| From the Principal |
Dear La Entrada Community,
Welcome to 2012!
While it may be hard to believe, half the school year is almost over! Friday, January 20 was the last day of 2nd Quarter, and Monday, January 23 is the 1st day of 3rd Quarter.
The end of 2nd quarter is also the end of 1st semester.This means that there will be schedule changes for students in 7th and 8th grade.
For 7th -8th grade parents:
On Monday, January 23, students will report to their current 1st period teacher.They will receive their 2nd semester schedule and be given time to report to their new class (if they have one).
There are a few reasons that your child's schedule may have changed for 2nd semester:
1.To accommodate an elective change.Sometimes it is necessary for other classes to switch periods because of a change in electives.
2.To accommodate participation in a support program.
3.To help balance classes
There are also a couple of reasons that your child's schedule may change in the first few weeks of the new semester.
- If your child wants a schedule change, s/he should pick up a schedule change form in room 7. When the form is filled out and returned with a parent signature, Mrs. McDonough (our counselor) will review it and see if it is a change that is possible.Mrs. McDonough will call your child into office to review whether or not the change is possible.Please note that many changes are not possible due schedule complexities.
- Mrs. McDonough may call your student into the office to mandate a schedule change that is necessary to better balance classes.We attempt, during the first few weeks of the new quarter, to move some students out of larger classes and into smaller classes.If one of these changes occurs to your child, please know that it is to the benefit of all our students to balance the classes as much as possible.
4-8 Musical
"Annie, Jr." will be our 4-8 Musical for 2012!
Mark your calendars now!We will have two evening performances: Thursday, May 17, and Friday, May 18.
This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to participate in a live production (whether or not they have any experience).It is also a great opportunity to students to get to know people from all the grade levels at the school.
Again, experience is not necessary in order to participate.There will be many speaking parts, and many dancing and singing parts (even some solos)! The production will be full of wonderful costumes and sets!
We are so blessed to have a completely experience staff that will be working with our students.Our own Mr. Cooper will be the musical director; Mrs. Montalvo will be our producer; and our director (Kris Andrews) and choreographer (Caity Andrews) are also returning for this production.
In addition, we are so thankful to the Las Lomitas League for supporting all of this coming together!
If your child is interested in participating in "Annie, Jr.", registration is open until March 1st. For more information, or to register, go to the Las Lomitas League website by clicking here.
Auditions will be Wednesday, March 7 and Thursday, March 8 after school in the music room.
Coffee this Monday
This Monday (January 23) we will have a "Coffee with the Principal" from 7pm-8:30pm in the MUR.
The focus of the discussion will be a preview of the new Strategic Plan.There may also be some time for other topics.
If you can't make this Monday's coffee, the next one will be on March 5th at 9:15 a.m.
Warm Regards,
Larry Thomas |
| PTA News |
SCIENCE FAIR WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
Over 130 students participated and submitted 81 projects. The following projects received awards: 7/8th grade 1st place: Kaveh P., Eithan F. and Jared P., "Measuring sweetness in drinks using an Ipod and sunglasses" 2nd place: Hayley Y. "Analysis of blood pressure" 3rd place: Matt C., Kevin J. and Andrew D., "Social experiment: racial reality" 6th grade 1st place: Sydney S. and Abby W., "Acid-base reactions" 2nd place: Blake S. and Caleb H., "Optical illusions" 3rd place tie: Jack S. "Investigations into bread mold" and Andrew T. and John M., "The King of Wings" 5th grade 1st place: Liddy B. and Aashka P., "Musical math, or how different kinds of music influence performance on math tests" 2nd place: Emilie M. "Moldy Mayhem" 3rd place: Annie C. and Carmen W., "Does chewing gum influence your heart rate" 4th grade 1st place: Luke V. and Brad S., "How many more sounds can a dog detect than a human" 2nd place: Lauren V. and Rebecca H. "Carved pumpkin preservation treatments" 3rd place: Amanda W. and Naomi P., "Mag-nificient breakfast cereals, how much iron is in the cereals" Special thanks goes to
- Our preeminent judges: John Bargar, Sarah Bodary, Christine Evans, Bardia Pezeshki, Joanne Tinkham, Eric Ver Ploeg and grandparent John Holtzrichter who came down from Berkeley!
- Volunteers Amy Chuen, Teresa Neumann, Paula Rash, and PJ Utz.
- Joyce Massaro and her operations team who set up and broke down the gym.
- Joanne Tinkham for motivating her students to participate with an outstanding number of 6th graders submitting posters.
We hope all the students had a great time!
Sincerely,
Science Fair co-chairs
Bardia Pezeshki and Diana Sunshine DADS LUNCH CLUB
Attention all Dads! The La Entrada PTA invites all dads (or uncles, grandfathers or big brothers, etc) to participate on the 1st Friday of each month for "Dad's Lunch Club". 4th-5th grades eat from 11:30-12:15 and 6th-8th grades eat from 12:15-12:50. Dads are invited to bring their own lunch, eat with their child and then enjoy play-time on the field, black top or multi with the students at La Entrada! Dads are encouraged to show off their talent or interests (juggling, throwing the football, jump rope) or, if preferred, teach a new board game, science experiment or math puzzle! We will provide balls, games, etc but please feel free to bring your own supplies.
