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Bobcat Strong Tracker
August 29, 2024
BE KIND. BE STRONG. BE WELL. - TOGETHER!
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Our Mission
At Santa Rita Elementary School, we foster curious, motivated learners who reach their highest potential in a supportive community that appreciates diversity.
SAVE THE DATE
Monday, September 2nd: No School/Labor Day
Tuesday, September 3rd: First full day of Kindergarten
Wednesday, September 4th: PTA Meeting 7pm
Friday, September 6th: Principal's Advisory Meeting 9:00am (Google Meet Link below)
Monday, September 9th: First full day of TK
Tuesday, September 10th: Picture Day
Tuesday, September 10th: Santa Rita Night at State of Mind Pizza
Friday, September 13th: Grandfriends Day (details below)
*BOBCAT STRONG REGISTRATION INFORMATION*
PLEASE make sure to complete this packet so we have your most up to date information and so teachers and students can start this year BOBCAT STRONG! https://form.jotform.com/241260293620145
LASD 2024-2025 Calendar
Reporting Attendance: Santa Rita Student Attendance
Santa Rita Website: https://www.santaritaschool.org/santaritaes
Thank you to all the volunteers that made the Bobcat Chase a big success!
5th and 6th graders are learning, growing, and having fun!
The 6th graders have been working on "reverse drawing" with oil pastels.
The 5th graders had some balloon fun!
Mrs. Lorenz's students did a 4-4s Challenge: trying to solve 20 math equations using only 4-4s.
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Santa Rita Families,
Dear Santa Rita Families,
Thank you to our outstanding Parent-Teacher Association for hosting our annual Bobcat Chase last Saturday. It was great to see so many families attend this annual event. Students showed great perseverance and determination to complete their laps. I enjoyed connecting with families and running with our students. A big shout out to Amy Gallo for leading this event for us.
I hope everyone has a relaxing three-day weekend in honor of Labor Day.
Let’s Go, Bobcats!
Denise Khalid
Principal
Living Classroom
We are still seeking volunteers to support the Santa Rita Living Classroom Program. Please see below for more information.
Principal's Advisory Meeting
Friday, September 6th 9:00am Multipurpose Room
Google Meet Link: meet.google.com/adi-jnwf-gyj
I look forward to talking with parents about our wonderful school and the ways we can work together to support all students, staff and parents.
Supporting Santa Rita School
Why are the PTAs and LAEF both raising money for the schools?
A key to LASD’s success is the vibrant partnerships and financial support from the Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) and each school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). Although LASD is one of the top-ranked school districts in California, state and local taxes alone do not provide adequate funding for the excellent education we want for our students. LAEF and the school PTAs raise funds to help bridge the funding gap, giving LASD the additional resources they need to strengthen all our elementary and junior high schools.
LAEF funds teachers and staff for STEM, PE, Library, Art and Mental health counselors
PTA funds the equipment, supplies and additional programs students need to learn as well as community enrichment.
LAEF and the PTAs are only possible with your financial support. Please consider making a donation today. Santa Rita Donation Link: https://form.jotform.com/241260293620145
Cell Phone/Smart Watch Policy
As personal technology devices have become more ubiquitous, we hope the following information about our phone/smart watch/headphone policy will help us to partner together to ensure that all students stay safe on campus. Our policy states that personal technology devices (phones/smart watches/headphones) must be turned off and buried in backpacks as soon as students arrive on campus in the morning. Students should not be using those devices at any time before the end of the day, except with permission from staff. Parents who wish to communicate with their students should do so through the front office. Our office staff can get messages to individual students. Students who have their cell phones/smart watches out, without permission, during the school day will have their phone confiscated and a parent will need to pick it up at the office at the end of the day. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen devices brought to school.
Welcome Back Message from our Superintendent
We are grateful for our community and your support to our schools. Please watch this back-to-school message from our Superintendent, Sandra McGonagle.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Events in the Bay Area
BOBCAT STRONG NEWS
Silent Auction and Community Party Planning is underway!
Help collect a fun and exciting list of items and experiences for the upcoming Silent Auction that families can bid on!
Are you willing to visit local businesses and restaurants to ask for gift card donations?
Do you have a special skill that you could offer to teach others as an auctioned item?
Do you have access to unique places or experiences that could be auctioned?
Can you make or cook something that other people could bid on?
Do you have ideas for parties that can help bring our community together?
If you can help in some way, please fill out this short form; we’ll keep in touch with next steps: https://forms.gle/mUe82k7C9EHncW3J8
Thank you,
Kanika and Marlo
Grandfriends’ Day at Santa Rita
Grandfriends’ day is a great tradition at Santa Rita that builds a bridge across generations and extends the fabric of our school community. On Grandfriends' Day, students invite close friends and family to school to celebrate how multigenerational communities and special friendships enrich our lives.
Grandfriends' Day gives students the opportunity to share their school experience with someone special in their life. Anyone in a child's life can be a grandfriend. This can be a neighbor, an aunt or an uncle, a babysitter, a grandparent, a dear friend—a grandfriend is someone special to your Santa Rita student.
