Content Row
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
May 5, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
CAASPP stands for CA Assessment for Student Performance & Progress
CAT stands for computer adaptive test.
PT stands for performance task.
SCHOOL MESSAGE
Please excuse the delay in this week’s message.
STATE OF THE SCHOOL
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO
SAFETY REMINDER
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
Spring Music Concerts Are Coming: May 10th-19th
“I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.” ― Plato. LAEF is proud to sponsor LASD Music for grades 4-6. Join us and enjoy classical pieces, folk songs, popular music, and film favorites. Fourth graders will be singing and playing their recorders. Fifth graders will have their 1st full ensemble performance in the band, orchestra, or chorus. Sixth will have their final performance in the band, orchestra, or chorus. For more information, please go to http://www.losaltos.k12.ca.us/District/Portal/Music.
Environmental Stewardship Day on Saturday, May 20 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Egan's VIKING SHOWCASE is coming on Thursday, June 1, and we need your help!
Previously known as Portfolio Day, the Viking Showcase provides the opportunity for our 8th grade students to reflect on their personal and academic growth and to receive acknowledgment for their work. This is accomplished in an interview format. We welcome parents and community members to volunteer as interviewers. The interview process increases student motivation, builds a sense of accomplishment, and fosters community involvement with the school. Past participants have truly enjoyed this invaluable experience. Please save the date and sign up to volunteer at Viking Showcase Volunteer. Confirmation emails will be sent once we have assigned all volunteers. See Egan’s website for more information: Viking Showcase. If you have any questions, please contact Gayle Mujica at gaylemujica@mac.com or Susan Cook at Susanlyanecook@gmail.com.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS-ACTION Required
Please complete a short survey on your experience with the after school programs this year. I appreciate your feedback so we can make next year even better!
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
ALMOND’S FIRST RUMMAGE / YARD SALE IS HERE!!!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2017-2018
YEARBOOK
S.O.A.R. CELEBRATIONS - (NEW SECTION)
(listed alphabetically by last name)
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
April 27, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
CAASPP stands for CA Assessment for Student Performance & Progress
CAT stands for computer adaptive test.
PT stands for performance task.
SCHOOL MESSAGE
...from Mrs. Benadom
Last Friday, our community came together in celebration of cultural diversity at the International Festival. The PTA leaders who coordinated the event gave so much of themselves to make the evening a great success. Throughout the night, my heart filled with gratitude and I saw beauty in the pride our families had for their cultural heritage.
Yesterday evening, almost two dozen Almond families welcomed 24 student visitors from Hangzhou, China. My heart filled with gratitude and I saw beauty in the generosity of those opening their homes.
This coming Friday is Junior Olympics. There is something electrifying about this annual LASD tradition. It brings together all of our schools in fun spirited competition. Our students are able to excel in the physical realm to balance all their hard work in growing their brains.
This incredible day cannot happen without the support of volunteers. I just checked out the list and there are MANY empty slots for this Saturday’s Junior Olympics. We are still in need of much support. If you haven’t yet done so, please visit THISspreadsheet and indicate how you can lend a hand to make this event a success.
And, I am certain, that on Saturday, my heart will be filled again with gratitude as I see beauty in the cheers of encouragement from all the spectators to our brave athletes.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
STUDENT COUNCIL
LAEF: Let’s Celebrate Junior Olympics – It’s Countdown Time!
We’re looking forward to celebrating our 4-6th grade LASD athletes and community spirit with you this weekend! During this “Countdown to J.O.”, we would like to thank the 2,003 families who have donated to LAEF this school year with 563 families also requesting a corporate match. We are getting close to the finish line, and that means we are counting on a few more families to donate, request a match or fulfill their pledges by Friday, April 28th. Contributions in the past week have ranged from $100 to $5,000, and every dollar you give will help us meet our $3.7M fundraising goal. Donate today at www.LAEFonline.org or bring a check to the school office this week. Thank you!
