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From the Governing Board
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21st Century Learning & Strategic Planning Initiatives
As our students kick off their new school year, the Governing Board is excited to share news about two initiatives in the District aimed at supporting and strengthening teaching and learning for all our children. Working with a team of volunteer parents, teachers, and administrators, we are launching a "21st Century Learning" Speaker Series to better educate ourselves about the sort of educational experiences that can best provide today's K-8th grade students with the skills and knowledge they will need to lead healthy, productive, and meaningful lives when they graduate from La Entrada. The Speaker Series is designed to complement the work of another volunteer committee comprised of teachers, administrators, and parents: the Strategic Planning Committee. Working in concert, the aim of these committees is to help the District develop a new Strategic Plan that will prepare our children for college and careers in this new century.
As you may know, California along with 43 other states, has adopted the new Common Core State Standards. These standards - along with new tests that are expected to replace our current state standardized testing (STAR tests) in 2014 - focus on higher-order thinking, problem-solving skills and conceptual reasoning, in addition to subject area content. Like other districts in California and throughout the country, we want to plan for these changes. We want to look forward as we embark upon developing a new strategic plan to best serve the needs of our students.
To that end, we are counting on your involvement in this process and your participation in this important dialogue about how we can continue to improve education in our District. We hope you will attend the Speaker Series and Strategic Planning events this fall. The first Speaker Series presentation, "Re-imagining K-8 Education for the 21st Century," will take place on Tuesday evening, Sept. 13, given by Dr. Ira Lit, Associate Professor, Director of Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) Elementary. Dr. Lit will help us to understand what 21st Century Learning means for elementary grade students like ours.
Also mark your calendar for a Strategic Planning Parent Forum on Monday, Sept. 26 from 7 to 9 pm. This Forum will provide you with the opportunity to share with the Strategic Planning team your hopes and wishes for the future of education in our District. Note too that the Strategic Planning Committee membership includes several District parents: Todd Alamin, Lori Brockman, Larry Kelmar, Leslie King, Rita Popat, Christy Story, and Diana Sunshine. In addition, Governing Board members Maria Doktorczyk and Ann Jaquith, also District parents, are members of the Strategic Planning Committee. You should feel free to contact any of these parents to share your input as the Strategic Planning process moves forward this fall. For more information about the Strategic Planning process, see our District web page: http://www.llesd.k12.ca.us/StrategicPlanning.html.
Finally, we encourage you to join the Strategic Planning Committee in reading The Global Achievement Gap, by Tony Wagner, who writes about "why even our best schools don't teach the new survival skills our children need and what we can do about it." The book can be found at local booksellers and online at Amazon. This book will form the basis for many of the Strategic Planning Committee's discussions. And in October, the Governing Board will hold a special "study session" to discuss the book's ideas and themes with the parents, staff and administration. Please read the book and plan to join in the discussion so that you can be knowledgeable about, and participate in, the Strategic Planning process.
Thank you for your support of our schools.
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| School News | |
Dear Las Lomitas Families,
Parent Information Night (PIN) is scheduled for this Thursday evening, Sept. 1. Parents with children in grades 2nd and 3rd will meet in the classrooms from 6:30 to 7:10 p.m. Parents with children in grades K and 1st will meet in the classrooms from 7:15 to 8:00 p.m.
Each year, the teachers carefully plan and prepare for PIN. There is a certain amount of anxiety because there is so much information to cover in such a short amount of time. Please read over the bullets below to help us make this evening successful for all concerned:
- The "I" in PIN means "Information," so the night will primarily inform you of the curriculum expectations for each grade.
- Please remember that this evening is for parents only. No childcare is provided by the school. Please contact CCLC if you are interested in childcare.
- The teachers have only spent eight days with their students; please refrain from asking specific questions about your child or expecting long discussions about any topic.
- Some of you may have specific questions about our Primary Math program. Ms. Judy Ackerman, Math Coordinator, and I will be addressing these questions both in a future Lion's Roar as well as at a Parent Education Night to be scheduled in September or October.
- The teachers will provide documents that evening, but much of the information will be posted online for your reference.
- You will have an opportunity to submit questions or comments on cards. These comments and questions will be followed up on by the appropriate person. Fewer interruptions during the 45-minute period will avoid the teacher having to rush through the information and create a calmer atmosphere for all concerned.
