The Lion's Roar  

The Las Lomitas PTA Newsletter  
                                                                         Week of October 21, 2013    
In This Issue
Yes on S 2013
Las Lomitas Education Foundation
PTA News
From the Principal
Attendance Information
Minimum Day Information
Music Informances
Tech Tips: Defining the Screen Time
LE Used Book Fair
Las Lomitas League News
Business Partners
Community News
Newsletter Submissions
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links

 Calendar

 

 

This Week:

  • Oct 25 (Fri) LLL Basketball registration closes at midnight 

 

Next Week:

  • Las Lomitas Book Fair - Oct. 28 to Nov. 2
  • Oct 30 (Wed)  Mandatory Basketball Coaches Meeting (6:30 p.m.) and Fingerprinting (starting at 5:00 p.m.)  
  • Oct 31 (Thur) - Halloween Parade - 10:45 a.m.  
  • Nov 2 (Sat) and Nov 3 (Sun) Basketball Evaluation Days (see details in article below)   

Coming Soon:

  • Nov 11 (Mon) - School Holiday
  • Nov 12-15 are MINIMUM DAYS.  ALL students attend school 9:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.  See below for bus information. 

 

             

 Join other parents in supporting the Holiday Workshop, field trips, the Book Fair, and much more!

 

  

 

Yes on S 2013

Yes on S  


Dear Las Lomitas and La Entrada Absentee Voters,

You should have received your ballot last week. Please vote "Yes on S" and send it in as soon as possible! We want to gain momentum in support of this critical bond measure for our schools. The register of voters provides us with which absentee voters have not voted and our wonderful phone bank volunteers will be calling those with a gentle reminder so...PLEASE VOTE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Yes on S benefits our children (higher quality, permanent classrooms), our community (bring current facilities to current health and safety code standards), the environment (new facilities will allow us to save 15% on our utility cost/usage), and our property values (our high-scoring schools are a leading factor in drawing home buyers to our area).

Please "vote by mail" today!

Sincerely,
liLas Lomitas Education Foundation
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Its Annual Giving Week!

 

Donate today - Click here



  

  

I scream, You scream, We all scream for ICE CREAM!

 

                                                               

   

Donate by October 31st and be entered into a raffle in your classroom to win ice cream with your teacher.Its important to give early because Our School Board begins its budgeting in February. Knowing what funds they will have for the following year is critical to their planning. You can click here to make a donation.

 

For more information please see our Community Report online here 
      

Excellence is built one donation at a time


                 LLEF Our Children Our Schools Our Community
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Change is in the air for the auction, and we need YOU!

The Auction committee is forming and we need your help!  This year we have big exciting changes planned and we need your help to make it a reality.  Interested? We have lots small rolls / jobs available this year so don't delay.  Contact Maggie Oren at [email protected]

                                    

Space is still available for the following Foundation events:

 

  • 4th Annual Gentlemen's Hold'em Tournament Party
  • Ladies' TGIF Hike and Lunch at Alice's

Click here to register

 

PTA News

PTA ART NOTECARD FUNDRAISER

ORDER FORMS ARE DUE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25th!

 

Thank you for all the participation in the Art Notecard Project this year thus far! If you haven't already, 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, ([email protected]), Tissha Brumm ([email protected]) or Maggie Oren ([email protected]).

 

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

The PTA strongly believes in the promotion and support of literacy through positive reading environments, both in the classroom and at home.  We offer two distinct programs and events that provide for literacy enrichment:  Book Fair and the Read-A-Thon.  The Book Fair provides access to high quality children's literature that is made available for the benefit of building our school library as well as those in our own homes, student classrooms as well as other schools in need within our community.  The Read-A-Thon provides a fun and engaging opportunity to encourage a passion for reading with both students and families.  Let your child choose new titles at the Book Fair that they find interesting and engaging to provide plenty of reading material for the Read-A-Thon.  When they've depleted their own selections at home, encourage children to check out books at the Las Lomitas Library.  Did you know parents can check out books as well?

