Notes From Oak

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year. We will send out another letter for class placements on Friday, August 16th at 5:00 pm. It is hard to believe the start of school is just around the corner. Here is our latest news:

• Sunday, August 18th, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Oak Blacktop Back to School Social

• Tuesday, August 20th, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Kinder Lemonade Social

• Wednesday, August 21st - 8:30 am the First Day of School

• Wednesday, August 21st - 8:30 am - 10:30 am Principal Welcome Coffee and Volunteer Fair

• Friday, August 23rd - 2:30 - 4:00 pm Stay and Play

• Thursday, September 5th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Back to School Night

• Wednesday, September 11th, 6:00-7:00 pm New Parent Orientation

• Wednesday, September 11th, 7:00-8:30 pm PTA Meeting

• Monday, September 16th Full Day of Kindergarten starts today!

Wow, that was quick, I do believe the summer has flown by, hasn't it? I hope you have enjoyed your summer with your family and friends. Even possibly found some time for a bit of relaxation to recharge for the fall.

This summer, I reconnected with my family in South Carolina with our annual reunion on Hilton Head Island. My sister, husband and I walked daily, completing a 45-mile goal by the end of our week. Seeing our children playing with cousins, aunts, and uncles was a joy.

Also, I found myself on my first girls' trip with my daughters learning the history of our nation in a Civil Rights self-guided tour through Alabama and Tennessee. It was powerful and heartbreaking at times to learn the stories of so many who endured discrimination. We were truly humbled to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma and see the bus stop where Rosa Parks stepped onto the infamous bus starting the historic bus boycott in Montgomery. We explored the rich history of turmoil in Birmingham from the bombings to segregation of Americans based on the color of their skin. During our adventures, we enjoyed southern cuisine, did a couple of college tours, and listened to marvelous music outside. We also traipsed through downpours and experienced heat that could fry an egg on the sidewalk. In Memphis, we set off to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement by visiting Memphis's, National Civil Right Museum located at the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King assassinated. This trip was genuinely emotional and made a compelling impact on my children and me. We racked up over 1,000 miles in the car by the end of our journey and entertained ourselves with podcast after podcast.

As I reflect on my summer, I feel blessed to have the time to learn and grow together as a family, building a strong foundation for our beliefs and values. Moving into the school year, I know I will keep the lessons of equity close to my heart. This trip reiterated the necessity to guide my interactions and decisions for what is best for all children.

We will launch our year off with the theme, "The Cougar Way." This theme will carry opportunities for our school community to focus on academics and building community through Responsive Classroom activities using CARES (Cooperation, Assertiveness, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control). We will continue to define our Social Emotional Program at Oak School and how we support all students and staff. Los Altos School District continues our goals around Communication, Literacy and English Language Learning. You will hear more about our objectives, the work we are doing, and the progress of how we are reaching toward meeting our goals. I am most excited about the work we are doing across the district with communication about student progress. You will hear more about Key Assignments and Key Observations from your child's teacher in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Math. I feel this will help students and parents have a better understanding of how their child is advancing in school beyond the progress noted of the report card.

We can't wait to see you and your children next week!

We now have a Facebook Page, please join and follow us on Twitter @Oakprincipal

Welcome (or Welcome back) to Oak! The PTA Board is excited to greet familiar faces and welcome new ones at our Back To School Social on Sunday. Join us for fun on the playground, Kona Ice, and a chance to learn about the many volunteer opportunities and enrichment programs available at Oak. With your help, the PTA supports a wide variety of academic and community programs, including teacher training, books, software, and technology to keep our kids engaged and learning in the classroom; and fun events like our Walk-a-thon, International Festival, and a school talent show that brings us together as a community.

As you meet new families and mingle with friends you haven’t seen since June, take some time to explore the many different volunteer opportunities and afterschool enrichment programs at Oak. Whether you are a stay-at-home-parent, work part-time, or full-time, there are ways for you to be involved in your child’s education and be a part of the community that makes Oak unique. If you have any questions, the PTA Board will be happy to help.

Enjoy your last few days of summer! We look forward to seeing you this weekend, and on Wednesday for the first day of school. As your kids head off to get to know their teachers and classmates, join us in the Multi for coffee and breakfast treats, and another chance to explore the many opportunities available for you and your child at Oak.

2019-2020 PTA Board

• Sara Payne (President)
  
• Angela Kao & Shweta Kumari (VP Fundraising)
  
• Andi Lorincz & Jen Oku (VP Non-Fundraising)
  
• Rajesh Shakkarwar (Secretary)
  
• Christina Selle (Treasurer)
  
• Pam Bayer (Financial Secretary)
  
• Jennifer Tucker (Auditor)
  
• Isabel Gilbert (Historian)
  

Don't forget to complete our PTA Back to School Form site, linked here

------------------ Week of August 11 & August 18 ------------------

LAEF welcomes you to the 2019-20 School Year!

We are proud to support the Los Altos School District (LASD) to provide a well-rounded education for your student this school year. Visit LAEFonline.org and watch our new 2-minute video, “Funding an Excellent Public Education”. Learn why our local public schools need your financial support, and how LAEF and your school’s PTA work together to support your student.

This school year, with your support, LAEF will fund teachers and staff for STEM, Wellness, Literacy, and Arts for every LASD student in grades TK-8. LAEF is also a co-sponsor of the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series, which had over 1,100 LASD attendees in the past school year.​​​​​​​ Whether your student’s favorite part of the day is PE, art, music, STEM, computer science, library, or a junior high elective, your donations to LAEF help make that possible.

Parents are encouraged to donate $1,200 per student to LAEF this school year. We welcome and encourage donations of any amount. Our goal is to raise $3.4 million for LASD, and 100% participation from our parent community.

Visit LAEFonline.org to learn more about LAEF and Donate Today!

Email: kattell@lasdschools.org
Website: https://oakschool.org/
Location: 1501 Oak Avenue, Los Altos, CA, USA
Phone: (650)237-3900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oak-Avenue-School
Twitter: @OakPrincipal