The Lion's Roar  

The Las Lomitas PTA Newsletter  
                                                                         Week of October 28, 2013    
In This Issue
Yes on S 2013
PTA News
From the Principal
Las Lomitas Education Foundation
School News
LE Used Book Fair
Las Lomitas League News
Business Partners
Community News
Newsletter Submissions
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links

 Calendar

 

 

This Week:

  • Las Lomitas Book Fair - Oct. 28 to Nov. 2
  • Oct 30 (Wed)  LLL Mandatory Basketball Coaches Meeting (6:30 p.m.)   
  • Oct 31 (Thur) - Halloween Parade - 10:45 a.m.  
  • Nov 2 (Sat) Fingerprinting for new basketball coaches (11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) 
  • Nov 2 (Sat) and Nov 3 (Sun) Basketball Evaluation Days (see schedule in article below)   

Next Week:

  • Nov 4-Nov 13  Warm Coat Drive sponsored by Daisy Troop 62345 (see article below) 
  • Nov 6 (Wed) Student Make-up Picture Day
  • Nov 6 (Wed) Evening with the Principal- Lib. 6:30 p.m. 

 

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.
  • Nov 13 (Wed) PTA Bd. Mtg 9:00 a.m.  
  • Nov 13 (Wed) School Bd. Mtg. D.O. 7:00 pm  
  • Nov 27 - 29  (Wed-Fri) Thanksgiving Holiday 

 

             

 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 Families,

Please Vote! We hope we can count on your support for Yes on S. Our polling shows that 71% of all voters are in support of the measure and 85% of LLESD parents are in support! Please send in your absentee ballot as soon as possible or visit your polling location next Tuesday, November 5th. 

Please Volunteer! We need phone bank volunteers (these last few days are critical) and neighborhood canvas volunteers (walk your neighborhood and speak with neighbors about the importance of Yes on S)! Please sign up with a friend to volunteer for our phone bank or to canvas a neighborhood.  

Pick Up a Yard Sign! We have extra signs available. Please swing by either home to pick one up for your yard:

Across from Las Lomitas -  2061 Camino Al Lago
Down the street from La Entrada -  2131 Sharon Road
 
The most important thing you can do is VOTE!
 
Thank you for all of your ongoing support!
 

PTA News

LAS LOMITAS BOOK FAIR STARTS TODAY! 
                                         
The Las Lomitas Book Fair starts today!  It is open from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for working parents.
On Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30, the Las Lomitas Book Fair Committee will welcome teachers and students to the Book Fair preview.  This will be an exciting visit:  The walls will be decorated, and our rich supply of new books from Hicklebee's will be displayed.  This is the time when Las Lomitas teachers create "Teacher Wish Lists" for their classroom libraries.  Reading is essential to success in our society.  Although classroom libraries come in all shapes and sizes, teachers agree that having access to books makes it easier for our students to become independent and proficient readers, especially if the books are right in the classroom.   Please help our teachers create a population of kids who can (and want to) read well --  Ask one of our volunteers to point out your teacher's "Wish List."   Together, by donating one book at a time, we can fill their classroom shelves with a rich and varied selection of books.
Wednesday, October 30, is also Family Night.  Be sure to stop by and hear Sue Sartor and Alain Camou read bed time stories to the kids at 6:00 p.m.! 
  
BOOK FAIR CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Please visit the PTA website for complete details
Book Fair Hours:
Monday, October 28                  2:00 - 4:00 p.m., 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. (Working Parents Night)
Tuesday, October 29                 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 30            8:30 - 10:15 a.m., 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  (Family Night)
Thursday, October 31                8:30 - 10:15 a.m., (closed for Halloween Parade
  11:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday, November 1                   8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 2               8:30 - 2:30 p.m. (Last Day)


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boxtops
Box tops for education  
  
This is the last week to submit box tops for education before the drawing! Please submit your box tops to the office in a small plastic bag with your child's name  on it for a chance to win a prize by October 31st.   If you miss the deadline, don't worry. We will have another drawing in April!


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    applelogo

  

 
The Apple for the Classroom program is a way for parents to support their children's teachers 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,

 

Las Lomitas has a legacy of exemplary programs in the arts. Music, visual arts and dance instruction have been part of the school curriculum for many years. Our district is committed to providing students a rich arts program from the day they enter school.

 

Our teachers bring a variety of depth and experience teaching the visual arts elements of line, color, shape/form, texture, value and space. They each provide students with multiple experiences to develop artistic expression, creative expression, historical and cultural understanding and authentic valuing.


For the past several years, we've been fortunate to have a way to provide ongoing staff development for teachers while enriching the visual arts program for students through the Artist-in-Residence program. Returning for her fourth year as our "Artist-in-Residence, Donine Ettinger provides lessons to enhance the classroom arts program. She schedules lessons with the teachers in drawing, painting, printmaking and clay sculpture. Lessons include experiences in screen printing, intaglio printing, relief printing, still life, and self-portraits. Clay lessons focus on pinch pots, plaques, picture frames, animals and glazing.


