| School News | |
NEWS FROM KATHY RUWE, SCHOOL COUNSELOR
I am thrilled to be in my thirteenth year as school counselor at Las Lomitas! The role of the school counselor has changed in recent years and continues to change. In my role I have many responsibilities:
First and foremost, it is my responsibility to help your child get the best possible education. A good education includes not only learning to read, write and mastery of math concepts, but also includes learning good social skills. This means among other things, learning how to get along with other children, making good decisions, controlling anger, accepting responsibility and being aware of strengths and weaknesses. Many of these skills are taught at home. It is my intent to supplement the learning from home through small group and classroom guidance lessons.
I am also on campus to help students who are facing particular difficulties. Family disruptions such as an illness, death or divorce may affect children at school. If your family is experiencing anything out of the ordinary, please let me know. If I am aware of special problems your child might be facing, I can observe your child and help both you and your child with difficulties that might surface. School personnel and parents working together is a winning combination for children!
I am pleased to be on campus full time again this year! Even though two of my days are designated "assistant to the principal" days, I told all of the children I am here every day for them. The same goes for you. Please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to return your call as soon as I can. My number is 854-5900 x267. I look forward to another eventful and meaningful year working with you and your children.
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| From the Principal | |
Dear Las Lomitas Families,
This week I'd like to introduce you to some more of our new faculty members:
- Michelle Donecho has taught first grade for the past several years, most recently in the Los Altos School District. She received her teaching credential and Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Education from Santa Clara University, and is currently completing course work toward a Reading Language Arts Specialist Credential. Michelle is very creative and enjoys working with diverse student populations.
- Kristyn Hyres has worked in a variety of educational settings. She was a recreation counselor, day-care provider, tutor at Linda-Mood Bell and worked two years as a teacher's assistant prior to pursuing her degree in elementary education. Kristy recently completed her teaching credential program at Stanford University. She has taught in a variety of grades and is teaching second grade here at Las Lomitas.
- Kristina Rodriguez is a local gal from Redwood City. She has taught a 1st/2nd multi-grade, 5th grade and is starting her sixth year teaching second grade. She received her Master's degree in Reading and a Credential in Reading from Notre Dame de Namur. She particularly enjoys finding ways to incorporate technology into her lessons.
Please welcome these talented educators to Las Lomitas and be sure to introduce yourself if you see them at the Family Picnic on Thursday.
Reminder: The first Morning with the Principal is scheduled for this Wednesday, Sept.14 in Cano Hall. I will share information about the opening of school and welcome your questions. I hope to see you there!
Until next time,
Sue Sartor
Principal
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| Help Us Make Dismissal Safe and Efficient | |
At dismissal, please wait for your child in the flagpole area - do not wait in the hallway as classes are trying to pass.
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PTA News
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We NEED Your Membership!
If you haven't done so already, please join the PTA! We need many more families to participate in order to continue all the enrichment programs we have planned for our students. Don't forget that the PTA provides funds that allow your children to have supplies on the first day of school, provides funding for all student field trips and student assemblies, and staffs the hot lunch program, to name just a very few of the things we do. We are counting on your membership to maintain the wide variety of student enrichment and community building programs that we have generously been able to provide in the past.
Joining the PTA does not mean that you're signing up to volunteer ... for anything. Payment of your membership fees is simply demonstrating of your support for the PTA. We need you! Our goal is to attain 90% family participation. Today we are at 52% ... quite a stretch towards our goal!
If you have any questions about membership, please don't hesitate to contact me personally (donna@chezhall.com). Sign up today! www.laslomitaspta.org/membership.html.
A World of Thanks
There is so much work the PTA undertakes during the summer to prepare for the events that take place at the start of school. I'm sure many of these are unknown by our parent community and I just want to take a moment and thank some PTA positions that may go unnoticed:
- Rebecca Grant - For devoting hours and hours of her summer to updating the PTA website
- Tara Roussel and Carol Clark - For managing, editing and executing the Lion's Roar each week
- Cindy Anderson - For organizing the volunteer fair and welcome coffee on the first day of school, as well as the committee volunteers, and processing all the PTA volunteer forms
- Lynn Takacs and Jennifer Williams - For collecting, organizing and managing all the PTA membership forms and payments
- Stacy May and Rebecca Grant - For getting the hot lunch program up and running smoothly as well as organizing all the hot food volunteers
- Cindy Tipton - For organizing teacher gifts, providing treats for the administration and staff, creating an online option for ordering Spiritwear all while planning exciting new student assemblies
- Monica Albers - For organizing compost volunteers ... and for dedicating her lunchtime each day to teaching the new students the lunchtime waste process at Las Lomitas (she needs more volunteers and it's a great way to see what you child actually eats vs. throws away at lunch!)