- Please turn off pagers and cell phones; food is not to be brought to the presentations.
- There will be a five-minute passing period between the sessions.
Thank you for cooperating with us to make PIN a successful event.
Until next time,
Sue Sartor
Principal
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PTA News
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Thank you everyone who stopped by the PTA Coffee & Volunteer Fair last week. We had a great turnout of returning and new families. Thank you to Lisa Puccetti for providing all the refreshments.
If you were not able to join us for the Volunteer Fair, there are still many volunteer opportunities available! Simply sign up online or download the Volunteer Form at http://www.laslomitaspta.org/volunteer.html. Please sign up by Friday, Sept. 2.
The following programs require a lot of volunteers to run successfully. PLEASE SIGN UP!
Family Picnic - Family Picnic is right around the corner: Thursday, Sept. 15! We need volunteers to Set-up, Check-in, Serve, and Clean-up. Come early to help and get a prime picnic spot! Contact is Stacey White - swwhite01@yahoo.com.
Hot Food - The hot food program starts this week and relies entirely on parent volunteers for serving lunch, so please consider signing up! We're looking for a few more volunteers to help out from 11:50 a.m. -12:40 p.m. on Monday-Thursday. You can choose to help every week, every other week, or once a month. Volunteering for hot lunch is an excellent way to be involved with the PTA, see your children at lunch time, have a great time with friends and get to know other parents. Contact is stacy.may1967@yahoo.com.
Composting - We have an amazing program that is not only educational for the kids but great for our environment. Consider volunteering for hot food and composting on the same schedule! Contact is Monica Albers - siddens1@aol.com.
Tuesday Teacher Treats - This is a wonderful tradition to recognize our teachers and staff. Help bring treats (e.g., fruit, bagels, cookies, etc.) to the teacher lounge on your assigned Tuesday by 10:15 a.m. This is a great opportunity for working parents who can't stay at school for a whole activity! Contact is Cindy Tipton - cindytipton@comcast.net.
Memory Book - Help capture your child's year at school! Volunteer to photograph children and teachers throughout the year or create your child's class page for the school yearbook. Contact is Andrea Jasper - angejasper@gmail.com.
Feel free to contact me at volunteer@laslomitaspta.org with any questions. Have a wonderful second week of school!
Cindy Anderson
PTA Volunteer Coordinator
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| Foundation News | |
NEW FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY
YOU'RE INVITED!
Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Welcome to the Las Lomitas School District. We are thrilled to have your family join our school and participate in our community. Whether you are new to the District or have a Kindergartner, the Las Lomitas Education Foundation is pleased to invite you to a New Family Neighborhood Party. Come join us to connect with parents in your neighborhood and learn about our outstanding district.
Please select one of the following parties to attend:
Sharon Heights/Stanford Hills - Doug & Suzy Galen's home
University Heights - Mike & Diane Spath's home
Ladera - Eric & Christy Chin's home
Woodside/Atherton - Eric & Pamela Stang's home
Las Lomitas School Library - Hosted by Debra & Eric Ver Ploeg and Kristin Jones
Please note that these are adult-only gatherings with the exception of the Las Lomitas Library where childcare will be provided. Wine, refreshments and light appetizers will be served.
Please R.S.V.P. with location preference & number of adults (and children for Library) to Debra Ver Ploeg at DEBRA@VERPLOEG.COM by Sept. 1.
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| Parent Information Night (PIN) Child Care | |
CCLC Atherton will have child care available for PIN, Sept. 1. Pizza dinner will be provided along with some fun activities. Drop off will begin at 6 p.m. and children will need to be picked up by 8:15 p.m. The cost is $25 per child. Siblings welcome to attend as long as they are potty learned. Forms are available in the Las Lomitas office. Please complete the required form and return to CCLC with payment. Thank you!
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| Extracurricular Classes | |
Registration is now open for after-school classes through the Las Lomitas League. Check out the many offerings including old favorites such as Art to Art, Basketball, Chorus, Mad Science and languages. This year we've added some new offerings - Math Wizards and Wizbots. Detailed class descriptions, times, and registration can be found at: www.laslomitasleague.com.
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| Family Picnic | |
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE LAS LOMITAS BACK TO SCHOOL FAMILY PICNIC!
