“Here’s How Much We Love Our School!” February 18, 2016 – Mar Vista, CA – Grand View Blvd. Elementary School (GVBE) will be joining 40 cities in a coordinated, nationwide “Walk-In” on Wednesday, February 17th at 7:45am. The Walk-In demonstration, in which teachers, students, parents, staff, and surrounding community members walk onto campus in a show of solidarity when the morning bell rings, is a means of peacefully opposing the Broad Plan. (The Plan proposes to fund enough unregulated, non-union charter schools to threaten the future existence of many community public schools.) 

For GVBE, however, the literal “walking-in” aspect of the celebratory event is just the tip of the iceberg for what they have planned. The school, which is known for having the first and longest running Spanish Immersion Program in LAUSD, is organizing a host of multicultural festivities for Walk-In Day to demonstrate just how much they love their school.

At 7:30 am, teachers, students, parents, staff, and community members will begin with a rally on Venice Blvd. While holding signs that express their love for GVBE, participants will march to the front of the school entrance. Gospel music (“This Little Heart of Mine”) and protest songs will be playing in the background as the following activities occur:

• The El Grito cheer chanted in Spanish by the children and adults
• Short speeches by the principal, a student, a parent and a teacher
• The singing of two songs, one in Spanish and one in English
• The devoted crowd – wearing all red and pink – will sing “Solidarity Forever” as they make their dramatic Walk-In onto campus when the bell rings.

“We are dedicated to our neighborhood public school and we want to keep it that way,” said Mr. Dastur, First Grade Teacher at GVBE’s Spanish Immersion Program. “The diversity, acceptance, creativity and feeling of community at our school is really unique. And we want that to be reflected in our Walk-In.” Continued… MAR VISTA PUBLIC SCHOOL GOES ALL OUT FOR
WALK-IN DAY

GVBE is a shining example of all that a public LAUSD school can offer: cultural diversity, spirited dedication of parents and staff, a reverence for learning, and a family-like feeling of community. The school’s Spanish Immersion program is the only LAUSD one to offer a 90% Spanish/10% English model. Their Special Education Program is one of the most developed in all of LAUSD.

“Our Walk-In Day is more than just a political demonstration,” said Marina Marquez parent at GVBE, “It’s one more excuse for us to celebrate our school, which has so much character, charm and diversity in so many ways.”