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| Calendar | |
This Week
- Oct 25 (Mon.): Coffee with the Principal, 1:30-2:30pm
- Oct 26 (Tues.): Town Hall Meeting, 9:30am, MUR,
- Oct 26 (Tues.): MA Information Night, 7-9pm, MUR
- Oct 27 (Wed.): 7/8 Symphonic Band Halloween Parade Rehearsal, 3:15pm at Hillview Middle School
- Oct 29 (Fri.): 5th Grade Halloween Parade, 8:10-9:10am
- Oct 29 (Fri.): PTA Halloween Event, 11am-12:30pm
- Oct 29 (Fri.): 8th Grade Gathering, 7-8:30pm
- Oct 30 (Sat.): 7/8 Symphonic Band Halloween Parade down Santa Cruz Ave. in costumes, 11:30am
Upcoming Events
- Nov 3 (Wed.): Basketball Registration Closes, 7pm
- Nov 4 (Thur.): Book Fair, 11:20am- 4:00pm
- Nov 4 (Thur): Basketball Coaches pre-meeting, 7pm
- Nov 5 (Fri.): 4th Grade Gathering, 7:30-9:30pm
- Nov 5 (Fri.) : Book Fair, 7:30am-4:00 pm
- Nov 6 (Sat.): Book Fair, 10am-2pm
- Nov 7 (Sun.): Basketball Evaluation Day
- Nov 8 (Mon.): Book Fair, 7:30am-4pm
- Nov 9 (Tues.): Book Fair, 7:30am-4pm
- Nov 10 (Wed.):Book Fair, 7:30am-4pm
- Nov 11(Thur.): Book Fair CLOSED
- Nov 12 (Fri.): 6th Grade Gathering, 7pm
- Nov 12 (Fri.): Book Fair, 7:30am-12:30pm
- Nov 16 (Tues): Basketball Coaches Meeting
Save the Date
- For those of you needing to book plane tickets, please note that this year, Grandparents Day at La Entrada is Friday, March 25, 2011.
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From the Assistant Principal
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La Entrada Campus Climate Discussionsby Mrs. Dineen
Mr. Thomas and I are scheduled to hold classroom discussions with all five different grade levels over the next two weeks. The purpose of our discussions is to discuss La Entrada's Vision Statement with students in order for them to better understand it, as well as particular topics related to campus climate. Our new 4th graders will learn more about our "Peaceful Playground" rules, appropriate games and physical activities, as well as how to best ask for help from adults should they feel upset or concerned about playground issues or social situations. With our 5th graders, we will focus on good sportsmanship, how words can be hurtful, and the need for "crushes" to remain private and off campus. In the middle school grades, discussions will emphasize the definition of harassment and how best to handle this unfortunate situation. We will also talk to inappropriate jokes, the use of derogatory language in order to insult someone and the power of speaking up in someone's defense when you witness such behavior. The concept of being an ally to peers on campus is an important one that will help to support not only our Vision Statement, but directly address behaviors that are not acceptable here in our school community.
Today I met with all our 6th graders during their PE class and we worked on translating our sophisticated Vision Statement into more "kid friendly" language. It was a pleasure to work with your children in a classroom setting and I found each class to have insightful comments, a solid understanding of appropriate behaviors ( good job, parents - that speaks to your work at home!) and several students even had the courage to share personal situations and how the situations made them feel. Each student left with a pink sheet that had our Vision Statement written on it and I asked them to share with their parents what we had talked about.
Below is the La Entrada Vision Statement and some student interpretations of our Vision that I thought you'd enjoy:
"La Entrada is an inclusive community of dedicated staff, students and parents engaged in maximizing the academic, social, ethical and physical growth of every student."
"Our collaborative community embraces the ideals of critical thinking, life-long learning
and global responsibility in a safe and respectful environment."
Martha M. - " This means we are inclusive in academics as well as the physical and emotional needs of students."
Jack H. - " You can share what is on your mind here."
Sam E. - " No matter who you are, you deserve to be here."
Alex S. and Vuki M. - " We are respectful to one another."
Spencer M. - "Ethical = doing the right thing."
Tyler E. - " We want everone to feel comfortable."
Dana W. - " The ability to help the world with what we learned at La Entrada."
Katie G. - " Everything you learn at school you use in every day life."
Megan M. - " We have to learn school smarts and work as a team."
Will P. - " La Entrada welcomes everyone with open arms."
Nicholas S. - " Ethical means doing the right thing even when it is not popular."