Please join us in supporting positive reading environments through each of these PTA programs.  The Book Fair commences in less than two weeks.  We'll then be gearing up for Read-A-Thon when we return from winter break.
 
The PTA also promotes literacy through its community outreach program at the Las Lomitas Book Fair.  This year's program will focus on Los Robles Dual Immersion Magnet and Green Oaks Academies in the Ravenswood School District (they share the same campus and library in East Palo Alto). Donation vouchers will be available at the Book Fair.
Thanks for your support!

Cheryl Cho-Phan, Read-A-Thon committee chair
Sheriene Saadati, Book Fair committee chair

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UPCOMING BOOK FAIR EVENTS
Working Parents Night, Monday, October 28
Book fair hours during the day a challenge to attend?  Like to have an evening to leisurely look through books?  Come to Working Parents night on Monday, October 28 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.  
Family Night, Wednesday October 30
Come to Family Night on Wednesday, October 30, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.  Wear your pajamas and decorate book marks.  Listen to Principal Sue Sartor read a bed time story to the kids.  Come browse through the books.  There is something for everyone!
 
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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 
[email protected] 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!


From the Principal
 

Dear Las Lomitas Families,

 

Fall is in the air, which means that Halloween is not far behind. I'd like to share our plans and how you can help make this a safe, special day for children.

 

The students love to dress up in a variety of costumes, parade at school and then take to the streets, knocking on doors in search of special treats. On Thursday, October 31, we will have our Halloween parade at 10:45 a.m. on the blacktop. We ask that children not wear masks (they impede vision), bring weapons or wear blood as any part of their costume. Children will be seated in a large oval on the blacktop with their class. Three to four classes will parade at a time so all can see and be seen. We ask that parents stand outside the oval. Please do not wear masks.

 

I want you to understand the school's policy regarding photographs. At any school event, you should only take photos of your own child. No photos of children other than your own may be shared over the internet, either by email or posted on websites. Posting photographs of children other than your own on photo-share sites such as Shutterfly or social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube is not allowed. Some families have specifically asked that their child's photo not be distributed in any way other than in the classroom. It is our legal responsibility to honor this request.   

  

We ask you, too, to please not send candy to school for snack or lunchtime. With your support and cooperation, I'm sure we'll have another safe and colorful Halloween at Las Lomitas.

 

Until next time,
Sue Sartor, Principal

 

Important Information about Attendance

Important Information about Attendance

 

Students are expected to be at school unless they are ill, or if the parent reports that they will miss school due to an unavoidable family matter (funeral/wedding) or medical appointment.

 

Education Code Section 48260 defines a student as truant if he/she has an "unexcused absence of more than 30 minutes on three (3) different days or more." If your child is regularly late to school, or misses school due to travel, he/she will be considered truant. If an absence is not reported to the school on the day of the absence, it is also considered unexcused, even if the child is sick.


Students who have good attendance records consistently do better in school! Please help us keep our student attendance high by taking family vacations during our scheduled holiday breaks.

 

Sue Sartor

Principal
Minimum Day Information

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.   
Music Informances

Music Informances are coming up!

 

Please come watch your child's music informance. This is an opportunity to see what we're working on in music class.

 

Music informances are scheduled for the week of November 18-22 in room 37. Your child's specific time is listed on the music website. Click here and take time to look around the new music website.

 

Tech Tips: Defining the Screen Time
Parent Support and Suggestions: 3 Tips in Defining the Screen Time of iPads

Got iPad? Many parents have shared concerns about their children's amount of screen time at home. This is the first of a monthly support article of tips and tricks you might consider. The first support piece in on...

 

Defining the Screen Time

#1 Set Basic Family Ground Rules

Discuss appropriate and inappropriate times of iPad use. Be consistent. It's hard for kids to understand if you let them use the iPad in restaurants and during dinners (for entertainment), and then take it away for when they are trying to actually do homework. Define the needs of the students, and the best times/places to balance work and "play".  You can make a "family contract" even-check out the CommonSenseMedia.org template! 

#2: Practice Vigilance

Be vigilant and request that homework be completed in a common area of the home.

