From the Principal
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Dear Las Lomitas Families,
Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful vacation and are ready to get back into the school routine.
The Las Lomitas Read-a-Thon starts today! Each student received an information packet today in the Monday envelope. Please read the instructions carefully, set a daily reading time and start soliciting pledges. You can begin reading today even if you have not secured all your sponsorships. If you need extra copies of the materials you can download a packet on the PTA website here. If you have questions, please contact Cheryl Cho-Phan at cchophan@gmail.com. This year we've planned some special activities to keep enthusiasm high. Each Wednesday Mr. Camou and I will give some clues about a book character. Each Friday we will come dressed as that week's book character. It should be a lot of fun! Please support your child, and the school, by reading each day. We may even break our lofty goal of 400,000 minutes!
In December's Roar, I outlined the process to request a session change. If you have questions about that or kindergarten registration, please visit the school website for information. All session requests will now be taken on line - this is true for returning families as well as new registrations for the 2014-15 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact the office if you have questions about the process. On-line registration and session requests will eliminate the need for overnight camping. I'm sure you will be relieved about that!
As we return to school, I want to remind you about arrival times. Supervision for first session students begins at 8:30 a.m. Students should not arrive before 8:30 a.m. unless you are here for a meeting or there are unique circumstances. Supervision for second session students begins at 10:15 a.m. Again, you should not arrive early unless there are unique circumstances. If you do arrive early, students must wait quietly with a parent in the flag pole area until the bell rings. Classes are in session; please do not disturb. No students are to be dropped off at the flagpole before 10:15 a.m. without an adult to supervise.
Thank you for your cooperation to help us keep students safe and school environment conducive for learning.
Until next time,
Sue Sartor
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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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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 8½ 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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Ready, Set, Read!!
The 2014 Las Lomitas Read-A-Thon kicks off today! This is a voluntary 4-week school-wide program that is the PTA's greatest source of funding. It is aimed at encouraging a passion for reading. Each student will receive a brochure in his/her Monday Envelope today. Please read the instructions carefully, set a Daily Reading Goal and start soliciting pledges. Remember that all reading outside of school counts for the Read-A-Thon, including reading aloud to your child, daily required reading, and audiobooks. Participation from all grades makes a huge difference.
Please see a listing of Read-A-Thon activities described in the brochure. New this year is Wednesday Morning Storytime happening each week before school! This Wednesday come join our Special Guest Readers, Ms. Hedges (PE) and Ms. Leong (English Language Development Specialist), in the library from 8:35 a.m. - 8:55 a.m.!
Back by popular demand this year is our Popcorn Kernel Banner outside Cano Hall! It has running tallies of each grades' progress based on minutes reported by you on line each week. Also, the name of each student who has reached Milestone Minutes of 500, 1,000, and 1,500 minutes will be posted on popcorn kernels placed onto the banner! So log in minutes each week online so your child will earn his/her kernels! In addition, all kindergarteners will receive bookmark timers with the Las Lomitas logo in their Monday Envelope.
Extra copies of the brochure are available in the office. Let's Read!
Questions? Please contact:
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liLas Lomitas Education Foundation
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When 80% of our District Families have made a gift of any amount to the Foundation, we will receive an additional $80,000 Challenge Grant Donation for our schools.
Every donation counts! Don't delay - start the New Year by making a gift to the LLEF Annual Giving Campaign and know that your donation makes an extra difference by enabling us to earn these critical additional funds.
Welcome back to school!
Our New Years Resolution is to meet our Challenge Grant! Please help us earn $80,000 at 80% participation. Let's see which grade will be the first one to reach 80%
8th grade 45%
7th grade 43%
6th grade 46%
5th grade 57%
4th grade 45%
3rd grade 59%
2nd grade 59%
1st grade 60%
Kindergarten 56%
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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Registration for Winter/ Spring 2014 LLL before/after-school classes is opening tomorrow - January 7th at 7 PM! Hurry register your child for a LLL class before registration closes January 17th.
For schedule of the classes and to register online, please visit our website.