Schedule:
8:30 - 8:45 AM
Grandfriends join students on the blacktop for Friday assembly (optional)
8:45 - 9:00 AM
Grandfriends arrive at 6th grade park - enjoy continental breakfast and mingle
9:00 - 9:40 AM
Welcome speech by Principal Khalid and PTA
Short speeches by two 6th graders sharing their experiences at SR
Cultural dance
Craft table: Making a photo frame together
Photo booth: Family/Friend portraits
School spirit wear table
9:40 - 10:30 AM
Grandfriends join their student hosts in the classroom (and recess)
To participate, please RSVP by filling this Google Form by Friday, September 6th.
Also, to make this event successful, we need help from volunteers! If you have a spare hour on Thursday, September 12th or Friday, September 13th and would like to help us keep this great tradition going, sign up here!
Help fund teachers for Wellness, Innovation, Library, and Arts & Humanities this school year!
LAEF is the only way for parents to fund LASD teaching staff in our district and fill the gap in school funding from federal, state, and local sources. Our 2024-25 goal is $2.9 million. Parents are encouraged to donate $1,400 or $140/month per student this school year. Gifts of any amount are appreciated.
Donate or Pledge to LAEF today!
Get to Know Your Santa Rita LAEF Board Representatives
Mike Beman: Hello, Bobcat families! My name is Mike Beman, and my wife and I have 2nd and 6th-grade students (Sydney and Rivers) at Santa Rita. I am new to the LAEF board this year, and I look forward to working with absolutely everyone to support and grow LASD’s educational opportunities for ALL students. Please feel free to reach out anytime about anything - I want to hear from you and your Santa Rita learners.
Betsy Williams: Hello, Santa Rita! My husband and I have two boys at Santa Rita - one in 3rd grade and one in Kindergarten. We love how our community comes together for our students, and I’m excited to join the LAEF board this year to help raise funds to support programs like Art, Library, STEM, Computer Science, and more that enrich our kids’ education. I’m grateful for our supportive #bobcatstrong community and look forward to connecting!
Jack Lo: Hi, Santa Rita Bobcat families! My wife Kelly and I have had children at Santa Rita for the past 11 years, and our youngest, Katherine, is a second grader. This will be my first year volunteering on the LAEF board, and I’m excited about the opportunity to represent our fantastic Santa Rita and LASD communities. I look forward to collaborating with you to support a well-rounded and high-quality educational experience for all our students.
Reach out to your Santa Rita LAEF Board Representatives by sending an email to SantaRitaReps@LAEFonline.org
Join us for an evening with Peggy Orenstein, author of Girls & Sex and Boys & Sex
Let’s Talk About Sex: How a New Generation Navigates Hookups, Porn, Love & Consent
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time: 7PM
Location: Los Altos High School - Eagle Theater
Audience: Parents, caretakers, teachers, and counselors of middle and high school age children. Students 16+ are welcome to attend with their parent/guardian
Registration: Register for this free event
Books: Girls & Sex and Boys & Sex
In this talk, Orenstein combines her research with voices of both boys and girls (as well as those between or beyond genders), to discuss the impact on high school and college students’ sexual scripts of mainstream media, social media and porn; hookup culture; changing expectations around consent; the politics of sexual pleasure; the diversity of sexual orientations; gendered power dynamics. With humor and compassion, she separates myth from reality, ultimately giving parents, educators and young people the conversational tools they need to ensure safe, pleasurable, mutually satisfying sexual encounters and intimate relationships.
For more information, visit mvlaspeakerseries.org. Events are free thanks to our generous sponsors: MVLA High School Foundation, Los Altos Educational Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation, and the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
Únase a nosotros en una velada con Peggy Orenstein, autora de Girls & Sex y Boys & Sex
Hablemos de Sexo: Cómo una Nueva Generación Navega por las Relaciones Sexuales, la Pornografía, el Amor y el Consentimiento
Martes, 17 de septiembre de 2024
7pm
Escuela Preparatoria Los Altos - Teatro Eagle
Audiencia: Padres, tutores, maestros y consejeros de jóvenes en edad escolar secundaria y preparatoria.. Los estudiantes mayores de 16 años pueden asistir con sus padres o tutores.
Registro: Regístrate para este evento gratuito
Libros: Girls & Sex and Boys & Sex
En esta charla, Orenstein combina su investigación con las voces de niños y niñas (así como de personas que se encuentran entre dos géneros o más allá de ellos) para hablar sobre el impacto de los medios de comunicación tradicionales, las redes sociales y la pornografía en los guiones sexuales de los estudiantes de preparatoria y universitarios; la cultura del ligue; las expectativas cambiantes en torno al consentimiento; las políticas del placer sexual; la diversidad de orientaciones sexuales; y las dinámicas del poder de género. Con humor y compasión, separa el mito de la realidad, y en última instancia ofrece a los padres, educadores y jóvenes las herramientas de conversación que necesitan para garantizar encuentros sexuales y relaciones íntimas seguros, placenteros y mutuamente satisfactorios.
Para obtener más información, visite mvlaspeakerseries.org. Los eventos son gratuitos gracias a nuestros generosos patrocinadores: MVLA High School Foundation, Los Altos Educational Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation, and the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
Santa Rita School
Email: dkhalid@lasdschools.org
Website: https://www.santaritaschool.org
Location: 700 Los Altos Avenue, Los Altos, CA, USA
Phone: (650)559-1600
Facebook: santaritaPTA
Twitter: @BobcatsSR
Join us to support our students this school year!