For Las Lomitas League class schedules, please see their website at www.laslomitasleague.org

This Week

• 12/6 K Tour for new families 9:45-11 a.m. Call the office to reserve a place, 854-5900.
• 12/7 Holiday Workshop

Coming Soon

• 12/13 DELAC Mtg. 6 p.m. - LE room 51
• 12/14 School Board Meeting - 7 p.m. - La Entrada MUR
• 12/15 K Tour for new families 9:45-11 a.m. Call the office to reserve a place, 854-5900.
• 12/23 Winter Break begins
• 1/9/12 School resumes
• 1/16/12  Registration begins for LLL classes 

Dear Las Lomitas Families,

Las Lomitas School functions like a large family to reach our vision of meeting the needs of each individual student. Each "family member" contributes to an environment where all may succeed. There are many opportunities for involvement, including direct work with students as volunteers on campus.

In a typical week, more than 150 parents, grandparents or community volunteers support student learning by working in the classrooms, tutoring, staffing the publishing center, leading literature discussions, leading "Fun Friday" activities or being guest readers.

We appreciate the time and energy spent by volunteers, but must remind everyone of the need for confidentiality when working on campus. School personnel are mandated by state law to keep all information about students absolutely confidential. As a volunteer, you work under this mandate as well, whether you are on campus regularly, or for a one-time event.

Please remember:

• If you have a concern about a child, report your concern to the teacher and/or         administrator; do not contact the family.
• Never discuss a another child and/or your concerns outside of the school.
• If a parent calls to ask you about the classroom/school program or share a problem he/she feels the child is experiencing, do not comment: the parent should call the teacher and/or an administrator to discuss these concerns. 

Please keep in mind that what you see as a volunteer is a snapshot. All children have strengths and weaknesses, good days and days when they are tired. Thank you for helping us make Las Lomitas a campus where parents and professionals continue to work in an open, collaborative environment for the betterment of our children.

Until next time,

Sue Sartor

Principal

Safety Tip:  When displaying your child's name in the car window, print it boldly so it can be seen from a distance.  More name cards are available in the office.

 

PLEASE! Leave your dogs at home.  They are not permitted on school property without prior permission.  Dogs are particularly a safety risk at the flag pole area during dismissal times.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Dear Families,

Good news! The number of students identified with head lice has declined at Las Lomitas since a new "home check" policy was instituted at the end of the last school year. In our ongoing effort to lessen the chance that students will have to deal with a lice infestation, we are requesting that all families conduct home checks over the Winter Holiday break. You will be asked to return the attached form confirming that this has been completed. It is due on the day your child returns to school - Jan. 9, 2012.  

Why were home checks initiated? After reviewing both the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policies regarding head lice control measures in schools, we learned that careful checks at home were the best method by far for controlling head lice at school....and everywhere else. This is because "wet combing" (as opposed to "dry combing") is more easily done at home. Liquid slows the movement of lice, so a combing check when the hair is wet is a much more effective way of spotting the creatures.

Please carefully review all of the materials at the below link, then sign and return the form. We will request that you conduct wet-combing checks at home two more times this year. We are confident that communication and a proactive approach between school and home will further lower the possibility that these pesky bugs will show up on campus. Should you encounter nits or lice when performing a home check please explore options and begin treating your child immediately. If you have additional questions when school resumes, our school nurse will be happy to speak with you.  

Please keep in mind that the presence of lice in no way means that you or your child has poor hygiene habits! Anyone can get lice - even people who shampoo their hair and clean their houses everyday!

Do you have questions about this issue? I encourage you to speak with the principal at your child's school or call me directly at 854-1215. Otherwise, please return the form to your child's teacher by Jan. 9, 2012.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our students and schools focused on learning!

Robin Spindler-Director of Student Services

Please click here to print the brochure and signature form. 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The English Advisory Committee (ELAC) was established to advise the Governing Board on programs and services for English Learners. A majority of the Committee must be parents of English Learners. This committee meets five times a year to review and monitor programs that affect our English Language Learners. Among its responsibilities are:

* to also serve as a member on the District English Language Advisory Committee

* to assist in developing school plans for English Learners

* to conduct an annual needs assessment

* to prepare an annual language census

* to advise the District regarding redesignation procedures

Daniel Li joined the ELAC last year and is serving the second year of a two-year term. His family is from Taiwan. He has a son in first grade. Ingrid Abild-Pedersen is also serving her second year on the committee. Her family is from Denmark and she has a third grade student.

This year we have one vacancy on the Committee. At the start of each year we ask for interested parents of English learners to serve on this committee. Tatiana Morante-Catacora volunteered to serve. Tatiana's family just moved here this year from Denmark. She has a son in first grade.

Please vote below to confirm Tatiana for the position, or you may write in another parent's name to serve. If you write in a name, please be sure you have that person's permission first.  

_____ Yes, I approve Tatiana Morante-Catacora to serve on ELAC

            ­

_____ I would like to write in __________________________ to serve on the ELAC.

Please return your completed ballot to the school office by Wednesday, Dec. 7.

If you have any questions, please call Lesli Leong at Las Lomitas (854-5900 x219).

