Here at Los Alamitos, we are stronger when we work together and as each of us improves we all improve. Thank you all for supporting all our students to be the best that they can be!

I would also like to welcome Mrs. Christina Daly to our staff as our new Science Lab Program Assistant. We look forward to seeing you in the lab!

We have several activities this month, including a Family Math Night on 1/24 from 6:45-8:30 pm, the General PTA Meeting on 1/17 from 7-8:30 pm and a Family Fun Night at Aqui Cal-Mex Grill on 1/23 & 1/24. A Multi-Cultural Faire meeting is scheduled for 1/ 17 at 4:15 pm in Room E-7 and don’t miss your chance to be in the Los Alamitos Cookbook CD - send your favorite family recipe to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Enrollment for Kindergarten begins February 6th this year. Appointments are being taken. Sign up now! Also, if you are or know of any new incoming 1st graders for next year, please have their parents/guardians call to make an appointment to enroll as well. More information can be found on our website, the District website, or in the office.

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event or around campus. It’s a great time to be a Lion!

Warmly,
Mr. Rousseau

November 20, 2011

Congratulations to Los Alamitos Teacher, Mrs. Borges!

Mrs. Borges has completed the requirements for and has achieved National Board Certification in teaching!  This certification shows a National standard of excellence.  Mrs. Borges demonstrated excellence in five core propositions:

• Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
• Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
• Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
• Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
• Teachers are members of learning communities.

National Board Certification is achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards based on what teachers should know and be able to do. A National Board certificate attests that a teacher was judged by his or her peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about students, and acts effectively on those judgments.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Borges!

Warmly,
Mr. Rousseau

I would like to recognize one of Los Alamitos’ own…

Ian Lopez, parent of 1st grader Isabella, was elected to the position of Vice President of the San Jose Unified District English Learner Advisory Committee.  This committee represents the needs and concerns of the English Language Learners at all 42 SJUSD schools.  The District English Learners Advisory Committee meets regularly to advise the District governing board regarding District goals and objectives, and to assist in developing a district-wide plan for English Learners Education. Each school SELAC elects one of its members to serve on the DELAC.

Congratulations!

Mr. Rousseau

News From District Office

Community Meeting - Strategic Plan Follow Up

Leland, Bret Harte, Graystone, Simonds, Los Alamitos, and Williams will have a combined community meeting on Wednesday, February 29 @ 6:30 PM in the Leland Media Center. Parents are invited to attend the meeting. More details to follow.

Spring Parent Conference Save The Date

In alignment with SJUSD’s vision and mission, the conference titled, “Inspiring and Preparing for Future Success”, is focused on increasing our parents’ knowledge and understanding around what it takes to prepare their students for a successful future. At Monday’s DELAC meeting, parents had the opportunity to jot down questions they had about college and career options. Like many parents, their questions were regarding how to pay for their children’s college education, college entrance requirements, high school completion requirements, the type of college and career support that is available on our campuses, and what to do if their child is only in elementary school. The conference will answer these questions and more!

This conference will make an impact on our students’ success by equipping parents and guardians with valuable information.  Registration information will follow in late January-early Feb.

Thank you in advance for your support in helping to make this event a success. We look forward to seeing you on March 24, 2012.

Transitional Kindergarten Is Coming to SJUSD

What is Transitional Kindergarten?
A Transitional Kindergarten is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Pursuant to law, (EC 48000[c]), a child is eligible for Transitional Kindergarten if a child will have his or her fifth birthday between:
For the 2012–13 school year November 2 and December 2
For the 2013–14 school year October 2 and December 2
For the 2014–15 school year and each school year there after September 2 and December 2.

San Jose Unified will offer Transitional Kindergarten to students with birthdays between September 2 and December 2 beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

For more information please go to http;//www.sjusd.org

¿Qué es el Kínder de transición?

El Kínder de transición esel primer año de un programa de Kínder de dos años que usa un plan de estudiosmodificado de Kínder apropiado para la edad y el nivel de desarrollo de losniños.  De conformidad con la ley(EC 48000[c]), un menor de edad reúne los requisitos para asistir al Kínder detransición si cumple cinco años entre las siguientes fechas:

Para el ciclo escolar 2012–13,entre el 2 de noviembre y el 2 de diciembre

Para el ciclo escolar 2013–14,entre el 2 de octubre y el 2 de diciembre Para el ciclo escolar 2014–15 y cadaciclo escolar subsiguiente entre el 2 de septiembre y el 2 de diciembre.