Traffic Safety
I would like to remind those of you who drop off and pick up your student that all cars must make a right turn when leaving our parking lot in order for the flow of traffic to remain productive. Friday's rain brought out more than the usual number of drivers and some of you may have seen me on Sharon Road directing traffic. Although my "traffic cop duty" is helpful to all, I'd like to be assured that drivers will remember to always turn right when exiting the school's parking lot.
The red zones near the entrance and exit gates are not "drop off" points. Please do not stop your vehicle in these red zones as they create blind spots for drivers and many children are riding bikes or walking and their visibility is diminished by parking in the red zones.
Our school's Safety Committee will be working together with Mr. Bruce Goitia, newly retired Menlo Park Police Chief, to study the traffic safety situation on Altschul Ave. in an attempt to improve this busy thoroughfare.
We are a school with many young ones walking about, including younger siblings, and safety is our first priority. Thank you for helping to keep our parking lot and surrounding streets safe.
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PTA News
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Lunch Bunch Volunteers Needed
Volunteers needed for Lunch Bunch every Tuesday and Thursday from 11-12 (during the 4th and 5th grade lunch). If you would like to volunteer, once a week, once every other week or even once a month, please contact Valorie Friedsam at
FLU SHOT CLINIC ONLINE-SIGN-UP IS OPEN! On Tuesday, November 9, 2010 from 11:30 to 2:00, the La Entrada PTA will host a Flubusters Flu Shot Clinic in Jensen Hall at La Entrada open to all school families as well as any member of the community. The vaccine will include both the seasonal and H1N1 flu this year. Flu-Mist (spray application) will also be available. The cost will be $30 for the shot and $35 for the flu-mist. Your health insurance may reimburse you for the cost. All insurance coverage questions should be directed to your carrier.
GEO BEE
Join us for the La Entrada Geo Bee on Nov19th 3-5PM in Jensen Hall
Here is a sample of questions you could get at the Geo Bee:
What is the capital of New Hampshire?
What language is most widely spoken in Brazil?
On what continent is the Vinson Massif located?
What term refers to the shape or configuation of landforms on Earth's surface?
Practice makes Perfect!
Get help preparing for the Geo Bee by joining some group practices on Monday , Nov 1 and Monday, Nov 15:
Grades 4 & 5: Rm 42 at Lunch Time
Grades 6, 7 & 8: Rm 42 at Lunch Time
For sample test questions, visit:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee
To enter, complete the permission slip found on the PTA website and email it to alka sehgal
Expand your knowledge of the world's continents, countries, cities, oceans, cultures, languages, and land forms!
THE 2010 BOOK FAIR IS COMING!
Thursday, November 4th through Friday, November 12th in the MUR
The La Entrada Kepler's book fair will be here before we know it...it starts up Thursday, November 4th! If you haven't already purchased your pre-paid Kepler's gift cards, do it quickly! The deadline is this Friday, October 29th. Take advantage of this pre-sale of gift cards to not only give your middle schooler the independence to shop the fair on their own time, but with a budget that you set. This card can then be used by you or your child at the fair or anytime at the Kepler's store and online at Keplers.com. And why not get a jump on your holiday shopping-- a Kepler's gift card makes a great gift for teachers, friends and family too. Buy them online -- no pesky forms to fill out or checks to mail! Click here to start buying your gift cards: http://keplers.com/aff/LaEntrada/la-entrada-shopping-page The cards can be picked up at the book fair checkout stand in the MUR throughout the fair. We can even hold the card for you and your child for multiple uses (and safekeeping) throughout the week. You'll also be able to pay for items with cash, check or credit card, but just think of the convenience of buying a gift card for your child to use!
Attention avid readers and aspiring artists!We're looking for kids to make a poster of their favorite book cover or book series and they'll be entered in a drawing to win a free Kepler's book certificate. We'll use the posters to decorate the MUR for the Book Fair and your child just might win one of three book certificates! Please make posters standard poster board size (with child's name on back) and drop them in the library by this Friday, October 29th.
We're still looking for volunteers! So if you'd like to work a shift or two at the Book Fair, go to: laentradapta.org and click on the volunteer link. If you have any questions please contact Linda Waissar at lwaissar@gmail.com.
The book fair hours are as follows:
Thursday, November 4th: 11:20 am to 4:00 pm
Friday, November 5th: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday, November 6th: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Monday, November 8th: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, November 9th: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Wednesday, November 10th: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Thursday, November 11th: CLOSED
Friday, November 12th: 7:30 am to 12:30 pm
GRADE LEVEL GATHERINGS
Grade Level Gatherings are a chance for the parents in each grade to get to know each other better.
