Torrance Unified School District September 4, 2017

Alleycat Times 2017-2018 #2 1

SCHOOL STARTS THURSDAY!

Regular Schedule for 1st – 5th Grades Kindergarten has early out (11:50am) on Thursday and Friday

Parking will be available in the Church lot across the street in the morning. Please do

NOT park in the staff lot. Campus will open at 8:30 am to students and parents.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!

Anyone who did not attend registration last week must turn in all their registration paperwork before you can receive your child’s teacher assignment. You may come to the office Tuesday or Wednesday from 10-1. You can also register in the morning on the first day of school (after 8:00am), however the line will probably be long. Please make every effort to come to the office before Thursday if you can. Thanks!

Important Dates

SEPTEMBER 7 – 1st Day of School

Regular Dismissal for 1st-5th (3:02/3:12)

7 & 8 – Early Dismissal for Kinder (11:50)

7 – Kindergarten BTSN (5:00)

8 – Back to School Social (3:45)

13 – Early Out/PLC (every Wed.) (2:18/2:27)

14 – PTA Board Mtg (6:30)

18-22 – Book Fair Week (library)

19 – Picture Day

20 – School Site Council Mtg./Rm. 28 (3:30)

28 – Minimum Day for 1st – 5th (2:02/2:12)

28 – Back to School Night 1st – 5th Grades

Flyers Torrance After School Club – Arnold

TFF – Donate to help our schools

EncorePrograms for 17-18

September Calendar

September Menu

2017-2018 Important Dates

Links Arnold Website PTA Website Raz-Kids Login Splash Math Login Titan K-12 Lunch Account Torrance Unified School District California Department of Education

ALLEYCAT TIMES www.arnold.tusd.org | Joseph Arnold Elementary School | 310.533.4524

Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.

Torrance Unified School District September 4, 2017

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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR REGISTRATION DAY VOLUNTEERS

Arnold Teachers and Staff ~ Students of Torrance High School ~ Barbara Penhalegon ~ Darcy Ogata and Family ~ Huzaifa Kagazwala ~ Jamie and Hailey Holcomb ~ John Lee and Family ~ Jumi Nam and Lauren Kang ~ Lisa Sung and Family ~ Melodie

Hamilton and Family ~ Michelle and Zoey Fadale ~ Mina Choi ~ Pui Yee Kam and Family ~ Sharonda Ortega ~ Shazia Fazili ~ Shreeja Nair ~ Yuri Kanamaru Thank you for your generous gift of time. The success of our back to school registration would not have been possible without your help! – Desiree Tuzzolino, PTA President

Message From the Assistant Principal I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to the Arnold Family! My name is Cathy Di Vincenzo and I am the new Assistant Principal at Arnold!! I am very excited to be here at Arnold Elementary School! Torrance is a wonderful community - I was born and raised here and went to Torrance schools. I started teaching for Torrance in 1999. I taught first, second and fourth grade at Riviera and Towers Elementary. For the past two years, I have served as the Induction Program Coordinator at the District Office supporting new teachers in our district. This summer has been great so far, and I am enjoying getting to know students, parents, and staff. Everyone has helped make my transition as the new Assistant Principal smooth. It is already clear that this is a very caring and dedicated community, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Alleycat Family and I look forward to getting to know everyone throughout the year. I am eager to start the new school year, so please be sure to say "hi" and introduce yourself!

Back to School Night for Grades 1-5 – September 28th Please note date change from last week’s Alleycat Times

KINDERGARTEN BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT – THURS., SEPT. 7TH 5:00PM Kindergarten parents are invited to our Kinder Back-to-School-Night on Thursday, September 7th (the first day of school). Our Kinder teachers meet with parents early so that you have the opportunity to get all of the information you will need to have a successful transition to Kindergarten for both you and your child. Please join us in the cafeteria at 5:00 for a brief general meeting with all teachers, the PTA President and the Principal. Parents will then visit their child’s classroom for more detailed information. Please note that unfortunately there is no child care available this evening, so please try to come without your kids (if possible). Parking will be available in the church lot across the street from school.

Torrance Unified School District September 4, 2017

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WELCOME BACK SOCIAL – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 3:45PM Don’t miss the PTA-sponsored Welcome Back Social on Friday, September 8th from 3:45pm – 4:45pm out on the blacktop. Come and see Arnold friends and staff you’ve missed all summer and enjoy complimentary ice cream if you’ve joined the PTA. You won’t want to miss the fun!

