From the Principal
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Dear Las Lomitas Families,
One year ago, on December 14, we were horrified to learn of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Last January I wrote to you about the steps that school and district staff were implementing to insure your child's safety at school. I'd like to provide you with an update of the process and changes that have occurred since December 2012.
Our first response was to meet with the faculty and staff to discuss where we were most vulnerable and make immediate changes. I also held a parent meeting to hear your concerns and recommendations. After those discussions, we implemented several changes, and continue to use good practices that were already in place.
On our campus, we've tightened security by requiring identification badges for both visitors and staff. We've added staffing at the flagpole during dismissal, and restrict parents entering the area on Wednesdays and minimum days when it is most congested. Staff wears bright orange vests to be visible should someone need help and to direct traffic. All doors remain locked at all times on campus. They are "propped" open with magnets that can be easily removed should we need
to lock-down. This may save valuable minutes that may otherwise be spent searching for keys to lock the doors. We have held shelter-in-place and reversed evacuation drills in addition to our usual fire and earthquake drills. These drills will continue over the course of the year.
District-wide, we've established a Crisis Team for first response in any emergency. Superintendent Cesario and other district staff are on call to assist us, and we are trained to assist La Entrada in a crisis. We've implemented our emergency broadcast system, Global Connect, to notify parents and staff immediately when needed. I've run two tests of this system so far this year and will continue to send test messages throughout the year. Please be sure your contact information is
current. You can update using InfoSnap at any time.
Assistant Principal, Alain Camou and other district administrators attend regular meetings of the Community Trust. The Community Trust includes Las Lomitas, Menlo Park School District, Menlo-Atherton High, Menlo Park Police, Atherton Police, community officials and County Health Services representatives. The Trust's goal is to share safety practices and think through potential scenarios. Community organizations often provide presentations on safety or available services at
these meetings.
In January we will have a district-wide faculty meeting focused on safety. Officers from Atherton and Menlo Park Police will be there to lead discussions about our particular site needs and answer teachers' questions. After this meeting, we will continue to review our practices to determine areas for improvement. I welcome your suggestions at any time.
As you can see, much has been accomplished. I am confident that your children are safe and that our staff is trained to respond in emergency situations. I am thankful to be part of a school district community that is focused on student safety and provides us the resources we need to be prepared.
I hope you have a restful, safe winter break and look forward to seeing you back in the New Year.
Until next time,
Sue Sartor, Principal
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| PTA News | |
Nominating for 2013-2014 PTA Board
The executive board of the PTA has approved a Nominating Committee to begin filling the slate for next year's board positions. The Nominating Committee members include:
Lori Brockman lori.a.brockman@gmail.com
Krista Hoffman kristamariehoffman@gmail.com
Julie Herlihy julie_herlihy@yahoo.com
Julie Clugage clugage@pacbell.net
If you are interested in taking an active role on next year's PTA board please contact any member of the Nominating Committee.
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 Thank you! A huge thank you to all the families who participated in the Thanksgiving campaign to fund meals for kids in need. So far, we were able to collect about $3,500. We will keep the link for donations active on the PTA site for those who did not have a chance to participate or would like to make additional contributions. We hope to meet our goal by the end of holiday season.
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Are you searching for the perfect holiday gift for your child's teacher?
The Apple for the Classroom program provides a way for parents to support their childrens' classrooms 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. You can fulfill teachers' wishes by bringing an item to the school office or by donating via PayPal toward a special item of your choosing. Thank you for supporting our teachers!
Please click here to donate, or go to visit our website.
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MEMORY BOOK COVER CONTEST
Submit your Artwork by Wednesday, January 22nd. All contest entries will be 
included on the back cover of the Memory Book!!
The Memory Book team would like to invite all Las Lomitas students to submit artwork for the cover design of this year's Memory Book. We can't wait to see your creativity! Please only one submission per student.
Contest rules:
- Use crayons, watercolors, or colored pencils.
- Use watercolor paper or another type of paper with texture, if possible.
- Use 8˝ by 11 inch sized paper. (Slightly larger is OK.)
- Drawing should be in "portrait" format, meaning it should be taller than it is wide.
- Be colorful! Don't leave the background blank or white.
- Include the "Las Lomitas" school name and make it stand out.
- Include the school year "2013-2014" as part of the drawing.
- Include the Las Lomitas Lion as part of the drawing.
- Artwork should be "friendly" (no battles or weapons, please).
- The edges may be trimmed slightly, so don't put anything important close to the edges.
- Be sure to write the artist's name, room number, and teacher's name on the back of the drawing. Use a pencil for the name and write lightly so the writing doesn't show through the artwork on the front side. Do not use Post-it Notes as they can fall off and become lost.
- Please see Memory Books from prior years in the Las Lomitas library if you need ideas for your cover art.
