Vista Views
August 23, 2023
We had an amazing first week of school, filled with lots of activities and anticipation. Teachers were busy introducing students to their new classrooms and students were quickly making new friends. It is always an exciting time of year.
Our next big event will be Back to School Night for our first through fifth grade families (TK/K Back to School Night already took place). Back to School Night is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet your child's teacher and learn about what to expect throughout the year, including curriculum, special events, and ways that you can volunteer in the classroom. We also set aside time for the Alta Vista Home and School Club to present information on the programs they support and how you can be involved. We look forward to seeing you at this special event.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT SCHEDULE
6:00-6:30
Location: Third/Fourth/Fifth Grade Classrooms
Classroom presentations in third through fifth grades
6:30-7:00
Location: Cafeteria
Home & School Club General Meeting
7:00-7:30
Location: First/Second Grade Classrooms
Classroom presentations in first and second grades
Back to School Night is set aside for adults only. Please make arrangements for child care.
ALTA VISTA INFORMATION
Campus Gates
The perimeter gates throughout our campus provides an important level of security to staff and students, but we all need to work together to keep everyone safe.
Our school campus opens at 8:05. This is when students and adults can come onto campus. Please do not open or unlock the gates before that time. We also ask that you do not prop open gates. At the 8:15 bell, we will be locking the gates. If your child is running late or you need to visit the office for other reasons, you can still do so through the open gates near the cafeteria. Please do not encourage your child to enter a gate after 8:15. Many teachers begin taking attendance immediately, so it is important that we know that your child arrived safely at school. All visitors or volunteers remaining on campus after 8:15 will need to register in the office.
The gates will be opened or unlocked at 2:40 each day. We politely request that you wait to enter campus until that time. This allows teachers to provide last minute reminders and instruction to students without distraction.
Lunch Schedule Change - Effective Monday, August 28
On Monday, we are making a slight shift in our lunch schedule. Please note the new bell schedule below.
Grades 1-5
8:15-2:40 M, T, TH and Friday
8:15-1:15 Wednesday
Recess: 10:30-10:50
Lunch: 12:10-1:00 (Grades 1/2/3)
Lunch: 12:20-1:00 (Grade 4/5)
If your child needs to be picked up early for an appointment,
please try to avoid recess and lunch times. Thank you.
Classroom Volunteers
Alta Vista loves to welcome volunteers into our classrooms. There are a few steps that need to be followed if you are going to be on campus during the school day.
- All volunteers need to complete the 2023-2024 Volunteer Code of Conduct. This has to be done once each year (but only once). It takes about one week to process, at which time your name will be added to our Volunteer Database.
- Every time you are coming onto campus, you will need to bring a photo ID, such as a drivers license or passport. This is used to check the Megan's Law database before any visitors are allowed on campus.
We look forward to seeing you in the classroom and on the playgrounds.
IMPORTANT - Emergency Update Information
On August 9th you should have received an email explaining how to update your child's emergency information that is in our school database. For those of you who were still in vacation mode and didn't update the info, a follow up email was sent on August 15th.
Please look through your inbox (email address that we have in our database) for these messages. At this point, we do not have updated information for 110 students that are at school every day. Take a few minutes to check the data for errors or needed updates.
At Back to School Night we will be asking those people still needing to update the information to do so in their child's classroom, but I'm sure you'll want to get this done before Back to School Night so that you can focus on the teacher's presentation. Thank you for your attention to this important information.
INFORMATION FROM UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
Student Nutrition
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a federal initiative designed to provide food assistance to students who have been impacted by the pandemic and are missing out on meals that would have been provided at school. This program aims to replace those meals with a monetary benefit that can be used to purchase food.
P-EBT benefits are being distributed to all students who attended Union School District last year. The California Department of Education has determined eligibility for P-EBT cards based on the District's status, rather than the individual status of each student. Beginning this month, P-EBT cards containing a benefit amount of $120 have been mailed to student's home mailing address. These cards function like debit cards and can be used at locations where CalFresh Food benefits are accepted.
Families who determine the P-EBT benefits are not necessary can drop off their cards at a collection box which will be made available in the front office area at each school. The District is working with the California Department of Education on redistributing returned P-EBT cards to students who are in need of these benefits.
Attendance Works
Attendance will be a top priority across Union School District this year. When children miss school days, they miss out the opportunity to learn from their teachers. The more children miss, the harder it is for them to keep up with those who attend school regularly. While some absences are unavoidable for health reasons or other important family matters, but we also know that even when children have missed school for good reasons, too many absences can cause them to fall behind.
Let’s work together to make sure that your child does no fall behind in school this school year. Please ensure that your children attends school every day and also arrives on time so they benefit as much as possible from what is taught in the classroom. Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime,
Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
Establish a morning routine.
Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick (e.g child has a fever, is throwing up or has diarrhea versus a minor stomach ache or runny nose.)
Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.
This short video on the importance of attendance will provide additional information. You will also find a flyer at the bottom of the newsletter.
Insurance for Chromebooks
Every year, we have provide parents a way to buy voluntary insurance to cover their children's Chromebooks for a year. This year, it is even more important, with the cost of the new 853T Chromebooks being $450. The insurance plan costs $37 per year. You'll find a flyer below with details on how to purchase Chromebook insurance.
WE NEED YOU!
We still have a few days during the week when we need additional lunch time yard duties. We would love to have you join us from 12:05 to 1:05 help with supervision of the playground and lunch tables.
If you are available one or more days per week, please reach out to Mrs. Bailey at baileyc@unionsd.org. We would love to have you join Team Alta Vista!
UPCOMING EVENTS
8/25 - AVHSC Pizza and Ice Cream Social (See flyer below)
8/30 - Back to School Night for Grades 1-5 (Details above)
9/4 - No School (Labor Day)
Alta Vista Elementary School
Email: baileyc@unionsd.org
Website: altavista.unionsd.org
Location: 200 Blossom Valley Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Phone: 408.356.6146
Twitter/X: @TeamAltaVista