• January 9, 2023 Newsletter • |
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Hello Tulita Families,
I hope you all had a relaxing and joyful time with your families and friends over the Holidays and I wish you all a very happy 2023.
I wanted to take this moment to share my deepest condolences with the Avery Family. As you may know, Noah Avery, a third grader at Tulita, passed away in December after a long and courageous battle against medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. It was the same cancer that had taken his sister, Kalea, in September. I know as a community we are heartbroken.
Noah had a contagious zest for life and was always happy and smiling, despite the challenges that were thrown at him. Both Noah and Kalea’s strength, determination and positivity shined through them and I know they inspired the entire Tulita community. I personally feel blessed to have known them. Their lives were far too short but I take some small comfort in imagining them together again, holding hands and smiling down on all of us.
You may have seen the gold ribbons on trees outside many homes in our neighborhood as a very visual mark of remembrance for Kalea and Noah. The yellow ribbon is a symbol of Childhood Cancer Awareness. We hope the ribbons serve to help people remember Kalea and Noah, and also to raise public awareness of childhood cancer and in particular medulloblastoma. Much more research is needed to find a cure, and funding must be found to enable that research to happen.
There are many very worthy cancer charities working hard to battle cancer, but if you would like to make a donation may we suggest you consider doing so via the fundraising page set up in Kalea and Noah's memory by their parents. The link can be found HERE. Thank you.
Kalea and Noah taught us to live life to its fullest, to smile, and to enjoy every moment. May we always try to Fight Like the Averys, with bravery, dignity, and love.
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Cari Lesser
President, Tulita PTA
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JAN 12: Battle of the Books lunchtime book club sessions for 3rd - 5th graders. Third graders will focus on “Treasure Hunters” by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein and Fourth/Fifth graders will focus on “El Deafo” by Cece Bell. There’s still time to register to participate - click here to register third graders and click here to register fourth/fifth graders. Contact Stacey Sullivan at [email protected] with any questions.
JAN 18: Eat for Tulita at Hudson House. Head to Hudson House (514 N Pacific Coast Hwy) on Wednesday, Jan 18 between 5pm-10pm for some food & drinks that will also benefit Tulita. Tell them you're "Eating for Tulita" and 10% of proceeds will come back to Tulita PTA. Good for dine-in and to-go orders (not delivery) and alcohol purchases; excludes happy hour items.
JAN 20: Coffee with the Principal at 8:15am in the cafeteria. Come hear a brief update from Mr. Estrada and ask him any questions. We will also be joined by Officer Wolfinger, School Resource Officer with RBPD, to talk about RBUSD's safety procedures and our partnership with RBPD.
JAN 26: Sky Dome Planetarium Assembly through Mobile Ed Productions (all grades). Taking place during the school day.
Call for STEM Night co-chairs. The PTA urgently needs two co-chairs to organizer this year’s STEM night which is scheduled for Thursday, March 2nd. This is a much-loved Tulita event that includes interactive activities and demonstrations for kids and their families. You do not need to be a scientist or an event planner – we just need people who want to help make this event happen so all our kids can enjoy it and have fun with science! Some tasks include identifying and securing exhibitors, helping plan and coordinate the logistics of the event, and being available on March 2 to help support the event. If you are able to help, please contact Cari Lesser at [email protected].
MAR 2: Science Fair. Students will once again have a chance to showcase their knowledge of science this winter. Last year, we had an incredible number of students participate and we are hoping that enthusiasm continues this year. Click here for detailed info about the science fair and project examples and click here to register your student(s). More info will be coming soon so watch this space and contact Jackie Miller at [email protected] with any questions.
Volunteer with the PTA. We are always looking for volunteers to help with our initiatives. Click here to express your interest in joining a PTA committee.
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PTA EXEC BOARD NOMINATIONS |
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The Tulita PTA Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for the 2023-24 PTA Executive Board. You can learn more about each Board position by clicking the links below. Without willing Board Members Tulita students won't have assembles, field trips, Science Fair or any of the other fun events run by the PTA. Please consider playing an important role in your child's school experience!
PTA Board Positions and Position Descriptions:
All PTA Board positions are considered OPEN until the PTA 2023-24 slate vote at the General Association Meeting on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 9:00am. Elections for the 2023-24 Executive Board will take place at this meeting.
All eligible association members can be nominated for the listed positions. They can also run against anyone already slated in a Board position.
If you are interested in becoming a candidate or would like to nominate someone whom you believe would be a great Executive Board member, please fill out the form below (also accessible by clicking HERE) by Friday, January 20, 2023.
Please feel free to email your questions and/or concerns to Annette Law, Parliamentarian, at [email protected].
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APR 1: Western Night Carnival at Tulita
We know the Tulita community has been patiently awaiting the return of Western Night and we are thrilled to announce it will be back this spring!
But, WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP to make it happen!
Western Night is Tulita’s highest attended event as well as one of our largest fundraisers, and it requires many volunteers to make it a success. It is a much-loved family event that brings our community together, plus the money raised is critical to ensuring the PTA can fund the extensive programming offered at Tuilta.
Please be on the lookout for more info on how to be a sponsor, donate items for the silent auction, and volunteer to help. Please contact Diana Otto at [email protected] if you have any questions and check the below flyer for additional details
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INVENTION CONVENTION: FEBRUARY 6-10 AT TULITA
This year our school will be participating in a special kind of science fair called the Invention Convention. Invention Convention is a worldwide organization that helps TK-12 students develop their problem-solving and creative-thinking skills. Tulita will be hosting an in-person Invention Convention on campus during the week of February 6-10, 2023. One winner from each grade level will advance to the South Bay Regional Invention Convention on March 24, 2023 at Torrance High School.
In order to participate in Invention Convention, you will need to:
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Register for our site’s Invention Convention HERE.
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Visit the RBUSD Invention Convention website HERE.
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Read the RBUSD Invention Convention Rules and Regulations HERE.
- Create an invention! Your invention needs to be a unique idea to solve a problem.
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Document your invention process using an inventor's log. Samples can be found HERE, although you can use any format you like.
- Create a prototype of your invention. It does not need to work, but you should be able to explain how it would work.
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Create a display board to bring to the Convention. Samples can be found HERE.
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Participate in our Invention Convention. You will be judged using this rubric HERE.
We are also looking for volunteer judges. Please reach out if you are interested. We are excited to bring back Invention Convention to RBUSD!
Sincerely,
Mr. Estrada, Principal
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Purchase and customize your yearbook(s) and submit yearbook photos! Purchase your
yearbook by April 21, 2023 for $31.00 by clicking HERE.
Don't forget to create your two free pages of custom photos tailored specifically to your child!
Please submit any photos you would like published in the school yearbook via e-mail to [email protected], through the Tulita App, or by uploading them directly to the Treering website.
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Click HERE for Tulita’s online spirit wear shop and to purchase your T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, key chains, pencil cases, water bottles and hats. Items will be delivered to your child’s classroom.
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Congratulations to the following Tulita students who have moved on to the RB Council level for the 2022-23 PTA Reflections Art contest:
- Ella Lonsdale, 4th grader: Honorable Mention for the Intermediate Photography category
- Joshua Rebbeck, 5th grader: Award of Merit for the Intermediate Music category
- Penelope Minich, 3rd grader: Award of Merit for the Intermediate Film category
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Our Tulita PTA is 538 members strong!
How to join? Click here to join the PTA!
Why join? Your $12 membership not only helps pay for programs at Tulita, it strengthens the PTA’s ability to advocate for our children at the local, state and national levels.
Do I have to volunteer? No, you only have to volunteer if you want. There’s strength in numbers so sign up yourself, your student, grandparents, aunts, uncles – everyone who wants to make a positive impact on our children.
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DEI’s mission is to embrace the diverse backgrounds, experiences, knowledge and talents of the students, families and school communities we serve. It strives to empower ALL voices because our differences are our greatest strength in our mission to make every child's potential a reality.
Please contact Stacey Sullivan, Tulita’s DEI chair, at [email protected] if you have any questions and/or would like to get involved.
January 2023 DEI Dates:
January 1st - New Year's Day
January 4th - World Braille Day - This day is internationally celebrated each year to
commemorate the birthday of French educator and inventor Louis Braille. It is celebrated to honor the Braille system that has helped educate the visually impaired for several decades and serves as a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired.
January 6th – Epiphany – One of three major Christian holidays (along with Christmas and Easter), Western Churches celebrate Epiphany with a feast that commemorates the visit of the Magi (Three Kings or Three Wise Men) to baby Jesus, signifying Jesus’s physical revealing to the Gentiles.
January 7th – Russian Orthodox Christmas
January 7th - Mahanyana New Year (Buddhist)
January 14th – Russian Orthodox New Year
January 15th - Makar Sankranti - a harvest festival day in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to the sun god, Surya, and is the celebration of the sun entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar, which marks the end of the winter and the start of longer days.
January 16th - Martin Luther King Jr Day - MLK Day is an annual federal American
holiday that celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15th). It
celebrates the life and achievements of this influential civil rights leader.
January 19th - Orthodox Epiphany - In the Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River rather than the presentation of infant Jesus to the Magi (three wise men) which is celebrated as Epiphany in the Western Church.
January 20th - Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti's Birthday - On this day, Indian Sikhs and others who honor Gobind Singh’s memory will pray for the prosperity of themselves and others, read or listen to poetry written by Gobind Singh, praise him for his accomplishments, and prepare and share special foods.
