Thursday Word November 2nd • News - Almond Elementary School

November 03, 2017

ALMOND THURSDAY WORD
November 2, 2017

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

Thursday, 11/9, District English Language Advisory Committee (LASD Board Room @ District Office, 9-10:30am)
Friday, 11/10, NO SCHOOL
Monday, 11/13, Report Cards Emailed Home by 5pm
Tuesday, 11/14, AMC8 Math Exam for Interested 5th/6th Graders (3:15pm, STEM Maker Space)
Monday, 11/20, PARENT CONFERENCES, No School
Tuesday, 11/21, PARENT CONFERENCES, No School
Wednesday - Friday, 11/22 - 11/24, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, No School
Thursday, 11/30, School Coffee re: Evidence of Learning (8:45am, Multi)
Thursday, 12/7, Kindergarten / New Parent Info Night for Prospective Families (7pm, Multi & Classrooms)
Monday, 12/11, LASD Music Concert Gr. 4-6 (1pm, Multi)
Wednesday, 12/13, PTA General Meeting (8:30am, Multi)
Thursday, 12/14, School Coffee re: Math Problem of the Month & Number Talks (8:45am, Multi)
Monday, 12/18, December Vacation Starts
Tuesday, 1/2, School Resumes

SCHOOL MESSAGE

In approximately two weeks, first trimester standards based report cards will be emailed home. This will provide families with an update on student progress in relation to a variety of academic areas. Here is information regarding the LASD Mastery Rubric. You can also find the LASD Curriculum Guides here.

About a week later, parent conferences will be underway. The intended focus of this time together is to engage in conversation about your child’s strengths and areas of need. A child’s evidence of learning will encompass multiple measures that include assessments, student work, and teacher observation.

One piece that may be included is the baseline data from the iReady Diagnostic administered in late August, early September of 2017 for students in grade 1-6. Some questions have arisen regarding a change in level from the end of the prior year to the start of this new year. In some cases, some students had scale scores that went down. Here is a table that includes the scale scores denoted for each grade level (columns) and then subdivided into ability levels (rows). As you follow an ability level across a row, you can see changes in the range from one grade level to another. When a student took the diagnostic at the end of last year, their performance was compared within that prior grade level range. When a student took the diagnostic at the beginning of this year, the psychometrics adjust to the new grade level range. In other words, one cannot compare the score of last year to this year. That is why we consider the data collected in August/September BASELINE data for this year. Students will be taking the diagnostic again in January. This will provide a viable update in regards to progress per this one measure.

PTA & SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS - NEW

UPDATE ON THE SOLAR PROJECT AFFECTING THE PARKING LOT
Due to delays with paperwork at the state architect’s office, the next phase of construction (drilling and pouring concrete) is postponed until the week of November 13. We still expect to complete construction by the December 31 deadline.

AMC8 MATH - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 3:15pm

The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem-solving skills. The AMC 8 provides an opportunity for middle school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. Students apply classroom skills to unique problem-solving challenges in a low-stress and friendly environment.
Almond School will proctor the annual exam in the STEM Maker Space at 3:15pm for any interested 5th or 6th graders. If your child is interested, please reply to this email with your child’s name and ensure that they present themselves to the STEM Maker Space at 3:15pm on Tuesday, 11/14.

DAILY PLAYGROUND SUPERVISION FILLED - What does this mean?

We have an interested parent who will become employed by the district to fill this position. Thank you PTA for covering this cost.
Once we are set up, Almond students and their younger siblings who are accompanied WITH parents will be permitted to play in the Kindergarten playground area.
After the first dismissal, any students who are waiting for parents will be required to sit in a designated area while supervised by this staff member.
Within 10 minutes of the last dismissal, all students and parents are expected to vacate the campus.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Next week we are having our first Student Council Rep Meeting! If your child is a class rep for grades 3-6, they will need to bring paper and pencil to our meeting next Tuesday at lunch.
Also, on Thursday, November 16th, we will have our first spirit day! I can’t tell you what it is yet, but here are some hints: It’s an original, easy, fun, a favorite, and sometimes crazy and colorful. Come back next week for the next Thursday Word Blurb by the Student Council of Almond to learn more about our first spirit day!

AUCTION ITEMS STILL AVAILABLE

Thanks to everyone who participated in the silent auction at the Spook-a-thon last Friday. And a special thank you to the generous families who have donated parties and items to the auction.
We still have several available slots for planned adult and kid parties. You can review and sign up for any remaining auction items here or on the sign-up sheets in the rotunda (on the whiteboard).
For those of you who signed up and/or won items, you will be receiving an invoice from us shortly, as well as instructions on how to pick up your "won" item(s). For those who signed up for parties, the event hosts will be reaching out to you soon.
Thanks again for supporting the Almond PTA. If you have any questions, please email Stefanie Friedland.

ANNUAL ALMOND PUMPKIN CARVING & DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS - CONGRATULATIONS
Silliest: Maria Krupina
Spookiest: Justin Goins
Crowd Favorite: Brayan Hernandez
Best Use of Pumpkins: Amelle Badey
Thanks to everyone who participated in the fun this year! Every entry was fabulous, spooky and truly delightful.

