The Leopard's Spot
The La Entrada PTA Newsletter   
January 27, 2014
In This Issue
Reminders from Sonya Dineen
ASB News
PTA News
Las Lomitas Education Foundation
Las Lomitas League
High School News
Community Sports
From the Editor
Quick Links


Calendar

This Week:

  • (Mon-Fri) Jan 27-31: ASB Penny Week - see below
  • (Mon) Jan 27: LLL Classes begin
  • (Wed) Jan 29: PC Reader Training, MUR, 11:00am
  • (Wed) Jan 29: LELE Cornerstone Club at lunch, Rm. 7
  • (Wed) Jan 29: DC Trip Meeting, Fitness Lab, 12:30pm
  • (Wed) Jan 29: Parent "My Digital TAT2", MUR, 6:30pm 
  • (Thur) Jan 30: Spirit Day - Western Wear
  • (Fri) Jan 31: Chinese New Year Celebration at lunch
Next Week: 
  • (Wed) Feb 5: LELE Around the World at lunch, MUR
  • (Wed) Feb 5: Musical Auditions, MUR/Rm.10, 3:00pm
  • (Wed) Feb 5: Science Fair Check-in, Jensen, 3:00pm
  • (Thur) Feb 6: Musical Auditions, MUR/Rm.10, 3:00pm
  • (Thur) Feb 6: Science Fair Judging and Awards - see below for times
  • (Thur) Feb 6: Spirit Day lunch activity
  • (Fri) Feb 7: First Friday Lunch (formerly Dads at Lunch)
  • (Fri) Feb 7: DC Trip Meeting, Fitness Lab, 12:30pm
Coming Soon:
  • (Mon) Feb 10: 7/8 Symphonic Band/Jazz Ensemble Perform at "Partner Concert", M-A PAC, 7:00pm
  • (Wed) Feb 12: LELE Book Clubs at lunch

Join the PTA
Reminders from Assistant Principal, Sonya Dineen
Parent Education Opportunity on Wednesday Evening
All parents are invited to an interactive presentation on the digital landscape parents and students navigate on a daily basis. My Digital TAT2 will be discussing topics related to the digital world we live in.  They will include benefits and challenges that both parents and children face living in a 24 hour digital media world will be discussed, as well as tools shared on how best to address cyber-bullying, social networking sites and digital reputations.  The presenters will also share common sense strategies for cyber-safety and media management for your family.
When:  Wednesday, January 29 at 6:30pm Wednesday, 1-29-14 @ 6:30pm
Where:  MUR
Who:  Las Lomitas District's Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Deborah Roden, will welcome parents and introduce the presenters.
RSVP:  sdineen@llesd.org   (to ensure sufficient seating is available)

Project Cornerstone's ABC Reader Volunteer Training Session
All parent volunteers involved in ABC Reader Program will have a training on Thursday, January 30 from 11:00am-12:00pm in the MUR.  Please be sure and read this month's book prior to coming to the meeting. 

Spirit Dress-Up Day:  Cowboy/Cowgirl Wear
Come dressed in your favorite western wear this Friday, January 31, and earn your grade level Spirit Points.

The La Entrada Calendar and Daily Announcements
All parents are encouraged to look at our school's website calendar and "Daily Announcements" to keep informed.
  
ASB News

Penny Week This Week

This year, members of the ASB have decided to focus their fundraising on a global scale. The annual "Penny Week" profits will be donated to Heifer International. Heifer links communities and helps brings sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. The goal of every Heifer project is to help families achieve self-reliance. They do this by providing them the tools they need to sustain themselves, and it's thanks to the generosity of donors like you. http://www.heifer.org/about-heifer/index.html

 

How can your student help this worthy cause? Throughout this week during lunch, there will be five large water jugs, one labeled for each grade level. Students will put all his/her pennies into their own grade level jug, thus adding to the grade level. They will also want to put all silver/gold coins into the other four grade level jugs, thus taking points away from their totals.