El Distrito Escolar Unificado de San José ofrecerá el Kínder detransición a los estudiantes que cumplan 5 años entre el 2 de septiembre y el 2de diciembre a partir del ciclo escolar 2012-2013.

San Jose Unified Board of Education Adopts New Vision and Mission Statement
On September 1st the SJUSD Board of Education voted to adopt the new vision and mission statements for San Jose Unified School District.

Vision Statement: All San Jose Unified School District students are inspired and prepared to succeed in a global society.
Mission Statement: San Jose Unified School District’s mission is to eliminate the opportunity gap and provide every student with the finest 21st century education.

WELCOME BACK
August 15, 2011

Dear Los Alamitos Community,
Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year! It is with great anticipation that I write to welcome you and your student(s) to Los Alamitos Elementary this year.  I hope that your summer has been filled with family time enjoying all the wonderful things that our world has to offer.  As our summer fun turns to the commencement of another school year, take time to reflect on the sense of renewal that time away provides.  This is always an exciting time of the year! The Los Alamitos faculty and staff eagerly welcome our new families and students and look forward to seeing returning families and students.  As the new principal, I am looking forward to meeting all of you and forming strong and positive partnerships.

I am thrilled to serve as your new principal. The elementary school years are critical times of development for students and families alike, and I look forward to working with all of you to make this year successful. I am a lifelong learner who brings a firm commitment to students and families as well as a love of learning and problem solving. I have had experience educating students at all levels and have taught in San Jose Unified at the elementary level and also served the San Jose Unified Community as a resource teacher and a middle and elementary school assistant principal. Please introduce yourself in the days and weeks ahead.

This year we will continue to reflect on our instructional program: the Direct Instruction Framework, 21st Century Skills, and closing the opportunity gap so that all students may have a high quality instructional program.  Look for your students to become better critical thinkers, problem solvers, communicators, collaborators, analyzers, adaptors, and accessors of information.  As a community geared toward success, we expect the Los Alamitos Students to follow the Lions’ P.R.I.D.E. 

Problem Solve
Respect All
I Make Responsible Decisions
Do Your Best
Everyone Cares

Our first event of the new school year will be Our Back to School Night scheduled on Tuesday, August 23rd.  I look forward to seeing you there and to speaking with you regarding our initiatives and educational program at principal’s coffees, PTA, School Site Council, and School English Learner Acquisition Council meetings and around campus. Visit our website, (http://www.sjusd.org/losalamitos/) throughout the year.  It has a variety of information posted to it.

FRIDAY ENVELOPES:
Please ask your child for this folder every Friday. It is one primary way for us to maintain the lines of communication between school and home. Information regarding programs, events, PTA, instructional changes, etc. will be found in these envelopes, and parents are required to sign the folders each week and return them with their child on Monday.

SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT: Because it is so important that teachers and parents work together in making a child’s school year a happy and successful one, it is hoped that you will be able to spend some time during the school year helping in the classroom or at home. Please discuss with your child’s teacher, ways that you may assist them that will work within your schedule.  Home/School partnership is the reason Los Alamitos continues to excel academically.

TEACHERS/CLASSES: Teacher/classroom requests are not honored at Los Alamitos. Once your child has been placed in a classroom they will remain there for the remainder of the year barring extenuating circumstances such as enrollment fluctuation or class balancing.  We have four combination classes this year. Combination classes are designed due to enrollment fluctuations and all students selected for these classrooms met the criterion of: well behaved, academically strong, and independent workers.  All our instructors are highly qualified and prepared to teach both standard and combination classes. If you should have questions please check in with your child’s teacher regarding their program or send me an email.

PARENT/TEACHER ASSOCIATION: We strongly encourage all of our families to join our Parent Teacher Association, led by our new PTA President, Marybeth Torpey. Our major fundraiser, the Walkathon and Auction will take place in October 1st. We are eager to see all of you at this function!  We will kick off the Walkathon with a school Movie Night on September 16th. Fundraising is paramount to the success of Los Alamitos and we hope you will help support our programs and events throughout the year. When a fundraising event is planned please consider supporting it through donations or time as it helps support our number one priority: your children.

STRATEGIC PLAN: The San Jose Unified School District will be rewriting its Strategic Plan this Fall.  As we build the strategic plan; we need your participation at community meetings to:
•  to provide feedback regarding what are the most important 21st century skills  
•  to give suggestions for improvement
Warm Regards,
Mr. Rousseau
Principal