Dear Almond Families,

Our very own Almond Singers held their Spring concert last night and I wish that I could bottle up and share their exuberance, dedication and gorgeous singing. Thank you to Margaret Barnett, Mary Hamilton and Sandrine Steciw for supporting our students all year in this wonderful musical endeavor!

It was fun to see the many students, parents and community members that joined us last Saturday at Mountain View High School for Junior Olympics. Almond students really represented! Thank you again to Alix Apfelberg, Kirsten Sirey and Vicki Lee for all of their hard work over the past year in support of this community-building event. Thank you also to all of the parents who volunteered their time to coach and train students as well as oversee the events on Saturday.

I am happy to share that our first week of CAASPP testing for grades 3-6 has been off to a great start. Thank you to our PTA room parents and Christi Crosby for supporting our kiddos with special treats every day during testing. Almond staff also collaborated on an encouraging (and hilarious) video we shared with students, which you can check out below.

Here's to meaningful community events!

Raquel

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Upcoming Events--for your calendar!

• 5/8, Wed, PTA Board Meeting, conference room
• 5/9, Thurs, DELAC meeting, 9:00 am, iLearn studio at District Office
• 5/9, Thurs, Almond Drama Club presents The Lion King, 4:00 pm
• 5/10, Fri, Almond Drama Club presents The Lion King, 7:00 pm
• 5/11, Sat, Almond Drama Club presents The Lion King, 2:00 pm
• 5/11, Sat, Almond Drama Club presents The Lion King, 7:00 pm
• 5/18, Sat, Los Altos Pet Parade, 10:00 am, details below
• 5/19, Sun, Almond Family Picnic, 4:00 pm, Almond field
• 5/22, Wed, PTA General Meeting

ALMOND DRAMA PRESENTS - THE LION KING! May 9th -May 11th

Come see our wonderful Almond actors and actresses bring the exciting tale of The Lion King to life next week!

• Performances

  • Thursday, May 9th - 4:00 Cast A

  • Friday, May 10th - 7:00 Cast B

  • Saturday, May 11th - 2:00 Cast B, and 7:00 Cast A

• Tickets $10.00 each

• Tickets will be available for purchase beginning on Friday, May 3rd at 3 pm. They will also be available at drop off and pick up the following week and immediately before every performance. Cash or check only.

• For more information email Luisa at smithluisa605@gmail.com or Christi at cdcrosby@gmail.com

SNACKS & FLOWERS available for purchase!

The 6th graders will sell $1 snacks and drinks at each Lion King intermission and immediately after each performance. In addition, $2 flowers will be sold. The 6th graders will use the proceeds to purchase and install their class gift to the school. They are excited to give Almond School and all of the current and future students a GaGa Ball Pit! Thank you for your support.

Opportunities!

Get Involved and Help Almond School

The Almond PTA is getting ready for the 2019-2020 school year and as part of that we need volunteers to run the committees listed below. Many of these roles can be done outside of school hours if desired and documentation and/or guidance from previous chairs is available to make things simple and straightforward. You are also welcome to partner with a fellow parent to run a committee. 

Why should you get involved at Almond? Helping a PTA committee is a great way to learn more about what Almond has to offer, meet Almond teachers and staff and get to know other Almond families! Also, without parent volunteers we are not able to provide these programs so please consider getting involved. If interested, contact Andrea Bocking (andreabocking@gmail.com). Thank you!

Family Science Night - if you attended Almond's recent Family Science Night, then you saw why this amazing event is a student and parent favorite! We need someone who can organize and lead a team of volunteers to implement this fun evening.

Community Service - this committee helps inspire Almond students and families to give back through participating in nonprofit events. We need someone who can manage our participation in these events. More info about Almond Community Service can be found at https://almondschool.org/Almondes/Portal/almond-community-service.

Almond Directory - the PTA produces the Almond directory that gets distributed yearly to each family. We need someone who can create this printed directory using past templates or printing capabilities from our online directory.

Staff Appreciation - this committee honors Almond's teachers and staff with regular events or treats, such as a small welcome back present, Halloween candy and decorations, fall conference soup/salad luncheon and teacher/staff appreciation week. We need someone who can organize these activities and coordinate volunteers to provide food for some of the events.

Yearbook - this is a fun project that involves making the yearbook and helping distribute it to the classes. Let your creative side shine and keep a wonderful Almond tradition alive.

