Blach and Egan Holiday Faires
Showcase Student Entrepreneurship and Creativity

On Friday, December 7, Blach and Egan 7th and 8th graders put their creativity and entrepreneurial spirits to work at the school Holiday Faires.  

Although participation is voluntary, the majority of students at both schools participate in the annual event.  Students work individually or in groups to generate ideas, design their products, create business plans, and make unique display booths to market their handcrafted wares at the Holiday Faire.

“The event encourages our students to get out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves to develop effective business plans and sales pitches, which are very persuasive.  I always leave the faire with dozens of special, unique gifts and treats for family and friends,” explained Bhavna Narula, Principal at Blach Junior High.

The event not only invites the community to participate, but also gives back to the school.  Much of the proceeds and registration fees are donated to Blach and Egan to support libraries, school events and educational resources.    

“It takes perseverance and creativity to make a product to sell for the Holiday Faire,” explains Keith Rocha, Principal at Egan.  “Students have the freedom to generate their own ideas and create a product they feel will be marketable to the clientele.  It’s an exciting and very rewarding process that helps build entrepreneurial skills, teamwork and risk-taking, which are essential skills for high school, college and future careers.”

Click the link below to read the full article recently published in the Los Altos Town Crier:

• Read all about it: Covington gets student-run newspaper

Dear Los Altos School District Families,
As we approach the December Recess, I have a few important updates and announcements for the community.  
 
Kindergarten and New Family Information Night
We invite new families and parents of incoming Kindergarteners to attend an information night to learn more about our schools and registration.  Families will meet teachers, speak with current parents and tour classrooms to learn how our small schools and student-centered educational model ensures that each and every child achieves to the full potential.  We are excited to share our schools with you as you choose the best educational program for your child.
 
Date: Thursday, December 6, 2018
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Multi-purpose room at all elementary school locations
 
If you are enrolling a Kindergartener for the upcoming school year, please find the information you need here.  Current parents, please feel free to share this information with interested new families in your neighborhood.  
 
Partnership with the City of Mountain View for New School
To protect our small school model that is key to our successful academic programs, LASD is partnering with the City of Mountain View to secure a new school and park in a rapidly growing area of our school district.  We are grateful for the City’s ongoing collaboration.  On December 11, the Council will consider and vote on an essential Joint Use Agreement that will facilitate the District’s purchase of the site.  The agreement would provide up to $23 million towards the purchase and allow community use of recreational facilities and open space at the school site location.  We believe that the City of Mountain View and LASD are committed to the same goal: the site should serve the neighborhood and its children with a park, recreational facilities and school.  Please join us on December 11 at 7:00pm at Mountain View City Hall for this important next step in the process.  Read more about the history of the community-driven process for a new school here.
 
Computer Science Education Week
This week is Computer Science Education Week, a worldwide event to expose students of all ages to computer science and coding. A major component of the event is The Hour of Code, in which students use their Computer Science skills and creativity to design a unique project.  LASD is one of the first districts in the country to implement ‘Computer Science for All,’ integrating coding skills into other subject areas for a comprehensive and real-world approach.  Computer Science is an essential component of a 21st-Century education, teaching logical thinking, providing opportunities for creative expression and important skills for future careers.  
 
For more information about LASD’s Computer Science program, please click here.
Check out #lasdk8 #HourofCode for classroom updates from the event.
 
December Recess
As a reminder, our December Recess begins on Monday, December 24 and school will resume on January 7. We hope you enjoy the break and look forward to wishing you a Happy New Year!

Last week, Bullis Charter School (BCS) parent Courtenay Corrigan and Los Altos School District (LASD) Parent Peipei Yu, published a joint letter in the Los Altos Town Crier urging the BCS and LASD Boards of Trustees to collaborate on a long-term solution to meet the needs of all local families.

The Los Altos School District applauds these two parent leaders, who created petitions that attracted thousands of community signatures in support of a solution that best serves local students.  

The LASD Board of Trustees agrees wholeheartedly with these two parents’ well-expressed viewpoints.  The Board is redoubling its efforts to achieve a long term facilities agreement with BCS that respects the needs of the entire community and protects academic excellence for all students.  

Due to diminishing air quality conditions, the Los Altos School District, Mountain View Whisman School District and Mountain View Los Altos High School District will be closed this Friday, November 16.

This was a difficult decision made with careful consideration and collaboration, which we do not take lightly.  The air quality conditions have continued to worsen and are not expected to improve tomorrow as originally forecast.  We recognize this may cause great inconvenience for our families, but the safety of our students is our greatest concern.  

We appreciate your patience and understanding during these acute conditions. We will continue to keep you updated. Please have your students stay indoors until air quality in our area improves to safer levels.

Click the link below to read the full article recently published in the Los Altos Town Crier:

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Danish Computer Science Educators Visit Los Altos School District

As a model for schools around the world, Los Altos School District (LASD) has hosted many international visitors interested in learning more about the district’s successful academic programs.  Last week, Danish educators from University College Copenhagen and VIA University College came to LASD to learn about the district’s Computer Science program. To implement Computer Science programs in schools and universities nationwide by 2021, the Danish team is creating grade-appropriate curriculum and teacher training modules to improve digital literacy and technology understanding among both students and teachers.

"Because we are pioneers in Computer Science education, our experience in overcoming many of the same challenges they face in Denmark will help them implement a successful national program,” said Sandra McGonagle, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.