Choose one, two, three or all four dates to come and support our kids-2/3, 3/2, 4/6 or 5/4. No pressure, just fun! If you'd like an email reminder, sign up here.
Dads, please remember to sign in and get a "volunteer" badge in the front office. Questions? Contact Katie at kboland@gmail.com.
SPELLING BEE
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| School News | |
Breaking The Stigma: Teen Self-Esteem
Presented by Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), join a forum of panelists and keynote speaker Roni Gillenson, LMFT as they discuss the important topic of Teen Self-Esteem and Self-Image. This event is FREE. For more information or questions, please contact ACS at 650.424.0852, events@acs-teens.org, or visit our website at www.acs-teens.org.
Thursday, February 9, 2012, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
La Entrada Middle School, Multi-Use Room
2200 Sharon Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Spring Sounds 2012
Adolescent Counseling Services invites you to a night in the Mediterranean! Bask in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Mediterranean at Spring Sounds 2012! Wander through our bazaar, enjoy delectable cuisine, learn how to belly dance, and bring along your band of nomads for an entertaining evening in support of Adolescent Counseling Services. Funds raised will benefit ACS' three community programs and the 7,000 teens and family members served each year. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit our website at www.springsoundsevent.org.
Saturday, March 24, 2012, 6:30pm to 11:30pm
Club Illusions 260 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
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Foundation News
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Thank you for your support of the Las Lomitas Education Foundation!!!
The Foundation challenged the community again this year to increase its commitment and we are thrilled to announce that we raised more money, more quickly than ever before. As of January 15th, we have raised over $1,857,000 for our schools. Over 68% families have contributed. The generosity of the community is inspiring. We will continue to encourage those who have not yet donated to join us and ask them to help us to achieve our goal of more than 80 percent participation. Thanks to your responsiveness, the School Board will be able to plan next year's budget with this strong commitment from our families, focusing on reduced class sizes and enhanced curriculum for all the students at Las Lomitas and La Entrada.
Meanwhile...the 2012 Spring Auction is underway!!! This is the event of the year that made it possible for the Foundation to contribute $2,400,000 to the district last year. WE NEED YOU to help make it the best event ever!!! Help us create a fantastic auction portfolio by soliciting or donating wonderful items, events or experiences to the live, silent and online auctions. All item donations are tax deductible. Donating an item is easy and can be done via our online donation form at our website. Click on www.llef.org to donate an item now.
Need some ideas to help kick start the brainstorming? Here are a few:Tickets from your season subscription: sports, concerts, theater, etc.A week or weekend at your cabin, condo or vacation homeSponsor a one-of-a-kind event or getaway that we can't get for freeHost a parent or kid party - and get your friends to co-host with you!Set up a behind-the-scenes experience somewhere you work or at an organization you supportUse your cooking skills and host a dinner party for 4 people or more Share your hobby or passion by taking a group sailing, geo-caching, mountain biking or on any adventure you especially enjoyAsk a business you frequent to give a gift certificate. If they say yes, we can send them a form or give them our online web address. (Think restaurant, fitness gym or personal trainer, hair or nail salon, retail store, house cleaner, dog sitter....)Teach a skill in which you are an "expert", such as baking, pitching, photography, knitting, soap making and so on . . . .The opportunities are endless. And don't forget, it's not what you know but who you know . . . hit up all your friends, family, business associates, neighbors or anyone else you can think of that might have something unique and wonderful to share.Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!If you have questions or want to talk over an idea, contact Auction Solicitation Chair Pamela Stang at auctiondonations@llef.org or (650) 996-6991.
 
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 Las Lomitas Sports & After-School Activities League
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WINTER/SPRING CLASSES
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| District News |
NEWS FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD
This Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the Governing Board will hold a special "study session" on the proposed new Strategic Plan, Part One: Our Four Strategic Directions. The meeting will take place from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the La Entrada Library. Parents, students and community members are encouraged to attend.
Last May, the Governing Board appointed a Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) to develop a new 5 to 10-year plan for our District. Working in connection with the "Leading Education" speaker series last fall (http://www.leadingeducation-llesd.org/), the SPC held two faculty Forums and one parent/community Forum to solicit ideas about what our students should be able to do to achieve college and career success in the 21st Century. The SPC took these ideas and worked for several months to incorporate them into a new strategic plan.
Please plan to join us Tuesday evening. |
| Sequoia Union High School District News |
M-A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
Teen Sexuality Panel: Get the Facts (What Every Parent Wants to Know)
Thursday, February 2, 2012, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Menlo-Atherton Center for the Performing Arts (PAC)
Come hear from the experts! Many parents find it difficult to discuss sexuality with their teens. Our panel discussion will feature professionals in the fields of adolescent development and medicine, mental health, and sex education for teens. Don't miss this opportunity to get the information you need to communicate more honestly and effectively with your pre-teens and young teenagers. Topics to include teen sexual behavior in San Mateo County, sex education, birth control/pregnancy prevention, sexual gender/identity, mental health issues, STDs, and more.
