Almond Thursday Word

Posted Date: 09/10/26 (03:40 PM)

September 10, 2026

Together, LASD Education Partners fund the resources and opportunities that turn an ordinary education into an LASD Education! Learn more at LASDEducationPartners.org

Important dates

September

09/14 & 9/15- Picture Day

9/16- PTA General meeting

09/23-9/25- Book Fair

October

10/07- Walk-or-Wheel day

10/08- Minimum Day- Dismissal @12:15

10/09- NO SCHOOL Staff Development

10/17- Walk-a-thon

10/27- Picture make up day

Useful Links

Almond Google Calendar

Los Altos Educational Foundation - Donate here.

Classroom Parent

PTA Website

Dear Almond families,

Our Character Trait/SEL focus this month is Respect—“seeing value in all people and things and treating them with care.” Throughout the month, students will revisit their classroom agreements and practice ways to greet and interact with one another thoughtfully and respectfully.

We’ll also spend time celebrating the ways we are alike and different, while thinking together about how we can show respect and appreciation for both. These everyday moments are wonderful opportunities for children to build empathy, strengthen relationships, and help create a caring classroom community.

You can continue the conversation at home, too! Try asking:

“Can you share or show me what Respect means?”
“What is one way you have practiced Respect lately?”

For more ideas and conversation starters to support your family’s learning, check out our Respect Family Newsletter here: Family Newsletter-Respect

Ways to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Looking for a fun way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with your family? There are two wonderful local events coming up!

SF Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival | September 19–20 – Enjoy traditional entertainment, lion dancing, delicious food vendors, and mooncakes at the San Francisco Chinatown Autumn Moon Festival.
Children’s Discovery Museum Mid-Autumn Moon Festival | Saturday, September 26, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM – Explore Chinese and Vietnamese traditions centered around giving thanks for the harvest season at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose.

What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate culture, community, and the traditions of the harvest season! 🌕✨

Here’s to our Almond community, where everyone belongs!

Raquel

Sneak peak of the Week

New! Online Payments Through PowerSchool

LASD families can now make online payments directly through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Families can conveniently pay school-related fees or make donations associated with an individual student, including field trips, assessed charges for lost or damaged materials, and more. Donations to PTA and LAEF should not be made through this portal, instead please click here here to donate to the PTA and here to donate to LAEF

When selecting the payment option in PowerSchool, families will be directed to our third-party payment provider, eFunds, and will need to create an account before making their first payment. Once an account is established, payments can be made by credit card or ACH/bank transfer with a small processing fee. Families who prefer to pay by check may continue to do so directly at their school.

This new online option simply gives families another convenient way to manage student-related payments securely, all in one place.

Logging into PowerSchool

To find the requests in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, you must log in with the email address you used when you registered your child in LASD. Please choose “forgot password” if you need assistance with your password. If you do not have access to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, contact powerschoolsupport@lasdschools.org for help.

You can find instructions on how to use the eFunds online payment system here.

📸 Picture day is coming 📸

Please check in with your students teacher to find out which day they signed up for picture day.

PTA News

🏫 Help Shape Our Almond Community - Join the PTA!

First Meeting Date Changed to September 16th!

Our PTA brings to life the events and support that enrich our kids' experience at Almond, and everyone is encouraged to join and to get involved.

Join Online: Head to Classroom Parent to complete your registration (one membership covers your whole family).
Kickoff Meeting: Join us for our first meeting on Wednesday, September 16th at 8:45 AM - 9:45 in the Multi. (Date change due to Book Fair)
Join an event committee or gather some friends and help organize an event!

It’s a great way to connect with other parents and stay in the loop. We hope to see you there!

📚 The Almond Elementary Book Fair is Coming September 23-25!

We are just 2 weeks away from one of the most exciting events of the year!

The Book Fair will be open in the Multi September 23 - 25: Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday – before school, during recess, at lunchtime, and after school. Students will get a sneak peek during classroom Book Fair Previews on Tuesday, September 22, and we know they’ll be buzzing with excitement!

Gift Card Purchases

We strongly recommend your child use a Linden Tree Gift Card to make purchases during the school day!

We need your help to make the Book Fair a success! Sign up to volunteer here!

👟🏃🏽🏃🏻‍♀️🏃‍♂️👟Walk-a-thon 2026 Seeking Sponsors

Do you own a local business? We’re looking for sponsors to feature their logo on our event t-shirts. T-shirts are worn by hundreds of kids and parents with great visibility! If you’d like to support our school community this way, please reach out to Kevin Buurma (650-333-0434 or kbuurm@yahoo.com) for more details. Thank you!

LAEF News

Did you know?

LAEF is funded by thousands of individual donations, large and small. Each school year, parents, community members, and local businesses come together to help fund our neighborhood schools and keep them among the top 1% of all schools in California.

Every gift adds up in making our schools rank in the top 1% in California. Donate or pledge to LAEF today to help fund teachers and essential programs at your school, and request a corporate match if it's available to you.

Here’s how to partner with us:

Complete the LASD Back to School process at LASDEducationPartners.org

Step 1: Donate to LAEF

Step 2: Join and donate to the PTA for each school your children attend

Your gift helps ensure that your student and every LASD student receives the strong programs and well-rounded education our schools are known for.

Living Classroom

Living Classroom Docent Training

9:30am-12:30pm Mondays 8/31-10/19*

Los Altos School District iLearn Studio

201 Covington Road, Los Altos CA 94024

Do you like to connect kids with nature? Living Classroom is seeking volunteers to teach our fun nature-based lessons and help care for our school gardens. No experience necessary as we teach you everything you need to know. Please join us from 9:30am-12:30pm on Mondays 8/31-10/19* at the LASD iLearn Studio to train to become a volunteer docent (*no training on 9/7 - Labor Day). If Mondays don't work for you, please ask about our apprentice-style training option. If you are interested in helping to care for your school garden, please contact Living Classroom Garden Manager, Sandi Elefant. For questions or to RSVP for docent training, please email us at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103. Check us out at LivingClassroomLASD.org!

LASD Universal Meals Program

Students may bring their own lunch to school, however, no outside food/vendors will be allowed on campus, including deliveries from outside vendors

(i.e. DoorDash or similar service or parent drop off of local food vendors).

September

FROM THE OFFICE

ATTENDANCE NOTES:

ABSENCES: If your child is going to be absent, make sure to fill out the new Attendance absence form before 9:00 or by calling 650-917-5454.

LATE ARRIVALS: stop by the office to check in before going to the classroom.

EARLY PICK UPS: fill out the new Attendance absence form or CALL 650-917-5454 and come into the office to check out.

Please let both your teacher & the office know if you are planning to pick up children early.
It will take longer to check out your child during recess (10:10-10:30am) and lunch (12-12:45pm) because we have to locate your child on the playground. Please try to avoid these times by coming before or after recess & lunch.

Independent Study Plans:

Each student may utilize a maximum of 15 ISP days per school year
Please notify the office of the dates of absence as soon as possible.
All Independent Study Plans are subject to principal approval
Parent to initiate the ISP. Please use this Independent Study Plan Link

OFFICE NOTES:

NO dogs allowed on campus
Any volunteers or visitors to LASD schools are required to check in at the front office
FORGOTTEN ITEMS: if you must bring a forgotten item to school, please drop it off to the office and we will deliver it to the classroom. This includes forgotten lunches from home too!