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LAEF is proud to fund these academic and enrichment programs in the 2015-16 school year. Click the icons or titles for more information, or scroll down.
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Art |
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Jr. High Electives |
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Library |
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Music |
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Physical Education |
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STEM & cSTEM |
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Student-to-Teacher Ratios & Small Group Instruction |
Art Docents
Trained docents nurture your child’s creativity, artistic expression and appreciation for art.
The Los Altos Art Docent program is designed to provide a comprehensive visual arts education to the students of the Los Altos Elementary School District. The goal is to create a sense of excitement about art and the freedom to be creative.
Visual arts stimulate the imagination, enhance observation skills and self-expression, encourage creative problem-solving and underscore the innate relationships between history, culture, science, math and the humanities.
Art Docents provide a combination of art appreciation and hands on lessons designed to build on each other from year to year. The art elements are woven throughout the curriculum, so that by the end of sixth grade students have gained an appreciation for fine art, learned a basic art vocabulary, and have participated in the process of creating their own individual works of art. Learn more about the Los Altos Art Docent Program.
Junior High Electives
With a wider range of elective choices, students can personalize their learning experience and immerse themselves in music, foreign languages, drama, movie making, art, and more.
Thanks to LAEF funding, Jr. High students are able to take 5 core classes + 2 electives each semester. 7th and 8th grade core classes include: English, Math, Science, History, and Physical Education. Electives are offered to take advantage of teachers' expertise and passion. They may include languages, industrial technology, computer programming, art, music, drama or journalism.
LIST OF ELECTIVES OFFERED AT BOTH BLACH AND EGAN
Art * Band * Creative Writing * Director's Cut/Video Production * Drama * Engineering * Innovation Expedition * Language * French * Spanish * Leadership *Make A Difference/My 14% * Photography * The Power of Gaming * Public Speaking * Robotics * Study Hall * Survivor * Yearbook
Egan Ed Talk "Why Teenagers Act Crazy" slides
NYTimes.com article "Why Teenagers Act Crazy"
Library
Librarians create an environment for your child’s self-initiated development, discovery and research while providing resources and guidance.
The mission of the LASD libraries is to help you find the information you need and the book you want to read. Every LASD school has its own on-site library, and LAEF funds the library staff.
The LASD libraries are dedicated to fostering a love of reading and teaching 21st century information skills. They provide access to a rich collection of library materials, exposure to literature, personalized book selection assistance and library staff teach students to locate, evaluate and use information. We encourage students to visit the library and find books that they want to read!
The district library website is a virtual library, available to students wherever they are and whenever they need information or reading materials. The website offers ebooks and a selection of excellent electronic resources such as the World Book Encyclopedia for research, and it guides students in their search for quality information for school projects.
Music
Instrumental and vocal music teachers help your child appreciate music while improving language development and multiple life skills and senses.
The upper grade music programs are taught by lifelong musicians, who also have their teaching credentials. The teachers travel between the 7 elementary schools each week to provide vocal and instrumental instruction.
Students in 4th grade enjoy: vocal music with a winter concert, reading music and playing the recorder and participation in a spring vocal and instrumental concert. 5th grade program highlights include additional work on vocal skills and winter vocal concert, weekly instrumental lessons in band or orchestra. Instruments available include the flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola and cello. 6th graders participate in instrumental lessons in band or orchestra once a week which culminate in winter and spring concerts. Additionally, 6th graders have the opportunity to participate in a joint concert with the junior highs, play at the the Junior Olympics and try out for the after school Jazz Band.
Students in grades 5 & 6 who wish to focus only on vocal music enroll in our Vocal Music program. These students sing at the winter and spring concerts each year.
Physical Education
Your child will learn the importance of optimal health and wellness through participation, motivation and movement.
The elementary PE program works to provide age appropriate gross motor skills, and encourage teamwork and healthy living. The goal of the Los Altos School District PE program is to inspire the students to build a life-long love for physical education.
Students in grades 4-6 participate in the LASD Junior Olympics. The Junior Olympics has been a tradition in Los Altos for over 50 years. The community comes together to cheer on our young athletes as they strive to achieve their personal best in a variety or track & field events.
STEM & CSTEM
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math): The STEM lab provides your child with the opportunity to apply learning in an integrated fashion to solve meaningful problems.
LAEF is pleased to support the second year of LASD's new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiative. Parents asked for an enhanced Science program that capitalizes on the innovative spirit of the Silicon Valley, and we are pleased to announce that our school district is laying the groundwork to do just that (and more). Starting in August 2013, each elementary school campus has a designated STEM lab and a full-time teacher who collaborates with classroom teachers to add to the hands-on science curriculum and create additional inter-disciplinary lab-based learning opportunities for students.
CSTEM: Teaches students to use the power of computer science to express their creativity, learning to work collaboratively and program their own games and other projects.
The 6th grade CSTEM program also teaches Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) using the 3 c’s: Creativity, Collaboration and Computer Science. In 2014-15, Computer Programming will begin to be integrated into the 7th and 8th grade curriculum as well.
CREATIVITY
Students learn to demonstrate their creativity through technology by creating original video games that combine art and design with computer programming.
COLLABORATION
Students work in teams to build projects and will share their work and collaborate online using tools such as Google docs and sites.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Students are introduced to fundamental concepts of computer science and then apply these concepts to projects in science and math. They learn the critical digital age skill of computational thinking through computer programming.
THE 6th GRADE CSTEM CURRICULUM
• Parts of a computer – understanding both hardware and software
• Introduction to programming using Logo, Scratch and Processing
• Creating art through computer programming
• Designing and building a math and/or Science video game
• Software used includes Inkscape, Sketchup and Scratch
• Using Edmodo and Google sites/ docs to share and collaborate online
Student-to-Teacher Ratios
Smaller class sizes enable quality time with teachers, enhancing your child’s ability to learn.
ELEMENTARY:
LAEF reduces K-3 class size from the baseline program of 30 students/class to an average of 25. In addition, all first and second grade classes have a trained instructor during Literacy/Reading lessons for 45 minutes, four days a week supported by LAEF. This essential program allows teachers to spend focused time with small groups of students in reading, writing, and literacy skills. The literacy instructors are trained in the specifics of guided reading and phonics instruction. They work with small groups and/or individual children to support the teachers in delivering a balanced literacy program.
JUNIOR HIGH:
Core curriculum teachers at the junior highs allow for reduced class sizes in Math, English, Science and Social Studies from the baseline program of 30 students to projected average class sizes of approximately 25.
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