News 2022-2023

On Friday, June 2, 2023, the Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP) sponsored a Masquerade MORP. It was one of many BSAP-sponsored events this school year, including a Leadership Conference, Kwanzaa celebration, mentorship programs for boys and for girls, the School Yard Rap assembly, and multiple field trips.

A MORP ("prom" spelled backwards) is a dress-up dance.

Posted 6/8/23

Doug Eastman, Rashid Orange, and Evan Pohle

On June 3, 2023, three 7th graders from Palms won the first-ever LAUSD Level Up! Minecraft Competition, beating other middle school teams as well as high school teams, totaling almost 800 students throughout the school district. They competed through two playoff rounds before wining the championship.

The contest challenged LAUSD students to design safe,
connected, equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Congratulations to Doug, Rashid, and Evan!

Posted 6/5/23

You can help the students in Ms. Assefa's classroom by donating to her DonorsChoose campaign.

Her goal, using classroom decor such as lamps, pillows, storage bins, and student rewards, is to create a space that fosters creativity, organization, comfort, and motivation.

To date, DonorsChoose has raised $73,231 for Palms teachers.

Posted 6/3/23

Seventh grade families are invited to a Zoom session called Get Ready for 8th Grade! on Thursday, June 1, 2023 starting at 5:00pm.

Posted Posted 5/31/23

There is no school on Monday, May 29, 2023, for Memorial Day.

Have a great holiday!

Posted 5/27/23

The Art in the Afternoon after-school class had its annual Art in the Afternoon Art Show on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 in the Library.

We're prepared a slideshow with over 3 dozen works of art by Palms students.

Many students are posing with their artwork, and some with their parents too. Instrumental music students played accompaniment as parents and other visitors admired the artwork.

Thank you to Ms. Goldin and Ms. Purdy, our Art in the Afternoon teachers.

Posted 5/26/23

The Nurse's Office has only beige-colored bandages for students, but Palms students have many different skin tones. We're proud of the diversity of our students, so Ms. Girvan wants to supply our students with bandages that match a variety of skin tones. Your donation to her DonorsChoose campaign will help achieve this goal!

To date, DonorsChoose has raised $73,013 for Palms students.

Posted 5/26/23

The 2022-2023 Palms Yearbooks are arriving. Those who ordered their copy online can pick it up, and others can purchase a copy.

If you purchased a 2023 Yearbook online:

• Pick up your Yearbook at the Student Store on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, before school or at break or lunch. Bring your Student ID card to sign for and receive your Yearbook.

If you did not purchase a 2023 Yearbook online:

• Bring $40 (cash only) to the Student Store, with your Student ID card, starting on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at lunchtime, to purchase a Yearbook, while supplies last.

Posted 5/26/23

On Friday, May 19, 2023, Craft in America came to the art classes of Ms. Goldin to give lessons on quilting, inspired by the Quilts of Gee’s Bend in Alabama.

Famous quilt maker and artist Joe Cunningham came from San Francisco to teach Palms art students how to make quilts.

⮕ Check out the slideshow on the Art elective page

Posted 5/20/23

Palms families and the Palms community are invited to the Substance & Fentanyl Abuse Awareness Workshop on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 5:30pm to 6:00pm.

Posted 5/17/23

The Bruin Experiment, an after-school program created by UCLA, is sponsoring a Virtual College Info Night on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

The Zoom session will provide discussions about how to make higher education a practical and financial possibility, so students will know that there are many different and equally amazing paths to getting a college degree, and the pros and cons of different college options.

You must register for the event:

Participating schools:

• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of California, San Diego
• West LA Community College
• Accept Leaders
• Foothill Community College
• University of San Francisco

Posted 5/16/23

A Palms 7th grader won recognition and a Barnes & Noble gift card while placing 3rd in an essay contest run by the Dr. Barbara Seniors Harkins Foundation.

The contest asked students this question:

Imagine that you could give advice to someone—it could be someone you know personally, a historical figure, or a famous person living today. Write an essay that identifies the person and the advice you would give. Choose a familiar subject so that you can provide details and explain why this person needs your advice.

The Dr. Barbara Seniors Harkins Foundation is a non-profit organization established "to strengthen the minds of youths to a new dimension through education."

Posted 5/11/23

Parents of students the Winds & Percussion and Strings electives, taught by Ms. Jones, are invited to the Winds and Strings Concert on Thursday, May 11, 2023, starting at 6:30pm.

Students who were beginners on their instruments at the start of the school year will show you what they've accomplished and what they've learned this year.

Posted 5/10/23

Parents of GATE and SAS students are invited to a meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.

You can learn about GATE categories, GATE referrals, the Palms math pathways, and SAS.

Posted 5/8/23

The Instrumental Spring Concert, with performances by Band and Orchestra students, is Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 6:00pm in the Auditorium.

Posted 5/3/23

On Wednesday April 26, 2023, young-adult fiction author Sandra L. Rostirolla visited Palms to talk to English students about her book "Making Friends With Monsters."

Ms. Rostirolla shared how she overcame some intense childhood tragedies and discussed her writing process and the importance of bringing humor into your life, no matter what you are going through.

April 2023

Posted 5/2/23

The 8th grade panorama picture is available for $35 at the Student Store during the week of May 1-5, 2023. You must bring cash.

You can pick a panorama picture Order Form from the Counseling Office or from your homeroom teacher. You can also order online for direct delivery.

Posted 5/1/23

Palms applied for and has now received a $5000 grant for improvements to the Palms Garden.

The grant was awarded by a philanthropic organization that has chosen to remain anonymous.

Our garden instructor, botanist Perry "Happy" Balian, says that this opportunity will bring some of the natural world to the young scholars at Palms.

Posted 5/1/23

LAUSD has announced the Summer School schedule and locations for Summer 2023.

Summer School will take place at Palms Middle School from Monday, June 26 to Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Submit your application using your Parent Portal login, or pick up an application at Palms.

For more information, see the LAUSD Summer School website.

Other after-school program information:

• Beyond the Bell After School Application: English • Spanish
• LA’s BEST Application (English/Spanish)
• LAUSD Publicity Authorization and Release (English/Spanish)

Posted 5/1/23

Ms. Hunter, teacher of the Yearbook elective, reminds everyone to pre-order the 2022-2023 Yearbook -- the only way to guarantee that you'll get a copy.

You can order the Yearbook at the Jostens website, by phoning Jostens at 1-877-767-5217, or by scanning the QR code on the Yearbook Purchases page.

Yearbook elective students are making murals, flyers, and posters, like the one above, to call attention to the Yearbook pre-order period.

Posted 4/27/23

Students in the Ballet Folklórico elective will give a performance for their fellow students in assembles on Thursday April 27, 2023.

They will give an evening performance for the Palms community on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 6:00pm in the Auditorium. Admission is free, although seating is limited.

Grupo Folkórico de UCLA will also perform.

⬇ Download flyer

Posted 4/27/23

Palms parents are invited to Coffee With the Principal on Friday, April 28, 2023, starting at 8:30am.

You'll learn what's going on at Palms, what's coming up, and be able to ask any questions you have.

Posted 4/27/23

There is no school on Monday, April 24, 2023. LAUSD has designated this day to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

School resumes on Tuesday, April 25, when there will be both a Local School Leadership Council meeting, at 4:00pm, and an English Learner Advisory Committee meeting, at 5:00pm.

Posted 4/23/23

Students in the Modern Media and Communications Magnet Theatre Arts elective, led by Mr. Flores, put on a drama performance on Thursday, April 10, 2023.

See the slideshow on the Drama Production page

The show, titled Box, dealt with the boxes that students find themselves in due to the expectations of parents, teachers, their fellow students, society, and even themselves

A beautifully decorated box represented parental expectations to have a perfect child. A box with no top showed that each of us is incomplete. But we can be incomplete together!

