ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
October 26, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• Friday, 10/27, SPOOK-A-THON, Walkathon smooshed with the Halloween Carnival
  • 8:05 - 8:30am  Drop off pumpkins at the Rotunda for Pumpkin Carving Contest.
  • 1:30 - 2:45pm  Walkathon on the grassy field
    • Start time and length will vary by grade level but all will walk during this time
    • Families are welcome to come cheer on walkers / runners (only students and staff will be permitted on the track)
  • 2:25 - 3:00pm  School dismissed on NORMAL Schedule. Go home, don your costume.
  • 3:30 - 5:30pm  Halloween Carnival & Pumpkin Carving Awards on the blacktop.
  • 3:45 - 5:15pm  Silent Auction in the middle of the blacktop.
• Thursday, 11/2, ELAC Meeting (8:45am, ELD Room)
• Friday, 11/10, NO SCHOOL
• Monday, 11/20, PARENT CONFERENCES, No School
• Tuesday, 11/21, PARENT CONFERENCES, No School
• Wednesday - Friday, 11/22 - 11/24, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, No School
• Thursday, 11/30, School Coffee re: Evidence of Learning (8:45am, Multi)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

“As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.” - Ben Hogan (for those who aren’t golfers, he’s one of the great ones)

Let’s pause for a moment and recognize some of the beautiful roses among us.

• This past Monday evening, staff and student representatives from Almond shared the great work happening at our school with the Los Altos School Board and District Administrative Team.
  • Tanya Robles and Sam Cousins (guided by Ms. Aubrey and Mr. Stuart) did a beautiful job of explaining the structure of Integrated Studies, what they’ve learned, and why they consider it beneficial.  The bravery of our entire 6th grade team to take risks, hold themselves together through the challenges that come with innovations, enduring support of one another, and their endless commitment to students has led us this year to a deeper, more authentic experience of learning.
  • Liv Weiner, Sophie Brauer, Ziana Merchant, and Trisha Shetty highlighted the brain growth benefits that come through firing synapses as students work through math problem solving that pushes the brain beyond simple computation skills.  They were confident, animated in their delivery, and shined brightly.  Mrs. Better, Mrs. Burke, and Ms. Pasket are empowering all of their 5th grade students to become passionate and mindful leaders.
  • On behalf of all 4th grade teachers, Jakeson Howze (supported by Mrs. Wishnack) premiered his SeeSaw video in which he shared his plan to save Slide City from natural disasters.  This tool is creating a channel between home and school where student progress can come alive!
  • On behalf of all 3rd grade teachers and through a video made by Sophia Liniger, Katarina Smith, Sarah Tressler, and Stephanie Yen-Ko - Mrs. Hall explained Problem of the Month (POM) which is being led by our very own Mrs. Leach.
  • A charming group of 1st graders (Ethan Bao, Bradley Bocking, Sam Friedland, Kyle Hiltgen, Maddy Lee, Marianne Liu, Divisha Mathur, Sophia May, Daniel Sopapunta, and Yvonne Tung) shared their class’ journey in writing and performing their own song with Mrs. Eldridge, to the tune of “We Will, We Will, Rock You.”  Of course, they offered an encore performance in front of the LASD Board.
• Tomorrow, our school community is coming together for the rescheduled Walkathon and our annual Halloween Carnival.  The moment we knew the original Walkathon was to be postponed, three amazing human beings mobilized into action to develop a plan for moving forward.  They have done the unimaginable to make all the necessary arrangements for tomorrow.  While these parent leaders have many volunteers with whom they are working, these three fierce women have expended COUNTLESS hours preparing. Barbara Daniels, Amy Heath, and Suzanne Jensen - you are an inspiration, you are role models, you are extraordinary.  Thank you for all of your selflessness in service of our community.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

Almond Spook-a-thon

• The Spook-a-thon kicks off on Friday at 1:30pm on the field with the walkathon. Make sure your child wears his/her walkathon shirt to school on Friday! You can still sponsor your child. Use this site to sponsor a child, and encourage them to reach their walkathon goals.
• The Halloween Carnival and Silent Auction take place together after school on Friday. The Halloween Carnival is from 3:30-5:30pm, with the Silent auction open from 3:45-5:15pm. Take a sneak peek at the silent auction items here.
• Remember to show your spooky spirit by entering your pumpkin in the pumpkin carving contest!  Drop off entries at the rotunda before school on Friday.
• Check your volunteer slot or sign up here.

JOB OPPORTUNITY - DAILY PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION 2:15 - 3:15PM

• The Almond Rotunda has become quite rambunctious between the first dismissal and last dismissal as younger siblings wait for older siblings after a whole day of school.  Rather than fight against the energy that is determined to find its way out of little ones through tag, chasing, and more…, we’re going to embrace it and relocate it.  The PTA has generously paid for an hour of a yard duty employee to support children whose parents are present to wait in the kinder play area, while those without parent supervision will be ushered to a designated waiting area.  Now all we need is a person to do this.  We’ve asked all of our current non-teacher staff and no one is available.  Please spread the word, we need someone from 2:15 - 3:15pm daily to support this effort.

Volunteers Needed for Teacher Appreciation Lunch 
The PTA Staff Appreciation Committee organizes a teacher luncheon each year during the November parent/teacher conferences.  Teachers and staff can quickly pop into the staff room for a warm lunch in between their conferences on Monday, November 20.  In order to host this lunch, we rely on parent volunteers to provide soups, sides, desserts and drinks. If you are able to contribute, please sign up here: Sign-Up - November Soup Parent / Teacher Conference.  Contact Lynn Kostow or Andrea Bocking with any questions.

