Hello, Roosevelt Families!
Welcome to December! As we wrap up a season of gratitude and close out our Thanksgiving celebrations, the holiday spirit continues to flow warmly through our Roosevelt community. This time of year invites us to carry forward the appreciation we felt in November and channel it into connection, generosity, and joy.
At school, our GRIT values — Growth, Respect, Integrity, and Tenacity — remain front and center. We see them every day in the way our students support one another, push themselves academically, and make thoughtful, grounded choices. These values continue to shape who we are as a community, especially during a season when kindness and togetherness feel especially meaningful.
Even with winter break on the horizon, our instructional focus remains strong. The weeks ahead are filled with valuable learning time, and our teachers and students are continuing to dig into rich instruction, hands-on practice, and meaningful conversations. December may be festive, but the learning doesn’t slow down; we’re committed to making every moment count.
As we move through this joyful month, we invite you to connect with your child about how they’re showing GRIT at school and celebrate the growth they’re experiencing. Here’s to a December filled with warmth, learning, and moments that bring us closer together as a Roosevelt family.
Warm wishes for a joyful holiday season!
Dr. Amy Onyendu
Principal
A MAGICAL MID-WEEK EXPERIENCE FOR OUR 5TH GRADERS
This past Wednesday, our 5th-grade students had a special opportunity to step into the holiday season with a visit to the 2025 Nutcracker Abbreviated Production at the Broad Stage. Thanks to our district’s partnership with Westside Ballet, students were treated to an engaging and accessible introduction to this beloved winter classic.
For many of our students, it was their very first time experiencing a live ballet, and the wonder on their faces said it all. From the music to the movement to the storytelling, they were fully immersed in the magic of the performance. Moments like these remind us just how essential the arts are in education: they spark curiosity, deepen cultural understanding, and open doors to new forms of expression.
Many thanks to our teachers who planned and prepared, the parent volunteers who joined us, and everyone who helped make this field trip possible. Your dedication ensured that our students enjoyed a meaningful, memorable experience—one that celebrates both the holiday season and the lasting value of the arts.
SMMPTA HOLIDAY BREAKFAST: CELEBRATING COMMUNITY, CREATIVITY, AND COLLABORATION
Thank you to our wonderful PTA for inviting me to join fellow site principals at the SMMPTA Holiday Breakfast. It was a meaningful morning spent celebrating the partnership, advocacy, and shared commitment that unite our schools alongside Unit Presidents, Liaisons, district leaders, City Council members, and our School Board. Moments like these remind us how powerful our collective efforts are in supporting every child across SMMUSD.
We are also incredibly proud to recognize the 37 Roosevelt students who participated in this year’s 2025 Reflections Arts Program. Students submitted original work in Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, and Visual Arts, and every participating artist will receive a Participation Award. Their creativity, courage, and willingness to share their voice truly elevate the arts at Roosevelt.
2025 REFLECTIONS PARTICIPANTS:
Caia Boldt, Claire Shenk, Daniel Shipman, Sophie Litak, Decker Amos, Elliot Grub, Audrey Zohn, Ai Jia Emily Gelisi, Cassandra Olivas, Evie Martin, Cordelia Wetmore, Deia Batalin, Charlotte Boghorian, Isabelle Teng, Alexa Edwards, Reem Mansur, Wren Billings, Eleanor Ford, Charlotte Kraft, Charley Amos, Augustine Marcella, Taylor Frank, James Abrahams, Ciella Best, Marie DeChair, Gianluca Minas, Rosemary Fisher, Charlotte Hruby, Sophia Von Roon, Juliana Muller-Tabanera, Gracie McFarland, Pernilla Ferretti, Eleanor Muller-Tabanera, Elodie Coppens, Thomas Coppens, Brooklyn Verdun, Rose Nakai Haskelewitch
We also extend special recognition to the students whose work received awards at the district level:
Dance Choreography – Intermediate Division
• Award of Excellence: Caia Boldt
• Award of Merit: Claire Shenk
Film Production – Intermediate Division
• Award of Excellence: Daniel Shipman
• Award of Merit: Sophie Litak
Literature – Intermediate Division
• Award of Excellence: Cassandra Olivas
• Award of Merit: Elliot Grub
• Honorable Mention: Cordelia Wetmore
Visual Arts – Primary Division
• Award of Excellence: Eleanor Ford
• Award of Merit: James Abrahams
• Honorable Mention: Marie DeChair
Visual Arts – Intermediate Division
• Award of Excellence: Rose Nakai Haskelewitch
• Award of Merit: Eleanor Muller-Tabanera
• Honorable Mention: Juliana Muller-Tabanera
We celebrate each of these student artists for their imagination, discipline, and commitment to the creative process. Their work highlights the importance of the arts in helping students express themselves, explore ideas, and develop confidence in their own unique perspectives.
CELEBRATING THE SEASON WHILE STAYING PRESENT AT SCHOOL
December is a special time at Roosevelt, full of celebrations, performances, and classroom activities that bring our community together. Even as we enjoy the holiday spirit, it’s important to remember that learning continues right up until winter break. With just two weeks remaining, every day of school counts toward your child’s growth, progress, and participation in these meaningful events.
Extending holidays, vacations, or trips, and visiting friends or relatives during school days are not considered excused absences, so please plan carefully. By being present, students can fully take part in the season’s celebrations and make the most of the final weeks of instruction.
GET READY FOR ROOSEVELT’S WINTER MUSIC INFORMANCES!
Join us as our 4th- and 5th-graders share their musical talents during the Winter Music Informances!
4th Grade: Monday, December 8, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
5th Grade: Monday, December 15, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Students from the choir, band, and strings will perform in the auditorium, classrooms, and cafeteria, showcasing all their hard work from the season. Don’t miss this festive celebration of music and student talent!
If you have any questions about the informances, please reach out to our music teacher, Lindsay Okumura.
School Upcoming Holidays & Breaks
Friday, December 19: Minimum Day
Dismissal Schedule:
TK & Kindergarten – 12:20 PM
1st & 2nd Grade – 1:00 PM
3rd–5th Grade – 1:15 PM
Monday, December 22: Winter Break Begins (No School)
Monday, January 5: Return to School
Monday, January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (No School)
CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH:
Nov-Dec 2025 Respect & Responsibility
Book of the Month: The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
Talking Points for The Great Kapok Tree
Focus Phrase: Roosevelt students respect themselves, each other, and the environment, and take responsibility for their actions with each other and in their environment.
The focus components of RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY for this book are:
Take care of your environment
Set an example for others
Think before you act. Use your head. Imagine the consequences.
DAILY REMINDERS: LET’S BE PREPARED!
Please help your child come prepared each day by sending them with the essentials:
- School materials (books, approved technology charged, projects, etc.)
- A water bottle
- A snack and/or lunch (lunch is free for all students during the 2025-26 school year)
- Sunscreen (applied before school)
- Layers of clothing (sweatshirt, windbreaker, etc.) for changing weather
- And most importantly, a growth mindset for a successful day!
Thank you for helping set them up for a great day of learning!
LOST & FOUND SHED
The Lost & Found shed contains unclaimed clothes, water bottles, and lunch boxes. Encourage your child to look through the lost & found shed for lost items by Friday, December 19, by 3:00 p.m. You may check the Lost & Found in the morning before school or in the afternoon after school by 3:00 p.m. on December 19th. All items not picked up will be donated.
As a reminder, as we look ahead to the new year, please label your child’s items so we can help return them more quickly.