Principal's Newsletter - September 1, 2025

Week of September 1st -  Parent Updates

 

September 
9/1 - Labor Day - No School
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 - 6:00
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
9/25 - Drop, Cover & Hold On Drill @ 8:45 am
 
Campus Updates: At our August 26th Town Hall meeting, parents were informed that LAUSD facilities and OEHS are continuing to prepare the campus for students and staff. They will provide an update and a return to campus date within the next few weeks. 
 
Attendance-
As of August 27, 2025, Marquez had an 80% excellent attendance rate. LAUSD aims for a 96% excellent attendance rate. Please ensure your child attends school to support their academic and social growth. The office will begin reaching out to families whose students are chronically absent. Ms. Celina Molina Gonzalez, a PSA (attendance counselor), has been assigned to Marquez for half a day each week to support students and families.
 
Morning Drop Off-
The safety of students and staff is vital to our school community. Our instruction day begins at 8:10. I understand parking can be challenging around campus, and I encourage families to use the LA City lot at Iowa and Corinth (see the main office for a parking permit). We offer a 5-minute grace period before students must enter through the main office to sign in. If you are running late, please bring your child to the office to sign them in. They can then walk to class or be escorted by school staff. According to LAUSD policy, parents are not permitted to escort students to class after the 8:10 bell due to safety and security reasons. We appreciate your understanding.
 
Thanks to Calvary Christian-
This past week, a team of Marquez parents, Mrs. Foster, and Ms. Ray were able to pick up, deliver, and store a generous donation of classroom furniture and supplies from Calvary to support our efforts to return to campus. Thank you to our dedicated team for organizing and making sure the furniture arrived on campus. We appreciate Calvary for supporting our school community and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in the years to come.
 
Let’s have a fantastic week!
Mrs. Timmerman
 

 

Week of August 25th Parent Updates

August

8/25 - Marquez Campus Open House 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm
8/26 - Town Hall @ 6:00 pm (Zoom)
8/29 - CA Admissions Day - no school
September 
9/1 - Labor Day - No School
9/9 - Lock Down Drill @ 11:15 am
9/10 - Treats with Timmerman @ 8:20 am
9/11 - Back to School Night 
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
9/25 - Drop, Cover & Hold On Drill @ 8:45 am
 
Marquez will be on a regular school day schedule beginning this week. M/W/F 8:10 - 2:50 T/TH 8:10 - 1:50. In observance of California Admissions Day, there is no school on Friday, August 27th. School will also be closed on Monday, September 1, for Labor Day. 
We hope that you will join the LAUSD Town Hall on Tuesday, August 26th at 6:00 pm.        ZOOM ID: 830 4877 9977. Topics will include: proposed timeline for Marquez reopening, construction updates, environmental testing, and traffic management plans around the school.
 
I had the chance to visit the Marquez campus this past week, and it looks stunning. The teams of workers have turned this project into a labor of love. They shared with me how honored they are to be part of it and how much it means to them to know that the Marquez students have a safe place to learn and grow. 
Teachers have been learning about students' social and academic needs. All students will take the Beginning of Year Reading and Math assessments to identify their strengths and areas for growth. Once completed, the Instructional Leadership team, grade levels, and teachers will review the data to determine the next steps for instruction. Students' needs will be addressed, and lessons will be planned to target specific instruction. iReady is a tool used by students, who work on personalized MyPath lessons to progress toward mastery of grade-level standards. 
 
LAUSD TAP cards are available for all students aged six and older. Metro is partnering with LAUSD schools to provide students with a GoPass that offers unlimited rides at no cost on Metro bus and rail, Culver CityBus, LADOT Dash, Montebello Bus, Norwalk Transit, and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. With the special GoPass TAP card given by their school, your child can ride for free to and from school, as well as on trips after school, evenings, and weekends. Please see Ms. Rubana in the main office if you would like to sign your student up for a TAP card.
 
Attendance - LAUSD has set a goal of a 96% attendance rate for all students, meaning no more than 7 days missed during the school year. Regular school attendance is vital for academic success, social-emotional growth, and future opportunities. Consistent attendance helps students stay on top of coursework, participate in class discussions, and develop positive relationships with peers and teachers. Additionally, regular attendance is a strong indicator of high school graduation and future career success. Let’s all work together to reach the 96% attendance goal for the 2025-2026 school year. 
Finally, 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
 
Let’s have a fantastic week!
Mrs. Timmerman
 

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:

 

  1. In the subject line: “Self-Nomination for Gov. Council
  2. Your First and Last Name
  3. A Brief Bio including the reason(s) you would like to serve on the Governing Council (300 words or less, please)
  4. 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