Dear Gardner Community,

The Auction is set for April 6, 2019.  Mark your calendars.   You won't want to miss it.
Can you help in donating an item, experience, tickets, vacation home, party, dinner or whatever you may have to offer?
 

Do you know someone who owns a business that might be willing to donate an item and you can ask them to help our community?
 

Please email all donations to me at GBauction2018@yahoo.com.  All donations received by February 10 will be entered into a raffle to receive an auction ticket ($125 value).
 

Examples of past donations and donations we’d love to have:
Vacation homes and time shares
Tickets to local sporting events
Tickets to local shows, concerts and speakers
Hotel stays
Cool experiences (sky diving, balloon flights, sailing trips)
Specialty dinners
Services (financial, flowers photography, orthodontics)
Parent parties (mom’s night out, dad’s poker night, themed events)
Kid parties (pool parties, father/daughter dance, mother/daughter tea)
Gift baskets and gift certificates (restaurants, spas and salons, local retailers)

We appreciate your consideration.   We are looking forward to seeing you all at this exciting event!
 

Heidi

_________________________________________________________________

JUNIOR OLYMPICS!

Every 4th, 5th and 6th grader in Los Altos School District is invited to participate in the annual Junior Olympics on Saturday, April 27th!  This event brings together the seven LASD elementary schools for a friendly track & field competition, in which everyone is encouraged to strive for their personal best and cheer on their classmates as they compete.  Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult.  More information and important Junior Olympic dates are available at https://lasdjo.com/.

NEW ADDITIONAL ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE

We have an additional way to leave a message about your child's absence. Please go on to the Gardner Bullis website and on the right side of home page under ATTENDANCE. Please fill out form:
Your name and relationship to student
Student's full name
Date of Absence
Reason for Absence

All four areas must be filled out to submit this form.

**If your child is not sitting in their chair at 8:30am every morning; please call the attendance line (650-559-3232) OR fill out this new form by 9:00am.

____________________________________________________________

Gardner Bullis School Blood Drive- Friday, March 8 (9:00-3:00pm)
 

To schedule your appointment or for more information visit redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code:  GBS or call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
 
Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.
 

If you have traveled outside of the U.S. in the past 12 months, and have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please call 1-866-236-3276.
 
Identification is required. Thank you for donating! See you in the Multipurpose room.

___________________________________________________________________

6th Grade Orchestra Students from Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis and Santa Rita will be featured in a performance with Egan and Los Altos High School Orchestras. Come to see the progression of string students from elementary to high school. It is a free concert, everyone is invited!
 

Strictly Strings Concert
‪Thursday, Feb. 14th
7:00 PM
Los Altos High School Eagle Theatre

________________________________________________________________

MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series
 
Please mark your calendars with these updates and additions to the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series in 2019.  Registration will be available the month prior to the event.
 

***FEBRUARY 13TH***
Katie Hurley

Raising Resilient Kids in a Stressful World
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

MVHS Spartan Theater |3535 Truman Ave., Mountain View,  CA
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-date-katie-hurley-raising-resilient-kids-in-a-stressful-world-registration-53322575258
 

In a world that runs on stress, pressure, and competition, it can be difficult to build resilience in children. Katie Hurley, LCSW, gives parents the tools they need to:
·identify and understand the obstacles their kids face
·enable their kids to learn how to cope with setbacks
·equip their kids to bounce back from stress.
 

By understanding how children internalize stress and pressure and learning how to empower kids to work through the ups and downs of childhood and adolescence, parents can raise kids who lead with confidence, compassion, and empathy.
 