 

A Penny= (+ 1 point)

A Nickel= (- 5 points)

A Dime= (-10 points)

A Quarter = (-25 points)

A half dollar= (-50 points)

A dollar coin= (-100 points)

 

The grade level that has the most positive number will earn the most spirit points. Please remember that our end goal is to raise as much money as we can for this very worthy organization.

 

Thank you in advance for helping us achieve our goal!

If you have any questions or concerns, please see Anna L. or Mrs. Rianda  trianda@llesd.org.

 

PTA News
Science Fair & Registration Date Changes - 
PLEASE READ!

Project Registration has been extended to February 4th. 
Please encourage your children to participate!

The Science Fair date has been changed to February 6th.

  

Schedule of Events:
Wednesday, February 5th, 3:00-5:00pm - Check-inWednesday, Feb. 5th 3-5pm
Thursday, February 6th - 
Judging: 3:00-5:00pm
Fair open to the public: 5:00-6:30pm
Awards Presentation: 6:30-7:00pm-7pm
Projects may be taken home that night. 
 
Projects ideas
Did iPads Make Your Backpack Heavier or Lighter? 
Does the Amount of Battery in a Device Affect How it Well Works? 
Lemon Powered Fog Maker
How Fast Do Different Foods Digest? 
Which Sport Gives You The Fastest Heart Rate?
Mentos Explosion
What Material Floats the Best in Water?
What Toothpaste Flavor Do People Like Most? 
Anything with Dry Ice
Pendulums
Electro Magnet Strengths 
 
Raffle: Everyone who enters a project is automatically entered in the raffle. We will choose the winner at the awards ceremony Thursday evening. The raffle prize is a pair of Wireless Beats by Dre Headphones.
 
Please email Science Fair Chair, Rachel Perkocha, with any questions at perkocha@yahoo.com.

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Spelling Bee Winners Announced!  Huge Thanks to Kari and Janelle!!!

Congratulations to the winners of the 2014 La Entrada Spelling Bee!

Champion:  John M. (8th Grade)

Runner Up:  Ally T. (7th Grade)

6th Grade Winner: Kieran R.

5th Grade Winner: Jessica P.

4th Grade Winner: Heath S.

 
John gave his right to move to the next level of competition to the runner-up, Ally. She will go on to compete in San Francisco at the KPIX written bee. If she passes that, she'll compete in the KPIX oral bee for a chance to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.

  

We are so grateful to Janelle London and Kari Mueller who took the Spelling Bee back on once a new sponsor was found!  We appreciate all you have done with the Bee to make it better than ever! Thanks to all the volunteers who came together under their leadership to make this event happen - from the grading of the qualifying tests to the Bee itself: Sonya Dineen, Daniella Lefer, Jay Siegel, Laura Glader, Lou Ann G., Emily Marenghi, Rumiko Kawaguchi, Katia Diehl, Wendy Malecek, Laura Musial, Gudrun Enger, Kate Canessa, Catalina Vial, Michelle King, Jen Overholt, Colleen McDonough, Lindsay Bogue, Kay Wang-Xi, Stephanie Zaharias, Stephanie Peters, Rebecca Deutscher, Lovinda Beal, Anne Longo, and Elizabeth Blair. We couldn't have done it without you!

 
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Urgent! Volunteer Needs for Hot Lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays
Thank you to those who have responded...but we still have slots to fill!
We are currently short volunteers to serve hot lunch on Tuesdays for the 6th-8th Grade shift 12:13pm -12:50pm and 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!

 
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Happy Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse! 
Come celebrate with us on Friday, January 31 during both lunch recesses.  We need some parents to run a few tables and hand out prizes to students who play the Chopstick Challenge, Ping Pong, or Majong.  The students will also fold 'hong bao' (red envelopes) and write Chinese calligraphy on them to give a friend or teacher.  Come join the fun and email KathyKau@gmail.com
if you can help in any way!
  
Las Lomitas Education Foundation
 
It's our final week...
No amount is too small - please donate today! 

