November:

Rianna Irving, Sierra Carmona, Alexa Gangoo, Tyler Torstenson, Monte Smith, Kelly Carignan, Mya Edwards, Anthony Sanchez, Crystal Mendoza, Jesus Luna, Cecilia Carrera, Jaleel Williams, Ashley Ragland, Laurel Kalbac, Billy Green.

December:

Aaron Kellum, Charles Munford, Miguel Garcia, Ella Sommer, Jacob Gazzaniga, Joshua Wicksman, Madeleine Nolan, Elon Morris, Jesse Cooke, Sanai Johnson, Tatyanna Howard, Tiana Brown, Trey Spiva, Justin Collins, Clarke Brown.

Kentwood Elementary School Newsletter

Jan./Feb. 2010, Volume 20, Issue 10

8401 Emerson Ave., Westchester, CA 90045 • p. 310.670.8977 • f. 310.670.6957 www.kentwoodes.org

1/11/10 Yearbook Tribute Sales begin

2/15/10 School Holiday (Presidents’ Day)

3/22/10 Hawaiian Raffle Sales begin

(ends April 26)

3/26/10 Bunny Hop (walkathon)

3/29/10 Spring Break (ends April 4)

4/5/10 School Resumes

4/30/10 Spring Fling (Talent Show/

Hawaiian Raffle/Silent Auction)

5/31/10 School Holiday (Memorial Day)

6/10/10 In N Out Truck Fund raiser

6/24/10 Last Day of School

School Calendar

Dear Parents & Families:

Welcome to 2010, and I hope you had a wonderful holiday. The school year is whizzing by with several events looming on the horizon.

Please calendar our very first “State of the School Address” for Monday, February 8, 2010. I will have two sessions for your convenience, one at 8:15 a.m. immediately following our Mon-day Morning Assembly, and the second later that evening at 5:00 p.m. We will discuss our new “School Report Card”, update you on what has taken place with our Governance, School Site, and ELA Councils, prepare for Testing, highlight our achievements, and address any questions or con-cerns that you might have to help keep Kentwood moving forward. PTO will provide refreshments and child care (RSVP). Please make every attempt to attend!

Congratulations to:

• Chris Buckly, Alesia Pride, Tanasha Williamson,

Kit Hulit, and Karen McB-room on receiving Mini-grants from the Playa/Venice Rotary Club made possible through the LAX Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.

• Roberta Guarnieri, Karen McBroom, and Lisa Kravetz on receiving a Target Educa-tion Grant.

• Tanasha Williams for com-pleting all her coursework and passing the comprehensive exam at Pepperdine University, as she enters the dissertation writing phase towards receiv-ing her Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership!

Student Progress and Moni-toring: I will be conducting indi-vidual conversations with each student in grades 3-5 over the next two weeks. This is an op-portunity for them to sit with me one-on-one and share their strengths, and set some goals, as we review their grades and work performance to date. Ask your child to tell you some of the items we discussed.

Safety Reminder: Please re-member that the Parking Lots are for Kentwood staff only! Parents dropping off or picking up their children, must park on the street and then walk onto campus. This is an LAUSD policy. The gate on Dunbarton is open for pedestrian traffic for those using STAR, College Bound or the Playground. Also, please re-frain from parking in our neigh-bor’s driveways. (Refer to letter dated: January 19, 2010)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sincerely,Jean Pennicooke

A Message from the Principal “If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder… he needs at least one adult who can share it,

rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”

– Rachel Carson

Jean Pennicooke, Principal • Christine Ferreira, Assistant PrincipalJeanie Butler & Christina Halloran, PTO Presidents

Get Active Campaign!Congratulations Students!Go online and register today!

Parents, teachers and others (over 18) that participate earn

BONUS POINTS for our school.

www.CalGovCouncil.org

Volunteer’s always welcome! Go to www.kentwoodes.org

ATTEnTion PAREnTS:

Yearbook is in process and if you’d like to submit any school related photos, please drop them off in the PTO Box. Photos can also be emailed to: xochilthgharibeh@ymail.com

Hello Kentwood Families,Wow, where has the time gone? We are half

way through the year and coming up fast on our 100th day. I know everyone is busy recovering from the holidays and entertaining ourselves for three weeks but its time to get down to business. The Kentwood Pledge drive will be continuing on throughout the year, but our friendly competition will be winding down at the end of the month. The numbers are in, but there is still time to earn the kiddies some extra caught being good points, a pizza party and the opportunity to win an iPod. There is no minimum or maximum, just donate any amount to participate and help your child’s class become eligible for some great prizes. Remember all the money donated goes directly to Kentwood to fund programs for your kids, like arts, orchestra, computer lab, field trips. We have raised $20,000 so far and getting closer to our goal.

