Grandparents Day 2026
Click here to view special photos from this year's Grandparents Day
Dear Community Families,
Grandparents Day was once again a tremendous success, with approximately 200 grandparents joining us on campus to experience a day in the lives of their grandchildren. The joy and excitement could be felt throughout the school as our guests visited classrooms, met teachers and staff, and shared a special lunch with their loved ones.
Our grandparents were gracious, enthusiastic, and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to be part of our school day. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our teachers for warmly welcoming them into their classrooms and to our amazing volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event such a memorable and meaningful celebration of family and community.
In that same spirit of appreciation, I would also like to recognize another group of dedicated members of our school community—our incredible bus drivers. Their work is truly remarkable and often under-recognized. Driving a school bus is one of the most challenging jobs in education. Each day, they are entrusted with the safety of up to 65 students while navigating the busy and unpredictable streets and freeways of Los Angeles.
Our drivers operate whichever buses are available, sometimes under less-than-ideal conditions, yet they do so with professionalism and care. They manage the complex task of focusing on the road, maintaining order among students, addressing behavioral issues, and warmly greeting families at the beginning and end of each day. Beyond these daily responsibilities, they also face additional challenges such as early morning and late afternoon schedules, unpredictable traffic delays, extreme weather conditions, and the need to remain calm and alert through long hours of driving. They often receive last-minute route changes, requiring them to quickly adjust their schedules and directions while ensuring every student is picked up and dropped off safely. They must also handle mechanical issues and respond to the diverse needs of parents and students of all ages and backgrounds.
Despite these demands, our bus drivers continue to show patience, kindness, and dedication. Their commitment ensures that our students arrive safely to and from school, ready to learn. We are deeply grateful for their professionalism and unwavering service to our school community.
We can also support our bus drivers by helping students understand and follow simple expectations while riding the bus. Students should remain seated facing forward, keep their hands, feet, and belongings to themselves, and keep their voices at a respectful level so the driver can focus on the road. The aisle should remain clear of backpacks or other items, and students should avoid eating or drinking on the bus. Most importantly, students should listen carefully and follow the bus driver’s directions at all times.
When students follow these expectations, they help create a calm and respectful environment that allows drivers to concentrate fully on their most important responsibility—safely transporting our children. By working together, we can show our appreciation and ensure that every bus ride is safe and positive for all.
I would also like to remind families about our CMCS Cell Phone Policy. Cell phones are only to be used at school or on the bus in the case of an emergency. At all other times, phones should remain turned off and stored in students’ backpacks. Cell phone use during the school day or while riding the bus can create distractions and may interfere with student safety and learning. We ask that families please review the CMCS Cell Phone Policy with your child to ensure everyone understands and follows this important expectation.
I wish our entire school community a restful and pleasant weekend!
Best,
Toni
Preparing for This Week’s Extreme Heat
Dressing for the Heat
Please help your child dress appropriately for warm weather. Lightweight clothing, breathable fabrics, and comfortable closed-toe shoes are recommended. Hats and reusable water bottles are also encouraged so students can stay hydrated throughout the day.
Packing Lunches
Because lunches will not be refrigerated during this heat wave, please pack foods that can safely stay at room temperature. Good options include:
Crackers, pretzels, or chips
Whole fruit such as apples, oranges, or bananas
Shelf-stable snacks like granola bars or trail mix
Juice boxes or sealed water bottles
Please avoid packing items that spoil quickly in heat, such as yogurt, mayonnaise-based foods, or dairy items unless they are packed with a frozen ice pack. Gentle Reminder: In accordance with safety guidelines from the Los Angeles Unified School District, please refrain from packing peanut butter and peanut products in student lunches due to severe peanut allergies on campus. Please help us keep all students safe by choosing peanut-free lunch items.
Possible Inclement Weather Schedule
Due to the heat, we anticipate following an inclement weather schedule on Tuesday through Friday. During this time:
Students will eat lunch outdoors in shaded areas.
Rather than play on the upper yard after eating lunch, students will cool off in the auditorium with a movie.
We appreciate your support in helping students come prepared for the heat. Our staff will continue to monitor conditions closely and ensure students have opportunities to drink water and stay cool.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school community safe and comfortable.
Nowruz, which means “new day,” is the Persian New Year and the first day of spring. It has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years and begins at the spring equinox. Today, millions of people from Iran and neighboring countries celebrate it as a time for fresh starts, family, and hope. Before Nowruz, families do spring cleaning and celebrate Chaharshanbeh Soori, a festival where people jump over small bonfires to say goodbye to winter and welcome the new season. At home, families set up a special table called the Haft-Seen, which includes seven symbolic items that begin with the Persian letter “S.” During the new year, families and friends visit one another, and the celebrations end 13 days later with Sizdeh Bedar, when everyone spends the day outdoors enjoying nature together.
MATH OLYMPIAD FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS
CONGRATS TO OUR CMCS MOEMS TEAM!
A small group of CMCS students competed in the Math Olympiads Tournament at El Rincon Elementary School in Culver City on Saturday. Our team did an outstanding job in their first-ever tournament appearance!
