August 25, 2021
The Beehive
Issue 4

2021-2022
From The Principal's Desk 
Dear Blossom Hill Families:

“Safety First” is our motto at Blossom Hill. Currently, we conduct fourteen routine safety drills over a ten-month period.  The purpose of the drills is to train staff and students to respond quickly to a variety of emergencies.  All drills are evaluated on execution time and adherence to protocol.  Each drill is logged, followed by a debriefing, to ensure a cycle of continuous improvement.  Both the Los Gatos Police Department and Santa Clara Fire Department participate in a drill during the course of the school year.  (The Santa Clara Fire Department’s Coordinator of Emergency Services has repeatedly noted that we have the most efficient evacuation process that he has witnessed in his many years of service.)  Parent volunteers who are on campus during a drill are required to follow the emergency protocol and participate until the drill has ended.  In addition, the staff also trains on the Incident Command Structure used by first responders to handle emergency situations.

Below is a list of the types of drills conducted at our school:
Our first Fire Drill was held today.  To support your student, I suggest you discuss how drills help us to know what to do in an emergency and that when we know what to do, we feel more in control of a situation. You can also extend the conversation by asking your child to name other ways they stay safe, such as wearing a seatbelt in the car, looking both ways before crossing the street, or washing and sanitizing hands regularly.  That will help them to realize that they know how to do many things that help promote their safety and wellbeing.

Later in the year, one of the Fire Drills will be held during lunchtime, giving students the opportunity to report to the back fence of the field (where their class number is posted) without their teacher’s direct guidance - a good opportunity to foster independence for our 1-5 grade students.  If you are interested in more information about emergency drills, or would like to participate in one, please contact me.

In education together,
Lisa Reynolds
Principal, Blossom Hill School
Phone: 408.335.2100

IMPORTANT
DATES

August


  • 8/25 - BH School Landscaping Project Design Review, 3-3:30pm (MPR)*




  • 9/1 - H&SC Board Meeting, 8:15-9:45am (conference room)
*Scroll down for more details on these events.
**See details above "From the Principal's Desk"
IMPORTANT SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
Office: 
408-335-2100

Attendance: 
408-335-2145

Office Hours: 
7:30 am - 4 pm

Did you know that One Community LG, through our Blossom Hill Home & School Club, funds all our students’ classroom supplies?  From consumable workbooks to homework folders to pencils, pens and crayons, each child at our school is provided with all the tools they need in school.  And the best part is you didn’t have to spend your time shopping to get all the right supplies your child needed.  Please watch Mrs. Reynolds’ video below to learn more about what else One Community LG supports for our students.
"Hive" Five to the New Family Welcome Committee!
Hive Five goes out to our New Family Welcome Leaders Missy Bottoms and Rebecca Escobar for hosting a fantastic New Parent Welcome Coffee this morning. It was a great opportunity to connect with each other in a relaxed and inviting event. And thank you to all the parents who attended this morning. Our hive thrives because of your unique experiences, talents and perspectives. Welcome!
Parent Volunteers Sign Ups Still Available!
The Home & School Club needs your help! We are very excited that volunteers will be allowed back on campus this school year. There are many opportunities available. To find out more about each job, please go to Volunteer Opportunities at our H&SC website. Please complete the form below to let the H&SC and your child's classroom teacher know what areas you are interested in lending a hand. Some positions may be filled by a team of volunteers. You may sign up for as many jobs as you would like. In the next week, you will be contacted about your volunteer job(s). Sign ups for classroom volunteers (such as reading stations, paper filing, etc.) will be managed by your child's teacher directly. 
Attention Mrs. Bersano and Mrs. Weatherson's Parents:
We are still in need of Room Parents for your classes!
If you do not have a Google account, you may have difficulty opening the Volunteer Sign Ups Form. Click here to find out how you can open the form without a Google account.
LGUSD Volunteer Requirements
To volunteer at Blossom Hill School in the 2021-22 school year, LGUSD will require you to print out, complete, scan and upload the Volunteer Information Form and upload a Covid-19 Vaccination proof and a physician completed TB risk assessment form. You can do so via the link below. If you cannot open the Volunteer Information Form, you may complete a paper copy found in the office. Please bring your vaccination card and TB risk assessment form with you.
Safe Routes to School Parent Driver Contract
Blossom Hill School (BHS) Administration, Teachers, Home & School Club, Safe Routes to School Committee (SR2S), Los Gatos Union School District, Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department, and the Town of Los Gatos are working together to promote a SOS Zone (Safety for Our Students Zone) around our school. This is especially critical during our morning drop off and afternoon pick up times as they are especially busy this year.
Blossom Hill Rules of Respect Agreement
The goal at Blossom Hill School is to provide a safe and friendly environment. We ask all students and their parents to read and discuss our school rules and expectations and then sign below. Please print the response email and keep for your records. Thank you for taking the time to review this important policy.
Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders
We need all Blossom Hill parents and students help to make drop off and pick up run smoothly. Please note:
  • The bike rack outside of the office is for adult bikes only. All students must park their bikes at the bike racks inside the gates.
  • Please do not crowd the gates at pick up. Parents need to allow room for students to exit the gates easily.
  • Please do not leave your car when you are in the pick up lane. You need to keep moving forward so that all cars can safely enter the pick up lanes.
  • Please do not block the crosswalk with your car when you are entering the drive thru lanes. This is dangerous for our students who then have to walk around cars and out of the crosswalk.
Spirit Wear Sale Continues!
Check out this website:
All items still available for a hard to beat price! 
Masks $3
T-Shirts and Ladies Tanks $5
Lounge Pants $5
Sweatshirts $10
         
