griffith Park) for a small picnic?
If you guys are still reading this blog, please respond by placing your comments.
Hope to hear from you all...!
-Kei
(I no longer have "keimn06" email account)
It's been almost a year since I last posted a memo here.
Time goes by, and our kids are growing FAST!
Our daughter will be starting her Kindergarten this fall, and I was wondering how you're all doing with the parental awe of choosing "the perfect school" for your child?
Our first choice remains Glenfeliz, our local favorite! But, I'm sure we're all on the same boat, asking ourselves series of questions, like "Will the school be accommodating to our child's needs?" and "How about after school programs???"
I was wondering if you guys want to get together sometime in February for an easy pot luck or pizza night? If weekend days work, perhaps we'll get together at Shane's Inspiration Playground (in Griffith Park) for a small picnic?
If you guys are still reading this blog, please respond by placing your comments.
Hope to hear from you all...!
-Kei
(I no longer have "keimn06" email account)
Monday, March 12, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Atwater Village Newbie Blogsite
We have a new friend, "Atwater Village Newbie" blogsite.
They have posted a link to our blogsite, and vice versa.
Their site is full of interesting journals about our neighborhood.
They have posted a link to our blogsite, and vice versa.
Their site is full of interesting journals about our neighborhood.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Google Calendar
I added "Google Calendar" button on the right column.
You simply click on the button, and you will be guided to our calendar items.
The only issue is that, if you don't have a Google Account, you will have to create one and that's extra 5 minutes of your time... Once you have your Google Account, come back to our blogsite, click on the Google Calendar button, and Voila!!! a small pop up window will ask if you'd like to "add" a calendar "FOG". Press Yes, and you will have our calendar items on your Calendar.
It's a free service and a good tool for us to keep tracks of upcoming events.
If you have any questions, let me know.
-K
You simply click on the button, and you will be guided to our calendar items.
The only issue is that, if you don't have a Google Account, you will have to create one and that's extra 5 minutes of your time... Once you have your Google Account, come back to our blogsite, click on the Google Calendar button, and Voila!!! a small pop up window will ask if you'd like to "add" a calendar "FOG". Press Yes, and you will have our calendar items on your Calendar.
It's a free service and a good tool for us to keep tracks of upcoming events.
If you have any questions, let me know.
-K
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
LA Parents Union Meeting 7PM Feb. 13
There will be an LA Parents Union meeting on:
Tuesday, Feb. 13
7pm
Silver Lake Community Church
2930 Hyperion Ave.
LA, CA 90027
LA Parents Union is tied into the Green Dot magnet schools program, so if anyone can attend it could and should be informative for our group. I posted a link a month or so ago to a Los Feliz Ledger article about Green Dot and the LA Parents Union, so refer back to that for more info.
Their flyer talks about focusing on smaller classes, finding a better use of school facilities, holding high expectations for all students, controlling budgets at a local level, and encouraging parent participation.
The email contact for more info is:
chind@laparentsunion.org
Tuesday, Feb. 13
7pm
Silver Lake Community Church
2930 Hyperion Ave.
LA, CA 90027
LA Parents Union is tied into the Green Dot magnet schools program, so if anyone can attend it could and should be informative for our group. I posted a link a month or so ago to a Los Feliz Ledger article about Green Dot and the LA Parents Union, so refer back to that for more info.
Their flyer talks about focusing on smaller classes, finding a better use of school facilities, holding high expectations for all students, controlling budgets at a local level, and encouraging parent participation.
The email contact for more info is:
chind@laparentsunion.org
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
OUR NEXT MEETING: JAN 31, 6:30PM
OUR NEXT MEETING
JANUARY 31, 2007
6:30 Pm
@ NEW HOPE CHAPEL (Behind BEST BUY)
For more information, contact Kei at
keimn06@sbcglobal.net
Major topics will be covered, so please attend!!!
