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Las Lomitas League News
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Registration for Spring, 2016 Las Lomitas League before/after-school classes closed on January 22nd, and all Las Lomitas League classes start the week of February 1st.
The good news is that some classes still have openings! If you are interested in enrolling a child in a Las Lomitas League after school class, please go to http://laslomitasleague.com/activities/las-lomitas/ to see what is still available. Since the open enrollment period is closed, all class registrations will be assessed a $25 late fee. For parents who have registered for an Las Lomitas League class, here is some important information to take note of: -
It is mandatory that parents submit or email the dismissal instruction form directly to the Las Lomitas League instructor before class starts. If you have not done so, please submit the form as soon as possible. We thank you for your cooperation.
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Please provide your Las Lomitas classroom teacher with your child's dismissal plan so she knows your child needs to go to the Las Lomitas League class or sport on a given day. Without written instructions stating otherwise, your child will be sent to the flagpole, bus or Champions as usual.
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Please report your child's absence from a Las Lomitas League class or sport by contacting the Las Lomitas League instructor directly. The school office is not involved in absence reporting for Las Lomitas League classes.
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Please be punctual to pick up your child after a Las Lomitas League class or sport at the designated class location, and not at the flagpole. If you are going to be late, please let the Las Lomitas League instructor know in advance and with written notice with the name and contact number of the adult authorized to pick up your child.. The Las Lomitas League instructors cannot stay late to supervise your child. If parents are repeatedly late, the student may not be able to continue in the class.
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From the Principal
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Dear Las Lomitas Families,
Our Read-A-Thon is now 75% complete! Please encourage your avid readers to read nightly! Be sure to help your child log his/her minutes and post them online. Carol Hedges and Lesli Leong welcomed children in from the cold with their storytelling skills last week. This week, Music Teacher Martha Lampert and and RSP Teacher Vanessa Leonard will be in the library Wednesday morning to read some great books to the children. I encourage you to come a little early on Wednesdays to enjoy this event. You might even spot Roary the Lion on campus!
Kindergarten registration started on January 11th. If you or someone in your neighborhood has an incoming kindergartner, please register as soon as possible. This helps us plan staffing for next year's classes. Remember, Ladera kindergartners are placed in first session and then in second session for first grade. All others must submit a request to be placed in first session in kindergarten. Session requests for kindergarten students (and new 1st-2nd) will be accepted starting at 5:00 pm on February 1, 2016. Visit our website to find the link to the Google Form application for session requests. Please note, any session requests for kindergarten and new 1st-2nd grade families will not be honored if made prior to February 1 at 5:00 pm. All registration forms must be complete and turned into the office by January 31st in order to make a session request. Please check with the office if you have any questions.
Las Lomitas student enrollment is near 585 students. If we add in faculty, staff, students and parents, Las Lomitas' population is about the same size as Belvedere, California! In order to function smoothly, we all need to do our part. Below is a list of ways you can make life here more peaceful for everyone:
- Read the Lion's Roar, our school/PTA newsletter. It has the answer to almost every question you may have.
- Keep track of the school calendar. It has the answer to questions about minimum days, vacations and conference dates.
- Call in absences early in the morning. This will reduce the number of follow up calls the secretaries must make to ensure your child is safe.
- Provide written notes to the teacher if dismissal plans change. This reduces the number of last minute phone calls and the need to interrupt the classroom to pass this vital information on to the teacher.
- Return requested forms on time. This reduces the number of repeated mailings we must make to ensure we have emergency information, medical permissions, etc. on file for your child.
- Park in designated spaces. This will keep us from having to make an announcement over the intercom and interrupt classroom learning.
- Drop your child off on time. Students should not arrive before 8:30 a.m. We do not have supervision prior to 8:30 a.m.
- Pick your child up on time. The office closes at 4:00. We cannot provide supervision after hours.
- Be at the bus stop on time. This will reduce the need for you to come to the school to pick up your child.
- Keep track of after-school program changes. There are multiple Las Lomitas League classes. Keep your LLL teacher's number handy and call him/her to find out if there is a change in schedule.
- Be patient.
We care about each child, parent and teacher at this school, but cannot give
all of you our attention at the same time.
