Student Council Book Drive:

Student Council is holding a book drive from Monday, May 22 to Friday May 26 to collect new or slightly used books. This drive will help young students, who don’t have easy access to books, be able to enjoy them as much as they want. Donated books must be appropriate for preschoolers to elementary students. Please bring the books to the front entrance before or after school or the stage during lunch. For every book donated, you will receive a raffle ticket which will enter you in a raffle for a $50 visa gift card. Please donate to help these children!

Blach’s Used Laptop Donation Drive:

Do you have a working laptop that you don't need anymore?  We can put it into good use.  We are collaborating with the non-profit organization, Equal Opportunity Technology to provide refurbished laptops to Blach students who otherwise couldn’t afford one. You may bring your working and password-disabled laptop with driver, operating system and charger (if available) to the office from May 15-26.  All donations are tax-deductible. Any questions? Please email Alice Lee at lucy@eqoptech.org

Student Wellness Week, May 8-12: This week we host our first ever Student Wellness Week! Under the leadership of our Wellness Commissioner Brandon F., Student Council is bringing a variety of lunchtime activities centered on wellness to students all week! Therapy goats/bunnies, Meditation, Yoga and Zumba -- all packed in one week to help us push ‘pause’ and focus on self care!

Used Laptop Donation Drive,  May 15-26: Do you have a working laptop that you don't need anymore?  We can put it into good use.  We are collaborating with the non-profit organization, Equal Opportunity Technology to provide refurbished laptops to Blach students who otherwise couldn’t afford one. You may bring your working and password-disabled laptop with driver, operating system and charger (if available) to the office from May 15-26. All donations are tax-deductible.  For any questions, please email Alice Lee at lucy@eqoptech.org

Has your child purchased their ticket to Movie Night? Be sure to check in with him/her about this Friday’s (5/5) spring movie event. The kids will get to come to campus, have dinner and watch the movie, “Hidden Figures”. Volleyball and other fun activities will also be available. Rumor has it that this is one of the highlights of the Spring semester!

CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) Testing Schedule is now available!

During the weeks of April 24 and May 1st, students in our district will take the adaptive state mandated CAASPP assessment. Along with other dynamic measures, information from this assessment is one data point that helps us inform instructional decisions as well as identify goals to support student learning.

Here is the 2017 CAASPP Testing Schedule for Blach. Please review it carefully to know the testing times and lunch times for the days we are testing. Your student is well prepared. The learning that is facilitated in our classrooms each day is all that is needed for preparation for this assessment. Please encourage your student to eat a healthy breakfast and get a good night's sleep (both great ideas to be ready to learn all year!). In order for the testing schedule to run smoothly for all our students, we ask that you kindly not schedule non-emergency appointments during the days we are testing. This helps your student take the assessment at the designated time and prevents disruption to their regular schedule for make up testing.

We deeply appreciate your support and understanding.

Check out the STUDENT STORE this week!!!!  Orange Izze’s continue to be on sale, there are new price reductions on your favorite items AND GOGURTS are now being sold for the first time this year.  BUY OFTEN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

CLUBS TODAY:

IN SPORTS NEWS

Good luck to three of our four teams playing in todays first round of the playoffs.  The 8th grade boys volleyball team travels to Lawson while both the 8th grade girls and 7th grade boys take on Miller at home.   Please come out and cheer on your classmates to tomorrows second round.  The 7th grade girls soccer team earned a bye this round and will practice for tomorrow's semi-final.

Track and field practice starts this Wednesday.  Sign ups are in the locker rooms.

Dear Falcon Families,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of our staff at Blach for your partnership, kindness and generosity.   

Our students are thoughtful, compassionate and curious learners- each student in his/her unique way contributes to what makes Blach an amazing place to be! Thank you for sharing your children with us- we are fortunate to be part of their journey through Junior High!

Our staff is second to none in their commitment to our students. Their passion for bringing the best for our students is inspiring! We love our Falcons!

Our parents devote time, talent and resources to supporting our work  with our students! Whether it is through volunteering for serving hot lunch, at  school events,  donating talent and money to projects around the school or serving on PTA Executive Board- your support sustains and lifts us each day! Your kind gestures of appreciation re-energize us- thank you for the recent Thanksgiving themed staff appreciation luncheon. We enjoyed the delicious food as well as the beautiful quotes and decorations.

