The Lion's Roar  
The Las Lomitas PTA Newsletter  
                                                               
 
Week of November 30, 2015 
In This Issue
Las Lomitas Education Foundation
From the Principal
PTA News
From the Health Office
Tech News
Being Neighborly
Community News
Newsletter Submissions
Quick Links
Calendar
 
Important Upcoming Dates:   

This Week:   
  • Wed Dec 2: Joint LL/LE PTA Mtg luncheon 

Coming Soon:  

  • Wed Dec 9:  Holiday Workshop
  • Wed Dec 9: School Bd. Mtg. LE MUR 7:00 pm
  • Dec 21 - Jan 3: Winter Break

 


LLFLas Lomitas Education Foundation

The season of thankfulness and reflection is upon us.  It is an appropriate time to reflect upon our shared good fortune to live in the extraordinary Las Lomitas Elementary School District, with its 30+ year legacy of remarkable community support for high quality education.  The annual LLEF gift to our District is fundamental and essential to the achievements of our schools and students.   

As a reminder, we need to raise $2,000 per student, with 100% participation, to reach our fundraising goal. 

It is critical that every family contribute. If you can't give at the requested level, please give an amount that is meaningful and comfortable for your family.  Every donation counts.  

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us parent volunteers at LLEF.
 
PLEASE DONATE TODAY!

   
Use the LLEF Shopping Portal for your HOLIDAY SHOPPING NEEDS!
  

Order your Holiday Cards and do all your online shopping through the Foundation's  
 
Click-through to any of the online stores and shop as you normally would... the retailers donate a portion of every purchase to the Foundation. It's free money for our schools!

Thank you to ALL families who contributed to the Giving by Grade Challenge!

Our community is making good progress towards this year's ambitious goals of $2,000 per student and 100% participation.
But we still have a ways to go....
 
We are pleased to announce the WINNER of the GIVING BY GRADE CHALLENGE!  
Thank you to all families who donated before November 13th.
 
 
Each 3rd Grade teacher will receive $200 per classroom in the coming weeks, to be spent on supplies and/or enrichment for their students
 
 
 
We are halfway through our annual giving campaign, and Donor Rolls will be coming out soon...
 



 
Inquire about your employer's matching gifts program to increase your donation to the District. 
 
Our Matching Gifts Coordinator  can help you determine if your company will match your contribution.   
 
  

  


Join or Update eScrip - It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!                                                                                   
  1. Visit http://www.eScrip.com 
  2. Register or renew your Safeway Club Card and credit cards at the eScrip website and then designate Las Lomitas Education Foundation (Group ID# 125673324)
  3. Start Shopping!



From the Principal

Dear Las Lomitas Families,

Below is information for returning families who wish to request a change in session assignment for the 2016-2017 school year.  Information about registration for new students K-3 can be found on our school webpage at http://ll-llesd-ca.schoolloop.com/  The session request process for new families will be handled through Google Forms.

I  hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving Holiday enjoying time with family and friends.

Until next time,

Alain Camou
Principal
 
 
Session Requests for 2016-2017 ~ 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 Mr. Camou. He will begin taking requests by Google Forms on 5:00 p.m., January 11, 2016. The link to the form will go live on our website at 5:00 on January 11, 2016. 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, 2016, 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 Mr. Camou if you have any questions about the session request process.



PTA News
 
 
  
Holiday Workshop 
                                                                            
It's that time again!  The Holiday Workshop is an opportunity for your child to make holiday crafts to give as gifts to family and loved ones.  Calling all parents!  Would you like to help with the Holiday Workshop?  With the help of our wonderful parent community, the kids will make nine crafts (third graders make 10).  Sign up to volunteer to help with this fun day via the PTA website.

We are also collecting paper grocery bags for the kids to carry home their crafts.  Please drop off, in the office, any bags you would like to donate. 