Entries should be placed in the Memory Book bin in the Las Lomitas office no later than Wednesday, January 22nd. And remember, all contest entries will be included on the back cover of the Memory Book. They will also be displayed at the Student Art Exhibition during Open House. Artwork will then be returned when yearbooks are distributed in early June.
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 We are excited to announce the annual Las Lomitas PTA Read-A-Thon to help raise money for our PTA-sponsored programs! The Read-A-Thon will run from January 6 - February 2 commencing immediately upon our return from Winter Break. A brochure with all the necessary information will be sent home in the Monday envelope on January 6th. However, if you would like to get started with collecting pledges over the holidays, you can visit our website and view the electronic version of the Read-A-Thon brochure. Questions? Please contact: 2014 Read-A-Thon Chair |
liLas Lomitas Education Foundation
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Excellence is built one donation at a time
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Registration Information for 2014-2015
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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for 2014 - 2015 INFORMATION
Kindergarten registration for children who will turn age five on or before September 1, 2014 opens on Monday, January 6, 2014. There are three (3) steps to the registration process.
Step #1
To begin the registration process, bring the following to the school office:
- ORIGINAL birth certificate or passport
- Your child's immunization records to date
- Proof of residency in the form of two ORIGINAL utility bills (i.e. power, water) or one ORIGINAL utility bill and lease agreement or mortgage paper
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Step #2
Upon receipt of the items listed above, you will be given access to InfoSnap, our on-line registration system, where you will continue the registration process.
Step #3
Upon completion of the on-line registration, you MUST bring a hard copy of these forms to the school office to FINALIZE registration. Your child will not be registered at Las Lomitas until we receive your on-line registration papers.
Note: Las Lomitas School District does not offer Transitional Kindergarten.
Session Information for Kindergarten
There are two sessions for Kindergarten. First session Kindergarten is from 9:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and second session is from 10:15 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. Due to transportation schedules, KINDERGARTEN families in the Ladera area are placed in the FIRST session unless their request for another session is granted. KINDERGARTEN families in the Woodside area are placed in the SECOND session unless their request for another session is granted. Families from Ladera or Woodside who are placed in another session upon their request are responsible for transportation from school to home.
Requesting First Session
If your kindergartner is not automatically placed in first session as listed above, you must request placement in first session. To request first session you must:
- Have ALL registration information, including the on-line registration form, on file in the school office by January 31, 2014.
- Email or deliver a written request for first session to the Principal at ssartor@llesd.org beginning at 10:00 p.m., February 1, 2014. No requests will be accepted before this date.
All requests will be placed on a wait list according to the date and time the email or letter is received. Requests will be cross-checked to ensure your registration information was complete by January 31, 2014.
School Tours
Tours of the school for parents of incoming Kindergarten students will be offered on the dates listed below. These tours are for adults only (no infants in strollers, please). In order to minimize distractions to the academic program, spaces are limited to 16 per tour and one tour per family. Please call the school office at 650-854-5900 x0 to reserve a tour.
Kindergarten tours are 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. on:
- Friday, December 6, 2013
- Thursday, December 12, 2013
- Wednesday, December 18, 2013
- Monday, January 13, 2014
- Friday, January 24, 2014
- Friday, January 31, 2014
- Thursday, February 13, 2014
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Next Year Session Requests - Returning Families ONLY
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Session Requests for 2014-2015 ~ RETURNING FAMILIES ONLY If you have a current kindergarten or first grade student and wish to move to first session next year, you must put that request in writing to Mrs.Sartor. She will begin taking requests by letter or email starting at 10:00 p.m., January 1, 2014. You may email her at ssartor@llesd.org. No requests will be honored prior to this date and time. Your requests will be placed on a wait list in order received. New family requests are not accepted until February 1, 2014, allowing our returning families to have priority on the wait list. If you are on this year's wait list, you must make a new request for next year. We do not "roll over" the list from year to year. Please call Mrs.Sartor if you have any questions about the session request process. |
School News
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From the Health Office: Parents: A reminder to check your children for any signs of head lice before they return to school after the winter break. Early detection of lice infestations through routine screening  by caregivers at home has been found to be the most effective way to reduce outbreaks. Please contact the Las Lomitas health office with any questions you may have about lice prevention, detection or treatment and the nurse can assist you. For more information about head lice, please see " A Parent's Guide to Head Lice " published by the California Department of Public Health
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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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Las Lomitas League
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The Winter/Spring 2014 LLL before/after-school class schedule is up on our website so parents can start planning.
Registration for LLL Winter/Spring 2014 classes opens at 7:00 p.m. on January 7, 2104 -- so remember to put this date down in your calendar.
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La Entrada News
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Amici's Fundraising Day/Night
Monday, January 13th from 11:00 am. - 10:00 p.m - Save the date!
