Superintendent Newsletter

Welcome to the 2023-24 School Year!

Dear Los Altos School District Families,

I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year! I look forward to reconnecting with our returning students and meeting our incoming students in their first days as LASD community members.

I have no doubt this will be an incredible school year. All of our staff and teachers have been working over the summer to ensure the best LASD Student Experience for all children as they return to our schools. We’ve adopted a simple framework we believe will help our families understand the instructional methods we use in the classroom to ensure our students thrive and develop as full people, as well as academic superstars.

The LASD Student Experience

The LASD Student Experience includes integrated support systems to provide extra academic support for struggling students, as well as an extra challenge for those who excel. Our teachers and staff work hard to develop positive relationships with students, in addition to fostering positive relationships between students. Our principals, staff, and teachers view safety and belonging as key to ensuring strong academic outcomes and student well-being. We innovate in the classroom and provide ongoing professional development for our staff to ensure a rich learning experience, rooted in the latest and greatest educational strategies. Our staff help students refine the skills, mindsets, and habits that teach them how to learn, persevere, and experience the thrill of becoming lifelong learners.

Podcast: The LASD Experience

LASD staff and I are so passionate about this learning journey that we have developed a podcast to shine a light on learning and instruction in our classrooms. It’s a wonderful deep dive into the work that your students are doing every day and how our amazing staff supports their learning. Visit our website to learn more and check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

Ongoing Training and Professional Development

Our commitment to ongoing training and professional development for all staff and teachers is part of our culture of learning here in LASD. Last week we welcomed our new teachers, psychologists, and other certificated team members for an orientation to our district. They are joining an exceptional team of passionate educators. Many of our current staff and teachers also attended learning workshops last week, focused on the LASD Experience and the science of how children learn.

Student and Staff Wellness

This year we will continue our focus on wellness and mental health for our students and staff. We know everyone thrives at school and at work when they feel safe, feel well, feel valued, and are engaged. Please contact your child’s school site for more information on services you feel your child may require from our schools. We are here to support you and your students.

Stay Informed: LASD Social Media

You can find great stories on the LASD Experience on Facebook @LASDK8, Twitter X @lasdk8, and Instagram @lasd_k8! Be sure to follow us as we continue to share our schools’ stories, highlight student and staff work, and celebrate accomplishments in this school year.

We believe our families are our best partners in education. We thank you for working with us to provide the best education for all students and welcome you to a fantastic 2023-24 school year!

Warmly,

Sandra McGonagle

Superintendent

Los Altos School District