JUNIOR OLYMPICS DETAILS
GIRLS ON THE RUN MOCK 5K, 5/3 @ 3:05pm
Come cheer on a group of students who have been training for a 5k on Saturday, 5/20 at Vasona Park. These students will run a mock 5K at the field this coming Wednesday. It would terrific if they had some support and encouragement.
ALMOND’S FIRST RUMMAGE / YARD SALE IS HERE!!!
PROJECT CORNERSTONE / ABC READING
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
April 20, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
CAASPP stands for CA Assessment for Student Performance & Progress
CAT stands for computer adaptive test.
PT stands for performance task.
After administering the interim assessments this week, we adjusted the schedule to add time for the ELA performance task because it requires a substantial amount of writing and we wanted to spread it over two days. The changes are noted in red above.
SCHOOL MESSAGE
...from Mrs. Benadom
His name is Felix. He’s a first grader. He has blonde hair and has recently been dawning a Stanford cap. His voice is a delightful melody full of sweet tones. He’s curious. His stride includes joyful bounces and his smile communicates warmth and openness. He’s from Sweden and has friends who are from all over the world. Language is never a barrier when he plays. He’s welcoming and loving.
This week, Felix held up a drawing [see this Tweet] to me and said, “Mrs. Benadom, what do you see?” With utter amusement at his excitement, I responded, “Felix, I see two things.” The wonder evident in his pleasure, that I saw what he saw, was precious. He exclaimed, “YES!!!! A duck and a rabbit.” We talked about which was which and for Felix, regardless of the orientation of the image, he saw both each time. I shared that for me when the ears were to the left, that looked more like a rabbit. When they were to the right, I could better visualize the duck’s beak.
Felix was my teacher this week. He reminded me that perspective is critical and personal to each of us. Sometimes we can get locked into a way of looking at something. Sometimes our past affects what we see. Sometimes we need hear someone else’s perspective to inform our own.
On Tuesday evening, my learning was extended at the school coffee titled, “Supporting Your Child’s Gender Journey.” Kristin Clouser, Almond’s school psychologist, did a tremendous job in sharing information about the evolution of the construct of gender. In the presentation, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains, “I think that once you learn language the language shapes how you think more than your thoughts shape what language does. It takes a very creative person to start inventing words for thoughts that they had for which no words applied.”
Not only was the content of the evening relevant and applicable to today’s youth, we had some superstars from our own community participate. Thank you so much to Cade Maw, Mark Tanner, and their amazing mom, Dr. Jill Hagenkord. Here is a link to thepresentation and a Tweet capturing their glory.
My learning for the week is not yet complete…
I am really looking forward to tomorrow night’s International Festival. One of our incredible 4th graders, Sophie, stopped and chatted with me this morning as she walked her bike past the front of school. With a smile from ear to ear that held a deep sense of pride, she announced this will be her 3rd International Feast and that her family is bringing an Austrian pasta called spaetzle. My mouth is already watering! I can’t wait to try all the treats.
What I am most looking forward to though - is reconnecting. Chatting with children and their families. Listening to stories of how they found their way to Los Altos. In essence, broadening my life perspective by learning more about those I am blessed to know.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
LAEF’s in the final S-T-R-E-T-C-H
As we gear up to celebrate 50+ years of physical education and community spirit with Junior Olympics on April 29th, LAEF is also in the final stretch to meet our $3.7M fundraising goal. Therefore, we are requesting your partnership by making a donation or requesting a corporate match before Friday, the 28th to help us cross the finish line. Please give online today at www.LAEFonline.org or bring a check to the school office this week.
