ALMOND THURSDAY WORD - March 10, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• Friday, 3/10  - Deadline to Sign Up for STEM Expo
• 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

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

• 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!

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.

IT’S NOT JUST A SCIENCE FAIR, IT’S A STEM EXPO!!!!

• Students in grades TK-6 can all participate in this great event on 4/3 & 4/4.  There are seven categories; Rube Goldberg (physics & engineering), Invention, Environmental Innovation, Engineering (Reverse), Engineering (Robotics), Scientific Inquiry, and Wearable Design.  View this link for additional information about the categories.  View this link for information specific to Almond School.
• The intent to participate sign ups were extended to March 10, 2017 (not 2/28 as indicated on the website.  Clickhere to register.

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

• The Pizza My Heart on El Camino and El Monte will be hosting the YMCA @ Almond on Tuesday, March 21st. 30% of purchases made from 4pm-9pm that evening will be donated to our Annual Giving Campaign. All they have to do is mention "Almond Kids' Place" at the register. All of our staff will be there and many of our families are planning on coming so it would be great to have the teachers and non-YMCA families join us as well! I was hoping you'd be able to help me push this out to the school and maybe even all the teachers?
• Also, on Friday, March 24th, we will be hosting a Parents Night Out from 6pm-10pm. We provide dinner and activities and give parents a night off. Non-YMCA kids are more than welcome! This will be donation based since it is to help us reach our campaign goal but we suggest our normal rate of $25 per child. Only requirement is that children must be potty trained. If anyone is interested in signing up they may reach me at nikita.patel@ymcasv.org.

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 www.living-classroom.org.

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

• Join us for a presentation for parents and community members to learn about the expectations and learning experiences the students of Los Altos School District engage in during math class. The presentation will provide suggestions about how best to support your child in deeply learning mathematics.
• Presenter: David Foster, Founder and Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative (SVMI) and Co-Director of the Santa Clara Valley Math Project.
• To register: https://edtalklasdmath.eventbrite.com

PTA 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.  

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALMOND AFTER SCHOOL PLAY DATE 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
  • Friday, April 28
• We hope to see your child(ren) there! Please email Sara Elkin if you have any questions.

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

• William Deresiewicz will give his perspective on how college should be a time for self-discovery, when young people can establish their own values and measures of success in order to forge their own path.