Bobcat Strong News Tracker

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• 10/16 - SMART Goals - Creating and Troubleshooting IEP Goals that Work: 7-8:30 pm (details below)

• 10/21 - MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series: 7-9 pm (details below)

• 10/23 - Witches’ Delight: 3-8 pm

• 10/26 - Picture Make-up Day

• 10/27 - STEM Tech Challenge

• BOBCAT STRONG REGISTRATION: Please make sure to fill out your Bobcat Strong Registration Information (https://bit.ly/bobcatreg) so we have your most up-to-date information!

Dear Santa Rita Families,

Last week, I was able to join a Kindergarten class for a few minutes during PE. Not only were the students smiling as they skipped, hopped and jumped to the music, they also learned about what being a ‘bucket filler’ looks, feels and sounds like. This month, we kick off our first unit in Project Cornerstone, “Bucket Filler” with the story ‘Have you filled a bucket today?’ Thank you to all the Project Cornerstone volunteers who will be working with classes and teachers this month. Please take time in your day or week or month, to talk to your student about what is means to be kind to others. Here is a short video that students will be watching in class. The

Science of Kindness.

Along with the theme of Kindness and Filling Buckets, please consider helping out our school with our Witches Delight Celebration. The students are beyond excited to have Witches Delight back but it will take our whole village to pitch in. Please see below for how to help.

What is Witches' Delight?

Witches' Delight a school-wide Halloween Carnival and all Santa Ritan's are welcome on Saturday, October 23rd from 3pm-8pm!

There are thrill seeking carnival rides and fun games to play for prizes. There is the popular cake walk, where you can take your chance at winning a delicious cake. We also have a cake contest, costume contest, the famous snack shack, and much more! It is one of our student's favorite events that the PTA hosts during the school year. Please come and dance till dusk while supporting Santa Rita!

It has been a Santa Rita tradition going strong for 60 years. It is one of our largest events and top fundraisers for Santa Rita PTA. The funds raised from Witches' Delight go directly to help enrich your child's education. The funds are used to purchase much needed supplies for our school (technology, P.E. equipment, classroom supplies, and much more).

The event can not happen without all the helpful volunteers, donated cakes and bringing friends and family to support Santa Rita, we are grateful to each and every one of you!!!

We need your help to make this event happen.

1. Volunteer: We need our parents and teachers to volunteer in order to make this a successful fundraiser. Please sign up at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1188_DJBpizOX3a7DYXCh6inGAUp4TlYZwHVJLWodhhU/edit?usp=sharing

2. Cakes: We still need 138 cakes for the Cake Walk and contest. Please let us know how many cakes you will be bringing. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ATrzFMll62WtYJ6yBtedSBfYiJ_7Q-f1/edit#gid=1744807479

3. Buy tickets: You can pre buy tickets for a discount at the following link https://www.santaritapta.com/witches-delight-1

The WD committee is hard at work, setting up vendors, coordinating setup - all to ensure we have another fun and successful WD this year!

We can't do it without your help!

Stay Bobcat Strong!

Kelly Rafferty

• 10/16 - SMART Goals - Creating and Troubleshooting IEP Goals that Work: 7-8:30 pm (details below)

• 10/21 - MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series: 7-9 pm (details below)

• 10/23 - Witches’ Delight: 3-8 pm

• 10/26 - Picture Make-up Day

• 10/27 - STEM Tech Challenge

• 11/11 - No School - Veterans Day

BOBCAT SPOTLIGHT: 1st Grade

What we are doing:

We have spent the first month of school getting to know each other and learning the routines of our classroom. First graders used their own Hopes and Dreams for the school year to create classroom norms. We finished writing about small moments and just started writing teaching books. Ask a first grader what they can teach you! Our current Science unit introduced us to plant super powers. We got to plant our gardens and hope to harvest our garden in January or February to make Veggie Soup! One of our favorite parts of first grade is working with our 6th grade buddies. Our buddy activities so far this year include a STEM activity, celebrating our writing progress and creating art together. Look for our Silly Monster Art on display at Witches’ Delight!

Meet the Teachers:

Mrs. Nakano (24th year at Santa Rita): My happy place is my classroom and I am very passionate about teaching. Also, I was a student through the LASD school district, my daughter went to LASD and this is my 24th year at Santa Rita! My favorite things to do are spend time with my family and I love iced tea!

Mrs. Finley (24th year at Santa Rita): My passion is sharing the love of learning with children and I have taught first grade for 23 years! I am a Bay Area native and have two children, Katie (9th grade) and Colin (7th grade). My favorite things are my family, anything Disney and I also love iced teas!

BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

Would You Like to Be a Substitute Teacher?

Do you enjoy working with kids?

Do you have a flexible schedule?

If so, you might enjoy becoming a substitute teacher in our local Los Altos School District classrooms!

Learn More About Becoming a Substitute Teacher

On Thursday, November 18, our local elementary and junior high schools in the Los Altos School District will be hosting an in-person substitute information session and training.

When: November 18, 9:00am-11:30am

Where: 201 Covington Road in the Board Room

What: Stephanie Tyson, a retired mentor teacher, will share information, tricks, tips, and strategies for successfully substituting in Kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms. All are welcome.

To RSVP, email Erin Green at egreen@lasdschools.org

Requirements to Substitute Teach

• A BA/BS college degree

• CBEST exam

• Fingerprinting and background check

If you are interested in learning about sub permit requirements, please contact Marlene Revelo mrevelo@lasdschools.org for the quick steps to take to become a certified substitute in LASD.

Health and Safety Protocols

Our students have been SAFELY back in classrooms since September 2020 with strict adherence to all state and local public health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Learn more at www.lasdschools.org on our COVID Safe Schools webpage.

Thank you for considering joining our substitute teaching team!

Witches Delight

Have you heard the news? Witches’ Delight is returning for its 60th year!

What: Witches’ Delight Carnival Rides, games, prizes, treats, cakes, costumes and more!

When: Saturday, October 23 from 3:00-8:00pm

Where: Santa Rita School

Who: All Santa Rita families and friends

We need your help to make this event happen. How can you help?

1. Volunteer: We need our parents and teachers to volunteer in order to make this a successful event. If you are able to help pick up a shift, please sign up HERE to help!

2. Cakes: Calling all bakers! We still need 133 cakes for the Cake Walk (and contest). Please sign up and let us know how many cakes you will be bringing! Sign up HERE!

3. Buy tickets: Avoid the lines! You can pre buy tickets for a discount HERE

Additional information about Witches’ Delight from PTA:

The WD committee is hard at work, setting up vendors, coordinating setup - all to ensure we have another fun and successful WD this year!

There are thrill seeking carnival rides and fun games to play for prizes. There is the popular cake walk, where you can take your chance at winning a delicious cake. We also have a cake contest, costume contest, the famous snack shack, and much more! It is one of our student's favorite events that the PTA hosts during the school year. Please come and dance till dusk while supporting Santa Rita!

It has been a Santa Rita tradition going strong for 60 years. It is one of our largest events and top fundraisers for Santa Rita PTA. The funds raised from Witches' Delight go directly to help enrich your child's education. The funds are used to purchase much needed supplies for our school (technology, P.E. equipment, classroom supplies, and much more).

The event can’t happen without all the helpful volunteers, donated cakes and bringing friends and family to support Santa Rita. It is a 100% volunteer-staffed event! We are grateful to each and every one of you!!!

Start collecting your cardboard boxes and other recyclable materials! We are excited to launch LASD’s District-Wide STEM Challenge! Students will be tasked with designing the tallest free standing pedestal that can safely seat Pumpkin Potter! He may or may not have gained some extra pounds by the event date and will depend on your child’s grade level. Students can design at home or at school, with friends or family.

Bring your designs on October 27th.

Event time: Grades 1-6: Lunchtime

TK/K: 2 pm on the Kinder Playground

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONNECTION

Join SELPA-1 CAC for our free online community events!

October 16th, 7-8:30pm: "SMART Goals - Creating and Troubleshooting IEP Goals that Work"

Please contact Alison Biggs at abiggs@gmail.com for Zoom links and more information!

FAN4 MATH COMPETITION

* FUN questions

* 4 students from the same school work as a team, schools can register multiple teams

* Competition window: Nov 11 - Nov 18

* Free: No registration fee

Fan4 Registration

For more info, visit ckmathletes.com

Fan4 M Flyer.pdf

MVLA PARENT EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES

Join us for an evening with author and clinical psychologist, Dr. Michael J. Bradley

Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind
Thursday, October 21, 2021 - 7:00 - 9:00pm | Live Online

Being a teenager has never been easy. But with the crazy world that’s been handed to today's teens, it's tougher than ever. The only job more difficult than being a contemporary teen is being the parent of one.

Join us as we welcome Dr. Michael Bradley, whose respect-based philosophy is at the heart of the presentations he has given to thousands of parents who are seeking ways to communicate with their adolescent children. He takes you inside your teenager’s head and shows you why teens think and behave the way they do, and gives parents real-world advice, strategies, and methods to use

.