*limited sizes available. 
 Email [email protected] if you have questions.
No Cost Giving Opportunities
There are many ways to donate to the Blossom Hill Home & School Club throughout the year without writing a check. Just register online with the companies listed below and designate the Blossom Hill Home & School Club as your charitable organization or program beneficiary.
Farm Fresh to You, a family farm growing organically since 1976, provides fresh, organic produce conveniently delivered right to your home or office while earning 10% for the Blossom Hill Home & School Club. Just use the promo code "BLOSSOMHILL" when you sign up. Existing customers can also apply the code.
Download the Box Tops app, shop as you normally would, then simply scan your store receipts to find participating products. The app will automatically credit our school's Box Tops earnings online. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents to Blossom Hill.
Enroll in the Nob Hill "Something Extra" program, select Blossom Hill H&SC online as your "Extra Credit" program beneficiary. Nob Hill will donate a percentage of your total purchase to the school.
Visit smile.amazon.com, designate Blossom Hill H&SC as your charitable organization, and shop away!
When you shop at Office Depot, provide our school ID code (70010508) at checkout. Office Depot will donate a percentage of your total purchase to Blossom Hill.
When you shop at any Sports Basement location or online, become a Basementeer select Blossom Hill Elementary to be your charity . Sports Basement will give you a 10% discount AND donate 10% of your total purchase to the school. 
When you shop online at Mabel's Labels, a 20% commission will be given to Blossom Hill Home & School Club. Simply select Blossom Hill Home & School Club under "Support a Fundraiser." Ordering from Mabel's Labels is a great way to keep track of all of your child's belongings.
Time to Order Your 2021-2022 Yearbooks!
Big welcome back from the Blossom Hill Yearbook Committee! The Yearbook Committee relies on parents' help to supply photos of the students every year. Please upload the first day of school photos onto Treering. Our goal is to have every Blossom Hill student represented in the yearbook. 
To Purchase, Upload Photos & Customize Your Yearbook*:
*Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.



Yearbook Regular Price: $16.00

Note: The 2 Custom Pages are FREE.  
The pages are personalized by you and are printed ONLY in your book.
Halloween Costume Reminder
Halloween is two months away, but costumes are already starting to go on sale in stores. We are planning to resume our traditional Halloween Parade to the Terraces, a wonderful community building event. Please remember when purchasing costumes that inflatable costumes are not allowed at school. Thank you for your understanding.
The New Blossom Hill Directory is Here!
Our online directory is ready to connect you with classmates, teachers, and friends. AtoZ Connect continues to host our directory, but has moved platforms and is powered by Membership Toolkit. You should have received an email yesterday with directions on how to register. Everyone must register for a new account. The only exception is if you have an existing Membership Toolkit account (not an AtoZ Connect account from last year.). Please refer to yesterday's email for more information. If you have any questions, contact Jean Choi, Directory Administrator, at [email protected].
Clubhouse and After School Enrichment
Registration available for on-site before and after care K-5 grade. Visit this link for more details.
 