After School Programs - each season Almond offers students various after school programs such as sports, technology, art, languages and more. We need someone who can coordinate with the program vendors and the school to continue to offer these programs.

Drama Club - if your child is currently enrolled or interested in Almond's Drama Club, then consider helping out! We need a co-chair for next year's Drama Club that can help and learn from our expert returning chairs.

6th Grade Events - we need a 6th Grade Events Committee (typically 2-6 parent volunteers) to plan and coordinate activities that are unique to 6th graders. If you will have a 6th grade student next year, please consider volunteering to chair this important committee and make your student's 6th grade year a blast!

Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed for 2019-2020 School Year

We are currently seeking volunteers to help with serving hot lunch during the 2019/2020 school year. Time commitment on scheduled days is approximately 11:40am-12:40pm. You may specify how often and what weekdays you are available. Main responsibilities are helping to hand out food and ensuring children in the lunch line are moving through quickly.

If you are able to volunteer, please email Laura Gao at lauvid@gmail.com or you may sign up on this spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TjluEZuTIOZb13mg7SW95of5oFMerts9KPr9T2Vao9o/edit#gid=1896942969

**Bollywood Party**

Our Almond Bollywood party is happening soon on May 11! Only a few tickets left. Men are welcome too!

Join us on a trip to Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood! What LA is to Hollywood, Mumbai is to Bollywood. There will be Indian food, Bollywood music, dance, and more surprises. This is a party you don't want to miss! Adults only.

https://almondschool.schoolauction.net/auction2018/catalog?id=138

Community Events and News

Free Magic Show at Los Altos History Museum – Magician Phil Ackerly performs tricks and comedy in a family-friendly show at Los Altos History Museum, Wednesday, May 8 at 6:30 pm. Before and after the show, attendees may browse the Museum's exhibition, "Silicon Valley Eats: a Taste for Innovation."

YogaKids classes are active and fun educational experiences! Lesson plans are designed to be interactive, engaging, inclusive, and playful. By creatively blending the scientific benefits of yoga poses, breathing techniques and philosophies with games, reading, math, science, music and art, children are empowered to learn about and love themselves, each other, and the world around them! Contact teacher Holly Love yogakids.com/teacher-directory/Holly-Love/ to sign up TK-2nd graders for Almond’s afterschool YogaKids class Tuesdays 2:45-3:30. 

The 72st ANNUAL LOS ALTOS PET PARADE will be held on Saturday, May 18th at 10 a.m.

Please join your fellow Almond families and their pets (dogs, cats, birds, goats, reptiles, stuffed animals or no animals at all) to meet at 9:30am in the parking lot behind The Post (formally First & Main) restaurant.

Look for the Almond balloons and the Almond Eagle mascot!

Please RSVP at http://evite.me/CMnsd7t6rp if can so we can get a preliminary head count. -- Come Join the Fun!

The 18th Annual Los Altos Hills Pathways Run/Walk: Saturday, May 11, 2019 – 9 AM Early Bird Registration Discount: for $10 off, use discount code “pathways19” Come out for the 18th Annual Los Altos Hills Pathways Run/Walk, and make Los Altos Hills Pathways your Run * Sweet * Run! This fun annual event begins at the Westwind Community Barn, runs through the Byrne Preserve and extends into the Los Altos Hills Pathways system. The run features a hilly and challenging 5K and 10K Pathways Run/Walk and a 1-Mile Fun Run. Special athletic race shirts will be provided along with finisher medals to those who register. To register, volunteer or for more race information contact Sarah Robustelli 650-947-2518, srobustelli@losaltoshills.ca.gov or visit the event website at www.lahpathwaysrun.org. New this year are “Team” registrations so that your family or group of friends can all register as a team to compete and compare your race results and registration numbers with other team members or other teams! Saturday May 11, 2019 (Mother’s Day Weekend) 5K/10K: 9:00 am Fees for 5K/10K: $45 ($50 on race day) Group Registrations of 10 or more: $35 per person – Acquire group discount registration code from Sarah at srobustelli@losaltoshills.ca.gov Time for 1-Mile Fun Run: 10:30 am Fees for 1-Mile Fun Run: $30 ($35 on race day) Location: Westwind Community Barn - 27210 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

LAEF

LAEF is proud to have sponsored PE teachers and the Junior Olympics. Remember to donate to LAEF and ensure that teachers and staff for programs such as PE continue next school year.