An Exciting LASD STEM Update
Launched four years ago with seed funding from LAEF, the STEM program is now recognized nationally for its well-integrated student-centered projects. New in 2016-17, LASD expanded the elementary robotics program to now include 2nd-5th graders. Some of the robots students are creating include a Bristlebot using a small motor, a Jitterbug run by solar energy, an Innovativebot and an Ambot with four motors and a breadboard. Exciting! Your donations to LAEF fund our outstanding team of STEM teachers and district STEM Coordinator this school year.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2017-2018
JUNIOR OLYMPICS GRADES 4-6
21st ANNUAL BOB CELESTE 6TH GRADE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
STUDENT COUNCIL
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
YEARBOOK
INTERNATIONAL CUISINE, TAIKO DRUMMERS, MEXICAN DANCERS/MUSIC AND IRISH CHILDREN'S DANCES
FEW SPOTS REMAINING - ALMOND COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT: RISE AGAINST HUNGER (April 22nd) - Signup Required
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
April 6, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
CAASPP stands for CA Assessment for Student Performance & Progress
CAT stands for computer adaptive test.
PT stands for performance task.
SCHOOL MESSAGE
STEM EXPO
Congratulations to all students who participated in this week’s STEM expo. Your projects were fantastic! Thank you also to Beth Leach, Laura Ohlund, and Jasen Stuart for all of your support in organizing this event. None of this would be possible without funding from LAEF. Here are a couple tweets showcasing the awesomeness. Tweet 1. Tweet 2.
CAASPP - Grades 3 thru 6
S.O.A.R. Celebrations
Please note the new section below repeated announcements that honors students who have been recognized for soaring.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
LAEF: We need 30 more families to donate in April
We are a month way from Junior Olympics where LAEF will make its 2016-17 annual grant to LASD. With $257,180 to raise between now and then, every dollar you donate will help. Did you know that if 30 more families gave at each school, we would reach our goal? Your donation to LAEF directly benefits your child’s education THIS school year. Please give online at LAEFonline.org or bring a check to the school office before Spring Break.
STUDENT COUNCIL
YEARBOOK
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
EVENING SCHOOL COFFEE: SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S GENDER JOURNEY
INTERNATIONAL CUISINE, TAIKO DRUMMERS AND IRISH CHILDREN'S DANCES - PLEASE JOIN US FOR ALMOND'S 4TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION/POTLUCK
PTA Almond Used Laptop Donation Drive EXTENDED
Do you have a working laptop that you don't need anymore? We can put it into good use. We are collaborating with a non-profit organization called Equal Opportunity Technology to provide refurbished laptops to needed students at Almond Elementary School. You may bring your working and password-disabled laptop with driver, operating system and charger (if available) to the office before spring break. All donations are tax-deductible. For any questions, please email Alice Lee at joy268@hotmail.com.
FEW SPOTS REMAINING - ALMOND COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT: RISE AGAINST HUNGER (April 22nd) - Signup Required
S.O.A.R. CELEBRATIONS - (NEW SECTION)
(listed alphabetically by last name)
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
[None at this time.]
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:
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
March 30, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
CAASPP stands for CA Assessment for Student Performance & Progress
CAT stands for computer adaptive test.
PT stands for performance task.
SCHOOL MESSAGE
Spring is a time of year when blossoms greet us after a long, wet winter.
[Seventy five percent of our school year is complete, we have 44 remaining instructional days.]
These bursts of color serve as reminders that beauty still exists.
[We educators need to find resilience in our souls to focus our gaze on the bright ways that our students shine.]
Ocean Park Standoff’s song “Good News” captures this mindshift. It is easy to get lost in the craziness of the world.
Here is a whole lot of good news...
ALMOND EAGLES S.O.A.R. CELEBRATIONS
(listed alphabetically by last name)
STUDENT - YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE LEADERSHIP CELEBRATIONS
(listed alphabetically by last name and submitted by the community)
STAFF - YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE LEADERSHIP CELEBRATIONS
(listed alphabetically by last name and submitted by the community)
PARENTS - YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE LEADERSHIP CELEBRATIONS
(listed alphabetically by last name and submitted by the community)
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
EVENING SCHOOL COFFEE: SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S GENDER JOURNEY
LAEF’s LEADERSHIP CIRCLE & APRIL 7TH
SUMMER SCHOOL OPTIONS
More will be explained in a subsequent message. We apologize for the confusion. Working to gain clarity and will then reach out.
