SANTA RITA - SAVE THE DATE!
Jan 27 - Spirit Day (wear your grade level assigned color) & Bobcat Strong Coffee 9-10 in Staff Room
Feb 1 - Global School Play Day
Feb 15 - Last day to register for STEM EXPO - see information below
Feb 13-17- Book Fair and Read-a-Thon
Feb 20-Feb 24- Winter Break- No School
April 22- Junior Olympics 4-6th Grade- More details to come!
PLEASE fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration: https://santaritapta.formstack.com/forms/Bobcat_reg
It is hard to believe that it is almost February! Students at Santa Rita have taken on the Kindness Challenge this month. The overall feeling around Santa Rita has been positive, kind and more than anything else friendly. Keep up the great work Bobcats, let's keep this feeling rolling!
I want to turn your attention to a few new updates:
New website!
Santa Rita's website has been updated. It still contains all the important information about Santa Rita but has a more modern feel, including social media posts of the great things happening at Santa Rita. A huge thank you to Marlo Kohn who works on the backend of the website. Check it out when you get a chance!
Next Year’s School Calendar
The school board has officially adopted next year’s calendar. The first day of school is Wednesday, August 16th! You will also notice that the December recess next year begins late in the month of December. Please take note of the dates of other breaks throughout the year to plan vacations and trips accordingly. As a reminder, there is absolutely no substitute for the educational experience your kids receive when they are in school. Therefore, we ask that you plan trips within the scheduled days off to avoid missing school days.
February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February is Black History Month, a time for remembrance and celebration of the accomplishments of Black pioneers and trailblazers. Below are several resources for your family to explore:
Black History Month (government website)
The ABC’s of Black History Month: a 5 minute video with information (best for older grade students)
PBS Kids-For Parents: Celebrating Black Leaders (activities, videos, articles and book recommendations. Great for kids 2-8 years old)
Stay Bobcat Strong and hope to see you tomorrow at the Coffee,
Kelly Rafferty
Principal, Santa Rita Elementary
Here are some upcoming events happening here at Santa Rita…
Tomorrow!!
Bobcat Strong Coffee
Mark your calendars! Next Friday, January 27th after assembly, join us in the multi for updates and discussion on all the wonderful events coming up at Santa Rita.
Spirit Day
Also next Friday is Spirit Day! It will be Color Day - each grade level will be given a color to create a rainbow at our assembly.
TK/K/5th grade: red
1st-yellow
2nd-green
3rd-blue
4th-purple
6th-orange
Upcoming Events:
Global School Play Day - Feb 1st
Global School Play Day is observed annually every first Wednesday in February and this year it will be held on February 1. This holiday promotes the importance of unstructured, regular play for children. The campaign was started by a group of educators in 2015.
In his TEDx lecture, Peter Gray clearly argues the case that today's kids do not grow up playing and this has negatively impacted them in many ways. It's time we return the gift of play to this generation.
STEM CAREER NIGHT
Come enjoy an inspirational night of STEM as three keynote speakers share about their professions in STEM fields and explain how their work impacts the world around us.
All LASD students and parents are welcome to attend!
February 7, 2023, 7:00 - 8:15 PM AT EGAN
STEM EXPO
What is the STEM EXPO?
take a look at this presentation
When is it?
STEM EXPO on Wednesday, March 1st Evening Event from 5:00-7:00pm
How do I sign up?
Step 1: Narrow down your project/ category
Step 2: Fill out Intent to Participate form
http://tinyurl.com/StemExpoLASD
Due by Wednesday, February 15th
Step 3: STEM EXPO on Wednesday, March 1st during school and an Evening Event from 5:00-7:00pm
Santa Rita Book Fair!
On-site Book Fair hours:
M-W, and Fri 8:10-8:30, lunch 12-1, after school 3-4pm
TH 8:10-8:30, lunch 12-1, after school 1:45-2:45Night Event: W 5-6pm
The Book Fair is also virtual, happening NOW! https://efairs.literati.com/books/
You will need to create an online Literati account. All online orders will ship after 2/17.
Interested in volunteering to help with the bookfair? Signups on Classroom Parent https://santarita.classroomparent.com/volunteering
A special thanks to the members of Assistance League of Los Altos. This organization, a non-profit in our community with a program called Operation School Bell R , provided funds so that Free and Reduced Lunch Students could participate in our Book Fair. We appreciate our greater Los Altos community for supporting us.
Fitness Testing Information from Mrs. Gavin
FITNESS TESTING FOR 4th-6th GRADES STARTS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1!!!
The California Physical Fitness Test for all 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students will start on Wednesday, February 1 and will continue on Mondays and Wednesdays through the month of February (possibly longer, depending on weather). The main goal of the test is to help students in starting life-long habits of regular physical activity.
