While it may be hard to believe, half the school year is almost over! Friday, January 17 is the last day of 2nd Quarter, and Tuesday, January 21^st 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 some students in 7th and 8th grade.

For 6th, 7th & 8th grade parents:

Beginning January 15th, we will pass out 2nd semester schedules to the 6th - 8th graders. On Tuesday, January 21, students will report to their 2nd semester (3^rd quarter) 1st period teacher.

There are a few reasons that your child's schedule may have changed for 2nd semester:

To accommodate an elective change. Sometimes it is necessary for other classes to switch periods because of a change in electives.
To accommodate participation in a support program.
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. We will accept requests for schedule changes Monday January 27^ththrough Wednesday January 29^th. When the form is filled out and returned with a parent signature, a counselor will review it and see if it is a change that is possible. The counselor will call your child into the office to review whether or not the change is possible. Please note that many changes are not possible due schedule complexities.
The counselors 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.

Schoolloop

Schoolloop is a management/communication system that gives students the tools they need to stay on track, and gives their parents and their team a way to provide support when they need it. We recommend that the system is used to check on assignments and to communicate through loopmail with teachers and other students. We realize that having consistent processes and expectations in place is essential for its success.

I would like to thank all of you for your patience as we work through glitches and system decisions surrounding the implementation of Schoolloop. We have learned from your use, comments, and suggestions and have come to some agreements as a staff. We acknowledge that having consistent processes and expectations for its use by the teachers, students and parents will make it a more effective communication tool. The LE teachers have come to some agreements on how they will use the system.

All 6^th - 8^th Grade teachers agree to
- o publish homework and long term assignments on website calendar as assigned
- o publish grades weekly by Tuesday
- o use zeroes as place holders for missing assignments and some teachers may use comments to describe why the zero was entered i.e. missing, incomplete.
- The elective teachers will be following the grade level guidelines.
- All 4^th - 6^th grade teachers expect their students to use their planners and will make time during class for their use.
- The 4^th and 5^th grade teachers agree to use the website portion of Schoolloop.
  - o The 4^th and 5^th grade websites will include their monthly highlights (big events, units of study, reminders) and links to websites relevant to their curriculum.
  - o The 5^th grade team will post their homework on their websites.

Please keep in mind that it is best if grades are checked weekly. The quantity and length of assignments vary across teachers and subjects so the grades may not be accurate on a daily basis, but we are committed to their accuracy on a weekly basis. When you receive the email push from Schoolloop, you will be able to track the number of any missing assignments. In order to see the details of those missing assignments you will need to log in and review the comments. While the assignment is "missing," the grades may record low as the zero is part of the calculation. The grade will be adjusted according to each teacher's grading policy once the assignments are submitted and graded.

The intent of this system is to support our students and increase our communication between home and school. If you have any questions about what is posted please contact the teachers directly for clarification.

2014-2015 Planning

We are starting planning phase for the 2014-15 school year. One of the first things we do in this phase is have the students (who will be in 6th-8th grade next year) sign up for their elective courses. The information we get from this allows us to start planning our master schedule.

During the weeks of January 6^th - January 17^th, I will meet with all current 5th-7th grade students and provided them with a "Course Catalog" which includes important registration information. Each student is directed to fill in the registration form with their parents. The teachers will take the students to the computer lab to sign up for their classes.

If your child will be in 6th grade next year, you are invited to come to an "Incoming 6th Grade Parent Information" meeting on Monday, January 13^th at 6:30pm in the MUR. At this meeting, I will be talking about the structural transition between 5th and 6th grade. The teachers and administration have put together a list of FAQ's that we will speak to. The information discussed will also be posted on the school website. I look forward to seeing you on Monday night.

Best regards,

Shannon Potts

From the Assistant Principal

Welcome Back and Happy New Year to all! I always enjoy returning from the Winter Break and seeing everyone so rested and rejuvenated.

This is an ideal time to also remind ourselves of some basic school rules and practices so our new year is positive and productive.

