STATE OF THE SCHOOL BUDGET RECAP

Mrs. Valentino held two budget meetings last week to inform parents of what to expect in terms of budget cuts, and steps we can take to help.  Here is a recap in case you missed it.  The good the bad and the ugly:

The Good:

• Class size remains the same – 24:1 in K-3 and 38:1 in 4-6
• Personnel allocations will remain the same – for Mt. Washington it means we keep all of our teaching positions, clerks, administrators, nurse and psychologist

The Bad:

• The district will no longer fund After School Supervision
• VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Program) will also be cut
• There is no money for GATE funding (the GATE program will continue)
• Teacher Professional Development funding is also cut

The Ugly:

• Total allocations to Mt. Washington for school year 2011-2012 was $133,101 out of which the school paid for Teacher’s Aids, Library Aid, Computer Lab Aid (3hrs/day), Drama and Dance, Intervention, Part of Recess and Lunch Supervision, Accelerated Reader and Math, Family Nights, Substitute teachers for professional development days and for IEP and SST meetings, Copier contract and instructional materials.   
• The total allocation for school year 2012 to 2013 has been cut down to $23,663 – that’s a difference of $109,438.   
• The news gets even uglier when we look at our budget and realize that many of the services went up in cost by several thousand dollars in some cases.  Please click here for a detailed accounting of allocations for both school years.
• Mt.Washington Elementary became a distinguished school based on many of the programs that are being threatened for cuts in the coming school year. To view the budget and to see how our programs were funded for this year please click here.  You will see that to maintain all of the programs that our children benefited from this year will cost $220,461 next year.  The same programs cost our school $146,540 this year.  That’s a difference of $73,921!

Why the drastic cuts to our budget you might ask?

Federal cuts:

• Ending of stimulus and elimination of NCLB (no child left behind) funds

State cuts:

• Lack of federal funding
• Lack of revenues generated

District:

• Accumulation of debt/lack of reimbursement
• Funding New Initiatives such as the early start calendar which will cost the district approximately $2 million, added new administrative positions to pilot a new teacher evaluation system

What you can do to help:

• Complete the Budget Priorities Survey
• Write to our district representative and to our Superintended and request that the district return money to schools, hold off on costly initiatives, distribute non Title I funding to schools per capita, rather than schools qualifying as a 50% Title I student population.

Superintendent John Deasy  -  Office of Superintendent

                       333 S. Beaudry Ave. 24^th floor

                       Los Angeles, CA 90017

                       Phone:  213/241-7000

                       Fax:      213/241-8442

                       Email:    superintendent@lausd.net

Bennett Kayser – our district board representative

                        333 S. Beaudry Ave. 24^th floor

                        Los Angeles, CA 90017

                        Phone:  213/241-6383

                        Fax:      213/241-8467

                        Email:   bennett.kayser@lausd.net

• Make a direct donation to the school or to our PTA by clicking here
• Support our up coming fundraisers

Next year’s budget is looking pretty bleak for our wonderful little school, BUT our children will still have the same amazing teachers, class sizes did not increase, collectively we raised close to $40,000 so far through our PTA and the FOMWS Auction was a success on Friday night.  We the parents will continue to step up and make sure that our children will have what they need to maintain the quality education that they receive here at Mt. Washington.  This is the school after all, where they are “Dreaming the Impossible and Making It Happen”

COOKING 2.0 – TUESDAY, MAY 1ST 8:15AM IN THE MPR

Donna Cullen, local cooking instructor, brings her kitchen classroom into our community classroom.  Join us on Tuesday, May 1^st after drop off, in the MPR to learn all of Donna’s  great tips and tricks for easy cooking.   She will be your guide to meal planning made easy, cooking basics, cooking with grains and more.

SCIENCE SESSION 4 BEGINS WEDNESDAY MAY 2ND

If your child is signed up for this session of Science classes, please remind him/her to go to the MPR at 2:45pm for group 1 and at 3:30pm for group 2.

FAMILY ART NIGHT WEDNESDAY, MAY 2ND 5:30-7:30 MPR

Join Mrs. Valentino and several of our teachers as they host our first ever Family Art Night.  Students who attend will receive a Homework Pass for the night.  Dinner will be made available at a reduced cost by the PTA starting at 5:00pm.  Registrations is from 5:00-5:45 in the MPR.  Session 1 will start at 5:55 and session 2 will start at 6:45.  Topics will include: Interpretive Dance, Stained Glass Effect, Building Creative Capacity through Design, The Language of Art and Musical Expression.