- Lisa Puccetti - For coordinating the coffee and snacks for the PTA General Membership Meeting and Volunteer Fair while simultaneously serving breakfast for teachers and staff on the first day of school (amazing!), and for providing teacher dinners for PIN
- Anna Plume and Sharon Kelly - For recovering nicely from the last minute news that we needed to source a new Book Fair vendor ... way to go!
Donna Hall
2011-2012 PTA President
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| 21st Century Learning | |
Speaker Event this Tuesday
The Las Lomitas Elementary School District presents:
"RE-IMAGINING K-8 EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY"
By Dr. Ira Lit, Associate Professor, Director of
Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) Elementary
TUESDAY, SEPT. 13 AT 7 P.M., @ CANO HALL
What students learn and how they learn it are critically important for expanding the ways children think and what they are able to do; for encouraging children's natural curiosity; for keeping children interested in learning in school; and for preparing our children to live healthy, productive and meaningful lives beyond school. Parents, teachers, as well as the LLESD community are invited to attend.
To help our speaker plan for the presentation, please RSVP by clicking HERE, though walk-ins are welcome.
This event is sponsored by the Las Lomitas Education Foundation, the Las Lomitas PTA, and the La Entrada PTA.
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| Bus Schedule Changes | |
At the beginning of each school year, Transportation sets bus schedules based on what we know about students/families and where they need bus service. It is only after school begins that we know exactly how many students will be riding the bus, and how best we can route the buses to serve them.
This year we find we have more students riding the bus ... which is a very good thing. More students on the bus mean fewer cars and congestion in the parking lot each day. We are making several changes to the bus schedules to accommodate theses additional bus riders. While the bus may have the legal capacity to handle 78 or 84 passengers, 80 students on a bus, seated 3 in every seat, is difficult for both the students and the drivers. It takes longer to load a bus that is full to capacity, and the trip to school isn't nearly as much fun when the bus is so crowded.
The changes detailed below are being made to give everyone a little "breathing room" on the bus and to more accurately reflect timing.
General:
We've added a new Bus Stop at Sharon Oaks Apartments on Sharon Road-Bus Stop 89. There are too many students at Stop 5; in order to improve safety at the bus stop we are splitting this group of students into two Bus Stops. You will find Bus Stop 89 added to all pick-up and take-home routes.
1st Session Pick-Up:
We've added a fourth bus to the 9 a.m. pick-up schedule. Bus 2 will pick up Stops 89 and 5 from Bus 3, and Stops 35, 34, 82, and 33 from Bus 4. These changes do not affect the timing of pick-ups, but will give students more room on the bus.
1st Session Take-Home:
With the exception of Stop 19, Walsh Road stops have been removed from the schedule as there have been no students riding the bus from this area. Also, Sand Hill Circle Stops 50, 70, and 72 have been removed from the schedule on Bus 3, as there have been no students riding the bus from this area.
2nd Session Pick-Up:
Walsh Road Stops have been removed from the schedule, as there have been no students riding the bus from this area. Stops 35, 34, 82, and 33 have been moved from Bus 3 to Bus 4.
Wednesday:
Stop 81 has been moved from Bus 4 to Bus 2 for the morning pick-up.
New bus schedules have been distributed to those families affected by these changes and are available in the school office. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 854-6311, x30.
Joyce Massaro
Transportation Supervisor
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| Family Picnic | |
THIS THURSDAY IS THE LAS LOMITAS BACK TO SCHOOL FAMILY PICNIC!
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 15, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
WHERE: Las Lomitas Field
We are looking forward to seeing you all there! Don't forget to bring your blanket, something warm, and to look for your child's room number on the lawn so you can enjoy meeting new families in your child's class.
This is your last chance to order a delicious all-you-can-eat Round Table Pizza buffet (pizza, salad, fruit and drinks) that the entire family will love!
Please place your Pizza Buffet Dinner orders online using this link: www.laslomitaspta.org/events.html or pay by check by completing the family picnic flyer in last week's "Monday" envelope and submitting it to the front office.
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| Holiday Workshop Planning Meeting | |
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m., Room 22
Would you like to help plan for the Holiday Workshop? Do you have an idea for a craft that you would like to share? Come join us at our opening meeting to prepare for this fun event. If you have an idea, bring a sample along to share. Please contact Tracie Nelson if you have any questions. TracieRaeNelson@gmail.com
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| STAR Test Questions? | |
The parent informational meeting about STAR testing scheduled for Wednesday, Sept, 14 at 6:15 p.m., has been cancelled. If you have questions about the STAR program, please email Claire Abrams at cabrams@llesd.org or call 854-5900, ext. 269.