Donine is an experienced educator and professional artist. She meets with teachers prior to each session to plan the lesson. Teachers select lessons that best fit their students' needs and allow them to learn new strategies and techniques to incorporate into their classroom program. It is an ideal arrangement -students learn while teachers learn! The Artist-in-Residence program enhances the core art program at Las Lomitas and provides training for future years.

 

Kindergarten teacher, Katie Gordon, had a beautiful baby girl on Tuesday, October 22nd. Mother and baby are doing just fine. While Mrs. Gordon is on leave, former Las Lomitas teacher, Tami Chamness, is taking her place. Tami taught third grade for several years prior to taking leave to raise her own family. We are thrilled to have Tami back with us at Las Lomitas this fall. 

Until next time,

Sue Sartor

Principal

 

liLas Lomitas Education Foundation
  foundation logo

 

WHAT A WEEK!

Giving Week was an enormous success.v  vOur participation number climbed from 23% to an amazing 40%. A HUGE Thank you to all who donated last week and have already donated.



Don't miss the bus!

 Donate today - Click here 

 

 

Donate by October 31st and be entered into a raffle for your child to win ice cream with their teacher.

  

For more information please see our Community Report online here 

  

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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]  

 

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Space is still available for the following Foundation events:

  • Ladies' TGIF Hike and Lunch at Alice's November 1st
  • 4th Annual Gentlemen's Hold'em Tournament Party November 2nd
  • Mother Son Bowling November 16th

Click here to register.

  Excellence is built one donation at a time

                 LLEF Our Children Our Schools Our Community 
School News

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.
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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.


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The school office would GREATLY appreciate your donation of small - medium sized sweat pants.  We really need them for those occasional "accidents" .  Thank you so much!

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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.

 

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Warm Coat Drive

Have the kids outgrown last year's coats? Got an extra coat or two in your closet? Daisy Troop 62345 is collecting warm coats to give to the families at the Haven Family House from Mon, Nov 4 thru Fri, Nov 15. Look for a collection bin by the flagpole. Troop members will be out there in the mornings to help make dropping off coats easier! Thank you in advance for helping keep our friends at Haven Family House warm this winter.
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.  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 SEASON IS APPROACHING 

Registration has closed. Player evaluations and team formation will begin this weekend. It will take about a week to finalize teams so we hope to announce teams by Friday, Nov 8.  Practices will begin in mid-November and games begin the week of Dec. 9.  Information about evaluations and game days are listed below:
  • Oct 30 (Wednesday) at 6:30 p.m.: Basketball Coaches Meeting in the La Entrada library. Required for all coaches and assistant coaches. We choose practice times and review rules, expectations, evaluations, etc. Practice times are selected based on coaches' availability and a lottery system.
  • Nov 2 (Sat), 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Fingerprinting for new coaches in the Fitness Lab in the La Entrada gym.
  • Nov 2-3 (Sat/Sun): Basketball Evaluation Days Evaluations are held in order to create fair and balanced teams. All evaluations will occur at La Entrada. 3rd-6th grade players: please check the schedule below for your division's assigned day and time.  
    7th and 8th graders will not have evaluations. 
    If your child has a conflict and will be absent from their evaluation, please notify Sue Bartalo at [email protected] so we are sure to place him/her on a team.

 

 

Game Days are assigned as follows:   

 

 

  
Please check the LLL Basketball webpage for other information. Contact Keri Tully at [email protected] or Sue Bartalo at [email protected] if you have any questions.  
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

 

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].

Studio Rincon Youth Dance and Yoga Classes on Alameda in Menlo Park. Now taking signups for the next session of Youth Dance and yoga classes.  The next session begins the week of 11/4. Signup here.  Preballet, ballet, hip hop, yoga- all in a fun and positive atmosphere after school.  Classes for ages 3-Teen.  View the youth schedule here

Menlo Mavericks Swim and Water Polo Team
Now accepting new members for this year-round Menlo Park swim and water polo team! USA Swimming certified swim team for youth age 5-18, plus Water Polo for boys and girls, 14 and under. Practices at Burgess and Belle Haven Pools.  More information available here.

Emotion Regulation Research at Stanford. Participants with Autism, ADD/ADHD and Controls Needed.

We are currently conducting a research study at Stanford University on emotion regulation and reactivity among children with and without an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) compared to children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and typically developing participants. We are recruiting children with ASD, ADD/ADHD and typically developing children (ie., children without a diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, Asperger's, ASD, or any other psychiatric illness) between the ages of 8 and 22. The study consists of up to 4 sessions and participants will be reimbursed $30 for each session and an additional $30 if the online components (questionnaires and a daily emotion journal) are completed. The total potential cash reimbursement is up to $160. US Citizens only (must have social security number to receive payment). Please contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in having your child participate.

 

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. 

 

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 

 

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!  

  

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! 


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!