GLOSSARY OF TERMS


  1. ABSENT... When a child cannot attend school for the day. All absences require a valid reason. A note and/or phone call explaining why your child could not attend school will suffice.

  2. AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT-PARENT GROUP (AASPG)... A parent group to address the needs of our African American children and families. Meetings will be scheduled monthly. The group also coordinates the African American Celebration and Potluck Dinner.

  3. AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT... Grant offers before and after school enrichment classes during the school year. Primary and Upper Chorus, Chess Club, and special enrichment classes will be offered throughout the school year.

  4. AWARDS ASSEMBLY... Four times a year, Grant School recognizes students in the areas of excellence in reading, writing and math, extraordinary effort, great thinking, character, creativity, and teacher’s choice. There is a primary and upper grade assembly. Parents are notified if their child is to receive an award. This program promotes positive behavior, achievement and effort in school. By the end of the school year, every child will be recognized.

  5. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT... During the second and third week of September parents will have the opportunity to meet their children’s teachers in the evening and learn about the expectations and activities for the school year.

  6. BOARD HOLIDAY... Holidays (Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, etc.), that the School Board has sanctioned result in no school.

    BOOK FAIR...     In early December Grant has a Book Fair. Over a seven day period, students, parents and teachers may purchase from an impressive array of books, posters, games and software.

    CAMPUS SUPERVISORS... Parents and community members supervise lunchtime activities.

    CAUGHT BEING GOOD... This a program that recognizes good deeds and behaviors by our students. When “caught” students are given a “Caught Being Good” slip. They turn these into the office. At each Awards Assembly, a number of slips are picked that allow students to win some terrific prizes.

    CHAT WITH THE PRINCIPAL... Parents who would like to have a get-together of neighbors and invite the principal, are welcome to organize a “chat.” These are informal meetings held at school and in the homes of Grant parents.

    CREST DAY CARE PROGRAM... The child care program is open to all K-5 Grant students for before and after school care. Qualified teachers work with your children. The hours are 7 AM to 6 PM. Space is limited and a fee is charged.

    COMMUNITY LIAISON... Grant provides a community liaison to work with different groups. The liaison attends Bilingual meetings, helps translate all newsletters, and meets with parents throughout the school year.

    DIRECT DONATION... An opportunity to contribute to Grant School through regular or one-time cash donations. All money supports personnel, programs and materials purchased by the Booster Club.

    EDUTAINMENT ASSEMBLIES... During the year, Grant kids have an opportunity to be entertained and educated by professional groups. The arts, storytelling, music, science and math are represented by professional groups who bring their productions to Grant. PTA/Booster helps pay for these wonderful events.

    ENGLISH LANGUAGE ADVISORY COUNCIL (ELAC)... A parent group made up of Latino parents at Grant School. The group meets the third Wednesday of every month, at 8:30 a.m., to discuss issues and help with fund-raisers, academics, parent involvement and special events

    GRANT ADVISORY COUNCIL (GAC)... This organization is made up of six parents, representing all parent constituencies at Grant, four teachers, a child care teacher, a classified employee and the principal. The Grant Advisory Council l will help develop a school plan and goals, oversees the school improvement budget, create surveys, and conducts Walk-Through classroom observations.

    FIFTH GRADE CELEBRATION... This is the culmination ceremony for our fifth grade students. It is held during the last week of the school year.

    GAZETTE... The PTA “magazine” that goes into more depth and represents all facets and issues of Grant School.

    GRANT GECKO... The adorable mascot of Grant School. You’ll see its image on T-shirts, caps, assignment books, the school marquees and school stationary.

    GRANT WEEKLY BULLETIN... Your principal writes a weekly newsletter informing parents of the week’s events. Any important information, announcement and acknowledgments will be included. Humor occasionally finds its way into the weekly bulletin.

    INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND CHORUS... All fourth and fifth graders may participate in the school’s instrumental music or chorus program. String and Wind instruments are available. Certificated music teachers work with the young musicians.

