Almond Thursday Word

Dear Almond Families:

In the past couple of days you may have noticed a new “green” addition at the front of our school. As part of the GreenTown Los Altos “Plant 500 trees” campaign, our school received a Western Redbud tree. Yesterday, our Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students joined Gary Hedden, from GreenTown Los Altos, their teachers and several Almond and District staff members right outside my office to commemorate the planting of our new tree. Students discussed the importance of trees and plant life on our planet (the Oxygen and Carbon-Dioxide exchange with animals) and some even added fertilizer pellets to the mix during the planting. You can see some pictures from this event below.

Last night our 5th graders and their families convened in the multi to interact with a culminating project using Makey Makey as part of a study of different Native American tribes. The Makey Makey allows students to turn any electrically conductive object into a keyboard controller. In this case, they each created a game board hooked up to a computer through the Makey Makey that allowed participants to answer different questions about Native American tribes. Students were proud to share their creations with their family audience.

Today, Mr. Linvill and our 6th graders invited their families to a series of Literary parties. This end of unit event followed several weeks of study around characters and themes. During this unit, students read several short stories and wrote a literary analysis essay comparing two of them. With parents present today, they took turns sharing their learning. You can see pictures from all of these events below.

Here’s to reducing our carbon footprint, futuristic tech NOW and taking the time to stop and celebrate our learning!

Raquel

Sat, 2/8, Father/Daughter Dance (or any special adult!)

Mon, 2/10, Design Challenge! Lunchtime on blacktop

Mon, 2/10, LASD Board Meeting, 7pm, District Office Board Room

Thu, 2/13, Strictly Strings Concert, 7pm, LAHS Eagle Theater

Thu, 2/13, MVLA Parent Ed Speaker, 7pm, MVHS

**2/17-2/21, NO SCHOOL**

Wed, 2/26, PTA General Meeting, 8:30am, Conference Room

Wed, 2/26, Walk or Wheel to School Day!

Wed, 2/26, STEM Expo, 5-7pm, Multi

Fri, 2/28, Egan Parent tour, 9:30am, Egan library, parents only

Mon, 3/2, Hearing Screening for grades K, 2, and 5

Thu, 3/5, Minimum Day, 12:15 dismissal, special dismissal time!

Sat, 3/7, Back to the 80's Gala and Auction evening

On February 26, 2020, Almond will hold LASD’s 7th Annual STEM Expo. The Expo invites students in grades TK-6 to participate! While engaging in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) projects, students will have an opportunity to design hands-on projects while exploring just how fun STEM can be! This event lends itself to a myriad of learning experiences: within the class or at home, working individually or collaboratively with peers and/or with adults, and amongst a wide range of STEM categories including: Rube Goldberg, Invention/Environmental Innovation, Reverse Engineering, Robotics, Scientific Inquiry and Wearable Designs. Ultimately, students get the chance to showcase their STEM work in a fun and unique venue, with learning opportunities for the entire family. The STEM Expo will be open to the public on Wednesday, February 26, from 5:00-7:00 pm.

Check out the website at www.tinyurl.com/LASDStemExpo to find out more and sign up! Be sure to click on Almond to get specific school information. Sign up ends on Wednesday, February 12!

Questions? Email STEM IST Alison Gentile at agentile@lasdschools.org

We need parent volunteers to help set up, check in students and review STEM Expo projects (the most fun part!) All roles have short shifts, are easy to do and you don't need a science background to be involved. Take a look at the sign up sheet and consider helping out where you can. Here is the link to sign up:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nTPTpLeN1CLVj9L7Z2SSo8AEuRd6wFX6tNcnTnTMB-A/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you!

How is novel coronavirus spread? Are my children and family at risk?

It is unclear how easily or frequently this virus may spread from person to person, so it's important to practice good hygiene (e.g. cover your cough and sneeze, and wash hands, avoid touching your face). We are still learning about this new virus, but at this time the risk is low to Santa Clara County residents.

Is my family at risk of getting novel coronavirus?