Katie Hurley, LCSW, is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting expert, and writer. She is the founder of “Girls Can!” empowerment groups for girls between ages 5-11. Hurley is the author of No More Mean Girls (2018) and The Happy Kid Handbook.  Her work can be found in The Washington Post, PBS Parents, and US News and World Report, among other media. She practices psychotherapy in the Los Angeles area and earned her BA in psychology and women’s studies from Boston College followed by her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania.  She splits her time between Los Angeles, California, and coastal Connecticut with her husband and two children

_______________________________________________________________

Notice from the District Nurse:

School is a place where colds and diseases can spread rapidly. Children who are ill should stay home from school, rest and recuperate. Sometimes it is difficult, especially early in the morning, to know whether or not to send your child to school. The following guidelines are indications that you should keep your child home:

Fever of 99.6 F or higher
Vomiting or diarrhea
Chills
Nausea
Coughing, sneezing and/or runny nose
Headache
Wheezing or trouble breathing
Sore throat or trouble swallowing
Rash or unusual sores or spots
Generalized muscle aches and pains
Unusually red, crusted or burning eyes
Head Lice
It is required to keep your child home until he/she has been symptom free without medication for 24 hours. Please call the Gardner Bullis Attendance Line (650-559-3232) 24 hours/7 days a week.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in keeping us all healthy!

St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll

Join the merchants of Downtown Los Altos for an evening of tasting great beers and strolling Downtown Los Altos at the St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll, Friday, March 15, 2019 from 6 – 9 pm. Presented by the Los Altos Village Association.

Ticket sales are limited and will go on sale in January through Eventbrite.

Advance tickets are $35 each (plus applicable taxes and Eventbrite fees). If you are purchasing 10 or more advance tickets for a group then tickets are $30 each (plus applicable taxes and Eventbrite fees). If there are any tickets still available the day of the event they will be $40 (plus applicable taxes and Eventbrite fees)

Dear Los Altos School District Families,
 

Happy New Year!  I hope you all had a relaxing break with your families and that you’ve made a smooth transition back to the daily school routines.  As we move into the second half of the school year, I’m proud of all of the great work we’ve done as a school community to get to know our students, make learning personal, empower them and challenge them to reach the highest standards.  I thank our parents for partnering with our teachers so that every child succeeds.
 
Ask the Superintendent
With all of the exciting happenings in our classrooms and schools, I am introducing a new newsletter column.  I invite students, parents and community members to submit questions to me via email atjbaier@lasdschools.org.  Each month I will choose one question and answer to publish that is relevant to our community.  All questions will be published anonymously. 
 
Los Altos Historical Society Essay Contest
It’s the time of year for the annual Margaret Thompson Historical Essay Contest for local 3rd-6th grade students.  This year’s essay is inspired by the Los Altos History Museum exhibit entitled, “Inspired by Juana:  La Dona Frontera.”  Juana Briones was a 19th Century business woman, landowner, traditional healer and advocate for the rights of her family and friends who lived in the Los Altos area.  Her story is one of resilience, innovation and business acumen.  Please encourage your child to tackle this inspiring challenge to learn about local history and consider its relevance in today’s world. Click here for more information on the contest and visit the Los Altos History Museumwebsite for more information on the exhibit.
 
Monday, January 28: Join the Conversation on BCS Facilities
We invite you to attend the next meeting of the Board of Trustees’ on Monday, January 28 at 7 pm to learn more about the preliminary facilities offer for Bullis Charter School for the 2019-20 school year.  We will provide an opportunity for all to give public comment.  The agenda and supporting information for this meeting will be available for review here by 5 pm on Friday, January 25.  For more information, please review the presentation for item I.3. of our January 14 meeting.
 
Join Our Collaborative Preschool Community
The Los Altos School District Collaborative Preschool is currently seeking applicants who are at least 3 years old for its tuition-free, ½ day program.  A unique model for early education, the LASD Collaborative Preschool teaches all students—regardless of ability or disability—using the 1st Five and California Preschool Learning Foundations best practices and curriculum.  “Our preschool students learn how to work and play inclusively with their peers, a key to future success in our diverse world,” explains Katherine Chang, the preschool teacher.  For more information, click here.  Contact Katherine Chang at (650) 947-1171 orkchang@lasdschools.org for additional questions.
 
Regards,
Jeffrey Baier

———————————————————————————————————-

Is Your Family Ready for an Emergency?

Please join our community and learn the basics of Emergency Preparedness from the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Discussion topics will include: emergency kits, go bags, evacuation planning, family communication plans, and more.

Connect with local community resources and learn how to ensure that your family is ready to go in case of an evacuation.