In the evening, children definitely need their sleep, perhaps it is best that the iPad does not go to bed with your child. Setting up a charging station that is in a common area of the home will help keep the iPad out of the bedroom at night. The iPad may not be needed for all assignments.  Check SchoolLoop on what your child's (6-8th gr) assignments actually are.

#3: Support Self-Discipline

Help your child by teaching him/her how to deal with distractions, through self-discipline. Teach and support focus to achieving results in a timely streamlined manner. If there are too many distractions, discuss what these actually are and work with your child to self-minimize and self-manage these. These may be physical distractions, i.e., is the tv/music running in background. They could also be emotional distractions, i.e. the student is distracted wanting to do other apps that are not part of the current assignment?

 

One option is to change the wireless router password and don't let your children on the network until a set time frame, and turn it off after. Continue to change the password as needed.

Some Great Parent Resources

        Common Sense Media: Advice for Parents in a Digital Media World

        The Online Mom: How to cut down on your kids screen time

        Be Web Smart:  a website built for the analog parent in a digital world

 

If you have any questions, or requests for future topics that would assist parents, please email Suzanne Mitchell, Director of Technology at [email protected]


La Entrada Used Book Fair

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 [email protected] and we can arrange special delivery for you.

 

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 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. 

 

"The More that you Read, The more things you will know, The More that you learn, the more places you'll go!" - Dr. Seuss

Las Lomitas League News

Las Lomitas League  

 

 

BASKETBALL REGISTRATION CLOSES THIS FRIDAY
Wait no longer! Basketball registration closes this Friday, Oct 25 at midnight. Go to the LLL Basketball webpage  and click the green Register Now button. 
We cannot guarantee placement on a team if you register late, so please register by Friday night. This is a very popular winter sport that is open to all students in 3rd through 8th gradePlease mark your calendars with the following dates:

  • Oct 25 (Friday): Basketball registration closes AT MIDNIGHT
  • Oct 30 (Wednesday) at 6:30pm: Basketball Coaches Meeting in the La Entrada library (Fingerprinting for new coaches begins at 5pm.) Required for all coaches and assistant coaches. We 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 2-3 (Sat/Sun): 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 next week. 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. You do not need a lot of experience to coach; we can pair you with a more experienced coach. We also provide a coaching clinic.  Please contact Keri Tully at [email protected] or Sue Bartalo at [email protected] if you are available to coach. 

  

Business Partners

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 16th 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 [email protected] or 650-233-1860. Visit our website.

Community News

 

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 [email protected] for more details.

 

Champions Bring-a-Friend Day!
Champions is hosting a Halloween Carnival on Thursday, October 31, 2013. From 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., currently enrolled students may bring a buddy for a fun-filled afternoon. Join us for face painting, arts and crafts, jumpy house, and more! Space is limited. To sign up, please contact Ruby at (650) 233-1860 or [email protected].
 

SmartFit Kids at Menlo Swim and Sport
Acclaimed for coaching excellence, Menlo Swim and Sport's SmartFit Kids is an after-school homework and tutoring program that provides academic coaching and homework oversight for students from 1st - 5th grades. Open Monday - Thursday, 3:30 - 5:30pm. Visit our website for more details.

3rd Annual Pumpkin Plunge
Join the Menlo Mavericks Swim and Water Polo team on Saturday, October 26, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Belle Haven Pool for a floating pumpkin patch. Admission includes Open Swim and a pumpkin to take home. All ages welcome, fun for the whole family!  

 

Menlowe Ballet Presents Lineage
Menlowe Ballet's Presents Lineage (Fall Seaons 2013) . Performances are Friday and Saturday, November 15 & 16 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, November 17 at 2:00 p.m., at Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center.  For tickets, please visit our website or call (800) 595-4849 

 

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 [email protected] 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! Starting October 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 [email protected] Sarah Carey [email protected]  or Suzanne Mitchell [email protected] 


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

 

Newsletter Submissions

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 ([email protected]) 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;
For past issues, visit the PTA Newsletter archive

Donna Hall
Lion's Roar Editor

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!