Live Oak Elementary Newsletter - Mar 13, 2026

Important Dates

Mar 11 - 20 - Ed fund Auction - Visit the site

Mar 16 - 20 - Scholastic Book Fair 📚 Sign up to help

Mar 17 - Spring Book Club begins

Mar 18 - 5pm, Family Puzzle Night 🧩
Mar 19 - 4pm, Talent Show dress rehersal

Mar 20 - Last day to pre order dinner for talent Show. Order here

Mar 27 - Talent Show Night 🎤

Apr 3-10 - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)

May 1 - Eagles Market. Sign up to partcipate

Every Wed - Spring Run club. Sign up here.

Every Fri - Menchies Froyo Fridays! Ice creams after school at the blacktop



Lunch Volunteers - Signup here

Powering Through CAASPP! 

It’s that time of year again! The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is just around the corner. While "standardized testing" can sound a bit daunting, it’s really just a chance for our students to show off all the incredible things they’ve learned this year.

As parents, you are the ultimate "pit crew." You don’t have to take the test, but you’re the ones making sure the engine is tuned and the driver is ready. Here is your guide to helping your student cross the finish line with confidence.

1. Master the Basics (The Night Before)

Success starts long before the first question appears on the screen. Help your child arrive at school feeling physically ready:

• The Power Nap (for 8 hours): Ensure they get a full night’s sleep. A rested brain processes information faster and stays focused longer.
• Low-Stress Evening: Keep the night before the test calm. Skip the heavy homework sessions or late-night practices if possible.

2. Fuel for Focus

A hungry stomach is a major distraction. Aim for a breakfast that provides sustained energy rather than a quick sugar rush.

• Go for: Oatmeal, eggs, whole-grain toast, or yogurt with fruit.
• Avoid: High-sugar cereals or pastries that might lead to a "crash" mid-test.

3. The Mental Game: Confidence is Key

Testing anxiety is real, but you can help diffuse it with the right mindset:

• Keep it in Perspective: Remind your child that this test is just a "snapshot" of what they know. It doesn't define their intelligence or their worth.
• Positive Self-Talk: Encourage them to say, "I’m going to do my best," rather than "I have to get a perfect score."
• Relaxation Techniques: Teach them to take three deep breaths if they hit a difficult question. It resets the nervous system and clears the "brain fog."

What is the CAASPP, anyway?

The CAASPP isn't just one test; it’s a system designed to see how well students are meeting California’s academic standards. Most students will focus on:

1. Smarter Balanced (SBAC): English Language Arts and Mathematics.
2. CAST: The California Science Test (typically for grades 5, 8, and once in high school).

4. Practical Testing Tips to Share

Before they head out the door, give them these quick "pro-tips":

• Read Everything: Read the instructions and the entire question before looking at the answers.
• Flag and Move On: If a question is too hard, mark it and move to the next one. They can usually come back to it later.
• Show What You Know: For the "Performance Tasks" (where they have to write out an answer), remind them that partial credit is often given for explaining their thinking!

Testing Schedule

Please keep these dates in mind. Help the class avoid distractions by scheduling appointments on days your child’s grade level is not testing. 

Upcoming Spirit Days

Twin Day is March 25! How many classmates can you TWIN with?

Live Oak Ed Fund – Board Nominations for 2026–2027

The Live Oak Ed Fund team is pleased to present the slate of nominees for the Board for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year:

• President: Jeffrey Omega
• Vice President: Danny Bae
• Secretary: Sri Sudha Pandrangi
• Treasurer: Wendy Sanchez

Voting will take place during our next Ed Fund meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026.



We thank these dedicated volunteers for stepping forward to serve and support the mission of the Live Oak Ed Fund. Their leadership helps ensure continued funding for important programs that enrich our students’ educational experience.

We encourage all community members to attend the meeting and participate in the voting process. Your involvement helps strengthen our school community and the opportunities we provide for our students. 

Join the PTA Board for 2026-27

Dear Amazing LiveOak Families,

Our school community thrives because of the dedication and support of our amazing parent volunteers. As we begin planning for the next school year, we are looking for volunteers to join the PTA Board.

If you are interested in serving in a role, learning more about the responsibilities, or have questions about the open positions, please check out the nomination form along with role descriptions here - We would love to talk with you and help you find a role that fits your interests and availability.

Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in supporting our students, teachers, and school programs. Thank you for considering being part of the PTA leadership team!

Spring Book Fair - St Patrick's day Fun, Mar 17

Puzzle Night on March 18, 2026

Join us on March 18 from 5:00 – 6:30 PM in the MPR for a fun-filled Puzzle Night, happening just before our PTA Association Meeting!

Bring the whole family for an evening of teamwork, strategy, and friendly competition.

What’s Happening

• 🧩 Teams will work together on large puzzles
• 🏆 Friendly competitions to see who can finish first
• 🔄 Puzzle exchange — bring a gently used puzzle from home and swap with a friend
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A family event designed for all ages

We can’t wait to see our most competitive and sharpest minds in action. Whether you love solving puzzles or just enjoy a fun family challenge, this event is for you!

Mark your calendar and join us in the MPR for a great evening of connection and brain power. See you there!

Dinner options - Live Oak Talent Show, March 27

Make Talent Show Night even more enjoyable—pre-order your dinner today!

