| Yes on S 2013 | |
Dear Las Lomitas and La Entrada Families,
The November 5th election is just three weeks away. For those of you who are "vote by mail" you should be receiving your ballots in the mail this week, if you haven't already. Please vote as soon as possible to help us gain momentum and support for Yes on S - Classrooms for our Kids. By now you've probably seen the Yes on S yard signs. If you would like one to show your support, please email your name and address to Diana Sunshine at sunshine@onderdonk.net. We really need phone bank volunteers! These last few weeks are critical. Please sign up to help us for one night! Thank you everyone for your continued support and volunteer efforts! Sincerely, |
liLas Lomitas Education Foundation
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The Annual Giving Campaign is Underway!
Donate today - Click here 
Your donation makes the critical difference
Our small class sizes and comprehensive electives are a key reason we are often favorably compared to private schools, and our combined donations are able to provide this at a fraction of the per family cost of private school tuition.
For more information please see our Community Report online here
Excellence is built one donation at a time
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Auction needs YOU! The Las Lomitas Education Foundation annual Auction committee is forming now and we need your help! If you are interested in participating in the auction planning this year in any capacity, no matter how small or large,please contact Maggie Oren at maggie@garlic.com.
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Mother/Son Bowling - Only a few tickets remain!
Moms and sons, join the 4th Annual Mother Son Bowling party at BelMateo Bowl! Pizza, cookies, and drinks will be provided. Saturday, November 16, 2013 from 6-8pm.**Ticket price covers one mother-son pair. Sibling are tickets are available separately.** Sign up here!
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PTA News
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ART NOTECARD FUNDRAISER
ORDER FORMS ARE DUE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25th!
Please support the arts at Las Lomitas by purchasing cards made from your children's drawings. Funds from this program are used by classrooms for field trips, visiting artists, musicians and speakers, special art supplies and literature about art and music. The note cards make terrific gifts for friends and families, thank you notes, and enclosure cards for birthday presents. The printed note cards (with matching envelopes) will be delivered to the classrooms in late November.
Thank you to all of our parent volunteers, teachers and administrators who helped complete the drawing sessions.
Order forms must be returned to the box in the school office no later than the end of the day on Friday, October 25th. Unfortunately, late orders cannot be accepted.
Questions? Contact Molly Drewes, (molly@drewes.net), Tissha Brumm (tsbrumm@gmail.com) or Maggie Oren (maggie@mbdesign.biz).
Thank you for supporting the creative arts and music at Las Lomitas!
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LAS LOMITAS BOOK FAIR COMING SOON: October 28 - November 2 Mark your calendar! The 2013 Las Lomitas Book Fair is coming! We are thrilled to have our book fair hosted, once again, by Hicklebee's, a wonderful independent bookstore in Willow Glen specializing in books for children and young adults since 1979! They proved to be a fabulous partner last year and we're looking forward to a fine selection of books again this year! Be sure to stop by on Family Night on Wednesday, October 30, at 6:00 p.m. to hear Sue Sartor and Alain Camou read bed time stories to the kids! The Book Fair will also be open on Halloween--a great time to shop before or after the Halloween Parade (which starts at 10:45 a.m.). All students are invited to enter the POSTER ART RAFFLE and the BOOK REVIEW RAFFLE. Two poster raffle winners and two book review raffle winners will WIN A $12 GIFT CARD to spend at the book fair. For the Poster Art Raffle, create a poster of a favorite book/book series. Minimum size of 8.5 x 11, maximum size 24 x 36. Please BRING POSTERS TO BOOK FAIR ON 10/28 BETWEEN 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. (if you can't make it that day, please drop them off in the office by 10/25). Don't forget to put the student's name and teacher on back. For the Book Review Raffle, students can fill out book review forms at Cano Hall during regular Book Fair hours. Please complete book reviews by 10/31. Drawings will be held 11/1. Please sign up to VOLUNTEER AT THE BOOK FAIR by emailing Jeanne Arozqueta at (llbookfair@gmail.com). This is a fun and relaxing way to share your favorite books with others and peruse new books to consider for your own library!