Congratulations to our drama students

and thank you to Mr. Flores!

Posted 4/20/23

The Modern Media and Communications Magnet's Introduction to Theatre Arts elective is taught by Mr. Flores.

Students in this class will give a drama performance on Thursday, April 202, 2023, starting 6:00pm in the Auditorium.

Posted 4/19/23

All Palms parents and Fall 2023 prospective Palms parents are invited to the Friends of Palms/PTSA meeting on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, starting at 6:30pm.

You will hear from the Palms administrators and Friends of Palms leaders about what's happening at Palms, hear about volunteer opportunities for the 2023-2024 school year, and have a chance to volunteer.

Posted 4/17/23

It's time to order the 2022-2023 Yearbook. Ordering now is the only way to guarantee that you'll get a copy.

You're in it, your friends are in it, and your memories of the 2022-2023 school year are in it!

You can order the 2023 Yearbook at the Jostens website, by phoning Jostens at 1-877-767-5217, or by scanning the QR code on the Yearbook Purchases page.

Yearbook orders may be accepted later, at the Student Store, but only while supplies last. Since we may run out of copies, ordering ahead of time is the only way to guarantee your copy.

Posted 4/16/23

Signups are now open for the 2023 Special Education summer school program, called Extended School Year (ESY).

⬇ Download the instructions in English and Spanish

Posted 4/13/23

140 eighth grade students took a field trip to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 as part of a career studies activity. In preparation for the field trip, students took career surveys to identify the areas in which they were most interested for future careers.

Students visited booths where employers offered information about their businesses, for everything from finance to construction management to computer services.

The event, called JA SoCal Inspire 2023, was sponsored by Junior Achievement of Southern California and Delta Airlines.

Posted 4/12/23

Some of the eighth grade students who went on the Class Trip to Philadelphia and Washington DC (April 1 to 7, 2023) wrote about what they liked best or what they learned:

Something I enjoyed while on the East Coast was the memorials. The memorials were great. Also, the food was good on the East Coast. The overall experience was great.

- Dominic B.

I loved the baby goats at Mount Vernon but my favorite part was "Shear Madness."

- Harper C.

A highlight of the trip was when we went to the Kennedy Center to watch Shear Madness. I really enjoyed this show, and the view we saw on the balcony of the Kennedy Center was gorgeous.

- Jillian H.

The DC and Philadelphia trip allowed me to create strong bonds with the other students on the trip. I had a lot of fun exploring the east coast with my friends.

- Iliana M.

Something I enjoyed about the east coast was being able to better understand how our nation’s military and government work. I really enjoyed seeing the White House, and the play "Shear Madness."

- Katie R.

Read the Trip Journal

Posted 4/10/23

Mr. Enriquez, Palms Principal, sends weekly reminders that include this message about social media:

The use of social media affects us all. Whether it is for news and updates from family or friends or just for leisure passing the time. Either way, it greatly affects our students and can have detrimental impacts on their future.

All caring adults should share the importance of creating boundaries and posting on social media.

Here are some resources to explicitly and candidly have a conversation with our students about the proper use of social media.

• 10 Top Things to Think About Before You Post
• SafeBook (English)
• SafeBook (Spanish)

Summary: Top 10 Things to Think About Before You Post

1. Remember the golden rule
2. Don't brag
3. Avoid TMI (too much information)
4. Think about the reader
5. Keep relationship details to yourself
6. Don't be cryptic
7. Quit complaining
8. Curate your photos
9. Change your privacy settings
10. Post smart!

Posted 4/10/23

8th grade students at the Supreme Court

You can follow the students on the 2023 Eighth Grade Class Trip to Philadelphia and Washington DC by reading the Trip Journal.

On each day from April 1 to April 7, you can learn where students have been what they visited, and see photos like the one above.

The Trip Journal is updated each day.

Posted 4/3/23

Students taking advantage of Palms Clamors

When students are feeling too relaxed and comfortable, they can recover by coming to Palms Clamors, a special section of Room 411.

In Palms Clamors, students can make as much noise as they want, to help them get over that easy-going feeling. They can yell, shout into a megaphone, play a blast on a trumpet, bang pots and pans, or try their hand with the jackhammer.

If they prefer action, they can bounce on a trampoline, swing around the room, or invent their own ways to go wild and cause chaos.

Once students are really wound up, no longer feeling so chill, they can return to their normal classrooms.

If you have questions about Palms Clamors, contact School Mayhem Coordinator Ms. Havoc.

Happy April 1 from Palms Middle School!

Posted 4/1/23

Art in the Afternoon after-school classes are usually on Wednesday. However, for the week of April 10-15, the class will be on Monday, April 10, 2023. There will be no Art in the Afternoon class on Wednesday, April 12.

The remaining Art in the Afternoon classes will be

• April 10
• April 19
• April 26
• May 3

The End-of-Year Art Show will be in May, on a date to be announced.

Posted 3/31/23

Thursday, March 30, 2023, is a Minimum Day. Dismissal will be at 12:21pm.

There is no school on Friday, March 31, 2023 for César Chávez Day.

Spring Break is the week of April 3 to 7, 2023.

School will resume on Monday, April 10, 2023.

Posted 3/29/23

The Palms Beautification Day on Saturday March 25, 2023 was a great success. We have many thank-yous to share:

Karen Cavassani organized the event and the deliveries.

Shachar Lavi designed 5 new banners that line the walkway to the 6th grade area.

Charles Almada helped coordinate Anawalt Lumber's donation of soil and planting materials.

Friends of Palms donated the plants and the new banners.
Ms. Arevelo created the video above.

Thank you to Mr. Enriquez, Ms. Gigi, our custodian Josh, and all of our students and parents for working so hard on Saturday!

Sixth grade student volunteers:

• Issac E.
• Alessandro G.
• Spencer H.
• Danilo H.
• Aanya K.
• Abby R.

Seventh Grade student volunteers:

• Ashley A.
• Ariana B.
• Topaz B.
• Kenyae B.
• Haley C.
• Logan D.
• Doug E.
• Riley E.
• Lukah H.
• Willa H.
• Gabriel H.
• Khloe H.
• Benjamin K.
• Aditi K.
• Alekxa M.
• Aurora M.
• Evan P.
• Eli P.
• Alexander R.
• Elysiah S.
• Moa S.
• Nanom W.
• Aaron Y.

Eighth Grade student volunteers:

• Nathan B.
• Eleanor B.
• Laila C.
• Kahea C.
• Ash E.
• Tyron F.
• Eugenie H.
• Yareli R.
• Carlos S.
• Trinity T.

Our apologies to any student volunteer who we failed to mention above.

More we can do

We have plants and soil left. Please let Friends of Palms know if you would like to volunteer to work with our garden coordinator to do additional planting during a school day.

Posted 3/27/23

More than a dozen art students of Ms. Goldin have been selected to exhibit their art at the L.A. Convergence Art Show, presented by Unity Earth, on Tuesday March 28, 2023.

These students will participate:

Sixth graders:

• Harshadha Doddi
• Isaac Elias
• Rejeanne Facey
• Brandon Huerta
• Ulyana Kurylovich
• Jazlene Mendez
• Salem Mesele
• Roxana Santiago

Seventh graders:

• Lucille Bornand
• Topaz Brand
• Alyssa Ho
• Kennedy Joseph
• Phaedra Lindner
• Eleanor Shin

Eighth graders:

• Deborah Orogbemi
• Hailey Raucho
• Grace Villegas

Posted 3/27/23

Palms families: Please have your child join us for Acceleration Days on the first two weekdays of Spring Break: Monday, April 3 and Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Whether your student is interested in enrichment or needs additional academic support, Acceleration Days provide a benefit to all. LAUSD is offering enrichment, exploration, discovery, and personalized academic support in reading and math.

Sign up in the Parent Portal.

