Dear Encino Charter Families,
This is Principal Besser with your Sunday Message. We have another exciting week of learning, growing, and building community ahead at Encino Charter! 💙
💙 Monday Morning Spirit Assembly
We’re excited to kick off the week together with our Monday Morning Spirit Assembly at 8:03 a.m.!
Students and families are encouraged to wear Encino Spirit Wear and show their Explorer pride! 🚀
Families attending the assembly should enter through the Addison Gate and proceed directly to the Assembly Area. Students should line up behind their classroom number, and parents and caregivers are kindly asked to stand behind the student lines so that all of our Explorers can see and hear.
Please remember that gates close promptly at 8:08 a.m. Students arriving after the gates close must enter through the Front Office and check in before going to class.
☕ Coffee with the Principal: School Safety & Fiscal Stabilization Plan Update
Monday, October 5 | 8:30 a.m. | ECES Auditorium
Please join me for Coffee with the Principal on Monday morning! We look forward to coming together for coffee, conversation, and important information for our ECES community.
We’ll begin with School Safety and our Integrated Safe School Plan (ISSP), part of LAUSD’s Every School Safe training plan. Each year, our school updates its ISSP in collaboration with school stakeholders to help us prepare for emergencies and address important campus safety procedures.
We’ll talk about how practicing fire, shelter-in-place, lockdown, and earthquake drills helps our Explorers and staff know what to do in an emergency. We’ll also discuss our reunification process and what families can expect if an emergency ever requires students to be reunited with their families through a formal reunification process.
In addition, we’ll review heat stress and student safety, including signs of heat-related illness, potential risks for students, and strategies we use to help keep students safe during the school day and physical activities.
Following our school safety presentation, we’ll share new information regarding LAUSD’s Fiscal Stabilization Plan and how it applies to Affiliated Charter Schools, including Encino Charter Elementary. We know parents and community members may have questions about what this means for ECES, and we welcome the opportunity to answer questions, listen to concerns, and share the information currently available to us.
All families and community members are welcome! Come enjoy a cup of coffee, connect with other ECES families, learn more about what’s happening at our school, and bring your questions. We hope to see you there! ☕💙
👥 Volunteers & Visitors — Secured Campus Reminder
We love having our families involved at Encino Charter Elementary and are grateful for the time and support our volunteers provide to our Explorers!
We are excited to welcome Mrs. Lauren Black, our new Family and Community Engagement Representative! Mrs. Black is available to assist parents and family members who are interested in becoming approved LAUSD volunteers and can help guide families through the volunteer application process.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Get started through the LAUSD Volunteer Management System:
https://volunteerapp.lausd.net/
Need assistance? Mrs. Black is available Monday–Friday from 9:30–11:30 a.m. in the Encino office. She may also be reached by phone at (818) 784-1762 or by email at [email protected].
Secured Campus Reminder: For the safety and security of our students and staff, ECES is a Secured Campus. All volunteers and visitors must receive Principal approval in advance, including the date, time, and purpose of the visit.
Volunteers: Anyone volunteering or working directly with students must be an approved LAUSD volunteer and wear their LAUSD Volunteer Badge while on campus.
Visitors & Classroom Observations: Classroom visits and observations must be arranged and approved by administration in advance. During observations, visitors are expected to observe quietly and may not interact with students, staff, or classroom activities.
All visitors must first report to the Main Office, sign in, provide identification and the purpose of their visit, and receive approval before proceeding onto campus or to a classroom. Visitors must wear a yellow Visitor Badge while on campus.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep ECES a safe, secure, welcoming, and family-engaged school community! 💙
🍎 Food Deliveries to School — Friendly Reminder
To help us keep our campus safe, secure, and focused on learning, please remember that outside food and beverage deliveries for students are not permitted during the school day.
Families should not arrange for restaurants, fast-food establishments, or food delivery services to deliver meals, snacks, or beverages to students at school. Outside food deliveries cannot be accepted at the Main Office or at our school gates.
If your child forgets their lunch, please don’t worry! They can simply let their teacher or the school office know, and our cafeteria will make sure they receive a free school lunch.
Thank you for helping us keep our school day running safely and smoothly! 💙
🎭 A Special Cultural Arts Adventure for Kinder & 1st Grade!
Calling all Kindergarten and 1st Grade Explorers! 🚀 Get ready for a fun-filled adventure at the theater!
Our Cultural Arts Program (CAP) is excited to offer our Kinder and 1st Grade students the opportunity to see Mermaid Theatre’s production of The Three Little Pigs and Other Tales at Pepperdine University’s Smothers Theatre on Saturday, October 24! Filled with adventure, humor, and heroism, this imaginative production brings classic stories to life while celebrating friendship and courage. 🎭✨
🚌 Chaperones and bus transportation will be provided, and all participants will meet at ECES before heading off on their theater adventure.
🎟️ Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait! Families should use the link or QR code on the flyer to reserve their Explorer’s spot by Monday, October 12. Students who receive a ticket will then receive additional information and a field trip permission slip.
We can’t wait for our youngest Explorers to experience the magic of live theater! 🎭💙✨
📅 This Week at Encino
Monday, October 5
- 8:03 a.m. — Monday Morning Spirit Assembly
- 8:30 a.m. — Coffee with the Principal (ECES Auditorium)
Tuesday, October 6
- 8:03 a.m. — Line-Up Bell
- 8:30 a.m. — CHOICES School Tour
- 1:31 p.m. — Banked-Time Tuesday Early Dismissal
Wednesday, October 7
- Fire Safety Drill
Thursday, October 8
- 8:15 a.m. — ELAC Meeting (ECES Staff Lounge)
- 3:30 p.m. — LSLC/CLC Meeting (ECES Library or Zoom ID: 850 439 3179)
Please stay up to date on school news, announcements, and upcoming events by visiting the Encino Charter website at encinoces.lausd.org
That’s all for now! Wishing all of our Encino Charter families an enjoyable and relaxing Sunday evening. We look forward to another wonderful week of learning, growing, and building community together.
It’s always a great day to be an Encino Explorer! 💙🚀
Kind regards,
Principal Besser