BOOK FAIR – SEPT 18TH – 22ND Alleycats love to read! The Book Fair is September 18th - September 22nd. We will be open every morning from 8:30am -9:00am (parents are welcome to come at 8:15 with your children). We will be open every afternoon from 3:00pm - 4:00pm, except on Wednesday, when we will open from 2:15pm to 3:00pm (due to early dismissal). We will also be open during school hours for teachers to bring their classes, so please check with your student's teacher. Book Fair Volunteers Needed!! Click here and sign up! We need cashiers and set-up/break-down help!

CAFETERIA ACCOUNT SYSTEM TUSD uses Titan School Solution as our Cafeteria Account System. All balances from last year were

automatically rolled over for you. If you want to check your account, or set up a new one, please click here.

HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS By law, most people are now required to have health insurance or pay a penalty when they file their taxes. Through Covered California, a program from the state of California, qualified legal residents of California and their families can compare health insurance plans and enroll in the one that works best for their needs and budget. Financial assistance is available to qualifying individuals and families to help them pay for health insurance premiums. This means the federal government may pay a portion of the health insurance premium. Individuals and families may also qualify for Medi-Cal benefits. Visit CoveredCA.com to learn more, compare health insurance plans, choose the one that best fits your needs and enroll online. For free, confidential, in-person help, in your area, visit www.CoveredCA.com/get-help/local or call (800) 300-1506. The open-enrollment period to enroll in Covered California health insurance plans happens once a year. Once the open-enrollment period closes, you may only enroll in a Covered California health plan if you have a qualifying life event that makes you eligible to apply. To enroll during this time, you must apply within 60 days of your qualifying life event. For more information and to find free, confidential, in-person help in your area, visit www.CoveredCA.com/get-help/local or call (800) 300-1506.

Torrance Unified School District September 4, 2017

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Congratulations to Arnold Families for improving attendance! Attendance: 96.81% - Improved Attendance over the 15-16 school year We received awards for being Above the Grade-Level Average & Greatest Grade-Level Increase for TUSD. Great job!!!

SEPTEMBER IS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH As we are about to start another school year, it is a good time to remember how important it is that kids attend school regularly and on time.

Why does attendance matter? If children don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Preliminary data from a California study found that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade. Absences can lead to academic trouble at ALL grade levels. Let’s make sure our Arnold kids are in school every day!

DATE(S) EVENT JOB(S) CONTACT

9/18 –

9/22

Book Fair Set-up, cashiers, Break-down

Click here to sign up for the date and time you would like to volunteer.

9/20/17

10/4/17

2/7/18

4/25/18

6/6/18

*all mtgs.

are at 3:30

School Site

Council – Help

to decide how

one-time and

LCAP funds are

spent this year.

We are in need of 1 additional SSC elected parent members. The election will be held by ballot the first week of school. Only 5 meetings all year!

Please email Ms. Lang at lang.justine@tusd.org if you would like to be part of this important decision-making team.

Weekly Marquee

Management

We are in need of a volunteer to update the front of school marquee

Michelle Velderrain, School Staff Assistant Velderrain.michelle@tusd.org

Torrance Unified School District September 4, 2017

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IMPORTANT REMINDERS

PICTURE DAY – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH All students will have their picture taken on September 20th. Information regarding photo packages available for purchase will be sent home in advance.

These pictures will also be included in the school yearbook. Approved volunteers can also have their picture taken on this day for their volunteer ID badges.

MORNING DROP OFF

Please remember that students should NOT be dropped off at school before 8:30 am. There is no adult supervision before this time.

VALET Please remember to be PATIENT and SAFE when using the Arnold Valet. With a school of 700 students, drop off and pick-up can be quite challenging. Come early or park down the street and walk to pick up your child. Upper grades are encouraged to use the back gate as well. If we all work together, valet CAN be a smooth experience. Thanks!

DRESS CODE Before the school year begins, please remember to review our school dress code with your child. Girls should not wear shirts/blouses/dresses with spaghetti straps, midriffs must be covered, and shorts should be an appropriate length for school. Boys can wear baseball caps to block the sun, but they should be removed in class. Beanies are not allowed (unless it’s super cold!). Boys and girls must wear close-toed shoes every day. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to the Red Book that is available on both the Arnold and PTA Websites. Thank you for helping us to make sure kids are appropriately dressed and ready to learn.

FIRST SSC MEETING – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH The meeting will be held at 3:30pm in Rm 28.

NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH The meeting will be held at 7:00pm at the District Office – 2336 Plaza del Amo.

FIRST ELMAC MEETING – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH The meeting will be held at 9:00am in the YMCA.

Check back next week for more important school info. Arnold Elementary School is proud to be a California Gold Ribbon School!