Peace and Goodness for Yom Kippur
Happy Sunday, Community Families,
What a busy and productive week we’ve had at Community!
We closed last week with an important parent meeting about bus transportation. Area Bus Supervisor Gabriel Rodriguez joined us to hear concerns and share guidance. Please see the full meeting summary below, but here are a few key reminders for all families:
Transportation Safety Reminders (per LAUSD policy):
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Only LAUSD staff and students may ride and board the bus—parents are not permitted.
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Once the bus has departed, it cannot be stopped. Attempts to do so may result in a citation.
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Gum is not allowed on buses.
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Drivers will allow a student walking toward the bus to board before departure.
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Buses may depart one minute after the scheduled time.
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Students must arrive 5 minutes early to the bus stop; repeated lateness may result in citations.
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Seatbelts must be used if they are available (newer buses are equipped; older buses are not).
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Please show respect to our bus drivers—they are responsible for the safety of all our children.
On Thursday, we held our wildfire evacuation drill. Students and staff evacuated quickly to the auditorium, where attendance was taken before boarding eight buses. In a real emergency, these buses would transport us to University High School for reunification with families. The entire drill took less than 20 minutes, and we’ll continue practicing to make the process even smoother. A special thanks to our bus drivers for supporting us during this important drill.
Looking ahead, we have a full week:
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Invitational Parent Conferences (all week)
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Picture Make-Up Day (Tuesday)
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Minimum Day (Wednesday)
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No School (Thursday)
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Hispanic Heritage Month Assemblies (Friday)
Meanwhile, the roofing project is scheduled for completion this week, and work on the main office flooring will begin. The campus is buzzing with progress and energy!
Wishing you all a safe, joyful, and successful week ahead.
IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT CHANGES TO YOUR DAILY TRANSPORTATION PLAN
As you know, we have several after-school activities at Community. There's Kids 4 College camp, musical theater, math kangaroo, Tuesday enrichment, intervention, and tutoring. Later in the year, we'll also have late field trips. Getting students to their buses after dismissal has become a challenge. Late notifications of last minute changes in transportation plans exacerbate the problem. In order to help us get your students off smoothly at the end of the day, we ask that you please call the main office before 12:00 pm to notify us of any changes to your transportation plans. Since Kathryn does not always get to her email in time, I encourage you not to email her with these changes. In order to get the message into the bus book and out to classes before dismissal, it is very important that you notify the office in a timely manner. Every day, buses sit and wait as we try to get last minute messages to students. Too many times, we've had to stop the bus and get a child off or have the bus return to school to pick up a child because of late communication. The students have a long enough ride and the late notifications add more time to the commute.
Please always call before 12pm.
PICTURE MAKE-UP DAY
Picture Make-Up Day is Tuesday, September 30th only for students who were absent on picture day.
REGION WEST CREATIVE EXPRESSION CONTEST
- What to Submit: A creative piece (art, writing, or other expression) that highlights Latino heritage and culture.
- Deadline for Submissions: Friday, October 10, 2025
- How to Enter: Submit the completed entry form and work to your school office.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their voices, creativity, and cultural pride. We look forward to seeing the submissions!
- Morning Assembly: Fridays
- Tuesday Enrichment: Tuesdays, beginning September 16
- Tiny Spotlight Musical Theater: Tuesday & Thursday casts
- Student Nest Tutoring Services: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays- begin September 22
- October 6
- Math Kangaroo Introductory Meeting
- October 7
- Hispanic Heritage Month Grade Level Presentations, Grades 3 and 4
- October 8
- Prospective Parent Tour, #1
- Middle School Night
- October 9
- Above & Beyond Club
- October 10
- Teatime with Toni
- Hispanic Heritage Month Assemblies
- October 14
- Community Council
- October 15
- 1st grade field trip to Hamilton High School
- Completion date for Roofing Project (!)
- October 16
- The BIG SHAKE
- October 17
- Parent Meeting
SAVE THE DATE
🎃 CMCS Parade of Masks (POM)! 🎃
This beloved Halloween-themed celebration FUNdraising event takes place during school hours on the upper yard, where students parade in costume and enjoy free, fun-filled activity booths hosted by each grade level.
WHEN: Friday, October 24th
TIME: 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM
WHERE: CMCS Upper Yard
Come in costume and celebrate a day of spooky fun, games, prizes, and tasty treats — all while supporting our school!
Want to get involved in planning POM? There are many ways you can help make this event magical for our kids.
Sign-up here: https://forms.gle/31DCg6JzEuQ6bAVPA
Let’s make this year’s Parade of Masks unforgettable — together!
Warmly,
Seira Santizo Greenwood & Heather Olt POM Co-Chairs
Save the Dates . . .
- October 20
- Math Kangaroo begins (TENTATIVE)
- October 22
- Prospective Parent Tour, #2
- October 24
- PARADE of MASKS!
