Dear La Entrada Community:

Welcome back to La Entrada and to the 2013-14 school year.   Hopefully you found plenty of time to have fun in the sun and enjoy some unstructured time. The staff at LE rested and played as well, although things were still pretty busy at school.  Over the summer break the school was cleaned, swings were installed, a brand new computer lab created, and the classrooms and teachers prepared for wireless access and iPads. In addition to this, many teachers worked on curriculum this summer to better prepare for the year ahead. We are looking forward to a fantastic school year with our returning 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders as well as our incoming 4th graders and new students.   

In preparation for the opening of school, here is some important information for you: 

• Class Assignments:  All class assignments and schedules will be mailed out on August 15th.  No classes will be publicly posted at the school.  Class lists will be available at Meet the Teacher, August 20, 9:30 -10:15.  Math placement letters for 6th-8th grades were mailed last week.  Please contact the office if you did not receive yours.
• Staff Changes:  Many thanks and a heartfelt farewell to Eric Kruger and Wally Powell who recently retired from our district.  The many years they devoted to La Entrada students were appreciated by our entire La Entrada community, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.  We welcome this year 4th Grade Teacher Barbara Bicknell, 5th Grade Teacher Karen Schutten, 6th Grade Core Teacher Daniella Lefer, 7th Grade Core Teacher Vivian Tavernakis, and Computer/Algebra Teacher Sheldon Piumarta.
• New Technology:  We are fortunate to be able to create a new computer lab and provide iPads to the students and teachers in 2013-14.  In celebration of the generous donations and hard work, we will have an Open House on Tuesday August 20, 9:00 - 10:30am in the new computer lab.  On Thursday, August 22, at 1:00pm or at 6:30pm, you are invited to a parent information meeting where we will discuss the iPad implementation in the 6th-8th grades.
• School Supplies:  A list of school supplies for students to bring the first day of school has been posted on the SchoolLoop home page.  Las Lomitas School District and La Entrada Middle School provides basic classroom supplies.  Additionally, each teacher will post a supply wish list on their "Apple for a Classroom" site.  If there are items on the list that you would like to donate to the classroom, it would be most appreciated. Please see the La Entrada website for more details on supplies for 2013-14. 
• Immunizations:  This is a reminder that all incoming 7th grade students must show proof of a whooping cough booster (Tdap) shot (or file an exemption) before August 21 in order to attend classes next year.  Please submit a booster shot record to the office as soon as possible. 
• Transportation:  Please help us in providing safe procedures for traveling to and from school.  We encourage you to use the bus, to carpool and to review safe bicycle and pedestrian routes with your student.  La Entrada Staff will be present to help direct traffic and support the drop off and pick up procedures during the first month of school. Due to our continued growth, which brings increased traffic in our parking lot, all adults and students are reminded to exit campus via a sidewalk exit and not walk in or out of our parking lot entrance driveway.  Our primary goal is to ensure a safe environment for our students and a respectful environment for our neighbors.  Thank you for all your cooperation. 
• 1st Day Packets Online at InfoSnap!  Thanks to the hard work of District staff, our First Day Packets are online and located at InfoSnap.  You each received an email with directions for InfoSnap access.  It is important that you complete the registration process and the 1st day packet process online this year.  Please print out the final signature pages and turn them in to your teacher at "Meet the Teacher" or on the 1st day of school.  More details on this process are outlined in an article below.
• Choice Lunch:  As a reminder, please pack food for recess and lunch the first five days of school.  Hot lunch service begins August 28th.  The Choice Lunch website is open and ready so you can begin making your selections now!  www.choicelunch.com
• Project Cornerstone:  La Entrada continues to support the campus climate through the Project Cornerstone program.  This year's Lead Parent Volunteers are Ann Weiss, Kathy Kau and Carolyn Littlefield.  This dynamic parent team will be sharing information and updates with parents on volunteer opportunities on campus that support the climate and student social-emotional growth, as well as meaningful parent education opportunities and trainings.  Our ABC Book Club, a program where parent volunteers read books to the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes and discuss the messages embedded in the stories, will continue this year.  "First Fridays" will also continue with Dads at lunch the first Friday of each month, as will "Take-it-Personally" Parenting Classes.  Parents who are interested in volunteering during lunch recess will have an opportunity to be trained in our Peaceful Playground program, as well as some basic playground supervision techniques.  Having adults out and about during lunch recess times is an effective preventative measure in playground conflicts and another opportunity for our La Entrada community to bond.  

The entire staff is eager and excited to begin the year.  The teachers have put a lot of time and energy getting ready for the year.  Having spent a lot of time here this summer, I was impressed to see the dedication of our staff, preparing all summer for the school year.  If you have any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

We hope you enjoy these last few days of summer, and we look forward to seeing you at "Meet the Teacher" on August 20. Here's to a great school year! 

Best regards,

Shannon Potts                                                                        

Principal     

New Online Registration for 2013-2014 New and Returning Students 

We are excited to announce our new online enrollment tool of InfoSnap for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year! This process replaces the paper forms previously sent home each May that updated students and family information. These forms are on a secured website and include not only the registration information, but all digital versions of the "First Day Packet". Only one parent can complete the form per student, so please decide who is going to use the snapcode assigned. If you have more than one child, there is a built-in tool where information can be "shared" to all children. After the final section of "Review & Submit" you will receive a confirmation summary page which you will need to print, sign and return to the school at either Meet The Teacher on August 20th, or the first day of school.

Why do I need to complete these forms?

The school district needs current information on all students and this InfoSnap online digital form will replace the "paper' forms you spent hours on while completing the "First Day Packet". The student forms serve as a Registration to the LLESD for the 2013-14 academic year and are required by law.

How do I get started?

PLAN AHEAD! 

Registration for both sports and classes will open on August 22nd at 7:00 pm.

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