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PTA News
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MEMBERSHIP
The list is growing to join the PTA. We have now received donations from 366 families. That's 69% of you! But we're still a long way from reaching our goal of 90% participation. We need you!!
Remember, the PTA funds all the programs that your child enjoys: school assemblies, holiday workshops, field trips, the school directory and much more!! There is still time to contribute to make sure you do your part to ensure these and other programs remain for your kids to enjoy.
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SCHOOL DIRECTORY
Check your children's backpacks, the directory is coming home this week!
Few things to know:
- The school directory is provided by the PTAs of Las Lomitas and La Entrada schools as a service to the families of the Las Lomitas Elementary School District
- The directory is going home with your youngest students
- If you have ordered more than one copy, all the copies will go home with your youngest student
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LAS LOMITAS BOOK FAIR COMING SOON: October 26 - November 2
Please mark your calendar! Our book fair is a little earlier this year. It will be open on Halloween--a great time to shop before or after the Halloween Parade (which starts at 10:45 a.m.).
Sadly, Kepler's is no longer doing book fairs. However, we are excited to have our book fair hosted by Hicklebee's, a wonderful independent bookstore in Willow Glen specializing in books for children and young adults since 1979! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MANY WAYS TO EARN WITH BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION Please remember to keep saving Box Top coupons found on many favorite brands such as Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Kleenex, Huggies, Ziploc, Avery, and so many more. Box Top coupons can be turned in at any time at the Las Lomitas office. Write your student's name and room number on the back of each coupon to be eligible for our prize drawing, which will be held in mid-October. Check out www.boxtops4education.com for many other ways to earn money for Las Lomitas. If you start your online shopping at the Box Tops Marketplace, a percentage of qualifying purchases from online retailers such as Lands' End, Target, Best Buy, and many more will be credited to Las Lomitas. Do your shopping and earn cash for Las Lomitas at the same time visit www.boxtops4education.com! Thank you for your support of our school! Margie Stehle Box Tops for Education Chair |
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From the Principal
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Dear Las Lomitas Families,
Two days off for students and families are coming up! What are the teachers and administrators doing on those days? What is a "professional development day" anyway?
Las Lomitas teachers are highly skilled because they continually increase their knowledge and expertise in best teaching practices. In addition to grade level collaboration and attending off-site conferences and workshops over the course of the school year, teachers spend two full days in October to focus on their professional skills.
Each year the faculty reviews our mission, vision and goals. We discuss what we accomplished last year and ask what will be new goals for student learning. We then determine what training and information is needed to implement these goals. Much of the planning is accomplished during faculty meetings on Wednesday afternoons, but training and research take more time.
October 6th and 7th will be dedicated to teacher learning. Below is a sampling of what teachers will focus on during these Professional Development Days:
- Primary Math (K-3 teachers)
- new adoption year for 3rd grade
- aligning site math assessment with Primary Math and
New Common Core State Standards
- Technology resources for assessment and instruction
- Observations at other schools
- Student data analysis
- Student progress reporting system
- Webpage design
- Integrating Social, Emotional and Academic Learning
- Collaboration with La Entrada faculty
- 21st Century Learning
- Strategic Plan
- New Common Core State Standards in Language Arts and Mathematics
I wish you could see more than just the list of topics. There will be high-energy question and answer sessions, cross grade breakout discussions, demonstration lessons, curriculum design - the list goes on and on. Las Lomitas teachers take these two days very seriously. This time allows us to make significant progress toward our goals. Work will continue in smaller time frames over the rest of the school year.
This should give you an idea of what we do on our Professional Development Days. We look forward to these days of focused collaboration and hope you enjoy the time off with your children.
Until next time,
Sue Sartor,
Principal
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School News
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SAFETY TIP
Teach your child to fasten his/her seat belt independently so you are free to drive ahead. This will keep the queue moving more quickly.
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INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
A reminder that Wednesday, October 5th is International Walk to School Day. We will have stickers for those who walk and/or ride their bikes on Wednesday...come get yours at the flapole!
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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THE LOST AND FOUND WILL BE DONATED THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13th.
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ATTENDANCE
If your child is going to be absent from school, please, please, please, notify us by calling the attendance line, 854-5900, ext. 1. If you want to email the teacher, that's fine but you must call the attendance line as well.
Thank you, Beverley and Carol
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21st Century Learning
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On Monday, October 3, at 7 p.m. in Cano Hall, the Governing Board will hold a "study session" Special School Board Meeting for all parents, teachers, staff and community members to discuss the book The Global Achievement Gap, by Tony Wagner. This meeting is part of the District's efforts to educate the community about 21st Century learning, and to help us develop a Strategic Plan to meet the needs of our District students. In The Global Achievement Gap, the author asserts that even the best schools in the United States need to improve, and they must teach the seven survival skills that children will need to be ready for college and career success in the 21st Century. Please RSVP by clicking here: (http://www.leadingeducation-llesd.org/book.html), and plan to join us for a lively discussion that will help inform our Strategic Planning process. The book is available at local bookstores and online at Amazon.
