Hello Lion Families,
What a wonderful first week at Loyola! It has been such a joy to see our campus filled with smiling faces, eager learners, and the energy that comes with beginning a new school year. Our students have jumped right in, getting to know their teachers and classmates, learning new routines, and beginning to build the classroom communities that will support them throughout the year.
It was especially wonderful to see so many of you at our Back-to-School Picnic last Friday evening. There is something special about seeing our Loyola community come together, families connecting, children playing, and our teachers and staff getting to know the people who make our school so special. Thank you for being there and for helping us begin the year with such a strong sense of community. We are truly better together!
Looking Ahead: Our Aspirations for the Year
As we begin a new school year, we are also beginning with big hopes and aspirations for our students. Across Loyola and the Los Altos School District, we are continuing to ask ourselves an important question:
How can we intentionally design even better learning experiences for our students?
We believe that when we intentionally design better learning experiences, we create better outcomes for students. This means continually reflecting on what we do, being willing to try new ideas, and looking closely at what helps every child learn, grow, and thrive.
Whether we are refining instruction, strengthening systems, or exploring new ideas, our goal remains the same—to create learning experiences where students think deeply, collaborate meaningfully, solve authentic problems, and develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to thrive.
We want our students to do more than simply know the answers. We want them to be curious. To ask thoughtful questions. To persevere when something is challenging. To listen to different perspectives. To communicate their thinking. To make connections. To solve problems that matter. And, most importantly, to see themselves as capable learners who can make a difference in their classrooms, their communities, and the world around them.
This work takes all of us. Our teachers and staff bring expertise, creativity, and a deep commitment to knowing each child. Our students bring curiosity, questions, and their unique strengths and perspectives. And our families are essential partners in helping children develop the confidence and dispositions they need to become lifelong learners.
As we move into the weeks ahead, I hope you will continue to feel the excitement, care, and purpose that are woven throughout our campus. We have a wonderful year ahead of us, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be on this journey with our students, families, and staff.
Here’s to a year of learning, growing, wondering, creating, and thriving—together!
Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well,
Kelly Rafferty
Principal