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 The Apple for the Classroom program is a way for parents to support their children'steachers directly. All the teachers and specialists at Las Lomitas have been invited to create a "wish list" of items that would help to further enrich their classrooms. Donations may be submitted online via PayPal or purchased and brought directly to the classroom.
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The Las Lomitas Green Team needs your help!
We are looking for volunteers to help students sort their compost and recycling at lunch from 12:05 - 12:50 p.m. The time commitment is small and the benefits are huge! The best part will be how proud your child is to see you at school helping out!
If you have any questions, contact Marie Summers at mariesummers@live.com or go right ahead and sign up:
1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/gMa2Qc
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.
It's Easy!
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From the Principal
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Dear Las Lomitas Families,
Today I would like to write a bit about our wonderful volunteers on campus. Las Lomitas School functions like a large family to meet the needs of each individual student. Each "family member" contributes to an environment where all may succeed. There are many opportunities for involvement, including direct work with students as a volunteer on campus.
In a typical week, over 150 parents, grandparents or community volunteers support student learning by working in the classrooms, working in the library, serving hot food, leading literature discussions, leading "Fun Friday" activities or being guest readers.
We appreciate the time and energy spent by volunteers, but must remind everyone of the need for confidentiality when working on campus. Please report any concerns you may have to the teacher and/or administrator; do not discuss another child and/or your concerns outside of the school.
Please keep in mind that what you see as a volunteer is a snapshot. All children have strengths and weaknesses, good days and days when they are tired. We all appreciate the time and talent that volunteers bring to enrich learning opportunities for our students. Thank you for helping us make Las Lomitas a campus where parents and professionals work in an open, collaborative environment for the betterment of our children.
Until next time,
Sue Sartor
Principal
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School News
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We have two openings on our School Site Council (SSC). The SSC is a group of faculty and parent representatives who meet over the course of the year to address areas of program quality under the School Based Coordinated Program. The Council's primary responsibilities are to review and monitor our Single Plan for Student Achievement and School Improvement Program budget.
Each member serves for two years. We meet once a month on Wednesdays from 3:00-4:30. This year's faculty representatives are Anna Pong (K), Michelle Donecho (1st), Kristy Hyres (2nd), Nikki Montre (3rd) and Sue Sartor (Principal). Parent representatives are Eric Ver Ploeg, Artis Montegue and Laurie Sobel.
If you are interested in joining this group of dedicated parents and educators who monitor the school plan, make sure the budge supports the plan and care deeply about children and education, please join us. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to work with and learn from teachers and the administration.
If you would like to serve on the School Site Council or learn more about it, please contact Sue Sartor at 854-5900 ext.261 or by email at ssartor@llesd.org. |
Minimum Day Information
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We will be on a minimum day schedule November 12, 13, 14 and 15. All students will arrive at 9:00 a.m. and be dismissed at 12:20 p.m.
To minimize the chaos this creates, please note:
Flagpole Pick-up- All students will wait in designated locations.
- Drivers must stay in their car and pull through the pick-up lane.
- Display name cards in the window.
- Always leave dogs at home.
- Bicyclists must walk bikes until you are away from the front gate area.
- Traffic and parking enforcement will be present. Park in designated locations only.
Bus Riders - Students may not ride home on the bus for a play date. Only regular riders may ride. We are at capacity. Pick up play dates at the flagpole.
- If students go to the bus for a play date, we will bring both students (regular rider and guest) to the office for pick-up.
- Buses may be a bit late as it takes longer to load and unload on minimum days.
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The Bus Stop
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The Bus StopThis year we have several bus stops where we have no Las Lomitas students. Removing these stops from our schedules helps to make us more efficient and more cost effective, and we will be changing schedules to remove these stops effective today, Monday, October 14, 2013.
Wednesday Morning Pick-Up 1st Session: Bus 2 (Mr. Grayland) will no longer be going to Stops 81 and 57. 1st Session: Bus 1 (Mr. Jose) will no longer be going to Stops 23, and 24.
