Bobcat Strong News Tracker
August 26, 2021
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SANTA RITA AT-A-GLANCE
SANTA RITA AT-A-GLANCE
9/2 - Back-to-School Night - Virtual
TK-3 6:00-6:30
4-6 6:45-7:15
9/3 - Minimum Day- Student Dismissal at 12:15 pm
9/6 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
9/17 - Bobcat Spirit Day (make sure to fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration for a special surprise! https://bit.ly/bobcatreg
BOBCAT STRONG REGISTRATION: Please make sure to fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration Information (https://bit.ly/bobcatreg) so we have your most up-to-date information!
Teamwork!
Buddy Activites
Games at Lunch
Letter from your Principal
Thankful for our Community!
It is great to be back together again!
I have a hard time putting into words how much I appreciate our community! Last weekend we had the 15th Annual Bobcat Chase! What a great turnout! I had a wonderful time running with parents and alumni in the first race, cheering on the students as they ran around the track and watching all the smiling faces of parents and children. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible.
Our first full week of school has been very busy. Starting Arts Theater classes started for Tk-3rd grade, music classes began in 4th-6th, PE classes started and Mrs. Garvin started games at lunch on Mondays and Tuesdays. School sure is in full swing!
As students are diving into more curricular areas this week, I thought it would be helpful to share information regarding our TK-5 math adoption. As a district we are thrilled to be able to provide math resources for our teachers that help them engage students in deep math learning. This requires attention to three components of math: conceptual understanding, computational and procedural skills and problem solving. We know that being able to share math thinking, make connections between concepts and being able to apply skills in new situations is critical to a deep understanding of math. Please watch the video below to learn more about how your child is learning math in class every day.
*Our exemplary LAEF-funded Instructional Support Teachers created the video and have been providing critical professional development to all TK-5 LASD teachers across the district to support this adoption.
Back to School Night will be virtual next Thursday, September 2nd.
You will be getting more information from your student’s teacher soon with a link to the Google Meet.
TK-3rd will begin at 6:00pm and 4th-6th grades will begin at 6:45.
Reminder also that Friday, September 3rd will be a minimum day. Kindergarten will be released at 12:00 and all other grades will be released at 12:15.
Thank you everyone for making the beginning of the school year Bobcat Strong!
Better Together, Go Bobcats!
Kelly Rafferty
Bobcat Chase
We are Bobcat Strong!
Bobcat Chase
CALENDAR
9/2 - Back-to-School Night - Virtual
9/3 - Minimum Day- Student Dismissal at 12:15 pm
9/6 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
9/14 - School Picture Day
9/17 - Bobcat Spirit Day (make sure to fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration for a special surprise! https://bit.ly/bobcatreg
9/24 - Staff Development - NO SCHOOL
CAMPUS COVID UPDATES
Students: Masks are required inside and outside at all times during school hours on campus except while eating or drinking. Social distancing is not required at this time.
- Parents: Currently only essential volunteers (must be vaccinated) will be allowed internally on campus. This is defined as any areas past the front of school. Please check with the front office if you need to reach your student.
BOBCAT STRONG
Bobcat Strong Registration:
Please make sure to fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration Information (https://bit.ly/bobcatreg) so we have your most up-to-date information! Because of You we are able to provide all the wonderful programs and technology to our Bobcats - fill out by September 17th for a chance at awesome prizes!
Yard & Lunch Duty:
Lunch Service Volunteers
Lunch service is off to a great start! Thank you to all those who signed up to help! We still need a few more volunteers! It takes less than 45 minutes (11:30 - 12:15) and is a great opportunity for you to visit campus and see your kids mid-day!
Sign up below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18jTUQiboQi3BRQc_jAdiy2ge-37P2B11NP-lV9VR838/edit?usp=sharing
If you can’t commit to once a week, every other week is great too. Please indicate in the note area. Also, don't worry about occasional schedule changes; we have backup volunteers who can sub in. For questions contact Yang Liu, our hot lunch chair at yang@santaritapta.org or 612-730-1639.
Yard Duty
Are you interested in working part time? Want to have insight into lunch time at Santa Rita? Get your extra steps in each day? Please consider applying to be Santa Rita Yard Duty. The position is very flexible - you can volunteer any day Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm. Please click on this link and fill in your available time and email so we can contact you. This is a paid position and if you have any questions, please email volunteer@santaritapta.org.
