Newsletter 3/21/2016

Principal’s Message

Dear Friends and Families of Los Ranchos,

The Los Ranchos Variety Show, Talent’s in Bloom, was a big success. We had 38 different acts;  dancing, singing, leaping, twirling, flipping and drumming to an enthusiastic crowd of friends and families. Sixth graders did a great job of keeping the show moving with introductions and entertaining quips. We were worried that the Los Ranchos Variety Show would not go on this year. I want to thank Matt Walker and his team of parent volunteers. The show went on thanks to their time, energy and commitment.

Included in this newsletter is important information about the California assessments that all third  - sixth grades take in the spring. Last year was the first time that we took these tests. We will be taking them this year in May.  These new assessments generate new questions for parents.  I will host a Parent Coffee on Friday, April 28 at 8:30 a.m. to share information about  the assessments and the results that follow. Our guest speaker will be Neil Eckardt. Mr. Eckardt is very knowledgeable about the assessments under CAASPP System. I hope you will be able to join the discussion.

We wish you a relaxing and memorable spring break.

Sincerely,

Marlie Schmidt

Upcoming Dates

• Social Media Presentation for Parents - Tuesday, March 22nd at 6:00pm
• Staff Appreciation Meeting in the Music Rm, Wednesday, March 23rd at 6:00pm
• Spring Break - Friday, March 25-April 1st
• (Students return April 4th)
• Science and Invention Celebration -Thursday, April 21st
• Los Ranchos Bike Parade, Friday, April 29th
• Kindergarten Round-Up, May 16-17th
• Last Day of School, June 9th
• First day of 2016-2017 School Year, August 22nd

Open Enrollment

If you are interested in applying for a school outside your assigned home school, Open Enrollment Forms are available until March 24th. Please stop by your home school for the packet and information.

Lost and Found

Please stop by Lost and Found before Spring Break. We have quite a collection of jackets, sweatshirts and misc. items. We will be taking the remaining items to Good Will if they are not picked up by Thursday, March 24th. Thank you for your help

Social Media Presentation - Tuesday

Tuesday, March 22, 6:00-7:00pm

followed by a 30-minute Q&A session

Los Ranchos Elementary School

Your 5th and 6th graders will attend an assembly with Eileen on March 23

Talking with your kids about social media use and how to be good digital citizens is a crucial part of parenting.

Learn about digital footprints on social media and how online behavior can affect kid’s futures. Discover how to set boundaries, and begin to create a family plan and/or contract for your kids on social media.  Gain exposure to social media platforms and ways to talk to your kids about expectations for social media use.

Staff Appreciation Committee Meeting

Staff appreciation week is right around the corner. We have having a meeting Wednesday night (March 23rd) at 6pm in the music room. Everyone is welcome! If you can't make it to the meeting, but would still like to help, email Tiffany Emry at bongogme@gmail.com or Amy Garrett at agarrettpt@yahoo.com.
Thank you, Your Hospitality Chairs

Los Ranchos Newsletter

Principal’s Message

Dear Friends and Families of Los Ranchos Elementary,

We are wrapping up Parent Conferences this week. Conferences are a powerful time to learn about the curriculum of the last trimester, the focus for the next trimester and the goals for your child. It is an opportunity to celebrate progress and successes and to brainstorm strategies that will maximize growth for the last trimester. Your partnership makes all the difference.

Sometimes it can be tricky to know how to best partner with your child’s teacher. There is one thing that every parent can do. It is not easy, but it will have a powerful impact.  Make sure that reading time is sacred every day in your home. Abundant, daily reading is the number one key to academic success.  It is harder to do than it sounds. There are many other distractions  for students these days.  Parents have to be strong and determined to create time and space for reading. But, nurturing a reading habit will have huge benefits for your child.

We had a lovely day of celebrating reading last week.  Read Across America Day is the day we celebrate Dr. Seuss and the rich literature he authored. I want to thank Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Ortiz for organizing a community reading celebration.

Thanks to the generous contributions of our PTA, our students have daily access to technology.  As educators, we are constantly searching for ways to use technology in more meaningful ways. Next week Mrs. Gomes, Mr. Kersten and Miss Grossi will be heading to the National CUE Conference  to learn more about effective ways to integrate and innovate. I want to thank the teachers for taking time to attend the conference. This professional opportunity would not be possible without the generous funding of our Los Ranchos PTA and your donations. Thank you!  