Save the Dates: 
Prep Day - Wednesday November 18  9am to noon in Cano Hall 
The Holiday Workshop - Wednesday, December 9

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.  
Contact: Suzanne Kisch: [email protected] 

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.  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:       
 
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.


 
Fridays are Spirit Days at Las Lomitas!  
Get  your Spirit Wear online by clicking the Spirit Wear link at laslomitaspta.org  
Contact the Spirit Wear coordinator at [email protected] for more information.
 
 
 
  
From the Health Office

Dear Parents,


Cold and flu season is here and our staff will be taking steps to reduce the spread of germs at Las Lomitas by promoting good hygiene and alerting you if your children become sick at school and need to go home. Below are some measures you can take at home to help reduce sickness in your children and reduce the spread of germs at school. 

  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children over the age of 6 months get the flu vaccine. This is the single best way to protect against the flu. Information about the flu can be found at: cdc.com
  • Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is ideal ( that's about as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday"song twice.)
  • Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.Place about a quarter size blob of gel on the palm of the hand, rub the sanitizer over the whole hand and between the fingers and continue to rub until the hand sanitizer is dry. This should take about 20 seconds.
  • Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
  • Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of their elbow or sleeve, not their hands. 
  • Keep your child home if he/she is sick. They need to stay home until their temperature is normal for 24hrs (below 100 degrees) without the use of fever reducing medication.Please refer to these guidelines for when to keep sick children home:www.svsd410.org/
  • Help your children to learn these healthy habits by setting a good example and doing them yourself.
Thank you and if you have any questions or concerns about your child's health please contact your doctor.  With everyone working together, we hope to minimize illnesses this season for everyone.

Kelly Muenzen,  R.N.
School Nurse
Las Lomitas School District
[email protected]
650-854-5900

Tech News


Computer Science Education Week 
This year runs from December 7th to December 10th, and to kick off this world-wide event, both the Las Lomitas and La Entrada tech teams would like to invite you and your family to learn more about computer science and the Hour of Code. Please meet at La Entrada's Jensen Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 7th, for treats and an overview on how to participate in a variety of engaging programming activities and games. 
 
Don't worry, no coding experience is necessary. Just bring a tablet, if you have one, and we will code until 8:30 p.m.   Hope to see you there!"
 

Being Neighborly

Let's remember to be good neighbors during pick up and drop off.  I have received word from the neighbors on Barney that parents are parking in the street, often blocking driveways, to walk their students to school.  I know parking is an issue in and around school, but please be mindful of where you park and make sure you do it legally.


CommCommunity News
 


 
FRIENDS OF HOLBROOK-PALMER PARK ~~ ANNUAL CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY TEA

Please join the Friends of Holbrook-Palmer Park for their annual Children's Holiday Tea on
Sunday, December 6th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year children will enjoy a visit with Santa Claus, an enchanting holiday themed marionettes show, and holiday craft activity. As always, children and their parents will enjoy delicious holiday treats, tea sandwiches and beverages. There will also be an exciting drawing with fun prizes for children and adults.
Individual seat tickets are $40 each (all children must be accompanied by a paying adult). Tables of 10 for $380. Children under the age of 2 and sitting on a lap are free.  All proceeds benefit Holbrook-Palmer Park.
In the spirit of giving, we ask that each family bring a new youth sweatshirt (solid gray, white or black) to benefit the children at Selby Lane School. 

Looking forward to seeing you at this magical holiday event!
 
Ready, Set, Can!! 
The students of Menlo-Atherton High School are kicking off their annual Canned Food Drive on Tuesday, November 10. This is a chance for the greater community to rally around the growing number of San Mateo County residents who cannot afford enough food to provide for themselves and their families. According to the Second Harvest Food Bank website, 1 in 4 people in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are at risk for hunger. Many of them are children, and some are our neighbors, classmates, or acquaintances.
 
