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Thursday Word February 9th

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
February 9, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Thursday, 2/16 - Strictly Strings Concert (LAHS Eagle Theatre, 7pm)
Friday, 2/17 - Crazy Hair Spirit Day
Monday thru Friday, 2/20 to 2/24 - Holiday, Winter Recess (NO SCHOOL)
Wednesday, 3/1 - Family Science Night (Multi, 6:30-8pm)
Friday, 3/3 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Tours (Egan Multi, 9:30am)
Tuesday, 3/7 - Minimum Day, School Ends at 12:15pm
Thursday, 3/16 - Bookwave Blast (Multi, 6-8pm)
Thursday, 3/30 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Panel (Egan Library, 7:00pm)
Friday, 3/31 - Incoming 7th Grade Student Tour & Elective Faire (Egan, 8:30am)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)
Monday thru Friday, 4/10 to 4/14 - Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
Saturday, 4/29 - LASD Junior Olympics (MVHS, 8am - 4pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from Mrs. Benadom

As mentioned in last week’s message, one fifth (108/541) of Almond students were born outside of the United States. These children and their families enrich our community through their global experiences. We welcome them with open arms!

A large portion of our students (433 to be exact) were born in this wonderful country. Eighty-two percent joined this planet within the state of CA, while the remaining 8% were born in 22 different states. And, just because this type of data fascinates me...13 started their lives in Illinois, 13 in Massachusetts, with the next largest count being 8 in New York.

So, what. Why does any of this even matter?

It matters because we are a beautifully diverse community. By learning about the origins and journeys of others, we can broaden our practice of acceptance and empathy. Another way to accomplish this, is through travel.

Last spring, my husband and I had the great fortune of traveling to China. The purpose of our visit was to meet Almond’s sister school, Hangzhou Dayulu Primary School. Chris and I came back transformed. We gained an incredible appreciation for the hard working nature of the Chinese people, reverence for China’s history and cultural contributions, gratitude for the growing awareness of their younger generation on the environmental impact of industrialization, and admiration for the freedoms that we often take for granted. Here are some pictures.

Part of our transformation included a charge to ensure that our own children understood the greater beauty in this world and the richness of culture. As such, we lugged them along with us on a wild summer adventure through Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It was fantastic!

Well...it is now time for Almond to host some visitors from our sister school in China. On April 26th, twenty-four 4th through 6th grade students, three teachers, and the vice principal, will arrive in Los Altos and stay until May 1st. The students will attend school on Thursday, 4/27 and Friday, 4/28. They will attend our LASD Junior Olympics on Saturday, 4/29. On Sunday, 4/30, they will venture on a tour to San Francisco and depart from Los Altos on 5/1.

We need host families.

The responsibility of a host family is to welcome a student from Hangzhou China into your home to allow them to experience what it’s like in America. They will eat breakfast with you, travel to school with you, go home with you after school, partake in your dinner ritual, and spend the night with you. The student will stay with you for 5 nights. If your family has existing commitments (e.g. karate class, swimming), this student will accompany you. On the day of Junior Olympics, you will transport them to the high school and they will remain with you and your child throughout the day. On Sunday, you will drop them off at school for their tour to San Francisco and then pick them back up that evening. The following Monday, they head back to China.

It is preferable that the host student from Almond is at the same grade level. However, if we are not able to accommodate this, then we welcome any family at any grade level to host.

Our visitors are:
4th graders – 13 (3 boys, 10 girls)
5th graders – 9 (7 boys, 2 girls)
6th graders – 2 (2 girls)

This would be a wonderful experience for your family to learn about the Chinese culture and to share your own traditions.

If you are interested, please fill out THIS form and we will be in touch.

Mr. Chan will be taking the lead in coordinating this visit. THANK YOU MR. CHAN!!!!

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS

It's Cold & Flu Season. If your child is experiencing ANY of the following symptoms, please keep them home until they are well AND call the Almond Attendance Line at 650-917-5454 to let us that they will not be at school. This saves us having to call you. Thank you.
Keep your child at home when they have any of the following symptoms:
- Fever (any temperature of 99.6 F or above
- Chills
- Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Sore throat or trouble swallowing
- Coughing, sneezing and/or running nose
- Unusually red, crusted or burning eyes
- Headache
- Rash or unusual sores or spots
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Generalized muscle aches and pains
- Head Lice

STUDENT COUNCIL

Almond has decided to fight homelessness this year. This year’s goal is to raise $2,750! Money can be donated by check, bill, and/or coins. The student council has done lots of research to conclude that we will be working with (CHP) Community Housing Partnership. Our donations to them will help buy materials for their Learning Academy, which trains and prepares people without homes to get and keep a job. We will kick off our fundraiser with an informational presentation this Friday in the Multi during Friday assembly.
The next upcoming spirit day after that is crazy hair day! This is where your kids can have the opportunity to do whatever they want to their hair, style it, color it, add everyday objects to it, and much much more. Make sure they get as creative as possible. This spirit day will take place on February 17th.

STRICTLY STRINGS CONCERT
6th Grade Orchestra Students from Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis and Santa Rita will be featured in a performance with Egan and Los Altos High School Orchestras. Come to see the progression of string students from elementary to high school. It is a free concert, everyone is invited! Thursday, Feb. 16th, 7:00 PM, Los Altos High School Eagle Theatre

LAEF: New $20,000 Matching Grant! Donate today.
LAEF is pleased to share with you that two LASD families have just offered $20,000 in matching funds! That means that all NEW donations and any dollar you give OVER your donation amount last year will be matched, up to $20,000. Since LAEF’s annual grant benefits every TK-8 student, we strive for 100% participation from all LASD families. That's why these families are giving now. To inspire you to donate by March 10th at www.LAEFonline.org.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

Family Science Night

Is on Wednesday March 1st 6:30-8 pm. Do you enjoy Science or showing kids how to make stuff? Please volunteer here to run a table -- we'll give you everything needed, it's fun! And/or please signup to help set-up the morning of the event after dropoff. Questions? Christi Crosby cdcrosby@gmail.com
What is Family Science Night? It's another Almond PTA sponsored event. Enjoy a fun night for everyone, where children (TK-6th) can explore 25+ hands-on stations. Check out Stanford Optical Society's lazer maze, see how tendons work, make slime, create with Kidizens in the STEM lab, experience the effects of lung disease and more! Family Science Night is not a dropoff event, children must be accompanied by adult.

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

Almond After-School Playdate Events - Girl Scout Fundraiser!

Egan Girl Scout Troop 61015 is hosting several after-school playdates at Almond as a fundraiser for our summer trip.
The troop will provide supervised play and activities to Almond students in grades K-3, and siblings ages 3 and up who are potty trained. Kids will have a lot of fun with board games, legos, arts and crafts, play time on the playground, and snacks will be provided. Most of the scouts have earned their babysitting badge and are Red Cross babysitting certified. Scouts will run the event, and several adults will be present to assist them.
The fee for each event is $25 per child and $10 for each additional sibling - you can pay at drop off or pick up. Parents who RSVP will be provided a permission slip to sign and turn in at the event(s). We will have extra copies to sign at check in.
All events will take place from 2:25-4:45pm in the Almond multi; click on each date to RSVP: Friday, March 10 or Friday, April 28
We hope to see your child(ren) there! Please email Sara Elkin if you have any questions.

It is Girl Scout Cookie Time!!

Starting Feb 1st, Almond Girl Scout troops will be selling all your favorite girl scout cookies right after school in the rotunda!! Cookies are $5/box; Smores and GF ToffeeTastic are $6/box. Cash and checks accepted.
Please come support your Almond Girl Scouts!
- Feb 15th- Troop 61077 6th Grade
Thank you and if you have any questions, please contact Meredith Hiltgen - Almond Girl Scout School Manager (meredith@hiltgen.com)

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…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word February 2nd

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
February 2, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday, 2/8
- SSC Meeting (Library, 3pm)
- Information Night at Egan for Incoming 7th Graders (Egan Multi, 6:30pm)
Thursday, 2/9 - School Coffee w/Keith Rocha (Library, 8:35am)
Thursday, 2/16 - DELAC (LASD iLearn, 8:45am)
Monday thru Friday, 2/20 to 2/24 - Holiday, Winter Recess (NO SCHOOL)
Wednesday, 3/1 - Family Science Night (Multi, 6:30-8pm)
Friday, 3/3 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Tours (Egan Multi, 9:30am)
Tuesday, 3/7 - Minimum Day, School Ends at 12:15pm
Thursday, 3/16 - Bookwave Blast (Multi, 6-8pm)
Thursday, 3/30 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Panel (Egan Library, 7:00pm)
Friday, 3/31 - Incoming 7th Grade Student Tour & Elective Faire (Egan, 8:30am)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)
Monday thru Friday, 4/10 to 4/14 - Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
Saturday, 4/29 - LASD Junior Olympics (MVHS, 8am - 4pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from Mrs. Benadom

There is a bench at Almond School. It is green. It sits outside of room 15. I go to this bench when I need perspective. My favorite time to rest on this bench is at lunch time. I see so much. So much beauty. So much joy.