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.

 

Please support our schools and donate today! 

 

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Help make this our best auction ever by donating an item, service, or event

 

We are seeking your support through donated items. 

Your generous gift of an auction item will help support our high quality teachers, 

small class sizes and enhanced curriculum.

 

If you're not sure what to donate, we can help! Email us at auction@llef.org.

 

Excellence is built one donation at a time

 

  

Las Lomitas League

LLL logo - sports 

 

Classes start this week!

By now, you would have received a welcome letter from instructors requesting dismissal plans for your children. You can also find detailed class information, including contact information for instructors and League policies under the "Classes" tab at www.laslomitasleague.com.

 

New Sports Clinics

Boys Volleyball Clinics

Registration for  boys volleyball is now open! Clinics will be led by local club coaches for 6th-8th grade boys and will emphasize hitting, blocking and passing techniques while allowing players to compete in game situations. Players with all levels of experience are welcome. 

 

Spring Ultimate Frisbee Clinic

Come learn the game of Ultimate, including backhand and forehand throws, catching, scoring, game dynamics and Spirit of the Game. Co-ed, 6-8 grade. All levels welcome; students should be comfortable with running and team sports. Meets Mondays 2:55-4:25pm.

 

Registration is still open for Sports: Tennis, Track, Boys Volleyball Clinic and Ultimate Frisbee Clinic on the Las Lomitas League website www.laslomitasleague.com.
 
Sequoia Union High School District News

M-A Parent Education Series

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

Introduction by Alice Kleeman, M-A College Advisor 

Thursday, February 6th, 7:00 - 9:00 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.

 

 

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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 Sports Programs
Creighton School of Wrestling
Now at Sports House, Redwood City!  Come get Creighton trained by two-time National Champion and Wrestling Hall of Fame Coach Braumon Creighton!  Spring wrestling classes are available for ages 8 and up, all skill levels are welcome.  We offer training for beginner through advanced wrestlers on Mondays and/or Wednesdays beginning March 10.  Register now at www.creightontrained.com!  Summer camps will be posted soon.

Junior All Terrain Runners (Jr-ATR)
Join us for an exciting new program for kids age 7-14! Through our fun, non-competitive curriculum, kids will work on all aspects of movement using confidence (obstacle) courses, core & strength work, and running.  http://www.menloswim.com/menlo/junior_atr.html

Camp Menlo Summer Camp
Camp Menlo Summer Camp registration is now open for camps starting June 2, including our award-winning Camp Menlo Aquatics camp for kids age 4.5-9, Jr Lifeguard for age 9-14, Tennis and Swim for age 7-14, Performance Swim for age 9-18, and two Water Polo camps for beginners and more experienced players. Register before January 31 and save $25 on 5-day summer camps! www.campmenlo.com

Mavericks Youth Water Polo 
Menlo Swim and Sport welcomes Brenda Villa, the most decorated female water polo player ever, as the new Head of Mavericks Water Polo. Girls and Boys 12U and 14U teams forming now, register today! http://www.menloswim.com/menlo/youth_swim_teams/mavericks_polo.html

Alpine and Menlo Atherton Little League Tryouts Going on Now!
Due to a recent change in Little League rules, children in the Las Lomitas School District boundaries are now eligible to play for either Alpine or Menlo Atherton Little Leagues. Boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 12 can register to play...but hurry!  Registration closes soon.  See www.alpinelittleleague.com or www.m-all.org for more details.

Studio Rincon Youth Dance and Yoga Classes 
Studio Rincon on Alameda in Menlo Park is now taking signups for the winter session of youth dance and yoga classes.  Signup here!  Preballet, ballet, hip hop, yoga are all taught in a fun and positive atmosphere after school for ages 3-Teen.  View the youth schedule at http://www.studiorincon.com/youth-classes/.

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.)

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For past issues, visit the PTA Newsletter Archive.

MJ Crousore
Leopard's Spot Editor
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