Thanks for supporting our District schools.
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LLEF News
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Enroll in Your Employer Matching Program and Increase Your Donation to the LLEF
Its the right time of year to check into your employer's matching gift policy. You can increase your gift, possibly even doubling it, simply by notifying your employer of your donation and providing them with contactinformation for our Foundation (see below).
Some employers require you to open an account during health benefits open season, while others require you to direct your donation directly to them or through payroll deductions, so its important to check into your employer's policies today!
For a list of companies that matched donations last year, click the "donate"
link on our website, www.llef.org, and select Employer Matching Gifts. If
you have any questions, contact our matching gift coordinator, Cecilia Pinto, at matchinggifts@llef.org.
Here is the information you will need:
Las Lomitas Education Foundation
PO Box 7282, Menlo Park CA 94026
EIN/Tax ID Number: 94-2952818
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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:
Set-up (3 - 6 p.m., all or two shifts)
Check-In (6:30 - 9:30 p.m., all or two shifts)
Assist Photographers (6:30 - 9:30 p.m., all or two shifts)
Food Area (6:30 - 9:30 p.m., all or two shifts)
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GRANDPARENTS GROUP SIGN-UP
The Grandparents' Group was organized several years ago to connect the grandparents of children in our District to our schools. The Foundation is striving to help the grandparents feel connected to their grandchildren. Our group is now over 1,000 grandparents strong! We invite you to register today by clicking here! Parents, you can register on behalf of the grandparents in your family.
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| Girl Scouting at Las Lomitas | |
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES NEEDED Please donate your gently used or new costumes for the children of the Haven Family House homeless shelter in Menlo Park (infant through adult sizes needed). The Girl Scout Troops of Las Lomitas will be collecting costumes in a bin at the Flagpole from Oct. 3-14. If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Stang, pamela_stang@yahoo.com.
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| Third Graders: Basketball Registration and Season Info | |
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.
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| Community News | |
HALLOWEEN COSTUME RENTAL EXTRAVAGANZA
For the first time ever, Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory is opening its racks for Halloween costume rentals! We have all kinds of fun costumes from fairy wings to animal masks, pirate gear to Renaissance dresses, 50s attire, cheerleading uniforms, suit coats, hats -- all sorts of fun garb. We will also have a special appearance from a make-up artist who can help design face paint, scary make-up, princess make-up, animal make-up, and other fun faces.
Ages Pre K - Adult
Saturday, Oct. 8
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
945 Portola Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
DON'T MISS "AMELIA LIVES" AT THE PORTOLA VALLEY THEATRE CONSERVATORY
"Amelia Lives" is a 90-minute exploration into the community and events that shaped a young girl into an explorer, champion of women's rights, and philosopher. You are invited to peek into the world of Amelia Earhart through events, stories, letters and quotes from this larger than life lady from the 20th century. Performances are Oct 21st and 22nd at 7:30 and Oct 23rd at 2:00 at Lane Hall Theatre, 945 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Tickets and information at www.pvtc-ca.org.
ALL STUDENTS MATTER is a grassroots organization working as part of the Ravenswood Education Foundation to serve East Palo Alto students and we need your help! Volunteer in a 2nd-4th grade classroom weekly or bi-monthly. Tutor children after school at Green Oaks Academy, a K-4 school. Volunteer opportunities for both students and adults. Visit our website for more informtion: www.allstudentsmatter.org, or please contact Ann Carter at annscottcarter@gmail.com or Sharon Purcell at sharonpurcell4@gmail.com.
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 prizes; enjoy our gourmet coffee and candy bar. For more details or to make reservations, email HalloweenParty@AthertonDames.org. All proceeds benefit Holbrook-Palmer Park.
Join us at the AMERICAN GIRL FASHION SHOW at Christ's Church in Los Altos, November 11 and 12 to benefit Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Shows are 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Friday and 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday. Refreshments will be served. For reservations and tickets see www.PaloAltoAuxiliary.com or email AmericanGirlFashionShow@gmail.com.
EPGY at Stanford University is dedicated to enhancing learning for students through multimedia, computer-based distance-learning courses. Open Enrollment offers access to three courses; K-7 math course, beginning algebra course and elementary language arts and writing. Visit http://epgy.stanford.edu/pdf/soe/EnrollmentWebPost.pdf to learn more. En Espaņol: http://epgy.stanford.edu/pdf/soe/info_sp.pdf .
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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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Business Sponsors News | |
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.
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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.
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.
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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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