ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
June 7, 2018

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• Thursday, 6/7
  • Minimum Day Dismissal - 11:30am
• Wednesday, 8/22 (First Day of 2018-19 School Year)

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

Dearest Almond Community,

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you these past five years!  Today is not goodbye, it is...until we meet again.

Here is a link to the amazing “This Is Me” flash mob that the staff and students organized.  That moment in time will remain one that I treasure in my collection of memories.  Thank you again for this gift!

Following is my address to this year’s 6th graders as they prepare to embark on their next adventure.

It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to know each of you.

The highlight of my days has been greeting you by name, peering into those beautiful eyes of yours, and offering you a smile.

Why greet you by name?

Because it communicates that YOU matter and that YOU are important enough to remember.

Why look into your eyes?

Because by doing so I can read your emotions, gain insight into how you’re feeling, and better understand you.

Why send you a smile?

Because within each of us is light, goodness, and love.  A smile is one way for me to send the light and love in my heart to you.  It’s my way of wishing you the most wonderful day ever!

Over the years, we’ve laughed together, played together, learned together, and danced together.  Through all of that, some of us have had a couple of opportunities to work through some challenges together.  Whether they were difficulties with friends, hurdles around school work, or maybe something different altogether - we’ve chatted and problem solved.  I recently stumbled upon a quote from Viola Davis, one of my all time favorite actors, that I think every young person would benefit from considering.

“They tell you to develop a thick skin so things don’t get to you.  What they don’t tell you is that your thick skin will keep everything from getting out, too.  Love, intimacy, vulnerability. - I don’t want that.  Thick skin doesn’t work anymore.  I want to be transparent and translucent.  For that to work, I won’t own other people’s shortcomings and criticisms. - I won’t put what you say about me on my load.”

There are 80 of you standing before us today.  Eighty individual, magnificent, original, and brilliant human beings who have greatness in you to contribute to a more abundant world.  Know your worth.  Believe in yourselves.  Filter out the noise.  Follow your hearts.  Be brave.  Color outside the lines.  Take risks.  And as you do all of this...listen to the one, single person who matters most and who will be with you for your entire life.  Yourself.

Congratulations sixth grade class of 2018!  Keep SOARING!!!

Know that I am always on your team,
Erika Benadom

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2018-19, SCHOOLPAK!

• It's that time of year for you to purchase the prepackaged school supplies from SchoolPak!  If you purchase before June 8th, your school supplies will be shipped to the school and delivered to your child's classroom before their first day.  We provide this service since it should reduce your school supply costs by over 25% if you were to go buy on your own. 
• Here's the link:  https://www.schoolpak.com/catalog/almond-elementary
• If you would prefer to get the supplies on your own, you can go to the website and select the grade you are interested in, and scroll down - you will see the complete list of items.
• If you any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.  Thanks!  Darin, SchoolPak Coordinator, darinpmedeiros@gmail.com

MAGICAL BRIDGE COIN DRIVE

• Thank you to everyone for contributing to this wonderful cause.  Below are the total amounts raised by grade level for a whopping $1,247.61.  To determine the highest grossing grade level, we divided by student count.  And the winner of the private play date is...KINDERGARTEN!
  • TK - $12.58
  • K - $ 362.59
  • 1 - $126.01
  • 2 - $119.62
  • 3 - $47.79
  • 4 - $437.49
  • 5 - $91.53
  • 6 - $50.00

LIVING CLASSROOM THANK YOU!

• The Los Altos School District Living Classroom program consists of 37 dedicated volunteers who, along with staff, delivered 482 nature-based garden lessons to approximately 3,600 elementary school children in the Los Altos School District this year.  94% of TK-6 grade classes throughout the district participated in our voluntary program which consists of science, math and social studies lessons that are aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards and which promote environmental literacy and stewardship as well as healthy eating habits.
• Thank you to Almond parents Renee Boustead, Liesse Jackson, and Aki Watanabe for leading and assisting with so many lessons this year!  A big THANK YOU also goes out to all the amazing parents who signed up to help with lessons in their child’s classroom.  We could not have done it without you!
• New docents are taught Living Classroom lessons by staff and experienced docents on Monday mornings from September through March.  Living Classroom welcomes new members to join the next docent-in-training class in the fall.  To learn more, come to our Informational Coffee on Monday, August 27th at 10am in the iLearn Studio at the district office (201 Covington Road, Los Altos).
• For more information, check us out at www.living-classroom.org and/or email livingclassroom@lasdschools.org.
• Thanks and have a wonderful summer!  Caroline Chan.

REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENTS

LASD NURSES

• Medications will be available for pick up from Thursday June 7^th 2018 (last day of school) until Wednesday June 13^th 2018.
• We cannot store medications over the summer. If you are leaving before school ends, please pick up medications early. An adult must pick up the medication.

S.O.A.R. CELEBRATIONS
(listed alphabetically by last name)

• Saanvi Agrawal, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always listening.
• Seyon Ahn, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always listening.
• Nickan Arshi, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Inviting friendship.
• Ishaan Bardhan, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Reading and helping classmates spell.
• Cara Buckley, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Keeps on trying to do her best and not giving up!
• Sophie Chan, 5/31/18, Solving problems,  Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always following directions.
• Zoe Couillaud, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Respecting self and others. Playing with new friends.
• Alex Elovson, 5/31/18, Owning learning. You are truly amazing! You are brave and a complete ROCK STAR! We are all proud of you!
• Sola Endo, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Learned to communicate in English!
• Kyle Hiltgen, 6/1/18, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always has "whole body" listening on the rug. :-)
• Kate Jensen, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Learned to read this year!
• Nate McFarlane, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Respecting self and others. Playing with new friends.
• Alison Park, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always listening.
• Anya Patel, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Inviting friendship.
• Ayan Patel, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Listening and staying focused.
• Gissel Plantillas, 6/1/18, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always having "whole body" listening on the rug.
• Ivy Taylor, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Learned to read this year!
• Vikram Thvar, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Inviting friendship.
• Nathaniel Wang, 5/31/18, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Working well with others.

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?
Send announcements to us at AlmondThursdayWord@lasdschools.org by 12:00pm Monday, for that week's Word. Keep your announcements brief and, if applicable, send a PDF version of any flyer or additional information to be posted on the website.
Quick Links…
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Almond Elementary School Website
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