At this time, the general public in Santa Clara County is at low risk for the new coronavirus. However, public health officials are still learning about this virus. It is important that everyone take preventative measures to help decrease the spread of the flu and other viruses that are in our community. Stay away from people who have signs of a respiratory tract infection, such as runny nose, coughing, and sneezing, and try to avoid gatherings with lots of people.

When should I keep my child home from school?

If anyone is ill with fever, cough or other symptoms, they should stay home from work or school and other public activities until they have recovered.

Should children whose parents traveled to China stay home from school?

If a child has not traveled to an area with ongoing circulation, and they are not ill, they can continue their everyday activities. But if a child is ill, they should be kept home.

Can a school send a student home if they recently returned from China and have cold-like symptoms?

Any student with a fever or respiratory symptoms can be sent home by the school. ​

What should I do now to protect my family?

• Get your flu shot to protect against flu, which can produce symptoms similar to novel coronavirus.
• Wash your hands with liquid soap and water, rub for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, sleeve or arm. Do not use your hands.
• Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home if you are sick with any respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and are feeling tired.
• Try staying away from large groups of people.
• CDC recommends against traveling to China. ​​​​

More information can be found on the Santa Clara Public Health Department website: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/home.aspx

When to keep your child at home:

Here are guidelines from the District Nurses:

Keep your child at home when he/she has any of the following symptoms:

Fever

Chills

Vomiting or Diarrhea

Nausea

Sore throat or trouble swallowing

Coughing, sneezing, and/or runny nose

Rash or unusual sores or spots

Headache

Generalized muscle aches and pains

Wheezing or trouble breathing

Unusually red, crusted or burning eyes

Head Lice

Once a student becomes ill, it is imperative and required that the child stay home and not return to school until they are symptom-free for 24 hours without medication (i.e. no fever, etc for a full day after you have stopped giving medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen). Children often don’t have a fever first thing in the morning, that is why you must wait a full day to be sure the fever doesn’t return later in the day.

The District Nurses will be doing Hearing screening at Almond School for all Kindergarten, 2nd, 5th grade students on March 2, 2020. If your child has a known hearing loss, please notify the Health Services Staff (nurses@lasdschools.org) before the day of the screening. The nurse will mail a referral form and call the parents of students who do not pass the Hearing screening.

The California Physical Fitness Test (PFT) for all fifth grade students will take place in PE during the month of February. The State of California is interested in the overall fitness of our youth and uses the following six test areas to determine their fitness:

1. Aerobic Capacity, assessed by running the mile
   
2. Body Composition, assessed by student height and weight
   
3. Abdominal Strength and Endurance, assessed by Curl-Ups
4. Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, assessed by the Trunk Lift Test
5. Upper Body Strength and Endurance, assessed by Push-Ups
6. Flexibility, assessed by the Sit and Reach Test
   

Students are encouraged to do their personal best, and their scores are kept private. The fifth grade students are aware of the Healthy Fitness Zones for each test as shown in the following charts:

​Healthy Fitness Zone charts​

Also, all grade levels have been practicing for the PFT during a portion of their PE classes.

How can parents help?

• Talk about the PFT with your fifth grade child, and make sure they are ready to do their very best. It should be a positive and informative experience!​
• For all grade levels, remind your child to wear athletic shoes and clothing appropriate for movement on PE days.

Thank you so much for your support of the Physical Education program here at Almond School!

~Doug Core

Attention 4th • 5th • 6th Graders

The 60th LASD Junior Olympics is coming!

Saturday, April 25, 2020 / 8am-4pm / Los Altos High School

The LASD Junior Olympics Committee has already been working hard to make the 60th anniversary of the Junior Olympics a day to remember and this year, Almond has the special privilege of being the host school! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25th for a fun-filled day at Los Altos High School. It will begin with the 1320 yd run at 8:00am, followed by opening ceremonies at 9 am. From about 9:30-1:30 will be most of the track and field events (listed below). You won't want to miss the very popular Mascot Mania which takes place around 1:30pm. The day ends at roughly 3:45 with the dash finals, hurdle finals and the relay races. Bring the whole family but please leave your pets at home. There will be lunch, snacks and drinks for sale AND plenty of opportunities for you to volunteer your time to make this day extra special for your child!

