Week of September 22, 2025
9/22-26 College & Career Week
9/23 - Rosh Hashanah Observed - No School
9/25 - Drop, Cover & Hold On Drill @ 8:45 am
9/26 - Midpoint Warning Notices Sent Home
9/29 - Last Day at Nora Sterry Campus
9/30 - Opening Day at Marquez
Congratulations to Dora Karali! We had an uncontested election with 1 candidate running for 1 available seat, so she will serve as Parent Representative for the 2025-2026 one-year term. She will begin her service at our Governing Council meeting on 9/25/25 at 2:00 p.m., along with other newly elected Parent Reps. Brian Breth, Aurelia Frank, and our continuing Parent Rep. Jodi Lederman.
Click on the link to see Dora's photo and bio! Marquez Governing Council Candidate 091425
Please note that the Governance Council, scheduled for Thursday, September 25th, has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 9th.
Moving Updates-
Staff have begun packing up the classrooms. LAUSD Truck Operations will be on campus on Saturday, September 27th, to relocate the campus to Marquez. Our staff is aware that students may need support, and Ms. Natarajan will be checking in throughout the week. LAUSD will also have Mental Health counselors available when we return to campus.
- On Monday, LAUSD staff, along with our aides and enrichment staff, have planned an exciting day for students at Nora Sterry while the teachers prepare their classrooms for students.
- On Tuesday, September 30th, there will be an opening assembly for students & families.
- More detailed information will be sent out later this week.
Midpoint Warning Notices -
Schools send out LAUSD Midpoint Progress Reports on Friday, Sept 26th, to update parents and students on their academic progress and to identify students who may be at risk of not meeting grade-level standards. The goal is to give early warning to parents and students who are struggling to stay on track. If your student receives a Midpoint Progress Report, the teacher will highlight the areas needing attention and share interventions and resources to support at home. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
Week of September 15th-
9/15 - Fire Drill @ 11:00 am
9/16 - Return to Campus Townhall @ 6:00 pm
9/22-26 College & Career Week
9/23 - Rosh Hashanah Observed - No School
9/25 - Governance Council Meeting @ 2:00 pm
9/25 - Drop, Cover & Hold On Drill @ 8:45 am
Return to Campus Town Hall - The Division of Operations will host a town hall meeting on Tuesday, September 16th, at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. We hope that you will join us. Town Hall Flier
Transportation - As we begin planning for our return to the Marquez campus, we are working with the Transportation department to determine the transportation needs of our families. If you are interested in having your student(s) take a late bus from Marquez to Nora Sterry, please complete the Interest Survey. Transportation Survey
Looking for Clothing Donations - Our office is seeking gently used girls'/boys' sweatpants, t-shirts, leggings, and shorts in sizes 4-10. They would also appreciate new socks and underwear (boys & girls) for students who may need a change of clothes while at school. Donations can be dropped off in the office. Thank you in advance for your donations.
Week of September 8th-
September
9/9 - Lock Down Drill @ 11:15 am
9/10 - Treats with Timmerman (parent meeting with principal) @ 8:20 am
9/11 - Back to School Night 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
9/12 - Shortened Day - Early Dismissal@ 1:50 pm
9/15 - Fire Drill @ 11:00 am
9/22-26 College & Career Week
9/23 - Rosh Hashanah Observed - No School
9/25 - Governance Council Meeting @ 2:00 pm
9/25 - Drop, Cover & Hold On Drill @ 8:45 am
Back to School Night - We hope you will attend Back to School Night on Thursday, September 11th, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about curricular programs, teacher expectations, and to ask questions. Please note, this is not a time for one-on-one teacher conferences. If you need to discuss your child, please email your child’s teacher to arrange a convenient time to meet.STAR/BTB will be offering child care during the event. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please complete the STAR/BTB applications and submit them to the office. Students can attend STAR right after dismissal until the conclusion of Back to School Night, or parents can sign their child in/out at the front entrance when they arrive for Back to School Night. They will not be able to accept students who do not have both the STAR and BTB applications on file. Marquez Eng (2) (1) (1) (1).pdf
Mark your calendars: Friday, September 12th is a Shortened Day (8:10 - 1:50)
September Emergency Drills - Per LAUSD policy, all schools are required to conduct monthly fire and earthquake drills. Schools are also required to perform a Lockdown Drill and a shelter-in-place drill each semester. Lockdown drills involve having students remain in a classroom with doors locked, window coverings closed, and remain quiet, waiting for directions from their teachers or office staff. Shelter-in-Place drills are a time for students to enter classrooms and lock the doors. At the same time, teachers turn off the ventilation systems and cover the doors to prevent something in the school environment from entering the classroom (Such as an Airborne contaminant, inclement weather, or other outside hazard). Ms. Natarajan, our PSW, will be visiting classrooms to check in with students before all scheduled drills.
