• President's Message
• LCUSD Zoom Call - 1/13
• Resources

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.

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. 

STAYING UPDATED

• Fire Status Updates/Air Quality
  1. Watch Duty website provides updated information and alerts regarding the fires. 
  2. Genasys Protect website provides evacuation information related to the fires.
  3. The City of LCF website, includes Eaton Fire Updates.
  4. LA County has an emergency alert system.
  5. AirNow.gov provides real time air quality information by geographic location.
  6. Recovery.LACounty.Gov for county resources (tax relief, supportive services)
  7. 211 LA - Directing you to many resources

HOUSING/SHELTER

EVACUATION CENTERS

REQUESTING PROPERTY AND VITAL RECORDS

• LA County residents directly impacted by fires can request property and vital records (i.e., birth, death, marriage) free of charge to help with recovery efforts.
  • Call 800-201-8999 (Option 1 followed by Option 2) OR Email recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov.

FOOD/DRINK/TRANSPORTATION/RECHARGING ELECTRONICS

• Planet Fitness: Free access to facilities (showers, locker rooms, WiFi) for those affected by fires, including first responders. Contact your local club for details.
• AT&T: Unlimited talk, text, and data for fire-affected areas through Feb. 6. Check their website for eligible ZIP codes.
• Odyssey Games, Pasadena: Offering evacuees a place to charge phones, use restrooms, and grab a snack (1795 E. Colorado Blvd.).
• Lyft: Free rides to/from shelters (up to $25 per ride, max two rides). Use code CAFIRERELIEF25 by Jan. 15 (limit: 500 riders).

FOR ANIMALS/PETS

HOW TO DONATE

• Organizations that are providing immediate relief are:
  • Red Cross:https://www.redcross.org/get-help or on Instagram @redcrossla  
  • Habitat for Humanity - Greater Los Angeles:https://www.habitatla.org/ or on Instagram @habitatla
  • World Central Kitchen:https://wck.org/ or on Instagram at @wckitchen

FEMA ASSISTANCE

Assistance through FEMA is available at eight libraries in LA County tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents affected by the wildfires will receive assistance with submitting applications for disaster relief. Additional dates and locations are pending.

• La Crescenta Library - 2809 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta, CA 91214
• La Cañada Flintridge Library - 4545 N Oakwood Ave, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
• West Hollywood Library - 625 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
• San Fernando Library - 217 N Maclay Ave, San Fernando, CA 91340
• Live Oak Library - 22 W Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
• Temple City Library - 5939 Golden West Ave., Temple City, CA 91780
• San Gabriel Library - 500 S Del Mar Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91776
• Alhambra Civic Center Library - 101 S 1st St, Alhambra, CA 91801

SMOKE ADVISORY

The Department of Public Health has issued a smoke advisory declaring unhealthy air quality due to the wildfires and urges everyone in areas where there is visible smoke or the smell of smoke or otherwise unhealthy air quality to avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure and to limit physical exertion (whether indoor or outdoor), such as exercise.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Mental Health:  If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis or considering suicide, call or text 988.
• Recovering from a disaster guide from FEMA
• Mutual Aid LA Network as put together an extensive list of resources.  
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, and find ways to cope together. Resources include:
  • Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires  
  • Wildfires: Tips for Parents on Media Coverage
  • Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire - e-book for young children. 
  • Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen

CAMPS FOR KIDS

• The Local YMCA in La Canada is offering camp, Monday - Friday (from 8am - 3pm) this week.  Send your child with lunch, snacks, and waterr.  Limited to 50 slots.Register here.   
• To support families impacted by the Eaton fire, LA County Parks Care Camps will provide youth and teens with a supportive space for fun and recreation including music, arts and crafts, sports activities and field trips to the LA County Natural History Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Dodger Stadium, & more. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be provided daily; teens will also get supper.

  MONDAY TO FRIDAYJANUARY 13 - JANUARY 31, 2025.

  YOUTH CAMPS AGE 5-12: 8 am to 5 pm TEEN CAMPS AGE 13-17: 8 am to 7 pm

  For those under mandatory evacuation or significantly impacted by the fires.

  CARE CAMP LOCATIONS To sign up for a camp, click the age group below:

  1. Pamela Park:2236 Goodall Avenue, Duarte CA, 91010
     • Register for this camp: Age 5-12
     • Register for this camp: Age 13-17
  2. Arcadia Park:405 South Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia CA 91007
     • Register for this camp: Age 5-12
  3. LA County Arboretum:301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
     • Register for this camp: Age 5-12
     • Register for this camp: Age 13-17
  4. Crescenta Valley Park:3901 Dunsmore Ave, La Crescenta, CA 91214
     • Register for this camp: Age 5-12
  5. Descanso Gardens: 1418 Descanso Dr, La Canada-Flintridge, CA  91011
     • Register for this camp: Age 5-12
     • They will have registration packets available for parents and caretakers at each camp location.  To review the registration packet, click here.
       For more information, you can email: recprograms@parks.lacounty.gov or visit the Parks website.

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La Cañada Elementary School PTA

4540 Encinas Drive

La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

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