June 25, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Public Mar Vista School’s ‘Walk-In’ Day Opposes Controversial Charter School Funding

gvwi_09
Courtesy images.

Grand View Blvd. Elementary School (GVBE) joined 40 cities in a coordinated, nationwide “Walk-In” on Wednesday, Feb. 17. 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 – was a means of peacefully opposing the Broad Plan. The controversial $490-million plan to more than double the number of charter schools in Los Angeles.

gvwi_101The plan proposes to fund enough unregulated, non-union charter schools to threaten the future existence of many community public schools, according to a GVBE statement.

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

gvwi_08 2At 7:30 am, teachers, students, parents, staff, and community members began with a rally on Venice Blvd. While holding signs that expressed their love for GVBE, participants marched to the front of the school entrance. Gospel music (“This Little Heart of Mine”) and protest songs played in the background as the following activities occurred:

• 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 – sang “Solidarity Forever” as they made their dramatic Walk-In onto campus when the bell rang

gvwi_106 2“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.”

gvwi_107 2GVBE 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 percent Spanish/10 percent 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.”

Related Posts

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

Squatter-Plagued Beverly Grove Buildings Could Be Razed After Hazard Cleanup

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Demolition of Three Abandoned Apartments May Begin in Two Weeks Three abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove may soon be...

From Westwood to DTLA, Angelenos March Against Military Escalation in Iran

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Protestors Rally at the Westwood Federal Building This Weekend Following President Donald Trump’s authorization of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear-related...

LAPD Sergeant Killed Assisting Crash Victims on 405 Freeway in Brentwood

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Tragic Early-Morning Collision Claims Two Lives, Including Veteran Sergeant Two people, including an LAPD sergeant, were killed early Monday in...

Recent Homebuyer Down Payments Slip for First Time in Nearly Two Years

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

April’s Median Down Payment Fell as Buyers Lean Toward Lower-Cost Homes The median down payment made by U.S. homebuyers dropped...

Del Rey Affordable Housing Project to Rise on Former Charter School Site

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Community Corp., Local Faith Group Team Up to Build 122 New Apartments Plans are moving forward for a new residential...

Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Park Mansion for $63.1M

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

The Heiress and Media Mogul Joins a Star-Studded Neighborhood Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum have purchased a high-profile estate...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Princess Diana’s Largest Wardrobe Auction Set for Beverly Hills

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Over 200 Royal Garments to Hit the Auction Block for Charity More than 200 garments and royal artifacts, including the...

Queer Beauty Through the Ages: Getty Hosts Lecture on Greek Art’s Influence on LGBTQ Aesthetics

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Art Historian to Trace Homoerotic Imagery From Ancient Greece to Modern Queer Identity As part of its ongoing Pride Month...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Navy Vietnam Vet Finally Gets His UCLA Commencement Moment

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

John Fong, 80, Missed His Graduation in 1968 While in Vietnam  Nearly six decades after completing his studies, U.S. Navy...