Come to school on time. Tardies are disruptive to both the tardy student and the entire class they walk into late. Now is a good time to make the resolution to be on time to school, perhaps even a little bit early! All tardy counts begin fresh as of 1-6-14, so avoid that dreaded "10 Tardies" count, the number when an after school Tardy Detention is assigned.
Attendance is vital for a student to have a strong and consistent educational experience, and it's the law. Please know that should your child not be able to attend school, parents are asked to call or email to Marie Stosz (mstosz@llesd.org) in the office with the reason as soon as possible. We pride ourselves on being aware of anyone absent every day so do call or email in any absences as they occur. Thank you.
Drop off/Pick up procedures are vital for keeping our students safe. Please allow for extra time in the morning to drop off your child so everyone isn't too stressed. All students are to be dropped off in the middle lanes located in our parking lot. Students who require crutches or other accommodations due to a mobility injury may be dropped off/ picked up along the yellow bus curbs AFTER the morning buses have departed (7:55am-8:00am or after 3:00pm). Parents may also use the handicap parking spots to load and unload students on crutches.
Dress Code: Please go online and review our La Entrada Handbook's section on our Dress Code. It makes for good reading just before spring school shopping sprees and graduation outfits are selected. Our students have done a marvelous job thus far adhering to our Dress Code and I thank all the parents for this.
iPads in backpacks: Please discuss again with your child the importance of keeping their iPad securely stored when traveling to and from school. We do realize that middle school students tend to throw their backpacks around, but with a little reminding and coaching, students will soon learn that they must take extra care not to damage their school iPads.
Second Quarter ends on Friday, January 17. All students need to review their school loop accounts for any "0's", aka missing assignments, and focus on getting everything turned in on time. Report Cards will be mailed home.
Monday, January 20, is a school holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Keep informed about La Entrada's events and opportunities by checking on our school's website's calendar regularly. School resumes on Tuesday, January 21.

Geo Bee Competition next Tuesday

Please join us in Jensen Hall next Tuesday, January 14, at 3:00pm for our annual Geo Bee Competition. It is sure to be another fun-filled afternoon.

Spelling Bee Competition on Tuesday, January 21, in Jensen Hall at 3:00pm.

Parent Education Opportunities

Project Cornerstone Parenting Workshop sessions held at Hillview's Performing Arts Center (PAC) Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm. $10.00 fee for materials and an experience to discuss parenting that is priceless! Please email Sonya Dineen if you would like to be registered for this class. First session begins Tuesday, January 14.
My Digital TAT2 parent session on Wednesday, January 29 at 6:30pm in the MUR. Please come and learn more about the digital world the 21st Century child learns, socializes and lives in. Please RSVP to Sonya Dineen so sufficient seating can be arranged.

8th Grade DC Trip Fundraiser

Please support our 8th grade DC Trip this year by having lunch and/or dinner at Amici's East Coast Pizzeria on Santa Cruz Ave. in Menlo Park next Monday, January 13, from 11:00am-10:00pm. Mention you are supporting the La Entrada 8th grade DC Trip, and Amici's will donate 25% of your bill to the La Entrada Scholarship Program. Flyers will also be sent home, but you need only mention the La Entrada trip to earn rewards. Amici's is supporting us with all dinner orders and take-outs, no deliveries included in this fundraiser. We are very thankful to the parent volunteers who have made this opportunity possible and for Amici's generous support of our student travel education opportunities.

Warm Regards,

Sonya Dineen

PTA News

Announcing the 2014 La Entrada Science Fair - Feb 7th...Yay Science!!!

Just Do It. La Entrada Science Fair.

Science Fair will be held on Friday, February 7th. Register at www.laentradasciencefair.org. Tuesday, January 14th we will have an informational table on the blacktop at lunch time. Come check it out!

Follow us on instagram: LAENTRADASCIENCEFAIR for project ideas and more.

We need volunteers! We're using VolunteerSpot.