Every so often someone comes and sits with me on this bench.

This week Devin joined me for a chat. He wanted to know what I was doing. I explained that I was watching kids play and - just thinking. Devin is new to our school this year. He is a first grader; a bundle of energy and he shines so brightly. I asked where his family is from. He told me all about his grandfather and his aunties in Kenya. I looked into Devin’s incredible eyes and said, “Devin, promise me something. Promise me that you will always be proud of where you came from. You came from a very special place and it’s important that you never forget its magic.” He said he promised. Then he ran off to play with his friends.

A whole group of fourth grade girls stopped by and offered a greeting. Some in this group (Julia, Ruby, Kimmie, Sammie) have known each other since long before kindergarten. Other friendships have flourished in recent years. They are so very kind. Generous and thoughtful. Brilliant thinkers who have much to contribute to this world.

During the transition from lower grade lunch to upper grade lunch many students flittered by and either waved or simply shouted out their hellos. Each one made me smile. There was Jacob and Kobe engrossed in conversation. And right behind them the group of 5th grade boys probably debating stats about basketball. Then came the crew that invented the cities out on the perimeters of the field. You know, Stick City and Dirt City. Many of them are 5th graders now. These invented worlds have evolved since they started them as 3rd graders (when they were little).

While a great many of our Almond students were born in the U.S., about one fifth come from far away, magnificent places; Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, Vietnam. Each of these children and their families have brought with them traditions, diverse experiences, and a world lens that contributes to a kaleidoscope of iridescence.

There is a bench at Almond School. It is green. It sits outside of room 15. I invite you to come by. From this bench, you will see a microcosm of beauty that exists at Almond School.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL (SSC) MEETING
What is SSC? It is a meeting that brings together staff and parents around school topics. We are required to have this meeting per the California Department of Education. The two teacher representatives (Mrs. Wishnack, Mrs. Burke) and myself will meet on the designated day whether or not parents attend. We would much prefer and welcome parent representatives who are interested in collaborating with us as opposed to working in isolation. On Wednesday, 2/8, we will see input from the parent committee on survey questions that the staff has crafted and continue discussing how we might create a more culturally responsive environment on our campus.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Almond has decided to fight homelessness this year. This year’s goal is to raise $2,750! Money can be donated by check, bill, and/or coins. The student council has done lots of research to conclude that we will be working with (CHP) Community Housing Partnership. Our donations to them will help buy materials for their Learning Academy, which trains and prepares people without homes to get and keep a job. We will begin collecting donations shortly – please stay tuned for more information!
The next upcoming spirit day is crazy hair day! This is where your kids can have the opportunity to do whatever they want to their hair, make an afro, color it, add everyday objects to it, and much much more. Make sure they get as creative as possible. This spirit day will take place on February 17th.
The winners for stuffed animal day last week were Mrs. Eldridge, Ms. Schubert, and Ms. Greene. Congratulations!

STEM DAYS at EGAN & BLACH

LASD & LAEF are excited to kick off the first ever STEM Days at both Egan and Blach schools this spring. STEM pervades every part of life. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. Exposing our students to different aspects of careers in the STEM fields could inspire and spark a passion in learning.
We are looking for parents, grandparents or anyone in our community who would like to share their knowledge. If you are interested, please contact Anjana Butaney at: anjana.nagarajan1@gmail.com or Karen Wilson at: kwilson@lasdschools.org.

LAEF’S BILLBOARD UPDATED TO THE $3M MARK!
Did you notice the growing arrow on the LAEF sign in front of our school? The 21 parent volunteers on our Board of Directors are pleased to announce that LAEF just reached the $3,000,000 mark! 100 families contributed in December, with donations ranging from $20 to $5,000. Thank you! With $700,000 to go to meet our $3.7M goal, every dollar counts. That’s why we’re counting on another 400 families to participate this school year. To donate or learn more about the many ways to give, please go to www.LAEFonline.org.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

SCHOOL COFFEE
Keith Rocha, the Egan Principal, will be our honored guest at the school coffee on Thursday, 2/9. He will discuss how parents can support the transition from elementary school to junior high. You do not need to be a 6th grade parent to attend. It will be valuable information for any Almond parent with children in any grade level. We hope you’ll join us.

AFTER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY
Egan Girl Scout Troop 61015 is holding an after-school playdate on Friday, February 10 from 2:25 - 4:45 in the Almond multi. The troop will provide supervised play and activities to Almond students in grades K-3 (and siblings ages 3 and up who are potty trained). The kids will have a lot of fun with board games, legos, arts and crafts, and play time on the playground, and snacks will be provided. Most of the scouts have earned their babysitting badge and are Red Cross babysitting certified, and several adults will be on hand to help supervise. The fee is $25 per child and $10 for each additional sibling - you can pay at drop off or pick up. We plan use use the funds for our summer trip. To sign up, please click here by February 8th. Please email Sara Elkin with any questions.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

It is Girl Scout Cookie Time!!

Starting Feb 1st, Almond Girl Scout troops will be selling all your favorite girl scout cookies right after school in the rotunda!! Cookies are $5/box; Smores and gltuen free ToffeeTastic are $6/box. Cash and checks accepted.
Please come support your Almond Girl Scouts!
- Feb 2nd- Troop 61026 6th Grade
- Feb 3rd- Troop 61070 2nd Grade
- Feb 6th- Troop 61025 4th Grade
- Feb 7th- Troop 61016 4th Grade
- Feb 15th- Troop 61077 6th Grade
Thank you and if you have any questions, please contact Meredith Hiltgen - Almond Girl Scout School Manager (meredith@hiltgen.com)

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word January 26th

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
January 26, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Friday, 1/27 - Stuffed Animal Spirit Day
Tuesday, 1/31 - Final Submission for Bookwave
Wednesday, 2/8
- SSC Meeting (Library, 3pm)
- Information Night at Egan for Incoming 7th Graders (Egan Multi, 6:30pm)
Thursday, 2/9 - School Coffee w/Keith Rocha (Library, 8:35am)
Wednesday, 3/1 - Family Science Night (Multi, 6:30-8pm)
Friday, 3/3 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Tours (Egan Multi, 9:30am)
Tuesday, 3/7 - Minimum Day, School Ends at 12:15pm
Thursday, 3/16 - Bookwave Blast (Multi, 6-8pm)
Thursday, 3/30 - Incoming 7th Grade Parent Panel (Egan Library, 7:00pm)
Friday, 3/31 - Incoming 7th Grade Student Tour & Elective Faire (Egan, 8:30am)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from Mrs. Benadom

Please. Watch THIS. The whole thing.

Now, let’s talk about math.

When I sat in math classes as a learner, I identified with that meerkat. Not because it lulled me to sleep, but instead because my brain went into a frantic state of panic. My amygdala response sent my thoughts into doubt and worry. “What if I get the answer wrong?” “Hurry up Erika! Everyone else is done and you’re still working on the problem.” “What is that darn formula?!?!?! I thought I had it memorized but I can’t retrieve it from my working memory.” “Why do I even need to learn this stuff? I am NEVER going to use this.”

Thank goodness I became an educator and as such have poured over tons of research that speaks to the impact of our beliefs on our achievement. And, I’m so grateful I learned this before I became a parent. This understanding has made me keenly aware of my self talk in front of my children. They have never heard me utter, “I’m not good at math,” or “math is so hard.” In fact, my poor husband got the look of death from me once when he suggested that the kids go to him for math help because mom’s better at creative things and he’s the mathematically minded of us two. He has never made another such a statement ;-).

This week I joined a team of 14 educators from LASD to hear from Jo Boaler, renown Stanford Professor of Mathematics at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. What an incredible two days! It provided our team with a deep sense of validation in our work around “the growth mindset”, reminded us of the importance to encourage students to develop varied strategies in solving problems, and also introduced us to new ways to deepen conceptual learning.

The following is directly from the youcubed website.

“These 9 findings have very strong implications for mathematics classrooms. If acted upon they could unleash the potential of millions more students.