It is mandatory that all 5th grade students participate, and participation (not scores this year) are reported to the state of California. Please send a written note if your child is not able to participate on a particular day due to illness or injury. There will be make-up days scheduled. The Physical Fitness Test results provide one measure that students and their families can use, along with other information, to monitor overall fitness.
The PFT includes five test areas:
- Aerobic Capacity, assessed by the 20 meter Pacer Test
- Abdominal Strength and Endurance, assessed by Curl-Ups (also known as sit-ups)
- Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, assessed by the Trunk Lift Test
- Upper Body Strength and Endurance, assessed by Push-Ups
- Hip Extensor Flexibility, assessed by the Sit and Reach Test
Healthy Fitness Zone charts for each test can be found here: https://pftdata.org/files/hfz-standards.pdf
Pacer Look-Up and Goal Setting Table can be found here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/pftpacertbl.asp
Students are aware of the Healthy Fitness Zones for each test, have set goals, and have been practicing for the PFT during PE classes.
How can parents hjelp?
-Talk about the PFT with your child, and make sure that your child is ready to do their very best. It should be a positive and informative experience!
-Help to make sure your child engages in 60 minutes of activity every day
-Make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep, eats a nutritious breakfast/lunch on test days (and every day!)
-Remind your child to wear athletic shoes, loose clothing appropriate for movement, and to bring a water bottle
If you have any questions of concerns, please feel free to contact me pgarvin@lasdschools.org
A huge thanks to all of you parents who have so generously donated to the Los Altos Educational Foundation, and to the LAEF for their support of the PE program here at Santa Rita!
-Mrs. Pearl Garvin
Calling all 6th grade parents!
Do you have a child who will be attending Egan Junior High next school year 2023-24? Egan PTA is looking for new executive board members and also volunteers to help chair different Egan committees. This is a great way to get to know other parents and also to know what is happening at school! There are roles like Exec VP, Secretary, Treasurer, hot lunch, ice cream socials, sports and more! The time commitment for these roles vary- so whether you're ready to jump in or have more limited time, there's a place for you. Please consider joining!
Questions? Contact: Cynthia Razo (Santa Rita’s representative for Egan): Razo.c777@gmail.com
Hearing Screenings
Hearing screening will be done at Santa Rita for all Kindergarten, 2nd, and 5th grades on Tuesday, January 31st. If your child has a known hearing loss please notify the Health Services Staff (nurses@lasdschools.org) before the day of the screening. The district nurses will mail a referral form and contact parents of students who do not pass hearing screening.
Santa Rita STEM Expo- Guest Reviewers Needed!
Your Student will attend an assembly tomorrow, Friday Jan 13th to learn more about the STEM EXPO!
One of the highlights of our STEM Expo event is having the opportunity to listen to our students presenting on their projects. For Santa Rita’s STEM Expo event on Wednesday, March 1st,, we are looking for adults during the school day who would be willing to serve as a Guest Reviewer. As a Guest Reviewer, you will provide an authentic audience for the students to present their project submission and give feedback. Sign up here to participate for any block of time you are available! If you have any questions, please contact me at gchoi@lasdschools.org.
6th Grade Strictly Strings Orchestra Concert
6th Grade Orchestra Students from Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis and Santa Rita will be featured in a performance with Egan and Los Altos High School Orchestras. Come to see the progression of string students from elementary to high school. It is a free concert, everyone is invited!
Strictly Strings Concert
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023
7:00 PM
Los Altos High School Eagle Theatre
CENG FREE Virtual Hackathon for 3rd - 8th grade Registration Open Now
Computer Engineers of the Next Generation (CENG) will be hosting a FREE virtual hackathon for grades three to eight on
Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5
1–5 p.m. PST on both days.
Sign up for the hackathon at cengclass.org. Registration closes on Friday, February 24, 2023
CENG Hackathon virtual GRATIS para 3.º - 8.º grado Inscripción abierta ahora
Computer Engineers of the Next Generation (CENG) organizará un hackatón virtual GRATUITO para los grados tercero a octavo el sábado 4 y domingo 5 de marzo de 1 p. m. a 5 p. M. PST en ambos días.
Regístrese en el hackathon y compártalo con sus amigos y familiares que puedan estar interesados hoy visitando cengclass.org. La inscripción cierra el viernes 24 de febrero.
Universal Meals Program: February Menus
Our new Universal Meals program will be available for a Grab and Go breakfast between 8:10-8:25, from our new Servery Window (By the lunch tables near the Multi) and eat at the tables. If they do not finish, they can save it until recess time.
Monthly Menus will be published on the Santa Rita school website
If you have a special diet please email santaritasecretary@lasdschools.org and ask for a form to fill out. Please review the menu with your student. NUTRITION SERVICES FAQ - If you have questions, please add them to this document.
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