We’re on the home stretch!

Help us raise the final $64K to meet our goal.

A gift of $50, $100 or even $300 will make a difference!

Let's cross the finish line and raise $3.5M to fully fund this school year.

Donate online or drop off a check in your school office.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @LAEFonline

4th Grade Instrument Quest

Mark your calendars:

June 4th, 2019

4:00 – 7:00

Covington Multi

In preparation for choosing a musical instrument to play in 5th grade, the LASD Music Department will host an instrument selection event called “Instrument Quest” for all 4thgrade students in the district. Your child will be able to try out every instrument we offer in our Band and Orchestra (flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello).

This is a great opportunity to see which instrument best suits your child. Parents are welcome to ask questions and to meet the LASD Music teachers.

Egan 8th Grade Viking Showcase Day

The Viking Showcase will be held this year on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Over 200 parent and community volunteers will be needed for this extraordinary event. Please sign up!

For over 20 years, the Viking Showcase Day has been a rite of passage for Egan 8th graders. The Viking Showcase is a special event for 8th grade students, faculty, and adult volunteers. Through personal interviews with community members, graduating 8th grade students showcase achievements from their years at Egan. The event provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate professional skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. Students are divided into small groups and assigned to one or two adults. Student groups showcase their academic work as adult participants provide feedback, ask pertinent questions, and help the students celebrate their achievements. The review process increases student motivation, builds a sense of accomplishment, and fosters community involvement with the school. Past participants have truly enjoyed this invaluable experience.

Viking Showcase page on Egan Web site:

https://eganschool.org/egan/6696-PD.html

Any questions, please contact Lauren Hasenhuttl

lhasenhu@gmail.com

Parent to Egan 8th grader, Covington 5th grader

Co-chair of Viking Showcase

Art Docent Recruiting Event

Please join us to learn about our Art Docent Program!

Art du Jour

May 3rd from 10-12

iLearn Studio at LASD Office

201 Covington Road, Los Altos

Rsvp by May 2nd to ehongchin@gmail.com

Your donations appreciated!

Almond Community Services, working with Bay Area Chapter of There With Care, is hosting an Essential Cleaning Supplies drive to collect much-needed supplies for families with critically ill children. We will be holding the drive from April 25th through May 9th – please drop off donations in the collection barrel located in Almond’s front office. Supplies we are collecting include:

• Dish Sponges
• Bathroom Sponges
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Paper towel rolls
• Toilet Bowl cleaner
• Toilet bowl brush
• Glass cleaner
• Bleach-based cleaning spray
• All-purpose spray cleaner
• Antibacterial hand soap
• Duster (feather or microfiber cloths)
• Pair of Rubber Gloves
• Multi-surface floor cleaner (i.e. Simple Green)
• Dustpan/brush

There With Care provides a range of services to families with critically ill children to help support families. There With Care works with local hospitals and social workers to identify and ease the stresses for families - giving them more time with their children. Programs include transportation services; meal programs; baby essential program; home maintenance program; sibling assistance and several other programs. To learn more about There With Care and volunteering opportunities please visit their website at bayarea.therewithcare.org or video (https://bayarea.therewithcare.org/videos/)

If you have any questions please contact either Polly or Seema

Thank you for your support in Advance!

Polly Liu and Seema Chavan, Almond Community Services

One Dollar for Life -- We will be traveling to Nepal with a group of teens in June with the local non-profit organization One Dollar for Life (www.odfl.org) that was started at Los Altos High School. We will be helping build a library at an all-girls school and installing some playground equipment.

We are collecting new and used educational supplies to take with us. Here is a list of desired items:

• Used laptops or notepads
• Sports equipment - any kind of balls, frisbees, jump ropes, badminton
• Sports uniforms (shirts, shorts), clothes, cleats, athletic shoes
• Musical instruments (they make instruments out of gourds, wood, metal piping, coconut shells, etc)
• Toys, puzzles, games (nothing with too many pieces that will get lost and become useless) Legos (Bricks only) Duplo Blocks
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste (ask dentists)
• Spiral Notebooks, Backpacks, Pencils, Crayons, Rulers Etc.
• Books (for children, in English)

There will be a bin in the office for donations. Every little bit helps!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank You,

Shandell Randall

shandellr@odfl.org

831-247-3961