Thursday, January 31, 7:00–9:00 PM in the Egan Multi (100 W. Portola Avenue). **Children are welcome.** This talk will be repeated at Oak at a later date TBD.

For tips and templates, visitsccfd.org <http://www.sccfd.org/>. 

Also, you may register to receive emergency alerts from the City and County of Santa Clara by visiting AlertSCC.org <https://www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc/Pages/home.aspx>.

Dear Gardner Community,

The Auction is set for April 6, 2019.  Mark your calendars.   You won't want to miss it.
Can you help in donating an item, experience, tickets, vacation home, party, dinner or whatever you may have to offer?
 

Do you know someone who owns a business that might be willing to donate an item and you can ask them to help our community?
 

Please email all donations to me at GBauction2018@yahoo.com.  All donations received by February 10 will be entered into a raffle to receive an auction ticket ($125 value).
 

Examples of past donations and donations we’d love to have:
Vacation homes and time shares
Tickets to local sporting events
Tickets to local shows, concerts and speakers
Hotel stays
Cool experiences (sky diving, balloon flights, sailing trips)
Specialty dinners
Services (financial, flowers photography, orthodontics)
Parent parties (mom’s night out, dad’s poker night, themed events)
Kid parties (pool parties, father/daughter dance, mother/daughter tea)
Gift baskets and gift certificates (restaurants, spas and salons, local retailers)

We appreciate your consideration.   We are looking forward to seeing you all at this exciting event!
 

Heidi

Gardner Bullis School Blood Drive- Friday, March 8 (9:00-3:00pm)
 

To schedule your appointment or for more information visit redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor Code:  GBS or call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
 
Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visitingRedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.
 

If you have traveled outside of the U.S. in the past 12 months, and have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please call 1-866-236-3276.
 
Identification is required. Thank you for donating! See you in the Multipurpose room.

__________________________________________________________________

Spring after-school musical, The Aristocats       
 
 If you're not familiar with The Green Room theater program, they put on full-scale musicals, adapted in length and complexity for the junior set, yet still very impressive!!! 
 
The program is really great - very inclusive, well organized, and a ton of fun. At the end, they hold two performances open to the public. 
 
If you are interested in joining, more details and the registration is at:http://www.thegreenroominfo.com/gardner-bullis

___________________________________________________________________

6th Grade Orchestra Students from Almond, Covington, Gardner Bullis and Santa Rita will be featured in a performance with Egan and Los Altos High School Orchestras. Come to see the progression of string students from elementary to high school. It is a free concert, everyone is invited!
 

Strictly Strings Concert
‪Thursday, Feb. 14th
7:00 PM
Los Altos High School Eagle Theatre

________________________________________________________________

MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series
 
Please mark your calendars with these updates and additions to the MVLA Parent Education Speaker Series in 2019.  Registration will be available the month prior to the event.
 
***JANUARY 29TH***
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D.

The Myths of Happiness:  The Science and Practice and Increasing Well-being
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

MVHS Spartan Theater | 3535 Truman Ave., Mountain View, CA
Register here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sonja-lyubomirsky-the-myths-of-happiness-the-science-and-practice-of-increasing-well-being-registration-52168658863
 
Happiness not only feels good; it is good. Happy people have more stable marriages, superior health, and higher incomes. Fortunately, experiments have shown that people can intentionally increase their happiness. Sonja Lyubomirsky gives parents insight to:
· discuss and debunk common misconceptions about what life changes will make us truly miserable or truly happy
·brand new research on the “how” of happiness—that is, when and why such practices as gratitude or kindness work “best”
·how small and simple activities can transform people into happier and more flourishing individuals
 

Sonja Lyubomirsky (AB Harvard, summa cum laude; PhD Stanford) is Professor and Vice Chair of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness, published in 34 countries. Lyubomirsky’s research focuses on the benefits of happiness, why some people are happier than others, and how happiness can be durably increased.  Her work has received many honors, including the Diener Award for Outstanding Midcareer Contributions in Personality Psychology, the Distinguished Research Lecturer Award, a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize, a Science of Generosity grant, and a Character Lab grant. She lives in Santa Monica, California, with her husband and four kids, ages 5 to 19.
 
