From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Blossom Hill Families:
I would like to extend my ongoing gratitude for your continued support in helping to make your child’s virtual classroom a positive experience. Team LGUSD is whole-heartedly taking feedback about our possible return to in-person learning and instruction from all stakeholder groups. With certainty, I can say that returning to in-person learning is one of the most complex and passionate topics of conversation that I have had the opportunity to participate in during my educational career. As your site leader, I am asking you to join me in remaining solution-oriented and to be mindful of the conversations you have in the presence of your child(ren). The day-to-day stressors while navigating school, work, and other commitments is a tall-task for everyone. You are not alone! More information will be shared with community members in the coming days with updates about the possible return to in-person instruction and learning. In the meantime, take heart in knowing that Team LGUSD’s methodical approach supports the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members.
This week, all families received an email and corresponding survey titled “Long Term Distance Learning Enrollment”. Please make sure to read the email thoroughly and complete the survey by September 24 if:
- Your child is medically fragile
- Your child would be put at risk by in person instruction
- Your child is self-quarantining because of concerns of exposure to COVID-19
Please note that students will remain in their current class placement until Phase 1 in-person instruction begins in LGUSD. When in-person instruction begins, students who have registered for long-term distance learning will receive a new class placement. Students will remain in the long-term distance learning program for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. If you have additional questions about long term distance learning, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
In other news, please mark your calendar for our first School Site Council (SSC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 24th from 2:45-3:45 via Zoom. The SSC is responsible for the understanding, development, and implementation of the Single Plan for Student Achievement which is a record of the mission, vision, goals, and actions developed by our school community. New this year, we will be directly aligning the plan with the LGUSD Strategic Plan and Student Success Profile.
The SSC is composed of equal representation of two groups – parents/community members and school personnel. Peer groups select their members and each term of office is staggered in two-year terms to ensure continuity. Decisions made by the Council are made by majority vote. If you are interested in serving as a parent member, or just want to learn more about the work the Council does, please contact me.
The SSC will meet six times throughout the school year. All meetings will be held on Thursdays from 2:45 to 3:45. The meeting dates are: 9/24, 10/29, 1/28, 2/25, 4/29, and 5/27.
I encourage all interested parents, elected to a position or not, to attend any or all SSC meetings. I welcome your input and highly value your perspective and participation.
In education together,
Lisa Reynolds
Principal, Blossom Hill School
Phone: 408.335.2100
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September/October
- 9/18 - Upper Grade Chorus application deadline*
- 9/22 - Deadline to vote online to approve 2020-2021 H&SC Budget*
- 9/23 - Home & School Club Member Meeting, 8am (online)
- 9/24 - SSC Meeting, 2:45-3:45pm (online)**
- 9/24 - Deadline for Long Term Distance Enrollment**
- 10/1 - Upper Grade Chorus rehearsal, 3:15-4pm (online)
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*Scroll down for more details on these events.
**See details above "From the Principal's Desk"
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IMPORTANT SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION |
Office:
408-335-2100
Attendance:
408-335-2145
Office Hours:
7:30 am - 3:30 pm
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Notes from the Victor Pacini & Deanna Hynes
Informational Meeting on September 14th
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Monday evening, Victor Pacini and Deanna Hynes spoke with the Blossom Hill Community and shared their advice on how to both talk with our children about the recent news and reiterate the language and body safety rules that our children learn during the school programs presented by Victor and his team.
A few key points from this meeting were:
The clean and healthy rule is important for all children to understand. No one may see or touch a child’s private parts unless it is to keep them clean and healthy. If it is not in the context of clean and healthy, a child should understand that they should not be asked to show or touch their private parts.
Children should be able to identify a trusted hero team. A trusted hero is a person who they feel comfortable sharing their concerns. It may be a parent or a teacher or a coach. A child needs a team of trusted heroes so that they have multiple sources if their preferred hero is not immediately available.
Children should listen to their “inner sirens.” The yucky feeling or their gut telling them that something is not right or makes them uncomfortable. Children should understand that they should be seen and heard if they find themselves in a situation that seems wrong.
Developmentally appropriate terms used in the Be Seen and Heard presentations change as students get older. With kindergarten, first and second grades, we speak about safe and unsafe touches. With third and fourth grades, we transition to appropriate and inappropriate touches. It is not until fifth grade that the term sexual abuse is ever used. For all grades, safe touches are high fives, handshakes and the like.
Let your children lead the discussion. If they do not ask about recent events, you should not feel obligated to tell them. If they do ask, reassure your children that they are safe and most trusted heroes are good people.