⬇ Download flyer

To learn more, attend one of these Acceleration Days Zoom meetings:

• Monday, March 27,  12:00pm to 1:00pm
• Tuesday, March 28, 9:00am to 10:00am
• Tuesday, March 28, 5:30pm to 6:30pm
• Wednesday, March 29, 10:00am to 11:00am

⮕ Zoom link

Posted 3/24/23

Prospective Palms Middle School students and their families are invited to attend Visitors Day on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, from 3:45pm to 5:45pm. Start on the central quad, see the campus, and learn everything you want to know about Palms.

Registration is not required.

There will be a separate Visitors Day event for fifth grade Special Education students and their families, from 1:30pm to 3:00pm on the same day, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. School will be in session and you will be able to visit Special Education classrooms and hear about the Special Education programs at Palms. For this Special Education event, you must pre-register:

⮕ Register for Special Education Visitors Day

Posted 3/24/23

The Palms Gear Store ordering deadline has been extended to Friday, March 31, 2023. Order your Palms shirts, bottoms, and headwear now before time runs out.

Order online using PayPal or a credit card, with either delivery to Palms or shipment to your home. Keep in mind that Palms Gear is listed in adult sizes.

Important! — If you prefer free delivery to school, choose FREE- Pick Up From Palms during checkout and be sure to put the student's name and homeroom in the Notes field. Deliveries to Palms will be in April.

Posted 3/23/23

Please join the Palms community by helping us plant, mulch, weed, and clean up the school grounds on Beautification Day: Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 9:00am to 12:30pm.

Parents, students, siblings, friends, and neighbors can all do their part. We have shovels, rakes, and brooms ready to go. All we need is people-power!

With soil and fertilizer donated by Anawalt Lumber, and plants we've purchased, we'll be planting Aeonium, Azalea, Hibuscus, Lantana, Plumbago, and Date Palms.

Posted 3/23/23

For LAUSD Region West middle school students, Beyond the Bell is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm at this location:

Berendo Middle School

1157 S. Berendo Street

Los Angeles, CA  90006

Berendo Middle School is one block south of West Olympic Blvd. and two blocks west of Vermont Avenue in the Koreatown/Pico Union area.

Posted 3/21/23

The following Grab and Go locations are available for LAUSD District West:

Pan Pacific Sports Complex

7600 Beverly Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Baldwin Hills Recreation Center

5401 Highlight Place

Los Angeles, CA 90016

Mar Vista Boys and Girls Club

4901 Marionwood Drive

Culver City, CA 90230

Posted 3/21/23

School is closed to students from Tuesday, March 21 to Thursday, March 23, 2003 during a work stoppage.

Students may complete activities in Schoology by logging in at lms.lausd.net. For additional resources, including a Family and Student Resource Guide, tutoring programs, and a list of free museums, please visit achieve.lausd.net/schoolupdates.

Students and parents can contact the school using Zoom if they have questions or need assistance with assignments. Zoom is being monitored from 8:30am to 3:30pm during the days of the work stoppage. You can also call the LAUSD hotline.

Posted 3/21/23

From Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 31, 2023, you can again buy Palms shirts, bottoms, and headwear from the Palms Gear Store.

Order online using PayPal or a credit card, with either delivery to Palms or shipment to your home. Keep in mind that Palms Gear is listed in adult sizes.

Important! — If you prefer free delivery to school, choose FREE- Pick Up From Palms during checkout and be sure to put the student's name and homeroom in the Notes field. Deliveries to Palms will be in April.

Posted 3/13/23

You can help students of Mrs. Romero by donating any amount to the Updated Tech for Engaging Lessons! fundraiser at DonorsChoose. The goal is buy equipment for use with Schoology, Khan Academy, Minecraft Education, and other middle school educational platforms.

To date, DonorsChoose has raised $71,454 for Palms teachers!

Posted 3/9/23

Be sure to set your clocks forward one hour on Sunday, March 12, 2023, for the start of Daylight Saving Time.

This is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms too.

Posted 3/9/23

Selected student musicians from the Palms instrumental music program, taught by Ms. Jones, will perform at the Chamber Music Concert on Thursday, March 9, 2023, starting at 6:00pm in the Auditorium.

All Palms families are invited to attend.

The concert will be repeated for Palms students in assemblies on Friday, March 10.

Posted 3/8/23

Every parent should be familiar with the attendance rules on the Attendance and Absences page.

For example:

• If your child is absent or going to be absent, see the instructions for informing the school before an expected absence or after an unexpected absence.
• If you have to pick up your child for a medical appointment during the school day, phone Student Services to let them know ahead of time, then pick up the student before or after their P.E. class.

• Check with teachers about missed schoolwork.

  The student can complete assignments or tests for full credit whenever possible.

These details are more are on the Attendance and Absences page.

Posted 3/7/23

Prime Time Games is a full-inclusion, peer-mentor sports program where Team Prime Time students coach and play alongside children with developmental disabilities. The games give at-risk middle school students the opportunity to give back to their community by creating an invaluable social and recreational environment, with both “athlete” and “coach” enjoying benefits that last a lifetime.

Practices begin on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Palms students can sign up for the program now.

Posted 3/7/23

Miles Aaronson, Natalia Romero, and Amaya Holland

Each month, Palms faculty and staff select a student from each grade who they feel excels in and out of the classroom, including for extracurricular activities. Leadership students provide each Student of the Month with a certificate and other prizes.

The three Students of the Month for February 2023 are

Miles Aaronson (6th grade)

Natalia Romero (7th grade)

Amaya Holland (8th grade)

Visit the Students of the Month page to read about Miles', Natalia's, and Amaya's favorite subjects, best Palms memories, interests, and heroes! You can also see them in the Feburary Students of the Month video.

Congratulations to our fantastic students of the month!

Posted 3/6/23

Palms is holding a school-wide bookmark design contest. All students are invited to participate.

The contest coincides with National Reading Month (March 2023), which motivates Americans of all ages to read every day. Reading is fun and has many benefits, regardless of your age.

Contest Rules

• Download the submission form and use it to create an original bookmark design.
• The design should promote reading, libraries, and/or books, using any art medium (markers, colored pencils, crayons, water colors, oil pastels, digital, etc.)
• One winner will be chosen for each grade level.
• Winning entries will be printed on full-color bookmarks and distributed in the Library throughout the year.
• Each winner will receive a gift card from Barnes & Noble Bookstore and printed copies of their bookmark to share with family and friends.
• The contest deadline is Thursday, March 30, 2023.

Posted 3/6/23

Read Across America Day is Thursday, March 2, 2023.

The White House has issued a presidential proclamation saying

On Read Across America Day, our Nation recognizes the value of literacy to our democracy. We celebrate the books that inspire our children to dream big, expand the limits of their understanding, and explore diverse perspectives and cultures through the eyes of others.

and

On Read Across America Day and every day, let us nurture our children with the resources and support they need to become proficient and passionate readers. Let us make books accessible, reading fun, and education meaningful. Let us continue striving to put the next generation of Americans on a path of lifelong learning and limitless possibilities.

Students looking for great books to read can talk to their English teacher, talk to Palms Librarian Mr. Frankel, and check out the award-winning books on our CYRM Reading Contest web page.

Posted 3/2/23

Not all students need a parent-teacher conference, so Palms teachers will be reaching out to the parents of students who are in need of academic intervention, based on the 10-week report card.
At other times, parents can contact teachers or counselors to inquire about the need for a conference.

Conferences will be held by appointment only.

Posted 2/27/23

Students who feel stressed or overwhelmed can talk to their counselor and/or come to Palms Calms, a space that offers them a chance to refocus and alleviate possible stressors in a quiet atmosphere.

Palms Calms is in Room 114, right across from the Main Entrance.

Posted 2/27/23

The Palms Middle School community is invited to attend Coffee With the Principal on Friday, February 24, 2023, starting at 8:30am.

