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ALMOND THURSDAY FRIDAY WORD
February 17, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL MESSAGE
...from the Almond Staff
The following are highlights from each grade level in regards to the current focus of instruction.
TK |
Counting to 20 and beyond. Learning to put sounds together to make words and to chunk words. Writing complete sentences with correct capitalization. Learning about our 5 senses. Learning about our emotions and that it is “OK to be mad but not OK to be mean”. |
K |
Celebrated the 100th day of school: did 100 exercises, counted 100 snacks, made a 100 bead necklace. Science - Arctic animals, wood and paper, went to Youth Science Institute: pond animals, insects, nature walk |
1 |
Paying it Forward video (collaboration with buddies to film and edit) Finishing up Foss Plants and Animals. About to begin NGSS Light and Sound Unit. Opinion Writing. Place Value in math. |
2 |
Second grade has been very excited as we begin our unit on our earth. We are integrating science and language arts and students become geologist and study rocks and their formations. We have been able to compose written pieces describing rocks, their properties, and how they formed using nonfiction texts and observations. |
3 |
Next week every third grader will have an opportunity share what they learned about one Famous American. They will use their presentation skills to teach others about people who have contributed much to make our country great. They have been learning about character traits and what it takes to accomplish greatness. |
4 |
In 4th grade we are working on math talks. Students are given the same problem (this month is long division) and they share different strategies to solve the problem. This promotes student ownership of learning. The students lead the discussion as the teacher becomes the recorder/ facilitator. Verbalizing their process allows students to move from knowledge (the how) to understanding (the why/ what the number sentence represents). |
5 |
In 5th grade we are working on taking ownership over our learning and sharing our learning with others. Each 5th grader became an expert on one element on the periodic table and created posters to teach about that element. Together, the 5th graders have nearly re-created the entire periodic table with element expert posters. Students can’t stop admiring each other’s work and learning about our amazing elements! |
6 |
Many of our sixth graders are owning their learning by fulfilling their responsibilities to complete work, but others are not. We are working hard to determine whether it is a “skill” vs. “will” issue. What that means is - are students not participating because the learning is not accessible - OR - is it the will of the student who is not motivated to do so. We are exploring how we might celebrate those owning their learning and better motivate those not doing so. Ask your child what they are getting accomplished in class. Are they coming prepared to class? Are they owning their learning? Or evading the hard work of growing their brains? |
STEM |
Almond STEM celebrates Engineering Week with the Pasta Challenge! TK-6 students are invited to build something completely from pasta and bring it to school for display on Friday, March 3, 2017 to Room 5. |
General |
Students from China will be visiting in April. We’re starting the planning process. |
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
STUDENT COUNCIL
LAEF: Get Matched in February
Love is in the air this week, and two LASD families have offered to match your LAEF donation! That means that all NEW donations and any dollar you give OVER your donation amount last year will be doubled, up to $20,000. Celebrate this Valentine’s Day and get matched by giving to LAEF at www.LAEFonline.org.
LAEF Celebrates the 100th Day of School
Did you know that LAEF pays for teachers at every school enhancing your child’s education every day? LAEF funds STEM, PE, Art, Computer Science, Music, Library, smaller class sizes in K-3 and an Instructional Support Teacher for Math. Learn more at www.LAEFonline.org about what your child has learned in his or her first 100 days, thanks to contributions to LAEF.
Family Science Night is Wednesday March 1st 6:30-8 pm.
It's an Almond PTA sponsored event with a pizza and bake sale too! Enjoy a fun night, where children (TK-6th) can explore 25+ hands on stations. Check out Stanford Optical Society's lazer maze, make slime, create with Kidizens in the STEM lab, observe Bees, Bats, Reptiles and more!
HOT LUNCH SESSION 3 IS NOW OPEN FOR ORDERING!!!
MARCH 6TH-JUNE 7TH 2017
BOOKWAVE BLAST
DELAC – (DISTRICT ENGLISH LEARNER ADVISORY COMMITTEE) MEETING
The district will hold a DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Committee) meeting on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 8:45am in the district Board Room. All are welcome to attend.
ALMOND COMMUNITY SERVICE - Planting Vegetables at Hidden Villa! RSVP Required
When: Saturday, March 11, 10-12 pm
Where: Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills
What: Let’s get dirty, build community and help a wonderful local organization! Come help Hidden Villa prepare their fields and plant vegetables! Volunteers are welcome to stay after to hike and see farm animals. We have reserved a covered area for those who want to stay for a picnic afterwards. Light snacks will be provided. Hidden Villa has 11 acres of sustainable, organic agriculture contributing to our local food security. The food they grow is sold at the Los Altos Farmers Market and is available to "shareholders" of the Community Supported Agriculture Program. They also donate 25% of the annual harvest to our low-income neighbors through the Community Services Agency of Mountain View.
RSVP: Space is limited so please email polly@beau-coup.com to reserve your space and indicate number of people attending. First come, first served.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
REMINDER OF LOST & FOUND PURGE PROTOCOL
Starting with January, we will clear out the Lost & Found at the end of each month to keep it from getting ridiculously full. Please put your child's name or at least a family name in your children's clothing and we will do our best to return it to you. Remind your children to look in the Lost & Found regularly.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Los Altos Library to Celebrate Extended Hours
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE $10 ON SRVCPTA'S PARENTING CONFERENCE!
11/23/24 2:25 AM