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| Green Team Needs Volunteers | |
The Green Team is still in need of Lunch Time Composting Volunteers. Volunteers help the children sort their lunch waste into composting, recycling and trash. This is a great way to help our school (and see your kids!) and earth. Shifts are available Monday - Friday from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Please consider helping. For more information, contact Monica Albers (monica.albers@gmail.com).
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| International Walk to School Day | |
October 5 is International Walk to School Day. The County Office of Education, the San Mateo County Health System and the Get Healthy San Mateo County School Wellness Committee are encouraging schools to participate. Thirty-five years ago 66% of children walked to school; today less than 13% walk to school. In addition, childhood diabetes and obesity are rising dramatically, threatening both children's health and their ability to learn effectively. Walk to School Day provides an opportunity for your school community to support the health and wellness of our students, improve the environment and reduce traffic congestion around schools. It is one step toward building a generation of students that can say they walked and bicycled to school, and it was fun!
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| Join eScrip | |
JOIN ESCRIP - IT'S EASY AS 1, 2 3!
Here's How:
1. Visit http://www.eScrip.com
2. Register or renew your Safeway Club Card and Credit Cards at the eScrip website and then designate Las Lomitas Education Foundation (Group ID - 125673324).
3. Start shopping!
Last year we raised more than $25,000 from participating merchants like Safeway, Bianchini's Market, Draeger's Markets, and many more. Visit the www.eScrip.com website to learn more about participating merchants.
Please support our schools: Register your cards at the eScrip table at the Las Lomitas Family Picnic on Thursday, Sept. 15, and receive a Las Lomitas aluminum water bottle!
Any questions?
Gerald Wluka - eScrip@llef.org eScrip Chair Las Lomitas Education Foundation
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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! Email cindytipton@comcast.net with questions.
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| Lost Parrot | |
If you have lost or know someone who has lost a black and gray parrot, it is at CCLC.
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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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| LLL Class Calendar | |
This calendar will appear in the Roar THIS WEEK ONLY. For future reference, please go to http://www.laslomitasleague.com/templates/CLASS_CALENDAR.html for the Las Lomitas League calendar. Thank you.
MONDAY, Sept. 12
Chinese 1A - 8:05 - 9 a.m., room 10A
Chinese 3 - 3:35 - 4:30 p.m., room 9
TUESDAY, Sept. 13
Chinese 2A - 8:05 - 9 a.m., room 10A
Chinese 2B - 9:20 - 10:15 a.m., room 10A
Spanish 1C - 2:20 - 3:15 p.m., room 10A
Spanish 2B - 3:35 - 4:30 p.m., room 10A
Chorus - 3:35 - 4:20 p.m., Cano Hall
Art to Art - 3:35 - 4:35 p.m., room 9
Basketball - 3:35 - 4:35 p.m., basketball courts
Golf - 3:35 - 4:45 p.m., field
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14
Soccer - 2:10 - 3:10 p.m., field
Mad Science A - 2:10 - 3:10 p.m., Cano Hall
Mad Science B - 3:15 - 4:15 p.m., Cano Hall
Mad Science C - 4:20 - 5:20 p.m., Cano Hall
Math Wizards - 2:10 - 3:10 p.m., room 10A (grade 3)
Spongeball Tennis - 2:10 - 3:10 p.m., blacktop
Young Inklings - 2:10 - 3:10 p.m., room 9
THURSDAY, Sept. 15
Chinese 2A - 8:05 - 9 .a.m., room 10A
Chinese 2B - 9:20 - 10:15 a.m., room 10A
Spanish 1C - 2:20 - 3:15 p.m., room 10A
Spanish 2B - 3:35 - 4:30 p.m., room 10A
Wizbots - 3:35 - 5:05 p.m., Cano Hall
Flag Football - 3:35 - 4:35 p.m., field
Young Rembrandts - 3:35 - 4:35 p.m., room 9
FRIDAY, Sept. 16
Chinese 1A - 8:05 - 9 a.m., room 10A
Chinese 3 - 3:35 - 4:35 p.m., room 9
Chess Club & Team - 3:35 - 4:35 p.m., Cano Hall
Please contact the extra-curricular class teacher if classes have been rescheduled or if your child will be absent. Thank you.
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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/
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| Community News | |
MENLO PARK LIBRARY'S BOOK FAIR, Sept. 17-18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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.
ICE HOCKEY FOR GIRLS - TRY IT OUT!
Is your daughter interested in trying the great sport of Ice Hockey? Hannah Onderdonk in first grade plays for the San Jose Jr. Sharks Girls' U8 team and loves it. Here is a great opportunity for your daughter to check ice hockey out, for free!
SATURDAY, Oct. 2 at 7:45 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
East Rink, Sharks Ice San Jose
1500 South 10th St., San Jose, CA 95112
For girls ages 5-12. Skates, sticks and hockey equipment are provided. Space is limited, so CLICK HERE to register today!
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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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