Los Altos Art Docent!
Want to volunteer in the classroom? Share your love of art with children in our school district with hands-on lessons. Join a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.
Join us for the first training session and mini art lesson!
LASD iLearn Studio (Masks required)
Thursday September, 9th from 9:00-11:30am
201 Covington Road, Los Altos
- or -
Email for Zoom info
No experience or artistic talent is required. To RSVP or for questions contact Kimberly Dickerson at (650) 947-1195 or email kdickerson@lasdschools.org
http://www.losaltosartdocents.org/about_us/volunteer.php
Project Cornerstone:
Want to be involved in helping each of our Bobcats learn the important fundamentals to help them succeed on a social-emotional level? Volunteer to be the lead for Project Cornerstone
We are now searching for someone to take on this role.
The job is about:
5-10 hours a month or even LESS. You lead it the way you want.
Non-mandatory monthly (currently online) training sessions to support you in your role.
A lot of material ready to use for you.
An amazing supportive and caring community involved in this program.
A program well implemented in Santa Rita, so no need to reinvent the wheel, but still room for your creativity and ideas
A note from Mary Anne Williams - our New Librarian
Hello Everyone!
I'm thrilled to be your new library specialist at Santa Rita! The library has always been a second home to me. As a child I used to spend almost every day in my local county library, and as much time as possible in my elementary school library. Naturally, one of my first jobs out of college was in a local middle school's library. I went on to get an MFA in creative nonfiction writing, and have four children. I started in LASD first as a parent volunteer and yard duty at Springer Elementary. In 2020, I started at Santa Rita in the LASD Plus program, and also served as an aide for second grade. These experiences gave me a passion for Santa Rita students and I am so excited to be the library specialist here this year. Thank you for welcoming me into your community!
Mary Anne
What's New
SCHOOL BELL SCHEDULE
TK (until September 13th) All Days 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
Kinder (until September 13th) All Days 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Grades 1st & 2nd
M/Tu/W/F 8:30 am - 2:40 pm
Th 8:30 am - 1:25 pm
Grades 3rd - 6th
M/T/W/F 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Th 8:30 am - 1:45 pm
DROP OFF/PICK UP PROTOCOLS: We are excited for the new school year and looking forward to our Bobcats back on campus. Please note no parents except essential volunteers are allowed internally on campus. Walking or biking to school is highly encouraged as traffic around Santa Rita can get congested.
Drop Off Information:
Campus opens @ 8:15 students are allowed to enter campus but must remain on back of campus open space area (classrooms open at 8:30 am)
If walking/biking please lock bikes in bike racks and students may go to the playground before 8:30. Kinder/TK please drop off in the Kinder Play area
If driving please proceed through the drop off drive area and have your student ready to unload when you get to the designated unloading area
Pick Up Information:
If walking/biking please wait for your child in front of school on sidewalk near parking lot. Kinder/TK please pick up in the Kinder Play area.
If driving please proceed through the pickup drive area (do not cut through the parking lot or wait in the parking lot unless there is a parking spot available)
HOT LUNCH
For families interested in hot lunch for their student(s), please login or create an account at https://www.choicelunch.com/ to start your order. The lunch orders need to be in two days before for optimal preparation time. You can still order closer to the day, but items are more limited and prices are slightly higher. Also, you can download the ChoiceLunch App on your mobile device for easy access anytime. The Free for All hot lunch program is not currently offered through the LASD, but the district is exploring options for the 2022-2023 school year.
Living Classroom
Volunteer with Living Classroom!
Living Classroom is in need of volunteers to teach our fun, hands-on lessons and help care for our school gardens. No experience or green thumb necessary as we teach you everything you need to know! Join a community of people who enjoy connecting kids with nature and teaching them where their food comes from. The suggested time commitment is only 6 hours a month and you get to participate in fun volunteer enrichment activities such as nature hikes, garden tours, garden clubs, educational workshops, talks, and more! Living Classroom is a great way to act locally to help care for our plant and nurture our future environmental stewards! Get involved today!
Join us in-person or virtually for our…
Living Classroom Informational Meeting
Monday, August 30th 10-11am
followed by an optional Garden Tour!
LASD iLearn Studio (masks required)
201 Covington Road, Los Altos
-or-
email for information on joining us virtually
Please RSVP to livingclassroom@lasdschools.org if you plan to attend.
