SANTA RITA- SAVE THE DATE!
Sept 8 - Grandfriends' Day RSVP by filling this form
Sept 12- Picture Day
Oct 12- Minimum Day
Oct 13- No School- Staff Development
Oct 21- Witches' Delight- Volunteer Here!
- 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!
Rafferty's Records
I am looking forward to Grandfriend's Day tomorrow and meeting more family friends of our Santa Rita students. Thank you for rsvp'ing so we know how many people to plan for. It should be a great morning.
Please take a moment to read through these very important community announcements below.
IMPORTANT: Traffic Reminders
Safety comes first at Santa Rita and we would like to take a moment to remind everyone on the ways we can keep our students and adults safe in the parking lot:
Please turn off your car while you are waiting. Our parking lot is a "No Idling" zone (see posted signs coming soon).
Please have students exit on the passenger side only.
For drop off and pick up, please pull your car completely forward. Remain in your car and move forward as cars ahead of you move.
NO drop off/pick up at the 2nd lane
Drivers MUST stay in car at all times.
Please do not leave your car unattended by the yellow curb or unparked in the parking lot, especially from 8:10-8:40 or 2:20-3:20.
All walkers and bicyclists must use the crosswalk to cross Los Altos Ave. It is unsafe to cross otherwise. If you are wheeling students to school, you must walk your bike/scooters when on campus.
Please also take note that Walking while using your cell phone can be dangerous
And always, always mind the instructions of our crossing guards and staff. They are here to keep everyone safe!
Please share this information with all adults that will be driving your children or walking/wheeling students to school.
Character Strong Month: Respect
At Santa Rita, we believe in nurturing not only academic excellence but also the development of strong character traits and SEL learning in our students. This month’s trait is ”Respect,” which is seeing value in all people and things and treating them with care. As a school community we are focusing on respect as a core value that helps create a positive and inclusive school environment.
Here's to a great month!
Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well and Stay Bobcat Strong!
Kelly Rafferty, Principal
Grandfriends’ Day at Santa Rita- Tomorrow!
Grandfriends’ day is a great tradition at Santa Rita that builds a bridge across generations. On Grandfriends' Day, students invite their grandparents and other grandfriends to school to celebrate how multigenerational communities enrich our lives. Our goal is to make sure school connects with students' lives, and encourage students to bring their full selves—their lives and experiences—into the classrooms. This year, Grandfriends’ Day will take place on:
Friday, September 8th!
8:30-10:30am
RSVP by filling this form
To make this event successful, we need help from volunteers! If you have a spare hour the afternoon before or the morning of the event and would like to help us keep this great tradition going, sign up to help here. We can’t do it without you!!
After School Activities: Registration now open!
We are excited to announce a variety of enriching After School Programs will be running on campus at Santa Rita this Fall 2023! Below is a list of the programs available. Visit sanataritaschool.org for more details including dates, costs, and registration information.
MONDAY:
- LASD Flag Football (Mon & Fri) Grades: 3-6
- High Touch High Tech Grades:TK-3
- Mathletes-in-Training. Grades:1-3
- One on One Basketball Grades:TK-2
- One on One Basketball Grades:3-6
TUESDAY:
- Easy Spanish Grades: TK-6
- Coach Ken Soccer Grades: TK-6
- Kodely: Behind the Scenes of Game Design Grades:K-4
- Mathletes-in-Training Grades:1-3
- Mathletes Grades:4-5
- Art Buzz Kids Grades:K-6
- Run for Fun Grades:K-6
THURSDAY:
- Chess Club (lunch) K-5
FRIDAY:
- Snapology Robotics Grades:3-6 - Try the first week for free!
- Euro School of Tennis Grades:K-3
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
Help fund teachers for STEM, Wellness, Literacy, and Arts this school year!
LAEF is the only way for parents to fund LASD teaching staff in our district and fill the gap in school funding from federal, state, and local sources. Our 2023-24 goal is $2.9 million. Parents are encouraged to donate $1,400 or $140/month per student this school year. Gifts of any amount are appreciated.
Donate or Pledge to LAEF today!
Get to Know Your Santa Rita LAEF Board Representatives
Aleks Stanojevic: Hello Bobcats! I’m looking forward to my 10th year at Santa Rita! As a bit of an introduction, my husband and I moved to Los Altos 16 years ago. We have 2 kids in LASD, a daughter in 8th grade at Egan and a son in 5th grade. Our kids are truly thriving in their schools, growing both socially and academically while enjoying their interests in arts and sports. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about LAEF or the programs funded by our grants.
Justin Martin: Hi Bobcats! I’m looking forward to my 7th year at Santa Rita! We moved to Los Altos 8 years ago. We have 3 kids at Santa Rita, one in 6th grade and twins in 4th grade – all boys. If you have a 4th grader you are guaranteed to have one of my sons in your class. My kids love Santa Rita and all the wonderful friends they have made. This is my 6th year on the LAEF board so please don’t hesitate to reach out to me on any questions you have about LAEF.
Reach out to your Santa Rita LAEF Board Representatives by sending an email to SantaRitaReps@LAEFonline.org
Living Classroom Docent Training
Dates: Mondays 9/11-10/16
Time: 9-Noon
Location: Los Altos School District iLearn Studio
201 Covington Road, Los Altos CA 94024
Living Classroom is seeking volunteers to teach our fun nature-based lessons and help care for our school gardens. No experience necessary as we teach you everything you need to know. Please join us from 9-Noon on Mondays 9/11-10/16 at the LASD iLearn Studio to train to become a volunteer docent. If Mondays don't work for you, please ask about our apprentice-style training option. For questions or to RSVP, please email us at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103. Check us out at LivingClassroomLASD.org!
SELPA (Special Education) Events and News
Ask questions and share ideas and support with other parents of students with IEPs, 504s, learning differences, mental health challenges, etc.
Every second Wednesday of the month, alternating mornings and evenings.
Join the next meeting on Wednesday, September 13th 10-11:30am on Zoom. Preregister: Zoom Link
Do you have concerns about your child's ability to learn at school? This handout can help get you on the right track. I'm Concerned About My Child Handout - English or Estoy Preocupado Por Mi Hijo - Espanol
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.
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. Nationally and internationally recognized experts will join us to discuss important topics on child and adolescent well-being, as well as our own - including how to help kids face the unique challenges of growing up surrounded by computers, how to raise successful adults and break free of the traps of overparenting, exploring why puberty is so different for today’s kids than past generations and figuring out how to beat the college admissions system.
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
