General Information | Calendar | Tours | FAQ

Information for Incoming New Students

We’d like to welcome you to Sherman Oaks Elementary School.

Sherman Oaks Elementary offers children an excellent education and prepares them for middle school and beyond. This is largely due to highly trained and dedicated teachers and staff, along with programs that teach respectfulness, responsibility, and safety, all the qualities needed to be successful in life. On top of our excellent school-wide academic program, Sherman Oaks has a board certified School for Advanced Studies Program (SAS/GATE) for students who are gifted or highly gifted.

Sherman Oaks Parent Association (SOPA) is extremely involved and helps to raise funds to support a multitude of enrichment programs and extras for the school. Some of these programs include a full-time nurse, a computer lab and tech teacher, a Physical Education program, art and music programs, and special after school classes, such as art, sports, cooking, and other fun activities for students. In addition, there is after school care if needed.

If you would like to learn more about Sherman Oaks Elementary School, you can:

1- sign up to be part of the Incoming Kindergarten newsgroup by emailing Deborah Cabanday at Kinder@shermanoaksparents.com
2- join the SOPA email blasts by clicking and signing up here
3- join us for one of our monthly tours (more information below).

We also have planned Incoming Kinder playdates on the Kindergarten yard so children and parents can get to know one another before the school year begins. Below is a calendar of events for those of you who would like to learn more about the school.

Please visit the Campus & Maps page in the About SOES section for maps, directions, and the school's neighborhood boundaries.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SOPA Meetings – Last Tuesday of each month at 6:45 pm in the library; usually 1 - 1.5 hrs.
All incoming parents are invited to attend. See school Calendar to confirm meeting dates.

Incoming Kinder Events:

Kinder Playdates -- TBD for prospective families entering 2009-10
~meet the other parents and children
~become familiar with the kindergarten playground
~snacks and drinks will be provided by SOPA (Sherman Oaks Parents Association)

Incoming Kinder Wine & Cheese Event
Planned for February 11, 2009, in the evening.
For Prospective Families, at a local home close to the school.
~meet other parents, Kindergarten teachers, and Administration; discuss the Kindergarten year at SOES
~enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beverages, pleasant conversation, and enlightening discussion

Kindergarten/New Student 2009-10 Orientation
(for families attending SOES September 2009)
Planned for Friday, June 12, 2009, 2:30pm at the school.

For more info, please RSVP with name, number of attendees, and contact information to
Deborah Cabanday at kinder@shermanoaksparents.com

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SCHOOL TOURS
Tours are held once every month October through June (no reservation required), usually on the first Thursday of the month.

Below is the current schedule. Please check back in case of changes.

Like many things at the school, the tours are organized and lead by parent volunteers. There will be an overview of the school, new student enrollment, a walking tour viewing classrooms in action, all concluding with a sit down chat with our principal, Mrs. Kerry Harr. Learn about our School for Advanced Studies, SOPA funded Art, Music, Computer Lab, PE, Nurse, and Kindergarten Science Enrichment programs, as well as after school offerings like our Kids Center on-site child care and Super School elective classes. Throughout the tour, you will hear about the school from the parents', teachers', and principal's points of view and experiences, offering you all angles as you explore the school for your family.

Tours begin at 8:30 a.m. and usually last until 10 or 10:30, though the parents and principal are often available beyond that for further questions, chatting, or general tom-foolery.

Please mind the street signs while parking, as the local parking patrol is vigilant. And, sorry, but there is no parking in the staff parking lot -- that is reserved for our revered teachers and administration.

See you soon!

2008-09 CAMPUS TOUR SCHEDULE

10/02/08, 11/06/08, 12/04/08, 1/15/09, 2/5/09, 3/5/09, 4/2/09, 5/7/09 and 6/4/09

Please view the school Calendar to confirm tour dates, and contact the school office with any questions.

***When visiting Sherman Oaks Elementary, please pay attention to the posted parking regulations on the streets that surround our school.
We suggest not parking on the South side of Greenleaf on Thursdays due to street cleaning restrictions.
SCHOOL PARKING LOT IS FOR FACULTY ONLY.
Please respect our esteemed staff; ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE TOWED

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Incoming Student FAQs

Q: What is the first day of school like?

