Informational Meeting

for Incoming & ProspectivE Families

LA JOLLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

INTERIM Principal Juan Romo and

Associate Principal Rachel Alexander

FEBRUARY 2026

Amazing Teachers and Staff

Parent Teacher Organization

Friends Foundation

La Jolla Cluster Association

School Site Council/Governance

Room Parents

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Opportunities for Parent Involvement

We LOVE our volunteers!

in the classroom, for class projects, for special events, to help the teacher, and on field trips

PTO:

Family Events

Back to School Family Social

Family Science Night

Talent Show

Family Dance

International Festival

​

​

Friends Foundation:

Fundraising Activities

Open Aire Market

Art and Wine Festival

Annual Giving Campaign

Gala

​

History of Excellence

• California Distinguished Schools–2008, 2012, 2018
• California Gold Ribbon School – 2016
• National Blue Ribbon School – 2016
• US News and World Report CA Elementary School Rankings
• #2 - 2021-2023
• #23 - 2024
• #18 - 2025

Enrollment & Staffing

• Enrollment
• had been steadily increasing prior to COVID
• just over 600 students in 2019-2020
• dropped to about 440 in 2020-2022 due to prolonged school closures
• at about 500 in 2022-2023
• at about 525 in 2023-2024
• at about 565 in 2024-2025
• 2025-2026 current enrollment is 564
• 2026-2027 projected enrollment is 593

​

• 25 Classrooms
• 22 District-funded classroom teachers
• 3 Foundation-funded additional teachers (~$520,000) - Without Foundation funded teachers, would have
• combo classes across all grade levels
• large class sizes
• UTK-3rd: average of 24, can be up to 29 (ours 20-25)
• 4th-5th: 35 (ours 23-27)

School Resources

District Funded

• Counselor
• School psychologist
• Full time Health Office coverage: nurse + health technician
• Special education teachers, Speech therapist, Occupational therapist
• Itinerant physical therapist, adaptive physical education teacher, music therapist, mental health professionals
• Weekly
• dance classes (UTK-3)
• music classes (4: recorders, 5: instrument for band/orchestra)

​

Foundation Funded

• Additional classroom teachers to
• lower class size (District averages: TK-3: 24 students / 4-5: 36 students; LJES averages: 20-28 students)
• reduce the need for combination classes across grade levels
• Support teachers to provide small group intervention and acceleration
• Curriculum & instructional supports
• Enrichment classes and materials

Schedule

8:15am-2:45pm (Wednesday Dismissal @12:20pm*)

​

*Wednesday after school programs, such as art, coding, cooking, basketball, tennis, golf, dance, Legos, theatre, +

​

Daily

• Whole group reading
• Guided/small group reading work
• Writing Workshop
• Word/Language Study
• Mathematics
• Science/Social Studies
• Recess & Lunch

​

Physical Education Weekly (1 hour + Impact + Run Club)

​

MakerSpace/Library/Counselor/Extra P.E. rotations - weekly (while teachers collaborate)

​

Art - Weekly

LJES Academic Program

• Reading: Seminars in Critical Literacy (comprehension through discussion/analysis), small groups (comprehension, strategy, word work), book clubs (3-5)
• Writing: Workshop approach, Genres: Narrative, Informational, Opinion/Persuasive; writing across subject areas
• Mathematics: Eureka Mathematics with

supplemental problem solving work; problem-based,

develop conceptual knowledge, collaborative, spiral

curriculum

• Science: phenomena-based, Next Generation Science

and Engineering Units, Mystery Science Robotics/Legos, field trips

• Social Studies: project-based, field trips
• Social Emotional Learning: Character Strengths, Counselor lessons in every classroom + groups/individual support
• Physical Education & Run Club
• GATE Seminar program for highly gifted students (99.6%ile; 3-5)

Foundation-Funded Enrichment

& Educational Opportunities/Resources

Enrichment

• field trips to enhance curricular program
• workshops on campus (ballet, coding)
• assemblies (La Jolla Playhouse)
• arts enrichment weekly
• robotics/lego curriculum and materials
• other classes in past years

​

Educational

• additional classroom teachers to reduce combos + class sizes
• support teachers - work with students who need extra support to achieve grade level standards
• Teacher Accounts - purchase book club books, other learning materials and resources
• and more!

Before and After School Care

YMCA: Character Builders & PrimeTime

YMCA Character Builders - Offers on-site before and after school childcare. The program is available before school from 6:30-8:15am. At the end of the day, students can go directly to the YMCA program from their classrooms at 2:45 p.m. (12:20pm on Wednesdays) and can be picked up at any time before 6:00 p.m. Contact the YMCA directly at (858) 514-4411 with questions or for more information.

​

YMCA Primetime - Offers after school childcare to students who qualify for the tuition free program. Enrollment opens 4/20/26.