STUDENT COUNCIL
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD, issued on a Friday
March 24, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL MESSAGE(S)
3 HOST FAMILIES STILL NEEDED
FINAL CALL TO CELEBRATE LEADERS
Please take the time to celebrate a student, staff, or parent leaders by writing a brief statement about what makes them extraordinary. These will be compiled during the week of 3/27. Please submit a different entry HERE for each leader (student, staff, parent) you wish to celebrate.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
STEM EXPO VOLUNTEERS
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
REMINDER OF LOST & FOUND PURGE PROTOCOL
Starting with January, we will clear out the Lost & Found at the end of each month to keep it from getting ridiculously full. Please put your child's name or at least a family name in your children's clothing and we will do our best to return it to you. Remind your children to look in the Lost & Found regularly.
FROM THE ALMOND OFFICE
If your student will be absent for any reason, there are two easy ways to inform the school office. You may call the Attendance Line at 650-917-5454, or email us at almondsecretary@lasdschools.org. This ensures that we can account for all 543 students every day. Thank you!
LASD NURSE - Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6
Students currently in 6th grade must have proof of a Tdap or Dtap (Pertussis or Whooping Cough) booster given after their 7th birthday (after 10th birthday is recommended) in order to begin 7th grade in August of 2017. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office as soon as possible!
Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids!
PTA Almond Used Laptop Donation Drive March 20-31
Do you have a working laptop that you don't need anymore? We can put it into good use. We are collaborating with a non-profit organization called Equal Opportunity Technology to provide refurbished laptops to needed students at Almond Elementary School. You may bring your working and password-disabled laptop with driver, operating system and charger (if available) to the office from March 20 -31. All donations are tax-deductible. For any questions, please email Alice Lee at joy268@hotmail.com.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALMOND AFTER SCHOOL PLAY DATE EVENTS - Girl Scout Fundraiser!
Speaker Series: Excellent Sheep: Reframing College as a Time for Self-Discovery
Awesome Comedic Jugglers Performing at MVHS on Friday, March 31 at 7 pm
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
March 16, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
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
Please review the LASD Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) with your children. Throughout the year, we have to review this with students at all grade levels. Recently, we’ve had some breaches in appropriate use. It is important for students to know that in order to keep every member of the Los Altos community safe in the online world, there is network technology that filters and scans all communications that are transmitted. School staff are notified by our Director of Technology of “content alerts.”
Here are two things to highlight from the linked policy above.
District issued accounts are to only be used for educational purposes. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable sending your teacher, your parent, or your principal an email - don’t send it to your friend.
Non district accounts are NOT to be accessed on any school device.
The school staff have the usernames and passwords of every school issued account. We will begin more actively monitoring use by “popping in” and scanning emails and digital documents. We are doing this to ensure we promote a safe online environment for students.
One possible consequence of not following the AUP is a temporary freeze on the account, along with a temporary restriction from using technology at school. We will still ensure that students are able engage in their learning by providing a non-digital alternative.
As our world becomes more technology laden, it is that much more critical that we all demonstrate ethical behavior in this digital realm. These are the years for our children to learn how to make these types of positive choices.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
TONIGHT!!! - BOOKWAVE BLAST
Please join us for the 2017 Bookwave Blast. The event will be on Thursday, March 16, from 6-8 pm. Bring your family and peruse all of this year's books, be inspired by our guest author, Arree Chung, and take home your child's masterpiece! It promises to be a fun family evening. Light refreshments will be served. No author at your house this year? You can still join us for the Blast. This is an Almond Community event and all are invited to come! Please complete the google form here to RSVP for the event, so we can plan accordingly. ~ The Bookwave Team
About the Author: Arree Chung makes picture books, but he did a lot of other things before finding his true passion. Arree began his career in consulting where he made lots of spreadsheets. Arree left the consulting field for an opportunity at Pixar. At Pixar, Arree learned the secret to success: loving what you do. To pursue his passion, Arree enrolled at the Art Center College of Design where he learned to draw, paint, and think differently. In Steven Turk's Children's Book Illustration class, Arree discovered his love for creating children's picture books and the rest is history! In the past decade, Arree has worked in the games industry as a Designer and Art Director. Arree’s first debut picture book, “Ninja!” hits shelves June 3rd, 2014. When Arree is not practicing his Ninja moves, you can find him playing basketball or riding his bike. Here is a link to his website. And, we will be raffling prizes for those coming to the event!
