 Las Lomitas Education Foundation | |
Thank you to all of our donors. We still need your help to reach our goal. It's not too late to donate! PLEASE DONATE NOW.
Can you help us make the Auction Catalog awesome?
We rely on parents like you to help make our auction catalog one of the best around. If you think you have something to offer, we would love to work with you. Here's a partial wish list of things we are looking for: Sports tickets, special experiences, getaways/vacation homes, fine wine, party hosts, cooking classes, memorabilia - get creative!
Don't have anything to donate? Consider underwriting items that we can't get for free. At Las Lomitas, we especially need sponsors and hosts for the most popular grade-level parties such as the 3rd grade graduation party and incoming grade level parties. Please let us know if you would like to help sponsor or underwrite an event - it's a fun and meaningful way to get involved.
Save the Date! Foundation Auction and Spring Party
Please Plan to join us for the annual
Foundation Auction and Spring Party
Saturday, May 14th, 2016
5:00-10:30 PM
Portola Farms
Tickets go on sale March 1st www.llef.org/auction
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From the Principal
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Dear Las Lomitas Families,
Now that kindergarten tours and registration are in full operation, several parents have asked how we create classes for the next academic school year. This article outlines our placement process.
In May, the faculty spends three afternoons putting together the following year's classes. Each grade level team makes up the classes for the next grade. The Placement Committee members place incoming kindergarten students into classes.
The teachers work carefully to create classrooms that are evenly balanced in terms of:
- Gender
- Sessions (K-2)
- Academics - high, medium and low performing students
- Special needs - students who work with our many specialists such as Language Lab, Speech & Language, Resource Program, Reading Recovery, Reading Groups and Math Lab
- Health and other special factors
Teachers' names are not assigned until after the class configurations are complete.
In order to maintain balance in class size we often have multi-graded classes. This year we have a 1st/2nd multi-grade class. We also have job shares on our campus. This is when two teachers decide to co-teach a single class. Multi-grade and job share classes are of the same high caliber as all other classes. These classes are formed using the same process described above.
In August, the teachers on the Placement Committee volunteer to come in to review and finalize class lists with the Principal to accommodate students who have enrolled or moved away over the summer.
We put tremendous effort into creating balanced classes to best meet the needs of all our students. We are continually refining the process and are proud of our results.
If you have important information about your child's placement for next year, please let the classroom teacher know, or submit that information to me via Google Form through this tiny URL, http://goo.gl/forms/FrwY14UVTs.
Please submit the form prior to April 15. Any placement information received after this date may not be considered due to our placement schedule, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If you've sent information in prior years that is still relevant, please include that information as well. Thank you for your cooperation in adhering to this deadline.
Until next time,
Alain Camou
Principal
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Minimum Day Information
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MINIMUM DAY INFORMATION We will be on a minimum day schedule March 7-10 and will not be in session on Friday, March 11. On the four minimum days, all students will arrive at 9:00 and be dismissed at 12:20. To minimize the impact this creates please note: Flagpole Pick-up - All play dates should be arranged to be picked up at the flagpole
- All students will wait in designated locations by grade
- Drivers must stay in their car and pull through the pick-up lane
- Display name cards in the window
- Leave dogs at home
- Bicyclists must walk bikes until you are away from the front gate area
- Traffic and parking enforcement will be present so park in designated locations only
Bus Riders - Students may not ride on a bus other than their regular bus for a play date during minimum days (see Flagpole Pick-up)
- We are at capacity so only regular riders may ride
- If students go to the bus for a play date, we will bring both students (regular rider and guest) to the office for pick up
Buses may be a bit late as it takes longer to load and unload on minimum days.