Principal Mr. Enriquez will be at a separate meeting at this time, so Assistant Principal Mr. Jauregui will lead the meeting.

Posted 2/23/23

On Friday, February 24, 2023, Palms students will put on the Black History Month Musical Legends Show in the auditorium, for their fellow students.

Sixth Grade Leadership students will perform monologues. Clips will be shown of musical performers from James Brown to Jimi Hendrix. A dance contest will accompany Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison." Jazz Band will perform "Minnie the Moocher" by Cab Calloway and The Palms Black Student Union will perform "Lift Every Voice."

Posted 2/21/23

The day after Open House is traditionally a shortened day, and this year is no exception.

School will be out at 1:30pm on Friday, February 17, 2023.

Thursday, February 16, 2023 is also a shortened day, with dismissal at 1:30pm.

Posted 2/15/23

Open House will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2023, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

Parents, students, and other family members are invited to visit campus during this 2-hour event. You are free to visit any classrooms you like.

Students can show their families what they've been doing in class and give you a glimpse of their hard work and effort.

While you are on campus, stop by the Library to see the Connecting Cultures Exhibit.

Open House tips:

• P.E. classes meet in the gym.
• Elementary school-age siblings are not only welcome, but they may find it especially helpful to see what middle school classrooms are like.
• Teachers will be present but this is not the time for parent-teacher conferences. If you would like a conference, ask if there is a sign-up list or see the Appointments page.

Posted 2/14/23

Students from Ms. March's Social Communication class have been visiting the Palms Garden each week for lessons given by Perry "Happy" Balian, a local botanist/educator.

Each week, "Mr. Happy" facilitates an activity and shares knowledge about the garden and the progress of what's been planted.

The Palms Garden is near the 6th grade bungalows, near the east-side faculty parking lot.

Posted 2/13/23

Art in the Afternoon is an afternoon program for all grades.

There are two 5-week sessions, a total of 10 weekly classes, from February 22 to April 19, 2023, meeting on Wednesdays from 3:05 to 4:20pm. The program ends with an Art Show in the Library.

Five of the classes are taught by Ms. Goldin and five by Ms. Purdy.

Applications are available in the Counseling office. Drop off your completed returns in the box there.

The sign-up deadline is Tuesday, February 14, and the program is first-come, first served, so sign up now!

Posted 2/12/23

Students have begun visiting the Connecting Cultures Exhibit in the Library, an annual tradition since the cultural museum was first created by Palms parent Valerie Lezin in 1995. The museum now serves more than 25,000 students annually!

At the exhibit, Palms students view an incredible display of unique and interesting items from many different cultures.

This year, the exhibit has two focuses:

• Learning about the diverse ways that people from around the world practice their beliefs, with masks, organized religion, and musical instruments.
• Examining and learning about artifacts for natural resources, trade, and colonization.

Parents will get their chance to see the exhibit on Open House night, Thursday, February 16.

Posted 2/9/23

We've added a Math Program page to our website, showing the College and Career Pathway and the choices for students to enter an Accelerated Math Pathway.

Students can qualify for an accelerated math pathway based on their grades and test scores. Students should enter an accelerated pathway only if they have a personal interest in math and their parents and counselors think that they'll do well in more challenging math classes.

An accelerated math pathway can begin in 6th grade or 7th grade at Palms and in 9th grade or 11th grade in high school.

For an overview of LAUSD's math choices in slideshow format, see LAUSD Middle School Mathematics Pathways.

Posted 2/7/23

Take your family to lunch or dinner at any Panda Express location on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 for this month's Dining for Dollars fundraiser.

Order online or use the Panda Express app. Be sure to fill in Fundraiser Code 911819 during checkout.

28% of sales will be donated to Friends of Palms.

Posted 2/6/23

The Palms Modern Media and Communications Magnet is partnering with Spirit Series to allow students to study, co-write, stage, and perform scripts connected to their 6th grade Ancient Civilizations curriculum or 7th grade English curriculum.

In the Fall semester 2022, sixth grade students of Ms. Apenyo and Mr. Diaz participated for three weeks, culminating in an on-stage performance in the Auditorium.

Now, in the Spring semester 2023, seventh grade students of Mr. Flores have prepared their own performances.

Palms and Spirit Series expect to continue their partnership in Fall 2023.

Learn more about Spirit Series, including a Spectrum News video about the program, on the Spirit Series page.

Posted 2/6/23

Alessandro Greco, Lukah Hakman, and Samia Kilpatrick

Each month, Palms faculty and staff select a student from each grade who they feel excels in and out of the classroom, including for extracurricular activities. Leadership students provide each Student of the Month with a certificate and other prizes.

The three Students of the Month for January 2023 are

Alessandro Greco (6th grade)

Lukah Hakman (7th grade)

Samia Kilpatrick (8th grade)

Visit the Students of the Month page to read about Alessandro's, Lukah's, and Samia's favorite subjects, best Palms memories, interests, and heroes! You can also see them in the January Students of the Month video.

Congratulations to our fantastic students of the month!

Posted 2/2/23

Los Angeles Public Libraries are celebrating African American History Month with special book lists, stories, and events.

Visit the L.A. Public Library website for details.

Posted 2/2/23

Yearbook QR Code

The Palms 2022-2023 Yearbook can be ordered now through February 24, 2023.

You can order at the jostens.com website, by phoning Jostens at 1-877-767-5217, or by scanning the QR code above.

Parent who want to purchase "ads" about their child, which will appear in the yearbook, visit jostensadservice.com/student. Ads can be a full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, or 1/8 page.

Posted 1/29/23

All Palms parents are invited to the January meeting of the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023, starting at 5:30pm.

See the English Learners page for more information about the programs at Palms.

Posted 1/29/23

Palms and Hamilton Robotics students

Two teams of Palms students in the Robotics elective, taught by Ms. Czujko, demonstrated their engineering, leadership, and teamwork skills at their First Tech Challenge (FTC) Qualifying Tournament on Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Both teams emerged victorious while competing against middle and high school teams.

• The "Cyber Knights" team earned the 3rd highest award at the competition, the Connect Award, for strongly networking with the local STEM community.
• "Team Hydra" was ranked 3rd place, and advanced to the 2nd place alliance to compete in the semi-finals.
  
  Team Hydra invited Hamilton High School to team up. After sweeping their competitors, Team Hydra advanced to the final round, earning them 2nd place in the robot game.
  
  Team Hydra was even prouder to be named the first runner up for the Inspire Award, which is the highest honor and top award given at an FTC tournament. The judges recognized the team’s ability to balance robot engineering and performance with community service, outreach efforts, team identity, and gracious professionalism.

Congratulations to all of our Robotics students!

Posted 1/29/23

In the Fall, students of Ms. Skidelsky made Me Magazine covers, with students designing and placing themselves on the covers of their own invented magazines. The covers decorate the classroom, letting students share themselves and get to know others.

For Spring, Ms. Skidelsky would like her students to imagine and create newspaper articles about their future selves.

You can help by donating to the Colorful Social-Emotional Projects fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

To date, DonorsChoose has raised $71,211 for Palms teachers!

Posted 1/29/23

Palms parents are welcome to join a virtual parent workshop on the topic of "Shifting Focus" on Thursday, January 26, 2023, from 5:30 to 6:30pm.

Participants will utilize strategies to understand their student(s)’ behaviors and develop an effective response.
 

Posted 1/25/23

Class of 2023 T-shirts and hoodies are available in the Student Store during lunch, nutrition and before school, even if you didn’t pre-order.

• Class of 2023 T-shirts (small, medium or large): $20 (exact cash only)
• Class of 2023 hoodies: (small, medium, or large): $40 (exact cash only)

No extra-large T-shirts and hoodies are available.

There will be an additional order period when the current supply is exhausted, probably by February or March 2023.