Together, we build a community for our students that believes in their boundless potential!

I hope your Thanksgiving break is joyful and bountiful!

Bhavna Narula, Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Monday, November 21 - Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving Break-No School for students
• Sunday, November 27: Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade - Blach Falcon will make an appearance! Come cheer our very own Falcon!
• Monday, November 28: Olympic sand volleyball coach Andrew Fuller and Olympian (represented U.S. at Rio Olympics) Lauren Fendrick visit Blach!
• Monday, November 28: Lunch at 12:17pm
• Friday, December 2: Holiday Faire 1pm-4pm
• Friday, December 2: Minimum Day: School ends at 12:30 due to Holiday Faire.
• Tuesday, December 6: 7-9pm- 7th Grade Winter Concert
• Thursday, December 8: 7-9pm- 8th Grade Instrumental and Chorus Winter Concert
• Wednesday, December 14: 7-9pm- Drama Performance
• Thursday, December 15: 7-9pm- Drama Performance
• Monday, December 19 - Monday, January 2, 2017: Winter Break
• Tuesday, January 3, 2017: School Resumes

Key Dates:

• Friday, August 12 – Schedule Day: Blach Main Entryway/Quad
  7th Graders 10:00 am - 11:30 am and 8th Graders 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
  Students will receive their schedules and have an opportunity to take a campus tour led by our Blach Leadership Students. Samples from our hot lunch partner, Pasta Market, will be available for all to try.  Parents are welcome and encouraged to join their student for this special day! Bring a checkbook to purchase PE uniforms, Spirit Wear, and PTA Memberships and to donate to Blach’s Direct Appeal Campaign.

• Wednesday, August 17 – First Day of School (Late Start Schedule, 9:17 am start)

• Thursday, August 18 – Welcome Coffee & PTA Meeting (9:00 am - 10:00 am Multi)

• Wednesday, August 24 – Blach Back-to-School Night (6:45 pm in the Multi)

• Friday, August 26 – Minimum Day, all classes are dismissed at 12:30 pm.

• Monday, August 29th – School Picture Day

Blach Back-to-School Checklist:

• Verify info on InfoSnap and Fourleaf
  (look for an email from Jackie Sigua at LASD).

• Attend Schedule Day on Friday, August 12 - Remember to bring a checkbook!

• Get PE Uniforms at Schedule Day – Have your child label all uniform items.

• Complete Blach Back-to-School form attached or complete online at the Blach website: http://www.blachschool.org/georginais/1196-PTA.html

• Join the PTA:  Membership is $12/person AND includes a paper school directory!

• Contribute to the Blach Direct Appeal: Blach relies solely on our “direct ask” to fund our PTA budget that the school relies on to provide computer carts in classrooms, new technology essentials, extra textbooks (so that students can take a set home!), academic planners, and all sorts of other necessary school supplies and resources.  The PTA Direct Appeal suggested donation is $350, though any amount is appreciated. Visit http://www.blachschool.org/georginais/1196-PTA.html to complete the form.

• If you have questions regarding the company matching program or would like to make your contribution in stocks, please contact Suzie Noël at chouze.noel@gmail.com.

• Order Hot Lunch at https://pastamarket.orderlunches.com (The password is Blach179)

• Pick up your class planner on Schedule Day. Specific supplies required for classes will be provided by teachers on the first day of class. Get your bike and helmet in order and clean out your backpack!

• Support Blach by shopping on Amazon Smile! Click the Amazon link on the Blach website and add Blach Intermediate School PTA as your charitable organization. Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases, made through your regular Amazon (Prime included) account, to the Blach PTA at no additional cost to you! http://smile.amazon.com/

• Purchase Blach Spirit Wear! You’ll find great t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more at Schedule Day, the Welcome Coffee, and online.

• School Photos - Picture day is Monday, August 29th.

• Sign Up to Volunteer at School! To learn about available opportunities, contact Jackie Olson at blach_pta_info@lasdschools.org

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7lW4pES8Ex5aFpkWTFBSE9zOTA/view?usp=sharing

http://tinyurl.com/staffroster2015-16

Dear Blach Families,

Happy Friday! A hearty welcome to the new school year! Hope you enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating summer. We are so excited to start the school year together with you and eagerly preparing for our students’ arrival on the 19^th!

Here are some important ‘beginning of the school year’ details (yes, it is a lengthy message but it is packed with important information to help start the school year for your child and for you!)