General Information

Every 4th, 5th and 6th grader in Los Altos School District is invited to participate in the 60th Annual Junior Olympics! This event brings together the seven LASD elementary schools for a friendly track & field competition, in which everyone is encouraged to strive for their personal best and cheer on their classmates as they compete. More information and important Junior Olympics dates available at lasdjo.com

Save the Date!

We need your help training our young athletes! Click HERE to sign up.

JO Training Starts: Monday, February 24, 2020 (immediately after President's Week)

Event Choices

Students may participate in up to 3 of the following 8 individual events + one team relay (if a qualifier). Events are organized by grade & gender. More on events can be found on the JO website: Events LASD Junior Olympics

• 1320 yard distance run
• 75 yard dash
• 60 yard hurdles
• basketball free throw
• chin-ups
• softball throw
• standing long jump
• 30 second jump rope
• 4 x 100 m relay

Training & Preparation

• Students learn and train for the Junior Olympics events in PE sessions beginning the week of FEBRUARY 24TH.
• Students should wear running attire including running shoes for all PE sessions.
• Parent Volunteers are needed to help with training! Click HERE to sign up.
• First training sessions include 75 yard dash time trials. These times will be used to create relay teams. Teams announced March 17.*
• Students will choose events at school during the week of March 23, after they have had a chance to try the different events.

*Starting February 24th (if not raining), each child will run the 75 yard dash a total of 4 times during PE. These times will be used to determine who will be chosen to represent Almond during the relay races. Please make sure your child has proper running shoes and clothing. We plan on posting the final relay teams near the multi after school on Tuesday, March 17th.

Mandatory Permission Slips

All students MUST have a signed permission slip in order to participate in the event. Please complete this online form, whether or not your child will be participating in the Junior Olympics: JUNIOR OLYMPICS PERMISSION SLIP

T-Shirts

• If you are a returning 5th or 6th grader, make sure you can locate your JO lime green t-shirt AND try it on to make sure it still fits.
• If you have misplaced, damaged, altered or outgrown your t-shirt, let the JO Chairs below know by Monday, March 23rd in order to purchase a new one for $10.
• All 4th graders AND new 5th/6th grade students will receive a t-shirt compliments of the Almond PTA.

Questions / Almond Contacts

If you have any questions about Junior Olympics, please visit lasdjo.com or contact Almond's JO Chairs: Alix Apfelberg (alix_apfelberg@yahoo.com), Michelle Park (michie0804@gmail.com), Christine Lee (yochristinelee@yahoo.com)

Make memories that will last a lifetime during this special semi-formal event for Fathers and Daughters of all ages. Enjoy dancing, photos, decadent desserts, candy bar, handcrafting mementos and a very special slow dance with your daughters.

Tickets are still available for purchase:

https://almondschool.schoolauction.net/walkathon2019/catalog?id=10

Price Listed is Person. Multi Price = $45 per attendee ($90 for father+daughter, $45 per additional daughter)

Saturday, February 8, 6:30-9:00, Almond Multi

Any special adult who loves your daughter is welcome to attend!

Thanks to our PTA, we provide an extra layer of supervision after school in the Kindergarten playground from 2:30-3:00. We know that there are many parents who wait in the rotunda with younger siblings for older siblings to get out at 3:00, and having the playground open is helpful for little bodies that need more movement. I would like to share some reminders regarding this extra layer of supervision:

• Safety is our number one concern so we are providing an extra layer of supervision after school
• One staff member is out on the yard to help support behavior
• All children should have pick up arrangements for them once their school day is done
• If your child is in the playground, we also expect you to be close by in the playground area monitoring behavior
• If a guardian is not with a child, the child will not be allowed in the kinder playground area.
• For your review, here are our playground rules: Playground rules

Thank you for helping to keep all of our students safe after school.