You must wear a Class of 2023 T-shirt or hoodie in order to participate in the Spring  2023 Universal Studios Field Trip.

Posted 1/16/23

LAUSD families can request a mobile hotspot, Internet access, or a home Internet device such as a Chromebook computer by going to parentportalapp.lausd.net/parentaccess.

Log into the parent portal, click or tap Request Device or Hotspot for Your Student, and fill out the Acknowledgement and Device/Connectivity Request Form. You'll be asked to sign the Responsible Use Policy and the Rules Concerning Use of Loaned Computing Devices.

LAUSD distributes equipment to local district offices and then to individual schools, which will then lend the equipment to you.

Posted 1/15/23

Students should take a rapid COVID-19 test at home at least 24 hours before returning to school on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

If you test negative:

• Do not upload the results to Daily Pass.
• Attend school on January 17.

If you test positive:

• Do not attend school on January 17.
• Isolate yourself.
• Contact your doctor to make a plan for your care.
• Take a photo of the following, written on paper:
  • Your full legal name.
  • Your date of birth.
  • The date of your COVID test.
  • The last date you were at school.
  • The word "POSITIVE".
• Upload the photo to dailypass.lausd.net.

If you need help with the upload process, contact the Family Help Desk at 213-443-1300, weekdays between 6:00am and 6:00pm.

Posted 1/14/23

Student Camden Sales won the Palms Spelling Bee on Friday, January 13, 2023. The Palms Spelling Bee is part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Camden will represent Palms at the regional competition.

If, for some reason, Camden is unable to attend the regionals, then second-place finisher Zara Syed will represent Palms.

Posted 1/13/23

The week from Tuesday, January 17 to Friday, January 20, 2023 is Spirit Week! Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by participating every day. Even teachers will be involved!

Posted 1/13/23

There will be no school on Monday, January 6, 2023 for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed in all 50 states. Each year, the holiday is observed on the third Monday of January.

It's a good day to reflect on the work and accomplishments of the famous civil rights leader.

Posted 1/12/23

Please join Principal Mr. Enriquez for Coffee With the Principal on Friday, January 13, 2023, starting at 8:30am.

Learn what's happening at Palms as we start the Spring semester, hear about upcoming events and activities, and have your questions answered.

Posted 1/11/23

Every year, the LAUSD Superintendent creates a holiday card for the LAUSD community, with artwork by LAUSD students. This year the featured art was by Palms 8th grader  Zara Syed!

The card also featured art by four other Palms art students of Ms. Goldin:

7th grader Phaedra Lindner:

8th grader Marissa Martinez:

6th grader Sarai Van Ert:

7th grader Raleigh St. Claire Hill:

Congratulations to our fantastic art students!

Posted 12/17/22

If you enjoyed the Winter Concert, you can now enjoy it again. If you missed it, you can enjoy it for the first time!

You'll hear a variety of songs performed by Gold Band, Blue Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, under the direction of instrumental music teacher Ms. Jones.

Posted 12/15/22

By donating any amount to the Wheeled Lectern/ Podium for 8th Grade History Class fundraiser at DonorsChoose, you can help Ms. Rivera's history students make classroom presentations.

Ms. Rivera says

My students will benefit tremendously from a new lectern/ podium to make our history class come to life when they present and debate.

Posted 12/14/22

Many Palms students participate in clubs.

Mr. Martinez would like to give these students a heat press machine and supplies for making club shirts that will show off their school spirit.

You can help by donating any amount to the Heat Press to Make Shirts to Show School Spirit! fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

To date, Palms teachers have raised over $70,000 at DonorsChoose.

Posted 12/11/22

Palms parents can attend a virtual workshop on the topic of Finding Balance on Thursday, December 8, 2022, starting at 5:30pm.

This is the fourth virtual workshop in the parent workshop series, with three more workshops scheduled for the Spring semester.

⮕ Registration link

Download flyer: ⬇ English  ⬇ Spanish

Posted 12/7/22

Palms families are invited to attend the Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, starting at 6:00pm in the Auditorium.

This is the last public performance of Band and Orchestra in the Fall semester, so you don't want to miss it!

Posted 12/6/22

Flags deisgned by art students of Ms. Goldin are now on display at the Wende Museum in Culver City. They were winners of the Flag For Our Times Competition, which challenged students to create an original flag design representing dreams for a brighter future or one’s vision of a utopia.

You can also see the art at the Wende Museum's online exhibit.

Posted 12/5/22

Milton Paugh, Sofia Malykont, and Zara Syed

Each month, Palms faculty and staff select a student from each grade who they feel excels in and out of the classroom, including for extracurricular activities. Leadership students provide each Student of the Month with a certificate and other prizes.

The three Students of the Month for November 2022 are

Milton Paugh (6th grader)
Sofia Malykont (7th grader)
Zara Syed (8th grader)

Visit the Students of the Month page to read about Milton's, Sofia's, and Zara's favorite subjects, best Palms memories, interests, and heroes! You can also see them in the November Students of the Month video.

Congratulations to our fantastic students of the month!

Posted 12/4/22

You can buy Palms shirts, bottoms, and headwear from now through Friday, December 16, 2022. Order online using PayPal or a credit card, with either delivery to Palms in January or shipment to your home. Keep in mind that Palms Gear is listed in adult sizes.

Important! — If you prefer free delivery to school, which will be in the first week after the winter break, choose FREE- Pick Up From Palms during checkout and be sure to put the student's name and homeroom in the Notes field.

Posted 12/3/22

Two documents of importance to parents are issued each Fall. The Fall 2022 documents are now available.

The School-Parent Compact is an agreement developed by parents, students and teachers, explaining how parents and teachers will work together to make sure that all Palms students reach or exceed grade-level standards.

Download: ⬇ English

The Parent Involvement Policy, jointly developed by Palms staff, the ELAC, and the SSC, outlines the goals and actions for parent involvement in their child's education.

Download: ⬇ English  ⬇ Spanish

Posted 12/2/22

"Giving Tuesday" is a reminder that every family should donate what they can to their child's school. The Palms Family Annual Donation drive has begun.

You can donate at the Platinum, Gold, or Silver level to receive rewards (Palms gear, concert tickets, and/or Culmination tickets). Or you can donate any amount as a single donation or with periodic payments over time.

No donation is too small. It's important that every family participates.

⮕ Family Annual Donation

⮕ Donate any amount

⬇ Pledge Form

Each grade that achieves 100% participation will be rewarded with a pizza party!

Posted 11/29/22

Palms parents: If you have not already filled out the School Experience Survey, please do so now:

⮕ School Experience Survey

The feedback from this survey is critical, letting Palms give your children the best possible education and the best possible school experience.

Deadline: Friday, December 9, 2022

Posted 11/28/22

You can help the Robotics students of Mrs. Romero by donating any amount to the Microbits? Yes, Please! fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

You'll find other worthy fundraising campaigns on our DonorsChoose page.

As of Thanksgiving week 2022, DonorsChoose has raised $66,830 for Palms classrooms.

Posted 11/24/22

The art students of Ms. Goldin need art supplies and equipment to continue creating fantastic works of art.

You can help by donating any amount to the Basic Supplies For An Essential Art Class! fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

Posted 11/20/22

Robotics teacher Mrs. Romero has a new fundraiser at DonorsChoose. We hope to purchase programmable robots, software, and lesson plans for our students.

To date, DonorsChoose has raised $65,837 for Palms teachers.

Posted 11/18/22

Friday, November 18, 2022 is a Minimum Day, with dismissal at 12:12pm.

There is no school from Monday, November 21 to Friday, November 25 for the week of Thanksgiving.

We hope all Palms families have a great holiday.

Posted 11/17/22

The last Coffee With the Principal for the Fall semester will take place on Friday, November 18, 2022 starting at 8:30am.

Join the Zoom call to hear news from Palms administrators and to ask questions.