***FEBRUARY 13TH***
Katie Hurley

Raising Resilient Kids in a Stressful World
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 - 7:00 - 9:00 pm

MVHS Spartan Theater |3535 Truman Ave., Mountain View,  CA
Register here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-date-katie-hurley-raising-resilient-kids-in-a-stressful-world-registration-53322575258
 

In a world that runs on stress, pressure, and competition, it can be difficult to build resilience in children. Katie Hurley, LCSW, gives parents the tools they need to:
·identify and understand the obstacles their kids face
·enable their kids to learn how to cope with setbacks
·equip their kids to bounce back from stress.
 

By understanding how children internalize stress and pressure and learning how to empower kids to work through the ups and downs of childhood and adolescence, parents can raise kids who lead with confidence, compassion, and empathy.
 

Katie Hurley, LCSW, is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting expert, and writer. She is the founder of “Girls Can!” empowerment groups for girls between ages 5-11. Hurley is the author of No More Mean Girls (2018) and The Happy Kid Handbook.  Her work can be found in The Washington Post, PBS Parents, and US News and World Report, among other media. She practices psychotherapy in the Los Angeles area and earned her BA in psychology and women’s studies from Boston College followed by her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania.  She splits her time between Los Angeles, California, and coastal Connecticut with her husband and two children

_______________________________________________________________

Notice from the District Nurse:

School is a place where colds and diseases can spread rapidly. Children who are ill should stay home from school, rest and recuperate. Sometimes it is difficult, especially early in the morning, to know whether or not to send your child to school. The following guidelines are indications that you should keep your child home:

Fever of 99.6 F or higher
Vomiting or diarrhea
Chills
Nausea
Coughing, sneezing and/or runny nose
Headache
Wheezing or trouble breathing
Sore throat or trouble swallowing
Rash or unusual sores or spots
Generalized muscle aches and pains
Unusually red, crusted or burning eyes
Head Lice
It is required to keep your child home until he/she has been symptom free without medication for 24 hours. Please call the Gardner Bullis Attendance Line (650-559-3232) 24 hours/7 days a week.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in keeping us all healthy!

2nd Annual Valentine’s Stroll Through Downtown Los Altos

Visit Downtown Los Altos Village 5-9pm on February 1st for our 2nd Valentine's Stroll through Downtown Los Altos. Discover unique gifts, enjoy sparkling lights, shopping delights and fun at shops throughout Downtown Los Altos. Main and State Streets. Click here for more information.

__________________________________________________________________

St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll

Join the merchants of Downtown Los Altos for an evening of tasting great beers and strolling Downtown Los Altos at the St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll, Friday, March 15, 2019 from 6 – 9 pm. Presented by the Los Altos Village Association.

Ticket sales are limited and will go on sale in January through Eventbrite.

Advance tickets are $35 each (plus applicable taxes and Eventbrite fees). If you are purchasing 10 or more advance tickets for a group then tickets are $30 each (plus applicable taxes and Eventbrite fees). If there are any tickets still available the day of the event they will be $40 (plus applicable taxes and Eventbrite fees).

Hello Gardner Bullis Parents,

The Los Altos School District Board held a meeting to gather input from community members regarding facilities for Bullis Charter School (BCS) in the coming years.  Under Proposition 39, LASD is required to provide facilities for the charter school.  BCS has increased their enrollment for next year.  In doing so, they are outgrowing their facilities that they currently use on the campuses of Egan Junior High School and Blach Intermediate School.  Therefore, the district is looking to facilities at other LASD schools as options. 

Many of us were unable to attend the meeting last night to offer our input.  However, you can email the trustees at trustees@lasdschools.org and provide your questions, comments and concerns regarding this issue.  This is the time to do this, before they issue a facilities offer to BCS on Feb 1.  Please use your voice and let them know what parents at Gardner Bullis think.

- Margaret Pettit
PTA Co-President
____________________________________________________________________

Gardner Wear Spirit Day

New Year, New Spirit! Send your children to school in their Gardner Wear best to show Grizzly Pride. Have them come to the Gardner Wear table for a small prize! If you would like to purchase new merchandise please visit our web store.