​

**Watch our eblasts for more information and registration dates

​

Construction

We were under construction for 3.5 years - just finished in August 2024! Every part of our campus is renovated or brand new

• Many security considerations/updates - single point of entry in office during school hours, 10 ft tall fences, and more
• Completely renovated 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classroom buildings
• Reconfigured/resurfaced playgrounds and grass field on upper campus w/new restroom building
• New two story building with reception, office, health, 4th-5th grade classrooms, makerspace, resource rooms
• Kitchen/Cafeteria - completely renovated/new
• Auditorium - renovated w/carpeting and new roof
• TK/K area (“Kinderland”) complete with three new permanent classrooms buildings and lunch arbor
• New landscaping and turf areas for outdoor learning & garden boxes

Determining Class Placement

• Parents will fill out a questionnaire to provide us with information
• We try to match students to teachers and students to their peers
• Based on a variety of factors - academic, social/emotional, demographic information
• Goal is to create balanced classes of boys/girls, learning abilities/needs, etc.
• For Kinder, we may have interview/assessment/meet and greet with students later in the school year (we will contact you if we move forward with this)
• Final classes are determined shortly before school starts on August 10th; parents are notified via email the weekend before, usually on Friday (August 7th) at noon

Enrollment K-5th Grade (NOT TK)

Will possibly begin in March; please come M,T, Th, F between 9:00am to 1:00pm and Wednesday until 11:00am

(arrival and dismissal are busy!)

​

Please bring:

• Birth Certificate or Passport
• Two Proofs of Residence (and an additional one in August)
• Immunizations complete
• Completed registration packet

​

Lisa Schrift, our School Clerk, will guide you through the process, provide you with information, and answer any questions you may have - lschrift@sandi.net

Transitional Kindergarten Enrollment

• Enrollment period begins TBD (no information from district yet for next year)
• Will take place online - information located on

SDUSD UTK Webpage

• District will offer Zoom sessions to share information and take your questions
• LJES will reach out to you to confirm your placement and obtain additional information from families
• If LJES becomes full, District will offer placement at the next closest school with space available
• Contact Enrollment Options or Lisa Schrift (lschrift@sandi.net) with any questions

Transitional Kindergarten

• For students who turn 4 on/after September 1st (students who are 5 by September 1st must enroll in Kinder - no TK/K class)
• Class size of 20 students with two teachers
• Elementary multiple subject teacher
• Early childhood educator
• Focus is on readiness for Kindergarten
• Exposure to reading, writing, and math concepts and skills
• Work on social skills, motor skills,
• Full school day
• Attendance is critical!

Kindergarten Readiness is...

. . . an interest in learning, the maturity to learn in a group, and the ability to communicate effectively with peers and teachers.

​

​

Kindergarten Language Skills

Kindergarten Social/Emotional Skills

• Speaks clearly and confidently
• Uses words to express needs or feelings
• Follows oral directions and obeys rules
• Comprehends what is said

• Listens without interrupting
• Takes turns
• Gets along with others and can control emotions
• Cooperates with adults and other children
• Is at ease in a new situation away from parents
• Initiates and follows through on a task
• Can focus on a lesson/task and can work in a group for ~15 minutes

Kindergarten Skills of Independence

Kindergarten Physical Skills

• Puts on and takes off shoes
• Uses zippers, button, and snaps to put on and take off clothing
• Recognizes his/her own clothing
• Uses restroom without help
• Uses crayons and scissors
• Handles objects and returns them properly
• Cleans up after self

​

• Gross motor control
• Fine motor control

Kindergarten Pre-Reading/Writing Skills

​

Kindergarten Pre-Mathematics Skills

• Interest in and curiosity about books and print
• Understands that oral language can be written and read
• Enjoys being read to
• Can recognize and write first name

​

• Recognizes numerals and quantities to 10
• Has one to one correspondence

Legal Age Requirements

• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) will be offered to students who will be 4 years old on/after September 1st
• Children must be 5 years old by September 1st to enroll in Kindergarten (no UTK/K combo class)
• Per District policy, we are not permitted to make exceptions for children who miss the above cut offs
• Children who are 6 years old by September 1st are enrolled in 1st grade, unless the school site determines that Kindergarten is the appropriate placement (please submit documentation; we may also conduct brief assessments/interviews)

Speech and Language Concerns/Screening

​

​

Students with Disabilities/IEPs

​

​

If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language (e.g., articulation, communication skills - receptive/expressive language), please contact our Speech and Language Pathologist, Christina Bays, at cbays@sandi.net

If your child has an IEP, please submit it to Lisa when you register. Our Special Education team will review the IEP and assign a case manager, who will reach out to you before school starts.

​

Please reach out to me via email if you have any questions/concerns: TBD

Typical TK/K Summer Activities & Events

• Kindergarten Screening in Spring/Summer - TBD
• 2-3 Playdates in June & July - dates to come
• BBQ/final playdate shortly before school starts in August - date to come

Thank you!

​

Questions?