Anyone Can Learn to High Levels
Mistakes Grow Your Brain
When You Believe In Yourself Your Brain Operates Differently
Ideas of “Giftedness” Hurt Students
Speed and Time Pressure Block Working Memory
Visual Math Improves Math Performance
When You Believe In Your Students They Do Better
Parents’ Beliefs about Math Change Their Children’s Achievement
Aligning Assessment to Brain Science”

Here’s to guiding a whole generation of thinkers into a realm where numbers, variables and symbols are friends...not foes.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

SPRING BOOK FAIR CHAIR NEEDED
The PTA still has not been able to identify a volunteer to head up the annual spring book fair. This event not only raises funds for Almond, but it also brings a bookstore right to us. Children enjoy perusing the books and get excited about losing themselves in stories or non-fiction texts. If we do not have a person (or people - could be a partnership) identified by 1/31, we will not hold a spring book fair this year. :-( Please contact Jon Meyer if you are interested in supporting this initiative at our school.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Yay! This Friday the 27th almond will be having our first spirit day of this year (2017). It’s stuffed animal day! Please make sure your children do not bring stuffed animals bigger 10 inches and do not bring any other things such as PJ’s, eye masks, etc.
Almond has decided to fight homelessness this year. 6th graders Ilanit, Nisha, and Shannon are helping the student council fight this cause. These amazing young ladies persuaded us to fight this cause based on a 5th/6th grade reading class assignment. This year’s goal is to raise $2,750! Money can be donated by check, bill, and/or coins. The student council has done lots of research to conclude that we will be working with (CHP) Community Housing Partnership. The money that we will be raising will go to supporting a new resident in their first year of tenancy, a year of after school programming for one youth, employment counseling for 3-6 weeks for one trainee, civic engagement training for one resident, and materials for CHP's Learning Academy. Stay tuned for more information!
The next upcoming spirit day after that is crazy hair day! This is where your kids can have the opportunity to do something wacky to their hair, make an afro, color it, add everyday objects to it, and much much more. Make sure they get as creative as possible. Crazy Hair Day will take place sometime in the month of February.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

BOOKWAVE

Don't forget to encourage your children to work on their Bookwave books!! The deadline for final submission is Tuesday, January 31st. You will have MLK weekend to work on them but please start early so the children are not rushed. If you need any extra pages or have questions, please contact Marissa Song at marissasong@gmail.com.
Save the Date: Bookwave Blast will be Thursday, March 16th 6-8pm at the MPR. This is the event where all the children's books will be displayed . We hope to line up a guest author to make the event extra special.
For parents who did not order Bookwave packages for their kids or would like to order packages for siblings, there is still time! The program gives every child the chance to become a published author! Students from grades K-6 can experience the joy and satisfaction of creating their very own book and then seeing it printed and bound into a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. In the spring, after the books are printed, we’ll celebrate by displaying everyone’s work at a big party, complete with refreshments and prizes a. If you would like your child to participate, please provide a check for $10 made out to Almond PTA with your child's name, grade and teacher. There will be a bin in the office for Bookwave checks. Learn more about the program here.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

It is Girl Scout Cookie Time!!

Starting Feb 1st, Almond Girl Scout troops will be selling all your favorite girl scout cookies right after school in the rotunda!! Cookies are $5/box; Smores and GF ToffeeTastic are $6/box. Cash and checks accepted.
Please come support your Almond Girl Scouts!
- Feb 1st- Troop 62879 1st Grade
- Feb 2nd- Troop 61026 6th Grade
- Feb 3rd- Troop 61070 2nd Grade
- Feb 6th- Troop 61025 4th Grade
- Feb 7th- Troop 61016 4th Grade
- Feb 15th- Troop 61077 6th Grade
Thank you and if you have any questions, please contact Meredith Hiltgen - Almond Girl Scout School Manager (meredith@hiltgen.com)

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Untitled

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
January 19, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday, 1/25
- Walk or Wheel to School Day
- PTA General Meeting (Multi, 8:30am)
Friday, 1/27 - Stuffed Animal Spirit Day
Tuesday, 1/31 - Final Submission for Bookwave
Wednesday, 2/8 - SSC Meeting (Library, 3pm)
Thursday, 2/9 - School Coffee (Library, 8:35am)
Wednesday, 3/1 - Family Science Night (Multi, 6:30-8pm)
Thursday, 3/16 - Bookwave Blast (Multi, 6-8pm)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from Mrs. Benadom

On Tuesday, we gathered as a district to grow our repertoire of strategies to support diverse learners, specifically students working to master [the English] language. If you remove the words in brackets in the preceding sentence, that lens expands to encompass ALL.

Why is this significant?

What we learned applies to ALL because ALL of our students are learning language. For some English is their native tongue, yet for others it is their second or third. Languages, and the application of language (listening, speaking, reading, writing), are full of complex structures that can take a lifetime to master.

One of the most dynamic components of language is the art of conversation and dialogue. It’s a variable construct, not fixed. It is dependent on input and its permutations can be infinite. In order to attain proficiency in this skill, students need abundant opportunities for practice. We include collaborative interactions in our classrooms to allow students to connect around content knowledge and application. Students are guided through listening techniques, restating, paraphrasing, clarifying, and summarizing. This takes different forms depending on the grade level.

In education we emphasize academic discourse to prepare students in becoming active and effective contributors to our world.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

STUDENT COUNCIL

Let’s kick off 2017 with a spirit day! The first spirit day of 2017 will be on January, 27th. Yay! It’s stuffed animal day! Please make sure your children do not bring stuffed animals bigger 10 inches and do not bring any other things such as PJ’s, eye masks, etc.
The next upcoming spirit day after that is crazy hair day! This is where your kids can have the opportunity to do whatever they want to their hair: make an afro, color it, add everyday objects to it, and much much more. Make sure they get as creative as possible. This spirit day will take place later on in the month of February.
Almond has decided to fight homelessness this year. Ilanit, Nisha, and Shannon (6th graders) are helping the student council fight this cause. These amazing young ladies persuaded us to fight this cause based on a 5th and 6th grade reading assignment. This year’s goal is to raise $2,750! Money can be donated by check, bill, and/or coins. The student council has done lots of research to conclude that we will be working with (CHP) Community Housing Partnership. The money that we will be raising will go to supporting a new resident in their first year of tenancy, a year of after-school programming for one youth, employment counseling for 3-6 weeks for one trainee, civic engagement training for one resident, and materials for CHP's Learning Academy. More information about how and where to donate will be coming shortly. Keep an eye out for informational posters around our campus.

WALK OR WHEEL

Please join us for Almond's second WoW! (Walk-or-Wheel-to-school) next week on Wednesday, 1/25. Please make a special effort to walk, bike, or scooter to school on this day. Promote less car traffic near our school, better health for our kids and the environment, and community spirit!
Participating children can pick up another colorful foot charm to add to the chains they have on their backpacks from November. (We will have some chains as well, for kids who couldn't participate in November.)
In addition, participating children should fill out tickets before school with their first names and class room number and put them in cans that I labeled with their teachers' names. I count the tickets to determine which class has the highest percentage of participants, and that class will get the Golden Shoe Award for the next two months. Turn them in, or your class won't get credit!
Also, the tickets are for a raffle; our local businesses donated prizes which we will give out at Friday assembly next week.
** Kids who bike will get tickets as they leave the bike racks. Kids who walk will get tickets and charms in the rotunda and at the back bike rack. Kids can fill out tickets and turn them in by the front entrance to the playground (by the tree mural) or by the back bike rack. This should help reduce congestion at the front of the school. Come early so kids aren't late to class! **
Thanks for supporting your kids and our community! Cheryl Branson, Almond PTA Working with Green Town Los Altos

LASD/LAEF JUNIOR HIGH STEM DAYS

LASD & LAEF are excited to kick off the first ever STEM Days at both Egan and Blach schools this spring. STEM pervades every part of life. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. Exposing our students to different aspects of careers in the STEM fields could inspire and spark a passion in learning.
We are looking for parents, grandparents or anyone in our community who would like to share their knowledge. If you are interested, please contact Anjana Butaney at: anjana.nagarajan1@gmail.com or Karen Wilson at: kwilson@lasdschools.org

LAEF’s Billboard Updated to the $3M Mark!
Did you notice the growing arrow on the LAEF sign in front of our school? The 21 parent volunteers on our Board of Directors are pleased to announce that LAEF just reached the $3,000,000 mark! 100 families contributed in December, with donations ranging from $20 to $5,000. Thank you! With $700,000 to go to meet our $3.7M goal, every dollar counts. That’s why we’re counting on another 400 families to participate this school year. To donate or learn more about the many ways to give, please go to www.LAEFonline.org.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

BOOKWAVE

Don't forget to encourage your children to work on their Bookwave books!! The deadline for final submission is Tuesday, January 31st. You will have MLK weekend to work on them but please start early so the children are not rushed. If you need any extra pages or have questions, please contact Marissa Song at marissasong@gmail.com.
Save the Date: Bookwave Blast will be Thursday, March 16th 6-8pm at the MPR. This is the event where all the children's books will be displayed . We hope to line up a guest author to make the event extra special.
For parents who did not order Bookwave packages for their kids or would like to order packages for siblings, there is still time! The program gives every child the chance to become a published author! Students from grades K-6 can experience the joy and satisfaction of creating their very own book and then seeing it printed and bound into a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. In the spring, after the books are printed, we’ll celebrate by displaying everyone’s work at a big party, complete with refreshments and prizes a. If you would like your child to participate, please provide a check for $10 made out to Almond PTA with your child's name, grade and teacher. There will be a bin in the office for Bookwave checks. Learn more about the program here.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Almond 8U MVLAGS Softball Team Sign-Up
If your daughter is 7 or 8 years old (or in second/third grade), consider signing her up for Girls' Softball. It is a wonderful way to stay active and learn a fun team sport with friends. The short spring season is purely recreational with an "everyone plays" philosophy, so no experience is required. 8U teams are school based, and there are still 3-4 spots left on the Almond team. If you are interested, go to http://www.mvlags.org/signup to register your daughter or email Coach Mona (elnaggarmona@yahoo.com) for further information. Let's play ball!