PTA: TWO EASY PEASY POMEGRANATE SQUEEZY WAYS TO HELP

Smile - If you shop on Amazon, earn FREE money for the Almond PTA almost every time you shop! Just visit AmazonSmile (http://smile.amazon.com), and select “989 Almond Elementary PTA” for Almond to receive 0.5% from your eligible purchases. Purchases at amazon.com or the mobile app are NOT eligible for charity, so remember each time to shop with a smile on smile.amazon.com. You can also enter the Smile portal from the Almond website or to make it even simpler, add a smile.amazon.com shortcut and/or bookmark on your phone.
Collect – BoxTop4education coupons are on the packaging of hundreds of products that you probably use every day.Get the kiddos involved today! They can cut the BoxTops off the box, collect them in a baggie and send them to the Office! Some BoxTop products: Cheerios, Annie’s products, Gogurt, Green Giant veggies, Ziploc, Hefty, SCOTT. For a list of more BoxTop products, go here. Pomegranates are not included.

BOOKWAVE

Bookwave booklets will be going home tomorrow, Friday, 11/3. The due date will be Friday, January 12, 2017.
If parents are still interested in purchasing a booklet, please contact Lily at alexandlily@gmail.com it will be $15 payable to Almond PTA. For more info on Bookwave, as well as tips and tricks in "effortlessly" completing this project, go to https://www.almondschool.org/Almondes/Portal/214-Bookwave
Bookwave Blast will be some time in early to mid March in 2018. We have a few amazing speakers in the creative storytelling space we are choosing from for our special guest that night.

WALKATHON DONATIONS STILL AVAILABLE

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to come out and support the students at last Friday's Walk-a-thon! While it was tricky to reschedule and difficult for many parents to join during a school day, it was wonderful to see every student able to participate!
Everyone walked with such enthusiasm!
If you didn't have a chance to donate on behalf of your child, the sponsor site will remain open for the remainder of this week. Donate here.

LAEF: Thank You!
The LAEF Phonathon was a big success with 61 parents, LASD staff, and volunteers calling LASD families. We are grateful to those of you who have donated this school year. Your support is making a difference for all our TK-8 students by funding STEM, arts, literacy, wellness, and personalized learning.

LAEF: $50K Challenge Match Deadline is around the corner
It’s not too late for every dollar you give to LAEF to get doubled by our Board of Directors! There are matching funds still available, but we need you to donate by 11/17. The suggested donation is $1,200 per student, and every gift in any amount will help us meet our $3.7M goal. To learn more, pledge or donate, go to LAEFonline.org.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUPPORT PUPPY POUND RESCUE
Hi Almond families! We are girl scout troop 61016. We are here today to talk about doing a puppy food drive for the puppies at puppy pound rescue. There will be a collection in the office. ”Taste of The Wild” is preferred, but all donations are also appreciated. We will be collecting November 1 - 15. There will also be cash donation boxes in every classroom to help puppies with medical needs. Thanks for helping!!! - Troop 61016

One Dollar for Life invites you to a fundraiser at Chef Chu’s! 15% of your total order (dine-in or takeout) will be donated to ODFL.
Date: Monday, November 13, 2017
Time: 11:00am-9:30pm Reservations are recommended for large groups
Every dollar donated will go directly to support a project. This year we are building projects in: Zambia; Kenya; India; Nicaragua; Nepal; and South Africa.
We build Bigger People and a Better World. It’s Working!
You MUST present this flyer when paying for ODFL to receive the donation!!

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

Egor Antonov, 10/26/17, Owning learning. Moving to a spot where he could concentrate during a reading lesson!
Ashley Avidan, 10/31/17, Owning learning. Ashley was ready to learn and prepared for the next activity without being asked. :-)
Nancy Chen, 10/31/17, Owning learning. Nancy was prepared and ready to learn without being asked! :-)
Alex Crosby, 10/27/17, Solving problems, Owning learning. During a number talk, Alex shared a strategy and explained that he wasn't 100% sure of it, but said he wanted to try it anyway! It worked and the whole class was able to learn from the strategy and his growth mindset.
Sam Jensen, 10/27/17, Owning learning . Participated in school coffee to help explain the use of NGSS and science notebooks in our class. He also listened to the other teachers and parents discuss!
Ava DePristo, 10/26/17, Owning learning. Moving to a spot where she could focus during Reading.
Emma Guillory, 10/30/17, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. You are helpful, thoughtful, and try your best on assignments.
Aleksey Krupin, 11/1/17, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Yay Aleksey! Aleksey was so kind to another student by helping him with a math activity and organizing his desk. :-)
Gissel Plantillas, 10/25/17, Owning learning. She is using bold words and ellipses in her free choice writing (what we are working on in Writer's Workshop).
Brian Rancano Ramos, 10/25/17, Solving problems, Owning learning, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. He always has a great and positive attitude about learning and trying new things!
Tanya Robles, 10/26/17, Owning learning. From Mrs. Powell: Putting forth effort on a challenging math problem.
Seona Sheth, 10/27/17, Owning learning. Participated in school coffee to help explain the use of NGSS and science notebooks in our class. She also listened and paid close attention to the other teachers and parents discuss!
Eli Tung, 11/1/17, Solving problems, Always making good choices, Respecting self and others. Eli did a super job keeping a small problem small, and used respectful words in doing so. :-)
Alden Wang, 11/1/17, Always making good choices. Alden was so helpful in cleaning the lunch tables without being asked. :-)

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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