After School Enrichment registration now open. First session begins August 30th. Visit this link to view and register for available classes at your campus.
Los Gatos Union School District Parcel Tax
Measure B on November 2nd Ballot
Quality schools are at the heart of our town. For over 30 years Los Gatos and Monte Sereno students have relied on locally controlled funding. But the funding level has not increased in 20 years...and the current measure is about to expire. If not renewed, our schools will lose $2.7 million in funding each year requiring deep cuts, including layoffs of teaching staff.

Measure B will renew school funding at $335 per parcel, providing approximately $3.2 million in annual funding for local elementary and middle schools. Measure B would expire in 8 years. To learn more about Measure B and its impact, visit www.lgusd.org/renewalmeasure.
Free Morning Snack and Lunch Program Update
Both morning snack and lunch are complementary for all students and there is no need to preorder or sign up. We anticipate starting hot lunch services on Monday August 23, and continuing daily throughout the school year.  The menu will be updated weekly on Wednesdays and will reflect the upcoming weekly menu based on produce availability. Sorry for any substitutions, but we have been experiencing some shortages in our orders. The menu is available at the LGUSD website Departments/Food Service/Food Menus. Please contact Terese McNAmee at [email protected] if you have any questions.  
Your Help Needed for Important Funding Initiative for Free/Reduced Lunch Meal Program
Los Gatos Union School District receives funding based on students that qualify for Free/Reduced meal program applications. Since the 2021-2022 school year meal program is serving meals at no cost to Los Gatos Union School District families, it is important that all families, regardless of income, complete the attached Alternative Household Income application form before September 25, 2021.

Based on Free/Reduced eligibility, this funding supports:
● Title II funds – Professional Development for all staff.
● Title III funds – Immigration and English Learner students.
● Title IV funds – Middle School support for English Learners.
● Supplemental Funds – Intervention, Teacher Aides, Counseling Services,
Psychologist Services, Community Liaisons, Software Licenses for students,
Teacher Instructional Support, and Instructional materials.
Online Alternative Household Income applications can be found at:
Thank you for your participation in this important funding initiative!
Los Gatos Union School District
Don't Forget - Fridays are BH Spirit Days!
We invite all students (and staff) to show their Blossom Hill spirit by wearing the favorite BH Spirit Wear each Friday. Don't have any Spirit Wear? Please visit our online store, Rokkitwear, for a great selection. Limited t-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as BH masks, will be on sale at (We accept credit cards, Apple Pay, and cash.)
LGUSD Social Media Posting Policy
We have many events on campus throughout the year. While you are always welcome to take photos and video of any school performance, event or competition, student safety is our top priority in the Los Gatos Union School District. We respectfully request that you take into consideration the audience and performers when taking video or pictures. If you post an image or video to social media that may contain images of individuals other than your immediate family, please seek consent from the student’s family or guardian prior to posting. 
Blossom Hill Vision Statement 
(Abilities and skills we expect our students to acquire and take-out into the world) 
All students will have the necessary skills to become enthusiastic, life-long learners and productive, empathetic, respectful members of society. 
Blossom Hill Mission Statement 
(What we need to do as a school community to ensure this happens) 
The Blossom Hill School community takes pride in providing an enriched standards-based curriculum in a safe, nurturing environment. We strive to appreciate an awareness of students’ developmental needs to help them progress towards independence. 
Blossom Hill Elementary School
16400 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Lisa Reynolds, Principal | [email protected]
Phone: 408-335-2100 | Fax: 408-356-0887
Attendance Line: 408-335-2145
Blossom Hill Home & School Club
Melissa Crow, President | [email protected]  
*The Beehive newsletter is approved by Principal Lisa Reynolds and the H&SC Board and is written exclusively to provide the Blossom Hill community with pertinent, weekly school information. Articles, information, calendars, etc. may not be duplicated or re-printed in any manner without the permission of the Home & School Club or the Blossom Hill school administration.

Submissions can be made to The Beehive editor, Jennifer Shapiro,