Dear Las Lomitas Families,

It's hard to believe, but we've been in school for a whole month! When I visit classrooms it is apparent that routines and expectations are being taught so the classroom provides an optimal environment for learning. Las Lomitas teachers focus on teaching routines and expectations as carefully as they do lessons on math concepts or reading comprehension skills. The time spent now on modeling and practicing learning behaviors will pay off a thousand-fold over the course of the year. Learning time is maximized when reminders are minimized.

Teachers work hard at this. How can parents support learning routines and expectations at home?

1. Use a system: Be sure backpacks are in a designated location. When homework is finished, or take-home books are read, be sure they are placed in backpacks and ready to go to school.
2. Keep a calendar: Record field trips, special events, before/after-school classes on a calendar your child can reference. Be sure your child knows it is important to give permission slips or change in dismissal notes to the teacher.
3. Create a study space: Provide a quiet, comfortable space for your child to do homework. Be nearby to supervise and set a good example by reading or taking care of your home responsibilities while your child is working.
4. Acknowledge that school is your child's "job." Support, but don't do the work for him/her. If your child forgets to pack a homework assignment, don't rush it up to the school. Let your child experience the consequences for being unprepared.
5. Praise your child for completing homework or packing up materials independently. Ask how it feels to be successful and responsible. Celebrate each step toward independence!

Education is more than knowledge. It is learning to be a successful, contributing member of society. Being independent and responsible at school is essential to reaching this goal. Thank you for supporting your child's teacher in developing these important skills.

Until next time,

Sue Sartor, Principal

PTA News

                                                               
Thank you to everyone who has chosen to join and support the PTA!                   

We've already had 360 families contribute so far but we continue to need your support!

The recent school-wide Jump-Rope assembly was just one example of how the funds were used by your contributions to the PTA. Remember, the PTA funds many of the programs that go directly towards your child. The school directory will be coming out soon and is yet another thing your membership goes towards.

Las Lomitas needs every family to join the PTA in order to continue to provide the quality programs your child enjoys throughout the year. So far, 68% of you have contributed to the PTA but we know there are more of you out there who can help us achieve our goal of 90% participation!  

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need further information at jenniferwilliams2@gmail.com or visit us at the PTA site link at www.laslomitaspta.org/membership.html

SAFETY TIP

Drivers must remain in the car when in the pick-up lane.

FROM SCHOOL COUNSELOR KATHY RUWE

Many parents in the Las Lomitas community have attended the fall Challenge Success conference in the past. This year's program is going to equally as engaging and informative as past sessions. I encourage everyone who can attend, to set aside Friday, Sept. 30 from 7-9 p.m. to enjoy a thought provoking evening titled: One Size Does Not Fit All. See additional information and links to the website below:

We would like to invite you and members of your community to spend the evening with nationally-renowned experts discussing academic stress, engagement, and well-being. Keynote speaker, Ken Ginsburg, M.D., and Challenge Success co-founders Denise Pope, Ph.D., Madeline Levine, Ph.D., and Jim Lobdell, M.A., will lead an interactive discussion about the meaning of success and how families and educators can help youth thrive in the fast-paced world in which we live. This event is hosted by Challenge Success, a project of the Stanford University School of Education.

Sept. 30, 7-9 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University

Free and Open to the Public, (Suggested Donation $10/Individual, $15/Family)

The link to the registration is 
 http://www.challengesuccess.org/Educators/Conferences/PlenaryRegistration/tabid/1218/Default.aspx

The link to the flyer is 
http://www.challengesuccess.org/Educators/Conferences/tabid/1120/Default.aspx 

INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

CAMPUS Presents: 

Internationally renowned parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba. Ed.D

7 PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN ATTAIN JOY, BALANCE AND SUCCESS

Thursday, Oct. 20, 7 - 9 p.m.

Menlo Atherton High School Center for Performing Arts

Does it seem as if your children are forced to shortcut today's freedom for tomorrow's success? Would you like them to have the space to enjoy unstructured exploration and discovery without fear of losing ground? Don't miss Dr. Michele Borba, award-winning author, speaker and educational consultant, as she shares specific skills to help you teach your children how to survive and thrive in today's play-deprived and standards-driven world. With the same warm, humorous, realistic and straightforward approach you've seen in her appearances on the Today Show, Dr. Phil, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, Dr. Borba will help you learn simple, effective, research-based strategies to prepare your children for the future without sacrificing their well-being or your own.

SIGN UP FOR THESE FABULOUS EVENTS

It's sizzling HOT in glamorous South Beach, Miami. . .

Step on out to The Fire Lounge, where you'll find the hippest party in town!

A lucky few still have the chance to feel the heat as the party moves and grooves to the latest Latin beats and hip-hop sounds.

Feast on the delectable flavors of Cuba, and cool off with luscious cocktails . Come early and stay late, the party won't get started without you!!

Saturday, October 1 - in the evening, $125 per person

Go to the Event Sign Up page on the LLEF website to see full event details and purchase tickets.  Below is a quick list of additional events that are fast approaching and you might not want to miss!!

Father/Daughter Dance

Friday, October 14, 2011 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm, $75 per pair & $25 for each additional daughter

Mother/Son Bowling

Friday, November 18 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm, $75 per pair & $25 for each additional son

Gentlemen's Texas Hold'em (Gentlemen Only)

Saturday, October 15 - from 7:30pm 'til late . . . $100 per player

Square Dancing Party (Adults Only)

Friday, November 4 - from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, $50 per person

Build Community.  Raise Money.  Have Fun!

JOIN eSCRIP

Sign up for eScrip and almost 100 area merchants donate to our school when you shop with them. On average this is worth $30 per sign-up - amounting to more than $25,000 last year.