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 15, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Las Lomitas Field
Don't miss this great opportunity to meet other families in your child's classroom(s) and let the kids run free while socializing with new friends and old!
Pack your own dinner OR make life easy and sign up for a delicious all-you-can-eat Round Table Pizza buffet that the entire family is sure to love.
Don't forget your picnic blanket and extra jackets as it may get chilly!
Pizza Buffet Dinners can be ordered easily online using PayPal via this link: http://www.laslomitaspta.org/picnic.html or by check - look for the order form on the PTA website or in next week's "Monday" envelope.
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| Spirit Wear | |
BUY SPIRIT WEAR ONLINE!
No more order forms in the Monday packet. No more desperate emails from Beverly and Carol to please collect your spirit wear from the front office. Simply place your order online with your credit card or PayPal account! The order will be shipped directly to your home.
There are great products to choose from: sweatshirts, t-shirts, baseball jerseys, caps, food thermos, stainless steel water bottle, bags, and more! Contact cindytipton@comcast.net with any questions. |
| Las Lomitas Hot Lunch Program | |
The Las Lomitas Hot Lunch Program will begin Monday, Aug. 29. Hot lunch is available for children in grades 1-3. Kindergarteners do not participate in the hot lunch program.
Choicelunch will continue to provide our hot lunch program. They offer a large variety of healthy, daily entrees with sustainable ingredients and their packaging is compostable.
If your family had a Choicelunch account last year, you do not need to re-register as your child or children will be automatically moved up a grade and placed in the proper class. If you would like to add a student to your account, make changes to your existing information, or create a new account, please visit www.choicelunch.com. If needed, the Las Lomitas Registration code is "Atherton."
Volunteering to serve hot lunch is an excellent way to be involved with the PTA, see your children at lunch time, and have a great time getting to know other parents! We are in need of volunteers every day, so if you can help for 30- 40 minutes, once per week, every other week, or even once a month from approximately 11:55 a.m. - 12:40 p.m., please contact Stacy May at stacy.may1967@yahoo.com. You can also sign up online at http://www.laslomitaspta.org/volunteerform.html.
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| Cub Scouts | |
Cub Scouts at Las Lomitas - New dens are forming for the 2011/12 year of Cub Scouts. If your son is in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade and is interested in joining Cub Scouts, please contact Brenda Woodson at brenda_woodson@hotmail.com and/or come join us for Water Rockets, Water Balloon Launching and Ice Cream Sundaes for ALL!
PACK 222 Cub Scout 2011 Kick-Off Event
When: Sunday, Sept. 11
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Oak Knoll School Upper Playground (rear)
Bring the family and join the fun!
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| Green Team Lunch Time | |
This year's Green Team Lunchtime Composting is off to a great start! Volunteering to help the kids compost is a terrific way to help the students (and see your kid), our school and planet! The time commitment is only 50 minutes (12:10 to 1 p.m.) any school day. Three to five daily volunteers are especially needed these first six weeks for training the children to sort correctly. During the remainder of the school year, two daily volunteers are ideal. If interested, please contact Monica Albers, Green Team Chair ( monica.albers@gmail.com).
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| Bilingual Buddies | |
Are you bilingual? You can help!
Would you like to be a Bilingual Buddy and help new families at Las Lomitas? Each year we match parents who speak a language other than English with new families who also speak another language. Last spring the District English Advisory Committee's survey indicated that at least nine parents were interested in serving as a Bilingual Buddy. If you are interested, please call Carmen Patiņo at 233-9663 or email her at cpatino@denodo.com.
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| LLESD Governing Board |
The Governing Board web page (www.llesd.k12.ca.us.board.html) now lists all scheduled Board meetings and their location, and includes links to agendas for upcoming meetings and approved minutes for past meetings. The site is updated when new information is available, so please visit it regularly. Materials discussed at Regular Meetings (held monthly) are available in both school offices Monday through Wednesday prior to the meeting. Materials from past meetings are available at the District Office by contacting Karen Hiatt at 854-2880.
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Community Resources
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The Las Lomitas PTA and the Las Lomitas School do not endorse, warrant or recommend any of these businesses.
- Remember to mention Las Lomitas at the register and Kepler's donates 10% back to our school. Please check the website www.keplers.com for upcoming events.