Sixth District Parent Education Conference—FREE
On Saturday, January 21 @ Peterson Middle School (1380 Rosalia Ave, Sunnyvale). Session 1: 9:30 - 11am. Session 2: 11:20 - 12:50pm. Register here. Conference is open to ALL PARENTS AND STAFF. Each workshop presented will be offered twice during the conference. Workshops to be presented are:

Becoming an Effective Participant in Site Planning and LCAP - Mary Perry, Educational Consultant
Working with Principals and Superintendents - Will Ector, Berryessa School District Superintendent
Social Media, Digital Issues - Angela Alvarado, Santa Clara County District Attorney
Supporting Schools and Communities by Expanding Quality Early Learning - Matt Tinsley, Director-Strong Start, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Mastering Emotionally-Intense Conversations- Eran Magen, Ph.D, is the founder and scientific director of the Center for Supportive Relationships
Post-Election Workshop - The Power of Parent Impact and Social Change in the Era of Common Core State Standards- Chris Norwood is currently a Milpitas Unified School District Board Trustee

Screenagers Film Showing:Growing Up in the Digital Age

Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists, solutions emerge as to how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.
Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm showings at MVHS
Registration https://screenagersfilm.eventbrite.com

Reset Your Child's Brain: Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time

Victoria Dunckley, MD, Speaking as a follow up to Screenagers, will discuss how regular screen time impacts our brain functions and how addressing screen-related side effects can provide dramatic improvements in emotional regulation, academic performance, and social interactions.
Tuesday February 7th, 7:00 pm , MVHS, Registration https://vdunckley.eventbrite.com
Due to the generosity of our sponsors, admission is free to MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series events.

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word January 19th

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
January 19, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Wednesday, 1/25
- Walk or Wheel to School Day
- PTA General Meeting (Multi, 8:30am)
Friday, 1/27 - Stuffed Animal Spirit Day
Tuesday, 1/31 - Final Submission for Bookwave
Wednesday, 2/8 - SSC Meeting (Library, 3pm)
Thursday, 2/9 - School Coffee (Library, 8:35am)
Wednesday, 3/1 - Family Science Night (Multi, 6:30-8pm)
Thursday, 3/16 - Bookwave Blast (Multi, 6-8pm)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from Mrs. Benadom

Why is this significant?

In education we emphasize academic discourse to prepare students in becoming active and effective contributors to our world.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

STUDENT COUNCIL

Let’s kick off 2017 with a spirit day! The first spirit day of 2017 will be on January, 27th. Yay! It’s stuffed animal day! Please make sure your children do not bring stuffed animals bigger 10 inches and do not bring any other things such as PJ’s, eye masks, etc.
The next upcoming spirit day after that is crazy hair day! This is where your kids can have the opportunity to do whatever they want to their hair: make an afro, color it, add everyday objects to it, and much much more. Make sure they get as creative as possible. This spirit day will take place later on in the month of February.
Almond has decided to fight homelessness this year. Ilanit, Nisha, and Shannon (6th graders) are helping the student council fight this cause. These amazing young ladies persuaded us to fight this cause based on a 5th and 6th grade reading assignment. This year’s goal is to raise $2,750! Money can be donated by check, bill, and/or coins. The student council has done lots of research to conclude that we will be working with (CHP) Community Housing Partnership. The money that we will be raising will go to supporting a new resident in their first year of tenancy, a year of after-school programming for one youth, employment counseling for 3-6 weeks for one trainee, civic engagement training for one resident, and materials for CHP's Learning Academy. More information about how and where to donate will be coming shortly. Keep an eye out for informational posters around our campus.

WALK OR WHEEL

Please join us for Almond's second WoW! (Walk-or-Wheel-to-school) next week on Wednesday, 1/25. Please make a special effort to walk, bike, or scooter to school on this day. Promote less car traffic near our school, better health for our kids and the environment, and community spirit!
Participating children can pick up another colorful foot charm to add to the chains they have on their backpacks from November. (We will have some chains as well, for kids who couldn't participate in November.)
In addition, participating children should fill out tickets before school with their first names and class room number and put them in cans that I labeled with their teachers' names. I count the tickets to determine which class has the highest percentage of participants, and that class will get the Golden Shoe Award for the next two months. Turn them in, or your class won't get credit!
Also, the tickets are for a raffle; our local businesses donated prizes which we will give out at Friday assembly next week.
** Kids who bike will get tickets as they leave the bike racks. Kids who walk will get tickets and charms in the rotunda and at the back bike rack. Kids can fill out tickets and turn them in by the front entrance to the playground (by the tree mural) or by the back bike rack. This should help reduce congestion at the front of the school. Come early so kids aren't late to class! **
Thanks for supporting your kids and our community! Cheryl Branson, Almond PTA Working with Green Town Los Altos

LASD/LAEF JUNIOR HIGH STEM DAYS

LASD & LAEF are excited to kick off the first ever STEM Days at both Egan and Blach schools this spring. STEM pervades every part of life. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. Exposing our students to different aspects of careers in the STEM fields could inspire and spark a passion in learning.
We are looking for parents, grandparents or anyone in our community who would like to share their knowledge. If you are interested, please contact Anjana Butaney at: anjana.nagarajan1@gmail.com or Karen Wilson at: kwilson@lasdschools.org

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

BOOKWAVE

Don't forget to encourage your children to work on their Bookwave books!! The deadline for final submission is Tuesday, January 31st. You will have MLK weekend to work on them but please start early so the children are not rushed. If you need any extra pages or have questions, please contact Marissa Song at marissasong@gmail.com.
Save the Date: Bookwave Blast will be Thursday, March 16th 6-8pm at the MPR. This is the event where all the children's books will be displayed . We hope to line up a guest author to make the event extra special.
For parents who did not order Bookwave packages for their kids or would like to order packages for siblings, there is still time! The program gives every child the chance to become a published author! Students from grades K-6 can experience the joy and satisfaction of creating their very own book and then seeing it printed and bound into a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. In the spring, after the books are printed, we’ll celebrate by displaying everyone’s work at a big party, complete with refreshments and prizes a. If you would like your child to participate, please provide a check for $10 made out to Almond PTA with your child's name, grade and teacher. There will be a bin in the office for Bookwave checks. Learn more about the program here.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Becoming an Effective Participant in Site Planning and LCAP - Mary Perry, Educational Consultant
Working with Principals and Superintendents - Will Ector, Berryessa School District Superintendent
Social Media, Digital Issues - Angela Alvarado, Santa Clara County District Attorney
Supporting Schools and Communities by Expanding Quality Early Learning - Matt Tinsley, Director-Strong Start, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Mastering Emotionally-Intense Conversations- Eran Magen, Ph.D, is the founder and scientific director of the Center for Supportive Relationships
Post-Election Workshop - The Power of Parent Impact and Social Change in the Era of Common Core State Standards- Chris Norwood is currently a Milpitas Unified School District Board Trustee

Screenagers Film Showing:Growing Up in the Digital Age

Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists, solutions emerge as to how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.
Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm showings at MVHS
Registration https://screenagersfilm.eventbrite.com

Reset Your Child's Brain: Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time

Victoria Dunckley, MD, Speaking as a follow up to Screenagers, will discuss how regular screen time impacts our brain functions and how addressing screen-related side effects can provide dramatic improvements in emotional regulation, academic performance, and social interactions.
Tuesday February 7th, 7:00 pm , MVHS, Registration https://vdunckley.eventbrite.com
Due to the generosity of our sponsors, admission is free to MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series events.

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word January 12

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
January 12, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Monday, 1/16 - Holiday, NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, 1/17 - Professional Development Day, NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, 1/18 - 5th Graders Share Makey Makey Social Studies Projects (Multi, 5-6pm)
Wednesday, 1/25 - PTA General Meeting (Multi, 8:30am)
Tuesday, 1/31 - Final Submission for Bookwave
Wednesday, 2/8 - SSC Meeting (Library, 3pm)
Thursday, 2/9 - School Coffee (Library, 8:35am)
Wednesday, 3/1 - Family Science Night (Multi, 6:30-8pm)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from the Almond Teaching Staff

NOTE: Italicized portions are a repeat of what was communicated regarding reading results.

