Dear Almond Families,

This upcoming week (December 3-9th) is Computer Science Education Week, a week dedicated to showing students the importance of computer science education. During this same week four years ago,code.org started the Hour of Code initiative to increase coding across the country. This has now expanded across the world.   Thanks to funding from LAEF, every LASD student has the opportunity to learn to code through the STEM and CSTEM program. See more at https://www.lasdschools.org/District/Portal/Computer-Science. In LASD we have been teaching coding for years. This week simply allows us to spotlight and build upon the great experiences that our kids already have. At Almond, kids are learning to code for many different purposes based in real world scenarios. For instance, in 5th grade students used a coding program called Scratch to create a quiz game to share with their classmates and received helpful feedback from their peers.  Students then reflected on what to consider when creating user-friendly questions/responses for their quiz game. Here is a picture of one quiz game in Scratch where they have been learning how to create and use variables, operators, ask, and if/then blocks.

Next week students will continue to learn more about computer science in their classrooms including some special visits from the coding experts at Google who have graciously volunteered to come and code with our kids throughout the week!

If you would like to know more about this initiative, you can watch this 2-minute video on the Hour of Code initiative: https://youtu.be/KsOIlDT145A

Here’s to our budding coders!

Raquel

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LAEF News

Your Donation Can be Doubled!

We've raised $2.5 million so far, but still have $1 million to go to fund our grant to our school district this school year. Now is a great time to donate to LAEF because we have a new challenge match. Four generous anonymous donors will match every dollar donated before December 31st, up to a total of $30,000. Your donation can be doubled if you give now!

The suggested donation is $1,200 per student or $150/month, but donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Donate online, or text "LAEF" to 50155 to donate.

Learn how your student is benefitting from LAEF this school year.

LASD Winter Music Concerts

We hope you'll enjoy the sounds of the season coming from our LASD Winter Music Concerts. Your contributions to LAEF make these concerts possible.

Elementary school concerts are at 1 pm in the school multi.

Almond - Monday, Dec 10

Gardner Bullis - Tuesday, Dec 11

Loyola - Wednesday, Dec 12

Covington - Monday, Dec 17

Springer - Tuesday, Dec 18

Santa Rita - Wednesday, Dec 19

Oak - Friday, Dec 21

ArtPop
Mountain View's very own artisan holiday market, ArtPop, is back for another year, in a new downtown location at 275 Castro Street. Locally made gifts for everyone on your list. Saturday, Dec. 8 is Shop for Our Schools Day, where artisans will donate 15% of sales to the three local school foundations–MVLA, LAEF and MVEF.  Support our schools by shopping on Dec 8.

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Almond Singers Winter Holiday Concert

Almond Elementary students, parents, and friends are cordially invited to attend The Almond Singers Winter Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 7pm in the Multi. Almond Singers' members (who are students in grades 2-6) will delight you with their performances of both traditional and contemporary holiday songs. (There will be a morning concert at school on Tuesday, December 4 at 8:45am for students and staff only). Happy Holidays!

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PTA General Meeting - Please Note Different Time

Come to the next PTA meeting on Wednesday, December 12, at 7:00pm in the Multi!  We will be reviewing income generated by the Walkathon, Halloween Carnival and Fall Book Fair, and discussing upcoming events like Bookwave Blast and Principal Coffee.  If you always wanted to come to the meetings but couldn't because of work schedule conflicts, this is your chance to see what you've been missing. Here is the agenda for the meeting,  hope to see you there.

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Community Service

Holiday Wish Drive - Please Grant a Wish this Season! (Volunteer Opportunity)

Almond Community Services is pleased to host for its 4th year, a Holiday Wish Drive on behalf of Family Giving Tree (FGT). This is an Almond favorite and our most popular event every year!  FGT is a charitable organization dedicated to inspiring underserved children and individuals throughout the Bay Area. For over 25 years, FGT has fulfilled over 1.3 million holiday wishes and is looking to fulfill the holiday wishes of over 75,000 local children, special need adults and seniors this holiday season. For more information on Family Giving Tree please visit www.FamilyGivingTree.org.

How to Participate?

Fulfill a Holiday Wish: Consider signing up to fulfill a holiday wish.  It's easy and a great way to get your kids involved. Look through the holiday wishes with your children and select one or two wishes to fulfill (please note gifts should range between $25-$40). Gift donations are due before December 6th and can either be dropped off to Almond's front office (box marked Family Giving Tree) or can be dropped to Seema Chavan's home (658 Spargur Drive). Please sign up here: Family Giving Tree Gift List

If you don't have time to select a gift or want us to fulfill wishes for your - please PayPal your donation to Seema at bhimsee@yahoo.com and note Family Giving Tree.

Volunteer at the Warehouse Event:  We have secured 50 spots this year for some fun, hands-on volunteering at the FGT Warehouse on Sunday, December 16th, from 3-5pm.  Come join us to help sort, wrap and prepare wishes for giving.  All ages are welcome but please note this is not a drop off event and parent chaperones are required.  Also we ask that for each child participating, please sign up for to fulfill a wish. Signups are on a first come first serve basis (they go fast so please RSVP as soon as you’re able) by emailing polly@beau-coup.com and she will confirm your attendance. We will send a follow up email with directions (warehouse is in Sunnyvale) and other specifics.  

Thank you Almond for helping to fulfill wishes this holiday season!!

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From LASD Health Services

Sometimes it is difficult, especially early in the morning, to know whether or not to send your child to school. The following guidelines are indications that you should keep him/her home. In this way, you are helping to control the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses.

Keep your child at home when he/she has any of the following symptoms:

• Fever Chills
• Vomiting, Diarrhea or Nausea
• Sore throat or trouble swallowing
• Coughing, sneezing, and/or runny nose
• Rash or unusual sores or spots
• Headache
• Generalized muscle aches and pains
• Wheezing or trouble breathing
• Unusually red, crusted or burning eyes
• Head lice

You need to keep your child home until he/she has been symptom-free without medication for 24 hours.

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Living Classroom Docents Needed!

Become a LIVING CLASSROOM docent... share your love of nature with kids!

Do you like connecting kids with nature and teaching them where our food comes from?  Want to make a difference for our planet and promote environmental stewardship? If so, please consider becoming a Living Classroom docent!  Living Classroom is looking for docents to help deliver hands-on garden-based lessons to the students of the Los Altos School District. No experience necessary as we provide all the training needed!  Our Winter Docent Training will take place at the Los Altos School District iLearn Studio (201 Covington Road, Los Altos) from 9-Noon on Mondays 12/3, 12/10, and 12/17.  Apprentice-style training also available for those who cannot attend Monday morning trainings.  Please spread the word and bring a friend! Click HERE to view our docent training flyer.

Questions? Email us at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103.  For more information about Living Classroom, please visit our website at www.living-classroom.org.