Thank you,

Marlie Schmidt

Favorite quotes from Read Across America Day:

“I liked that we got to bring books from home and wear crazy clothes and read outside with the whole school. And, Miss Grossi got to read too!”

Maggie, 2nd grade

“We got to read a lot and I love reading!”

Corrina, 2nd grade

“It was one of my favorite days. I got to read Fox in Socks outside!”

Ryan, Kindergarten

Upcoming Dates:

• Variety Show - Friday, March 18th at 6:30pm
• Social Media Presentation for Parents - Tuesday, March 22nd at 6:00pm
• Spring Break - Friday, March 25-April 1st
• (Students return April 4th)
• Science and Invention Celebration -Thursday, April 21st
• Los Ranchos Bike Parade, Friday, April 29th

Variety Show

Bring your family to  Los Ranchos’ 2016 Variety Show on March 18th at 6:oopm.  Come see a variety of acts presented by our very own talented students!

Introduction to

Parenting Kids on Social Media

Talking with your kids about social media use and how to be good digital citizens is a crucial part of parenting. Learn about digital footprints on social media and how online behavior can affect kid’s futures. Discover how to set boundaries, and begin to create a family plan and/or contract for your kids on social media.  Gain exposure to social media platforms and ways to talk to your kids about expectations for social media use. Tuesday, March 22, 6:00-7:00pm followed by a 30-minute Q&A session Los Ranchos Elementary School Your 5th and 6th graders will attend an assembly with Eileen on March 23 Noon Supervisors We need your help. We are looking for some new noon supervisors. We  need you, whether you can commit to one, two, three, four or five days a week. It is not great money, and the hours are difficult (12:00 - 1:00). But, it is a great opportunity to get to know your child’s school community in a new and more meaningful way.  Please let Cherie Bruce know if you are interested, 596-4095.

Dear Friends and Families of Los Ranchos Elementary,

As you know, conferences are coming up. The minimum day schedule has been different this year due to our new report cards. We apologize for the inconvenience this new schedule may have created last week. We will have minimum days all next week, March 7 - 11. All of our students, K - 6 grade, will get out at 1:00. TK will continue to get out at 12:20 p.m.

We have another event coming up that you will not want to miss. On Tuesday, March 22 our PTA is sponsoring a presentation on the challenges of raising children safely and responsibly in a digital world. Eileen Calandro will be presenting Introduction to Parenting Kids on Social Media from 6:00 - 7:00 followed up by 30 minutes of questions on the evening of March 22nd. She will be doing a follow-up presentation to all of our 5th and 6th graders on March 23. I want to thank our PTA for sponsoring these presentations. The information will be both empowering and enlightening.

Sincerely,

Marlie Schmidt

Minimum Days

Next week, March 7-11th.

All of our students, K - 6 grade, will get out at 1:00. TK will continue to be dismissed att at 12:20 p.m

Release of Identifying Student Data:

There is a recent court decision involving the California Department of Education (CDE) and the release of identifying data regarding students. SLCUSD is not a party to the litigation and is not required to disclose any student information, nor does it intend to do so. However, while SLCUSD will not directly release any information, the data requested in the litigation will be that which has been collected over the years from California School Districts by the CDE and stored by CDE. The CDE may release this information unless parents fill out the "Notice and Objection" Form (see link below).

Regarding the case: The California Department of Education (“CDE”) is currently engaged in litigation with two non-profit associations comprised of parents and guardians of children with disabilities. The plaintiffs in that litigation have requested numerous documents, as well as student data collected and stored by CDE, which may include personally identifiable student information.

To comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), CDE has been ordered, among other things, to inform parents and students of the disclosure of such information.

CDE has requested that school districts and SELPAs post the following link to CDE’swebsite:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/morganhillcase.

The link provides a Notice and Objection Form to allow parents to object, by April 1, 2016, to the disclosure of personally identifiable information related to their children.

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Variety Show at Los Ranchos

If your child would like to be part of our Variety Show, please sign a  permission slip and your child will attend an audition on March 7th or 8th.  The parent show will be held on March 18th at 6pm.

Introduction to Parenting Kids on Social Media - 

Parent Presentation

Los Ranchos Multi-Use Room. 

Join us on March 22nd from  6:00pm-7:00pm

Spring Break

Students are out for Spring Break from Friday, March 25th - April 1st. Students return to school on April 4th .