Tomorrow you will receive paper copies of the 2nd administration of the iReady computerized assessment for math.

As a reminder...
This measure is just one of many that we utilize. Because iReady is only given three times a year, it serves as more of a progress monitoring tool than a data source to determine targeted instruction configurations.

We would like to share some of the results that we have noted through our analysis.

iReady Math

508 students in grades K-6 had a T1 and T2 score
In August, 54% of students performed at or above their grade level designation
At the end of November / Beginning of December, the percentage students performing at or above their grade level designation increased to 75%
420 students demonstrated a gain in their diagnostic score from T1 to T2
At the end of November / Beginning of December, the percentage of students scoring 2 or more levels below dropped from 8% to 4%

As a reminder...
Your child’s iReady reports will communicate two scores via a bar chart; Test 2 and Test 1. It will also provide a breakdown by subject area domain. As noted in the data above, many students experienced an increase of score between the two administrations. There were however students whose scale score went down. We ask you to consider three things when reflecting on this information: 1) There is a standard of error of (+/-)approximately 10-15 points. 2) This is one single measure taken on one particular day or series of days. 3) We are looking at each and every students’ results and following up on how to further support growth with specific actions from the education team at Almond.

We want ALL children to be challenged in their sweet spot of learning.

If you have any specific questions regarding your child’s iReady reading results, please address those directly to your child’s teacher.

Correlation Analysis & Reflections of iReady Math and CAASPP:
ONE of the many sources of pride for the Los Altos School District is the high achievement of our students. These accomplishments manifest in a great many ways. The contributions of our young people in the greater world around them. The higher education that they pursue. The careers into which they become leaders as adults. And, one of those measures also includes the statewide assessment known by some as the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and known by others as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Both the same assessment that is only applicable to grade 3-6. We will standardize on referring to is as the CAASPP. Because we know some of you will look at the iReady and draw correlations to how your child “might” perform on the CAASPP, we would like to directly address this as a staff.

On your iReady report, there is a green shaded area that indicates “On Level.” There is a range in this level that is “Early,” “Mid,” or “Late.” Anything to the left of the green shaded area is “below” level. Anything to the right is “above” level. If you’ve ever engaged in a conversation with Mrs. Benadom, you know she despises these terms because at times they can be used to label and limit children. This does not contribute to a growth mindset. As an Almond teaching staff we have worked tirelessly to be very mindful of the language we use in describing a child’s learning needs.

As we looked at iReady Spring 2015 results alongside CAASPP Spring 2015 results in math, we found these correlations: There was a strong correlation between the iReady relative labels of “2 or more below” and the CAASPP label of “Standards Not Met.” We also found a strong correlation between the iReady “1 level below” and the CAASPP “Standard Nearly Met.” We found that when a student achieves at the “early” or “mid” grade level designation within their age appropriate placement, the CAASPP result was typically “Standard Met.”

We found a significant discrepancy between the iReady “Above” and the CAASPP “Standard Exceeded.” We attribute this to the difference in the two subject matters and the depth and complexity of math. While iReady Math performance may report a child within the “On Level” zone and list the progress as “Late” in the Placement column, this typically translates to “Standard Exceeds” on the CAASPP. In other words, if you perceive that your child typically performs at a high level in math and when you look at the report he/she has a scale score bar that is falling within the “On Level” area and not reaching to the far right of that as you expected, please don’t panic. If your child is making progress and the trajectory is headed towards them reaching into the far end of the green, where they would be considered “Late,” our analysis points to a strong correlation that their CAASSP score will most likely be “Standard Exceeded.”

As a final reminder…
We share all of this with you so that when you receive your child’s iReady results, you may consider this information within a reasonable context. We are midway through the school year. There is still more learning to take place. We will continue to focus on the diverse needs of students and work together as a staff to personalize learning for ALL of our students. Again, we cannot emphasize enough that this is one single measure upon which we reflect to ensure we are supporting the learning of our students.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

Happy New Year from LAEF!
We hope you had a wonderful break and are looking forward to a great second half of the school year. The end of 2016 brought in many contributions! Special thanks to those families who made a tax-deductible gift or requested a match from their company. Stay tuned for an exciting update on our fundraising progress. In the meantime...for more information about LAEF or to donate, please go to www.LAEFonline.org.

NEW 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.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS - WINTER SESSION STARTS SOON

Are you looking for interesting programs after school right here at Almond?
Take a look at the options we offer including Sports, Technology, Design and Music
*NEW* offerings this Winter – Mandarin is back on Fridays.
*NEW day DezignKidz is now being offered on Wednesdays (by special request) to accommodate students participating in the Drama Club. Students will work on a fun Spring collection!
It’s simple to sign up! Go to the After School Programs schedule on the Almond website. Sign up is easy through Activity Hero.
Please contact Jennel Massey with any questions

LASD PARENT EDTALK: Assessment and Reporting

Friday, January 27, 2017 @ 9:00am in Gardner Bullis School - Staff Lounge
Join us for a Parent EdTalk on Assessment and Reporting in LASD. This talk will include an overview of standards based teaching and learning, as well as provide details on our district-wide K-8 common assessments: the Fountas and Pinnell Reading Benchmark Assessment and the iReady Diagnostic Assessment in Reading and Math. Seating is limited to 50. To reserve a place please click link: https://edtalk_1_27_17.eventbrite.com

FROM LAST HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT: When to Keep Your Child Home From School

Sometimes it is difficult, especially early in the morning, to know whether or not to send your child to school. The following guidelines are indications that you should keep him/her home. In this way, you are helping to control the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses.
Keep your child at home when he/she has any of the following symptoms: fever of 99.6 or higher, chills, vomiting or diarrhea, nausea, sore throat or trouble swallowing, coughing / sneezing / runny nose, rash or unusual sores or spots, headache, generalized muscle aches and pains, wheezing or trouble breathing, unusual red / crusted / burning eyes, head lice.
You need to keep your child home until he/she has been symptom free without medication for 24 hours.
Also, NOTIFY THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY if your child is exposed to or contracts chicken pox, mumps or measles or whooping cough (pertussis). These conditions can be life threatening to students who are undergoing therapies that suppress their immune systems.
The following information is only a guide to common childhood health concerns. Call our District Nurses (650-444-9702 or 650-537-8119) or personal health care provider for more information. Always bring a copy of a physician’s note to school and/or notify the school if your child will have an extended absence due to a health condition for 10 days or longer.

Father / Daughter Dance, Feb 11th 6:30-9pm in the Almond School Multi

Make memories that will last a lifetime during this special semi-formal event for Fathers and Daughters of all ages. Enjoy dancing, photos, decadent desserts, handcrafting mementos and a very special dance with your daughters.
There are still tickets available. $45/attendee- please RSVP to Meredith Hiltgen at meredith@hiltgen.com. Write the check to the Almond PTA and place in PTA box in office.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

BOOKWAVE

Don't forget to encourage your children to work on their Bookwave books!! The deadline for final submission is Tuesday, January 31st. You will have MLK weekend to work on them but please start early so the children are not rushed. If you need any extra pages or have questions, please contact Marissa Song at marissasong@gmail.com.
Save the Date: Bookwave Blast will be Thursday, March 16th 6-8pm at the MPR. This is the event where all the children's books will be displayed . We hope to line up a guest author to make the event extra special.
For parents who did not order Bookwave packages for their kids or would like to order packages for siblings, there is still time! The program gives every child the chance to become a published author! Students from grades K-6 can experience the joy and satisfaction of creating their very own book and then seeing it printed and bound into a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. In the spring, after the books are printed, we’ll celebrate by displaying everyone’s work at a big party, complete with refreshments and prizes a. If you would like your child to participate, please provide a check for $10 made out to Almond PTA with your child's name, grade and teacher. There will be a bin in the office for Bookwave checks. Learn more about the program here.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Screenagers Film Showing:Growing Up in the Digital Age

Through surprising insights from authors and brain scientists, solutions emerge as to how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world.
Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm showings at MVHS
Registration https://screenagersfilm.eventbrite.com

Reset Your Child's Brain: Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time

Victoria Dunckley, MD, Speaking as a follow up to Screenagers, will discuss how regular screen time impacts our brain functions and how addressing screen-related side effects can provide dramatic improvements in emotional regulation, academic performance, and social interactions.
Tuesday February 7th, 7:00 pm , MVHS, Registration https://vdunckley.eventbrite.com
Due to the generosity of our sponsors, admission is free to MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series events.

