Almond Thursday Word

Dear Almond Families:

This past week has been a whirlwind of events. On Tuesday night, over 25 families joined us for our 2nd annual Family Literacy Night. Together, students and parents played games, created comic books, listened to staff read-aloud favorite picture books and some students even read to our special visiting working dogs (see pics below). On Wednesday, our very own Almond Singers shared their lovely seasonal music with our student body during a special assembly in the multi and then again for families that night for an encore performance. It was a joyful and cozy way to counterbalance the dreary rain outside. And this morning, our 1-6th graders kicked off the STEM Expo season with a presentation by Alison Gentile, one of our STEM coaches, who shared about the many different project paths kids can take and the culminating event on February 26.

We’ve kicked off the busy month of December! Looking forward to seeing you all for the 4-6th grade Winter concert (12/11) and the TK-3 Winter Concert (12/18). And, if you know of any new families in our neighborhood or current neighbors with children who will be going to Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten next year, please invite them to attend our New Family Presentation tonight at 7pm in the multi where they can learn all about Almond.

Here’s to celebrations and community events during this holiday season!

Raquel

p.s. Check out our "Thankful Tree" below. All of our students (and staff and parents too!) have written something they are thankful for this season. You are welcome to come by the office and check it out and leave a "leaf-note" too!

TONIGHT, Thur, 12/5, New Family/Kindergarten Information Night, 7pm -- tell your neighbors with young children!

12/9-12/13, Hour of Code Week

Wed, 12/11, PTA General Meeting, 8:30 am (previously posted as Board Meeting--apologies!)

Wed, 12/11, Winter Concert, Grades 4-6, 1:00

Fri, 12/13, School Tour for new and incoming parents (tell your neighbors with young children!)

Wed, 12/18, Winter Concert, Grades TK/K-3

TK/K 1:00

1st: 1:30

2nd: 2:00

3rd: 2:30

12/23-1/3, December Recess, NO SCHOOL

Mon, 1/6/20, School resumes

Wed, 1/15/20, PTA Board Meeting, 8:30

Wed, 2/26, STEM Expo

Hour of Code week is coming! December 9th-13th is Computer Science Education Week, a week dedicated to showing students K-12 the importance of computer science education. This celebration was organized by Code.org with the goal to get 10 million students of all ages (and adults) to participate in just 1 hour of coding.

According to Code.org, "90% of K-12 schools in the U.S. do not teach computer science." Los Altos School District, thanks to funding from LAEF, is fortunate enough to be in the 10% of U.S. Schools that are offering every student the opportunity to learn computational thinking through the STEM Computer Science program.

Coding ideas you can do at home with a tablet and/or computer

Ideas for all on internet :

• go to Code.org lessons and you can specify what age and topic

Kinders for tablets:

• Bee bots and the bee bot app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bee-bot/id500131639?mt=8

1st and 2nd grade for tablets:

• Daisy the Dinosaur https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/daisy-the-dinosaur/id490514278
• Hopscotch https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hopscotch-coding-for-kids/id617098629?mt=8
• Scratch Jr. scratch Jr.
• Code.org. For many lessons and tutorials for all ages

3rd-6th grade internet based:

• Scratch: http://scratch.mit.edu/
• code.org for many lessons and tutorials for all ages

"Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer…because it teaches you how to think."- Steve Jobs

Happy Coding Everyone!!

Living Classroom is in need of more volunteers!...With more teachers than ever before signing up for our fun and engaging lessons, we need your help to meet our lesson demand! Please join us for our upcoming Winter Docent Training on Monday mornings in December from 9-Noon (12/2, 12/9 & 12/16) at the Los Altos School District iLearn Studio located at 201 Covington Road in Los Altos. Our trainings are fun, educational and even include breakfast! The suggested commitment is only 6 hours a month and, in turn, we invite you to join us for our docent enrichment events which include socials, hikes, garden tours, workshops and lectures. No experience or green thumb necessary as we teach you everything you need to know!

Living Classroom Winter Docent Training

Mondays 9-Noon 12/2, 12/9 & 12/16 (if you missed one, we'll work with you!)

Los Altos School District – iLearn Studio

201 Covington Road, Los Altos

*Can’t make Mondays? Ask us about our apprentice-style training!

Click here to view and/or print out flyer!

RSVP/Questions? Email livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103.

Check us out at www.living-classroom.org!

The Gala Auction is Almond's biggest PTA fundraiser and a great way for parents to mix and mingle while supporting our school. It is an adults-only event.

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 evening will include dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions! Purchase Here!

On February 26, 2020, Almond will hold LASD’s 7th Annual STEM Expo. The Expo invites students in grades K-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 February 12th. Questions? Email STEM IST Alison Gentile at agentile@lasdschools.org

Volunteers needed! Please sign up HERE!

It’s time foster creativity, self-expression and excitement about writing!

Bookwave booklets have gone home! Some tips and tricks for "effortlessly" completing this project:

• Sample books for inspiration: https://studentreasures.com/teachers-lounge/sample-books-topic-ideas/
• If you need more or different pages - https://studentreasures.com/teachers-lounge/replacement-kit-materials/
• Writing tips - https://studentreasures.com/teachers-lounge/writing-tips/

Our teacher-led workshop to help kids finish up their books will be on Wednesday, Jan 15th, 2020. PLEASE RSVP here if you can make it.

The due date for completed books will be Friday, January 24, 2020.

If you are still interested in purchasing a booklet, or have any questions, please contact Raina at rainab@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for turning in your book on time!

We have a Challenge Match.

A group of LASD families has offered to match every dollar donated before December 31st, up to a total of $50,000.

Donate to LAEF now and make twice the impact!

Funding an excellent public education is only possible with your support.

Once you’ve made your donation to LAEF, be sure to request a corporate match, if it’s available. Find out now if your company offers corporate matching.

Happy Holidays!

Make Your Amazon Shopping Count for Almond! Earn referral fees for Almond on purchases of school supplies, books, electronics, and more. Please use this link (bookmark it!) or go to http://www.almondschool.org and click on "Amazon Smile (on the right side under Rebate Programs). The Almond PTA will automatically receive a referral fee from Amazon. No sign-up required.

HOLIDAY BEEHIVE PROJECT IN KENYA

Want to give a creative and meaningful gift this holiday season? Consider a beehive for Kenya! ODFL was started at Los Altos High School and builds projects in developing countries. For the holidays, they are installing beehives to help the local schools, villagers and farmers.

For $150, they will install a beehive with a 3x6” brass plaque in the name of the person or family you choose. 100% of the cost will go to the beehive and is tax deductible. To purchase a beehive or learn more, click here or text BEEHIVE to 71777.

Welcome to Family Giving Tree's 2019 Holiday Wish Drive. Please help those Bay Area children, individuals, and seniors most in need. You can be the reason for their celebration this season! All donations made from this link will reflect Almond Elementary School Involvement.

Like last year, this year too, Almond Elementary School is participating in the Holiday Wish Drive. Use the link below to begin supporting those children, adults and seniors most in need throughout our Bay Area community. https://vtree.fgt.org/AlmondElementarySchool

Since 1990, the Family Giving Tree has provided gifts for over one million San Francisco Bay Area children, families, and seniors from low-income households. We believe that everyone should experience the joy of the holidays through the receipt of a gift and more than half of these gifts have fulfilled exact holiday gift wishes. Please donate! Almond School Donations