For additional resources to help you use the developmentally appropriate language and reinforce the ideas that are presented to students each year, please use these links:
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Show your Blossom Hill Pride! |
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Thank you to everyone who has proudly displayed their Blossom Hill Pride yard sign and sent pictures to both the yearbook and president@blossomhill.org to be printed and hung in the school office. Second grade, we have not forgotten you! We were unable to distribute yard signs to the 2nd grade at their materials pick up last Friday due to the poor air quality. Signs will be available for pick up at 2nd grade's next materials pick up day. If you would like your sign sooner, please contact Jennifer Shapiro at president@blossomhill.org and we will make arrangements to get your sign to you. Any family who has not received a yard sign and would like one is also welcome to make arrangements to pick up a sign.
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Project Cornerstone: Introduction and History |
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Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! Project Cornerstone virtually brings parent-reader volunteers into the classroom each month to read a pre-selected book and guide the students in lessons introducing and reinforcing one of the 41 Developmental Assets. Every teacher at Blossom Hill sets aside classroom time to have students participate in these valuable lessons. All parents have a role to play as well: being familiar with the principles of Project Cornerstone empowers all of us to create a community where children possess the tools to develop into caring and responsible individuals.
With that goal in mind, a brief article will appear in The Beehive each month, which will include a synopsis of the Project Cornerstone book and lesson. We hope these articles provide a mechanism for sparking discussions at home. This first article is an overview of the history of Project Cornerstone and an introduction to the 41 Developmental Assets.
What is Project Cornerstone?
In 1999, a group of community-based organizations (YMCA of Silicon Valley, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club and Estrella Family Services) used the Search Institute’s 41 Developmental Assets and created Project Cornerstone. Project Cornerstone seeks to empower youth, parents, and educators to create a healthy school climate and caring communities by focusing on the development of social-emotional learning.
What are Developmental Assets?
The Developmental Asset framework was created by Search Institute, a nonprofit based in Minneapolis. Since its inception in 1958, Search Institute has researched ways to create a world where young people thrive and feel valued. As part of this mission, Search Institute created a framework of 41 Developmental Assets which it defines as positive supports and strengths needed by youth to succeed. The first 20 assets are “external assets” and focus on relationships to families, schools and communities. The next 21 assets are “internal assets” and focus on social-emotional strengths, values and commitments. Here is the link to the 41 Assets.
Project Cornerstone is currently in over 300 schools in Santa Clara County with 6,000 parent volunteers annually impacting 96,000 youth. We are optimistic that by sharing each month’s Project Cornerstone lessons with you, you’ll have the opportunity to help all children in our community build up their Developmental Asset base and thrive.
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ATTENTION ALL 3rd, 4th and 5th GRADERS! |
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The Blossom Hill Upper Grade Chorus is proud to present
London Calling: A Tribute to British Rock through the 60s, 70s and 80s
The Chorus application will be available on
Monday, September 14th at 12pm until Friday, September 18th at midnight.
The application can be accessed through the Blossom Hill Home & School webpage.
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First practice will be Thursday, October 1st at 3:15pm.
Thank you H&SC, parents and staff for your patience and support of this program. We look forward to rockin' out with your child. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at bhuppergradechorus@gmail.com.
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The Bee-lieve Brigade Delivers Again! |
Monday morning the "Bee-lieve Brigade” delivered a fall treat to the teachers and staff of Blossom Hill Elementary. The "Bee Calm and Snack On" snack bags of carmel popcorn was greatly appreciated by the teachers and staff. If you are interested in helping the Brigade, please contact Kristin Hutchinson at staffappreciation@blossomhill.org.
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As part of their Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), all students have been read I am Human: A Book of Empathy. It is a wonderful book that encourages us to make good choices by acting with compassion and having empathy for others and ourselves. It is a very timely book as we are all striving to be our best selves. In addition, empathy is the Student Success Profile trait that LGUSD is focusing on this school year.
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No Cost Giving is easy! Visit smile.amazon.com, designate Blossom Hill Home & School Club as your charitable organization, and shop away! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Blossom Hill H&SC. We have received $3,875.97 to date. Thank you!
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Community Sponsor Spotlight |
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The Home & School would like to thank this week's Spotlight Community Sponsor, Kumon Math & Reading Center Los Gatos. We are greatly appreciative of Kumon Los Gatos' continued support. If you would like to become a Community Sponsor, please contact Jennifer Shapiro at fab@blossomhill.org.
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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.
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Blossom Hill Elementary School
16400 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Phone: 408-335-2100 | Fax: 408-356-0887 | Attendance Line: 408-335-2145
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Blossom Hill Home & School Club
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*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. |
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Submissions can be made to The Beehive editor, Jennifer Shapiro,
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