TUESDAY MAY 1ST IS REGULAR DISSMISSAL AT 2:30PM

There are no more early dismissal Tuesdays.  From this Tuesday till the end of the school year, students will get out at 2:30pm.  Please mark your calendar and alert any after school caregiver to your child of the time change.

COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL: FRIDAY MAY 4th IN THE PARENT CENTER

Join Mrs.Valentino for her monthly coffee with the parents meeting.  This is your chance to hear directly from her what is going on at our school and to ask questions and have discussions in an informal setting.

LAST WEEK TO PURCHASE YEARBOOKS FOR $20

This is your last week to purchase a yearbook for $20.  Next week they will go up to $25 till supplies last.  We have about 50 yearbooks left, so hurry up and order one before they are all gone.  Order forms are available in the office, should you need one.

TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK IS MAY 7th TO 11th

Teacher and Staff Appreciation week is only a week away.  We would like to continue our tradition of asking each child to bring a flower to the morning assembly on the 7^th to give to their teacher.  The PTA will also be treating our teachers to a luncheon  on Thursday May 10^th.  If you would like to contribute a special treat please sign up to bring a desert by clicking here.  We have about 24 people including our teachers and staff.  Please indicate the number of servings you are planning on bringing.  You can also check with your room rep to see what kind of special plans your class is making for your teacher.

SAVE THE DATE FOR A MUSICAL EVENING ON MAY 19TH

Join us on May 19^th for a concert from members of the LA Philharmonics as well as student performances, for a fundraiser to save our Arts education program.  Look for a flier and for more information in our future blogs coming your way soon.

SAVE THE DATE RESTAURANT NIGHT FUNDRAISER AT CPK GLENDALE MAY 31ST

Help us raise some much needed funds as you relax for a night and save the cooking for another day.  Have dinner out as a family as you enjoy the company of your fellow Mt. Washingtonians at the CPK in Glendale.  More information to follow.

FINAL DAYS -- PLEASE SEND TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY -- SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL

FRIENDS OF MT. WASHINGTON SCHOOL'S  ANNUAL AUCTION FUNDRAISER IS COMING UP.  PLEASE SAVE THE DATE, APRIL 27TH, FRIDAY NIGHT.  

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE  WWW.FOMWS.ORG  $25 PRESALE.

WE WILL ALSO BE SELLING TICKETS AT SCHOOL EVERY MORNING.  LOOK FOR OUR BANNER.

7 TH ANNUAL AUCTION: NIGHT OF COMEDY, APRIL 27TH

 because our budget's so sad we have to laugh!

This Friday, April 27, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm, The Los Angeles River Center

Tickets $25 pre-sale (mornings by the Parent Center) $30 at the door

Join us for an evening of laughter, food and good company.  

Bid on items such as:

• Kobe Basketball Academy in Santa Barbara, CA – A five day basketball clinic where kids learn game techniques and hang out with Kobe!

• One week in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico – A 2 bedroom adobe style home just minutes from everything. 

• Box tickets to a Laker Game – need we say more

And much, much more. For a full list of items, please go to http://www.charityauctionorganizer.com/auction/FOMWS

FOMWS NIGHT OF COMEDY & AUCTION, FRIDAY, APRIL 27TH, 6:30– 9:30PM, LOS ANGELES RIVER CENTER

The Friends of Mt. Washington School’s Night of Comedy & Auction is fast approaching Friday, April 27, 6:30– 9:30pm, at the beautiful Los Angeles River Center.  Once again the community and parents united to make this another exceptional event to benefit our children.  It’s not too late to be a cash or item sponsor.  For sponsorship opportunities or to purchase individual tickets at $25, please go to www.fomws.org.

MWES COFFEE 'HOWLIN WOLVES' ROAST-BOLD

Is now on sale in the Parent Center!  Bigger bags, bolder roast.  14oz. for $14 - GET YOURS TODAY!

THE GREEN TEAM

Remember to RECYCLE on Mondays!  Thank you to our cub scouts for pitching in this month and helping to collect and sort the recyclables as they come in on Monday morning.  Thank you to Libby Morris, our recycling chair, for her tireless efforts in making sure this program became the success that it is today.  Thank you to all the families who participate and help us raise money one bottle and can at a time.

MOVIE NIGHT THANK YOUS

Thank you to all who attended the Spring Family Movie Night last Friday night.  We had such a fantastic turn out even in the cold and rain.  We were able to raise $230 in spite of the weather~hooray!  There was plenty of food, wonderful merchandise and neat poster surprises!  Congratulations to all of the children who won.  A heartfelt thank you to all of our fantastic volunteer parents and to Cecilia Vasquez for chairing this event.