Amici's has generously offered to host a fundraising event to benefit the 8th Grade Washington DC trip. Please help spread the word and invite all your friends and family to take a night off from the kitchen and eat at Amici's! (Take-out orders are okay, but deliveries are not included.) Just bring the attached flyer to Amici's, and they will donate 25% of your total food and beverage bill to the La Entrada 8th Grade Washington DC trip! It's so easy and yummy, and great for everyone!
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Business Partners
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Nice Lice Advice - 75% of the mothers who bring their children into Honeycombers also have lice. My four daughters had lice twice, but I never got them, even though the girls were sleeping with me from time to time and we snuggled at bedtime. We've asked our customers and it seems like the most likely culprit in those cases where the mom gets lice is sharing combs or brushes. It seems so easy to just grab your brush from your purse and run it through your little one's head... but try to resist the urge. Keep your brush, comb and hair accessories high up out of children's reach, and invest in a brush for each child. Even if lice does come into your life, hopefully it will skip you. Brought to you by Honeycombers Lice Advice & Treatment Salon in downtown Menlo Park. Come by to purchase all-natural lice prevention and treatment products to treat your children for lice yourself at home. Or call 1.888.863.2005 to book an appointment to have your children checked, and if needed, treated for lice by our friendly Combers. We offer appointments 7 days a week in our bright, clean salon or in the privacy of your own home. 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, Before and After School Programs. Our center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Contact Ruby at 650-233-1860 to schedule a visit or get information about which program best meets your family's needs. Visit our website.
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Community News
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Autism researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine are recruiting twins for an investigation of the role of genetics in shaping the autistic brain. The team is seeking same-sex twin pairs aged 3 to 14. Study subjects can be identical or non-identical twins. In addition to a non-invasive MRI scan, all subjects will also receive standard cognitive and IQ assessments, as well as a battery of diagnostic tests for autism. To obtain more information or volunteer for the trial, contact the study coordinator, Sue Cleveland, at (650) 723-7809 or cleve@stanford.edu.
Dangerous Food Explored at Lifetree Café Menlo Park
Hints and strategies for healthy eating will be discussed at Lifetree Café Menlo Park on
Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 PM, and again on Thursday, January 9 at 9:15 a.m. The Lifetree Cafe is located at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud.
The Menlo-Atherton Grizzlies Lacrosse Club will be fielding teams for the Spring 2014 Season Boys & Girls ages 5 - 15 are welcome. We have openings on Girls and Boys Under 9 teams and wait lists at other levels. Registration is open now. Looking for player & coaches!! See our website for more information or email MenloAthertonLacrosse@Gmail.com
Jeannie Goldman, instructor for Creative Art for Young Children, is offering winter classes for children 3 yrs. to 5th grade, January 8 - April 5 at the Portola Valley Town Center. The Winter session begins with white animals, snowy backgrounds and snowflakes! For more info, go to their website or call Cindy, 851-1700 ext. 200, to register. Jeff Arons' Spring Tennis Program begins February 1st at Sacred Heart. The programs are for adults and juniors. For more information, please go to our website or email jeffaronstennis@gmail.com. "Spirit of Uganda", Friday, January 17, 7:00 p.m.Bring the whole family to the 'Spirit of Uganda', an amazing performance on Friday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. at Carrington Hall at Sequoia High School in Redwood City. Come see this talented and inspiring group of children from Africa (age 11-18) perform riveting dancing, drumming, and singing from East Africa. This performance is organized by and benefits Empower African Children, a 501(c)3 non-profit, dedicated to creating transformative and globally connected learning experiences, preparing orphaned and vulnerable children for a lifetime of influence. "Invigorating the stage with that elusive thing called joy." - The New York Times. Purchase your tickets on-line now before they sell out. This is the only local performance as part of their 4 month tour of the United States. Questions? Please email spiritofuganda2014bayarea@gmail.com. Click here for a short video. Winter Break Sports Camps: Dec. 30 & 31, Jan. 2 & 3 Basketball - ages 5-11 - 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. - $255 Baseball - ages 5-11 - noon - 2:30 p.m. - $255 These fun classes are exciting, non-competitive introductions for boys and girls. Children will learn fundamental skills and basic rules while having a great time. Call Coach Tim to register 996-3308, Menlo Park Rec 330-2222, or Tbowler@sbcglobal.net. COACHES NEEDED (must be at least 18 years old) for after school flag football, soccer, baseball and basketball. Call Tim Bowler 996-3308 or Tbowler@sbcglobal.net. Camp Menlo Holiday CampsRegister now for one-day December day camps at Burgess Pool for kids age 5-9! Each day includes a 45 minute swim lesson and out of the pool, campers enjoy various group games and activities that encourage self confidence, growth, teamwork, and fun! 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 TeamNow 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. |
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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 