Please sign up for La Entrada Science Fair - here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

   1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/AZSxff
   2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
   3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Questions? Email: Rachel Perkocha perkocha@yahoo.com

*****************************************************************

Save the Date! The Spelling Bee is Coming!

Congratulations to all who qualified to compete in the annual La Entrada Spelling Bee. The list of qualifiers is below, and posted in the main school hallway. When you see these students over the next couple of weeks, help them out by tossing them a spelling word for practice. On Tuesday, January 21^st, come to Jensen Hall at 3:00pm to cheer them on as they compete for the grade-level and overall prizes, and the chance to advance to the San Francisco Bee. Who's going to win? Come find out!

Get in on the action! To volunteer at the Bee, contact Kari Mueller (Kari.rae@gmail.com) or Janelle London (jlondon@stanfordalumni.org).

4^th grade: Brian G, Radha R, Lydia E, Diana M, Heath S, Paulina GC, Alexander L, Henry M, Alexander D, Anna Y, Garret C, Can Deniz G

5^th grade: Lindsey C, Toby T, Emily X, Annabelle M, Owen H, Dana L, Sally N, Alex C, Jessica P, Georgia W, Hunter W

6^th grade: Jack G, Raphael L, Rachel T, Athena B-P, Kieran R, Jonah E, Alice E, Ronan H, Jason H, Luke N, Noah S, Amanda Y, Emily Z

7^th grade: Karen M, John C, Cecilia H, Alexander K, Charles S, Mason L, Sophia L, Cole M, Ashley N, Katherine S, Molly B, Miranda M, Maxim S, Ally T, Danielle G

8^th grade: Thomas E, Celeste L, Athena L, Connor H, John M, John P, William S, Maanek S, Patrick K, Anne P, Marc M, Rekha R, Andrew T, Peter E, Suzuka K, Andrew K, Tori R, Sala T

*****************************************************************

Urgent! Volunteer Needs for Hot Lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays

We are currently short volunteers to serve hot lunch on Tuesdays for both the 4th-5th grade shift 11:17am -11:59am and 6th-8th Grade shift 12:13pm -12:50pm and we need extra volunteers for the Friday 6th-8th grade shift. Please sign up to volunteer!!! This program is run by volunteers only and without your help it is impossible to be successful. We want to serve your children hot, healthy lunches in a timely manner, and in order to do so we need a full staff of volunteers.

Please contact co-chairs Stacy Molano or Stacy May at molano@pacbell.net or stacy.may1967@yahoo.com to sign up for Hot Lunch. Thank you in advance!

Las Lomitas Education Foundation

Please support our schools and donate today

Only 3 weeks left to meet our Challenge Grant!

Please help us earn $80,000 at 80% participation.

Let's see which grade will be the first one to reach 80%

Its week two, 1^st grade takes the lead from the Kindergarten class, can they hold it?

When 80% of our District Families have made a gift of any amount to the Foundation, we will receive an additional $80,000

Challenge Grant Donation for our schools.

http://www.llef.org

Excellence is built one donation at a time

School News

Today is Amici's Day!

Stop by Amici's TODAY, Monday, January 13, and help support our 8th graders! 25% of all dine in and take out orders will be donated to the Washington DC trip fund. Fundraising hours are from 11:00am-10:00pm, so grab your family and friends, and enjoy a great meal! Be sure to mention the La Entrada Washington DC trip when placing your order.

******************************************************

How do we teach our kids to cope with stress?

By Pamela Garfield, LCSW Site Director at Gunn High School

Our kids just got through the end of the semester and finals. Finals, holidays, college applications and the many other pressures of this time of year can be very challenging. Sometimes life just takes over and we have to go into "survival mode" to get by. However, once the storm has past, then what? How do we prepare our kids for the next stressful period? How do we help them handle the next big disappointment, such as not getting into their college of choice? How to we teach them it's OK to relax sometimes so they are ready to handle the next big pressure in their lives?

