Sces 2016 10

NEWSLETTER September-October 2016

Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies inspiration

imagination

innovation

OCT

4:00 7:00 pm 9 2 SATURDAY TO

JOIN US FOR

or Treat Costume Contest • Trunk afts Pumpkin Patch • Arts & Cr Haunted Wicked Woods ili Cook-Off BBQ • Face Painting • Ch and More!

PUS at SCES! All taking place ON CAM

Volunteers Needed! To volunteer contact Amy Feder at SCES@FederMarketing.com Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies • 5014 Serrania Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 • (818) 340-6700 • www.SerraniaCharter.org

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

A New Beginning Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress.Working together is success. –Henry Ford

W

elcome to a new year at Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies.

As we look back at our many accomplishments from last year, I invite you to help us accomplish even greater things with us this year!

Our Mission states that: “We are a community committed to working together to develop lifelong learners who value themselves, contribute to their community and succeed in a changing world. We do this by providing our students with an engaging educational experience that supports intellectual, social/emotional, and physical development.”

Whether you are a new or a returning member of our Serrania family, there are multiple opportunities for you to be part of our vision.

This year, we will continue building a stronger community in order to help our students have the best possible educational experience. As in everything I do at Serrania, I put kids first because it is a guaranteed formula for success. It is my hope that I can count on your help to make Serrania the best and the safest school for all students.

Let’s start with drop-off in the morning. Morning drop-off is where we encounter most of our safety issues every year. It is critical for the safety of all our families at Serrania that all necessary arrangements are made in order to arrive to school on time. On time means your children are walking into their classroom at 8:00 a.m.

Consistently running late, not only starts each day off on the wrong foot, but it also models unproductive habits to children. This year, please make every effort to have your child to school before the last bell rings at 8:00 a.m. I promise you that this will make your child’s experience much more of a success.

Graphic resources by freepik.com

Kids Corner

Another great way of helping with our mission and vision at Serrania is to volunteer for school events. Throughout the year we have various events that bring our community together and enrich the experience of every student and family.

These events are extremely helpful in setting a happy and positive tone for our community, but these events cannot be outstanding without the help of volunteers. As you plan your year, I highly encourage you all to put time aside on your calendars to help make our events extraordinary as well as help make Serrania a community rolemodel for other schools.

Last but not least, as we work together in making our community strong, student centered, and resourceful for all, I want to encourage you all to help me celebrate the rich diversity we are fortunate to have at Serrania. Having such rich diversity at our school is not only unique and empowering, but opens doors to immeasurable and valuable experiences not just for our kids, but for us adults. We must help our children thrive in this rich environment: teaching them to respect and value everybody for who they are on the inside, not for who they seem to be on the outside. We all may sometimes look, sound, think, celebrate, eat, feel and communicate differently, but ultimately, we are similar in more ways than not. It is of extreme importance that we work together as a community of parents and educators to ensure the safety and respect, both physical and emotional, of all students at Serrania.

Sincerely,

Hey Kids! Do you have a poem, art piece, cartoon, etc... that you want to submit to the newsletter?

If so, please see Debby Dustin, or place it in the suggestion box in the office. Label it with your name and room number and add this note: It’s for “Kids Corner!”

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Principal, Serrania Charter for Enriched Studies

The Jungle Book Bears, Wolves and Jungle Creatures! Fun was had watching the Jungle Book at SCES’ first family movie night of the school year.

Food, Food, Face Paint and More Food!

Thank you to the many SCES families and staff members who came out, worked hard, volunteered expert culinary skills and exercised some serious sillies out at the Annual Back To School BBQ.

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Tips for Safety Valet Be there before 8:00 AM. The gate closes precisely at 8:00 AM. If you are pulling up at 8:00 AM, you are late. Meaning, your child should be on campus, entering his/her class, not outside the gate.

Synchronize your watch or the clock in your car with the school’s clock: that’s our bell schedule.

Orange

By Jessica G Carew

Vests

Do you ever feel like a total mess in the morning at drop off? Maybe still in your pajamas, trying to find a parking spot, people honking at you from all directions, cornflakes and peanut butter decorating your hair from speedy breakfast and lunch making? Or maybe you are dressed for work, late to a meeting, just trying to squeeze in those last few minutes to walk your child to the gate before you have to hit the ground running for the day.

Well do we have the solution for you, or what! This kind of stress at drop off can be completely avoided by utilizing Serrania’s Parking Valet Program. No those people wearing orange vests near the gates are not there to make some kind of kick-back to the 80s fashion statement, those people are the many parent volunteers who are there to welcome your children, with care, to school each day.

Who organizes the Safety Valet Program and why?

