Loyola Roar, October 22, 2026

Volunteering form and reminder: If you were fingerprinted at the Walkathon, please make sure you also completed the LASD volunteer form. You only need to be fingerprinted if you plan to be a Level 2 volunteer. But getting your Fingerprinting alone done does not complete the volunteer process, and your fingerprints will not be linked to your volunteer information with LASD without the completed form. Thank you for taking this extra step to help ensure you are cleared to volunteer at Loyola! 

For over 25 years, Math Kangaroo has organized an annual international mathematical competition for thousands of students in grades 1-12. Math Kangaroo's focus is on improving students' math interest and teaching them new strategies for solving word and logic problems, helping them with critical thinking and gaining confidence in the classroom.

This year the test will take place on Thursday, Mar 18, 2027 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM PT at Covington Elementary school.

Our school center is private- open for LASD Elementary students only, if you are interested in registering please reach out to janki360@gmail.com to get the private center registration code.

Please register to Math Kangaroo Competition at the following site:

Make sure you set up your user account first. Our school is a private center and not listed in the public catalog. To register, please log in or create an account, navigate to the By Invitation tab, and enter the registration code.

Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well,

Kelly Rafferty

Principal, Loyola Elementary

In Mrs. Kabertlin’s kindergarten classroom, Deeper Learning begins with curiosity and the belief that even our youngest learners have important questions and ideas to share. Since the beginning of the school year, students have been encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and explore different perspectives. During their first social studies unit on rules, a student asked, “What is a fair rule?” This question sparked a conversation about fairness, including whether cutting in line is fair and whether it should be a rule. Across phonics, math, writing, science, and social studies, students’ thinking is made visible through classroom learning walls, where they share their ideas through drawings, oral explanations, and emerging writing. Thinking routines such as See, Think, Wonder further encourage students to observe carefully, ask questions, and explore new ideas.

This week, Room 7 took their questioning skills a step further by exploring the difference between closed and open-ended questions. Using a picture of two lions, a meaningful connection to their Loyola Lion community and their upcoming science inquiry, “Do plants, animals, and humans have the same needs to survive?” students practiced moving beyond simple observations like “lion” and “two” to develop more thoughtful questions. With visual supports, hand motions, and question starters such as who, what, why, and how, students learned to distinguish questions with brief or yes/no answers from those that invite deeper thinking and discussion. This learning experience highlights Deeper Learning in action: students building questioning skills, making their thinking visible, and developing the curiosity and agency to guide their own learning.