CELEBRATE LEADERS
Please take the time to type a student, staff, or parent leader's name and write a brief statement about what makes them extraordinary. These will be compiled during the week of 3/27. Please submit a different entry HERE for each leader (student, staff, parent) you wish to celebrate.
It's WoW! time again!
Please join us for Almond's Walk-or-Wheel-to-school day next week on Wednesday 3/22. 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 and January. (We will have some chains as well, for kids who couldn't participate before.)
In addition, participating children fill out tickets before school with their first names and put them in their teachers' cans, for two purposes.
I count the tickets to determine which class has the highest percentage of participants, and that class gets the Golden Shoe Award for the next two months. Turn them in, or your class won't get credit! So far, Mrs. Hall and Miss Ohlund's classes have gotten turns with the shoe.
Also, the tickets are for a raffle; local businesses donated prizes which we will give to students at Friday assembly following WoW! Day.
** We will have three stations this month for taking tickets and giving out charms: the front and back bike racks and the rotunda (only for walkers.) Come early so kids aren't late to class! **
Thanks for supporting your kids and our community!
$20K Matching Challenge Met!
Did you notice the growing arrow on the LAEF sign in front of our school? LAEF is pleased to announce that we just reached the $3.3M mark in donations! Thank you to the 57 families who contributed $24,774 to meet our $20,000 Matching Grant. With $386,690 to go to reach $3.7M, every dollar counts. That’s why we’re counting on another 224 families to donate at www.LAEFonline.org.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
SPRING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
Time to look at the *new* offerings for the Spring Semester at Almond!
What programs are offered ? All of our old favourites are back again as well as **NEW** programs such as a new Ukulele & Guitar class and Skateworks is making a return to Almond. The Hidden Villa off campus program is back as well!
It’s easy to sign up! To see all the offerings go to the After School Programs schedule on the Almond website. Sign up is easy through Activity Hero.
We want to hear from you. Thanks for all the feedback at the end of last year. If you have comments or suggestions on great new programs you’d like to see offered at Almond please contact Jennel Massey.
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.
FROM THE ALMOND OFFICE
If your student will be absent for any reason, there are two easy ways to inform the school office. You may call the Attendance Line at 650-917-5454, or email us at almondsecretary@lasdschools.org. This ensures that we can account for all 543 students every day. Thank you!
LASD NURSE - Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6
Students currently in 6th grade must have proof of a Tdap or Dtap (Pertussis or Whooping Cough) booster given after their 7th birthday (after 10th birthday is recommended) in order to begin 7th grade in August of 2017. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office as soon as possible!
Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids!
It's time to plant tomatoes, dissect flowers, explore the plants used by the Ancient Civilizations, and harvest and make yummy pretzels from the winter wheat the students planted last Fall! 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 Spring Docent Training will take place Monday mornings in March from 9 - Noon on 3/6, 3/13, 3/20 and 3/27. Please click HERE to view our Spring Training Flyer which lists the locations of each of our trainings. Apprentice-style training also available to 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
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD - March 10, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL MESSAGE
Your child’s report card on Powerschool will include trimester 2 grades this evening. The report card is available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. For a detailed reminder of how to log on and navigate the Parent Portal, viewthis screencast. Once you are logged in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, you will click the Print Reports icon in the left navigation area. If you click the custom report card link provided, your child’s report will be generated for you.
The report should easily print in one or two pages. We have only sent home reports for families who we know do not have computer access at home.