Come celebrate the incredible talent of our Live Oak community while enjoying a fun-filled evening together. Pre-orders close March 20. Order Now!

Eagles Market, May 1st 2026

The cherished Eagles Market is back, this time on May 1st, the same day as PTA's annual Spring Carnival!!!

This time Live Oak students can opt to sell

• Handmade products (e.g. keychains/cards) or
• Services (e.g. teach a magic trick, face painting etc)

We cant wait to see and shop all the creative items our Live Oak Eagles have to offer!

Sign up Now! Spots are limited. (Max 2 students per business). Please don't forget to read the FAQ Section before you sign up. Last day to sign up - Fri, March 27



For questions, please reach out to Shyamala at communications@liveoakpta.net

FREE: Customize Your Yearbook by April 8th

Treering allows you to create your own pages that only your child's copy of the book will have. You get 1 free spread per book and can add as many as you want for a fee, make their yearbook extra special this year and add all the beautiful memories they will cherish for a lifetime! Deadline is April 8th, 2026.

Also if anyone is interested in shadowing me to learn how to create the book, please contact yearbook@liveoakpta.net.

Forgot to buy a yearbook? Still time to buy a book before the prices go up at the end of the month! Today the book is $40 with free custom pages, free shipping to school!

We need your pictures! Especially class parties, First day of school, bands and strings, cardboard challenge. Click Here to see how to upload pictures straight from your phone to folders for the yearbook

Spring Run Club is Off to a Running Start!

Our Spring season officially kicked off on March 11th, and the energy on the track was amazing. It was our first day, and we saw a good turnout of parents and students.We had a fantastic turnout of 12 runners who pushed themselves to complete a collective 75 laps—that’s a staggering 15 miles covered in just one morning!

A massive thank you to our budding runners who participated. We also want to extend a special shoutout to the parents, who joined the kids and motivated them.This club thrives on your support and community spirit!



Missed our first session on the 11th? No worries—the track is always open for new faces! Run Club is all about personal progress, not just podium finishes. It’s a fantastic way to:

• Build Endurance: Improve your fitness and clear your mind.
• Connect: Meet new friends in a high-energy, supportive environment.
• Crush Goals: Whether you want to run one lap or ten, we’re here to help you hit your "Personal Best."
• Collecting Charms : collect milestone charms.

We will again meet next week, hope to see more faces.

Sign up to Join and get regular updates!

JOIN LIVE OAK ELEMENTARY SITE COUNCIL

What is the LOES Site Council?

It is a governing body comprising administration, teachers, classified staff, and parents. Together, we oversee a part of the school budget, approve the Single Plan for Student Achievement, the School Safety Plan, and much more. It's a great way to help ensure that at LOES, we are working to serve all our students as best we can.

What is the commitment?  

Site Council meets virtually on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 2:45-3:45 pm. Dates are below. As a parent member, you will serve a two-year term and are expected to attend and report on student/community life monthly.

What are the qualifications?

Your student must attend LOES, and you must be free to attend the monthly meetings and agree to be an active member. Good news: The meeting will be held virtually through Google Meet. 

How do I get elected?

If all this sounds great to you, please nominate yourself using the form below. Nominations MUST be received by 3 p.m. on Friday, March 27th. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED. 



LOES's next Site Council will be held on Wednesday, April 15th.

If you would like to nominate yourself for Site Council as a parent representative and believe you can fulfill all necessary duties, please complete the attached nomination form below. 

LOES School Site Council LOES Parent Representative Nomination Form

MEETING DATES: (2nd Wednesday of each month unless otherwise noted)

• April 15th
• May 13th

Truck Time San Ramon — Family Festival Filled with Trucks & Other Vehicles

One of San Ramon’s favorite family events is back! Truck Time San Ramon 2026 rolls into Bishop Ranch on Saturday, May 16, 2026, 9 AM to 1 PM. 

Kids (and adults!) can climb aboard fire trucks, school buses, and specialty vehicles, as well as enjoy live demonstrations and hands-on fun for all ages. New this year: a MONSTER TRUCK experience!

Tickets are on sale now — $10 each or Family 4-Packs for just $25. Prices increase on April 1st. Visit TruckTimeSanRamon.org for more information and to purchase tickets.

Truck Time is also a community fundraiser. Event sponsorships directly benefit the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation and the Contra Costa & Solano County Food Bank. The event is hosted by the Rotary Club of Dougherty Valley/San Ramon.

Registration is now open for SRVEF's Imagineering Hackathon!

SRVEF is excited to announce an Imagineering Hackathon open to all SRVUSD students interested in coding - grades 6th through 12th of all skill levels, beginner through advanced. This is a high-energy, collaborative competition where students work in teams of 2-4 to build, code, and design creative, real-world tech solutions—such as apps or websites—based on a theme. It emphasizes innovation, teamwork, and skill-building, allowing students to develop projects for their portfolios and compete for prizes. This is a BYOD event - students must bring their own laptop. Breakfast, lunch and snacks provided.

When: Saturday, April 25, 2026 8:30am-4:00pm

Where: California High School Library

              9870 Broadmoor Drive, San Ramon

Registration is now open.

If you are interested in being a sponsor for any Live Oak PTA event, please reach out to Tori at waysmeans@liveoakpta.net

Helpful Links

Lunch volunteer Signups

Vintage Spirit wear Sale!

We need photos of our Eagles!