2nd Session K: Bus 3 (Mr. Fernando) will no longer be going to Stops 50, 71, 72, 47, 80, 73, and 86. Stops 1, 75, and 67 are being added to this route. 2nd Session K: All bus stops on Bus 1 (Mr. Jose) route are being removed from the schedule, the exceptions of Stops 1, 75, and 67 which are being moved to Bus 3.
As a result of the change on Bus 3 and Bus 1 for 2nd Session K students, most pick-up time will be about 10 minutes earlier. New schedules were distributed by Mr. Jose and Mr. Fernando last week, and are available in the School Office.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Pick-Up 1st Session: Bus 1 (Mr. Jose) will no longer be going to Stops 17 and 18. 2nd Session: Bus 1 (Mr. Jose) will no longer be going to Stops 23 and 24.
If at any time you have students at any of these stops who need regular bus service please give me a call. Our intent is not to discontinue service to anyone who needs it. We're just trying to be more efficient in our routing.
Joyce Massaro, Transportation Supervisor 650854-6311 x30
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Test of Emergency Communication System
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Dear Parents,
On Thursday, October 3rd, we conducted a test of our Global Connect communication software. The system enables us to quickly send out phone calls, text messages or emails to any selected groupings of parents. We hope to start using this tool for important time-sensitive communication, such as bus issues, but also to have immediate contact to you given any emergencies.
One limitation of some phone providers that parents should know about, is that if your text phone number is the same as the home phone number you provided us, you may receive either the text or the call, but not both. Please note that the email contact may be from Global Connect, but reference our district in the subject line.
If we have all your correct contact information, you should have received at least two contacts from us ; email, home phone and/or text message. If you did not receive the contacts Thursday, October 3rd, please visit the new online form for LLESD, InfoSnap: Year Round Update form and confirm the information we have for you is correct. There is also a link on the school webpage for any future update needs of contact information. Thank you. Suzanne Mitchell Director of Technology 650-854-3962 x199
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A Reminder for the Las Lomitas Community
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Many of you have been closely following the growing enrollment issue in the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD). Their plans for addressing the growth may include a change in attendance boundaries for their four (4) high schools. Please note that SUHSD is a separate district from the Las Lomitas Elementary School District (LLESD). We have a separate school board and a different superintendent and we do not share administration. Therefore, the decisions regarding district attendance boundaries for the high school district is not our decision to make. I do, however, keep in close contact with Jim Lianides, Superintendent in SUHSD, and have communicated many of the concerns that the LLESD community has shared with me. As a result, our district will be hosting Superintendent Jim Lianides and two Sequoia Board Members, at a community meeting on Monday, October 14, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in La Entrada Middle School's Jensen Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information on plans to address SUHSD's district enrollment growth including the possible need for boundary changes. There will be time for questions and input at the conclusion of the presentation. To help facilitate the Q&A portion, please feel free to send your questions and thoughts to Anna Strauss (astrauss@llesd.org) by Wednesday, October 9, 2013. We will compile and prepare them for Superintendent Lianides. Based on your questions, Superintendent Lianides may bring additional personnel who can provide more specific information.
I look forward to seeing you on Monday, October 14th at 7:00 p.m. at La Entrada.
Lisa Cesario
Superintendent
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La Entrada Used Book Fair
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ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THE LA ENTRADA
USED BOOK FAIR! 
Donate books now at La Entrada or at Las Lomitas! Bins will be available in front of both schools from Monday, October 14th through Monday, November 4th. We are accepting books in all genres ranging from children's books to adult and everything in between. They must be in good condition, and we welcome them in all languages! Please, no text books, workbooks or used coloring books. If you have a large amount of books to donate, please contact Stacey Alexander at staceyalexander2@gmail.com and we can arrange special delivery for you. The La Entrada Used Book Fair opens in the MUR (located directly across the LE office) on November 12th through November 15th where the books are affordable and fun to read! Store hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 100% of the sales will go directly to the La Entrada PTA. This is an eco-friendly way to share books, and with most at prices ranging from $1 - $5, there will be something for everyone. If you would like to volunteer, please sign up through volunteer spot: http://vols.pt/X9zkHR. Thank you for supporting the La Entrada Used Book Fair and we appreciate your help!
