I love living in Culver City.
While Madeline Erhlich and I were handing out flyers for Laura Chardiet at Farragut School the other day, I bumped into several parent volunteers I had the pleasure of working with over the years.
Lisa Levin was all dressed in red, pulling her red wagon and little red gifts, ready to give to the students who won the Red Ribbon Week poster contest. They had a record number of entries this year. I had just talked with her husband, Steve Levin, who said he and Lisa had seen Laura at the Candidates Forum a couple of weeks ago. Both believe Laura will do a great job on the School Board. He asked for a lawn sign.
While we were chatting, Madeline and Peggy Kharraz were telling me they met at El Marino Park 34 years ago when their daughters were babies. Their daughters went through Elementary, Middle and High School together.
Madeline now is a grandmother. They said I should check out the yoga class at the Senior Center. It’s only $5 a class and the teacher is great. I had no idea I could now qualify for membership at the Senior Center, or that I really want to admit that I can qualify for membership at the Senior Center. But the idea of a yoga class with a great teacher on Tuesday afternoons might actually fit the bill.
Last week I attended the parent forum on the Capital Improvements projects for the Robert Frost Auditorium. There was a room full of all the best known hard-working volunteers in Culver City schools. From Supt. Patti Jaffe’s invitation, they filled the room with questions, suggestions and energy. It was great to see so many assembled in support of and concern for Robert Frost improvements and a superintendent who facilitated the process of community input with the promise to have more.
As I was writing this letter, I received a “message from our principal” that goes to all families at the high school from our new principal, Dylan Farris. He spent about five minutes outlining what costumes the kids can and can’t wear (revealing clothing and masks) and can’t bring (pretend weapons) for Halloween. And, he gave the media lab mention at the end, the project that has been consuming my time over the last several weeks.
Per Dylan’s vision and that of the teachers in ROP and AVPA, we are embarking on trying to raise $50,000 this year to install a state of the art “media lab” so the kids can take classes in sound engineering, graphics design, film editing — just like the folks down the street at Sony.
Ya know….life is good in Culver City.
It’s really a great place to live and raise our kids. We have a very involved community.
Remember to vote next Tuesday for the School Board election.
Did you know very few parents actually vote?
The average age of voters is 51.
It is important to make the extra effort to get to the polls. If you don't know your polling place, go to www.lavote.net/locator
Bonnie Wacker, mother to two girls in Culver City Middle School and Culver City High School, may be contacted at bonniewacker@yahoo.com
Our Loss Is the Community’s Gain
From Heather Moses
I am voting for Laura Chardiet for School Board next Tuesday because I have had the opportunity to work with her and see her in action.
I can't imagine someone who is more qualified, energetic and passionate about our kids than Laura.
Even though she is no longer a parent at La Ballona School, her presence is felt at our monthly PTA meetings, and at annual events such as the Taste of La Ballona, at the International Dinner and in all of the beautification projects (the tile wall and Hands Around La Ballona) that were created under her leadership.
Her children have moved on to the upper grades, but everyone in the La Ballona community continues to benefit from the many volunteer hours, endless creative vision and leadership of Laura Chardiet.
While a true leader left our school when she moved on to the Middle School and high school, Laura left La Ballona in such great shape that we are all proud to be continuing the work she started.
Our loss is truly the community's gain.
Her leadership in the Council PTA shows her commitment to all students in the District. She is a team player who knows how to listen to all sides of an issue and to work with everyone so they not only feel heard but actually have an investment in the solution.
We are so lucky to have Laura Chardiet as a School Board candidate.
I am looking forward to voting for her on Nov. 8.
Ms. Moses may be contacted at hemoses@msn.com