For more information, please refer to our FAQ
(Note: Please note that once registration closes, we do not accept late registrations. And parents who have registered on a wait list will only receive an email IF a space becomes available - we appreciate your understanding that admittance is not guaranteed.)
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From Technology Services
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Dear Parents,
Here are some New Year's suggestions on ways to keep your children safe (and the family sane) in their world of internet-based devices. Here are a few security level tips and some simple parenting techniques worth exploring....
- Setting the software restrictions on personal devices (see #1 below for iPad settings).note: the district iPads have controls on them.
- Setting hardware restrictions on your internet routers. Most routers come with the ability to schedule when the Internet is accessible. In many cases you can also add access policies by device e.g. kid's computer vs. parents' computer.
- Agreeing and setting the physical location of acceptable use and the amount of time allowed on devices.
- Having conversations about the rapidly changing cyber world, sharing and understanding their use of the device, and having discussions of Internet Safety simply be commonplace.
Here's some great resources addressing much of the above.
- How to Enable iPad Parental Controls: About.com
This is a great visual guide to how to best manage your children's personal iPads. The ones owned by the district already have installed restrictions. - A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Topics and information such as "What Are Signs That Your Child Might Be At Risk On-line?" - Internet Safety: Safely Navigating Uncharted Waters
This video is designed for kids aged 9-16. It goes over the basics of how kids can keep themselves safe on Facebook, protect their reputation, and how to respond to cyberbullying.
Download Video Presentation (1.9 MB) (25min)
Internet Safety Organizations
Common Sense Media
NetSmartz
SafeKids.com
My Secure Cyberspace
Enough is Enough
WiredSafety
GetNetWise
Web Wise Kids
Net Family News
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Internet Industry Association
Happy New Year to all!
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La Entrada News
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Amici's Day to Benefit 8th Grade DC Trip
Amici's is hosting a fundraising event to benefit the 8th Grade Washington DC trip, next Monday, January 13th from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Spread the word and invite all your friends and family to take a night off from the kitchen! Amici's will donate 25% of your total food and beverage bill to the La Entrada 8th Grade Washington DC trip - dine in or take out. It's so easy!
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Stanford Studies Seek Participants
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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.
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CHILDREN WITH ASPERGERS OR HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM NEEDED FOR STANFORD STUDIES: Do you have a child age 7-12 with high functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome who would like to participate in a Stanford brain study about how the brain processes auditory or mathematical information?
The Stanford Brain Development Project is also seeking typically developing children within the age range of 7-12 for these studies. Participants must be right-handed, verbal, without braces, and able to complete several testing sessions and an MRI.
Visit our website or more information and to fill out a participation form, email braindevelopment@stanford.edu or call Leslie at 650-736-0128.
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STANFORD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT STUDY - Brain Imaging Research on Learning in Children
Do you have a child who likes to play puzzles, math games, or memory games? If so, join the Stanford Brain Development Project, and help us understand how children learn information!
We are seeking children who are right handed, ages 7-12, without a learning or attention disability, and without braces.
Visit our website for more information and to fill out a participation form, email braindevelopment@stanford.edu, or call Leslie at 650-736-0128.
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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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The Lifetree Cafe, located at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud, is offering several programs in January. Wednesday, January 8, 7 p.m. and Thursday, January 9, 9:15 a.m. hints and strategies for healthy eating will be discussed. The mysteries and meaning of mental illness will be explored on Wednesday, January 15, 7 p.m. and Thursday, January 16 at 9:15 a.m. Coping with the demands of caregiving will be shared on Wednesday, January 22, 7 p.m. and Thursday, January 23 at 9:15 a.m. For more information, please visit the website. Register by January 24 and join us for Parents' Night Out on February 1st. Children ages 1-10 will have a fun-filled night, including dinner, with caring babysitters. On-line registration can be found here.
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 1/6/14. 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.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON SCHOOL-AGE STORYTELLING resumes January 9th.
Join the Menlo Park Library's resident tale-spinner, Storyteller John Weaver, for our Thursday Afternoon School-Age Storytelling series! It is something cool after school! No, not a story time; story telling. School-agers & adults alike will love these captivating, hilarious tales-all told without a book. Resuming January 9th, every Thursday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
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. 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 
