33rd Annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest

2017 Theme:  "Native Californians: Food Lessons Learned From the Past and Applications to Today"

The Los Altos Historical Commission and the Los Altos History Museum are co-sponsoring the 33rd annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest, open to third- through sixth-graders who live in the area and/or attend local schools.

The Los Altos History Museum's current exhibit, “Seaweed, Salmon, and Manzanita Cider: A California Indian Feast,” explores traditional California Indian food sources and their extensive system of environmental knowledge underlying their use of food resources. The exhibit highlights the importance and continuing use of native foods in current California Indian communities. It also examines contemporary issues of eating locally grown foods, sustainability, nutrition, and environmental health. Foods important in the lives of Native Californians include fish, shellfish, seaweed, meat, vegetables, berries, fruits, flowers, nuts, seeds, and salt.

The deadline to submit essays is March 3. Public school students should submit their entries to Los Altos School District teachers. For the detailed essay prompt, click here. For general instructions, click here. For the essay rubric, click here. For the cover page, click here.

For more information, visit losaltoshistory.org.

Assessment and Reporting in LASD

Friday, January 27, 2017

9:00 am

Gardner Bullis School - Staff Lounge

Join us for a Parent EdTalk on Assessment and Reporting in LASD. This talk will include an overview of standards based teaching and learning, as well as provide details on our district-wide K-8 common assessments: the Fountas and Pinnell Reading Benchmark Assessment and the iReady Diagnostic Assessment in Reading and Math.

Seating is limited to 50.  To reserve a place please click link: https://edtalk_1_27_17.eventbrite.com

Information Session:
Synopsys Silicon Valley Science & Technology Championship

Sponsored by Synopsys, the Championship is a regional science and engineering fair competition for students in Santa Clara County held on March 23, 2017.  LASD 6th, 7th and 8th graders are invited to enter!! Our students compete in the middle school (grades 6-8) division for awards and prizes in multiple areas of study.  LASD students have won prizes in prior years, and gained valuable experience with science, engineering and project management. Winners of the Synopsys Championship compete in the California State Science Fair and may advance to the prestigious Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, which presents nearly $4 million in prizes and scholarships each year.

Students and parents are invited to attend the Synopsys Championship Information Session to learn more about this opportunity and how to enter:

Sunday, October 16

3:30 - 4:00 pm

Covington Elementary Multipurpose Room

201 Covington Road, Los Altos

For more information, see the 2017 Synopsys Championship website at http://www.science-fair.org

Questions?  Contact LASD STEM Coordinator Karen Wilson at kwilson@lasdschools.org

Information Session:

Tech Challenge

Come to the informational meeting for all LASD 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and their parents interested in participating in The Tech Challenge, hosted by the Tech Museum.  You'll form a team to compete to solve a real-world problem in this annual design challenge.  This year's challenge is "Rock the Ravine:" Your team will design and build a device to help explorers cross an ice field with multiple ravines. Tech Challenge projects build skills in problem solving, time management, creativity, and teamwork, while working through the engineering design cycle as you build and test your design.  Most importantly--it's great fun!!!

Students and parents are invited to attend the Tech Challenge Information Session to learn more about this opportunity and how to enter:

Sunday, October 16

4:30 - 5:00 pm

Covington Elementary Multipurpose Room

201 Covington Road, Los Altos

The event day will be Saturday, April 29 for grades 4 to 6, and Sunday, April 30 for grades 7 and 8.  

For more information on the Tech Challenge, visit the website at http://thetechchallenge.thetech.org/

Questions?  Contact LASD STEM Coordinator Karen Wilson at kwilson@lasdschools.org

Board Considers Seeking Renewal of Expiring Parcel Tax

At its August 8, 2016 meeting the school board will consider adopting a resolution authorizing a parcel tax measure on the November ballot.  This measure would renew the tax approved in 2011 which expires on June 30, 2017.

Click here for more information about the parcel tax.

Los Altos School District Zeroing in on Land for Tenth School Site

After a diligent, community-driven process, the Los Altos School District is taking steps to acquire land at 5150 El Camino Real in Los Altos on which to build a new school tailored to 21st century learning.

For more than four years, the school district has worked closely with the community to determine the best solution to address growing student enrollment and school overcrowding. These efforts culminated in the development and passage of Measure N, which LASD voters approved in November 2014. Significant input from a 26-member Facilities Master Plan Committee and numerous community meetings, task forces, workshops and forums concluded that pursuing a 10th site—without closing or relocating any existing schools—was the preferred solution to addressing enrollment growth without compromising excellent education in LASD schools.

Click here to read the full press release.

32nd Annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest

2016 Theme:  "Traditions and Stories that Celebrate Your Ancestry"

The Los Altos Historical Commission and the Los Altos History Museum are co-sponsoring the 32nd annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest, open to third- through sixth-graders who live in the area and/or attend local schools.

The Los Altos History Museum's current exhibit, “Spirits Return: Cultural Traditions Keeping Memories Alive,” highlights how human beings all over the world follow traditions by which they honor and celebrate their ancestors.  Traditions and stories help us stay connected and cultivate a sense of identity and nurture values of family loyalty and pride.

The deadline to submit essays is March 4. Public school students should submit their entries to Los Altos School District teachers. For the detailed essay prompt, click here. For general instructions, click here. For the essay rubric, click here. For the cover page, click here.

For more information, visit losaltoshistory.org.

Haiku Learning and Standards Based Grading

Friday, September 11th  9:00 am - 10:30 am

Thursday, September 17th  4:00pm - 5:30pm

Join us to hear from Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Sandra McGonagle as she highlights LASD's new Learning Management System, Haiku Learning.  In addition to the features of Haiku, Sandra will also discuss the district shift to standards-based grading and reporting.

Click here for more information and to RSVP for one of these events.

Los Altos School District Presents Enrollment Growth Findings from Community Forums

Residents favor a variety of actions to address enrollment growth challenges facing the Los Altos School District, according to a report presented Monday night to the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees.

"Existing Los Altos School District facilities are not sufficient to address future enrollment," LASD Superintendent Jeff Baier said.  "Voters approved Measure N in November for just this reason, but Measure N can only be successful if our plan has wide community buy-in.  That is why we are using community input to help inform our decision."

Read the full press release here.