We have an area in our office specifically for parent information. There you will find calendars, Foundation information, bus schedules, enrichment program fliers, mail to parents from teachers, PTA files, and more all in one location. Our hope is to be able to provide a "one stop shopping" area for parents. As always, Monica and Carol are happy to assist you if you can't find what you need. With everyone's cooperation, our little "town" will function smoothly. Thanks for your support!
Until next time,
Alain Camou
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Arrival and Dismissal Safety
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LAS LOMITAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROTOCOL Safety comes first at Las Lomitas. The streets in our neighborhood, including Camino al Lago, are very congested during arrival and dismissal times, especially on Wednesdays and minimum days. Please take a few minutes to review these safety tips. With everyone's cooperation, we can be sure that our students are safe and help traffic move smoothly. We have also witnessed parents with small children darting between the buses during dismissal time. This is a very dangerous habit to get into. Please be safe and use the flagpole area for pickup and avoid using staff parking in the lot near Alameda de las Pulgas. 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. Alain Camou, 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 parking signs 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. Avoid parking in the bus lane even if it is for "a quick minute".
- LEAVE PETS AT HOME. Even the cutest puppy can cause more congestion and possibly 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 especially cautious 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, even when 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 at 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.
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Registration Information
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Session Requests for 2016-2017 ~
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. Please click here to view the session request form.
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 Las Lomitas Education Foundation | |
 We are so grateful for the support of over 60% of our District Families so far. Thank you to all who have contributed! If you have not yet given, the time to give is NOW. Our schools and our students need your support. Please, make your impact, show your commitment, and do your part - every gift of any size matters.
The parent volunteers of the Las Lomitas Education Foundation have been working for more than five months this year to raise the crucial funds that comprise the second largest source of revenue for our District.
Please take a few minutes and make your contribution TODAY.
It is important to know that the Las Lomitas School Board meets in early February to determine next year's budget.
The Foundation must commit to an annual gift amount that the Board can count on, and that we can deliver.
NOW is the time we determine the number of teachers and extracurricular classes that we can support next year.
What could be more important than investing in your child's education?
We need your help today. Please click here to DONATE NOW.
Thank you!
Inquire about your employer's matching gifts program to increase your donation to the District.
Join or Update eScrip - It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Visit http://www.eScrip.com
- Register or renew your Safeway Club Card and credit cards at the eScrip website and then designate Las Lomitas Education Foundation (Group ID# 125673324)
- Start Shopping!
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PTA News
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We're almost there...This is a reminder that the Read-A-Thon ends on Sunday, January 31.
Report your Read-A-Thon minutes today! Go to www.laslomitaspta.org/readathon! Each grade that meets its goal will earn a Popcorn Celebration! Our school-wide goal is 350,000 minutes!
Join us for our last Storytime in the Library on Wednesday morning! Ms. Lampert and Ms. Leonard will be reading from 8:35-8:55am.
Once again we'll have our Mystery Book Characters out and about on Friday during lunch!
Don't forget to reach out for sponsors! The Read-A-Thon is the primary source of fundraising for the PTA. The funds raised go towards supporting very important programs and activities that are separate from those supported by the Foundation. The PTA funds support assemblies and special classroom visitors. In addition, supplies such as sun covers for our picnic tables, balls and jump ropes used at recess, AV equipment for school-wide activities, and the construction of our much loved sandboxes all came from funds raised by the Read-A-Thon. These funds are also the primary source of funds provided to teachers to purchase classroom supplies and other class-specific expenses such as field trips.
We will be collecting Total Minutes Read and pledge submissions from February 1st-8th. You do not need to submit the red Participation Envelope if all minutes and pledge funds are submitted online at www.laslomitaspta.org/readathon. 
Questions? Please contact the Read-A-Thon Committee at readathon@llpta.org.
Boxtops for Education
 Please continue 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 February 28.
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A Musical Request
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Does your child take private music lessons? Are you happy with the teacher? Would you recommend him/her to other parents?  As the Las Lomitas music teacher, I get asked for private teacher recommendations all the time, and I would like to update my list. So, if you have a private music teacher you would like to recommend, please e-mail me with the teacher's name, contact information, and, if you have it, a little bit of information about him/her, such as educational and performance background, teaching style, teaching methods.
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Did you recently upgrade the model of your iPad?  Our K-5 classrooms would love more iPads for creating learning centers! If you have some old iPads around the house that you are not using, please consider donating them tot he district? Simply drop them off at either school, with your name attached, and we'll have a donation letter sent to you. Thank you.
