Will Rogers School Seeks Sponsors

Businesses invited to adopt a class

  The students at Will Rogers Elementary School are largely from Sunset Park and the Pico neighborhood and the school has forged strong ties in both neighborhoods.
   Built in 1949, the school has a student population of 770 (from approximately 400 families) in preschool through 5th grade.
   In the face of continuing cuts in school budgets, teachers and staff at Will Rogers have created an environment in which all children can excel.
   As a result, the school has been designated a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education, and has earned the Exemplary Reading Program Award from the International Reading Association. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education selected Will Rogers School to receive one of education’s highest honors, the National Blue Ribbon School Award.
   One of the school’s most successful programs is its Adopt-A-Class Project that pairs a local business with a classroom, its students, their families and teachers to increase educational opportunities for the students, as well as increasing awareness of the businesses and their services.
   A Will Rogers classroom’s business sponsor can provide funds to support academic enrichment for students, including field trips that augment the classroom curriculum to such sites as the Museum of Science & Industry, the Getty Art Museum, Leo Carrillo tide pools, Will Rogers State Park, the Los Angeles Music Center and Olvera Street. It can also fund arts and environmental enrichment programs and technology, including computers and software.
   The school needs more outside funding to maintain its current level of educational excellence, including its vocal music and art programs, field trips and science exploration. It also needs funding for such vital items as Weekly Readers, books for the school library, classroom supplies (crayons, paper, pencils), photocopy machine maintenance, as well as music, classroom and playground aides.
   Benefits to participating businesses include recognition in the school newsletter and at school and community events, increased visibility in the community, a class picture to display, the opportunity to be involved with students, their families and their teachers via class reports and letters and class visits to the businesses.
   Businesses also receive an Adopt-A-Class sponsor Certificate, a complimentary PTA membership, invitations and guest passes to all school evehts, a Will Rogers tee shirt and bandana. Class sponsorships are fully tax deductible.
   Past participants in the Adopt-A-Class program include Bob’s Market, Sunset Grill, Mrs. Winston Green Grocery, Robert Forster Physical Therapy, BST escrow, Pandro Sokolow Construction, Nakao Construction and Fred Leeds Property Management.
   Sponsorships of classes this academic year are $300 per class. Businesses can call the school at (310) 452-2364 for more information or send a check payable to “WILL ROGERS PTA” to Adopt-A-Class Program, Will Rogers Learning Community, 2401 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405.