Schedule Day@ Blach on August 14:

 Students can pick up their Schedules, Planners, Buy PE Uniforms (we are asking for a $20 donation, cash or check) and Spirit Wear on this day. Campus tours for new students will also be offered!

Please follow this schedule when coming on this day:

10 A.M.- 11:30 A.M.- 7^th grade only

12 P.M.- 1:30 P.M.- 8^th grade only.

This day is not just for students! Parents, you are also very welcome and encouraged to come to Blach and meet other parents and our wonderful PTA volunteers- connect with old friends, meet new people, learn more about the parent volunteer opportunities and help us build a strong community around our students! It truly does take a village!

I look forward to meeting everyone and introducing myself as the new person on your team on August 14! 

If a student is unable to come by, a friend can pick up the schedule (accompanied with a parent note) and PE uniform, or please stop by the office on the 17th or 18th to get everything.

Please Note: Junior high students will not be allowed to pick up their schedules on August 14th if their InfoSnap update is not completed. Parents, we will have computers available in the library to fill out your InfoSnap and Blach back to school forms if you haven't already done so prior to this event. Be on the lookout: Parents should be looking for an email from Registrar@lasdk8.org with instructions about completing the InfoSnap Online Registration. It is recommended that you add registrar@lasdk8.org to your contacts to prevent the email from going into spam folders

First Day of School:

August 19 is the first day of the 2015-16 school year! Please remember that it is a late start Wednesday. School starts at 9:17 A.M.

Block Schedule:

 We will continue to have block schedule on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year. In the spirit of continuous improvement in the best interest of our students, we have made some changes to the former Falcon Time. It is now a ‘Jumpstart’ period that will occur at the end of every Wednesday from 2:28 PM-3:03 P.M. The bell schedule can be found here

School Supplies:

Our suggested school supply list can be found here

Teachers will let your child know what supplies might be needed during the first week of school. Students will be fine on Day One as long as they have their planner, pens/pencils, and some binder paper.

Communication:

Our effective home-school partnership hinges on consistent and strong communication.  As we move forward to strengthen communication, LASD is excited to launch a new communication service that will allow us to communicate with you via SMS text messaging. This service will be used to enhance our existing methods of communication and will be used only to provide information that is timely and relevant such as emergency notifications and minimum day reminders.

In order to participate in the new service you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages via your phone. Please make sure to enter your cell phone number when you complete the InfoSnap registration.  Your wireless number will receive an invitation to opt in during the first week of school.  Be prepared to opt in when you receive the message!

Please note, although the district does not charge for this service, normal text message charges may apply according to your wireless contract.

Please refer to this letter from LASD with information on SMS text messaging and the new online directory.

School Pictures

School pictures will be taken during the school day on September 1st. You can order your pictures online through http://order.gsp-photos.com.  Paper forms will also be available on the 14th. The online form can be found here as well. Please make sure you have ordered online or have your child bring a check on the 1st to order pictures. This picture is also used for the Blach Yearbook, and students will receive their ID cards on the September 1^st. There will be a make-up day for pictures on October 2nd.

Getting to Blach:

Changes to Loyola/Fremont Bridge Routes due to Construction

--If you are coming from west of Miramonte form the San Antonio Hills/Loyola Bridge area, use Loyola Drive to Frontero to Magdalena to Springer to Covington OR Loyola to Granger to St. Joseph to Grant to Covington.

--If you are coming from east of Miramonte who would normally use the Fremont Bridge, use Fremont to Grant to Covington OR Fremont to Portland to Miramonte to Covington

Please review the following Suggested Routes for help with planning your commute!

Last but not the least, I want to share my deep gratitude for all the support we receive from our Blach PTA and LAEF. We, at Blach are so fortunate to have this support to create unique learning experiences and an amazing Junior High program for all our students! When we come together as a strong community of supporters, we empower our students to take charge of their own learning in a community that is rooting for them every step of the way!

Please do not hesitate to call us at (650) 934-3800 with all your questions. Our school office is now open-we are here to help!

We will be sending another email out on Tuesday, the 11^th with Back to School information from PTA including hot lunch ordering information and details and links to complete Back to School Forms.

Here’s to a great 2015-16!

Gratefully,

Bhavna

Bhavna Narula, Principal and a Proud Blach Falcon

Blach Intermediate School

http://www.blachschool.org/