
Bobcat Strong Tracker
September 14, 2023
Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well
Having trouble reading this email? Just click anywhere on the content below or visit our website at www.santaritaschool.org and go to the bottom of the website to find this newsletter!
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Our Mission
At Santa Rita Elementary School, we foster curious, motivated learners who reach their highest potential in a supportive community that appreciates diversity.
SANTA RITA- SAVE THE DATE!
Sept 15- Spirit Day: dress up as your dream job
Sept 21 - General PTA meeting and Principal talk 7pm in Multi - Child care included
Oct 12- Minimum Day
Oct 13- No School- Staff Development
Oct 14- Online Santa Rita Silent Auction begins!
Oct 21- Witches' Delight- Volunteer Here!
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER for after school activities!
- LASD 2023-2024 Calendar
- Reporting Attendance: To report a student's absence, please fill out this form or call
- Please fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration!
Kinders work with Stsrting Arts class for movement
First graders singing the RESPECT song from our Character Strong Curriculum
Remy Lai author and illustrator of Ghost Book came to talk with 4th and 5th graders today
Rafferty's Records
WOW! what an amazing turn out we had at Grandfriend's Day last Friday. Thank you to everyone who came and all of the hard work behind the scenes also!
Tomorrow is DREAM JOB Spirit day! Hope to see everyone in their Dream Job outfits!
IMPORTANT:
It is very important that you fill out the Bobcat Strong Packet - we are looking for 100% particiaption and at the moment we have about 90 families who have filled it out, less than 50%....Let's make this happen!
- Please fill out your Bobcat Strong Packet here!
Emergency Opt in text:
Over the course of any school year unforeseen emergencies may occur. Our number one concern is your child’s welfare and safety. We want to make sure we are able to reach you if the need arises.
Our schools utilize the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages directly to your mobile phone with important information about school events, safety alerts and emergencies.
You can participate in this service (standard message rates from your carrier may apply) by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to the short code number, 67587. You will receive a confirmation message and may opt out at any time by replying “Stop” to any one of our messages.
Here's to a great month!
Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well and Stay Bobcat Strong!
Kelly Rafferty, Principal
BOBCAT STRONG NEWS
Grandfriends' Day Thank You!
Dear Grandfriends,
Thank you very much for joining us for Grandfriends' Day. Your students, along with Principal Rafferty, the teachers/staff, and PTA, loved sharing Santa Rita with you. We were thrilled to see so many happy faces, old and new! We had over 100 Grandfriends attending the event, the largest turnout ever! We hope you enjoyed the event and can come again in the future.
General PTA Meeting and Principal Talk
Please join us for the first PTA meeting of the year! LASD Board Member and former Bobcat, Bryan Johnson, will be presenting information on Measure A in the upcoming election. Principal Rafferty will be sharing about our New Character Strong program.
Thursday, September 21
7pm in the Multi
For review, the agenda is here. The minutes for the 5/11/23 meeting are here. Our 2023/34 budget is here.
Santa Rita PTA Silent Auction- We Need Your Help!
The Santa Rita PTA Silent Auction is one of our fundraising events and will be held in conjunction with Witches' Delight (October 21, 2023). The auction offers unique parties for everyone to participate in, builds our community at Santa Rita, and gets you access to some great auction items from local businesses. It is a ton of fun and makes lots of great memories for all.
You Can Help!
There are lots of ways to be involved. To get you started on thinking about this, here are some ways you can be involved:
1. Throw (host) a party!
Santa Rita PTA Silent Auction parties are the stuff of legend. Parents, classrooms, or teachers host or co-host events for kids, adults or families, with hosts covering the cost of the party as a donation. Spots to attend your party are sold at the auction. All proceeds go to Santa Rita PTA.
For inspiration, here are some parties that have done very well both here at Santa Rita and also at other LASD schools. Sign up at this form here.
2. Help solicit donations from local businesses!
We have a small team working to get gift certificates and items from local businesses to be donated for the auction. Help us by asking YOUR favorite restaurant or business for a gift card, class pass or product donation.