JANUARY 31, 2007
6:30 Pm
@ NEW HOPE CHAPEL (Behind BEST BUY)
For more information, contact Kei at
keimn06@sbcglobal.net
Major topics will be covered, so please attend!!!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
GREEN DOT CHARTER PROGRAM AND LA PARENTS UNION
A recent article in the Los Feliz Ledger shed light on Green Dot and the LA Parents Union, two organizations started by Steve Barr, a Silver Lake resident and State Board of Education appointee to the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools. Green Dot appears to be focused on middle and high schools, but the LA Parents Union appears to have a broader focus that includes elementary schools. The article is online at:
http://www.losfelizledger.com/DeodarStory.htm#ShuttleBusesREST
For anyone interested they are having a meeting this Saturday (Jan. 7) from 1-4pm to let people know what they are about. I am going to try and make it. Here is the info:
Citywide Chapters of the Los Angeles Parents Union Host…
Knowing Your Power:
Parent Training on the Politics of Education & What Parents Can Do About It
Saturday
January 6, 2007
1:00 pm -4:00 pm
350 South Figueroa Street, Suite 213
Los Angeles, CA 90072
Free of Charge
Childcare and Refreshments Provided
If driving, please enter off of Figueroa
To RSVP contact Ryan Smith:
(213) 621-0276 ext 255
Or email rsmith@greendot.org
In addition, the Silver Lake Chapter will apparently be meeting Jan. 13 to discuss
under-enrollment at neighborhood elementary schools among other things. You can email the following address from the article for info. about that:
mchind@earthlink.net
Thanks,
Tim
http://www.losfelizledger.com/DeodarStory.htm#ShuttleBusesREST
For anyone interested they are having a meeting this Saturday (Jan. 7) from 1-4pm to let people know what they are about. I am going to try and make it. Here is the info:
Citywide Chapters of the Los Angeles Parents Union Host…
Knowing Your Power:
Parent Training on the Politics of Education & What Parents Can Do About It
Saturday
January 6, 2007
1:00 pm -4:00 pm
350 South Figueroa Street, Suite 213
Los Angeles, CA 90072
Free of Charge
Childcare and Refreshments Provided
If driving, please enter off of Figueroa
To RSVP contact Ryan Smith:
(213) 621-0276 ext 255
Or email rsmith@greendot.org
In addition, the Silver Lake Chapter will apparently be meeting Jan. 13 to discuss
under-enrollment at neighborhood elementary schools among other things. You can email the following address from the article for info. about that:
mchind@earthlink.net
Thanks,
Tim
2006 API scores
Hi everyone-
There is a recent post to the friends of atwater village blog by David Tokofsky, our LAUSD district rep, about how the API scores of atwater's two elementary schools, Glenfeliz and Atwater Village, have steadily and greatly improved over the last 7 years. It's attached to his entry of December 1, 2006 below. http://friendsofatwatervillage.org/blog/art_education/
Glenfeliz started out in 1999 with an API score of 591. It has since climbed 197 points to a 2006 score of 788! Atwater Elementary has made an even greater leap: it started out with a lowly 497 back in 1999, and has since brought its scores up 241 points to a 2006 score of 738.
There is a recent post to the friends of atwater village blog by David Tokofsky, our LAUSD district rep, about how the API scores of atwater's two elementary schools, Glenfeliz and Atwater Village, have steadily and greatly improved over the last 7 years. It's attached to his entry of December 1, 2006 below. http://friendsofatwatervillage.org/blog/art_education/
Glenfeliz started out in 1999 with an API score of 591. It has since climbed 197 points to a 2006 score of 788! Atwater Elementary has made an even greater leap: it started out with a lowly 497 back in 1999, and has since brought its scores up 241 points to a 2006 score of 738.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Atwater Village Neighborhood Watch Meeting
Mark Your Calendar!
Atwater Village Neighborhood Watch Meeting
December 13, 7:00pm
at the New Hope Chapel (behind Best Buy)
PLEASE ATTEND!
