Student Placement:

As a reminder, we are in the middle of creating and filling the master schedule.  The faculty spends considerable thought and attention formulating classes that will work best for students.  The teachers and administrators consider three major perspectives as we work together to develop class groupings:  the needs of the individual child, the need to create balance within each classroom, and the need to create balance among classrooms at a grade level.  In order to maintain balance in class size we may have multi-graded classes.  For the 2014-2015 school year, we anticipate a 4/5 multi-grade class.

If you have important information about your child's placement for next year, submit that information to me in writing before May 1, 2014.  Any placement information received after this date may not be considered due to our placement schedule.

While we do not accept teacher requests, it is helpful for us to know if you have had an older child in a specific classroom that did not work well for him or her.  If you wish to provide additional perspectives about your child that you believe we are not aware of and that could be useful to us as we engage in the grouping process, we offer that opportunity through email to me (spotts@llesd.org).  Remember, this is optional.  Please note that while we do our best to accommodate student needs in the core classroom, the process for math placement may not allow for such requests.

Math Placement Information Night: 

On May 1st at 6:30pm, we will hold a Math Information Meeting for all parents who would like information on our math placement process at La Entrada.  The night is designed for all parents that have questions about math pathways and placement process.   The math teachers and I will explain the courses offered in 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades, describe the assessments, clarify the process for math placement and highlight the supports we have put in place.   If there are new parents who are unclear about the math placement for incoming 4th and 5th graders you are welcome to join us on May 1st or you may join my campus tour on May 15th at 10:00am for further clarification. 

Parent Education Opportunity:  

On May 6th at 6:30 pm in the MUR, we will hold a parent education session for incoming 6th grade parents entitled "What to Expect as Parents Enter the Middle School Years" by Dr. Surina Basho, Ph.D., Educational Therapist and Cognitive Neuroscientist and contributing author to, "Promoting Executive Function in the Classroom."  She will focus on how changes in grade school and middle school relate to Executive Function, our understanding of Executive Function and how we foster it in our children.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Please RSVP for the events by calling the office at 854-3962 or by emailing Marja Rudge, mrudge@llesd.org.

Smarter Balanced Testing:  

As reported earlier, this year California public schools will be pilot testing the Common Core State Standards-aligned Smarter Balanced assessments in English and Math. The majority of our students will no longer be taking the complete set of CSTs, commonly known as "STAR" tests, and as a result, API scores for California schools will also be suspended. Only 5th and 8th graders will be taking the STAR test in Science this May 15th and 16th.

Our District's testing window is from April 7 - May 15, but rest assured, children will not spend five weeks in testing. La Entrada will be testing the 4th and 5th graders in our computer labs, beginning April 22 through April 30, 2014. 6th - 8th graders will be testing in their Core class groups/8th grade English classes April 29th - May 2, 2014. The purpose of this test is neither to evaluate students (we will receive no scores) nor teachers, but to "test the test". We will be ensuring that our IT infrastructure can accommodate the testing regimen, and the Smarter Balanced consortium will of course run its own internal tests. No feedback will be sent to participating schools, but if you want to check out the assessment for yourself, you can see samples and even take a practice test by visiting the Smarter Balanced Portal: https://sbacpt.tds.airast.org/student/. Simply log on as "Guest" and experience samples of the Smarter Balanced Tests, aka SBAC Tests.   If you would like even more information about these new assessments, please visit their portal at http://www.smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/.

Highlights from Washington DC:  

84 eighth grade students went to Washington DC last week.  It was a successful trip as per the excitement of the students, the bonding of the chaperones, and minimal casualties to the common cold.  Unfortunately, I was one of the casualties.  We had four students lay a wreath on The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The students had to write an essay to be chosen for this privilege.  Austin Hirst, Maddie King, Tara Wiley, and Ian Peterson were chosen and represented La Entrada very well.  Maddie King's great grandfather, a war veteran and career military officer, wrote the inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  She proudly represented her family and LE as she laid a wreath.  The other three also did a great job, but Austin Hirst went above and beyond and showed real La Entrada heart.  The guards and cemetery have very strict rules on dress code and process for laying the wreaths.  There were two schools that participated in the ceremony on Tuesday.  Mill Valley was in line, in front of LE and one of the Mill Valley boys didn't have appropriate shoes.  When the guard told the boy that he couldn't participate, Austin kindly removed his shoes and gave them to the boy.  Mill Valley proceeded through the ceremony without a glitch as Austin stood in the pouring rain in his socks.  When it was LE's turn, the boys switched shoes and our team proceeded in the ceremony.  No one even knew of Austin's gesture until multiple witnesses approached us after the event to let us know how proud we should be of our La Entrada students.  I was very proud, but not as emotional as Mr. Hirst, who was a chaperone on the trip and witnessed Austin's gesture of kindness.   We are very proud of how our students represented the LE community at the cemetery and throughout the trip.

Warm Regards,

Shannon Potts

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

'14-'15 ASB Elections

Students of all talents and backgrounds are encouraged to run for next year's La Entrada's ASB (Association of Student Body). There will be an informational meeting at the beginning of lunch on Monday, May 5th in Mrs. Rianda's room 20 to hear more about the ASB position/s and students will be able to pick up a candidate's packet. Hope to you see your student there!

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Rianda at trianda@llesd.org.

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

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is Coming...May 5-9...PLEASE READ!

The PTA Endorses Measure A...and Asks You to Vote "Yes"!!!

The Sequoia Union High School District has a bond up for vote on the Tuesday, June 3 election. The district's great high schools have drawn families to its communities, causing a surge in student enrollment. Enrollment has increased by 20% over the last 12 years and is expected to grow another 20% in the next 7 years. Measure A will provide additional classrooms and labs, as well as updated technology to help the district continue its excellent academic programs as student enrollment grows. 

Please visit the Yes on A website at  www.greatsequoiahighschools.org to learn about Measure A and how you can help. If you have additional questions about Yes on A, please email Jennifer Le at   jenfle@gmail.com.

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

Celebrate Kindness Week...May 12-15

Get ready to celebrate the little things that make a BIG difference!  From enjoying special treats to random acts of kindness, our entire community will participate in our first ever Kindness Week! Watch those backpacks for more information coming home at the end of the week.

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

• Co-Presidents - Ashley Banks and Sandie Timm 
• Co-Vice Presidents - MJ Crousore and Molly Drewes
• VP Membership - open
• VP Volunteer Coordination - Julie Herlihy
• Treasurer - open
• Financial Secretary - open
• Recording Secretary - Pam Wright
• Corresponding Secretary - Laura Glader
• Parliamentarians - Laurel O'Neill and Lisa Reid