Posted 11/17/22

A Student-Parent Conference will taken place for students in the Accelerated Learning Program for Long Term English Learners (LTEL) program on Thursday, November 17, 2022 starting at 5:00pm.

You can join the meeting in Zoom or come to Room 114 on campus to meet in person.

Posted 11/15/22

The School Site Council (SSC) will meet on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, starting at 5:30pm in Zoom.

Posted 11/15/22

Students can now sign up for the Palms Middle School Spelling Bee, the local contest that is the first step of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

How to Participate: Fall 2022

Step 1:

Get a pass from your English teacher to go to Room 45 during lunch on Monday, November 14, Tuesday, November 15, or Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

Step 2:

On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, attend the knock-out rounds during lunch in Room 45. Words from the word list will be used to narrow down the contestants to the final 15 students.

Step 3:

The Palms Spelling Bee will take place on Friday, January 13, 2023 in the Auditorium, during periods 3 and 4.

The winner among the 15 contestants will receive $35 and will represent Palms at the regional spelling competition.

Posted 11/14/22

You can help students of Ms. Czujko create their own memory books, compiling their favorite pictures and work samples from 6th grade into a treasured book that they can keep forever, by donating to the latest Palms fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

The project is named Make Your Own STEM Yearbook.

To date, fundraisers at DonorsChoose have raised over $65,000 for Palms teachers!

Posted 11/14/22

The last Friends of Palms/PTSA meeting for the Fall semester takes place on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 6:30pm.

All Palms parents are invited to join the meeting, hear from the Prinicpal and Friends of Palms leaders, and have your questions answered.

Posted 11/14/22

Students can show their Palms Pride by dressing up for Spirit Week on Monday, November 14 to Friday, November 18, 2022.

Here are the guidelines from Leadership class:

Posted 11/12/22

There is no school on Friday, November 11, 2022, for the Veterans Day national holiday.

Each year the Palms History Department and Leadership class pay homage to the brave men and women who served or have served in the United States Armed Forces by creating the Palms Veterans Day Showcase, where faculty, staff, and students honor veterans with connections to Palms Middle School.

Take a look when you're in the school entrance area!

Posted 11/10/22

If you would like a copy of your child's school transcript, follow the instructions on the Transcript Request Form web page.

You will download the form, fill it out, and return it to school.

• Magnet students should return the form to the Magnet Office.
• Non-Magnet students should return the form to the Counseling Office, or they can email it to Mrs. Doucette.
• See the Transcript Request Form page for details.

Posted 11/10/22

Alyssa Nishio, Andres Flores-Seo, and Sarah Khansefid

Each month, Palms faculty and staff select a student from each grade who they feel excels in and out of the classroom, including for extracurricular activities. Leadership students provide each Student of the Month with a certificate and other prizes.

The three Students of the Month for October 2022 are

Alyssa Nishio (6th grader)
Andres Flores-Seo (7th grader)
Sarah Khansefid (8th grader)

Visit the Students of the Month page to read about Alyssa's, Andres', and Sarah's favorite subjects, best Palms memories, interests, and heroes!

Congratulations to our fantastic students of the month!

Posted 11/9/22

Don't bother cooking on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. Instead, join Palms families for Dining for Dollars at Burger Lounge in Culver City or Marina del Rey. They are open from 11:00am to 9:00pm.

Burger Lounge will donate 20% of sales to Palms.

Burger Lounge Culver City
9901 W. Washington Blvd. (at Duquesne), Culver City
310-842-8800

Burger Lounge Marina del Rey
13455 Maxella Ave., Ste. 111 (near Glencoe), Marina Del Rey
310-827-3670

Posted 11/6/22

Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday morning, November 6, 2022, for the end of Daylight Saving Time.

Otherwise your children may show up at school one hour early!

This is also a good time to check your emergency supplies and change the batteries in your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and flashlights. Learn more on the Emergency Preparedness page.

Posted 11/5/22

Learn details about GATE, SAS, and the Palms Gifted/High Ability Magnet at the Fall GATE/SAS Parent Meeting.

Posted 11/3/22

First Place winner by Mikhaella Salazar

Visit the Students section of this website to see art by Palms students of Ms. Goldin from the Day of the Dead Art Contest.

* * * * *

Students: Fill out the submission form on the Students page if you have art, writing, or school projects that you are proud of and would like to share!

Posted 11/2/22

Mrs. Romero, who teaches the Robotics elective, has her first Palms fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

Her 21st Century Classroom! campaign is to replace a failing projector, so her students can present their work and digital projects to the class from their district-issued iPads.

Help Palms Robotics students by donating any amount!

Posted 10/31/22

If your student missed having their photo taken on the September 29 Picture Day, make sure that they have it taken on Make-Up Picture Day on the morning of Friday, October 28, 2022.

These photos are used for Student ID Cards and in the Palms Yearbook.

Students having their photo taken should avoid wearing green.

Posted 10/27/22

You can now download the schedule of School Site Council (SSC) meetings for this school year:

⬇ 2022-2023 SSC meeting schedule

The zoom link will be the same for all meetings:

⮕ SSC Zoom link

The next SSC meeting will be on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at 5:30pm.

You can always find the meeting schedule on the SSC page.

The next English Learners Advisory Council (ELAC) meeting will be on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 5:30pm.

The Membership Election will be held at this meeting.

Download the October 27 ELAC agenda:

⬇ English  ⬇ Spanish

Posted 10/21/22

Frida Kahlo by Stacy Rincon

The Historic Figure Pumpkin Contest is held each October.

Students decorate a pumpkin to resemble or represent a historical figure, choosing historic figures from their periods of study:

• 6th grade: Ancient History
• 7th grade: Medieval History
• 8th grade: American History

Download the 2022 contest instructions:

⬇ 6th grade  ⬇ 7th grade  ⬇ 8th grade

The submission deadline is Monday, October 31, 2022 at 8:00am. The contest will be judged by the Student Body from October 31 to November 2 in the Library.

Posted 10/20/22

The LAUSD Instructional Calendar has been updated.

The last day of instruction has been changed from Thursday, June 15 to Friday, June 9, 2023.

The dates of other June events, including Culmination, will be rescheduled accordingly.

Posted 10/19/22

Families with an interest in attending Palms Middle School can tour the campus on Visitors Day, Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

You will

• Learn about the Palms neighborhood school, Gifted/High Ability Magnet, Modern Media and Communications Magnet, and School for Advanced Studies.
• Meet our teachers!
• Speak with Palms students and parents!

Posted 10/18/22

Please join us at the October Friends of Palms/PTSA meeting, on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 6:30pm.

Hear the latest school news from Palms administrators, catch up on Friends of Palms activities and plans, have your questions answered, and find out how you can volunteer to help your school.

Posted 10/15/22

Ms. Czujko's classroom

Using DonorChoose, you can donate to the Tie-Dye T-shirt fundraiser by Ms. Czujko.

Her students will dye T-shirts, customizing them with different colors and patterns based on their preferences.

When they are ready, all of her students will wear their T-shirts on the same day to show their Palms Pride!

As of October 2022, Palms teachers have raised $61,170 using DonorsChoose.

Posted 10/11/22

The Student Body Election was held on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, and now the results are in!

Congratulations to our the 2022-2023 Student Body Officers from Leadership class, taught by Ms. Rivera.

• President: Iliana Morales, 8th grade
• Vice President.: Harper Caruso, 8th grade
• Treasurer: Westin Hama, 7th grade
• Secretary: Chibuzo Uwaechina, 8th grade
• Commissioner of Activities: Dominic Brouses, 8th grade

Posted 10/10/22

Sixth grader Finn WIlliams was the winner of the 6th Grade Geography Bee on Friday, October 7, 2022.

Finn had tough competition since 15 other contestants knew the locations of countries ranging from Mali to Turkmenistan.

Congratulations to all 16 brave contestants and to champion Finn!

