Thursday Word – January 14, 2010

FROM THE PRINCIPAL – Terri Stromfeld

A New Award for Almond   

The California Business for Education Excellence Association (CBEE) has recognized Almond School for “outstanding success in raising student academic achievement” and experiencing impressive growth in student achievement in reading and math. The 2009 Honor Roll includes 1,304 California public elementary, middle and high schools that have been recognized by California’s business community for having demonstrated consistent high student academic achievement and progress toward closing achievement gaps among all their students.  “These schools are the bright spots of hope in efforts to raise student academic achievement and close persistent achievement gaps,” said Kirk Clark, executive director of CBEE. “By highlighting them, recognizing their achievement and giving them a voice we hope other schools can learn from these proven practices . . . and we can begin to take their success to scale throughout the state.”   This honor is a tribute to our dedicated and talented staff and parents working together to bring out the very best in our students.  Soon we’ll be displaying our award banner.   Congratulations!

  

Cornerstone Highlights

Last Friday, our student Cornerstone group, led by sixth grade teacher, Amy Shelley, hosted games for our grades 1-6 children in the multi during lunch.  Roughly 400 of our children enjoyed dancing, playing cooperative games to music and cheering each other to victory.   The purpose of the event was to promote our Cornerstone “positive school climate” theme, which emphasizes standing up for others, including others and making sure that each and every child feels valued. 

  

Many of our children have asked me if we could have more special activities during lunch, such as a weekly board game club or other activities such as origami, jewelry making, and basketball.  Please consider sharing your talents with our students during lunch.  If you are interested in leading a lunchtime activity, please contact me.  You will have an enthusiastic audience!

  

The Cornerstone students will be collecting money for the schools and orphanages in Haiti due to the earthquake.  Donations will be accepted in the classrooms from 1/14 –1/27.

  

Long Weekend

As you know, we will not have school on Monday, 1/18 and Tuesday 1/19.  Monday is the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and on our Tuesday Staff Development Day our teachers will be enjoying specialized training in mathematics and analyzing student work in writing.  We wish you a wonderful four-day weekend ahead!

 

Gentle & Important Reminder 

For safety reasons, we expect our students who are not involved in school-sponsored activities to go home directly after school and not play on our school campus after school.  While we have supervision at 8:15am, during recess, and at lunch, we do not have supervision after school.   Additionally, we ask that parents of our primary students greet their students in front of the school in order to minimize disruption to our upper grade classes that are still in session.  Thank you in advance for helping us to make sure that our students are safe and learning at high levels during all parts of our school day.    

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

• ·  Monday and Tuesday, January 18-19, MLK Jr. Holiday, No School
• ·  Wednesday, January 20, 8:30 am, PTA meeting in the Multi
• ·  Thursday, January 21, 3:30-5:30pm, MVLA Green School Summit
• ·  Friday, January 22, Spirit Day – Twin Day!
• ·  Monday, January 25, Proposal deadline for Science Fair
• ·  Thursday, January 28, 7:00 pm, Kindergarten Information Night
• ·  Monday, February 15, Requests for intra-district transfers due

 

  

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Almond Science Fair 2010 A reminder that the proposal deadline for the Science Fair is January 25^th and completed projects are due April 5. Click here to access detailed instructions and forms for the Science Fair on the Almond website.

  

Important: We have an immediate need for “scientist” parents who can review proposals and guide our young 5th and 6th grade science enthusiasts with their projects. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, please contact Science Fair Co-Chairs, Priya Dharan or Stephanie Friend.  

Almond Community Yahoo Group

Are you looking for recommendations for a piano teacher or a plumber?  Are you hoping to borrow a costume for Colonial Day?  Try posting your question on the Almond Community Yahoo Group!  The group is open only to Almond parents, and is a great way to reach many parents at once. Think of it as a virtual blacktop!  Click here to learn more.  

What’s going on in front of the school??