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PTA News
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PTA Executive Board Positions
Dear Parents, Your time and talent are essential ingredients in making our school truly outstanding. We hope upon returning to campus after break, that you think about how you can support your child, his/her classroom, and the entire school. We are actively recruiting for the PTA Executive Board this month. We hope that you will consider joining other parents and contribute whatever you can to our school. If you are interested in learning more about a specific role on the PTA Executive Board, please reach out to us at parliamentarian@llesd.org You have as much to gain as you have to give by volunteering. Take it from us! Please join us! Artis Montague & Helen Ungerman Co-Parliamentarians 2015-16
NOW ACCEPTING ORDERS FOR THE 2015-2016 LAS LOMITAS MEMORY BOOK  Please take a minute to visit the PTA web site to order your child a copy of the 2015-2016 Las Lomitas Memory book. The cost is $25/book and payment is accepted via Paypal. You are able to order multiple copies if you have more then one child at Las Lomitas. Please note that no orders have been taken to date. The online ordering period for Memory Book's is February 22nd-April 21st. All orders are fulfilled through your child's teacher, typically the last few days of school in June. Students will have a chance to get their copy signed by friends and staff at that time. While we always order extra copies and make those available for sale the last two days of school at the Flagpole, we encourage you to order online since last year we completely sold out.
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 next prize drawing.
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Science Wonders
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Calling All Las Lomitas Students
Science Wonders:
Student Science Fair Exhibition 2016 
6:00 - 8:00 PM - Wednesday, April 20 Cano Hall, Las Lomitas Elementary School
For more information (2015 pdf) visit:
What is Science Wonders? Science Wonders is a science fair event to encourage your children to be inquisitive about the world around them, as well as an opportunity to have FUN while sharing the joy of discovery with the school community. Where do we start?
Step 1: Ask a question! Think of something that excites or interests you.
Step 2: Think of how you can find an answer to your question (hint: there are many great books in the Las Lomitas Library and on websites listed in the Student and Parent Guide at the URL above).
Step 3: Write down your ideas and develop a plan to present your "science wonder" to your schoolmates.
Will my child's project be judged? This is a recreational, voluntary activity, designed to be NON-COMPETITIVE and child-driven. Please do this activity with your child after their schoolwork assignments or on weekends/spring break. There will be no judging or class merit for participation, but each child will receive a certificate for completing a science fair project.
Can we still come if we don't participate this year? Yes! Everyone is welcome to come to the event and view all the creative ideas that Las Lomitas students bring to life at Science Wonders.
How do I sign up? In order to help us coordinate, send an RSVP email to Scott & Dawn Smithson at sciencewonders@llpta.org by April 1. Please include the student's name, grade and teacher in your RSVP. Thank you!
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Parents Needed for our District English Language Advisory Committee (DELAC)
| | Is your student someone who speaks a language other than English?
Are you interested in learning more about how our district plans English Language instruction for children at all grade levels?
Care to share with this group some useful tips that parents new to the American school system would benefit from due to your personal experience?
Please consider joining our monthly meetings! They are fun and a great way to learn more about our school system.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 23, 2016, 9:45am in Room 5 at the La Entrada campus.
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Hearing and Vision Screening
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Dear Parents,
Las Lomitas School will be having our annual State required Hearing and Vision Screening March 28-30th. Certified school nurse contractors conduct the screening.Screening is done on all Kindergartners, all second graders,students new to the district and special education students. Students that have been referred by their teacher or by parent request will also be screened.
Hearing
Students are tested using the School Audiometry Manual and the screeners follow the California Code of Regulations
If there is evidence of pathology (i.e a visible problem with outer ear or complaints of pain) a verbal and written referral for medical evaluation is made to the parents that same day.
If a student passes screening, no further testing is necessary and it is recorded on the child's record.
If a student does not pass initial screening, a second screening threshold test is performed at school no less than 2 weeks later to confirm screening failure.
If the student does not pass the second screening, a written notification is sent to parents with the test results and a recommendation is made for audiological evaluation. VisionStudents are screened for distance using the Snellen chart.A near vision screening will also be conducted this year. After screening, if the visual acuity results are not within normal limits, a written recommendation for eye examination with a vision specialist will be sent home to the parent. If you have any questions about the screening process, please call the office at 854-5900 to speak with the school nurse.