The report card includes scores on standards assessed both during quarter 1 and quarter 2. The Grade Level Curriculum Guides include details on essential standards taught and assessed in Grades K through 6.
You can also see the mastery rubric and student friendly version of the mastery rubric here. Our LASD Learning Behavior (Non-Academic) Rubric is also included for your reference. Report cards include both standards based academic and learning behavior (non-academic) grades.
A trimester based report card is only a snapshot of a student’s academic progress at a point in time. The most accurate and current information on your child’s academic progress in his/her classes can be accessed through the Powerschool parent portal on an ongoing basis. Please contact your child’s teacher for questions regarding your child’s progress.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
TWO BIG DEADLINES FOR LAEF ON FRIDAY, MARCH 10TH
$10,000 in matching still available!
In the past three weeks, LAEF has received $10,000 in NEW donations and increases OVER last year’s donation amounts. It’s countdown time, and we still have $10,000 from two LASD families to match YOUR donation this year. LAEF’s goal is 100% participation from every family, so every dollar counts. Please donate today at LAEFonline.org.
LAEF Needs Your Input! Survey Deadline Approaching!
We launched our survey last week to give the parent community an opportunity to share your feedback about LAEF-funded programs this year including enrichment programs, smaller classes, teacher support, and more at your child’s school. Your input will help our board of 20 parent volunteers, and LASD Leadership determine the Foundation's funding priorities for the 2017-18 school year. Thank you for your participation.
FROM THE ALMOND OFFICE
If your student will be absent for any reason, there are two easy ways to inform the school office. You may call the Attendance Line at 650-917-5454, or email us at almondsecretary@lasdschools.org. This ensures that we can account for all 543 students every day. Thank you!
BOOKWAVE BLAST
SPRING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
IT’S NOT JUST A SCIENCE FAIR, IT’S A STEM EXPO!!!!
PTA Almond Used Laptop Donation Drive March 20-31
Do you have a working laptop that you don't need anymore? We can put it into good use. We are collaborating with a non-profit organization called Equal Opportunity Technology to provide refurbished laptops to needed students at Almond Elementary School. You may bring your working and password-disabled laptop with driver, operating system and charger (if available) to the office from March 20 -31. All donations are tax-deductible. For any questions, please email Alice Lee at joy268@hotmail.com.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR YMCA PARTNERS
Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids!
LASD NURSE - Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6
Students currently in 6th grade must have proof of a Tdap or Dtap (Pertussis or Whooping Cough) booster given after their 7th birthday (after 10th birthday is recommended) in order to begin 7th grade in August of 2017. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office as soon as possible!
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
REMINDER OF LOST & FOUND PURGE PROTOCOL
Starting with January, we will clear out the Lost & Found at the end of each month to keep it from getting ridiculously full. Please put your child's name or at least a family name in your children's clothing and we will do our best to return it to you. Remind your children to look in the Lost & Found regularly.
LASD EdTalk – The LASD Student Math Experience
Wed, March 15, 2017, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Covington School Multipurpose Room, 205 Covington Road, Los Altos, CA 94024
PTA Almond Community Service - Planting Vegetables at Hidden Villa! RSVP Required
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALMOND AFTER SCHOOL PLAY DATE EVENTS - Girl Scout Fundraiser!
Girl Scout Junior Troop 61025 is Partnering with Kids for Peace
The 4th grade girl scout troop 61025 is working on a community service project along with Kids for Peace. We are collecting the following items to help a new school in a small village in Kenya! We need glue sticks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, pencils, GOOD STRONG pencil sharpeners, markers, kid scissors, gauze, bandaids. We have put a box for the donations inside the Almond Office until Friday, March 17. Any donations will be matched with the money we earned from our cookie sales! We appreciate your help.
Speaker Series: Excellent Sheep: Reframing College as a Time for Self-Discovery
ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
March 2, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL MESSAGE
...from Mrs. Benadom
Last night’s Science Family Night was truly amazing! There was a forensic fingerprint station, three tables of animal organs and parts, sound makers, laser challenges, bees, bats & other live animals, a Lego building room, and more...it was SO MUCH FUN!