EL COMITE CONSEJERO DEL PROGRAMA PARA

ALUMNOS APRENDIENDO INGLES (ELAC)

Escuela Las Lomitas 

Registration for Las Lomitas League Winter/Spring 2012 classes opens at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2012, so remember to put this date down in your calendar. 

The Las Lomitas Sports & After-School Activities League, an independent, non-profit organization, offers sports and after school classes to students in the Las Lomitas School District. The League is seeking parent volunteers to join the board for the current 2011/2012 school year. There are two positions open:

Secretary: Position responsibilities include attendance at monthly League meetings, minutes and overseeing the OutReach Program for both the Las Lomitas and La Entrada campuses during registration periods.

Webmaster: Position responsibilities include attendance at monthly League meetings and maintaining the LLL website. If you can use Word, you can maintain the website. This is a great way to volunteer "at home."

For additional information, please contact Renee Baker or Susan Suesser

For information about the Las Lomitas League, please go to http://laslomitasleague.com/

Are you searching for the perfect holiday gift?

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 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 and help to further enrich your children's experience at Las Lomitas.

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.

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 6% back to our school. Please check the website www.keplers.com for upcoming events and remember Kepler's has a Storytime every Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
• Holiday Camp Menlo Aquatics Day Camp
  Three to choose from: Dec. 19-22, Dec. 27-30, Jan. 3-6.
  Fun times at the pool and in the gym during vacation! Three 4-day camps are offered for ages 5-10, 8:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Swimming in the warm pool under the dome includes one 45-minute lesson per day plus free play. Camp includes indoor and dry land activities, athletic games, and structured play. Come join us the Burgess Park Pools in Menlo Park.
  Info and registration (http://www.menloswim.com/menlo/camp_menlo/holiday_camps.html)
• Menlo Action Academy Holiday Day Camp
  Introducing an exciting blend between academics and sports. Exploration! Movement! Insight!  Three camps to choose from: Dec. 19-22, Dec. 27-30, Jan. 3-6.
  Join us for a unique land-based camp that uses games and physical exercise to teach personal skills and develop character. Exercise performed in a playful environment is fun for children and play is the way they learn. Each day at camp, physical activities are preceded and followed by a discussion of a special development topic. We create a fun environment in which sports surround this theme for the day. Three 4-day camps are offered for ages 5-10, 8:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m., indoors at the Burgess Park Recreation Center in Menlo Park.
  Info and registration (http://www.menloswim.com/menlo/action_academy/)
• Future Stars Hoops Academy
  Brings You Its 4th Annual Christmas Youth Basketball Clinic 
  Hosted by: Coach Moseley and Coach Thurston of Woodside Priory School 
  Dates: December 19 - 23, Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Woodside Priory School 302 Portola Rd. Portola Valley, CA 94028  Please RSVP with an email addressed to: Register@FutureStarsHoop.com
  **Registration email should include the following details of your Child(ren)** Name, Age (6-13), Gender, and Emergency Contact Information.
  Just $350.00 for 30 hours of fun and expert instruction! *Discount available for sibling registration*
• CREATIVE ART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WINTER 2012
  Portola Valley Town Canter, Jan. 10 - March 31
  Kids will fantasize rolling out giant snowballs as they mold their own little snowmen out of white salt dough, topping them off with acorns for hats and sticks for arms; which then transmute into simple line drawings of snowmen. The journey continues as we turn the corner to meet Keith Haring and his lively, one-line, characters in bold colors. Their childlike appeal will inspire the kids to paint their own. As we move from one project to the next the kids will learn to make connections as an element from one project carries over into the next; weaving a continuous thread as we go...the older kids will be challenged to draw the transformation of a common object into something else; for example a pair of scissors into a butterfly. Japanese brush painting and dragon puppets are just a few of the other things we will be doing...ending with our ever popular and much loved ART SHOW!
  More info on Town's website...portolavalley.net! Teacher: Jeannie Goldman (650) 851-1914
  Classes for ages 3 years to 5th graders!
  Register with the Town online or call Teresa or Cindy @ (650) 851-1700 (ext. 200) Sign-ups start Dec. 5 for P.V. residents, Dec. 19 open registration.

Carillon Preschool, located at 850 Portola Road, PV, is accepting applications for our fall 2012-2013 school year. We have openings in our 3's program and in our Young 5's program. Tours are available. Please contact Lynn Sowers, carillonpreschool@ccpvw.org or (650) 529-1335. 

Winter Classes at Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory!  Looking for a place to act out onstage? Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory announces an exciting winter theatre class schedule for students in Pre K-Grade 8. Visit our website for descriptions, times, and registration at www.pvtc-ca.org. Classes start the week of Jan. 9, 2012

 
The Las Lomitas PTA and the Las Lomitas School do not endorse, warrant or recommend any of these businesses.

Alpine Soccer Club
Soccer teams for almost all ages!  Alpine FC will have tryouts for Spring 2012 for U8-U20 competitive soccer teams starting now.  For dates and locations check Alpine Strikers' website at:   www.alpinestrikers.org  Please pre-register your player online.