"The More that you Read, The more things you will know, The More that you learn, the more places you'll go!" - Dr. Seuss
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Las Lomitas League News
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 BASKETBALL SEASON AND REGISTRATION
Basketball registration is now open. This is a very popular winter sport that is open to all students in 3rd through 8th grade. All children registered are guaranteed a place on a team. Please register early! Registration is only open for two weeks and evaluations are the first weekend in November. More information is available on the LLL Basketball webpage. Please mark your calendars with the following dates:
- Oct 25th (Friday): Basketball registration closes
- October 30th (Wednesday) at 6:30 p.m.: Basketball Coaches Meeting in the La Entrada library (Fingerprinting for new coaches begins at 5:00 p.m.) Required for all coaches and assistant coaches. We will choose practice times as well as go over rules, expectations, evaluations, etc. Practice times are selected based on coaches' availability and a lottery system.
- Nov 2nd (Saturday) & Nov 3 rd (Sunday): Basketball Evaluation Days (schedule to be determined) We conduct evaluations of 3rd through 6th graders only. Evaluations are used to divide each grade level into fair and balanced teams. Your child's grade will be assigned a specific day and time later in October. Please check back here or on the LLL Basketball webpage.
COACHES ARE NEEDED!!! The basketball league is run by parents. We need parent coaches so we can offer fair playing time to all the kids. Fewer coaches mean fewer teams with a lot of players. The larger the team, the less playing time for each player. You do not need a lot of experience to coach; we can pair you with a more experienced coach. Also, we provide a coaching clinic. Please contact Keri Tully at keritully@gmail.com or Sue Bartalo at sbartalo@mac.com if you are available to coach. |
Business Partners
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Honeycombers Lice Advice & Treatment Salon offers lice removal services, lice removal products and training, and prevention advice for families and organizations whose parent and employee populations deal with lice. We're dedicated to making lice a thing of the past for your family. From in-salon private treatment rooms to appointments in your home, we offer a full range of services and the expertise to help you choose what works best for you. Using non-toxic, enzyme-based products-combined with a gentle touch, a knack for calming kids (and adults), and serious removal expertise-we'll help you get rid of the little buggers fast. Call us anytime at (650) 800-7081 for advice or appointments at our salon in downtown Menlo Park (441 El Camino Real right next to the Shell Station at Middle Ave). Honeycombers - The Sweetest Way to Be Treated.
Champions Preschool and Pre-K @ Las Lomitas Champions at Las Lomitas is currently enrolling in our Preschool/Pre-K Programs! We promote an environment that ensures the development of academic, social, and physical skills. Our programs provide a comprehensive, research-based curriculum which meets Early Childhood Education standards and Kindergarten readiness expectations. Come visit us on Wednesday, October 16 th for Bring-a-Friend Day to experience a day at Champions powered by Early Foundations. Programs available from 9:00 to 12:00 or 9:00 to 2:00. Contact Ruby at ralter@cclc.com or 650-233-1860. Visit our website.
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Community News
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AMBASSADORS FOR LUCILE PACKARD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH
Please save the date for this year's Pumpkin Patch at Webb Ranch on Wednesday, October 23rd anytime between 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Webb Ranch is located at 2720 Alpine Road in Portola Valley. Everyone is welcome. Bring your friends! There will be train rides, a bouncy house, face painting, and much more! The kids just love it! Purchase pumpkins for your family and buy one for a child at Lucile Packard's Children's Hospital. 50% of all proceeds from the event will be donated directly to the hospital. The pumpkins you donate will be used to set up a 'pumpkin patch' right inside Lucile Packard Hospital the very next day so that the children can enjoy their very own pumpkin patch experience! Please contact Jen at jenniferwilliams2@gmail.com for more details.
Trick-or-Treat Street
A group of Menlo-Atherton High School Leadership students are planning a trick or treating event which aims to create a safe place for children to enjoy Halloween festivities. Flyers are available for pickup in the Parent Information area of the school office.
