MacArthur Elementary School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This year, our parent notifications booklet, “Guidelines for Parents and Students,” is available for viewing on our website at www.lbschools.net. It contains important information for you to review. We encourage you to become familiar with its contents.

If you do not have access to the Long Beach Unified School District website, you may request a copy of the booklet through your students Teacher.

Please print and sign the following notification and return to your students teacher once school has started.

GuidelinesLetter2011.pdf

Thank you!

Visit our new  Nutrition Services page

The Monthly Menus served in our cafeteria.

Dear MacArthur Families,

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a restful, rejuvenating and rewarding summer vacation.  Our staff has been quietly working very hard "behind the scenes" over the summer to help ensure another memorable and successful school year.  

Summer Updates
In addition to traveling to places near and far, spending quality time with family and friends, and creating summer memories that will last a lifetime, your MacArthur Elementary School teachers, staff, and PTA have been putting in a considerable amount of time "on and off the clock" so that all 380 students are ensured of a year full of learning and growth.  This summer, our hallways were bustling with teachers who were finalizing their moves to temporary classrooms due to renovation or preparing their classrooms and materials for the new school year.  They also spent their time learning new strategies by taking LBUSD’s myPD online courses or immersing themselves in reading articles/research to enhance their pedagogy.  Our counselor, Mrs. Frank has worked diligently with our class placements.  She prepared and organized all of the programs that support our students' academic and behavioral development.  Our new office supervisor, Yvette has worked hard in updating the student and teacher bulletins and has ensured that all of the essential "pieces of school" (textbooks, technology, and other important supplies) are in place.  Our plant supervisor, Tyrone and custodians: Fernando and Charles assisted our teachers in moving successfully in their temporary classrooms.  In addition, they also made sure to give our campus a thorough deep-cleaning in every classroom and building.  Last but not least, our PTA Board has already held planning meetings and attended PTA board workshops to help make this year the best yet.  Please be sure to sign up for PTA membership and be on the lookout for the PTA membership drive letters. You may contact our PTA board president, Meghan Brearley via email douglasmacarthurpta@gmail.com if you have any questions.

I was engaged in a lot of learning during new principal workshops and trainings this summer and still managed to squeeze in a week of adventure and family time in Palm Springs, a night watching Annie “under the stars” at the Hollywood Bowl, yoga on the LB Bluff, massages and acupuncture visits, and some seriously "unplugged downtime".  Specifically, my learning and transition to MacArthur was centered around three things:

• embracing change and transition in my new role as principal while being open and flexible to the renovation currently happening on campus

• immersing and studying MacArthur’s achievement data and trends and thinking of ways to continue the momentum in increased student achievement & SEL factors

• learning and understanding MacArthur’s culture and story that has evolved over the years.  This is important in ensuring collective efficacy to remind our families, educators and students that all MacArthur students will reach their full potential in a warm and nurturing learning environment, with a shared focus on our vision and mission by providing them with the tools to become college, career, and life ready.

Refer renovation map as of 9/2/18

I want to ask for your patience and flexibility this year, especially during Phase 1 renovation as we open a new school year.  There will be some changes in your access to the school during construction.  Please refer to the attached map for public access.  During this renovation, I want to ensure you that instructional time is protected and learning and student safety remains our #1 priority.  Please help our students by doing the following:

• To ensure that our campus is safe, we require that all visitors sign in at the front office. Volunteers must have their VIPS badges on at all times. 

• Access to the cafeteria and playground from Building A is closed.  This includes the main office building and the black wrought iron side gate.  

• Please use Henrilee and Gondar as public access to the school.  Kinder parents will need to drop off students in the Kinder playground.

• Office doors to be used for office related business only (enrollment, administrator assistance, questions to the secretary).

• Parents are not allowed to park in the teachers/staff parking lot.  The access into the lot needs to be clear at all times to avoid congestion and keep the fire lane open for emergencies.  

• Students may be dropped off in front of the auditorium. Students are allowed to walk west of the auditorium (by the parking lot), enter the auditorium stage (if they are eating breakfast), or proceed directly to the playground via the construction access gates.

• Construction access (gates between parking lot and cafeteria) will only be open before and after school.   Rest assure, construction will only drop off equipment or construction supplies before and after school.

• Work crews were advised by their managers to not engage with students, teachers, staff, and the community.  I find it very hard not to say hello or thank them for their hard work, they seem very surprised when I do. However, please help us by sharing this info to your students/children.  It is important that we allow the crews to continue to focus on their work and meet their deadlines.

• Please obey school zone speed limits and do not drop your students off at a location where they will have to cross the street (Lakewood Municipal Code – Section 3273).

• I would also like to remind you to please respect our neighbors. It is important to keep their driveways clear so they can accommodate their guests and have access in case of any emergency.   

We will shift gears again when we begin Phase 2 and will keep you posted with any changes ahead of time.  However, please note that these renovation phase dates are not set in stone, they have varying factors such as approvals from the state for permits and inspections.  You will receive a map with your parent bulletin packet on the first day of school. 

Academic Excellence:  Attendance, Punctuality, School Uniforms
I want to encourage you to prepare your child for success in school and in life by discussing the importance of attendance, being on time, and dressed in their school uniform.  Children who come to school everyday, on time, and dressed ready to learn usually do better academically.  

According to the website, “Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success—both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, avoid dangerous behavior and have a better chance of graduating from high school.”

Please be sure to go over the Parent Information Packet that your child brings home on the first day of school.  Take time to read and discuss our school’s Code of Scholarly and Behavioral Excellence with your son/daughter and help us begin the year with high expectations in attendance, dress and student behavior, in order to ensure academic excellence.  Together, we can build a foundation for a world-class education for ALL students! Go Eagles!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Maria Yepez

Are you ready?

We accept BOT TOPS all school year long.  Drop them in the Box Tops barrel located in the hallway near the office.
You can use the collection sheets or put them in a baggie or envelope or drop them in individually.

Each one is worth 10cents for our school and they add up fast.

Thanks for your support! 

MacArthur is in need of gently used School Uniform pcs to be used when students are in need of a change of clothing at school.

Please keep this in mind as you go through your childrens clothes throughout the summer.

Mostly smaller sizes, (sizes 8 and under) but we appreciate clothing donations of any size. Items include shirts, slacks, shorts, skirts, underwear and socks.

All donations can be brought to the MacArthur Office in September.

Thank you!