Posted 10/9/22

Come to campus for Meet the High Schools Night on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, from 5:00pm to 6:45pm. Learn about the many programs at each participating high school.

Schools that may participate:

•     Crenshaw High School
•     Fairfax High School
•     Hamilton High School
•     Hollywood High School
•     King/Drew High School
•     University High School
•     Venice High School

Posted 10/9/22

Homework help is available after school, from 3:15 to 4:15pm, for all interested students.

Download flyer: ⬇ English  ⬇ Spanish

Math Homework Help

6th grade:

• Monday: Room 43 with Mr. Mr. Tran
• Wednesday: Room 57 with Ms. Ms. Assefa

7th and 8th grade:

• Monday: Room 108 with Mr. Mr. Medved
• Wednesday: Room 48 with Ms. Ms. Igarashi

Library Homework Help

• Monday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday

Posted 10/9/22

Alyvia Anderson, Victoria Gonzalez, and Jeevana Doddi

Each month, Palms faculty and staff select a student from each grade who they feel excels in and out of the classroom, including for extracurricular activities.

The three Students of the Month for September 2022 are

Alyvia Anderson (6th grader)
Victoria Gonzalez (7th grader)
Jeevana Doddi (8th grader)

Leadership students provide each Student of the Month with a certificate and other prizes.

Congratulations to our fantastic students of the month!

Posted 10/4/22

Monday October 3 to Sunday October 9, 2022 is the Battle of the Schools Fundraiser for Palms Middle School at Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill, 4371 Glencoe Avenue, Marina del Rey.

Sharky's will donate 15% of net sales to Palms. We're challenged by Kentwood Elementary School. If we're the top earner, we'll advance for a chance to win $500 more.

• If you order at sharkys.com, enter fundraiser code Palms under the Payment Method.
• If you order with the Sharky's app, enter fundraiser code Palms under Order Type/Additional Details.
• If you order in-store, show the flyer or say "Palms."

Posted 9/30/22

TITLE I

If you missed the Title I annual meeting on September 29, 2022, you can download the presentation as a PDF, in both English and Spanish.

Posted 9/29/22

Thursday, September 29, 2022 is Picture Day, when student photos are taken in P.E. period for Student ID cards and the Yearbook.

Students should remember to dress nicely and wear a big smile on Picture Day. Please do not wear green.

Students who miss school on Picture Day will have their photo taken on the make-up picture day: Friday, October 28, 2022.

If you want copies of your student's photo, you can order them from our photography service:

Posted 9/27/22

There is no school on Monday, September 26, 2022 for the Rosh Hashana holiday.

There will be no school on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 for the Yom Kippur holiday.

When these holidays fall on weekdays, LAUSD always designates them as no-school days.

Posted 9/25/22

LAUSD Local District West will hold a Magnet Schools Fair on Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 9:00am to 11:00am.

The Fair will take place at Bancroft Middle School in Lakewood:

929 North Las Palmas Avenue

Los Angeles, CA  90038

Download flyer: ⬇ English  ⬇ Spanish

Posted 9/24/22

The Wende Museum in Culver City has selected flags designed by nine of Ms. Goldin's art students to be part of a temporary flag installation at the museum.

The Wende's Flag For Our Times Competition challenged students to create an original flag design representing dreams for a brighter future or one’s vision of a utopia. Palms students came through!

The selected Palms students are

• Namkha Drolma
• Daniel Huang
• Samia Kilpatrick
• Phaedra Lindner
• Aanya Khatter
• Brenda Martinez
• Zara Syed
• Maya Umar
• Sacha Wiley

The Wende's current exhibition The Medium is the Message: Flags and Banners combines Cold War-era political, ornamental flags from communist countries with contemporary artworks offering critical reflections on the here and now.

Posted 9/20/22

The SSC and ELAC elections will be held at the joint meeting on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 5:30pm. To volunteer to join either committee as a parent member, fill out the Self Nomination Form before the meeting.

Posted 9/19/22

Eighth grade parents are invited to attend an informational meeting on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 9:00am in the Auditorium (see campus map).

If you attended the Zoom meeting on Tuesday, September 13, you need not attend the same presentation at school, but you are welcome to come if you have additional questions.

Posted 9/14/22

The first-ever Club Rush was held on the quad on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. At decorated booths set up by the Palms staff, students were able to see, hear, and learn about the many lunch-time and after-school clubs available to them, from Ballet Folklórico to Yo-Yo Club.

The weather was perfect, the mood was festive, and everyone had a great time.

The week of September 6-9 was deemed Club Rush Week. You can see descriptions of the current Palms clubs on the Clubs page.

Posted 9/14/22

Ms. Faith, the Palms School Climate Advocate, has set up a Virtual Calming Room for students who are stressed by homework load, grades, anxiety, changes of routines, or for any other reason.

The Virtual Calming Room has activities meant to alleviate stressors when you aren't on campus.

As always, counselors and support staff are ready if you want to talk to someone while you're at school.

Posted 9/13/22

An orientation meeting will be held in Zoom for the School Site Council (SSC) and the English Learners Advisory Council (ELAC) on Thursday, September 15, 2022, starting at 5:00pm.

All interested parents are invited to attend, learn about these committees, and become a member.

Agenda:

• Welcome and call to order
• Flag salute
• SSC Orientation
• Break
• ELAC Orientation
• Announcements and adjournment

  SSC/ELAC Orientation ⮕ Zoom link Download flyer ⬇ English  ⬇ Spanish

Posted 9/13/22

An Informational Meeting for 8th grade parents will be held in Zoom on Tuesday, September 13 at 6:00pm and again on campus on Friday, September 16, at 9:00am in the Auditorium.

The meeting will review 8th grade activities and eligibility for culmination.

The Zoom link was sent to 8th grade families on September 9.

There is a limited Zoom capacity for this meeting, so families should participate from one common device or come to the in-person meeting.

The presentation will be posted on this website.

Posted 9/10/22

Fall 2022 Leadership students

Leadership is an elective for 7th and 8th graders, under the direction of Ms. Rivera.

Students in Leadership plan school events, organize community projects, and much more. See the Leadership page for details.

Some Leadership students will run for Student Body Office, in the Student Body Election coming up later in September.

Sixth Grade Leadership is an elective for 6th graders, under the direction of Mr. Kim. Students in Sixth Grade Leadership plan dances and other school activities. See the Sixth Grade Leadership page for details.

Posted 9/9/22

Fall Tours are beginning!

Learn about the Palms neighborhood school and Palms Magnets, tour with a small group, or come to the all-school Visitors Day!

Tuesday Zoom Meetups

Magnet information on Tuesdays at lunchtime - see schedule

Gifted Magnet/High Ability Magnet tours

Four dates, 8:15am - see schedule and flyer

Modern Media and Communications Magnet, tours

Five dates, 2:00pm - see schedule and flyer

Visitors Day

October 20, 2022, 4:00-6:00pm - see flyer

Posted 9/8/22

Palms families are invited to the first Coffee with the Principal for Fall 2022, to meet and hear from Mr. Arturo (Art) Enriquez, our new Palms Principal.

The Zoom meeting will take place on Friday, August 26, 2022, starting at 8:30am.

Since it's a virtual meeting, you'll have to make your own coffee!

Posted 8/26/22

Parents of English learners are invited to a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 starting at 10:15am.

English Learner Coordinator Mrs. Romero will discuss the different instructional programs available for English learners, ranging from programs for students who are just starting to learn English to those who already have some English fluency.

Posted 8/23/22

A message from art teacher Ms. Goldin:

The Wende Museum in Culver City is calling for artistic flag design submissions as a part of their Flag For Our Times competition.

Selected winners will have their flag design printed and displayed at the Wende Museum as a part of a temporary installation, with additional honorees to be spotlighted on the museum’s website and social media accounts.

The submission deadline is Sunday, August 28, 2022.