Treats With Timmerman - On Wednesday, September 10th, from 8:20 to 9:20 AM, I will host our first administration/parent meeting. Our PSW, Ms. Natarajan, will join us to share information that supports your students, along with details about upcoming Parent Support Meetings. You can join us in Room 21 or via Zoom (https://lausd.zoom.us/j/4757319595?omn=81853681838). Topics will include the Budget Transparency Tool, Creating Welcoming Environments, Beginning-of-Year Data, and School-Wide Attendance. I hope you will join us.
Looking for Clothing Donations - Our office is seeking gently used girls'/boys' sweatpants, t-shirts, leggings, and shorts in sizes 4-10. They would also appreciate new socks and underwear (boys & girls) for students who may need a change of clothes while at school. Donations can be dropped off in the office. Thank you in advance for your donations.
Attendance - In an effort to increase our overall attendance rate, teachers will be reaching out if a student misses more that 2 consecutive days of school to check on students. If a student misses more than 3 consecutive days, the office staff will call to check in with the parent. If your child is sick and can not attend school, please reach out to their teacher to let them know. As of 9/5/25 Excellent Attendance >96% = 72% Basic Attendance (92%-95%) = 13% Chronic Absence (< 92%) = 13%. Studies indicate that students with excellent attendance are more likely to be successful in school. Let’s all work together to increase our overall attendance rate.
Governing Council Rep Needed
Seagull Parents…. We Want YOU!!! We have 1 vacancy for Governing Council Parent Rep.! This position is for a 1-year term to complete an early vacancy. If you are interested in running, please email the following to Ms. Bazan at [email protected], no later than 10:00 pm on Saturday, September 13th:
In the subject line: “Self-Nomination for Gov. Council
Your First and Last Name
A Brief Bio including the reason(s) you would like to serve on the Governing Council (300 words or less, please)
A Photo (headshot or fun, candid photo - alone or with family
If an election is needed, it will be held sometime during the week of September 14th.
The newly elected Parent Rep. will join other new Reps., Aurelia Frank and Brian Breth, along with Rep. Jodi Lederman in her ongoing service!
Governing Council Parent Representative responsibilities:
Each of the 4 Parent Reps. is assigned to a GC Committee (Budget, Curriculum, Parent Engagement, and Technology)
The Parent Rep. will Co-Chair their GC Committee with a Teacher Co-Chair
Reps. participate in their assigned committee meeting each month
Reps. attend the monthly Governing Council meeting
That means two Thursday meetings a month from approx. 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Parent Reps. support the parent community and share feedback with committees and Governing Council
Motions are presented at Governing Council and voted upon by all GC Members
From our Charter:
“The work of the Marquez Governing Council shall be accomplished through the activities, reports and recommendations of its various advisory committees. The committees will include: Budget, Curriculum, Parent Engagement, Personnel, and Technology. Issues arising before the Governing Council will be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration and its recommendations shall be presented to the Governing Council for final approval…Involvement in the Governing Council and the various committees will provide for direct parent and teacher involvement regarding the ongoing process of reviewing and revising the school’s educational program to meet the unique and changing needs of our students.”