For Kindergarten, on the first day of school, you will need to park your car and walk your child into school.  You will be allowed to stay with your child and help them get adjusted to their new school and classroom.  Some teachers are okay with letting you stay a little bit.  Others prefer to have the parents leave as soon as it is possible.   

For First grade students or higher, you may either use Stop, Drop and Roll to drop your child or you may park and walk your child into school.  If you have already filled out the Volunteer Form and had your TB test, you may stay with your child, otherwise you may only drop off.

Q: How recent does the TB test have to be?

For new parents to the school, the TB test has to be taken within the last 6 months.  If you are a returning parent, the TB test has to be re-taken every 4 years.

Q: Does SOES have weekly early dismissals for teacher meetings, or is the school day 8:10 to 2:29 for all five days of the week?

At the beginning of school, we do not have any early dismissal days.  But once school gets in full swing, sometime in October, early dismissals begin, which are on Tuesdays (1:29 dismissal). Check the school Calendar for the specific date that early dismissals begin.

Q: About what time do they serve the late breakfast snack, and do most kindergarteners participate in it, or is it usually for kids who were dropped off early?

There are different times depending on whether or not your child is in the first or second recess/lunch.  But figure it is anywhere between 9:50 and 10:30. All Kindergarteners have the opportunity to eat snack. They can bring a packed snack or purchase the Cafeteria's snack for $0.60. After snack, the children play during their first recess.

Q: Do most kindergartners get the school lunch or bring from home?

It's probably about 50/50. Visit the Cafeteria page for more info on school lunches.

Q: For those who bring lunches, can the kids buy just drinks at school, or do we need to pack those as well?

You should pack a drink.

Q: Are there any bans on certain foods (like peanuts, for example)?

No.

Q: Is it too late to enroll in the after care or enrichment programs, or do we get more information on those at the orientation?

Check with Kids Center for the After Care program at (818) 986-4121 to see if they still have availability.  The enrichment program, Super School, will have sign-ups once school starts.  A letter will go home in your child's backpack. Visit the Kids Center and Super School pages in the AFTER SCHOOL section of this site for more info on both programs.

Q: Will there be times when we can meet with the principal where we can ask questions?

Feel free to ask questions at the Sep. 2nd Orientation.  Once school begins, you can set up appointments to meet with Mrs. Harr.  In addition, Mrs. Harr holds a morning "Coffee with the Principal" every month; check the School Calendar for dates. Mrs. Harr is also usually available at the end of the monthly school tours for discussion.

Q: How can I get more involved with the school?

If you want to be involved, please contact me (Debbie Cabanday) or anyone on the SOPA board to let them know you want to help out, and visit the Volunteering page of this site. We will also have volunteer sign-ups at the Ice Cream Social the first Friday of school as well as at many other school events.  We encourage everyone to get involved with the school as it is both enriching and lots of fun.  Some areas you may want to get involved are helping out in the classroom (be a room parent), attending SOPA Meetings (after all, we are all SOPA), and helping with school activities and fundraisers.  The big fundraisers that require a lot of parent participation are the Halloween Carnival (so much fun!!!), Jog-a-thon, and the Silent Auction Dinner Dance (really great!).  Even smaller fundraisers, like weekly pizza sales and ice cream sales depend on parent volunteers.  Homework club and Student Drop-off, called Stop, Drop and Roll, also require parent participation.  There are many, many areas for involvement and I have found it to be very rewarding to be a part of enriching my child's education. 

Q: What are the different ways to make a monetary contribution to the school?

For cash donations, we accept cash, checks made payable to SOPA, or you may make a payment through PayPal on this site.  It is also possible to set up a payment plan through PayPal to make monthly donations. Visit the Make a Gift page in the SUPPORT section for more info.

Q: How do we get on the email / newsletter list  for the school?

When school is in session, the SOPA board sends out email updates and notices to parents who have signed up on the website.  To add your name to the list, please do the following:
1) Go the SOPA BLAST SIGN UP page  
2) Fill out the information and submit
3) You should receive a confirmation email
4) Reply to the email confirming your enrollment.  You must reply, otherwise you will not be registered.

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