Children were enthralled and running from one spot to another. Sixth grader volunteers hosted stations with a partner parent. The excitement in the room was audible and it was the perfect way to end the day.
Science is a field that fosters curiosity, creativity, predictions, overcoming failure, experimentation, risk, the translation of ideas in words so others can understand, modeling, looking into the past, looking inside of things, looking to the future, observing, etc…
At Almond, our goal is to foster thinkers, not acquirers of knowledge and skills. Tonight was a terrific example of what it looks and sounds like when minds are active and engaged.
Here are a few Tweets that captured the evening.
Mission Impossible, Batty, Photo Collage
Thank you Bronwyn O’Malley, Christi Crosby, and Tara Larson for organizing this remarkable evening. We are so blessed to have a PTA that sponsors such events. Thank you also to the many parent volunteers and organizations that set up, served as educators for the evening, and who cleaned up. YOU are a huge part of what makes Almond a very special place.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
IT’S NOT JUST A SCIENCE FAIR, IT’S A STEM EXPO!!!!
STUDENT COUNCIL
LASD NURSE
The District Nurses will be conducting Hearing screening at Almond for all Kindergarten, 2nd, 5th grades on Friday, March 3. If your child has a known hearing loss, please notify the Health Services Staff before the day of the screening. The nurse will mail a referral form and call the parents of students who do not pass the Hearing screening.
PTA Almond Community Service - Planting Vegetables at Hidden Villa! RSVP Required
LASD EdTalk – The LASD Student Math Experience
Wed, March 15, 2017, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Covington School Multipurpose Room, 205 Covington Road, Los Altos, CA 94024
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
REMINDER OF LOST & FOUND PURGE PROTOCOL
Starting with January, we will clear out the Lost & Found at the end of each month to keep it from getting ridiculously full. Please put your child's name or at least a family name in your children's clothing and we will do our best to return it to you. Remind your children to look in the Lost & Found regularly.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Girl Scout Junior Troop 61025 is Partnering with Kids for Peace
The 4th grade girl scout troop 61025 is working on a community service project along with Kids for Peace. We are collecting the following items to help a new school in a small village in Kenya! We need glue sticks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, pencils, GOOD STRONG pencil sharpeners, markers, kid scissors, gauze, bandaids. We have put a box for the donations inside the Almond Office until Friday, March 10. Any donations will be matched with the money we earned from our cookie sales! We appreciate your help.
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®ion=53999
Almond Elementary School Website
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ALMOND THURSDAY FRIDAY WORD
February 17, 2017
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL MESSAGE
...from the Almond Staff
The following are highlights from each grade level in regards to the current focus of instruction.
TK |
Counting to 20 and beyond. Learning to put sounds together to make words and to chunk words. Writing complete sentences with correct capitalization. Learning about our 5 senses. Learning about our emotions and that it is “OK to be mad but not OK to be mean”. |
K |
Celebrated the 100th day of school: did 100 exercises, counted 100 snacks, made a 100 bead necklace. Science - Arctic animals, wood and paper, went to Youth Science Institute: pond animals, insects, nature walk |
1 |
Paying it Forward video (collaboration with buddies to film and edit) Finishing up Foss Plants and Animals. About to begin NGSS Light and Sound Unit. Opinion Writing. Place Value in math. |
2 |
Second grade has been very excited as we begin our unit on our earth. We are integrating science and language arts and students become geologist and study rocks and their formations. We have been able to compose written pieces describing rocks, their properties, and how they formed using nonfiction texts and observations. |
3 |
Next week every third grader will have an opportunity share what they learned about one Famous American. They will use their presentation skills to teach others about people who have contributed much to make our country great. They have been learning about character traits and what it takes to accomplish greatness. |
4 |