Week of September 1st - Parent Updates
Week of August 25th Parent Updates
August
Week of August 18th Parent Updates
What a wonderful first week of school! It was so great to meet everyone and see students reconnecting with each other and staff. When visiting classrooms, I saw students getting to know one another, teachers establishing norms and routines, and students participating in initial lessons focused on state standards. There were many smiles and active student engagement.
If you need transportation, please visit the Parent Portal. We currently have an express bus from Marquez to Nora Sterry that leaves at 7:25 am and returns students to the Marquez campus at 3:25 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at 2:25 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Marquez staff will escort students to and from the bus at Nora Sterry.
Please submit all First Day packet paperwork as soon as possible. You are also asked to sign a consent form for your child's use of the Google Education Suite apps. You can accept or decline by selecting your child’s name on the Parent Portal app. Without a signed consent, students will not have access to these apps. Information was sent home with the First Day Packets.
We will conduct a Fire Drill on Monday, August 18th, at 1:30 pm, and a Drop, Cover & Hold Drill on Thursday, August 21st, at 1:15 pm. Please remember that from August 18th to August 22nd, we will operate on a modified schedule. School hours are 8:10 am to 1:50 pm.
Please complete a Volunteer Application if you'd like to help in the classrooms or serve as a chaperone for the 2025/26 school year.
LAUSD has been working hard to prepare the Marquez Interim campus for students' early return this fall. Although no date has been set yet, Dr. David Schonfeld, Director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, will present at our first Parent Workshop on Friday, August 22nd, from 12:00 to 1:30 pm on Zoom. (The link will be available soon.)
Topic: Transitioning Back to Campus After the Wildfires – What to Expect and How to Support Your Students. We hope many families will be able to attend.
Seagull Parents…. We Want YOU!!!
We have 3 vacancies for Parent Reps.!
If you are interested in running for one of our Governing Council Parent Representative positions, please email the following to Ms. Bazan at [email protected], no later than 10:00 pm on Tuesday, August 26th:
- In the subject line: “Self-Nomination for Gov. Council
- Your First and Last Name
- A Brief Bio including the reason(s) you would like to serve on the Governing Council (300 words or less, please)
- A Photo (headshot or fun, candid photo - alone or with family)
Note: Two positions are for full 2-year terms, and one position is for a 1-year term to complete an early vacancy. If you have a preference, please let us know in advance; otherwise, the elected representatives will decide amongst themselves.
Elections will be held the first week of September.
We wish to thank Tiff Ashrafi and Dana Golder as they end their terms as Governing Council Parent Reps. However, they will remain on the Council until their replacements are elected. In addition, Cameron Pfizenmaier is no longer at Marquez, so we thank her for her year of service. Newly elected Parent Reps. will join Rep. Jodi Lederman in her ongoing service!
Governing Council Parent Representative responsibilities:
- Each of the 4 Parent Reps. is assigned to a GC Committee (Budget, Curriculum, Parent Engagement, and Technology)
- The Parent Rep. will Co-Chair their GC Committee with a Teacher Co-Chair
- Reps. participate in their assigned committee meeting each month
- Reps. attend the monthly Governing Council meeting
- That means two Thursday meetings a month from approx. 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Parent Reps. support the parent community and share feedback with committees and the Governing Council
- Motions are presented at the Governing Council and voted upon by all GC Members
From our Charter:
“The work of the Marquez Governing Council shall be accomplished through the activities, reports and recommendations of its various advisory committees. The committees will include: Budget, Curriculum, Parent Engagement, Personnel, and Technology. Issues arising before the Governing Council will be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration and its recommendations shall be presented to the Governing Council for final approval…Involvement in the Governing Council and the various committees will provide for direct parent and teacher involvement regarding the ongoing process of reviewing and revising the school’s educational program to meet the unique and changing needs of our students.”