The answer is really simple. The best way for us adults to help kids with their stress is to handle our own. If you live a hectic life and have trouble finding time for yourself, your kids are noticing. They pick up on more than you think! One of the scariest parts about being a parent is your kids watch your every move. Even if you tell them to behave one way (relax, calm down, it's ok), if you are showing them something different (must press-on, must do everything) that's what they learn is the "real" way.

January is here and is a time to reflect on the previous year and how we can be better for 2014. If you notice that you have lost balance in your life and have difficulty handing stress in your life, this may be a time to pick up a few new habits. Not only will you be helping yourself, but you will be teaching your children a valuable lesson; that life balance is important. While we must plan and work hard for our future, remember that it is ok to stop and enjoy the moment once in a while. Grown-ups can have fun too. Even the most caring and loving parents need time for themselves. We strive to be our best, but sometimes we need to just "be" without a goal for achievement. As adults, we need to remind ourselves that we are okay, even when things don't go our way. So think about ways you can fit in a little more fun in your life, ways to keep yourself calm before life gets too overwhelming and ways to be kinder to yourself. Your kids will notice.

Adolescent Counseling Services is a community non-profit, which provides vital counseling services on eight secondary campuses at no charge to students and their families. To learn more about our services please visit the ACS website at www.acs-teens.org or call Rom Brafman, PhD, Site Director at La Entrada at (650) 854-3962 ext. 216. ACS relies on the generosity of community members to continue offering individual, family, and group counseling to over 1,500 individuals annually. ACS provides critical interventions and mental health services, building a better future for tomorrow. If you are interested in helping to support our efforts, do not hesitate to call to make a donation. It goes a long way in helping teenagers find their way!

Sequoia Union High School District News

M-A Parent Education Series

Award-winning Documentary Film: "In 500 Words or Less"

Thursday, February 6, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC)

Going to college is a rite of passage for many American high school students, but the process can be overwhelming: college fairs, SATs, tours, applications. And then there's the personal essay. How does a seventeen year old define herself to total strangers when she's only beginning to discover who she really is? And how can he or she be expected to do it in an essay of 500 words or less?

This honest film is a "must see" for any parent or student starting or looking ahead to the college application process. "In 500 Words or Less" takes you inside the lives of four very different students as they spend their last year with their families trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. The documentary serves as a portrait of four of the nearly 1.5 million families who go through this process each year. While race, geography and socio-economic status affected how they got here, their stories converge as they all juggle acceptance, rejection, decision-making and letting go.

"In 500 Words or Less" is highly recommended by NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and featured at a recent national conference.

Ticket Registration: https://in500wordsorless2014ma.eventbrite.com/

Registration is FREE and Parent Education Series events are sponsored by the M-A PTA and the Sequoia Healthcare District.

A great family event! Parents, students, and SUHSD community members welcome.

For more information, please contact Charlene Margot, Parent Education Series Program Director, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650.868.0590.

*******************************************************

Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is a period of time when you may request a high school other than your home school for your child to attend. You must complete an Open Enrollment Transfer Application to be eligible. Open Enrollment began on October 1st, 2013 and closes on January 17th, 2014 at 7:00pm. There are no late exceptions. Applicants will receive a letter in the mail around the first week of March letting them know if their request was approved or if they were put on a wait-list. Applicants have until March 14, 2014 to rescind the transfer request should they decide to do so. Please do this in writing. The sooner they let the district know, the sooner it opens up a spot for someone else who might want it. For more information, click here.

Please note that If you are a La Entrada 8th grader who would like to attend Menlo Atherton High School but do not live in the MA attendance area, you WILL be granted permission to attend MA High School as a 9th grader but you MUST fill out an open enrollment form and submit it to the high school district according to the instructions above.

Get to Know M-A

Campus Tours

Come tour the beautiful M-A campus on a Wednesday afternoon while school is in session. Current M-A students and an M-A staff member will guide you around campus and answer all your questions. Wednesday Tours are the first Wednesday of the month (October to April). See the Get to Know M-A Events Calendar for specific dates. The tour is one hour. Please reserve your tour spot online here.

