ART REALLY IS ELEMENTARY

Headed by parent and arts educator Linda Gintowt, the "Art is Elementary" program will bring several artists and their talents into the classroom this year. Gintowt raised a good portion of the necessary funds for the program during a summer silent auction and gala dinner, generously underwritten by the Carlson family and attended by many Topangans whose children had graduated from the elementary school. The program still depends, however, on volunteer commitments in order for art enrichment to be truly audible and visible. Also instrumental in the new program, parent and artist Rick Oginz has suggested integrating music into morning assemblies.

Old friends meet up for their first day in fourth grade.

Ms. Langham meets her new first grade students.

Walk by room 12 and you might hear the sounds of Cleve Christie's guitar. This popular teacher's aide joins the new second grade team-taught classroom of Devon Chatham and Lisa Bowden. With photos of their new babies adorning the window, Chatham and Bowden are excited to be back at school and are grateful to have Christie's support. This year, Christie brought with him lyrics to a new song:

Teacher Gretchen Booth helps a student find her class.

Falling in line again, first graders head off to their new class.

Well hello my old friend
It's good to see you again
After the long hot summer is done
The summer may be gone, but now we're singing our class song
We are Room 12 and we all sing as one.

We are here to learn
As the seasons slowly turn
New friendships we will make as time goes on
New math, new words, new art, now we begin to start
Our life in second grade has just begun.

Christie is one of several aides supported by the school's booster organization, Topanga Enrichment Programs (TEP). With a strong parent -base of support, TEP raises about $100,000 each school year to fund programs such as teacher's assistants in every class, the librarian and library program, the physical education program, the technology program (including new computers and technological upgrading & support), money for extra school supplies and the emergency program. Money is raised in various waysÑthe pledge drive, fundraisers such as the Halloween Carnival, Holiday Craft Fair, Book Fair and Silent Auction, and ongoing fundraisers such as Scrip and Boxtops for Education. If you think you can help with any fundraising aspect, please call the school at (310) 455-3711.

In addition to raising funds and supporting the school, parents who volunteer for TEP or in the classrooms find a great avenue for connecting with teachers, parents, and students. Back-to-school time impacts more than just students. As Marlene Franz put it, "I'm sad that summer's over, but I'm really glad to be back connected with everyone in the community." Topanga Elementary's campus is indeed a vital public space in our community, especially at drop-off and pick-up times.

Third grade buddies are together again.

Teacher Ellen Gill greets old and new students, as some of her former kindergartners are now in her fourth grade class.

Behind the new office counter this year, Ivette Michaels is also thrilled to welcome children back to school after weeks preparing for their arrival. "Now that they're back," she remarked smiling, "they get me going. If I stand still, they run me over. You have to move fast!" As the dozens of kids waiting by the office to be picked up after school attest, the campus is crawling with excitement. Fourth grader Jake Savas explained, "It's been a great first week and I really like all our new teachers."

The school welcomes two new teachers to its staff this year. Ms. Audrey Bruckner is an experienced teacher, formerly of Monlux Science Magnet School, and joins Topanga this year as a third grade teacher, replacing Topangan Brooks Walker who moved to Palisades High School to teach as a Resource Specialist. Also joining the staff is Ms. Anne Peterson who will share a Resource Specialist position with Ms. Leslie Yates.

It's a new start for Mrs. Bruckner too.

Other changes this year include a new schedule. As part of their new UTLA union contract, teachers receive additional time for the purpose of professional development and coordination with other schools. Although total instructional minutes remain unchanged, students now finish school earlyÑat 1:35 p.m.Ñboth Tuesdays and Thursdays and stay until 2:40 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Although parent support for this change is mixed, most teachers are looking forward to the extra planning and training opportunities. For working parents particularly impacted by the schedule change, the school has vowed to create an afterschool program for students.

Amidst all the changes, beloved veteran teacher Ann Matsuyama expresses the best part of the new school year: "I love getting my hugs, seeing my little ones grow up and meeting the new kindergartners coming in." Eyes light up as tentative first graders spy Mrs. Matsuyama. This is indeed a heart-warming time of year. As parent Kristina Rocco Levy put it, "I just remembered what a great school we have." Cynthia Scott added, "We are very happy. Great teachers. Great school." Afloat with support, perhaps the school can fulfill Mrs. Matsuyama dream: "I wish it could always be like the first week of school."

By Kathie Gibboney

I suppose it's easier this time. In fact I postpone it in an attempt at nonchalance. A few canned goods, a change of underwear, the proverbial flashlight, family photo and note. I can do that and it is OK, until I come to the note. How do you write to your child as if he is hypothetically stranded at school in the middle of some Canyon calamity be it fire, flood or earthquake? Yes it's earthquake comfort bag time again. Each September parents at Topanga Elementary School are requested to send an emergency bag containing necessities for their child's survival and nurturing to be stored at the school. We've done this three years now. The first was the hardest, when Riley was just a kindergartner and would still wear the clothes I chose for him. As we packed up his blue Dodger bag I imagined the worst: being unable to get to my child. Into the bag along with my fears went the fruit snacks, canned pudding, toothbrush and clean underwear. I wondered at which point during the stranding would he change his underwear--day two, day three? With a washed-out impassable road or cordoned off canyon, I and other parents might be kept at bay while loud speakers remind our children to remain calm. How could I, through a note that my little boy being only in kindergarten could probably not even read, instill the courage needed to prevail for who knows how long? I don't have that first note but it was probably full of happy faces and silly symbols designed to keep him safe and spotted with a tear as I distilled all my love and care into a few final words, "Be brave until we get there, and we will get there."

And, while the disaster scenarios which are accompanied in my mind with a loss of electricity and water are horrific, they at least no longer include the wicked mother of all destruction that I was weaned on--the looming threat of nuclear attack. Thank God for that. Yet the list is still formidable, especially in Topanga. It includes everything from natural disaster to the remote but current possibility of crazed gunmen (or gunchildren) to the ever popular disgruntled employee (though who could be disgruntled in Topanga?). Against all of this, I arm my son with only a toothbrush, which he'll no doubt need after the hard candies, and some Band-Aids.

My husband advises me to just use last year's bag and save myself the anguish of restocking. But he doesn't understand the sweet victory of unpacking the bag when it returns home every June. There inside, unused and blessedly unneeded, are the can of nuts, a mini-toothpaste, the by-now-too-small underwear and a somewhat wrinkled faded picture of a smiling younger family. I savor the syrupy canned fruit, which I eat in a tribute to having reached spring once again unscathed as I reread the note. Last year's included a joke guaranteed to keep the spirits lifted: " There's something big up. The sky!" I can laugh. We were spared.

Somebody wisely suggested that perhaps making the bag was a sort of magic guarantee against having to use it, so I will once again pack my prayers and love into a plastic blue Dodger survival kit, clearly labeled in an attempt to ward off disaster.

I don't know what I'll write in this year's note. I suppose I'll have to mature. I'm seasoned now. I'll lose the sentimentality, not ham it up so much, maybe just dash off, "Hang in there kid, see you soon."

May God and all the great ones keep our children and children everywhere safe.

Nature Trail to Reopen

The Santa Monica Trails Council finished up work on the school nature trail. The trail will be reopened this year thanks to the Trail Council's efforts and a $2,500 grant from the Santa Maria Trails and Parks Association to assist with trail docents as well as for other environmental science programs.