Meet Cyrene, a mother of two girls, one who is a first grader at Serrania. Cyrene bravely heads-up our Safety Valet Program. This is not an easy role to commit to, so why has she volunteered herself for it

when she is already working full-time as a real estate agent for Keller Williams, as well as advocating for those who are most at need in our community through programs such as North Valley Caring Services, Operation Hope and New Economics for Women? In Cyrene’s own words, it is “because the kids are so cute and interacting with them, keeping them safe, wishing them a good day, makes my day better. Because Serrania feels like home; the kind of home that is warm, welcoming and full of phenomenal people. And because at 8:00 AM, when that bell rings and the gate locks, I can take that sense of home, I feel at our school, to work with me.”

If you are interested in wearing one of those bright orange vests, please contact Cyrene for Safety Valet volunteer sign-up information at cyrene.layne@gmail.com

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Volunteers will escort any children from cars that are left in the Safety Valet Line as the bell rings: meaning already stopped between the cones and the sidewalk, and outside of the red zone on the curb.

Volunteers will also put cones in the lane, behind the last car in line, blocking the Safety Valet to any additional cars.

If your car is at the stop sign on Quedo Drive, waiting to turn, or at the stop sign or in the middle of the road on Serrania Avenue when the bell rings, you will have to park and bring your children through the front gate to obtain a tardy slip and go on to class.

The safety of your children is our first and foremost concern.

for a Growing Mind and Body

By Angela Stroth, RN, MSN and Certified Nurse-Midwife at Kaiser Permanente | Mom to Super 1st Grader Everley Watson

Need a few tips for lunchtime? Choose Super Foods that are Super Rich in Energy!

Berries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C which keep kids from getting sick! Tasty on their own or mixed in a salad or smoothie. Whole fruit is preferable to dried fruits. Avoid gummies, fruit leathers or roll-ups since those can stick to teeth and encourage cavities.

Eggs are high in protein and make kids feel fuller longer. Try a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs and cheese or a hard-boiled egg.

Beans are high in iron and fiber. Add a side of hummus dip or Edamame beans.

Dairy is a great source for Calcium and Vitamin D which are essential for healthy bones. Add Greek yogurt, cheese stick, or a celery stick with cream cheese Whole Grains always outperform Wonder Bread in the energy department! Choose whole wheat bread, crackers, pitas or tortillas.

Nuts are high in protein and help with brain development! Trader Joes or Sprouts are great resources for nuts and dried berries. Help your child create their very own Trail Mix! “NOTE: Remind your child that it is SCHOOL RULE to NOT SHARE YOUR LUNCH due to potential for allergies. Especially with nuts.

Avoid juices, sugary treats, and other empty calories. Save those donuts and pop tarts for the weekend!

Reduce waste by using reusable lunch boxes with a bento box insert or reusable containers and reusable water bottles. Be sure to add a reusable cold pack in the lunch box for those hot Woodland Hills Days! Your child must be able to open containers independently and best to label EVERYTHING if you want it to come back home!”

customers in your area? et rg ta to y wa ct pa im h hig e, tiv ec eff st co a Looking for ur community? yo of s ilie fam d an ren ild ch e th g tin or pp su Interested in ’s faculty? If your answer is yes, ents, share good news, or acknowledge Serrania l customers who Wishing for a way to highlight your child’s achievem h the eye of neighborhood families and potentia catc ll you’ and er slett New this in rtise Adve le. then the solution is simp ral part of our community. would help transform your business into an integ featured on ibuted to over 700 families every month. It is also distr is er slett New ol Scho S) (SCE ies Stud hed The Serrania Charter for Enric post to the web. t hard copy distribution, your advertisement will direc to tion addi in t… righ ’s That site. web the SCES -359-2645 (Serrania parent volunteer, at: orit_bonver@hotmail.com or call: 818 For inquiries contact ORIT BONVER and newsletter editor)

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Is your family on the Shine on Serrania Wall of Fame?

If not, then it’s time to make your annual contribution!

Your annual contribution pays for all the things LAUSD does NOT: an art teacher, a computer lab teacher, P.E., a music teacher, ball room dancing, campus beautification, reading enrichment, and the many other programs that make Serrania a top-notch school!

Let’s take a moment to thank over 100 families who have already given as of 9/23/16 to support our children’s school day enrichment activities.

