Almond Thursday Word

LASD 2025-2026 Calendar

Almond Website: www.almondschool.org

PTA Website: www.almondpta.org

Almond WhatsApp Community

Almond Community News: PeachJar

Many LASD families in our community are facing food insecurity this season, especially with the uncertainty of SNAP funding, and we are asking for your help. The Los Altos School District would like to partner with our families to provide grocery gift cards to students and families in need. We are collecting Safeway, Target, and Walmart gift cards to help ensure every child in our community has enough to eat.

Families who need emergency assistance can click here to request support. Gift Cards will be available at Almond on November 21.

While Los Altos is a generous community, many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet. If you’re able to help, please consider donating:

• Gift Cards: Safeway, Target, or Walmart (any amount)

• Drop Off: at your school site with your school secretaries/clerks by November 19th

Let’s come together as a community to make sure every family in Los Altos School District has what they need this season.

Character Strong- Gratitude

This week, we launched our month of Gratitude! Please see the newsletter below for an overview and family conversation starters!

Trunk or Treat Wrap-up

The Trunk or Treat was so much fun! Thank you to the incredible families that decorated your trunks. They looked awesome and made so many kids happy!

We raised so much money for Shop with a Hero that night. It’s incredible. We raised $1,036 from Trunk or Treat. From Chipotle, we raised $494.63. The total we raised is $4,596.63! With that money, we can help 23 kids! Because of your help, we added some joy to these kids’ lives. Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts!

Written by: Dior Irena Aspland and Ellie Cuni Bertran

THANK YOU! to Mrs. Nguyen, her 4th grade class and Mrs. Harvey for coordinating this amazing fundraiser! We appreciate you spreading care and kindness as well as organizing a fun event for our entire community!

Here’s to showing care and support for our community, near and far!

Raquel

Welcome back to another edition of the Sixth Sense with the day till Camp Koinonia growing less and less. Sixth graders are about to be busy with a lot of work outdoors.

Sixth grade community meetings have turned into camp meetings, camp is super close. We already know our cabin partners. After camp will be the sixth senses first special edition with more than one writer writing it, it will be awesome. Moving back to camp, we have a week of no “school” but we will still learn a lot at outdoor school. I am excited to go to the ropes course at camp.

The trimester is over but we still have work in Ms. Arroco’s class for ELA. We started working on a project to show how much we know about our book club’s book.You could choose to make a podcast, poster, diary, or a brochure about our character’s growth. The project is due the Monday after camp.

Sixth Street is nearly complete!!! On the workday people got so much done in so little time. At the assembly this week, assigned speakers made a speech about Sixth Street. Sadly on Tuesday night, a storm knocked over all the canopies. But I’m sure everyone can fix it.

That's the latest sixth grade news. This is the last newsletter for the trimester, after this the order and writer may change. I will still be writing though. I will leave you with a last riddle. This one is from my fellow classmate Ethan. What gets bigger every time you take a chunk out of it?

-Sid Sriatsan

If you are missing any jacket or sweatshirt, lunchbox or water bottle, PLEASE take a look at our Lost and Found cart. Make sure to stop by to get your Child's belongings before we close for the holiday break.

Please label your student's belongings--we do our best to match the found items with their owners!

We’re grateful to those who generously donated earlier this year and got the ball rolling! Together, we’re making good progress towards our goal for 2025-26. Let’s keep up the momentum and finish the job!

If you have yet to give this school year, donate to LAEF today. Donating to LAEF is the only way for parents to help fund teachers at your school. Donations of ANY amount are welcome and appreciated! And be sure to apply for a corporate match, if one is available to you.

LASD is having a Student Art Showcase. All TK-8 students are encouraged to participate! Learn more and register by November 12.

Donate to both LAEF and the PTA to fund the resources and opportunities that turn an ordinary education into an LASD Education! Learn more and donate at LASDEducationPartners.org.

Students may bring their own lunch to school, however, no outside food/vendors will be allowed on campus, including deliveries from outside vendors

(i.e. DoorDash or similar service or parent drop off of local food vendors).

No-Cost Meals for All Students California has become the first state to pass a universal free school meals program for all public school students. Free Breakfast and lunch will be offered at all schools, and all meals will comply with federal nutrition regulations. LASD is committed to serving the best food for our students through our vendor, Revolution Foods.

More Than Meals! Benefits for Your Student and School Completing a school meals form is crucial to school funding.

• For every student who applies and qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, the school receives more than $150 and additional money from state and federal grants. This financial support translates into increased funding for afterschool programs, technology, counseling services, and equipment for school kitchens, ensuring a better learning environment for your child.

• Families who qualify for free or reduced-cost may also be eligible for free or reduced-cost internet, free or reduced-cost summer camps, after-school child care, summer discount cards, and more! Your application helps your child and many others. Please use this website to access the application. (https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new)

• To translate this website, please click on the 3 lines in the top right corner.

Independent Study Plans (ISPs)

• Each student may utilize a maximum of 15 ISP days per school year

• Parents notify office of the dates of absence as soon as possible

• All Independent Study Plans are subject to principal approval

• Work MUST be completed during the absence and returned to school the day after the ISP ends

• Parent to initiate the ISP. Please use this link: Independent Study Plans

• To initiate 1-2 day ISPs, parent to contact Ms. Martinez in the school office so she can provide the supporting documentation

ATTENDANCE NOTES:

ABSENCES: If your child is going to be absent, make sure to fill out the new Attendance absence form before 9:00 or by calling 650-917-5454. If your child is going to be absent for more than five days, then an independent study program must be implemented before departure and returned upon return.

LATE ARRIVALS: stop by the office to check in before going to the classroom.

EARLY PICK UPS: fill out the new Attendance absence form or CALL 650-917-5454 and come into the office to check out.

• Please let both your teacher & the office know if you are planning to pick up children early.
• It will take longer to check out your child during recess (10:10-10:30am) and lunch (12-12:45pm) because we have to locate your child on the playground. Please try to avoid these times by coming before or after recess & lunch.

OFFICE NOTES:

• NO dogs allowed on campus
• Any volunteers or visitors to LASD schools are required to check in at the front office
• FORGOTTEN ITEMS: if you must bring a forgotten item to school, please drop it off to the office and we will deliver it to the classroom. This includes forgotten lunches from home too!