If we want to improve our local public schools, we must also look at their surrounding environment. All residents in Atwater should be involved in eliminating gang violence and creating safer neighborhood.The following is an email from Barry:
Dear neighbors--
A bunch of you have written with your concern about the frequency of the police helicopters of late. It seems like a nightly occurrence. They are not being proactive. The police are responding in the best way they are able to the current rise in gang violence in our community. There has been a definite increase in graffiti, gunfire and robberies. I appreciate your emails and phone calls. And I pass the information on to Gina Chovan, our SLO. And, in some cases, to Kabira and the staff at CD13. There have been reports of shootings, streets being blocked off and traffic being interrupted because of gang violence. There was even an instance where a concerned resident saw someone throwing a large bottle (or bottles) off the Hyperion Bridge, onto the freeway. I don’t think he hit anyone— we would have heard about it. But the resident had the where-with-all to take a picture of the suspect, which I sent along to Gina. Most of you have cell phones. If you have the camera feature and you see something, shoot it. It will help!
There are things you can do to minimize your risk. They seem obvious, but sometimes we get lazy or falsely complacent.
• Keep your porch light on at night
• Lock all your doors and windows at night and when you are not home
• If you see anything—or anyone—unusual or suspicious, call it in— 1-877-ASK-LAPD
• If it is an emergency, call 911
The most important thing is that we all have a safe and happy holiday season. This is an especially challenging time. Keep your eyes open and your head up. Being aware is probably the best defense. Also, please... your neighbors may not have email— they may not be on the list. Let them know what is going on. Exchange phone numbers. Watch out for one another. That is what being neighborly is all about. I may sound overly concerned, but it is because I am!
Finally, for now, our last neighborhood watch meeting for 2006 will be Wednesday, December 13th. I’m giving you all advance word. Please mark your calendars and try to attend. You may have missed some of the meetings in the past, but this one is an important one. We will share information and learn what is going on. We will also take a few minutes to honor who I am referring to the Atwater Village Neighborhood Watch “Person of the Year.” Curious as to who it is? Join us and find out!
I will send out a flyer in a week or so.
Thanks!
Atwater Griffith Park Chamber of Commerce’s 13th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Mark Your Calendar!
Atwater Griffith Park Chamber of Commerce’s
13th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Thursday, December 7th, @ 6:30pm
Wells Fargo Bank Parking Lot (3250 Glendale Blvd)
This family event will have:
Children's choirs from our local schools
"Voice of Christmas” choral singers
Little dancers from the Caballero Dance Academy
A Toy Drive for the LAPD (donate a new unwrapped toy that doesn't require batteries to participate)
AND...
SANTA CLAUSE
Saturday, November 18, 2006
pedophile
This last week, Tim Warner and I were trying to figure out what if anything can be done about the fact that a registered child sex offender lives a stone's throw from the school, on Glenfeliz. If you aren't aware of this, go to meganslaw.org and search the sex offender registry by entering your address. You'll see a map of our neighborhood, and there's a big red star right accross the street from the school. Click on the star and you'll see his photo. His name is Steven Short, and he lives at 3944 Glenfeliz. The site doesn't say exactly what he was convicted of or when, other than it was a "lewed and lascivious act" involving a minor, which if you look up inthe Cal penal code, is a felony punishible by jail time.
We were thinking that maybe under Prop. 83 (Jessica's Law) which was signed into law a couple weeks ago, he could be forced to move. Under the new law, convicted child molesters are prohibited from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Unfortunately, our local LAPD division thought it very unlikely that this could affect someone who was legally living somewhere before the law was passed. An investigator I spoke with at the DA's office didn't know one way or the other, but I have to say it seems unlikely. I don't know much about constitutional law, but I do recall that an ex poste facto law is not highly regarded in the courts.
Anyway, if anyone out there has some info on this situation to share, it would be much appreciated. On the bright side, the receptionist at Glenfeliz Elementary lives a couple doors down from him (she has a great commute to work!), and she said that EVERYONE at the school is aware of him and they know what he looks like. She said he's lived there for years and keeps to himself, although she didn't know him personally.
Gabriela
We were thinking that maybe under Prop. 83 (Jessica's Law) which was signed into law a couple weeks ago, he could be forced to move. Under the new law, convicted child molesters are prohibited from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Unfortunately, our local LAPD division thought it very unlikely that this could affect someone who was legally living somewhere before the law was passed. An investigator I spoke with at the DA's office didn't know one way or the other, but I have to say it seems unlikely. I don't know much about constitutional law, but I do recall that an ex poste facto law is not highly regarded in the courts.