Join us with your pre-schooler for Story Time at Kepler's every Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. Every Thursday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., beginning October 31, come to the Menlo Park Libraryfor our School-Age Storytelling featuring John Weaver. This is NOT a story time but a story telling - all told without a book!
What Should I Know About Common Core Standards?
Wednesday, October 23, 7:00 - 8 :30 p.m.
Silicon Valley Community Foundation speakers explain the opportunity of this revolutionary teaching and why multiple choice is going the way of the dinosaurs. This will be part of the 17th District PTA General Meeting. Located at San Mateo County Office of Education, 101 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood Shores.
Education Innovation Summit
Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Terrific for anyone interested in improving our schools and in optimizing student learning for the 21st century. Held at De Anza College, Campus Center Conference Room, 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino. Must pre-register here.
Alpine Strikers FC is excited to announce upcoming tryouts for the spring season. If your child is excited about soccer, she or he might be ready to come out and participate in these tryouts. Players new to the club can be evaluated via age group wide tryouts. Roster openings vary from team to team and are at the discretion of the coaches. For general club information, please visit our website. To register your child for tryouts, please click here.
Menlo College is offering a Junior Oaks Basketball Academy October 20th, 27th, November 10th, 17th and December 8th and 15th. There are flyers in the Las Lomitas office or you may contact them directly at oaksbasketball@menlo.edu or call (650) 543-3846.
Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Wednesday, October 30th at 4:00 p.m. The Menlo Park Library will provide a Halloween-tastic craft session for your enjoyment. Please join us to your own special Halloween creation.
Camp Menlo Holiday Camps
Add a little zip to your school holidays with fun Camp Menlo Swim and Tennis camps! StartingOctober 14, these one-day camps offered through the end of December offer 45-minute group swim lessons, plus fun land games and crafts. Register today! Space is limited!
Halloween Costume Drive - Give Families in Need a Special Treat
Please help the families of Haven House Family Shelter have a great Halloween by donating new or gently used costumes in all sizes (infant through adult). The Girl Scout troops of Las Lomitas and La Entrada are working together with Suzanne Mitchell (La Entrada Technology Director) to collect costumes at both schools. Look for the bins and Girl Scouts during morning drop off the week of October 7th through October 22nd. No need to even get out of your car, we will take it to the bin for you! ( bins will be out until 10/22).
Haven House, part of Innvision/Shelter Network, offers emergency and transitional housing for homeless families. Each night almost 100 kids (infants to teens) call the shelter home while their parents are working to move them back to permanent housing. Your donation of Halloween costumes will ensure that these families can participate in the fun of the season at a very difficult time in their lives!
Any questions: contact Ginny Rader ginnyrad@me.com Sarah Carey careysarah@yahoo.com or Suzanne Mitchell suzannemitchell@gmail.com
Menlo Park Library
Thursday, October 31 at 4:00 p.m. - The Menlo Park Library presents traditional-style storytelling that create unique images in the mind of each listener, school-agers & adults alike will love the "tricksters and treats" that fill their imagination during this special Halloween afternoon event!
Join Menlo Park Library's resident tale-spinner, Storyteller John Weaver, for the kick-off event in our NEW Thursday Afternoon School-Age Storytelling series! Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma Street, Menlo Park, California 94025. Check our website or more information or call (650) 330-2530
St Raymond Pumpkin Festival is coming! Free admission! We have pony rides, climbing wall, pumpkins, bungee trampoline, face painting, games food and more! Friday Oct. 11, 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 12, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at 1100 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park.
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Newsletter Submissions
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The Lion's Roar is published by the Las Lomitas PTA as a service to the Las Lomitas families and community. Before submitting an article, please read our newsletter policies.
To submit an item, email Carol Clark (cclark@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: submissions sent as a 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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The Lion's Roar is distributed via email every Monday. Printed copies are available in the school office, or the newsletter archives may be viewed online. If you have trouble receiving the Lion's Roar, please ensure your email reader or service is not blocking the Lion's Roar because it is a group distribution. To change your email address, please click 'Update Profile/Email Address' below. Thank you!
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The Lion's Roar 