Please remember that attendance is compulsory. Absences due to illness, medical appointments, religious holiday observance, or bereavement are considered excused. All other absences are considered unexcused.

To report an absence please

call 650-917-5454

or email jsanders@lasdschools.org

and include the following information:

• Student’s first and last name

• Grade

• Teacher

• date(s) of absence

• Reason for absence

• If sick, please specify if your child has a fever, common cold symptoms such as a runny nose or cough, vomiting and/or diarrhea, and or any other communicable or contagious illness.

Break out your Ray-Bans, neon clothes, crimping iron and Walkman and get ready to go "BACK TO THE 80'S" with your fellow Almond parents. The adult-only evening will include dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions! Buy your tickets now before they run out! Purchase Here!

Need childcare? The YMCA has generously offered to provide free childcare to the first 50 Almond students! Please contact Macie at macie.villegas@ymcasv.org to register and for more information.

6th Grade Orchestra Students from Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis and Santa Rita will be featured in a performance with Egan and Los Altos High School Orchestras. Come to see the progression of string students from elementary to high school. It is a free concert, everyone is invited!

Strictly Strings Concert

Thursday, Feb. 13th

7:00 PM

Los Altos High School Eagle Theatre

Support Almond’s Girl Scout troops through after school cookie sales!

Girl Scout cookie sales are a great opportunity for girls to learn about sales, communications, and financial responsibility. A percentage of sales help support troop activities.

Online sales begin 1/25. In person sales begin 2/10.

Look for flyers for exact days & times for Almond troop cookie booth sales.

Most flavors are still only $5 box.

Gluten-free Toffeetastic and popular S’Mores flavors are $6.

And don’t forget to try the new Lemon Ups cookie!

Cash/check preferred but credit cards may be accepted (depending on troop).

For more information about Almond Girl Scout cookie sales, email: eulouie@yahoo.com.

The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series presents

Scott Hartley

The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why the Liberal Arts Will Rule the Digital World

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 - 7:00 - 9:00pm

MVHS Spartan Theatre, 3535 Truman Avenue., Mountain View, CA

Join us as Scott Hartley, venture capitalist and author of The Fuzzy and the Techie, explores the vital role of liberal arts in humanizing our technology, shattering assumptions about business and education today.

While Silicon Valley is generally considered a “techie" stronghold, the founders of companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, Slack, LinkedIn, PayPal, Stitch Fix, Reddit, and others are all "fuzzies"— people with backgrounds in the Arts and Humanities.

Learning to code is not enough; the soft skills—curiosity, communication, and collaboration, along with an understanding of psychology and society’s gravest problems—are central to why technology has value. Well-rounded people are the instrumental stewards of robots, big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning; offering a human touch that is of critical importance in our technology-led world. A new generation of entrepreneurs, those who are both fuzzy-and-techie, is fast emerging, and will be the center of our future economy.

For anyone doubting whether a well-rounded liberal arts education is practical in today’s world, Hartley’s discussion offers inspiring insights.

Audience: Parents and educators of students grades K - 12.

To register for this free event, go to https://mvla2019-20-scotthartley.eventbrite.com

Books available for purchase, thanks to Books, Inc., (cash or check).

Sponsored by Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF), MVLA High School Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation (MVEF), and Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.

Donate to LAEF today and your gift will be DOUBLED.

Four generous LASD families have offered to match every dollar donated before March 1st, up to a total of $50,000.

We still need to raise the final $330,000 to fully fund the 2019-20 school year.

Our students just marked their 100th day of school. Now it’s your turn.

Donate now and help us reach 100% parent participation.

Gifts of any amount are appreciated!

We welcome one-time donations, monthly donations, stock donations, and pledges.

Help fund teachers and staff at your school this school year.

February 28-Parent Tour-hour (930-1030AM @ Egan Library-parents only)

March 20- Parent Tour-hour (930-1030AM @ Egan Library-parents only)