May PTA General Meeting

Posted: 1/20/2025 4:55 pm

Join us at our next PTA meeting at 9:15am on May 21 in the LCE Cafeteria.

This meeting is the last meeting of the year.

Guest Speaker Wendy Sinnette

Edukit for 2025-2026

Posted: 3/14/2025 10:36 am

La Cañada Elementary offers the EduKit program as a convenient option for busy families

to order school supplies for the 2025/2026 year.

EduKits include the supplies approved by your student's teachers.

Your student(s) order will be in their classroom on the first day of school.

Go to https://www.edukitinc.com/schools/1754/ to order today.

Deadline: June 20th for regular pricing.

Extended ordering available until July 4

for an additional fee and will be shipped to your home before school begins.

PTA President Message

Posted: 1/13/2025 9:25 am

1/12/2025

Dear LCE Families and Staff,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe. It has been an incredibly difficult and heart wrenching few days (can you believe it's been less than a week?).

My prayers have been with our community and every family who has been affected by these devastating fires. I know that many of you are navigating the challenges of rebuilding and recovery. We have staff members and school families who have lost their homes and belongings, others have yet to return home, and all of us are trying to ensure our kids' well-being. It may seem overwhelming, but I am heartened by the willingness of others to chip in to help.

Things are not business as usual. As I write this message, we do not know when our kids will return to school, so this issue of Lion Times will not include its typical school announcements. Rather, it contains a summary of various resources available to the community.

Before we move on to those resources, I wanted to share that several of you have reached out offering to help all of the individuals impacted. Thank you! LCE's PTA Board has been in touch with the other LCUSD schools and the District to pull together some sort of District-wide program, so folks can give specifically for those in our LCUSD community. The details of that program are still being worked out. We will push out more information/giving options once finalized. In the meantime, if you feel moved to give to individual GoFundMe Campaigns or other organizations, I encourage you to do so.

Please remember to fill out the Family Status Survey, which was sent out by the District. This will assist the District in making decisions.

I know this has been a challenging time, but I also know the resilience of this community. Through our shared strength and care for one another, we will continue to heal and rebuild.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. I am so proud of the way we have come together in the face of adversity. Let’s continue to stand side by side as we move forward, knowing that brighter days are ahead.

With gratitude and hope,

Debbie Barsom

LCE PTA President

president@lcepta.org

IG: @lceptapresident

LCUSD Governing Board Special Meeting - 1/13

The LCUSD Governing Board will call a special meeting at noon on Monday, January 13, 2025, to give direction to staff regarding engaging and implementing its comprehensive response to the Eaton fire, mandatory evacuations, school closures, and the emerging LCUSD Reopening Plan. The meeting will be held in person and available via online viewing.

The 3 Agenda Items will include:

LCUSD’s Conditions for Reopening - Responses to Mandatory Evacuations, Power Outages, Air Quality Conditions, the Eaton Fire - Loss and Displacement, Learning Materials and Facilities Readiness, and Instructional Plan Development;
Learning Continuity - Plans for Delivering Instruction Prior to Schools Physically Reopening;
Support Plans for Teachers, Staff, and Families Suffering Catastrophic Loss.

The meeting will be accessible via livestream, and you can join by clicking here.

Latest Lion Times Newsletter

Be Safe and Some Resources, Federal Disaster Assistance

Posted: 1/9/2025 9:57 am

1/8/2025

Dear LCE Families,

I have been sitting in front of my computer, feeling that I should send a message to all of you, but struggling to find the right words to share. I don’t know that I’ve found those words, but I’m going to try…

The events of the last 24 hours have affected so many of us, and have been devastating to our community. Our homes, our friends, and our families have been impacted, and I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the loss, pain, and hardship that so many of us are enduring right now, especially those that have lost their homes.

During this difficult time, it is more important than ever that we come together to support one another. Our school community is a place of connection and care. I want to encourage families to lean on each other, reach out for help when needed, and provide help when you can. Mrs. Duncan’s correspondence of earlier today underscores this message- our LCE community is extraordinary and I’m certain we will all support and comfort each other.

The LCE PTA Board is brainstorming ways to help while also respecting the privacy of our families. In the meantime, we wanted to share these resources (compiled from various web sources):

Housing / Shelters

211 LA is partnering with Airbnb to offer free temporary shelter for people displaced from their homes by fire. Start by filling out this form.

Evacuation Centers

Pasadena Convention Center: 300 E Green St., Pasadena

For animals/pets

Los Angeles Equestrian Center: 480 Riverside Dr., Burbank (accepts large animals)
Pasadena Humane Society is offering emergency shelter for animals, 361 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. But they’refilling up fast and are also looking for families to foster dogs and cats from families displaced by fires. Email foster@pasadenahumane.org
Dogtopia of East Pasadena is offering three free overnight stays for pups from families displaced by fire and a 50% discount afterwards, (626) 699-8577

Food/drink/park/recharge

Planet Fitness locations in L.A. are offering anyone affected by the fires, including first responders, free access to their facilities, including showers, locker rooms, and WiFi. Contact the club near you for more information and hours
AT&T is offering people in fire-affected areas unlimited talk, text and data through Feb. 6 (if you don’t already have an unlimited plan). Check their website for a list of included ZIP codes
Boomtown Brewery in the Arts District is offering to open its tap room during the day for those who need a place to be and/or WiFi, email or DM on Instagram
Odyssey Games in Pasadena is offering their shop to evacuees to charge cell phones, use the restroom, and grab a snack, 1795 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
The rideshare service Lyft is offering vouchers to help people get to and from shelters. The offer — up to two rides per person, worth up to $25 per ride — is good for 500 riders and ends at midnight on Jan. 15. Use the code CAFIRERELIEF25.