January 22nd – Lunar New Year – The Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian
countries including China, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, along with Asian
communities around the world. It is also known as the Spring Festival. The New Year
marks the transition between zodiac signs: 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit; 2022 the Year
of the Tiger. The first day of the festival begins on the New Moon some time each year
between January 21st and February 20 th and culminates on the 15 th day of New Year
with a Lantern Festival. It is a holiday marked by many traditions and special foods and
is a time to reunite with family to bless the new year with good fortune.
January 27th - UN Holocaust Memorial Day - The United Nations General Assembly designated the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN and its member states honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust (2/3 of Jewish population of Europe) and millions of other victims of Nazism and work to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.
Click here to access the DEI Book Nook to find a list of elementary-age books that celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Click here to visit the Redondo Beach Council DEI home page.
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MAY 12: RBEF Light Up the Night – More info coming soon!
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Dear families,
I want to invite you to a very special birthday celebration. Noah Avery’s birthday is January 30. We cannot let his special day go without recognizing what a wonderful friend he was. He brought so much laughter and joy to our room and I know he did that wherever he went. I wanted to send his thoughtfulness, kindness, and his great sense of humor forward in a way that would honor him. So, on January 30th I will be taking games, toys, and books to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Noah loved games, (his favorites were Uno, Chinese Checkers, and Connect 4) he also loved books (Magic Tree House, Captain Underpants, and other silly stories were his favorites). I wanted to give his favorite things to kids who might need some cheering up in the hospital where he had spent so many long days and nights.
If you would like to join me, I will have a donation box in the front office, in the teacher’s lounge, and in front of room 20 where items can be collected.
The “Rules” for donations: (from website)
1: Toys should be sturdy. Free of any parts that may pinch or break off.
2: All craft materials (markers, blue, paints etc…) must be non-toxic.
Here is another way you can donate:(goes straight to the kids)
Thank you for helping make his light shine for others,
Sarah Kroon
*** This is not just a room 20 or a Tulita sponsored event. Just me trying to spread joy to those in need. Please feel free to spread the word. Any donations from anyone are welcome.
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The Following items/guidelines are straight from the Hospital’s webpage:
Items Needed the Most, Year-round Wish List
(Quantities of 30 or more are greatly appreciated when possible)
Generic coloring books –- no holiday/spiritual references
Crayola markers and colored pencils –- all sizes
Play-Doh (cans with no attachments)
Medical play kits (doctor’s kits)
Baby rattles
Baby mirrors
Infant toys (0-2 years old)
Musical toys (cause and effect)
Pop-up toys (cause and effect)
Bubbles (4 oz bottles or smaller)
Superhero action figures
Barbie dolls
Hard-body baby dolls (please no plush/soft-body dolls)
Dinosaurs
Legos
Craft and bead kits
Educational/science kits
Tabletop games – especially UNO cards and playing cards
Small white boards with dry-erase Markers (size 8.5" x 11")
Beauty kits such as make-up and lotion kits for older patients (no body sprays)
L.A. sports team sports swag
Earbuds and headphones for older patients
Items We Cannot Accept
If the items don’t fall within our guidelines or are unsafe/inappropriate for our patients, we reserve the right to politely decline donations.
Toy collections or collectables, even if they have been well-preserved
Plush, stuffed animals or any items with small pellets
Anything handmade, such as knitted or crocheted items including beanies, blankets, clothing
Oversized toys such as ride-on vehicles, large doll houses/doll vehicles, or other oversized items
VHS tapes
Wooden items
Glass, ceramic, brittle plastic or any other toys that can easily break and leave sharp edges
Flowers, edible gifts or holiday treats
Any items that promote violent and aggressive behavior, including video games or DVDs
“Gently used” items
Handmade cards and paper items
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LET'S SUPPORT OUR TULITA COMMUNITY |
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Tulita PTA is compiling a list of local, small businesses owned by Tulita families. We will share it with Tulita parents so people can seek out, and support, those businesses that are so crucial to our community.
Simply click here to fill out the FORM to be included.
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Thank you to all of our members who have signed up for corporate matching through their companies to help double their support for the Tulita PTA.
If you are enrolled/plan to enroll in the corporate matching program, please click here to fill out a simple form to help us manage the payments.
Click here to find out if your company will match your donation to the Tulita PTA and for frequently asked questions about the corporate matching program.
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DO YOU SHOP ON AMAZON?
Amazon is giving free money to Tulita!
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Amazon Smile is a program through Amazon where they donate 0.5% of the purchase price of all items to the charity of your choice: Tulita Elementary PTA.
Shopping at Amazon Smile is identical to shopping at Amazon with all the same items, so you use your existing Amazon account, and, if you are a Prime Member, your purchases are eligible for Prime just like before. Sound easy? It is!
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Tulita Elementary PTA
Cari Lesser
- President
"Catch the Wave, JOIN PTA!"
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