SAVE THE DATE: ANOTHER GREAT COOKING CLASS WITH DONNA - MONDAY, MAY 1ST (8:30-10:15) IN THE MPR

Donna Cullen, local cooking instructor, brings her kitchen classroom into our community classroom.  Be sure to mark your calendars, you won't want to miss her great tips and tricks for easy cooking.  Look for a flyer with more info coming home in backpacks soon.

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT – THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH AT 6PM IN THE MPR

Mt. Washington's Spring Movie Night is Back!  We are happy to present a free screening of a family film on Friday, April 13th, at 6pm in the Jack & Denny Smith Center (MPR).  Our children voted on the movie selection just before Spring Break, so we will be announcing the winning film Monday at the morning Assembly!  

Bring your favorite pillow, blanket and wear your pajamas.  Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a fun evening, relax with your children and re-connect with other MWE families, friends and faculty .  Hot dogs, pizza as well as usual movie fare will be available for purchase.  Pre-sale tickets for "kid boxes" and "parent plates" will be sold on 4/13/12-ONLY for $3 dollars outside the Parent Center.

AFTER SCHOOL YOGA AND PLEIN AIR PAINTING

There is still space for the spring session of Plein Air Painting. The class meets every Monday after school from 3pm to 5pm on the yard. Download the flyer and sign up form by clicking here to register your child. 

New session of Yoga starts this Tuesday. There is still time to sign up for this session. You can fill out and return the sign up form on Monday the 9th or bring it with you to the first class. Please click here to download the form. This time around it’s a slightly different set up:
Grades K-1 will have their class from1:35-2:05 and
Grades 2 and up will have their class from 2:10-2:40.

GREEN TEAM

We are well on our way to collecting upwards of $1,500 worth of recycling bottles and soda cans.  Don’t forget to bring in your recycling that you have been collecting over Spring Break on Monday morning.  Please remember to have the bags ready to go with your child if you utilize the safety valet service.  Our Cub Scouts will be there in the month of April ready to assist anyone who needs it with their recycling bags.

YEARBOOKS ON SALE

There are still plenty of yearbooks up for grabs.  They are only $20 for the entire month of April, but will go up to $25 in May till supplies last.  Order forms were sent home in backpacks last month, there are also some forms available in the office if you need one.

THE GREEN TEAM

We are well on our way to collecting upwards of $1,500 worth of recycling bottles and soda cans - so keep you recycling for the school over spring break and bring it in the Monday we get back. 

And for all the 4th graders who have waited so patiently for their ice cream party to celebrate winning the first semester, the wait is almost over! The chair person of The Green Team, Libby Morris, is busy organizing it! A date is soon to be set. The winner of last semester will be announced on next week’s blog.  Our thanks to all who participated – let’s keep it growing!!

NEW SESSION OF YOGA BEGINS TUESDAY APRIL 10TH

There is still time to sign up for yoga when we return to school.  You can fill out and return the sign up form on Monday the 9^th or bring it with you to the first class.  Please click here to download the form.  This time around it’s a slightly different set up:

Grades K-1  will have their class from1:35-2:05 and

Grades 2 and up will have their class from 2:10-2:40.

SUMMER ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM FOR KIDS 8 AND UP

"Art of Architecture" a 3 week program offered by Woodbury University in Burbank this summer.  The instructors will be graduate students at Woodbury and this will be the program's third year.  Click here to view the flyer for more information and to download the registration form.

PROGRESSIVE DINNER THANK YOUS

Last Saturday’s Progressive Dinner was a great success.  Without a doubt the 4 houses were perfect backdrops for an evening full of fun, laughter, phenomenal food and great company.  Thank you to everyone who came and supported this wonderful evening. Thank you to the Herrran father and son driving team for chauffeuring the attendees from house to house so that everyone could relax and enjoy the evening.  Thank you to Nina Zippay and Sharen Herran for spearheading our first progressive dinner.  But most of all, a huge thank you to our 4 hosts with the mosts who opened up their beautiful homes, cooked, served and entertained all who were there with grace and elegance - the Thomas-Staley household for the wonderful appetizer course, the Palmer-Carter household for the amazing pre-dinner selection of soups, the Feinberg household for the exquisite main course, and the Austria household for the delicious desserts and coffee.  This FUNdraiser grossed $1,545 for our children’s education.  We look forward to next year’s Progressive Dinner for which we already have 5 committed households.  Hooray!

SAVE THE DATE: FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT APRIL 13TH

Our kids have voted on the movie they want to see-watch for the flyer coming home when we get back to school.   'Kiddie boxes & parent plates' will be sold; plus, we'll have some good 'ol movie concessions available - popcorn, nachos and maybe even some cotton candy!  You won't want to miss this one!