ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
May 17, 2018

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• 5/14 - 5/18, 6th Graders at Science Camp
• Friday, 5/18
  • Fifth Grade Colonial Day
  • School Coffee (8:30am, STEM Lab) CANCELLED
• Saturday, 5/19, Los Altos Pet Parade
• Tuesday, 5/22, 6th Grade CSTEM Showcase (3:30-5:30pm, Blach Multi)
• Wednesday, 5/23
  • Final Walk or Wheel (WOW)
  • PTA General Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Celebration (8:30am, Multi)
• Thursday, 5/24
  • Open House
    • Class Visits, 6pm - 7pm
    • Volunteer Appreciation from Staff on Blacktop, 7:05pm - 7:15pm
• Friday, 5/25,
  • Superhero Spirit Day
  • Minimum Day - Dismissal at 12:15pm
• Monday, 5/28, Holiday - NO SCHOOL
• Tuesday, 5/29, 4th Grade Instrument Quest (5pm - 7pm, Covington Multi)
• Wednesday, 5/30, 4th Grade Instrument Quest (5pm - 7pm, Covington Multi)
• Thursday, 5/31
  • Introduction of Principal Matteroli to Students @ Morning Assembly
  • School Coffee following assembly in Multi to Welcome Principal Matteroli
• Friday, 6/1, Minimum Day - Dismissal at 12:15pm
• Tuesday, 6/5
  • TK/K CSMA Parent Concert (1pm, Multi)
  • Gr. 1 - 3 CSMA Parent Concert (2pm, Multi)
• Thursday, 6/7
  • Last Day of School
  • Morning Assembly (8:30am, Multi)
  • 6th Grade Promotion (8:45am doors open for seating, 9:00am ceremony begins)
  • Minimum Day Dismissal - 11:30am
• Wednesday, 8/22 (First Day of 2018-19 School Year)

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

Our school is participating in collecting pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters (and even dollars!) to help support Magical Bridge Playground Mountain View at Rengstorff Park from May 21 – June 1, 2018.  Magical Bridge [http://magicalbridge.org/mtnview] is a playground for children and adults of all abilities and disabilities, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities, autism, hearing and visual impairments, those with sensory challenges, and even our aging population.  

The funds collected during our coin drive will go directly to fund this community project.  The grade that collects the most funds will "win" a private playdate at Magical Bridge Playground Mountain View a week before it opens to the public!

Giving is Magical!!!

If so inspired by this project, please consider making an contribution (in any amount) through our dedicated donation page online here: http://magicalbridge.org/almond

When making a donation, kindly note what grade your child attends, so they can receive "credit" for this tax deductible donation.  Donations of $300 or above will be recognized with a tile on the donor wall inside the new playground.

For more information about Magical Bridge coming to Mountain View:
CLICK HERE to see a video about Magical Bridge.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

STUDENT COUNCIL

• 15 more Days to finish Go Green Bingo with your homeroom class! What will your class do next week to help our environment? Limit the use of your classroom lights? Use less paper? Encourage others to recycle at lunch?
• Superhero Day is May 25th! You can create a new superhero or dress up as your favorite character like Wonder Woman or Superman. Can’t wait to see all of our heroes on Friday, May 25th!

The 71st ANNUAL LOS ALTOS PET PARADE will be held on Saturday, May 19th at 10 a.m.

• The 4th grade Junior Girl Scouts would like to invite Almond families and their pets (dogs, cats, birds, goats, fish, horses, reptiles, stuffed animals or no animals at all) will meet at 9:30am in the parking lot behind First & Main restaurant.
• Look for the Almond balloons and the Almond Eagle mascot!
• Please RSVP at http://evite.me/BYG9JQPKXJ if can so we can get a preliminary headcount. -- Come Join the Fun!

PTA VOLUNTEER CELEBRATION

• Please join us at the PTA General Meeting on Wednesday May 23rd at 8:35am for a Volunteer Appreciation Celebration!  The PTA would like to specifically acknowledge the time and energy you have contributed to Almond by being a Room Parent, a PTA Board member, a PTA Committee chair or a graduating parent who has been a Super Volunteer.  
• The PTA also wants to celebrate those parents who have helped on any committee, helped serve hot lunch, volunteered in the classroom, library or programs like Living Classroom and Art Docent or done anything at all large or small to support our school.
• We will have coffee, breakfast nibbles and some special tokens of appreciation.  Looking forward to seeing everyone!
• Thank you, Rachel Harnish - Almond PTA President

FINAL WOW DAY!

• This coming Wednesday 3/23 will be our final Almond WoW! day of the school year.
• 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 a chain and colorful foot charm to hang on their backpacks.
• As usual, participating children fill out tickets before school with their first names and put them in their teachers' cans to enter a raffle for individual and class prizes.
• Come early so kids aren't late to class! Thanks for supporting your kids and our community.
• Cheryl Branson, Almond PTA

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 2018-19, SCHOOLPAK!

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

LAEF:  Help us raise the final $175K to fully fund programs at your school this year. A gift of $50, $100 or even $300 will make a difference! It's not too late to donate or apply for a corporate match. Donate now.

LAEF:  Represent your school!
LAEF is looking for Board Members. The LAEF Board is responsible for ensuring LAEF's strategic, fundraising and organizational goals. Parent donations to LAEF translate to almost $400,000 for each of our nine district schools, including your school. The LAEF Board includes at least one representative from each LASD school and we strive to include representatives from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.  For more information, contact LAEF at admin@laefonline.org, 650 559-0445.

REPEATED ANNOUNCEMENTS

LASD NURSES

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

ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK

• It’s time to order your copy of the 2017-18 Almond Yearbook!  (Yearbooks were **not** ordered during the Back-to-School Registration, so you need to do it now!)
• There are 2 easy ways to purchase your copy:  (1) Order online and pay by credit card - go to this link:  https://almondpta.squarespace.com/yearbook/order   (2) Fill out a Paper Form and pay by check or cash.  Paper forms will be available in the school office starting next week.
• Yearbooks will be delivered to the classrooms in early June and quantities are limited, so order your Yearbooks now!
• Email Leon with any questions (leonyao.pta@gmail.com)

Egan's VIKING SHOWCASE is coming on Thursday, May 31! Hi Almond Parents. If you are interested to find out what 8th grade will look like for your children, here is a great volunteer opportunity. The Viking Showcase provides the opportunity for Egan's 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 from LASD, community members, and leaders 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 Sign Up. Sign up with a friend! You can note in your sign up that you want to be paired with a specific interviewer. Questions?  Contact Natasha Stirrup at natashastirrup@hotmail.com.

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

• Simon Chen, 5/16/18, Solving problems, Respecting self and others. Talked to an adult for help during PE.
• Natalie Guibault, 5/15/18, Owning learning. Showed great stamina during Writer's Workshop! :-)
• Marianne Liu, 5/16/18, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Always shows "whole body listening" on the rug.
• Fisher Medeiros, 5/14/18, Respecting self and others. Volunteered to help with PE equipment.
• Ziana Merchant, 5/15/18, Owning learning. Mastered her 5th grade Khan Academy Mission. :-) Mrs. Better
• Sasha Middleton, 5/15/18, Showed great focus during Writer's Workshop! :-)
• Sabrina Neal, 5/15/18, Respecting self and others. Helped pick up PE equipment.
• Roman Steciw, 5/16/18, Respecting self and others. Showing kindness and compassion to your peers. :-)
• Alex Winny, 5/15/18, Owning learning. Showed great writing stamina! :-)
• German Zuniga, 5/19/18, Owning learning, Always making good choices. German was respectful during the entire music class.

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.
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