Stay tuned for more details! Would love to hear from you on ideas and your offers to help make it happen - get in touch:
Kelly Sanders Lo kelly@santaritapta.org
Kanika Chawla kanika@santaritapta.org
Auction Co-Chairs
Universal Meals Program
NUTRITION SERVICES FAQ - If you have questions, please add them to this document.
THANK YOU to all the families who’ve contributed to LAEF this school year. We appreciate your support early in the school year!
Our annual Fall Fundraising Night of texting and calling is coming soon. If you haven't donated to LAEF for this school year, please Donate or Pledge today, and we’ll take you off our list. If your gift is already in process via your employer, DAF, or stock, let us know, and we'll make a note.
Can you join us and send texts or make calls on September 26 at our Fall Fundraising Night? Find out more and sign up today. We need many more volunteers to reach out and encourage parents to donate to LAEF to help fund teachers and programs this year.
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. This year, LAEF funds teachers and essential programs for STEM, computer science, PE, art, music, library, junior high electives, mental health counseling, and the parent education speaker series.
Learn more about the complementary roles that LAEF and the PTA fill in providing an excellent education for our students and consider supporting both organizations.
Fall Scarecrows Needed for Living Classroom Garden Beds!
Living Classroom would like to invite students, their families or a group of students to create scarecrows for our raised garden beds! Click here to learn more!
SELPA (Special Education) Events and News
- October General SELPA-1 CAC Meeting ONLINE
Join parents and administrators to hear updates and plan programs and parent education.
Monday, October 2nd, 4-6 pm, Pre-register at: Zoom link
Did You Know?
A new resource for IEP (Individualized Education Plan) support is available in California and supported by local SELPA groups. Visit High Quality IEPs for help with all stages of your IEP journey (as a parent, student, or educator!)
Please contact your SELPA-1 CAC liaison, Alison Biggs, at abiggs@gmail.com with any questions.
Join the Santa Rita Cub Scouts!
Calling all curious minds and young adventurers from 1st to 5th grade! Discover the thrill of the outdoors, friendships that last a lifetime, and a world of exciting activities with the Cub Scouts. Pack 74, which consists largely of Santa Rita students, is thrilled to welcome both boys and girls to explore the world of scouting.
Embark on fall and spring journeys filled with camping trips in the Santa Cruz Mountains (hiking, archery, crafts, s’mores, skits and campfires!), overnight adventures (past trips including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, CA academy of Science and USS Hornet) and our famous annual Pinewood derby race where scouts build their own wooden racer and participate in heats against other fellow Scouts. Those are just a few highlights of all the fun activities we do throughout the year. It is entirely parent run and volunteer based. Our leaders are dedicated to fostering character, leadership, and a strong sense of community in every young scout.
If you are curious, take a look at this short video.
Join us today and set forth on a journey of discovery that will shape your child’s future in the most exciting ways! 🐾🌄🌱
If you have any questions, feel free to email our Cub master Eric Hwang @ eyhwang@yahoo.com.
Community Youth Mental Health Event - Understanding Our Kids: Youth Mental Health and the Road to Resilience
Youth and adults are invited to a panel discussion about teen mental health and well-being. County Supervisor Joe Simitian will moderate a panel of mental health providers and students who will share about how to support mental health, how to check in and talk with youth, and describe locally available resources.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Los Altos High School Eagle Theatre
201 Almond Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022
Join us starting at 5:45 p.m. for "make your mark" art activity hosted by CHAC|arts. It's an opportunity for you to conduct a brief mental health check in and scribble, draw or write a mental health tip.
During the event, we'll also be airing the documentary "The Peer-to-Peer Movement: Students Saving Lives," which emphasizes the need for more peer-to-peer solutions in schools to aid the current and overburdened mental health resources. The short film won second place for high schools in the C-SPAN StudentCam competition.
Announcing the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series for 2023 - 2024
The MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series is excited to announce our speaker line-up for the 2023 - 2024 school year. For more information, visit mvlaspeakerseries.org.
Events are free thanks to our generous sponsors: MVLA High School Foundation, Los Altos Educational Foundation, Mountain View Educational Foundation, and the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council.
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
Join us to support our students this school year!