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Music Informances
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Music Informances are coming up! 
Please come watch your child's music informance. This is an opportunity to see what we're working on in music class.
Music informances are scheduled for the week of March 21-25 in room 37.
Your child's specific time is listed on the music website. Click on the following link and then take time to look around the new music website.
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Lost and Found
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The Lost and Found will be donated Thursday, March 10. When you come for your conference, please stop by the office and have a look at the Lost and Found closet!
Thank you!!!
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Las Lomitas League News
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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 email the dismissal instructions for your child directly to the Las Lomitas League instructor before class starts.
Instructors will be emailing you shortly in regards to this.
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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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For parents who have registered on a wait list, you will only be notified via email IF a space becomes available. we appreciate your understanding that admittance is not guaranteed.
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Our Cancellation Policy: Our system requires we pay a fee for every registration up front, therefore any cancellations are refunded at 90% of the class or sport fee. Cancellations will be processed up to 24 hours prior to the second meeting of the class. There will be no refunds after the second meeting. If you need to withdraw your child, please contact the LLL Registrar at llleagueregistrar@gmail.com.
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Late registrations: If we are able to accommodate a late registration, there will be a $25 late fee.
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Community News
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Classroom Volunteers Needed - An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life
Have you enjoyed volunteering in your child's classroom? Then consider visiting a classroom in east Menlo Park or East Palo Alto where there are virtually no parent volunteers. Our All Students Matter volunteers work once a week for about an hour on reading and math skills with kids in grades K-4. Sign up now to start in September. We provide training and coordinate everything. To learn more or sign up, visit www.allstudentsmatter.org or contact Keri Tully at
keritully@gmail.com
Announcing Open Enrollment for the 2016-17 school year at Ladera Community Church Preschool!
LCCP welcomes all children aged 2 to 5 years old. It is a fully licensed, NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited preschool that maintains low child-to-teacher ratios. It offers a play-based curriculum without religious content. Currently LCCP has a couple spaces available in all classes: 2s, 3s, and Pre-K. Please call or visit our website for more information.
Phone: 650-854-2997
Cyber Savvy Parent Workshop
St Raymond's is sponsoring a free 2 hour Cyber Savvy Parent Workshop using a unique cutting-edge software eyeDactic. With eyeDactic, parents have the opportunity to see every online decision on all devices made by their child and children are given the opportunity to prove to parents that they are trustworthy. The workshop is March 10, 7-9 pm at the St. Raymond's School Gym. Registration is required. To register, go to www.janadaclark.com
Peninsula Youth Theatre
Presents"Mary Poppins"at the Mountain ViewCenter for the Performing Arts. Performances are Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6 and Thursday through Sunday, March 10 - 13. Go to http://pytnet.org/boxoffice/mary-poppins/#tickets for more information.
Family Skating Party
Community-building event sponsored by the Northern California Debate League
Whether you are a debater or non-debater, skater or non-skater, you are invited and will have a great time! Enjoy snacks and skating in a friendly atmosphere and meet other families in our community. Debate coach extraordinaire Brier Buchalter will also join in the fun!
When: Sunday, March 20th, 3:30-5 pm
Who: Everyone in the school community is welcome. NOT A DROP OFF EVENT, so at least one parent/guardian needs to be present.
Cost: $16 per skater, $5 per non-skater (includes: entry fee, snacks and skate rental for skaters)
Please see website for full Details & RSVP:
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Summer Programs
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Las Lomitas Summer Program
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!
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
- 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/
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.
Coach Tim's Sports Camp will again take place at Las Lomitas this summer. There are 4 one week sessions beginning the week of June 13. Some of the activities are softball, soccer, broomball, ultimate frisbee and arts and crafts. We have flyers in the school office or go to tbowler@sbcglobal.net for more information.
There are flyers in the office about Summer Reading Skills classes offered at Hillview Community Center being sponsored by the City of Los Altos. Classes are for children entering Kindergarten through entering 11th graders. For more information or to register call 1-800-903-0162. |
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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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