On another note, since we all get tired of being hit up for money, the board has made an effort to cut down on fundraising events, so we have com-

bined three events as and end of year celebration. Our annual Talent Show will also host the Silent Auction and we will announce our winner of our Hawaiian Raffle. As a recent recipient of this trip I can say it was well worth the $80 in raffle tick-ets I inadvertently purchased, and we are still talk-ing about the trip we won two years ago. Orville Wright has been so kind as to provide the loca-tion for our event on April 30, 2010. For those of you who have been wanting to get involved, this is the perfect time to volunteer, this event will take lots of man power, behind the scenes and on stage. Please check the PTO manager or contact one of the organizers for the event.

Silent Auction- Pam nelsonHawaiian Raffle-Jackie LyonsTalent Show-Jessie Massey

Sincerely ,

Jeanie Butler and Christina HalloranPTO Co-Presidents

Presidents Letter

Computer Lab Computer teacher who works with all grade levels in the computer lab

Upgrades to hardware and software Book, Supplies, equipment

Library books • Computers • Art materials Class copy machines/cartridges • Classroom supplies

Test prep materials • Student subscriptions • Field trips/assemblies 2 field trips per grade level • 1 Mad Science workshop per grade level

Special Events • Back to School Picnic • Ice Cream Social Family Math Night • Talent Show

Orchestra instruction for upper grades

Annual Pledge Drive Continues!

Kentwood Elementary needs your financial help to bridge the gap between the shrinking LAUSD budget and our growing programs. We want to keep our art, chorus, orchestra, computer lab, field trips, assemblies and our classroom supplies. We believe these programs along with great teaching helped push our API scores to the highest in the LMU Family of Schools!

See our site for more information on how to support your child’s education!

Abitante FamilyAhadzadeh FamilyAjcuc Family Amano FamilyAnonymousIn Memory of Ted G. Ashmore love PiperBevelhiemer FamilyBaum-Harvey FamilySeven and Rebecca BlumBowers FamilyBorden FamilyButler FamilyCole and Kelly CarignanCounihan FamilyCaruso-Dave FamilyCollins FamilyDavid FamilyDavis/Wilson FamilyDoggett FamilyFode FamilyIsaac & Xochilth GharibehAdam and Lori GoldmanHalloran Family Hernandez FamilyNancy HiromotoRob Evan and Kristi HolmbladJongewaard Family

Kelly-Generally FamilyGrandma Ruthann & Grandpa Ron KellumJackie Lyons and Andy Ray for Daniel RayMadden- Torstenson FamilyMartinez FamilyMatias FamilyMelton FamilyMoutra FamilyNelson FamilyJean PennicookeRoberts FamilySanchez FamilySanford FamilyScott FamilyRuss and Angela Shelton for AlexisSteingold FamilyStodder FamilySun FamilyRenner FamilyDr. and Mrs. RaglandReese FamilyRuss and Angela Shelton for Alexis SheltonTalbot FamilyYamashita FamilyZaman Family

Featured Guest Star: Arlene MunsonJob: Office TechnicianBirthday: June 16th Favorite color: Blue

Favorite food: Mexican Favorite author: James PattersonHobby: Reading

Where did you attend Elementary school? Beethoven Elementary in LAUSD

What did you like best about school when you were growing up? Being with friends.

What do you like best about Kentwood? Interacting with students and colleagues.

What is something special about you that most people don’t know? I make greeting cards.

Getting To Know You!

Interviewed by: Miranda Hughes and Ashley Press, Student Council Members

Thank You to the following Pledge Drive Participants:

If you have changed your address or telephone number, please notify the office immediately.

Contact Information Changed Lately?

Pride-6Williamson-4Buckly-4Guarnieri-10Dicks-3Scott-3Rosenfield-8Kim-2

Leibowitz-1Rich-1Mcbroom-3Romine-2Kravetz-1Hulit-1Pre-k-2

Pledges per classroom.

Got Yearbook Pics?

Your Pledge Dollars at Work!