    INTRAMURAL SPORTS... Our lunch time sports leagues for the 2nd-5th graders includes team competitions in Super Dodgeball, Soccer, Kickball, and Basketball. All students may participate.

    JOGATHON... A springtime fund-raiser has our students running laps and raising money. Last year we raised $37,000. Students are eligible for some great prizes.

    KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP... The first day for prospective kindergarten parents to register their children for the 2009-2010 school year.

    LATE START FRIDAYS... Beginning Friday, September 11th, school will begin at 9:44 a.m. every Friday throughout the year in order to give staff the time to meet, learn new educational strategies, establish clear expectations, and develop outstanding educational programs for every child.

    MINIMUM DAY... Kindergartners go to school from 8:24-12:15 am, and all students in grades 1-5, are dismissed at 1:15 PM. Minimum Days occur before Back to School Night, parent conferences, Open House and the last day of school.

    MONTHLY GRADE LEVEL MATH ASSESSMENTS... The entire Grant staff has worked very hard to create monthly math grade level assessments in math problem solving. All Grant students will take these short (only 4 questions) assessments that will determine how well we are teaching the nine problem solving strategies in all strands of math. The data will be used by the grade level teams to improve instruction and pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in the math program.

    OPEN HOUSE/SCIENCE EXPO... In the Spring, Grant School will become a showcase for the year’s hard work by students and teachers, as children, parents and community members are invited to see what makes Grant a special place to learn. In addition, K-5 science projects and student inventions will be on display in the auditorium.

    OUTDOOR EDUCATION SCIENCE SCHOOL... Our fifth graders spend a week at Camp Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains. This is a science and environmental camp. This year the fifth graders will be at camp from February 1-5.

    PARENT CONFERENCES... From November 18-25, parents and teachers meet to discuss the progress of each child. Conferences are scheduled in advance and parents are given opportunities to schedule times that are convenient.

    PTA/BOOSTER CLUB... Parent - Teacher Association and the Booster Club are working as one organization. The PTA is the oldest parent organization in the state of California. All Grant parents may join. PTA focuses on the educational programs in the school. PTA informs parents about current legislation and other critical issues. The Grant Booster Club is a parent organization that raises money for the school. Any parent of a Grant student is automatically a member of the Booster Club. This year’s Booster Club budget is approximately $264.000. All funds go to help pay for classroom assistants, technology, classroom materials, teacher grants, dance and movement classes and much more.

    PARENT LEARNING RESOURCE NETWORK (PLRN)... This is our newest parent-faculty group that focuses on children with learning and behavioral differences. Parents whose children have special needs, GATE students and any other interested parents are welcome. The PLRN is devoted to improving communication, creating opportunities for parents to network, and providing information to all parents.

    RAINY DAY SCHEDULE... A time when all campus supervisors and the principal take two aspirin. Seriously, a special lunch schedule for rainy days.

    REFLECTIONS... The PTA sponsored Reflections Art Contest encourages our students to participate in the arts. Music, Literature, Art and Photography are the categories in which students may participate.

    STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND REVIEW BOARD (SARB)... Any student who has accumulated an inordinate amount of unexcused tardies and/or absences may be sent a letter stating that further unacceptable tardies or absences will result in having to attend a hearing ascertaining the reasons for the attendance problem. The District Attorney may become involved.

    SPECIALISTS... Grant School is funding teaching specialists in Music, Dance, Art, Law, Ceramics and Reading. All the boys and girls participate in many of these classes taught by qualified specialists.

    STANDARDIZED TESTING... The State of California has instituted standardized testing in grades 2-11. All students in these grades take a series of tests in spelling, reading, language and math. There are two sets of assessments: the California Standards Test (CST), and the California Aptitude Test (CAT 6). Scores are reported to parents in late August.

    SUPER DODGEBALL... Only the national pastime of Grant School. Think of it as Team Dodgeball, or as it was once called, “Bombardment.”

    TARDY... The act of being late to school. All students not on time must report to the office before entering class. 3 unexcused tardies count as one truancy. Parents are responsible for seeing that their children arrive on time.