Dear Las Lomitas Families,

This week I'd like to introduce you to our new faculty members:

• Megan Meyer is teaching 3rd grade. Megan previously taught K and 1st grades in Santa Clara. She worked on various district-wide initiatives in Santa Clara, including implementation of the reading/writing workshop and MARS tasks. She holds an administrative credential so she has several years of experience running summer school programs. Megan's family is in Redwood City, so she is pleased to be able to teach so close to her family and friends.
• Heather Hower is also teaching 3rd grade. Heather previously taught 5th grade in San Bruno Park School District as a Master Teacher in a Lab School Partnership with Notre Dame de Namur University. In addition to teaching her class, she mentored new teachers and modeled best practices. Heather is excited to be working with younger students here at Las Lomitas.
• Allison O'Brien is working with the Kindergarten teachers in Movement Exploration and K-3 yard supervision. Allison has two children in the district, so she's familiar with the campus. Many of you may have met her through PTA activities. Allison is a physical education enthusiast and credentialed teacher. We are happy she decided to start working outside of the home again!

Please welcome these talented educators to Las Lomitas and be sure to introduce yourself if you see them on campus.

We've made communication a priority for this school year. There are many ways parents can stay informed on school and classroom events. Teachers send home newsletters on a regular basis in the Monday Envelope, by email or posted on their webpage. Our school webpage has school-wide information. The Lion's Roar is sent home weekly and is the best resource for you to know about upcoming events at school. Please take time to read it each week! Superintendent Cesario also plans to send regular communications to all district families. We encourage you to access these information resources on a regular basis. There is a lot going on at Las Lomitas!

Finally, I'd like to put out an all call for parent volunteers to help with our Green Team composting program. 95% of all our compost is generated by the Hot Food program. The good news is that Choice Lunch containers are compostable. Recology, our waste hauler, requires that we carefully separate trash from compost. To do this we need extra hands during lunchtime. The Hot Food program is provided by the PTA as a convenience to families. Please contact Shirley Chiu at shirley.chiu8888@gmail.com to volunteer for composting or Heather Caelius at hcaelius@gmail.com to volunteer to serve lunches. Please help us by volunteering to serve and compost so we can keep these programs going!

Until next time,

Sue Sartor

Principal

ATTENTION SECOND SESSION PARENTS

We need your help to ensure a quiet learning environment for all students. Second session does not begin until 10:15 when morning recess begins. Please do not arrive on campus or drop your student off prior to 10:15. There is no supervision for students between 9:00 and 10:15.

Early arrival at the flagpole is noisy and disruptive to classes in session. We appreciate your cooperation to make Las Lomitas a place where safety and learning come first.

Dear Las Lomitas Families,

First, I would like to take the time to personally welcome you all back to the 2014-15 school year. Hopefully by now you have had the opportunity to review the attached Las Lomitas Behavior Matrix with your child(ren). I wanted to take some time to familiarize you with the matrix and provide information on how and why it was developed. Please click here to link to the Behavior Matrix.

Las Lomitas has three rules:

1. Be responsible
2. Be safe
3. Be respectful

The rules are simple and few in number by design, but the meaning of these rules for Kinder-Third Graders can be ambiguous. The fact that these three rules overlap each other makes it even more difficult to differentiate what they mean and, more importantly for our students, what they look like in different situations. The matrix is not an end all be all in regards to behavior at Las Lomitas. To create one that encompasses all areas of the school and includes all examples of expected behavior would be a daunting task and one that would not neatly fit on a wall let alone a sheet of paper. It is however designed to be a springboard for conversation about expected behavior at Las Lomitas and a living document that can be added to as situations arise.

The matrix was developed after the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) created by the US Department of Education. The key word here is POSITIVE, which is why the expectations are stated as what to do as opposed to what not to do. In a nutshell, PBIS is a "decision making framework that guides selection, integration, and implementation of the best evidence-based academic and behavioral practices for improving important academic and behavior outcomes for all students." (www.pbis.org) I invite you to click on the link to get more information if you are interested. The matrix is just one part of the system and an important bond between  communicating behavior expectations, concerns and celebrations between school and home.

If you haven't already, then please take some time to review the matrix with your child(ren). During the first week of school, a behavior assembly was held for students in grades 1-3 where the matrix and school rules were discussed. Mrs. Sartor and I also visited individual Kindergarten classrooms to share with them the matrix and rules, as well as our "microwave." The teachers have also discussed the matrix with their students to emphasize expected behavior at Las Lomitas. I encourage you to continue the conversation at home and to create a column for HOME. What does it look like to be Responsible, Safe and Respectful at home? Remember to phrase the expectations in positive language to describe what they should do and not what they shouldn't do. In a world of "NO" we need to remember to tell our kids what they can do. Think about parking in San Francisco and how sometimes it would be easier if the city would tell you when you could park.  