For example, McGonagle explained that the district’s Computer Science curriculum is designed to meet every child at their level, inspire them and support them in understanding concepts in computer science. LASD invests resources in training its faculty and developing custom curriculum with the inclusion of a Computer Science Integration Specialist.

In a presentation to the Danish group, LASD’s Computer Science Integration Specialist Sheena Vaidyanathan introduced the LASD program and helped answer several questions about implementing a similar program in Denmark.  “It’s important to consider the best ways to teach Computer Science and how to integrate it into the core curriculum. Designing effective curriculum requires understanding how to engage students with projects that are open to allow creativity and also have clear expectations on student learning,” Vaidyanathan explained.  

While many American school districts have added Computer Science programs during the last 3 years, LASD began its computer science program in 2009.  “We were early adopters of Computer Science curriculum because coding teaches students problem solving,” explained Vaidyanathan. “It’s a way of thinking that can help students learn everything else.”

“Computer Science for All” is the philosophy that guides the program at LASD.  “We integrate Computer Science throughout the core program at every grade level.  We also provide opportunities for all students to create personally relevant projects using their computer science skills to make art, animation or stories and games,” explains Vaidyanathan.   The LASD Computer Science curriculum includes group projects where possible to encourage students to build larger projects while learning collaboration skills.

"As students learn Computer Science, they understand the relevance of the STEM fields in today's world. They also build critical thinking skills and use their creativity,” said Vaidyanathan.

For more information on University College Copenhagen and Via University College, visit www.kp.dk/international  For more information on LASD’s innovative Computer Science program, visit http://www.losaltos.k12.ca.us/District/Portal/Computer-Science.

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Bullis Charter School Requests Closure of Egan Junior High

On November 1, 2018 Los Altos School District (LASD) received a formal request for facilities for the 2019-20 school year from the Bullis Charter School (BCS).  

In its facilities request, BCS demands that LASD close its top-ranked Egan Junior High School and turn over the entire campus to BCS for the charter school’s exclusive use beginning in the upcoming 2019-20 school year.  The Egan campus is currently shared between the Egan and Bullis Charter schools. BCS does not state where LASD should place the nearly 600 junior high school students who would be evicted imminently from the Egan campus or denied the ability to enroll in junior high there.

Click here to read the full press release.

September 10 Board of Trustees Meeting Focuses on
Community Feedback Regarding the 10th School Site
 

At its September 10 meeting, the Los Altos Board of Trustees heard two presentations regarding community input for the proposed new 10th school site.  The district houses 10 schools on 9 sites and thousands of new homes are slated for construction in the next 10 years in the area.
 
Since 2012, LASD has engaged with its community to obtain feedback on how best to allocate LASD’s school facilities to meet the needs of all students who enroll in a public school within the LASD.  Community task forces, committees and public forums have consistently urged the district to seek a new school site to help meet those needs.  For a complete history of the process and community feedback, please click here.
 
LASD now has a strong prospect of obtaining a school site in the North of El Camino area through a unique collaboration with the City of Mountain View.  The district thus invited community feedback on how best to utilize this potential 10th school site.
 
ThoughtExchange Report
The district hosted an online community forum with ThoughtExchange in June 2018, in which over 1,000 local residents provided their perspectives regarding the 10th site.  To boost participation, the district advertised the ThoughtExchange forum to the community through local newspapers, social media and a mailer.  Additionally, the district invited parents and staff to participate through emails.  ThoughtExchange provided its analysis of the community’s feedback in a presentation to the board.
 
Site Advisory Task Force Report
Manny Barbara from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group--the Site Advisory Task Force Facilitator--presented a summary report of the Site Advisory Task Force’s work. The Task Force comprised a diverse group of residents and school district staff volunteers who thoroughly analyzed issues and community perspectives regarding the new school site.  After months of deliberation, the majority members of the Task Force recommended placing the Bullis Charter School at the new 10th site.  The second-choice option was to place a neighborhood LASD school on the 10th site.  View the presentation and the report here.
 
“With varying perspectives and interests in our community, the educational program and student attendance for the 10th site is an exciting, but complex issue.  We thank the community for providing us valuable insight and feedback through the Task Force, ThoughtExchange and all of the committees, task forces and community forums over the past six years.  The Board of Trustees now has the difficult job of taking years of community input on this issue and determining a solution that prioritizes top-quality education for local public school students,” stated Superintendent Jeffrey Baier.
 
Please join us at our upcoming Board meetings on September 24 and October 8, when we will continue to discuss the 10th site.  If you have questions or comments, please email trustees@lasdschools.org.

Have you thought about being a Substitute teacher?

Substitute Teacher Training - September 27th 9am-12pm
No Cost $$

The Silicon Valley economy is doing well and unemployment is quite low.  For LASD, this means fewer people interested in substitute teaching.  We are looking for parents who would be interested in helping our schools by becoming a substitute teacher.  We realize this may initially sound a bit unnerving, but it is actually a wonderful way to learn more about the learning of our students. You can choose your schedule, working as often or as little as you would like as well as at the schools of your choosing.  We conducted this training in 2017 and had terrific feedback and results with our new substitutes.  We could really use your help, so please consider the opportunity.

If you would consider joining our substitute teaching pool, we are offering a free mini-training hosted by our Human Resource & Curriculum Departments. Mark your calendars for Thursday,September 27th from 9am-12pm.  For more information click the link here and/ or contact Erin Green, Director of Student and Staff Services egreen@lasdschools.

Substitute Boot Camp 2018!