Abdulameer, Alfares, Allen, Aminian, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, Aravindh, Armenta, Ayala, Belagam, Bender, Berg, Bolatnick, Brumbaugh, Burns, Cabezas, Carrascoza, Chen, Cohen, Cole, Cook, Dadbam, De Guzman, Dellinger, Dhunaka, Diaz, Donahue, Doty, Doustkam, Drayton Smith, Dunn, Durets, Falco, Feder, Feist, Fernlund, Garcia, Golabyan, Golla, Gunderson, Hacker, Hager, Handelsman, Harbour, Hemmati, Herberth, Herrera, Hill, Hirsh, Hochberg, Hoffman, Hornstein, Hyman, Ilie, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kam, Katz, Kavoossi, Kaye, Kermanshah, Kim, Konstantini, Kranchenko, Lawrence, Lee, Lian, Litman, Mahgrefteh, Maloney, Mammone, Maranville, Maravilla, McKean, Mekuria, Mirzajanzadeh, Mitev, Mobin, Mori, Mothey, Nejad, Nemad, Novitz, Ocon, Olson, Orzoco, Pananyan, Pasternak, Pellegrini, Peterson, Pham, Poladian, Pollak, Premjith, Quillian, Rabani, Rachmadi, Raman, Ramirez Medina, Rigney, Rinder, Rizzo, Robbins, Rybrina, Sade, Salem, Sanchez, Sanson, Santos, Santti, Serrano, Shaolian, Shelton, Smith, Spencer, Stadlinger, Stilwell, Tandon, Termini, Tran, Tyler, Uy, Van Valkenburg, Velasco-Atilano, Weingarten, Weiss, Williamson

But these generous individuals represent only 25% of Serrania families.

So if you haven’t given yet, please do your part now!

We ask for $250 per child, or you can make payments of just $25 per month.

With a donation at this level you will receive a water bottle, a super cool, superstar T-shirt and many other courtesies.

Please go to www.serraniacharter.org and make your donation today!

Your child needs your support. Your donation helps them shine!

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Our annual student Halloween parade is scheduled for Monday, October 31st 8-9am. Parents are encouraged to join the fun and watch the kids as they share the Halloween spirit.

When choosing your costumes, please remember these District-mandated costume guidelines:

Monday, October 31st 8:00am right after drop-off

• No weapons of any kind.

• No costumes or masks that completely hide the identity of the wearer.

• No revealing costumes.

Please have your children come to school in costume and bring a change of clothes in a bag. They should be prepared to change into their school clothes after the parade.

Start planning now and join us as we scare-up Serrania!

The following products, stores and restaurants have built in fundraising that makes giving back to the community and our schools easy. With no additional charge to you and your family, you can make a big difference. More money, means more educational enrichment for your children.

Box Tops for Education

Box Tops for Education: It’s simple.

If you purchase groceries with Box Top Labels, cut out the Box Tops, put them in a baggie with your child’s name, date and room number and turn them in to your child’s teacher or the school office. Our record stands at 13,000 Box Tops, let’s beat that record this year. Prizes will be awarded, so cut, cut, cut!

Ralphs

Looking for another way to support Serrania? Sign up for the Ralph’s Community Contribution program. Getting started is easy! All you need is a Ralph’s membership card and five minutes to register either by going to ralphs.com or calling 800-443-4438. A portion of every dollar you spend will be donated to Serrania!

Already a participant? Ralphs resets the program at the start of each new school year, so please renew your registration. Make sure you use Serrania’s NPO#80924 when you register.

Ameci Box Labels

If you’ve ever ordered an Ameci pizza, you’ve likely noticed the square label on the cover of the pizza box. What you might not know is that it is for Serrania. Those pizza box labels turn cardboard into cash! Next time you order a pizza at Ameci, cut, bag and save the label/s for our school!

Amazon Smile

Amazon will donate .5% of purchases directly to Serrania. Simply sign into your existing account (or register) at smile.amazon.com. Choose Friends of Serranina and shop, shop, shop.

Shutterfly

Shutterfly will donate 13% of all purchases directly to Serrania. Simply visit the ShutterflySerrania link at serrania.shutterflystorefront.com and do your shopping. Shutterfly offers photo prints, books, cards, gifts and home decor.

Earning4Learning

Starting October 1 - February 28th, 2017 Serrania is in competition to win up to $2500 from the Westfield Shopping Center. How could you help Serrania earn top dollars: 1. Shop at any store, restaurant or food vendor in Topanga Plaza, The Village, and Costco, Costco Gas and Costco food court Oct 1 -Feb 28th. Gift card purchases count too!

2. SAVE your receipts.

3. Turn in the ORIGINAL receipts in an envelope in the box provided in the office. Include the following information on the envelope: a) Your Name b) School Name c) Teacher/Room Number d) Write either ~ Please Return or Do Not Return Or Log in your own receipts from your computer or mobile device at www.shoppingpartnership.com/topanga

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DANIEL HEMMATI DDS FAMILY DENTIST

Hello Serrania Families, I am a proud Serrania parent. I practice family dentistry and treat kids, teens, and adults. I am an in network provider with most PPO dental insurance plans.

I have offices in two locations to serve your needs!

Sherman Oaks Daniel Hemmati DDS

4955 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 716

Email: dhemmatidds@yahoo.com

(818) 784-6145

Cell (661) 803-4699

Reseda

18305 Sherman Way Suite 7

(818) 996-9200