- October 31
- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
- Minimum Day, 12:50 dismissal
- November 4
- Community Council meeting
- November 5
- Prospective Parent Tour
- November 10-21
- Parent Conferences
- November 11
- NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day
- November 14
- Book Fair Preview Day
- November 14-16
- Tiny Spotlight presents The Wizard of Oz
- November 17-21
- Parent Conferences continue
- Book Fair
- November 19-20
- Minimum Days, 12:50 dismissals
- NO TUTORING
- NO LATE BUSES
- All staff and students will quickly evacuate to the upper yard.
- Teachers will account for all students, and we will verify all adults on campus using sign-in binders.
- It is essential for all visitors to sign in at the main office before entering campus.
- Key office staff and our plant manager will determine the source of the alarm. If it is a false alarm, we will notify the LAFD to prevent them from responding to the alarm. If it is determined to be a true emergency, the fire department will be on their way within seconds of receiving the alert.
- Everyone on campus—students, staff, and visitors—will evacuate to the auditorium for accountability.
- We have an agreement with transportation and Superintendent Carvalho to have buses on standby.
- After confirming all individuals are accounted for, students, teachers, and TAs will evacuate via bus to a designated relocation site.
- All other staff will drive their own vehicles to the relocation site.
- We currently have two relocation sites and are working to secure a third.
- Keep your contact information updated in the school office.
- If you are not receiving messages, you may have opted out. Please follow the directions below to opt back in.
- Arrive at CMCS between 7:30 and 8:00
- Enter through the gate on the EAST side of the school.
- Drive along the left curb. The right curb is a bus lane whether or not the buses have arrived.
- Wait patiently in a single file line along the left curb of the driveway.
- When a valet volunteer or LAUSD staff directs you, turn right at the parking lot and pull up to the Valet Curb. There can be a maximum of 3 cars at the Valet Curb.
- Under no circumstances can you park with your child and walk them through the parking lot. If, especially during these first weeks of school, you want to walk your child to the front gate, you MUST drop your child at the Valet Curb and then park your car. Your child can wait for you near the valet volunteers on the bench by the Valet Curb.
- When you arrive at the Valet Curb, your child should be ready to exit the car from the passenger side of the vehicle. IF a passenger side exit from your vehicle is unavailable, your child must wait until a valet volunteer opens the driver side door and escorts them in front of your car onto the curb.
- Under no circumstances should the driver exit the vehicle.
- Do not pull around cars in the valet line including at the Valet Curb. The line is single file from the east gate entrance through to the west gate exit. Please wait your turn to drop off your child and to exit campus.
- FINALLY, be patient and kind. The valet volunteers and LAUSD staff are there for the safety of your children. Please treat them, the children, and the other drivers with respect.
REGISTER FOR KIDS 4 COLLEGE FREE AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE
The Wheels on the Bus… Need a Little Fixing
We have created a form for parents to let us know of problems, questions, or concerns about bus transportation. Click here or go to communitymagnetces.lausd.org > Parent Resources > Bus Transportation Concerns to share your concerns.
- Lots of variance among drivers, we understand drivers choose, but no consistency or streamline for a school that is mainly commuter causes issues.
- Cannot stop the bus once it has taken off, unsafe, issue "notice of safety concern" or citation
- Respect your Driver
- If they see a student walking before pull off they are to wait and open door as a courtesy
- Panda Bus Behavior issues
- Does Koala have a driver back?
- Cat bus does not want a certain driver, does not feel a good fit
- Sheep bus constantly being impacted and being made to wait more than other bus lines, rotate this need
Campus Safety Plans
Brushfire or Wildfire
📍 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
📍 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- A/C on buses, another difference, some students complain very hot
- Driver inconsistencies, would love drivers who will stay and not constant movement or no shows
SCHOOL IS COMPULSORY!
Students need to come to school every day. When possible, please schedule your child’s medical appointments outside of school hours. (See the bell schedule for our school hours.) If you must schedule an appointment during school hours, please check in at the main office to pick up/drop off your child.
The following types of absences are excused: illness, doctor’s appointments, funerals, family emergencies, court dates, religious observances, etc. Examples of unexcused absences include: vacations, “we slept in,” “we took a family day,” “we went to Disneyland for her birthday,” "we visited relatives out of state/country," etc. Even if you send in a note to explain the absence, those examples would be designated as unexcused. For more information, please refer to LAUSD’s Attendance Guide.
You may know that LAUSD has an Independent Study program. This program is intended to provide make-up classwork for students who must miss school for legitimate long-term absences (for example, needing to go out of town for a death in the family, quarantine/lengthy stay at home for serious illness, or needing to make a visa appointment in a home country). Independent Study is NOT for “we are taking 2 weeks off and going abroad,” or “we are starting our Winter Break 10 days early.” For Independent Study in excess of 15 days, you must enroll in the online City of Angels program.
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