Dear Almond Families,

I couldn’t be more proud of our creative students! I am happy to share that today during the Cardboard Challenge Exhibition, we showcased student inventions that were the result of creativity, critical thinking and collaboration over the past month. During morning recess, the multi was buzzing with students demonstrating their projects, or trying out others. I observed problem-solving, patience, complimenting and pure joy. 

The goal of the Cardboard Challenge was to inspire the students to be creative, to use their expanding brains to plan a unique invention (often with a partner), and to use simple materials to make it come together. Critical thinking, engineering, math, collaboration, and satisfaction with a project well done—we couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. 

Thank you to all of the families for donating cardboard, taking time at home to encourage your children and supporting this community-wide event.

Tomorrow is the Walkathon wrap-up assembly, at 8:30. Please come share the excitement and success of our top walkers and all the students who participated in last month’s big fundraiser!

Here’s to a fantastic November,

Raquel

UPCOMING DATES

• Thurs, Nov. 8, ELAC meeting, 8:30-9:30
• Mon, Nov. 12, Holiday—NO SCHOOL
• Wed, Nov. 14, PTA Board Meeting, 8:35 in Conference Room
• Thurs, Nov. 15, DELAC meeting, 9:00, iLearn Studio, District Office
• Fri, Nov. 16, Principal Coffee, 8:35
• Mon and Tues, Nov. 19-20, Parent/Teacher conferences, NO SCHOOL
• Wed-Fri, Nov. 21-23, Holidays, NO SCHOOL

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Almond's Annual - Halloween Candy Drive and New Black Sock Collection!

Don't know what to do with all that Halloween Candy that your kids collected or you just didn't hand out? Please consider donating it to the Halloween Candy Drive at Almond Elementary School! Almond Community Services is conducting its annual candy drive - to help YOU get rid of all the candy and to help OUR TROOPS nearby!  And new this year - we are collecting New Black Socks (kids or adults) which will be handed out as part of theBurrito Project Socktober (in Oakland) - so please consider dropping off a pair of socks or two or three along with your candies!

Candy Drive: From November 1st through November 9th (to give you the weekend to have the kids count and then forget their loot!), please bring in your wrapped candies and drop it in the marked box in the main office.  All candy donated will be picked up by a local Military Unit through our partnership with Operation Care and Comfort (a non-profit organization) to be used for care packages, local military events, etc. Please note that all donations will be used for our local military professionals and sent abroad.  Last year we collected over 300 lbs of candy and are hoping to reach the same!  For more information on Operation Care and Comfort please visit their website (www.occ-usa.org).  

Black Sock Drive: Please consider donating NEW black socks as well when you drop off your candy....a group of local families are participating in the Burrito Project in Oakland and will take all sock donations to Oakland for distribution to those in need. Socks are one of those items that are desperately in need especially as the weather turns chillier. Why Black? Because it’s Halloween (and they don't show dirt as much).

If you have any questions please contact Seema Chavan or Polly Liu.

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Teacher Conferences: Do you or your spouse need help translating?

Almond New Family Ambassadors and Translators are happy to help you - just get in touch!

Would you be able to help translate for our families that speak other languages? If you are able to help, please contact zsofip@hotmail.com to be added to our list of available translators. We appreciate your assistance!

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LAEF UPDATE:

A 5th grader at Springer recently shared what she enjoys about LAEF funded programs:

   Art - I love drawing. It's one of my favorite subjects.

   STEM - I like STEM because it's "hands on."

   Wellness - I like getting out there with my friends and taking a mental break.

   Literacy - I really like creative writing because I can take the story on any turns I want.

We’ve raised $2 million, but still need another $1.5 million to fully fund teachers and staff this school year. If you've made a pledge during our Phonathon, or have yet to donate, visit

www.laefonline.org/donate, or text your donation to LAEF at 50155. The suggested amount is $1,200 per student or $120/month. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.

Watch this 2-minute video to find out all the programs LAEF is supporting at your child’s school.

Learn more about why our local public schools need your financial support.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

We are having our first ELAC meeting of the year on Thursday morning, Nov. 8, at 8:30 in the ELD room.

What is ELAC? ELAC is a committee that offers suggestions to strengthen the school’s English Language Learner program. 

Who is ELAC? ELAC is you! As a parent of a student learning English, your feedback and ideas are essential to helping us improve the way we support our English Learners and their families.

During this first meeting we will discuss:

–      How are ELLs identified and tested?

–      What does Almond’s ELD program currently look like?

–      How is Almond helping new families feel included and informed?

Please attend to learn more details about the program and offer suggestions for welcoming new families. Change begins with you, so if you have great ideas please come to share them on Thursday!

Jessica Mountz and Raquel Matteroli

Would you like to get involved with our English language learners at the District level? If so, please attend our first DELAC meeting on Thursday, Nov. 15, at 9:00 at the iLearn studio at the District Office. 

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PROJECT CORNERSTONE

Grades: 1st-5th:

November's ABC book, Say Something by Peggy Moss, makes us think about the power we have to support and include every student at our school.  It is a call to action for all of us to move from the role of bystander to the integrity-rich role of UPstander.  The goals of this lesson include:

•  recognizing that UPstanders are asset champions
•  They stand up to bully behaviors and advocate for targets.
•  UPstanders know and practice tools that support and include everyone in real word face to face situations, as well as online in the digital world.

6th Grade:

Our 6th grade students are continuing the discussion in Middle School Confidential: Real Friends vs. The Other Kind, by Annie Fox.  This month the focus is on problem solving friendship dilemmas and practicing how to make a genuine apology when one is required to mend a friendship.

Key take aways from the lesson:

•  When you sense something isn't right with a friend, do something about it.
•  Conflicts will come up in any friendship and who started the fight isn't as important as how you work together to make peace.
•  A genuine apology is specific, accepts responsibility, tries to make amends, and asks for forgiveness.  

Kindergarten:

The kinder students are reading Talk and Work it Out by Cheri Meiners which focuses on peaceful conflict resolution.  The kids will learn specific tools to resolve conflicts and get along.  Accepting and respecting someone else's position is also taught.
If you have any questions about Project Cornerstone or the ABC Reading program, don't hesitate to reach out to us.  Thanks as always for your support.

Lily Wang, Katie Liniger, Sue Jones & Jen Walker

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