Other resource lists

The City of LCF website, includes an “alert” program:
https://lcf.ca.gov/
LA County has an alert system:
https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/
The app, Watch Duty, provides updated information and alerts regarding the fires
LC/Altadena/Pasadena specific Facebook groups may provide additional info.
Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services.html
Mental Health: If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis or considering suicide, call or text 988.
Mutual Aid LA Network has put together an extensive list of resources for fire evacuees and folks who want to help
How to Help (here are links to various relief funds):
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/california-fires-victims/story?id=117470695
Cheat sheet: A quick roundup of SoCal fire coverage and safety resources
There is a gofundme being circulated to help the teachers and staff who lost their homes. We will try to obtain more information.

Please remember the strength of our community and the resilience that we share.

With deep care and solidarity,

Debbie Barsom, LCE PTA President, 2023-2025

1/9/2025

This info, from Judy Chu’s office, seemed important enough to share- sorry for multiple messages and formatting:

President Biden has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the Los Angeles fires. This means that residents and businesses in wildfire evacuation zones in our area can apply NOW for immediate and long-term federal relief.

You can apply for this immediate and long-term relief once safely out of the wildfires’ paths.

Here’s how to apply:

Visit: disasterassistance.gov
Call: 800-621-FEMA (3362)
Use: The FEMA mobile app

What does this relief include?

For residents and homeowners:

Temporary displacement assistance (e.g., hotel costs for up to two weeks)
$770 for essential personal items
Larger direct grants to help cover essential needs such as medical bills, car repairs, and more

For businesses and homeowners:

Low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) available at: https://lending.sba.gov/search-disaster/?disaster=CA-20030

For more information and answers to additional questions, please click HERE.

Thanks,

Debbie Barsom, LCE PTA President, 2023-2025

Posted: 9/30/2024 10:28 pm

HAUNTED MANSION THANK YOUS

“So if you dare to come and see, this mansion is full of mystery.

With laughter and a playful cheer, you'll have a blast, there's nothing to fear.”

Please join us in thanking the individuals listed below for all of the time they spent on this important fundraiser. These folks started preparing for Haunt in the Spring & Summer months, and continued all the way through to the big day and after! Without their contributions, we would not have been able to pull off this event! THANK YOU!

Co-Chairs: Rosie Etters & Matt Logelin

Asst Chair: Amy Lee

Clean-Up: Calvin Cha

Confetti Eggs: Stephanie Sim*, Davy Sim, Kevin Sim, Katie Sim, Rosie Etters, Charlotte Etters, Yang Zheng, Evelyn Hsing, Henry Hsing, Lu Huang, Anna Kim, Everly Kim, Mindy K, Nolan F, Roman F, Phuong Lieu, Ethan Ng, Justin Lu, Josephine Lu, Madeleine Lu, Stephanie Cheng Lu, Yasmin Nounou, Nadia Fathy, Allen Ong, Alden Ong, Annisa Ong, Cheryl Park, Mattea Park, Eddie Stecker, Zoe Stecker, Corrie Tanous, Spencer Wood, Ziran Wu, Aven Wu, Anya Wu, Ella Zou

Decorations: Andy Etters, Stacy Craig, Megan Kreiner

Entertainment: Cyndi Rocco*

Food: Mindy Chu, Nicole Witek, Bhavini Lad*

Korean BBQ: Katie Kim* & Soraia Han*

Games and Science Show: Heather Hervey

Haunt Shop: Lisa Scott, Rupa Kasondra, Jennifer Liu*

Publicity: Larry Brown, Jenn Jones

Set Up: Colleen Pih

Silent Auction: Laura Jalaie*, Joyce Lee,* Dana Kang,* Anna Kim*, Lynley Gross*, Jody Menerey*, Alexandra Steele, Tina Kim*, Seun Han*, Patty Dyce, Jackie Ruffing, Erin Rhea, Sandra Rachild

Sponsorship: Dayle Lyng

Tickets: Caroline Miller* & Hannah McKinley*

Treat Booth: Megan Kreiner & All of Our Bakers

Volunteers: Shelly & Kuen Hsu

Face Paint: Jill Tashjian

Logo Design/ Graphics: Jennifer Abel

Webmaster: Stephanie Sim*

Lion Times: Kam Flower & Christy Suh

School Support: Mrs. Duncan*, Ms. Strople*, and Mr. Rangel *

Costume Contest Judges: Wendy Sinnette, Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. DeBoer

LCE Teachers & Staff

PTA Executive Board Helpers

PTA President: Debbie Barsom*

PTA’s VP of Ways & Means: Liz Alexanian*

PTA Treasurer: Anne Marie Milano

PTA Corresponding Secretary: Seun Han

All of our Class Room Reps

* Second consecutive year or more as committee members.

SILENT AUCTION

This year's Silent Auction was a huge success! Thank you to our many donors. We have items that still need to be picked up! You may pick up your items on Monday (10/28) or Tuesday (10/29), from 8:30 - 9:30 am (School Office). Items left unclaimed after 30 days will be donated.

This auction would not have been possible without a wonderful group of people. Thank you to our chairs, Joyce and Laura! Thank you also to our bidders and winners!

If you have any questions, please email hauntauction@lcepta.org

Thank you to our Sponsors & Underwriters