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word January 5th

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
January 5, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Monday, 1/16 - Holiday, NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, 1/17 - Professional Development Day, NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, 1/18 - 5th Graders Share Makey Makey Social Studies Projects (Multi, 5-6pm)
Wednesday, 1/25 - PTA General Meeting (Multi, 8:30am)
Tuesday, 1/31 - Final Submission for Bookwave
Wednesday, 2/8 - SSC Meeting (Library, 3pm)
Thursday, 2/9 - School Coffee (Library, 8:35am)
Monday, 4/3 - STEM Expo School Day Showcase
Tuesday, 4/4 - STEM Expo Community Night (Multi, 4:30pm - 6:00pm)

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from Mrs. Benadom

“A Hat Full of Sky” by Terry Pratchett is a fanciful satire about a young girl learning to be a witch. It is written beautifully and in it I found a quote that captivated me.

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

Welcome back!

May 2017 be one full of fresh perspectives and brilliant hues.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

ALMOND SINGERS
Our next practice Tuesday, January 10, 2017 @ 7:30am. Mr. Chan

BOOKWAVE

Don't forget to encourage your children to work on their Bookwave books!! The deadline for final submission is Tuesday, January 31st. You will have MLK weekend to work on them but please start early so the children are not rushed. If you need any extra pages or have questions, please contact Marissa Song at marissasong@gmail.com.
Save the Date: Bookwave Blast will be Thursday, March 16th 6-8pm at the MPR. This is the event where all the children's books will be displayed . We hope to line up a guest author to make the event extra special.
For parents who did not order Bookwave packages for their kids or would like to order packages for siblings, there is still time! The program gives every child the chance to become a published author! Students from grades K-6 can experience the joy and satisfaction of creating their very own book and then seeing it printed and bound into a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. In the spring, after the books are printed, we’ll celebrate by displaying everyone’s work at a big party, complete with refreshments and prizes a. If you would like your child to participate, please provide a check for $10 made out to Almond PTA with your child's name, grade and teacher. There will be a bin in the office for Bookwave checks. Learn more about the program here.

LASD: We Want You … Substitute Opportunities

The Silicon Valley economy is doing well and unemployment is quite low. For LASD, this means fewer people interested in substitute teaching. We are looking for parents who would be interested in helping our schools by becoming a substitute teacher. This may initially sound a bit unnerving, but it is actually a wonderful way to learn more about the learning of our students. You can choose your schedule, working as often or as little as you would like as well as at the schools of your choosing. We could really use your help, so please consider the opportunity.
If you would consider joining our substitute teaching pool, we are offering a free mini-training hosted by our Human Resource & Curriculum Departments. Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 19th from 9am-12:30pm. For more information click the link here and/or contact Erin Green, Director of Student and Staff Services at egreen@lasdschools.org

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

[none at this time]

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

"Science in January" weekly program at the Los Altos Library

Presented by the Children’s Discovery Museum, “Science in January” will be held every Wednesday afternoon for four weeks. Children in kindergarten and up with their caregivers are invited to explore science in various activities.
- Wednesday, January 4 – Science Magic –Make a paperclip levitate using magnetic force. Use a wand of static electricity to command a spinning straw and a floating butterfly. Children will perform science magic tricks that will amaze their family and friends.
- Wednesday, January 11 – Air We Go – Although you can’t see it, air is all around you, pushing, flowing, and moving. Children will explore 10 different activities to find out some of the things that air does, use air power to make things fly or hover, and examine local air samples.
- Wednesday, January 18 – Gadgets in Motion! – Children will explore the physics of motion using fun, creative gadgets. Escaping air causes a propeller to spin. A single marble uses momentum to move a mountain of marbles. Straws and paper transform into a launching rocket.
- Wednesday, January 25 – Amusement Park Science – The spins, drops, and twists of amusement parks have thrilled both kids and adults for ages. But how often do we think about the science involved in roller coasters, the carousel, and wacky fun houses? Children and parents together will explore gravity as they create miniature roller coasters, experience the power of springs as they make their own pinball machines, and test their strength while learning about air and water power.

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…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word Dec 15th

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
December 15, 2016

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

12/19 thru 1/2 - December Vacation
Tuesday, 1/3/17 - School Resumes

SCHOOL MESSAGE

...from the Almond Teaching Staff

At this morning’s school coffee, Mrs. Benadom, Mrs. Leach, Ms. Greene, and two of our awesome 4th graders shared Almond’s use of data binders to enhance student self-efficacy and to provide formative feedback on learning progress. Here is the presentation that was shared. Here is a Tweet of the superstars themselves.

Tomorrow you will receive paper copies of the 2nd administration of the iReady computerized assessment for reading. This measure is just one of many that we utilize. Because iReady is only given three times a year, it serves as more of a progress monitoring tool than a data source to determine targeted instruction configurations.

We would like to share some of the results that we have noted through our analysis.
iReady Reading

505 students in grades K-6 had a T1 and T2 score
In T1, 61% of students performed at or above their grade level designation
In T2, the percentage students performing at or above their grade level designation increased to 77%
389 students demonstrated a gain in their diagnostic score from T1 to T2
In T2, the percentage of students scoring 2 or more levels below dropped from 12% to 7%

Your child’s iReady reports will communicate two scores via a bar chart; Test 2 and Test 1. It will also provide a breakdown by subject area domain. As noted in the data above, many students experienced an increase of score between the two administrations. There were however students whose scale score went down. We ask you to consider three things when reflecting on this information: 1) There is a standard of error of (+/-)approximately 10-15 points. 2) This is one single measure taken on one particular day or series of days. 3) We are looking at each and every students’ results and following up on how to further support growth with specific actions from the education team at Almond.

We want ALL children to be challenged in their sweet spot of learning.

If you have any specific questions regarding your child’s iReady reading results, please address those directly to your child’s teacher in January when we return from winter break.

To better understand the predictive capacity between iReady and the statewide CAASPP assessment for grades 3-6, we examined both data sets from 2015-16. There was a strong correlation between the iReady relative labels of “2 or more below” and the CAASPP label of “Standards Not Met.” We also found a strong correlation between the iReady “1 level below” and the CAASPP “Standard Nearly Met.” We found that when a student achieves at the “early” or “mid” grade level designation within their age appropriate placement, the CAASPP result was typically “Standard Met.” And finally, students with a score designating performance at the “late” stage of their designated grade level or at a level above their grade level, the corresponding CAASPP score tended to be “Standard Exceeded.”

We share this with you so that when you receive your child’s iReady results, you may consider this information within a reasonable context. We are midway through the school year. There is still more learning to take place. We will continue to focus on the diverse needs of students and work together as a staff to personalize learning for ALL of our students. Again, we cannot emphasize enough that this is one single measure upon which we reflect to ensure we are supporting the learning of our students.

In January, we will be sending home the iReady math results.

Happy Holidays! See you in 2017.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

STUDENT COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Get your kids excited because this Friday is PJ day! Make sure your kids do not bring any eye masks or stuffed animals, as these items may distract the kids from their learning. In addition to PJ day, our Winter Break begins this weekend! Kids will be dismissed from school for two weeks. Happy Holidays!
Student Council has also decided that they would like to add some new items to the Student Council bulletin board on campus that includes a goal, quote, joke, etc. of the week. This board is meant for kids to learn new things and have a little fun at school. The board will begin after winter break.

LAEF: TWO WEEKS LEFT FOR CORPORATE MATCHING IN 2016
Did you know that in 2015/16, LAEF received $590,000 in corporate matching funds? Wow! With less than 20 days until the end of the tax year now is the time to submit a matching request to your company (or to make your tax-deductible annual donation for 2016). Find out if your company matches by going to www.doublethedonation.com/laef or donate at LAEFonline.org.

LAEF: COMPUTER SCIENCE ROCKS IN LASD!
LASD joined schools around the world to celebrate Computer Science Education Week December 5-9. This annual event was dedicated to inspiring K-12 students to take interest in computer science. Our students participated in the Hour of Code program organized by Code.org. This year’s LASD theme was Code with a Buddy and TRY Something NEW. Go to LAEFOnline.org and find out why it's important to learn computer science and what LASD students in each grade are learning this year.

DRAMA WORKSHOP FOR ASPIRING ACTORS
To prepare for the upcoming drama season, Egan Girl Scout Troop 61015 is offering a workshop to help children gain confidence with performances and in everyday life: stage presence, acting, singing and dancing, and expressions. This is a fundraiser for Girl Scouts and a fun afternoon for kids!

Friday, January 6th from 2:35 - 5:00 pm, Almond Multi-purpose Room
$20 for the first child and $10 for additional siblings
Grades 2-6
Snacks included

Click here to sign up. Any questions? Send an email to Sara Elkin.

