First grade teacher Jean De Longe didn’t waste any time when she arrived at the Brentwood Elementary School Science Magnet early Wednesday morning. Her mission is to rebuild the classrooms lost in the fire that swept through much of the Palisades.
De Long, who taught at Palisades Charter Elementary School for 11 years, was feeling a little tired as she tried to figure out how to get her big new rug and box of school supplies from the sidewalk to her new classroom at the end of a long hallway. . Other evacuated teachers rushed past, their arms loaded with boxes they had brought with them. Some people were crying in pain, but most were extremely cheerful.
Honestly, is there anyone in this world better than an elementary school teacher?
In just over a week, the Los Angeles Unified School District figured out how to resume classes for students at two nearby charter elementary schools that burned down: Palisades Elementary School and Marquez Elementary School. The Palisades students will be in Brentwood for at least the remainder of the school year, while the Marquez children will be at Nora Sterry Elementary School in the nearby Sawtelle neighborhood.
Ruins of Palisades Charter Elementary School destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
(Jason Almond/Los Angeles Times)
Palisades Principal Juliette Herman has been flying around the Brentwood campus, staying in touch with students and teachers while fielding short visits from the technology team and LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho. Eight members of her staff and a significant portion of her 410 students were left homeless. Brentwood Schools was able to provide them with 20 classrooms.
How long did Herman think they would stay in Brentwood?
“I’m trying to make plans for the end of today,” she answered. “That’s what my brain can do.”
In De Ronge’s classroom, I grabbed a pair of scissors, cut the plastic packaging for the new rug, and laid it out on the hardwood floor. The brightly colored concentric circles quickly become occupied as kids come down for story time and games like Jenga. The rug was an important touch. It was exactly what they had lost.
De Ronger set up desks for four people, each with a name plate. The new class’s birthday calendar was posted on the wall next to the door.
She also taped pink and red hearts to the door with the first names of each of her children: Ozzie, Rivers, Coy, Peyton and Lennon. (How far we have come from the Nancys, Lindas and Steves of my youth!)
There were 21 hearts in total, but only 12 students came to school that day. Some people never return, De Long said. One family moved to Phoenix and another to Santa Barbara.
First graders evacuated from Palisades Charter Elementary School in Brentwood Elementary School Science Magnet.
(Robin Abkyrian/Los Angeles Times)
“Could you tell me two numbers that make up 12?” Mr. de Long asked, taking attendance. “What is 12 plus 12?”
A stack of envelopes on the teacher’s desk contained handmade cards from children at Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica. “Dear friend, have fun at your new school.” I hope it goes well. Don’t be nervous, it’s a shame that your school was burned down. I love you, Story.
Jake Takeuchi wandered in with his father, James, and spent 90 minutes in IKEA hell building a mailbox organizer for his class. Most of the new supplies came from parents looking forward to getting their children back to school, but many people forwarded De Long’s wish list to friends, and she shared it with strangers. They received donations from people. The district also awarded each teacher a $500 Amazon gift card.
After checking out their new desks, the children lined up like ducklings behind De Longer, who took them on a tour of the school (mainly to find a place to use the bathroom).
Unlike the Palisades classroom, this one has a back door that opens onto a spacious patio with a large garden box. Mr. de Ronge’s mother, Marcia Paonessa, is a landscape designer who worked as a gardener at the Palisades, and her children will revive the planters, which were dotted with blue and green aquarium pebbles and large, very beautiful plants. De Long hopes he can help. dead goldfish.
During story time, Mr. De Long took out a new book, “Ira Sleeps Over,” from the bookshelf. It’s about a little kid who wants to bring his teddy bear to a slumber party, but is worried that his friend Reggie will make fun of him. (Spoiler alert: Reggie also has a teddy bear.)
“What a wonderful story,” DeLong said. “I’m curious, first-year students. Is there anything at home that gives you peace of mind?”
“My brother has a pet owl named Hootie,” said one little boy. “I have it too. I wanted to take it to where we were staying, but my mom couldn’t find it.”
That was the first hint of fire and evacuation that morning.
First-graders evacuated from Palisades Charter Elementary School are in new classrooms at Brentwood Elementary School Science Magnet.
(Robin Abkyrian/Los Angeles Times)
Soon, the third-grade “reading buddies” came in from classrooms down the hall, and the group settled down to create some art.
I thought the children would create scenes of fire and destruction. Instead, the first-grade girls drew unicorns, hearts, and bumblebees, and the boys drew Roblox and “Squid Game” figures.
Several third-year female students talked about the fire.
“My house is being built,” said one. “But my whole neighborhood burned down.”
A 9-year-old boy from Santa Monica said: “If I had to evacuate, I would take three suitcases with me: one with clothes, one with squishmallows, and one with skin care products.”
I looked over the other girl’s shoulder. She was drawing a dolphin, the mascot of her alma mater. She added two words below the dolphin: “Pali forever.”
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