July 2013

Welcome to Almond Elementary School!

The Los Altos School District vision is to “be a leader in revolutionizing learning for all students.”  To revolutionize is to change something radically or fundamentally.  Not one tool, nor a single approach, can accomplish this goal.  Instead, it must be a mindset!

At Almond we believe that learning should capture curiosity and wonder.  Babies are born naturally inquisitive and fascinated with the world.  Limits, boundaries and parameters are introduced by all of us grown-ups as a necessary framework to ensure safety and order.  At the same time, some of our greatest thinkers pushed limits, thought outside the box, questioned the ordinary and as a result created the extraordinary.

As 21st Century Learners, our students will need to analyze and synthesize the prolific amount of information that is available in the world.  They will need to build relationships to solve social challenges.  They will need to design innovations and share these creations with the world. It is our moral imperative to instill in all of our youth the self-confidence and skills necessary to change the world. 

Almond staff and parents partner in support of this mission by offering an unparalleled educational program that includes a 1:1 laptop initiative to all sixth graders, a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) offering that aims to ignite a passion for learning in these specific content areas at all grade levels, along with music and physical education instruction to ensure a focus on the whole child.

As a newcomer to Almond, I can already see that our neighborhood school accomplishes its goals through putting children first, developing relationships and making an unwavering commitment to community.  There is remarkable brilliance in each individual that contributes to our school and as a result our collective whole is luminous.

It is an honor and privilege to join this impressive team of students, parents and educators.  I look forward to learning a great deal from each and every one of you in the coming year.

At your service,

Erika Benadom