Register for FREE now:

1. Go here:  https://secure.escrip.com/jsp/supporter/registration/step1.jsp
2. Type in "LAS LOMITAS" and click the search button
3. Click the orange link Las Lomitas Education Foundation  (Group ID 125674428)
4. Click the Next button and complete the forms.

That's it! 

Any questions?
Contact Gerald Wluka  eScrip@llef.org 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers Needed for the Father/Daughter Dance on Friday, Oct. 14. Please help make this "event of the year" for our daughters a grand success!  We need volunteers for the following areas:

Are you looking for a way to help further enrich your children's experience at Las Lomitas?

The Apple for the Classroom program is a way for parents to support their children's teachers directly. All the teachers and specialists at Las Lomitas have been invited to create a "wish list" of items that would help to further enrich their classrooms. Wishes may include art supplies, gift cards, books, or donations toward a special activity or field trip. These lists, along with instructions, have been placed in the red Apple for the Classroom binder located in the office.

The next time you are on campus, please stop by the office and pick an "apple" from a wish list. All donations are tax deductible and receipts are available upon request. Thank you for supporting our teachers!

Questions? Please feel free to contact Julie Chandik at jchandik@yahoo.com.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Interested in learning more about Girl Scouting at Las Lomitas?  Please attend an informational meeting Monday Oct. 3, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in Cano Hall. This meeting is intended for parents, as we will be discussing opportunities to start new troops to serve the girls at our school. If you will attend please RSVP to llgirlscouts@gmail.com. 

Thank you! 

Barrie Shapiro

Basketball registration is quickly approaching. This is a very popular winter sport at La Entrada that is open to all students in 3rd through 8th grade. All children registered are guaranteed a place on a team. Please mark your calendars for the following dates:  

Oct. 10 (Monday) at 7 p.m.: Basketball registration opens
Oct. 31 (Monday, Halloween!) at 7 p.m.: Basketball registration closes
NOTE: We cannot accept any late registrations. Please be sure to register during the open registration dates.

Nov. 3 (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m.: Basketball Coaches Meeting in the La Entrada library. Required for all coaches. We will choose practice times as well as go over rules, expectations, evaluations, etc. Practice times will be selected based on coaches' availability and a lottery system.
Nov. 5 (Saturday): Basketball Evaluation Day in LE Gym for 5th Boys, 6th Boys, 7th Girls & Boys, and 8th Girls & Boys

Nov. 6 (Sunday): Basketball Evaluation Day in Jensen Hall for 3rd Girls & Boys, 4th Girls & Boys, 5th Girls and 6th Girls

Evaluations are used strictly to split up each grade level into fair and balanced teams. Your grade will be assigned a specific time closer to the date.  Please check the LLL Basketball webpage later in October.   

COACHES ARE NEEDED! 

This activity is run by parents. We need parent coaches so we can offer fair playing time to all the kids. (Fewer coaches mean fewer teams with a lot of players. The larger the team, the less playing time for each player.) You do not need a lot of experience to coach; we can pair you with a more experienced coach. Also, we provide a coaching clinic.  Please contact Inger Rarick at irarick@yahoo.com or Sue Bartalo at sbartalo@mac.com if you are available to coach. 

COME TRY CHORUS!

All grades are welcome. We are singing Tuesdays 3:35 - 4:20 p.m., in Cano Hall. It's not too late to register. To arrange a preview, contact Director Pam Donkin at 415-308-4432.

CALENDAR 

Please go to www.laslomitasleague.com  for the Las Lomitas League calendar.

ABSENT?

Please contact the extra-curricular class teacher if classes have been rescheduled or if  your child will be absent. Thank you.

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.

KEPLER'S EVENTS FOR PARENTS

Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., hear Sandra Aamodt, PhD., author of "Welcome to your Child's Brain: How the Mind Grows from Conception to College." This book helps you know when to worry, how to respond and when to relax.

Monday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. come hear Marilyn Wedge, author of "Suffer the Children: The Case Against Labeling and Medicating and an Effective Alternative." This book reframes how parents, health professionals and society can respond to problems of childhood in a considerate and respectful fashion. 

PANCAKE BREAKFAST TO BENEFIT BURN VICTIMS

Saturday, Oct. 1 from 7:30 - 11 a.m., Join the Junior League of Palo Alto · Mid-Peninsula, the Menlo Park Firefighters and the Stanford Park Hotel for the 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast Benefit at the fire station at 300 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park. Proceeds benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. 

YOU'RE INVITED: ATHERTON DAMES' CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN PARTY

Sunday, Oct. 30,  2 - 4 p.m. at Holbrook-Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton. Children are invited to come in costume and enjoy a fun-filled ventriloquist show.  Win exciting child and adult drawing prizes; enjoy our gourmet coffee and candy bar.  For more details or to make reservations, please email HalloweenParty@AthertonDames.org.  All proceeds benefit Holbrook-Palmer Park.  

 
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!

NJB WINTER BASKETBALL

Registration is now open at www.redwoodnjb.org. This Redwood Chapter is starting its 9th year and many former players are playing for area High School teams including St. Francis, MA, and Menlo School. Come join us this year for a positive experience in competitive basketball. We offer a rookie league (D4) for grades 1-2 with the ability to form your own team (note friends during registration).  There are no boundary restrictions for D4/rookie league. For grades 3-8 we offer 3 leagues D1 (grades 3-4), D2 (grades 5-6), and D3 (grades 7-8). D1-D3 utilizes a draft to ensure equality on every team and players are restricted to Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, Woodside, or East Palo Alto. All teams are parent coached and the league affords pre-season coaching clinics. All Divisions (D1-D4) will play a 9-game schedule with a one or two weekend playoff.