Week of August 11th Parent Updates
Marquez Families-
First and foremost, I want to share how deeply honored I am to have been selected to lead this fantastic school. I look forward to meeting families and students when school begins on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Nora Sterry campus. Please note that the school day will now start at 8:10 and end on M/W/F at 2:50 and T/TH at 1:50. This minor adjustment was necessary to accommodate our Shortened Day Schedule. Students will enter through the gate on the corner of Iowa and Sawtelle. We are currently working on securing parking permits to assist with parking at the LA City lot on the corner of Iowa and Corinth. Information will be forthcoming. If students are late, they should enter campus through the Marquez entrance on Iowa and Sawtelle.
School hours: M/W/F 8:10 - 2:50
T/TH 8:10- 1:50
Office hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Upcoming Dates:
8/12 - Master Plan Meeting (1) for new families of EB students @ 9:00 am (Zoom)
8/13 - Pupil Free Day - 8:00 - 3:00
8/13 - Master Plan Meeting (2) for new families of EB students @ 12:00 pm (Zoom)
8/13 - Master Plan Meeting (3) for new families of EB students @ 3:00 pm (Zoom)
8/13 - TK/K Orientation @ 1:00 - 2:00
8/13 - Marquez Popsicle Social at 2:00 p.m. on the TK/K Yard
8/14 - First day of Instruction -
8/14 - Marquez New Parent Welcome 8:15
8/15 - Shortened Day - Early Dismissal @ 1:50 pm
8/18 - Shortened Day - Early Dismissal@ 1:50 pm
8/18 - Fire Drill @ 1:30
8/20 - Shortened Day - Early Dismissal@ 1:50 pm
8/21 - Drop, Cover & Hold On Drill @ 2:00 pm
8/21 - Orchestra Place Assemblies
8/21 - Governance Council Meeting
8/22 - Shortened Day - Early Dismissal@ 1:50 pm
8/29 - CA Admissions Day - no school
Updates:
Opening of School 25/26-
In June, families were informed that the school year would begin at Nora Sterry Elementary, with a return to the Marquez CES campus in early Fall of 2025.
We will be hosting meetings with staff and the Marquez community in August to provide additional updates and share a detailed timeline regarding the return to the Marquez campus. We recognize that the transition back to the Palisades will impact families and staff differently, and we appreciate the diverse needs that each family and staff member may have. We remain committed to offering our full support to all families during this important transition.
We will continue to provide clear, consistent, and transparent communication as we move forward. Above all, we remain dedicated to upholding the highest safety standards to ensure a smooth, safe, and successful return to the Marquez campus.
Access and Transportation Update
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Sunset Boulevard are now fully open in both directions, with no significant delays or special access requirements. With these improvements, accessibility is no longer a significant barrier to returning to campus.
We understand that some families may now live farther away from the area. To help with this transition, we will provide a bus route from Marquez Elementary School to Nora Sterry. If your family has any additional transportation needs, we encourage you to use the Parent Portal to sign up for transportation or to contact the school directly for support.
Safety and Environmental Readiness
The Los Angeles Unified School District has done an outstanding job preparing the interim Marquez CES campus for occupancy this fall. Construction crews, along with environmental consultants and contractors, have been working on-site since March, and we are pleased with the progress being made to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for students.
- The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) completed their Household Hazardous Waste Removal and Debris Removal phases, which included an environmental site assessment and removal of asbestos, debris (i.e., concrete, metal, ash), and surface soils, within the footprints of burned or destroyed buildings.
- A third-party environmental contractor completed debris and ash removal from the remainder of the campus.
Safety and Environmental Readiness (con’t.)
- A third-party environmental consultant evaluated soils throughout the campus and implemented an environmental sampling plan focusing on fire-related contaminants and found no issues of concern.
- Pre-occupancy testing and inspection of new portable classrooms will be conducted prior to occupancy as a final check.
- Indoor and outdoor air quality monitors are scheduled to be installed on campus prior to occupancy and will remain active as part of our ongoing safety protocols.
- Every classroom will be equipped with air purifiers that continuously monitor and improve air quality.
- We will continue to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily and implement indoor schedules as needed during inclement weather or periods of poor air quality.
Marquez Mosaic - The Mosaic will be taken down in early August for restoration work.
Lisa Timmerman
Principal