To a great year,

Alain Camou

Assistant Principal

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please share this information with others who will bring or pick up your child from school. We appreciate everyone's courtesy and patience in the parking area, on Camino al Lago and surrounding streets at arrival and dismissal times.

Sue Sartor, Principal

AT ALL TIMES

• PLEASE BE PATIENT and RESPECTFUL; everyone is working hard to get students in and out of school safely.

• TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE!

• PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY and PAY ATTENTION, even on neighboring streets. Our students are young and not easily seen.

• PARK IN DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES; please honor the no parkingsigns and only use the handicapped parking spaces if you have a placard. Do not block neighbors' driveways - please model courteous behavior.  Do not park in staff spaces before 9:00 a.m.

• LEAVE PETS AT HOME. Even the cutest puppy can cause more congestion and possible frighten a student.

• WRITTEN PERMISSION IS REQUIRED FOR A CHANGE IN DISMISSAL; emails are not always read in time.  Be sure the note arrives to school and is given to the teacher first thing in the morning.

ARRIVING BY CAR

• BE READY TO UNLOAD; have backpacks ready so the line doesn't back up.

• ALWAYS UNLOAD CURBSIDE; please do not ever unload from drive-through lane.

• approach the crosswalk area slowly! Be especiallycautious if you are in the drive-through lane.

• CHECK TO SEE IF THE CROSSWALK IS CLEAR of students and parents before driving forward.

ARRIVING on FOOT or BICYCLE

• ALWAYS use the crosswalk! Be a role model for the children, even when tempted to cut across the drive-through or loading lanes. Remember, evenwhen you are alone, other children may be watching your example.

• LOOK BOTH WAYS before crossing! Cars may not see you - watch for them.

• WALK BICYCLES on the sidewalk; LOCK them at designated bike racks.

PICKING UP by CAR at DISMISSAL TIME

• STAY IN THE PICK-UP LANE! Do not leave your car. Do not send someone to the flagpole to pick up your child and bring to the car.

• PUT THE NAME CARD WHERE IT CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN from a distance.  Hold it up or put it on the visor.  If you do not have a name card, you will be given another one and may be asked to circle around again.

• DRIVE SLOWLY through the drive-through lane if you are ready to go before others in front of you.

PICKING UP in PERSON at DISMISSAL TIME

• KEEP THE HALLWAYS CLEAR; do not wait in the hall to meet your child.

• KEEP THE GATE AREA CLEAR

• USE THE CROSSWALK! Watch for teachers to help cross through traffic.

• ONLY PICK UP AT THE FRONT GATE OF THE SCHOOL; do not park in the Champions lot or behind the school and ask students to meet you there.

• ON WEDNESDAYS, do not come inside the gate once dismissal is in progress.  Tell the teacher assigned to the gate area your child's name and she will call your child to come meet you.  Students will be grouped by grade level in the flagpole courtyard every Wednesday and on minimum days.

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.  Wishes may include art supplies, gift cards, books, or donations toward a special activity or field trip.

To view the lists, please visit our website at http://www.laslomitaspta.org/programs/apple

Once at the site, select the list you want to view. Teachers' lists are divided into two sections, so you can choose to bring an item directly to the classroom or you can choose to make a donation via PayPal.

Thank you for supporting our teachers and enriching your children's experience at Las Lomitas..

Holiday Workshop Planning Meeting                                           

Wednesday, September 24, Science Room: 9:00am

It's that time again!  Calling all parents!  Would you like to help with the Holiday Workshop?  Do you have an idea for a craft that  our kids would enjoy?  Perhaps, be a table lead?  Come join us at our opening meeting to prepare for this fun event.  If you have a craft, bring a sample to share.  Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or want to lead a craft table but are unable to attend the planning meeting. 

Sign up to volunteer to help with this fun day via the PTA website.  Save the Date: The Holiday Workshop - Wednesday, December 3.  

Contacts: Kristina Valentine & Josie Tang (holidayworkshop@llpta.org)

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Box Tops for Education

Please remember to clip, collect, and submit box top coupons found on many favorite brands such as Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Kleenex, Huggies, Ziploc, and so many more. Las Lomitas earns 10 cents for each box top submitted, and these really add up! Box tops can be turned in any time to the cereal box in the Las Lomitas office. Write your student's name and room number on the bag containing the box tops to be eligible for our prize drawing which will be held in mid October.

Thank you for supporting our school!