- Alan He scored a perfect 10/10, earning the Gold Medal.
- Eleanor He scored 8/10, earning a Bronze Medal
- Coralie Ryden also scored 8/10, earning a Bronze Medal.
In the team competition, CMCS scored 8/10, finishing a very close 4th place overall.
Our mathletes were Alan He, Eleanor He, Coralie Ryden, Sullivan Blake, and Max Bounthavalang.
Special thanks to our MOEMS coaches, Hyunkang Kim and Linh Luu, for their guidance and support.
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It's Time to Take the School Experience Survey!
This year, when parents complete the School Experience Survey, their student’s class will earn credit toward extra recess time! Just complete the survey, print the certificate of completion, and either email to trk2932@lausd.net or turn in to your child's teacher by March 27th. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR CHILD'S NAME ON THE CERTIFICATE OR IN THE EMAIL. Please write "School Experience Survey" in the subject line if you send by email.
Your participation makes a difference—
don’t let your student miss out on the fun!
Your opinion matters!
VERY IMPORTANT AFTER-SCHOOL DISMISSAL UPDATE
Hello Community Families,
We’re excited to have all of our after-school activities resuming this week! To help ensure a smooth and timely departure of buses each afternoon, we need your support.
After several reminders to call before noon, we continue to receive last-minute changes—sometimes right up until and even after dismissal. With the goal of keeping every student safe and ensuring they get to the right place after school, we’re making a small but important change to our process.
Beginning Monday, February 9, 2026, we will no longer accept phone calls for Bus Book changes.
If your student’s after-school plans change, please complete this Bus Book Form before 12:00 p.m.
Our goal is to get students safely and efficiently to their buses, valet, or after-school activities—and your help truly makes a difference.
Here’s how you can help:
- Remind your student in the morning if they are staying after school for an activity. Students sometimes forget, and when that happens, they may get on the bus or go to valet instead of heading to their activity. This can delay bus departure as staff work to locate and redirect them.
- Submit the Bus Book Form before 12:00 p.m. if there are any changes to your student’s usual after-school plans. Telling your student alone isn’t enough—we must confirm changes directly with you. When changes come in late, it can cause confusion and delay buses waiting to depart.
By following these steps, you’re helping us keep dismissal safe, organized, and on time—so students get home sooner and buses can return for late pickup more quickly.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in keeping our students safe and our afternoons running smoothly!
Best,
Toni
- Morning Assembly: Fridays
- Tuesday Enrichment: Tuesdays
- Tiny Spotlight Musical Theater: Tuesday & Thursday casts
- Student Nest Tutoring Services: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
- After-School Intervention: Wednesdays & Thursdays
- Math Kangaroo: Mondays
Save the Dates . . .
- March 23
- Math Kangaroo Celebration
- March 24
- Accepted Families Tour
- Community Council Meeting
- March 25
- Open House
- No after-school tutoring or intervention
- No late buses
- March 26
- Minimum Day, 12:50 dismissal
- No after-school tutoring or intervention
- No late buses
- March 27
- NO SCHOOL - Cesar Chavez Day observed
- March 30-April 3
- SPRING BREAK!
- April 6
- CAASPP practice testing all week, Gr. 3-5
- April 7
- Accepted Families Tour
- Conga Kids Semi-Finals Competition (tentative)
- April 8
- Conga Kids Semi-Finals Competition (tentative)
- April 10
- Tea Time with Toni
- 5th Grade Panoramic Photo and Culmination Portrait
- April 13
- Above & Beyond
- Pump It Up (tentative)
- April 16
- Safety Drills
- April 17
- 25-26 Annual Performance-Based Oversight Visit
- Tiny Spotlight Performance, Frozen
- April 18
- Tiny Spotlight Performances, Frozen, two shows
- April 19
- Tiny Spotlight Performance, Frozen
- April 20 - May 15
- CAASPP TESTING, Gr. 3-5
- April 21
- Community Council Meeting
- April 24
- NO SCHOOL: Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
- April 29
- First Grade Arts Field Trip
- May 1
- Kindergarten Trip to Skirball
- May 4
- Conga Finals
- May 5
- Teacher/Staff Appreciation Luncheon
- May 7
- Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
- May 8
- Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast
- May 13-15
- 5th Grade CIMI Camp
- May 19
- Asian American/Pacific Islander Grades 1 & 2 presentations
- May 21
- Safety Drills
- Talent Show
- May 22
- Asian American/Pacific Islander Assemblies
- Tea Time with Toni: Read-Alouds
- May 25
- NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
- May 26
- Community Council Meeting
- May 27
- Second Grade Arts Field Trip
- May 29
- No Morning Assembly
- Children's Day
- June 1
- 5th Grade Ice Cream Social
- June 4
- Pride Assembly
- June 5
- 5th Grade Culmination
- Minimum Day, 12:50 Dismissal
- June 9
- Community Council Meeting
- June 10
- Last Day of School
- Minimum Day, 12:50 Dismissal
REGISTER FOR KIDS 4 COLLEGE FREE AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE
- 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.
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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