LAEF:  Thank You!
The LAEF Phonathon was a big success with 61 parents, LASD staff, and volunteers calling LASD families.  We are grateful to those of you who have donated this school year. Your support is making a difference for all our TK-8 students by funding STEM, arts, literacy, wellness, and personalized learning.

LAEF:  $50K Challenge Match Deadline is around the corner
It’s not too late for every dollar you give to LAEF to get doubled by our Board of Directors! There are matching funds still available, but we need you to donate by 11/17. The suggested donation is $1,200 per student, and every gift in any amount will help us meet our $3.7M goal. To learn more, pledge or donate, go to LAEFonline.org.

STUDENT COUNCIL
The 2017-2018 Student Council Officers would like to introduce themselves to the Almond Community and share their vision for the year ahead.

• President: My name is Kobe Messy and I am your President!  My vision for this school year is to make this school a more healthy environment.
• Vice President: My name is Jimmy Flynn and I am your Vice President! My vision for this amazing school is to focus on a clean campus!
• Secretary: Hi, I am Sophie Brauer, and I am Almond’s Secretary. I have a vision for our school. My vision is to keep our school informed.
• Service Coordinators: Hi Almond! My name’s Paula Casares, and I’m one of your service coordinators. Hi, I am Sophie Tressler and I’m another of the Service Coordinators. Our dream and vision for our school is making our community a better place.
• Spirit Captains: HEY ALMOND!!!  My name is Julia Walker, and I am Lola Bacchi, we are YOUR Spirit Captains! Our vision is to raise school spirit!

The English Learner Advisory Committee Needs You!

• We are having our first ELAC meeting of the year on Thursday morning, 11/2 at 8:45 in the ELD room right after the morning assembly.
• What is ELAC? The English Learner Advisory Committee offers suggestions to strengthen the school’s English Language Learner program.
• Who is ELAC? ELAC is you! As an Almond parent, your feedback and ideas are essential to helping us improve the way we support our English Learners and their families.
• Please bring your ideas and questions to next Thursday’s meeting. See you there!

Almond Community Service Event - Ecumenical Hunger Program Food Pantry Volunteer Event!

• Join us to help fill Emergency Food boxes, sort cans, and stock shelves in the food Pantry at the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP). EHP is an independent, non-profit organization that provides food, clothing, household essentials, support and advocacy to the needy in their local community.  Limited spots available - First come, first served.
  • When:  Thursday, November 9th, 3:30pm to 4:30pm
  • Where:  Ecumenical Hunger Program, 2411 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto
  • RSVP: Email Polly (polly@beau-coup.com) with # of people attending
  • Deadline to RSVP: Wednesday, November 1st
  • NOTE:  Adult Supervision required - this is NOT a drop-off event.
• Please email Seema Chavan (bhimsee@yahoo.com) or Polly Liu (polly@beau-coup.com) with any questions.  
• We look forward to another wonderful event! - Almond Community Service

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

• Ryan Alaghbash, 10/24/17, Owning learning, Always making good choices. Ryan participated well in math and showed enthusiasm while learning. :)
• Ryan Alaghbash, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Liliana Aliashvili, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Sonia Borodavko, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Esmeralda Calderon, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Sarah Clark, 10/20/17, Owning learning.  Picked up something and put it away without asking.
• Juan Diaz, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Katie Empedocles, 10/10/17, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Being kind to others and putting our best effort into your work!
• Juliana Enos, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Christopher Flynn, 10/24/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Yahir Gonzalez Herrera, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Natalie Hiltgen, 10/26/17,  Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. You are so kind to others. You willingly help others. Thanks for your contagious spirit. You are an awesome classmate to others.
• Phoenix Holmkvist, 10/24/17, Owning learning. Phoenix did a great job focusing in math and stayed on task as she worked. :)
• Phoenix Holmkvist, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Karen Izaguirre, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Misael Lopez Ortiz, 10/24/17, Owning learning, Always making good choices. Misael did an awesome job in math participating and focusing. He didn't let others distract him and was engaged the whole time! :)
• Misael Lopez Ortiz, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Drew Mauss, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Nate Mauss, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
• Cory Medeiros, 10/23/17. Always making good choices , Respecting self and others. Cory is always making good choices and is so encouraging towards others. Keep up the great work, Cory! :)
• Ziana Merchant, 10/26/17, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Ziana is an active participant and always willing to lend a hand. She is an excellent role model to her peers. <3 Mrs. Better
• Syri Messy, 10/16/17, Solving problems, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. You always come to class with a contagious smile on your face and a wonderful attitude towards others. Thank you for all the help you extend to others.
• Daniel Pham, 10/18/17,Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices , Respecting self and others. You ignored a friend that was distracting you and found a different spot to sit so you could focus.
• Julia Walker, 10/26/17, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices , Respecting self and others. Julia actively participates in all of her classes. She is a budding leader, and an excellent role model to her peers. <3 Mrs. Better
• Yuta Watanabe, 10/26/17, Owning learning. You are such a hard worker. Your growth mindset towards learning English shines through. Keep up the great work!
• Siwoo Yun, 10/25/17, Owning learning. SOAR from Mrs. Powell: on task and organized with Guest teacher.
   

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.
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