In 4th grade we are working on math talks. Students are given the same problem (this month is long division) and they share different strategies to solve the problem. This promotes student ownership of learning. The students lead the discussion as the teacher becomes the recorder/ facilitator. Verbalizing their process allows students to move from knowledge (the how) to understanding (the why/ what the number sentence represents). |
5 |
In 5th grade we are working on taking ownership over our learning and sharing our learning with others. Each 5th grader became an expert on one element on the periodic table and created posters to teach about that element. Together, the 5th graders have nearly re-created the entire periodic table with element expert posters. Students can’t stop admiring each other’s work and learning about our amazing elements! |
6 |
Many of our sixth graders are owning their learning by fulfilling their responsibilities to complete work, but others are not. We are working hard to determine whether it is a “skill” vs. “will” issue. What that means is - are students not participating because the learning is not accessible - OR - is it the will of the student who is not motivated to do so. We are exploring how we might celebrate those owning their learning and better motivate those not doing so. Ask your child what they are getting accomplished in class. Are they coming prepared to class? Are they owning their learning? Or evading the hard work of growing their brains? |
STEM |
Almond STEM celebrates Engineering Week with the Pasta Challenge! TK-6 students are invited to build something completely from pasta and bring it to school for display on Friday, March 3, 2017 to Room 5. |
General |
Students from China will be visiting in April. We’re starting the planning process. |
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW
STUDENT COUNCIL
LAEF: Get Matched in February
Love is in the air this week, and two LASD families have offered to match your LAEF donation! That means that all NEW donations and any dollar you give OVER your donation amount last year will be doubled, up to $20,000. Celebrate this Valentine’s Day and get matched by giving to LAEF at www.LAEFonline.org.
LAEF Celebrates the 100th Day of School
Did you know that LAEF pays for teachers at every school enhancing your child’s education every day? LAEF funds STEM, PE, Art, Computer Science, Music, Library, smaller class sizes in K-3 and an Instructional Support Teacher for Math. Learn more at www.LAEFonline.org about what your child has learned in his or her first 100 days, thanks to contributions to LAEF.
Family Science Night is Wednesday March 1st 6:30-8 pm.
It's an Almond PTA sponsored event with a pizza and bake sale too! Enjoy a fun night, where children (TK-6th) can explore 25+ hands on stations. Check out Stanford Optical Society's lazer maze, make slime, create with Kidizens in the STEM lab, observe Bees, Bats, Reptiles and more!
HOT LUNCH SESSION 3 IS NOW OPEN FOR ORDERING!!!
MARCH 6TH-JUNE 7TH 2017
BOOKWAVE BLAST
DELAC – (DISTRICT ENGLISH LEARNER ADVISORY COMMITTEE) MEETING
The district will hold a DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Committee) meeting on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 8:45am in the district Board Room. All are welcome to attend.
ALMOND COMMUNITY SERVICE - Planting Vegetables at Hidden Villa! RSVP Required
When: Saturday, March 11, 10-12 pm
Where: Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills
What: Let’s get dirty, build community and help a wonderful local organization! Come help Hidden Villa prepare their fields and plant vegetables! Volunteers are welcome to stay after to hike and see farm animals. We have reserved a covered area for those who want to stay for a picnic afterwards. Light snacks will be provided. Hidden Villa has 11 acres of sustainable, organic agriculture contributing to our local food security. The food they grow is sold at the Los Altos Farmers Market and is available to "shareholders" of the Community Supported Agriculture Program. They also donate 25% of the annual harvest to our low-income neighbors through the Community Services Agency of Mountain View.
RSVP: Space is limited so please email polly@beau-coup.com to reserve your space and indicate number of people attending. First come, first served.
PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - REPEATED
REMINDER OF LOST & FOUND PURGE PROTOCOL
Starting with January, we will clear out the Lost & Found at the end of each month to keep it from getting ridiculously full. Please put your child's name or at least a family name in your children's clothing and we will do our best to return it to you. Remind your children to look in the Lost & Found regularly.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Los Altos Library to Celebrate Extended Hours
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE $10 ON SRVCPTA'S PARENTING CONFERENCE!
11/13/24 10:45 PM