This year again, M-A has partnered with Second Harvest to ensure that families continue to have access to food sources beyond the Canned Food Drive. Supporting this year's Food Drive are: Bianchini's in Ladera, Draeger's in Menlo Park; the Safeways on El Camino in Menlo Park, Sharon Heights and Sequoia Station, Trader Joe's in Menlo Park, Willows Market on Middlefield Road, Delucchi's Market in Marsh Manor and Mi Pueblo in East Palo Alto. Here is how you can help the families in your community:

When you are shopping for your family, please add a few extra cans to your cart and drop them into the Second Harvest Food Bank barrels. M-A students will be handing out the list of most-needed items requested by SHFB. 
Consider donating online at https://www.shfb.org/donateonline. Type "high school" in the Online Food Drive box and select Menlo-Atherton High School so that your gift can be properly credited to the M-A outreach effort.

MA is proud to announce this year's newest partner in the fight against hunger, our neighbors at Facebook!  Facebook is supplying all of the reusable grocery bags that will be used to pack up all of the food that is given away on Distribution Day at Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto on December 5th.
 
Please contact [email protected] if you have questions. Thank you for your support!
 
 
Adopt A Teacher Who Needs Your Support 
Make a real difference for a teacher and his/her students by "adopting" a K-8 teacher in East Palo Alto or East Menlo Park for a school year.  Provide the teacher with encouraging notes and/or small gifts of appreciation, school supplies and support for two class parties. Financial commitment $500-600, time commitment very flexible. It's easy and fun to adopt a teacher with friends. Learn more or sign up on the Adopt a Teacher web page or by contacting Jennifer Wythes Vettel at [email protected]

Dancers Repertory Theatre presents 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, a delightful dance/theatre event guaranteed to delight all ages.  With dancing Mice, prancing Reindeer and Toys that come to life, this magical holiday production will become a family tradition!
 
We are pleased to announce that the following students Olivia S., Atessa G., and Aleah N. will be performing in 'Twas the Night Before Christmas this season.  Please come and support your schoolmates!
 
Performances at Woodside Performing Arts Center on: December 6th, 12th , and 13th at 1:00 and 4:00 each day.
 
For more information and tickets, please visit www.twasthenight.org.
 


7th Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Fundraiser
Join the fun as the Youth Group of Bethany Lutheran Church in Menlo Park hosts its 7th Annual Gingerbread House Decorating event on Saturday, December 5, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The Gingerbread Houses are pre-assembled so you get the fun of decorating without the headache of construction! Your house includes all the candy, sweets, and tools you need to decorate your holiday centerpiece.  Bring the kids, your imagination, and your holiday spirit and create a holiday memory the entire family will treasure!  Each house is $60.  Refreshments will be served.  Space is very limited so we strongly encourage that you reserve your Gingerbread House today.  Book your reservation at www.bethany-mp.org/gingerbread or call the Church Office at 650-854-5897.  All proceeds go towards Bethany Youth Group projects & activities. Thank you for your support! (Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud Avenue, Menlo Park - at the corner of Avy and Cloud Avenues, just off the Alameda). 


Alpine Strikers Tryouts for Spring 2016
Is your child excited about soccer?  Alpine Strikers is a community based competitive soccer club that strives for player development and retention of players. Our goal is to grow your child's passion for soccer with professional coaching in a fun and engaging environment.  The club is holding its annual tryouts at the beginning of December for kids born between 2008 and 1997 (U8 to U18). Please go to www.alpinestrikers.org for tryouts dates and registration.

Amazing opportunity to view a screening of the documentary movie: BULLY
Plus: Award-winning director (Sundance Film Festival and Emmy), Lee Hirsch will be here from New York City to give a short talk after the movie and hold a Q&A with you.
 
Date: 2 December
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Hillview Middle School Auditorium
Cost: Free
 
BULLY is a beautifully cinematic, character-driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America's bullying crisis. BULLY documents the responses of teachers and administrators to aggressive behaviors that defy "kids will be kids" clich�s, and it captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole.
This movie includes suicide and some topics that may be inappropriate for young children.

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To submit an item, email Carol Clark ([email protected]) by 12 noon on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication date.


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