For more information or questions, please see Ms. Goldin in Room 162 during Homeroom or Break on Monday, or message her on Schoology. The contest directions are on the contest form, and you can also read the museum's contest description.

Posted 8/19/22

A message from Mrs. Gabriella Avila, Pupil Services and Attendance Counselor:

Hello Palms Students & Families! Welcome back!

We encourage you all to attend school regularly, be on time, participate in class, and learn from your teachers and peers.

If you need information regarding community resources, please refer to the Community Resource Guide below for pertinent information.

We would love to connect with you, so please reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance matters.

Thank you!

For more information, see Attendance and Absences.

Posted 8/18/22

We're kicking off a way to show your Palms Pride with the first Spirit Week of the school year. Leadership class has chosen themes for each day from Monday, August 22 to Friday, August 26, 2022. All students are encouraged to participate by wearing outfits to match the theme for the day.

Monday August 22

Formal Day - Dress up in your fanciest outfit!

Tuesday August 23

Twin Day - Dress just like a friend!

Wednesday August 24

90s Day - Wear clothes from 1990 to 1999!

Thursday August 25

Sports Day - Represent your favorite sports team!

Friday August 26

Tropical Day - Wear Hawaiian or similar clothes!

Posted 8/18/22

When Palms students move on to high school, many choose Alexander Hamilton High School.

Hamilton has a new website at hamiltonhs.org.

The Hamilton Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA) website remains hamiltonmusic.org.

Hamilton's previous website was hamiltonhs-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com.

The Palms Middle School website can be reached at either palmsmiddleschool.org, www.palmsmiddleschool.org, or palmsms-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com.

Posted 8/18/22

As the school year begins you can help our new and continuing instrumental music students, taught by Ms. Jones, by donating to the Reeds for Wind Instruments fundraiser at DonorsChoose.

The donations will be used to buy the reeds required for clarinets, tenor saxophones, and alto saxophones.

Palms teachers have raised over $60,000 to date through DonorsChoose campaigns.

Posted 8/17/22

All Palms family members should register their amazon.com account with the Amazon Smile program.

After a one-time sign-up, Amazon will donate to Friends of Palms whenever you make a purchase starting from smile.amazon.com. Friends of Palms will use the funds to support Palms students, programs, and staff.

As of August 2022, Amazon Smile has donated $1,379 to Palms Middle School. With your help, we can increase that total significantly.

Posted 8/17/22

School begins Monday, August 15, 2022 at 8:00am, with an extra-long homeroom, so that every student can find their homeroom and so homeroom teachers can share all of the information that students need to get started.

Here are some tips, especially for new 6th graders:

• If you aren't familiar with the campus, or where your homeroom is, take a look at the campus map.
• You do not need to bring your school books on the first day of school.
• Bring a pen or pencil and a spiral notebook (or other paper) so you can write down information you'll need to remember.
• You're welcome to buy lunch in the cafeteria, but if you'd like to keep things simple for the first day, you can bring a sack lunch.
• Have a great first day of school and make some new friends!

Parents: You do not need to buy "planners" as in past years. Planners are now free. They will be handed out to all students in a homeroom class later this month.

Posted 8/14/22

At the Meet and Greet on Saturday, August 13, 2022, many dozens of incoming 6th grade students and their families met other families and talked to Palms administrators, teachers, and representatives from Friends of Palms.

Principal Mr. Enriquez introduced himself and his staff. Teachers gave tips to new students. Team Prime Time talked about their after-school program. And volunteer Nirit Brand explained the role of Friends of Palms and the opportunity to get involved.

Posted 8/14/22

Mr. Arturo (Art) Enriquez began his role as Palms Middle School Principal on Monday, August 8, 2022. The Palms community welcomes him, and welcomes him back! He was Assistant Principal at Palms from 2006 to 2011.

Mr. Enriquez received his Bachelors of Arts degree in History, Professional Clear Teaching Credential, Masters of Arts degree in Educational Administration, and Professional Clear Administrative Services Credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

He began his career as an educator in 1997, teaching History and Social Studies at John Adams Middle School, and later served as the English Language Learner/Categorical Program Coordinator.

He served as Assistant Principal at Palms Middle School, John Burroughs Middle School, Augustus Hawkins High School, and Fairfax High School.

Posted 8/14/22

The Welcome Breakfast, held Friday, August 12, 2022, was the first Faculty and Staff Appreciation event for this school year.

We welcomed the Palms staff to the 2022-2023 school year in style!

Thank you to the Friends of Palms volunteers who supplied food, funds, or helped with setup, serving, and cleanup.

Posted 8/12/22

Ms. Rothstein has two fundraisers going at DonorsChoose:

• Positive Behavior Rewards: puzzles, reward coins, fidget toys, stress relief toys, and scented pencils to use as classroom rewards
• Creating a Comfy and Cozy Classroom Library: floor seats, cushions, sensory pillow learning aids, and a string of lights to improve the classroom environment

DonorsChoose has raised almost $60,000 for Palms teachers over the years.

Posted 8/11/22

Ms. Rivera is our new Leadership teacher for the 7th and 8th grade Leadership elective.

To get started this year, Leadership class needs a printer, ink, Post-It easel pads, and markers.

You can help by donating via DonorsChoose, a fundraising platform that has raised almost $60,000 for Palms teachers over the years.

Posted 8/9/22

Details are now available for the upcoming Meet and Greet event for families who are new to Palms Middle School. You'll meet our Principal, other staff, other incoming families, and representatives from Friends of Palms.

The Meet and Greet will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Rancho Park Cheviot Hills Recreation Center (2541 Motor Avenue).

We'll meet in the back of the park. Take the first driveway south of Pico Blvd. towards the archery range, at the end of the long driveway.

Please bring your own water and hats. Masks are mandatory.

Posted 8/9/22

Monday, August 8, 2022 is Parent Check-In (registration) day for 7th grade parents.

Wednesday, August 10 is Parent Check-In day for 6th grade parents.

Thursday, August 11 is Parent Check-In day for 8th grade parents.

If your child's last name starts with A through M, your check-in window is 9:00-11:00am. If your child's last name starts with N through Z, your check-in window is noon to 2:00pm. Bringing your child along is optional.

Posted 8/7/22

Applications for the Team Prime Time after-school program are now available. The program is available every school day, from the end of the school day until 6:00pm (5:30 on Tuesdays).

Posted 8/5/22

The LAUSD Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program publishes a quarterly newsletter for parents of gifted students, including those in the Schools for Advanced Studies program.

The Summer 2022 newsletter:

• reports on GATE online webinars and the annual parent conference
• asks parents to fill out a survey with their webinar preferences
• provides tips on preparing your child for intellectual ability testing

Posted 8/5/22

You can help Palms science students of Mr. Martinez by donating to the "3D printing into the future" DonorsChoose campaign.

Mr. Martinez explains:

"A 3D printer will continue to enhance the print-rich classroom that I strive to create. Please help me give my students another 3D printer and get the supplies they need to use the 3D printer. Having an extra 3D printer will give every student the opportunity to print something of their own. This will also give them a glimpse of what tech life is like."

To date, Palms teachers have raised $59,900 using DonorsChoose campaigns.

Posted 7/30/22

GATE is the LAUSD "Gifted and Talented Education" program.

The GATE Parent Newsletter, issued in the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer each school year, provides information for parents of students in the GATE and SAS (School for Advanced Studies) programs.

The Spring 2022 newsletter covers gifted identification, gifted verification, ideas for student volunteering, and more.

Posted 7/1/22

Camp Palms is scheduled for Tuesday, August 9 and Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

Camp Palms is a middle school orientation for incoming sixth grade students, who will have the opportunity to become familiar with the campus, meet some of the teachers, rotate through classes, and make new friends. There is also a one-hour orientation for parents on Tuesday, August 9.

Posted 6/7/22