Anyway, if anyone out there has some info on this situation to share, it would be much appreciated. On the bright side, the receptionist at Glenfeliz Elementary lives a couple doors down from him (she has a great commute to work!), and she said that EVERYONE at the school is aware of him and they know what he looks like. She said he's lived there for years and keeps to himself, although she didn't know him personally.
Gabriela
Monday, November 13, 2006
GLEN FELIZ WEBSITE(S) - PTA (& SCHOOL?)
I am creating this post so we have a place to discuss the progress of creating a website for the PTA (and one for the school).
Also, if people have ideas and/or suggestions on what the website(s) should include, maybe this would be a good place to get them heard first. This can be a sounding board.
1. October - I spoke with the woman who created and maintains Ivanhoe's websites, and made a list which I typed up into an informal proposal which I gave to Roxanne, the president of the PTA after the Oct. PTA board meeting. At that time she told me the PTA has been planning to do a website but hasn't had the time or resources. In that proposal I mentioned there would be costs to maintain the domain, so that will not be a surprise to the PTA board. We should have more specific numbers when we bring it up at the PTA association meeting though.
Sidenote - for various reasons it makes sense to have two websites - an official school site and a PTA site. Also, a calendar is essential, and a database of parents emails would help in sending out announcements. Once again, the PTA has already started creating a database but apparently has not really utilized it yet.
If you would like to see my notes from my Ivanhoe talk or the proposal I typed up please email me at thewarroom@mac.com and I will get them to you.
2. Nov. 2 - Kei registered the domain "friendsofglenfeliz.com".
3 Nov. 11 - Promila Singh graciously offered to do a PTA website, and I forwarded her all my notes so she can make a more informed decision about whether or not she will have the time to spare.
4. Nov. 13 - Currently I am still waiting to hear back from Roxanne about a couple separate issues, so I figured I'd wait until the next PTA association meeting (Dec. 14) to discuss the website more. There is a board meeting Dec. 7 but that is not the right forum for new proposals.
Thanks,
Tim
Also, if people have ideas and/or suggestions on what the website(s) should include, maybe this would be a good place to get them heard first. This can be a sounding board.
1. October - I spoke with the woman who created and maintains Ivanhoe's websites, and made a list which I typed up into an informal proposal which I gave to Roxanne, the president of the PTA after the Oct. PTA board meeting. At that time she told me the PTA has been planning to do a website but hasn't had the time or resources. In that proposal I mentioned there would be costs to maintain the domain, so that will not be a surprise to the PTA board. We should have more specific numbers when we bring it up at the PTA association meeting though.
Sidenote - for various reasons it makes sense to have two websites - an official school site and a PTA site. Also, a calendar is essential, and a database of parents emails would help in sending out announcements. Once again, the PTA has already started creating a database but apparently has not really utilized it yet.
If you would like to see my notes from my Ivanhoe talk or the proposal I typed up please email me at thewarroom@mac.com and I will get them to you.
2. Nov. 2 - Kei registered the domain "friendsofglenfeliz.com".
3 Nov. 11 - Promila Singh graciously offered to do a PTA website, and I forwarded her all my notes so she can make a more informed decision about whether or not she will have the time to spare.
4. Nov. 13 - Currently I am still waiting to hear back from Roxanne about a couple separate issues, so I figured I'd wait until the next PTA association meeting (Dec. 14) to discuss the website more. There is a board meeting Dec. 7 but that is not the right forum for new proposals.
Thanks,
Tim
TITLE 1 COUNCIL
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!
Gabriela K. gave us a report on today's meeting (THE TITLE 1 COUNCIL) :
Hi everyone-
Two parent and community based councils were formed at today's parent meeting: the Title 1 council and the English language learners council. There was a good turnout of parents (about 20) and the meeting was attended by the principal Carole Rosenblum and assistant principal Abby Cabrera (both of whom I finally got to meet for the first time- very, very nice folks), and led by two LAUSD reps. I couldn't get there before 9:15, and missed the Title 1 council election (but I am on the English learners council, just for the heck of it). Stephanie Martinez from our group was there and she's the new Title 1 Council president! Woohoo!