- Circle of Friends Pre-School Looking for a great little pre-school in the Las Lomitas neighborhood? Come see our developmental play-based program where children have opportunities to create, problem-solve, practice skills and concepts, and integrate knowledge in a hands-on supportive environment. 8:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. cofpreschool@gmail.com Debbie 650-854-2468, http://sites.google.com/site/cofpreschool/
- Great Clips NEW Great Clips Haircuts at Sharon Heights Safeway (located right behind Starbucks) - Mention Las Lomitas for a 10% discount for you and we will also donate 10% of your purchase to the school. Not valid with any other offers. Applied to one customer purchase per day. Offer good through 9/10/11.
- Studio Rincon in West Menlo Park is proud to offer New Dance and Yoga Classes taught by excellent, new instructors Sept. 6, 2011 - May 2012. Enjoy Hip Hop, Funky Tap, Ballet/Tap Combo classes, Kids Yoga (ages 3-5) and (ages 6-11)! Classes start Labor Day week so signup ASAP to get a jump start on an exciting dance and yoga season. Performance scheduled for mid-May 2012. Registration required in advance at www.studiorincon.com
- Windmill School in Portola Valley has one space available in each of its 2's/3's TTh and 3's/4's MWF Programs for the 2011-12 school year. Our play-based programs meet 9 -11:45 a.m. If you are interested please email Thankamma at director@windmillschool.com or call 650-851-0771 ext. 2#.
- Menlo Park Recreation Tennis (ages 5-14) Directed by Jim Heebner, USPTA Professional. Enjoy a fun class and work on your game. Tennis classes are for boys and girls, beginning through tournament levels. Says Jim: "I'm big on fundamentals, practicing with a purpose, a good workout and keeping it fun!" You may sign up online at www.menlopark.org and fall classes start the week of Sept. 12. For further information: jimheebnertennis@aol.com or 650-814-6734.
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| Community News | |
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Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. The Friends of the Menlo Park Library present Mr. Horsefeathers A.K.A Steve Koehler. Please join us at the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., for this fun show of magic, juggling and comedy.
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You're Invited to the Menlo Park Library's Book Fair Sept. 17 - 18
Parents, looking for a way to expand your children's reading horizons, while keeping your budget in check? Teachers, seeking an economical way to add your classroom library?
Select from a broad assortment of gently used children's books, including hard cover picture books and volumes of children and teen fiction and nonfiction at the Menlo Park Library's fall Book Fair, taking place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 - 18, 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
In addition to the children and teen titles, the 30,000 book selection will include a wide variety of genres and subjects, such as fiction, mystery, science fiction, romance, cookbooks, psychology, business, computers, and much more. You name it, there's something for everyone!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Menlo Park Library, the Book Fair will be on the library lawn at the Main Library, 800 Alma Ave., near the intersection of Ravenswood Ave. and Laurel St. in Menlo Park.
Prices start at just 50 cents, and most books are available for $2 and under. On Sunday, starting at 10 a.m., all books are offered at half price and customers can purchase a bag from the Friends for just $5 and fill it to the brim with books on sale.
All of the proceeds go to support the programs and collections of the Menlo Park Library.
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| Sports | |
The Las Lomitas PTA and the Las Lomitas School do not endorse, warrant or recommend any of these businesses.
- SIGN UP NOW -- SOLO Aquatics Swim Team SOLO Aquatics offers a year-round program in which swimmers learn excellent swim / stroke technique through outstanding coaching in a fun environment. SOLO, a non-profit USA Swimming organization, has been serving Menlo Park for over 19 years and has over 100 year-round swimmers ranging in age from 5 to 18. Swimmers are grouped by age and ability levels. For practice schedules and fee information, please visit our website at www.soloaquatics.com or call us today at (650) 851-9091.
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| Newsletter Submissions | |
The Lion's Roar is published every Monday. To submit items for inclusion in the newsletter:
· Email submissions by noon, Wednesdays, to Carol Clark at cclark@llesd.org.
· Include a brief description of the item in the subject line of the email.
· Please include the text (in 10pt Arial) in an attachment to your email.
· Flyers will be summarized briefly in the email newsletter, with a link provided to access the complete flyer. Flyers must be provided electronically to enable online access.
Please note: Community announcements are for local children's events only. The title, date and contact number will be listed with a one-two sentence descriptor.
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