It felt good to be back on campus with the children after our winter break. We hit the ground running with our Read-A-Thon! I encourage you to support your child in this endeavor. The Read-A-Thon was created to provide a way to generate funds for the school, yet support our mission and vision. Instead of selling pizza coupons, students are reading books and listening to books being read to them. As a primary school, literacy is the foundation for all learning. Over the past several years, we've seen students gain significantly in their reading skills during the Read-a-Thon. As you know, the more you read, the better you get! Be sure to enter the minutes your child reads each week. It's exciting to see the graph grow on the banner by Cano Hall!

The Read-A-Thon not only supports literacy, but it is an opportunity for the whole school to participate in a common goal. This builds community. Community is a term that is hard to define. Wikipedia states, "The word community is derived from the Old French communité which is derived from the Latin communitas (cum, "with/together" +munus, "gift"), a broad term for fellowship or organized society." The Read-A-Thon provides us with the opportunity to be "together", which is definitely a "gift." Thank you to all the dedicated parents who support our effort to create a community that is focused on the children. Together we can help them grow and learn to be contributing members of the Las Lomitas community.

Communities function effectively when there is clear communication.  As in any community, there will be misunderstandings or disagreements. Open communication between the parties involved will quickly solve most problems. This week I'd like to share our school's practices regarding communication. In the School Handbook (on our website) our process is described. As a general rule, always start with the classroom teacher when you have questions about your child, curriculum, assignments, homework or classroom programs. The teacher may recommend that you talk with Kathy Ruwe, counselor, if you have concerns about your child's relationship with peers or a family crisis.

If you still have questions, please contact me. Together, you, the teacher and I can work to come to an appropriate resolution. The Harvard Family Research Project website states that "parents and teachers consider communication the number one factor to increase trust. When teachers and parents are on the "same page" they can engage in more individual and concrete discussion around student progress and develop realistic goals and plans of action that are linked to student achievement (Drake 2000; James, Jurich & Estes, 2001)."

Another opportunity to communicate with one another is at the "Mornings/Evenings with the Principal" sessions. The next session is scheduled for February 26^th in Cano Hall following the PTA's General Meeting. There is always a selected topic for discussion, but these gatherings are also an opportunity for you to get your questions answered. I look forward to seeing you. 

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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 opened 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:

1. Have ALL registration information, including the on-line registration form, on file in the school office by January 31, 2014.
2. 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

If you have a current kindergarten or first grade student and wish to move to first session

Alpine Little League: Registration is open for the Spring Alpine/West Menlo Little League season.  Boys and girls between 5 and 12 years old can register for Alpine Little League baseball.  Tryouts will be held Jan 19 and Jan. 26.  Registration can be completed online here. 

The Lifetree Cafe, located at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud, is offering several programs in January.   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.

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.

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.