Questions? Contact us at (650) 947-1103 or email livingclassroom@lasdschools.org
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Santa Rita is super excited for the return of in-person after school programs! Here are some of the offerings:
Mondays - Science Made Fun, After School Hoops;
Tuesdays - Easy Spanish;
Wednesdays - Run for Fun;
Thursdays - Lunchtime Chess Club;
Fridays - Coach Ken Soccer, After School Tennis;
Plus, LASD Flag Football. Mathletes and Speak Debate will be offered on-line, for Fall.
Check the school website under Enrichment activities for schedule, more info, and registration links. After School Activities • Page - Santa Rita Elementary School (santaritaschool.org)
FLAG FOOTBALL
Calling all 3rd-6th graders! LASD Flag Football is back on!
Please sign up for our only school sport. Each school in LASD has a 3rd/4th grade team and a 5/6th grade COED team.
We compete against the other schools in the district after school and the season culminates in a district-wide tournament at Foothill College. It is a lot of fun, and even the teachers stay to watch the games!
No experience necessary and it’s a no-cut sport.
Please sign up here: http://www.asa-lasd-flagleague.com/
FREE ONLINE CODING CLASSES (4TH - 6TH GRADE)
Trained local high school students from the Computer Engineers of the Next Generation are hosting free coding classes on Zoom in Scratch, JavaScript and Python
Dates: Wednesdays, September 1 - October 6, 2021
Time: 4:15 - 5:45 pm PST (NEW TIME)
No. of Weeks: 6
Format: Zoom online classes
Cost: Free
Registration Links:
4th grade - Scratch (Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced)
5th grade - JavaScript (Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced)
6th grade - Python (Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced)
Students will be put into different breakout rooms according to their levels.
Registration deadline: 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 28, 2021 or when class is full.
Computer Engineers of the Next Generation (CENG) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to inspire underrepresented minorities to pursue Computer Science. For more information, please check out our website at cengclass.org. Questions? Please contact cengclass@gmail.com
Free Virtual Reading Tutoring Program (K-3rd Grade):
Teen Tutors is an organization run by Los Altos High School students to connect young readers with high school tutors! Our Read to Me program features tutors who read to students one-on-one to strengthen their reading comprehension & listening skills. As the students grow more comfortable, they can choose to read themselves with tutor assistance as needed. Virtual Read to Me sessions will be available on Saturdays from 10:30 am-11:15 am and 11:15 am-12 pm. Please register your child here: https://tinyurl.com/K3rdReading
For more information about our program, please visit www.teentutorslahs.wixsite.com/lahs or email teentutorslahs@gmail.com with any questions.
Programa gratuito de tutoría virtual de lectura (K-3rd Grado):
Teen Tutors es una organización dirigida por los estudiantes de Los Altos para conectar a los lectores jóvenes con tutores de la escuela secundaria. Nuestro programa Read to Me ofrece tutores que leen a los estudiantes de uno en uno para fortalecer su comprensión de lectura y sus habilidades de escucha. A medida que los estudiantes se sientan más cómodos, pueden optar por leerse a sí mismos con ayuda de un tutor según sea necesario. Las sesiones virtuales de Read to Me estarán disponibles los sábados de 10:30am a 11:15am y de 11:15am a 12pm. Registre a su hijo aquí: https://tinyurl.com/K3rdReading
Thank you!
LOVE LOS ALTOS:
Let’s strongly support our students this school year!
Donate to LAEF and fund teachers for STEM, Wellness, Literacy, and Arts. LAEF helps fill the gap in school funding from federal, state, and local sources and is the only way for parents to fund LASD teaching staff in our district. Our 2021-22 goal is $2.8 million. Parents are encouraged to donate $1,200 or $120/month per student this school year. Gifts of any amount are appreciated.
Donate or Pledge to LAEF today!
Find out more about the teachers that LAEF will be funding this school year.
Learn why our local public schools need your support by watching our video: "Funding an Excellent Public Education".
Check out the 2021-22 LAEF Brochure in English, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese
Santa Rita School
Email: krafferty@lasdschools.org
Website: https://www.santaritaschool.org
Location: 700 Los Altos Avenue, Los Altos, CA, USA
Phone: (650)559-1600
Facebook: santaritaPTA
Twitter: @BobcatsSR