The Title 1 and English Learners Councils are advisory and they report to the School Site Council, which is the decision making body for how Title 1 money and money allocated for English Learners is spent. It is made up of 5 parents/community members and 5 school staff members. The Site Council also determines the goals and priorities of the school as a whole, and what to do to acheive them. They are the Grand Poobahs! Elections to the council were held last month, and today officers were elected.
Once the PTA can get a website together, we should post a calendar, and folks can attend any of the meetings to get a sense of what's going on. And maybe next year, we can show up at the Site Council elections and represent.
Since there is a website designer in our neighborhood - Promila Singh - and she's offered to help get it off the ground, maybe the next step is contacting the PTA and finding out if there's money in its budget to support it?
FYI, the magnet program meeting to be held today at 2:45 is not about bringing a program to Glen Feliz, unfortunately. The meeting will provide parents with information on how to navigate the application process to get their kid enrolled in a magnet program for middle school (apparently Thomas Starr Middle School has a magnet progam).Gabriela
Gabriela K. gave us a report on today's meeting (THE TITLE 1 COUNCIL) :
Hi everyone-
Two parent and community based councils were formed at today's parent meeting: the Title 1 council and the English language learners council. There was a good turnout of parents (about 20) and the meeting was attended by the principal Carole Rosenblum and assistant principal Abby Cabrera (both of whom I finally got to meet for the first time- very, very nice folks), and led by two LAUSD reps. I couldn't get there before 9:15, and missed the Title 1 council election (but I am on the English learners council, just for the heck of it). Stephanie Martinez from our group was there and she's the new Title 1 Council president! Woohoo!
The Title 1 and English Learners Councils are advisory and they report to the School Site Council, which is the decision making body for how Title 1 money and money allocated for English Learners is spent. It is made up of 5 parents/community members and 5 school staff members. The Site Council also determines the goals and priorities of the school as a whole, and what to do to acheive them. They are the Grand Poobahs! Elections to the council were held last month, and today officers were elected.
Once the PTA can get a website together, we should post a calendar, and folks can attend any of the meetings to get a sense of what's going on. And maybe next year, we can show up at the Site Council elections and represent.
Since there is a website designer in our neighborhood - Promila Singh - and she's offered to help get it off the ground, maybe the next step is contacting the PTA and finding out if there's money in its budget to support it?
FYI, the magnet program meeting to be held today at 2:45 is not about bringing a program to Glen Feliz, unfortunately. The meeting will provide parents with information on how to navigate the application process to get their kid enrolled in a magnet program for middle school (apparently Thomas Starr Middle School has a magnet progam).Gabriela
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Upcoming PTA Board & Association Meetings
Glenfeliz Elementary PTA
Association Meeting:
December 14 (Thu.) @ 3:00pm
Board Meeting:
December 7 (Thu.) @ 3:00pm
Association Meeting:
December 14 (Thu.) @ 3:00pm
Board Meeting:
December 7 (Thu.) @ 3:00pm
"Magnet School" Meeting on 11/13/2006
Please mark your calendar!!!!
November 13, 2006 (Monday)
After School
"A MAGNET SCHOOL MEETING"
With LAUSD Reps.
November 13, 2006 (Monday)
After School
"A MAGNET SCHOOL MEETING"
With LAUSD Reps.
Hello!
Our blogsite is now open!
This site is still at its draft phase and needs your feedbacks for further improvement! Please feel free to add comments.
This site is intended for team-blogging to enable our members to create their own posts. If you'd like to become a team member, please let me know; I will verify who you are and, upon approval, I will send you an invitation to become a team member.
This site is still at its draft phase and needs your feedbacks for further improvement! Please feel free to add comments.
This site is intended for team-blogging to enable our members to create their own posts. If you'd like to become a team member, please let me know; I will verify who you are and, upon approval, I will send you an invitation to become a team member.
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