They are festive adults-only cocktail parties, hosted by families in the different grades. Please come!
4th Grade
* November 5th from 7:30-9:30
* Hosted by Dani and Larry Kelmar and Colleen McDonough and James Lim
* At the Kelmar's home, 1203 Bellair Way, Menlo Park
* Last names A-M please bring wine and last names N-Z please bring a dessert or an appetizer
* Please RSVP to Dani at dani_kelmar@yahoo.com or 234-1124 by October 30th
6th Grade
* November 12th at 7:00
* Hosted by Gretchen and Rob Mathews, MaryEllen and Chris McCabe and Brian McGarry and Lorraine McDonough
* At the Mathew's home, 230 Dedalera Drive, Portola Valley
* Last names A-M please bring an appetizer and last names N-Z please bring wine or beer
* Please RSVP to Gretchen at gretchen@charlotteanddelilah.com or 279-0282
8th Grade
* October 29th from 7:00-8:30
* Hosted by Dena and Bob Gaherty and Jamie and Peter Schein
* At the Gaherty's home, 1015 Trinity Drive, Menlo Park
* Last names A-M please bring wine or other beverages and last names N-Z please bring an appetizer
* Please RSVP to Dena at cabidena@gmail.com or 854-4802
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School News
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M-A INFO NIGHT
All 7th and 8th grade families are invited to learn more about Menlo-Atherton High School on Tuesday, October 26th at 7:00pm in the MUR. Come hear M-A Principal Matthew Zito and College & Career Advisor Alice Kleeman talk about navigating your high school years. They will give you an overview of the wide variety of academic courses and tremendous number of extracurricular opportunities available to all M-A students.
Questions? Contact Lee Ann Yasukawa at lyasukawa@yahoo.com.
Shadowing at M-A
If your 8th grader is interested in shadowing at M-A, please see the following M-A information page: http://www.sequoiadistrict.org/21442017185110943/site/default.asp.
Library News
Kids and books - what could be better? Here in the library I am telling Native American stories to 4th Graders and also showing them how to use an encyclopedia and how to use the catalog to find books they like. While the 5th graders are away at Outdoor Ed, I am putting away numerous books they had out last week on a variety of topics for their reading of Esperanza Rising. It continues to impress me that our 5th graders were grappling with: The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl; the INS, passports and visas; The Mexican Revolution; San Joaquin Valley's history; a Quinceanera (A Latina's 15 Birthday Celebration); roses and phoenixes; migrant labor and repatriation. Meanwhile, with the 6th graders, I have out almost all of our '811s', the Dewey Decimal number for Poetry. I tell your children: if it's an emergency you dial '911', when you have a word emergency you hit the '811's. Corny, I know, but I do have a fond vision of one of your children in a library in Hawaii or Alaska, Massachusetts or Kansas finding the poetry section posthaste! Next week it's scary stories with the 7th graders - they'll all be in looking for ghostly and otherworldly tales and to practice their storytelling and presentation skills. Finally, the 8th graders were in recently with Mr. Akers getting a poetic vision for their 8th grade science class. We love our Poetry in Science Unit. Last year the bar was set pretty high for both the quality and fun students had with their poems about science.
If you ever want to see the catalog, database, on-line encyclopedias, or a list of projects your students work on in the library, please check out our web page. You'll find it on the La Entrada Web Page, under Grades & Classes. Click on the Library and you'll find our site with links to: The Catalog, The World Book Encyclopedia, The Student Resource Center (a database of uploaded books, magazines, and newspapers! Perfect for research), Citation Support (listen up 7th Grade parents-this will help your children come next March!), and a list of ongoing Media Center Projects. Please stop by either on-line or live-and-in-person. We're here to help! Michelle Pitt , Doe Myers and The Library Pages!
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| From the Las Lomitas Education Foundation | 
SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION!
Foundation Business Partners
In addition to our strong family giving, we also receive a substantial amount of financial support from the local, regional and national businesses that are part of our broader community. Please join the Foundation Business Partners Group in supporting these businesses and let them know that their contribution is noticed. Go out of your way to patronize our Business Partners whenever possible - it will help them to help us again in the future!
Please look for the Business Partner Directory, which lists our business partners and has valuable coupons -- it will be coming home with your youngest student this week.