Shadowing

Our Shadowing program pairs prospective 8th graders with a 9th grade host so they can attend classes during a typical day at M-A. Our program runs from October 4 through March 28. Please click here for full program details and frequently asked questions. New this year, sign-ups will be done through our website. Shadowing is very popular and appointments fill fast, so sign up early to reserve your spot. For more details or to sign-up see our website: mabears.org, About Us, Get To Know M-A.

Get to Know Woodside

Open House

Woodside High School is holding an open house on Saturday, January 11th from 9:00am - 12:00pm, where middle school parents and students can tour classrooms, hear music performances, meet teachers and staff, and talk with other parents. Refreshments are being served and there will be Spanish-language translators available. Everyone is welcome!

To learn more, call Woodside High School at 650-367-9750 or email event chair, Georgia Jack, georgia@casajack.com. To register for a tour time visit www.woodsidehs.org and click on "Open House" under "Quick Links."

Parents Tours

The Parent Tours offer an intimate look at Woodside High School. Talk to the principal and a member of the administrative team, ask as many questions as you like in a small group setting, visit classes, walk through the campus during passing periods, get a sense of the friendly and academic culture of this exemplary comprehensive high school. Sign up for a parents tour here.

Shadowing

The shadow program is designed for all students, including transfer students, who are interested in attending Woodside High School. The shadow program is run through the leadership class and the students in leadership are the shadow leaders. Shadowing will take place between September 17, 2013 and March 7, 2014.

We look forward to giving you a glimpse of a day in the life of Woodside High School student. Enjoy the vibrant campus, rich in activities and opportunities to grow. Get a feel for the springboard to such universities as Cal Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, MIT, NYU, and others. Woodside High School offers a rigorous academic program geared towards the completion of the UC/CSU A-G Requirements and a solid preparation for the next level of scholarship and disciplinary study.

For more information and to request a shadowing date click here.

Get to Know Sequoia High

Shadowing

Individual 8th grade students will be able to shadow a Sequoia 9th/10th grader on most week days between October 1, 2013 and March 1, 2014. Shadow days are designed to allow students to get a feel for their future alma mater through spending the day attending classes, walking through the halls from class to class, and eating lunch.

8th graders may choose whether they'd prefer to spend the day with a Sequoia student taking primarily college prep mainstream classes or one taking primarily ICAP classes designed to prepare 9th/10th grade students to take higher level IB courses in the 11th/12th grade years. Preferences can be indicated at the time of registration.

If you have questions about shadowing at Sequoia, please contact Lauren Reibstein at lreibste@seq.org.

Get to Know our Charter Schools

Summit Preparatory Charter High School and Everest Public High School

Summit and Everest are part of Summit Public Schools - an organization of public, tuition-free, charter high schools. Our schools strive to provide students with a small and personalized educational experience with guaranteed college preparation in a physically and emotionally safe environment. Our students, parents, and teachers describe why they choose Summit schools: https://vimeo.com/57639234.

Open Houses are held together for both of our schools. Please join us:
Saturday, February 8, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Everest Public High School
455 5th Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94063

At our Open Houses, you will:
* Learn more about our rigorous, college-preparatory program
* Meet current students, parents, and faculty
* Be able to pick up and submit an application
* Be able to sign up for Shadow Days and Parent Tours

Visit our websites for more information: www.everestphs.org www.summitprep.net

Community News

Sports Edition Coming Soon!

The Spot will be running a Sports Edition to announce spring sports in our community - whether the programs are run by profit or not for profit companies. If you have a sports related article you would like to submit, please send it to leopardsspot@gmail.com by Wednesday, January 15th at 12:00pm.

From the Editor

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. (Newsletter policies are under review by the PTA for the 2013-2014 school year.)

To submit an item, email it to the editor at leopardsspot@llesd.org by 12:00 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.
Send the article in the body of the email: submission sent as Word doc or other attachment will be rejected.
Clearly indicate the title of your submission.
Provide a link for all pictures and graphics.

For past issues, visit the PTA Newsletter Archive.

MJ Crousore
Leopard's Spot Editor