ALMOND SINGERS
Our next practice isn’t until Tuesday, January 10, 2017 @ 7:30am. There is no practice on January 3, 2017. Have a peaceful and joyful holiday break! Mr. Chan

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

[none at this time]

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALMOND BROWNIE GIRL SCOUT TROOP 61070 COLLECTS COATS for ONE WARM COAT

Nearly 50 million Americans are currently living in poverty. For these families and individuals, a warm coat is a budget extra they simply cannot afford. Almond Brownie Girl Scout Troop 61070 invites you to make a difference in your neighbors' lives by donating coats during our upcoming coat drive!
Brownie Troop 61070 is working with One Warm Coat to collect clean, gently used warm coats from November 28 through December 16 in the Almond office. Our second grade Brownie troop will write loving notes to place in a pocket of each coat and deliver them to Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto. All donated coats will be given to local children and adults in need. Please consider making a difference in someone’s life by sharing your outgrown or unused (but in good condition!) coats!

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Quick Links…

School & Community News now found via Peachjar:

https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=53999

Almond Elementary School Website

Thursday Word December 1st

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
December 1, 2016

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Thursday, 12/1 - Kindergarten & New Family Information Night (7:00pm)
Tuesday, 12/6 - Almond Singers Winter Concert (Multi, 7:00pm)
Wednesday, 12/7 - PTA General Meeting (Multi, 8:30am)
Friday, 12/9 - TK/K Holiday Concert (Multi, 1pm)
Monday, 12/12 - Gr. 4-6 Holiday Concert (Multi, 1pm)
Tuesday, 12/13 - Gr. 1-3 Holiday Concert (Multi, 1pm)
Wednesday, 12/14 - School Site Council, SSC (Library, 3:05pm)
Thursday, 12/15 - School Coffee (Library, 8:35am)
12/19 thru 1/2 - December Vacation
Tuesday, 1/3/17 - School Resumes

SCHOOL MESSAGE
We hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and/or friends.

The Leadership Team would like to share the following highlights with you about the happening in your children’s instructional program.

TK - Students are learning to color in the lines without “Peek a Boos”. Tkers are also learning to consistently write their names “the kindergarten way” - with a Capital Letter followed by lowercase letters.
Kinder - Students are reading different version of Gingerbread stories, studying character traits, and analyzing the different endings of the stories to strengthen their abilities to compare and contrast.
Gr. 1 - In science students are beginning a unit focused on plants and animals. They will plant rye and alfalfa grass to observe the changes in their growth. For language arts students are learning about holidays around the world to expand their knowledge about diverse celebrations. They will focus on main ideas and key details.
Gr. 2 - Students just finished writing paragraphs from the perspective of a turkey. Their aim was to try to convince people that they were dancers, knights, and more...but definitely not turkeys! Perspective taking is a critical skill for children to practice.
Gr. 3 - Students finished their integrated Space & Time unit that focused on blending information about the sun, moon, and stars with language arts. The focus was on asking and answering questions, text features, and writing explanatory paragraphs.
Gr. 4 - Students led very successful parent conferences using student reflections and data notebooks as a guide. It’s so important that we cultivate the voices of our students and they were front and center during the conferences. Students are now starting a focus on narrative writing in ELA, a unit on explorers in social studies, and will continue their reflective practices in their student data notebooks.
Gr. 5 - Students had a fantastic week utilizing the Design Thinking process to become “Agents of Change” at Almond School. They gained empathy for students and staff by making observations and interviewing others about problems they identified on campus, and then began iterating potential solutions. At the end of the week, all 5th graders gathered together to share their ideas and many have continued with their thinking to transform our school into a more positive environment.
Gr. 6 - Students are beginning a new, three-week unit on plot in their homeroom classes. The learning goal for students is to master the five elements of plot: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. They will also be analyzing how a character changes over the course of the plot’s development.
STEM - Next week is Hour of Code! All schools in LASD are participating in this event. The STEM Lab will be open at lunch from 12:00-12:40 on Monday and Wednesday for parents, teachers and students to code together.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids!

It's time to build bird nests, make yummy soup from the veggies we harvest from our school gardens, discover symmetry inside fruit, and make natural dyes from plants! If you like all those things and more, please consider becoming a Living Classroom docent! Living Classroom is looking for docents to help deliver hands-on garden-based lessons to the students of the Los Altos School District. No experience necessary as we provide all the training needed! Our Winter Docent Training will take place at the LASD iLearn Studio on Monday mornings from 9 - Noon on 12/5, 12/12*, 1/9 and 1/23 (*the 12/12 training will take place at the Palo Alto School District Science Resource Center). Please click here to view our Winter Training Flyer. Apprentice-style training also available for those who can’t make our Monday morning trainings.
Questions? Email us at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103. For more information about Living Classroom, please visit our website at www.living-classroom.org.

BOOKWAVE

Don't forget to encourage your children to work on their Bookwave books!! The deadline for final submission is January 31st. You will have the holiday break and MLK weekend to work on them but please start early so the children are not rushed. If you need any extra pages or have questions, please contact Marissa Song at marissasong@gmail.com.
For parents who did not order Bookwave packages for their kids, there is still time! The program gives every child the chance to become a published author! Students from grades K-6 can experience the joy and satisfaction of creating their very own book and then seeing it printed and bound into a keepsake they’ll treasure forever. In the spring, after the books are printed, we’ll celebrate by displaying everyone’s work at a big party, complete with refreshments and prizes a. If you would like your child to participate, please provide a check for $10 made out to Almond PTA with your child's name, grade and teacher. There will be a bin in the office for Bookwave checks. Learn more about the program here: http://www.almondschool.org/Almondes/Portal/214-Bookwave

LAEF: Winter Music Concerts & Computer Science Ed Week
We hope you enjoy the sounds of the season coming from our 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grade LASD Winter Music Concerts in addition to hearing inspiring stories of our K-8 students participating in “Hour of Code” during Computer Science Education Week. Parent donations to LAEF have made these enriching educational experiences possible. That’s why we are requesting your support by donating at LAEFonline.org by 12/31.

LAEF: Buy Your Holiday Cards from Tiny Prints & Support LAEF
By ordering your holiday cards from Tiny Prints (link here), you’ll save on your cards and LAEF will receive a donation from every order! It’s another easy way to support LAEF during this season of giving. Thank you!

Egan Holiday Craft Faire
Come shop for the holidays! Egan School seventh and eighth grade students are busily making all kinds of homemade crafts and gift items to sell at their annual Holiday Craft Faire. Items for sale will include pillows, soaps, jewelry, clothing accessories, hats, candles, origami as well as ornaments, holiday crafts, decorations and food items. The Holiday Craft Faire will take place on Friday, December 9 from 7:30a-12:30p at Egan School (100 West Portola Avenue). Everyone is welcome!

Amond Community Services: Family Giving Tree Wish Drive
Dear Almond Families,

There is still time to sign up and make a child’s holiday wish come true this holiday season! We’d like to thank all of the generous Almond Families who have signed up to help us reach our goal of making 125 wishes come true - we are getting close but still have about 20 wishes to fulfill!
Here is how to help:
- 1) Pick a gift from THIS spreadsheet and enter your name in Column B for any wish you would like to grant. It's a great activity to look at the list with your child and go shopping together. It is truly eye opening to see an 8 year old boy wishing for a soccer ball and a 14 year old girl wishing for twin size sheets or VTA tokens.
- 2) If you prefer to give a cash donation (we will shop) - please paypal Seema (bhimsee@yahoo.com) or write a check made out to Seema Chavan. Please email us and we will add your name to the spreadsheet so you can see the wish(s) you fulfilled.
Gifts are due to Seema or Polly by Wednesday, December 7th so we can have time to sort, tag and drive them over to the warehouse prior to our event.
A few details:
- Please label each gift with its corresponding ID # (column D) and name of child when dropping off.
- Gift should be unwrapped and the recommended value is between $20 and $40.
- You only need to purchase one gift for each child per row, either the 'Wish' or 'Alternate Wish' item.
- Donations can be dropped off to one of our homes (address provided on wish list spreadsheet) or in the Almond office (box labeled Family Giving Tree)

Thank you so much for supporting this wonderful cause. Let’s all pitch in and do something GREAT together this holiday season!
Cheers,
Almond Community Service

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

[none at this time]

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Almond Brownie Girl Scout Troop 61070 Collects Coats for One Warm Coat

Nearly 50 million Americans are currently living in poverty. For these families and individuals, a warm coat is a budget extra they simply cannot afford. Almond Brownie Girl Scout Troop 61070 invites you to make a difference in your neighbors' lives by donating coats during our upcoming coat drive!
Brownie Troop 61070 is working with One Warm Coat to collect clean, gently used warm coats from November 28 through December 16 in the Almond office. Our second grade Brownie troop will write loving notes to place in a pocket of each coat and deliver them to Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto. All donated coats will be given to local children and adults in need. Please consider making a difference in someone’s life by sharing your outgrown or unused (but in good condition!) coats!