We want to recognize and thank the following businesses which supported excellence in education at our schools in 2009-2010:
Gold $2,500 - $3,999
Cocoa Crayon
Coldwell Banker, Karen Fryling and Rebecca Johnson
Dreyfus Properties, David Weil
Garrison-Swartz
Pinnacle Educational Services
Silver $1,250 - $2,499
Coldwell Banker, Maya and Jason Sewald
Jorgenson, Siegel, McClure & Flegel, LLP
Ladera Country Shopper
Massage Envy Spa Redwood City
Menlo Park Orthodontics, Dr. Scott W. Kaloust, D.D.S., M.S.
Peninsula Pediatric Dentistry, Dr.Brian Quo
Bronze $500 - $1,249
Andronico's Market
Bianchini's Market, Inc.
Ladera Garden Center & Gifts
Ladera UPS
Lulu's
Mediterraneo Design Center
Portola Valley Garage
Portola Valley Hardware
Portola Valley Shell Inc
Raquel Nikravesh, Broker
Sharon Heights Shell
Dr. Laleh Vakili D.M.D.,Pediatric Dentistry
Contributor
Alain Pinel, Janise Taylor
Amigos Grill
Cafe Borrone Inc.
Coldwell Banker, Keri Nicholas
Coldwell Banker, Eloise Pollock
Dr. Gregory Roos, D.M.D
Dr. Lori Doran-Garcia D.D.S
Extreme Networks Inc.
Konditorei
La Bottega
Mercer Law Group
Puccetti Wellness
Rebarts Interiors
Roger's Painting
Webb Ranch, Inc. Up to $499.
Grandparents Group News
Tell your child's grandparents to Save the Date! We are pleased to announce that Grandparents' Day will be held at La Entrada School on Friday, March 25, 2011. Grandparents' Day is a special and memorable opportunity for grandparents to join their grandchildren during a portion of the school day.Have grandparents mark their calendars and make travel plans. More details will be coming soon.
Are you curious about the content of the newsletter that is sent to our Grandparents' Group? To read the first one of the school year, mailed last week, click here |
| From the Las Lomitas League | |
BASKETBALL SEASON AND REGISTRATION
Basketball registration is currently OPEN. This is a very popular winter sport at La Entrada and 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:
Nov 3rd (Wed) at 7pm: basketball Registration Closes
NOTE: We cannot accept any late registrations. So please be sure to register during the open registration dates above.
Nov 7th (Sunday): Basketball Evaluation Day (Your grade will be assigned a specific time closer to the date. The "evaluation day" is strictly to split up each grade level into fair and balanced teams.)
Nov 16th (Tues): Basketball Coaches Meeting (Required for all coaches. Practice times will be selected based on coaches availability and a lottery system.)
COACHES ARE NEEDED!!! This activity is run by parents. We need parent coaches so that we can offer fair playing time to all the kids. (Fewer coaches means fewer but larger teams. The larger the team, the less playing time for each player.) You do not need a lot of experience to coach. We can help pair you with a more experienced coach and we provide a number of training courses. Please contact Inger Rarick at irarick@yahoo.com (3rd, 4th and 5th grade basketball director) or Jim Bohac at J-bohac@sbcglobal.net (6th, 7th and 8th grade basketball director) if you are available to coach or if you have questions about coaching.
To Register please go to:
http://www.eteamz.com/lllsports/news/index.cfm?cat=488974#basketball
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| Community News |
Remember to mention La Entrada at the register and Kepler's donates 10% back to our school.
Attention all American Girl Fans!
The Palo Alto Auxiliary for Children will host the annual American Girl Fashion Show to benefit Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford on November 12th & 13th at the Los Altos Christ Episcopal Church. The show features historical and contemporary girls' clothing, refreshments, goody bag, raffles and prizes! For ticket and show information, please visit www.paloaltoauxiliary.com.
Registration is now open for Peninsula Seahawks youth rugby for boys and
girls ages 5-14. Registration/Demo Day Nov. 7, practices start Nov. 21.
http://www.seahawkyouthrugby.com/registration.php or contact John Foster at jwf1964@gmail.com
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| Leopard's Spot Submissions | The Leopard's Spot is published every Monday (except Mondays following holiday weeks). To submit items for inclusion in the newsletter:
- Email submissions by Wednesday 12 Noon to be published the following week;
- Put all content in the body of the email, do NOT send an attachment;
- Do NOT send flyers but provide a link to them;
- Do NOT send pictures but provide a link to them;
- Do not use embedded links in submissions: be sure all email addresses and URLs are visible, not hidden behind linked text;
- Please write concisely and proofread your submission.
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