Presenters will include Roni Gillenson, LMFT, Program Director, On-Campus Counseling Program, Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS); Shelly Masur, MPH, Executive Director, Teen Talk Sexuality Education; Sylvia Espinoza, M.D., Medical Director, Sequoia Teen Wellness Center; Daniela Torres, Education Services Program Manager, Planned Parenthood; and Janet Chaikind, M.D., Supervising Physician for Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics, San Mateo County Medical Center.
M-A Parent Education Series events are sponsored by the Menlo-Atherton PTA and the Sequoia Healthcare District. Our events are free and open to the La Entrada community.
Sign up now! Ticket reservations at: http://m-aparentedseries.eventbrite.com
For any questions, please contact Charlene Margot, M-A Parent Education Chair, at charlene_margot@mabearspta.org or 650.868.0590.
M-A FASHION SHOW Join forces with the M-Agic! Menlo-Atherton PTA's main fundraiser, the M-Agic themed Fashion Show is February 25. Tickets go on sale on line January 29 at fsticketsales@mabearspta.org. We are seeking business or family sponsors for the show by January 28. The school front banner will have the names of those who give $1000 and above (please submit a logo if wanted). A donation of $500 and above will receive two free ticket vouchers. A donation of any size will be appreciated. Contact Janet Perez at fsunderwriting@mabearspta.org.
Shadowing at M-A
Is your 8th grader interested in shadowing at M-A with a current freshman? Applications are being accepted for shadowing spots now. Shadowing started in November but spots fill quickly so turn in your application soon. For more information and to download an application, please see the M-A Shadowing page at http://www.sequoiadistrict.org/21442017185110943/site/default.asp
Donate Old Computers, Printers, Digital Cameras, Flash Drives to M-A Students
WANTED: old computers or parts, working or not, for M-A High School PTA computer donation program. Your old computer equipment will be securely erased, refurbished, and sent home with a needy, hard-working student. Our goal is for every student at M-A High School to have a working computer at home to assist them with their homework. We welcome donations from individuals or corporate donations from companies that are upgrading their equipment. Donations are tax-deductible. We also need other types of electronic gear, such as USB flash drives and digital cameras (include manual, battery charger and memory card if you have them). For more detailed information, visit www.suekayton.com/MAHigh/computerdonations.htm or contact Sue Kayton (650) 853-1711 or email kayton@alum.mit.edu. |
| Community News |
These programs are not supported by or affiliated with the La Entrada School or the La Entrada PTA.
This is an amazing performance for the whole family, on Sunday, Jan. 29, 6:00pm at the Performing Art Center at Menlo-Atherton High School. This performance is organized by and benefits Empower African Children, a non-profit organization working to help the young people of Uganda develop leadership skills, get educated and tell their own stories through the arts. Purchase your tickets on-line now at http://spiritofugandainmenlopark.eventbrite.com/. Tickets will not be sold at the door. This is the only local performance as part of their 4 month tour of the United States. Questions? Please email empowerafricanchildren2012@gmail.com.
LADERA COMMUNITY CHURCH PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Ladera Community Church Preschool is holding its annual Open House on Saturday, January 28th, from 10:00-11:00. Bring your children to meet our fantastic teachers and visit our preschool in a lovely rural setting at 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. We welcome all families with children 2 years to 5 years old. To find out more, please visit our website at www.laderapreschool.org or contact Director Sandi Snider at 854-0295. |
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Business Sponsors News |
The La Entrada PTA and the La Entrada School do not endorse, warrant, or recommend any of these business.
Kepler's Bookstore
Remember to mention La Entrada at the register and Kepler's donates 6% back to our school.
DECATHLON SPORTS CLUB
Looking for the best way to spend your summer?
Decathlon Sports Club is registering girls and boys, ages 6-12 for its 32nd summer of fun! We offer virtually every sport under the sun PLUS Capture the Flag, swimming, arts & crafts, dance, and more. Special Friday events include field trips, carnival games, pizza, and prizes. Camp will once again be held at Woodside High School from 9 am - 3:45 pm. Extended care is also available from 8 am - 6 pm. For more information and to check on availability for your child's age group, please email decathlonsportsclub@gmail.com or visit www.DecathlonSportsClub.com. |
From the Editors
| The Leopard's Spot is published by the La Entrada PTA as a service to the La Entrada families and community. Before submitting an article, please read our newsletter policies.
To submit an item, email it to the editors at leopardsspot@llesd.org by 12 noon
on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication date.
Submission Requirements:
- In the subject line of the email, please include the section in which you wish your item to be placed (see our newsletter policies for the list of our regular sections); for example, the subject may read "PTA News" for any item related to PTA programs;
- DO NOT send the article as an attachment but in the body of the email: submission sent as Word doc will be rejected;
- Clearly indicate the title of your submission;
- DO NOT send flyers but provide a link to them;
- DO NOT send pictures but provide a link to them;
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