Thursday Word November 10th

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD

November 11, 2016

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Friday, 11/11 - Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
11/14 thru 11/18 - Sixth Grade Science Camp
11/21 & 11/22 - Parent Conferences
11/23 thru 11/25 - Thanksgiving Vacation
Thursday, 12/1 - Kindergarten & New Family Information Night
Tuesday, 12/6 - Almond Singers Winter Concert (Multi, 7:00pm)
Wednesday, 12/7 - PTA General Meeting (Multi, 8:30am)
Friday, 12/9 - TK/K Holiday Concert (Multi, 1pm)
Monday, 12/12 - Gr. 4-6 Holiday Concert (Multi, 1pm)
Tuesday, 12/13 - Gr. 1-3 Holiday Concert (Multi, 1pm)
Wednesday, 12/14 - School Site Council, SSC (Library, 3:05pm)
Thursday, 12/15 - Principal Coffee (Library, 8:35am)
12/19 thru 1/2 - December Vacation
Tuesday, 1/3/17 - School Resumes

SCHOOL MESSAGE - special guest post by Sandra McGonagle

I have loved my time at Almond this week and feel privileged for filling in for Erika while she is out. Thank you for the warm welcome. While walking in and out of classrooms, speaking with students about their learning, and chatting with parents about their kids, I have observed first-hand deep and connected learning experiences all around the Almond campus.

The hustle and bustle of deep learning brings to mind two of my favorite quotes. The first is from an older post from Thomas Friedman’s January, 2013, NY Times Op-Ed piece It’s P.Q. and C.Q. as Much as I.Q, where he discusses the idea that individual initiative and a high skill set is what’s required to compete in today’s “hyperconnected” world.

“The winners won’t just be those with more I.Q. It will also be those with more P.Q. (passion quotient) and C.Q. (curiosity quotient) to leverage all the new digital tools to not just find a job, but to invent one or reinvent one, and to not just learn but to relearn for a lifetime.”

I love the idea of relearn. Another of my favorite quotes comes from Alvin Toffler, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Unlearning and relearning is tough to do; some find it terrifying while others find it exhilarating. The educational community around the world is right in the throes of this, and it is difficult for many to unlearn the practices that have been “successful” for so long. We can’t keep preparing kids for our past or present, but must make sure they are set up for their future, whatever that may bring.

This brings me to Almond - our Almond teachers are leading the way in unlearning and relearning what school could look like if it tried to meet the individual needs of ALL students - if the learner was at the center. They are working tremendously hard to get it right, to refine the model, to learn what’s working and what needs tweaking. They are tireless in their belief that students deserve the best education for THEIR futures and not our past. It’s happening at Almond; it’s happening across LASD; it’s happening across the US; and it’s happening throughout the world. It’s happening because our kids deserve it - mine and yours.

Here’s to unlearning and relearning!

Sandra

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

Project Cornerstone ABC Reading

The Project Cornerstone/ABC Reader book of the month is Don’t Laugh At Me by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin. The book talks about how people might look different on the outside but on the inside we are all the same. It shares a message about empathy, compassion and caring. The goal of this month’s lesson is that students learn to practice intentional acts of caring and peaceful conflict resolution, in order to create a school where every student feels accepted, valued and safe.

The Kindergarten students are reading Talk and Work it Out by Cheri Meiners, which focuses on peaceful conflict resolution. The students are learning specific tools to resolve conflicts and get along, as well as how to accept and respect someone else's position.

Our 6th grade students are continuing the discussion about friendship by focusing on problem-solving friendship dilemmas and practicing how to make a genuine apology when one is required to mend a friendship.

For more information about the ABC Program, see our section [http://losaltos.cyberschool.com/Almondes/5731-ABC-Program.html] on the Almond website or contact Jen Walker, Julie Watson, or Mona Einaggar

Miss Ohlund’s Reading Group: Betta Fish Update

Hello Almond Community, this is Miss Ohlund’s reading group, and we have something to tell you. We now have a betta fish thanks to the families who donated money! The fish is a male and has beautiful blue, white, and red colors. Everyone in our class is very happy because we finally got the fish. We have just enough food for our fish and some nice decorations. In addition, we have a small house that looks like a pineapple. We really want to thank the Popescu Family for donating lots of the supplies, including a 10 gallon tank and filter. With the extra-large tank and our knowledge about how to keep male bettas separated, we were able to add new dividers to include even more fish! Another red betta and a purple-blue betta were added to our tank this week. All three fish are very happy! We like to look at the fish when we come into the classroom in the morning. Our fish move very gracefully, and are very interesting to watch. Did you know that pets help kids learn in the classroom? Thank you for your support!

LAEF: What’s an IST? Meet LASD’s New Instructional Support Teacher for Math

Ms. Noirin Foy is the district’s first IST, supporting 6-8^th grade math by providing our 27 math teachers with professional learning, coaching, and modeling. Teaching math in LASD since 2011, she is also strengthening LASD’s collaboration with the math ISTs from Mountain View and Los Altos High Schools. Check out Ms. Foy’s new LASD Math website with resources for students when they need extra support or practice and learn more at LAEFOnline.org!

LAEF’s meets $100K Challenge...raising $2.5M so far

LAEF’s Board of Directors is pleased to report that we have just reached $2.5M in donations on our way to meeting our $3.7M goal for the current school year. A special thank you to the families who made first time gifts or increased their annual donation to help us meet our $100,000 Matching Challenge from LAEF’s Board of Directors and the Honor Roll of Realtors Leadership Circle. For those of you that have not yet participated, please join our community’s 1,700 donors by making a contribution that is meaningful for your family. LAEFOnline.org

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED

LOST & FOUND

There are many items in the Lost & Found racks! Please come look for your family's missing jackets and other belongings. And a note to the wise: if you write your student's name on things, we do our best to return things to their owners! We will be bagging up all items and donating them to those in need the Friday before the week of Thanksgiving.

PARENT CONFERENCES, a note from Mrs. Benadom

The goal of parent conferences is to set aside time on 11/21 & 11/22 for a face to face conversations with families about learning. Of course we hope that many families will be able to partake in this experience on these two days. Please know that it is not mandatory.

A challenge exists in our current construct for parent conferences. The days reside during Thanksgiving week when many of our families plan vacations and travel. This reality presents a challenge for our teaching staff. The two days that our district has set aside for conversations about learning are underutilized and teachers must then offer conferences outside of these two days in order to maintain a close connection with parents.

In grades TK-4, conferences will remain at the homeroom level. Any conference requests from parents outside of 11/21 & 11/22 will be based on the teacher’s availability. Grades 5/6 are more complex due to regrouping and rotations. A teacher potentially sees 120+ students. If a family requests conferences outside of the designated days (11/21 & 11/22), we will collect this request and get back to you with an alternate day. Almond will provide an additional sub day to teachers in grade 5/6 for conferences that were not able to be held in November.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Los Altos Little League Spring Softball and T-ball Baseball Registration open NOW

Softball has two divisions: T-ball (5-7 year olds/TK-1st grades) and Minors (7-9 year olds/2-3rd grades); T-ball Baseball is for 5-6 year olds
Teams are created with classmates and friend requests. There is one practice and one game a week and all are held at neighborhood Los Altos schools. The season runs from early March to early June.
For more information and to register online, go to www.losaltoslittleleague.com Contact Alison Rao (alisonrao@gmail.com) with questions related to softball and Dean Dragoli (ddragoli@gmail.com) for questions related to T-Ball Baseball

Girls On The Run!!

Do you have a daughter in grades 3, 4 or 5? Does she like to have fun? Then join Almond’s newest after school activity “Girls On The Run”! “Girls On The Run” or GOTR inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, curriculum that creatively integrates running. Over a period of 10 weeks the girls participate in lessons that encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical development. The season finishes in a “Girls on the Run” 5k event. This celebratory, non-competitive event is the culminating experience of the curriculum. Completing the 5k gives the girls a tangible understanding of the confidence that comes through accomplishment as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

It is GOTR mission to offer our program to all girls who desire to participate, regardless of their financial status. Families who are unable to pay the program registration fees will be awarded financial assistance based on their income. Apply for financial assistance by November 30 to receive a scholarship code in time to register for the lottery. ALL need-based scholarships must be applied for and approved BEFORE registering a girl for the program. More information here.

Registration OPENS Dec. 3 - 5, register anytime in the window. The lottery for teams will be Dec. 6, 2016. GOTR 2017 Season Program begins the week of March 6 through May 20 on Wednesday & Fridays from 3:05pm - 4:35pm at Almond School. The program fee is $230. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Heath

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