The City of Los Altos, in an effort to improve routes used by children to get to school, is using state grant funds to install a new crosswalk on Almond Avenue.  In addition to the new crosswalk, there will also be radar feedback speed limit signs (similar to the ones on Springer) and flashing pedestrian lights in the street (similar to the ones on San Antonio).  The Almond Ave improvements are part of a larger city-wide project that will improve pedestrian safety at various sites throughout the city.  For more information, including conceptual plans and drawings, see the “State SR2S Project” section on the Los Altos City website.   

Kindergarten Information Night – January 28, 7:00pm

Parents of incoming kindergartners are cordially invited to an informational meeting in the Almond Multi on Thursday, January 28 at 7:00pm.  To be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten for 2010-2011, a child must be five years old on or before December 2, 2010. Registration packets will be distributed at the meeting.  

Almond’s Night at the Oscars

The last fundraiser of the school year, “Almond’s Night at the Oscars” is happening Saturday, March 6^th, 2010 at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club. Tickets are available for $65 per person by contacting Liz Parker.  This promises to be a spectacular evening to support Almond!  

Intra-district (Open Enrollment) Transfers

The Los Altos School District has a policy of Open Enrollment that permits students living within district boundaries to attend a school other than their neighborhood school, subject to space availability. Requests for an intra-district transfer must be submitted to the District Office by February 15. An intra-district transfer approval in grades K-6 is in effect for one school year.  Intra-district requests must be submitted annually and approval will be based on space available at the requested school. To access the complete policy #5116.1, go to “Board Policies and Administrative Regulations” at the bottom of the LASD site.  Transfer request forms are available at the District Office. Contact the Superintendent’s Office (650-947-1152) for more information.    

MVLA Green School Summit

Come be inspired by students, who will be presenting their ideas at the first local Green School Summit on Thursday, January 21st from 3:30pm to 5:30pm in the Eagle Theater at Los Altos High School.

  

Students from our K-12 schools will be spotlighting unique Green Actions and Activities that can be implemented at your school campus or at home to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, as well as Organic Gardening projects.  An exhibit and display board section will add to the event. Find convenient local drop off locations for recycling batteries, wire hangers, and those pesky packaging peanuts! Be impressed by the sometimes surprising things made from recycled materials – socks made from recycled coke bottles!?!  For more information, email sybilcramer@mac.com or call (650) 940-4650.

   

PARENT EDUCATION http://www.almond.losaltos.k12.ca.us/parent/parent_ed.php

Key Dates

• ·  Wednesday, January 20, What Boys Need
• ·  Wednesday, February 3, 10, 24 and March 3, Girls Leadership Institute Workshop
• ·  Thursday, March 25, Building Resilience in Our Youth: Raising Healthy Kids

 

What Boys Need

Featuring speaker Dr. Jerry Shapiro, this talk will explore new issues for boys and offer solutions to common problems that boys face. It takes place on Wednesday January 20, from 7:00-8:30pm at Creekside Center at the Los Altos United Methodist Church at 655 Magdalena Ave.

Girls Leadership Institute Workshop at Almond

This is a workshop for mothers and daughters to help with social skills and empowering girls. Note that this is targeted to 2^nd and 3^rd grade girls and their parents.  The workshops will be held on Wednesdays, Feb 3, 10, 24 and March 3, from 6:00- 7:30pm right here at Almond Elementary School.  For more info or to register, click here.   

Building Resilience in Our Youth: Raising Healthy Kids

Ken Ginsburg, M.D. will be presenting this topic on Thursday, March 25th at Gunn High School’s Spangenberg Theater in Palo Alto, 6:30pm – 8:30pm.  

  

LASD FREQUENT FLYER NEWSLETTER

www.losaltos.k12.ca.us/PDF_Files/2009_2010/School_News_01_14_2010.PDF       

WANT TO SUBMIT SOMETHING TO THE THURSDAY WORD?

Send announcements to us at almond.thursdayword@gmail.com by 1:00pm 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. For more information about Almond Elementary School visit www.almondschool.org.      Copyright © 2003-2009 Los Altos School District.  All rights reserved.

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