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Community News
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CREATIVE ART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
@ Portola Valley Town Center
WINTER 2016 Jan. 13-March 26 (no classes Feb. 10-20) 
Winter dreams of Penguins in black tuxedos will fill our imaginations as we begin the session by reading the book "Happy Feet" about a
dancing penguin. The pictures we make with watercolors and collage will dance too! White dough snowmen, Dragon puppets for Chinese New Year, Japanese brush painting and mock Japanese Block prints for the older kids are just a few of the other things we will be doing. Then Kandinsky and his noisy paint box and the sounds he heard from his colors. I bet the kids will hear sounds too and maybe their feet will start dancing. We will end with what has become quite popular...an Art Show of all the kids masterpieces.
TO REGISTER contact Cindy (650) 851-1700 ext. 200
reg. forms available at the town office 765 Portola Rd. or
REG. online (portolavalley.net )
JEFF ARONS' SPRING TENNIS PROGRAM AT SACRED HEART SCHOOLS BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1ST Classes for Adults and Juniors  Jeff Arons is the director of tennis for Sacred Heart Schools. His coaching experiences include founding/directing the East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring Program and coaching a Wimbledon doubles champion. Website: www.jeffaronstennis.com
Email: jeffaronstennis@gmail.com
Calling all Baseball and Softball players!  Alpine/West Menlo Little League and Softball is open for registration for ballplayers aged 4 to 13. We're looking to teach young players, give parents opportunities to hone their coaching skills and provide (paying) jobs for kids interested in youth umpiring. Little League Baseball and Softball offers a combination of fun and competitive play in a community-centric environment unparalleled in youth sports. Come join the fun. Registration closes on January 21st for players ages 8-13, so sign up at www.alpinelittleleague.com
as soon as possible!! ENCORE LACROSSE is hosting free lacrosse clinics April 10 and May 15 from 2-3 pm in Atherton. For more information, go to ENCORELACROSSE.COM. 
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Summer Programs
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 Registration forms for the Las Lomitas Summer Program will be available on Monday, February 1, 2016. They will also be sent home to our current students in our Monday envelope that day. The theme this year will be AUSTRALIA and the dates are June 20 to July 15. Register early to avoid disappointment!
Panthers Camp
I hope all of you enjoyed a fantastic year in 2015 and are off to a great start for 2016. Panthers "All Sports" Camp is back for another exciting 2016 summer. For more information regarding camp as well as registering, the link to the Panthers Camp website is www.pantherscamppv.com.
- Session 1: June 13-16
- Session 2: June 20-23
- Session 3: June 27-30
- Session 4: July 5-8
In order to register, please click on the following link: https://thriva.activenetwork.com/Reg4/Form.aspx?IDTD=6807577&RF=11510336
If you register before 3/1/16, you will get the early bird special. Please let me know if you have any questions (danflahavan@gmail.com).
If your child has outgrown camp and will be entering 8th grade, they have an opportunity to build leadership skills as a Junior Counselor in Training (JCIT). I will be sending out more information regarding this soon.
I look forward to another great summer with your kids at Panthers Camp.
3rd Annual Kelly Coding and Creation Camps, Summer 2016
 Join Parker Kelly, the tech teacher for 16 years, for an exciting, educational experience at La Entrada's Mac lab this summer! In each 1-week session, students will learn programming, 3D design/printing and other multimedia skills in a fun, self-paced environment. Participants will learn from an experienced teacher (23 years) who has an MA in Instructional Technology. Each class will start with fun activities that cover essential computer science concepts using a mixture of visual block programming and coding, all while making fun animations, video games and Kamigami Robots  (that they get to keep!). In addition, students will get hands-on experience designing 3D models and then print their creation with a 3D printer. As a culminating activity, the class will record a video in a broadcast studio environment that will show off their week at camp. Participants can enroll in 1, 2, 3 or ALL 4 sessions if they want! Choose from one or more of the following sessions: June 13-17, June 20-24, June 27-July 1 and July 11-15. Each day starts at 8:30 am and ends at 3:30pm. The camps are open to students entering 4th, 5th and 6th grade in the fall. Click here for more details and to register. |
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To submit an item, email Carol Clark (cclark@llesd.org) by 12 noon on the Wednesday prior to the Monday publication date.
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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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