Audience: Parents of middle school and high school students

Register: Register for this free event

Books: Purchase online from Books, Inc.

More information: English Spanish

Previous Events

Ron Lieber Videos Now Available!

Mr. Lieber has graciously allowed us to share The Price You Pay For College and The Opposite of Spoiled recordings with parents, teachers, and other caretakers within our community. The recording will be available for six weeks.

Ron Lieber – The Price You Pay For College: An Entirely New Roadmap

Event Recording from 09/28/2021

Ron Lieber – The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous and Smart About Money

Event Recording from 09/30/2021

Join Santa Rita’s LAEF October Participation Challenge — Donate or Pledge to the Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) if you have not yet given this school year. It’s the only way for you to fund Santa Rita teachers for STEM, computer science, physical education (PE), art, music, library, and mental health counselors. Gifts of any amount add up and make a difference! If you have students at more than one school, your one donation will be counted at all your schools for the October Participation Challenge.

Check out this Financial Breakdown Chart showing exactly how LAEF will use parent contributions this school year. Let’s come together and provide a high-quality, well-rounded education for our students!

Santa Rita is super excited for the return of in-person after school programs! Here are some of the offerings:

Mondays - Science Made Fun, After School Hoops;

Tuesdays - Easy Spanish;

Wednesdays - Run for Fun;

Thursdays - Lunchtime Chess Club;

Fridays - Coach Ken Soccer, After School Tennis;

Plus, LASD Flag Football. Mathletes and Speak Debate will be offered on-line, for Fall.

Check the school website under Enrichment activities for schedule, more info, and registration links. After School Activities • Page - Santa Rita Elementary School (santaritaschool.org)

• FLAG FOOTBALL

Calling all 3rd-6th graders! LASD Flag Football is back on!

Please sign up for our only school sport. Each school in LASD has a 3rd/4th grade team and a 5/6th grade COED team.

We compete against the other schools in the district after school and the season culminates in a district-wide tournament at Foothill College. It is a lot of fun, and even the teachers stay to watch the games!

No experience necessary and it’s a no-cut sport.

Please sign up here: http://www.asa-lasd-flagleague.com/

• FREE ONLINE CODING CLASSES (4TH - 6TH GRADE)

Trained local high school students from the Computer Engineers of the Next Generation are hosting free coding classes on Zoom in Scratch, JavaScript and Python

Dates: Wednesdays, September 1 - October 6, 2021

Time: 4:15 - 5:45 pm PST (NEW TIME)

No. of Weeks: 6

Format: Zoom online classes

Cost: Free

Registration Links:

4th grade - Scratch (Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced)

5th grade - JavaScript (Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced)

6th grade - Python (Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced)

Students will be put into different breakout rooms according to their levels.

Registration deadline: 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 28, 2021 or when class is full.

Computer Engineers of the Next Generation (CENG) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to inspire underrepresented minorities to pursue Computer Science. For more information, please check out our website at cengclass.org. Questions? Please contact cengclass@gmail.com

Free Virtual Reading Tutoring Program (K-3rd Grade):

Teen Tutors is an organization run by Los Altos High School students to connect young readers with high school tutors! Our Read to Me program features tutors who read to students one-on-one to strengthen their reading comprehension & listening skills. As the students grow more comfortable, they can choose to read themselves with tutor assistance as needed. Virtual Read to Me sessions will be available on Saturdays from 10:30 am-11:15 am and 11:15 am-12 pm. Please register your child here: https://tinyurl.com/K3rdReading

For more information about our program, please visit www.teentutorslahs.wixsite.com/lahs or email teentutorslahs@gmail.com with any questions.

Programa gratuito de tutoría virtual de lectura (K-3rd Grado):

Teen Tutors es una organización dirigida por los estudiantes de Los Altos para conectar a los lectores jóvenes con tutores de la escuela secundaria. Nuestro programa Read to Me ofrece tutores que leen a los estudiantes de uno en uno para fortalecer su comprensión de lectura y sus habilidades de escucha. A medida que los estudiantes se sientan más cómodos, pueden optar por leerse a sí mismos con ayuda de un tutor según sea necesario. Las sesiones virtuales de Read to Me estarán disponibles los sábados de 10:30am a 11:15am y de 11:15am a 12pm. Registre a su hijo aquí: https://tinyurl.com/K3rdReading

Para obtener más información sobre nuestro programa, visite www.teentutorslahs.wixsite.com/lahs o envíe un correo electrónico a teentutorslahs@gmail.com con cualquier pregunta.

Thank you!

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