Together, LASD Education Partners fund the resources and opportunities that turn an ordinary education into an LASD Education! Learn more at LASDEducationPartners.org
|
September 4: Minimum Day, Dismissal at 12:15pm
September 7: No School
September 18: PTA General Meeting @ 8:45am
October 2: Walk and Roll to School
October 8: Minimum Day, Dismissal at 12:15pm
October 9: No School
October 14: Student Picture Day
|
Dear Loyola Families,
What a wonderful Back to School Night we had on Tuesday! Thank you to all of the families who joined us. There was such a wonderful feeling of excitement across campus, and it was truly special to see our Loyola community together, families connecting with teachers, classrooms buzzing with energy, and everyone coming together to begin a new school year as a community.
🦁 Rock n' Roar T-Shirt Design Contest!
The PTA is getting ready for our Rock n' Roar Walkathon, and we are excited to invite our students to help create this year's T-shirt design!
Students are invited to use their creativity to design a shirt inspired by our Rock n' Roar theme. This is a fun opportunity for students to contribute their ideas and see their creativity become part of a special Loyola tradition.
Please see below in the PTA updates for the contest rules and details about how to enter. We can't wait to see the incredible ideas our students come up with! All contest submissions must be turned into the front office by: Friday, September 4th, 3 PM.
💡 Deeper Learning: Designing Every Part of the Day with Intention
As I shared in last week's newsletter, one of our goals this year is to intentionally design better learning experiences that create better outcomes for students. This doesn't happen only during a math lesson, writing workshop, or science investigation. Our teachers think intentionally about every part of the school day, how students enter the classroom, transition between activities, collaborate with classmates, ask questions, reflect on their learning, and share their thinking.
We want every student to feel seen, heard, known, and valued. At the same time, we want students to experience learning that goes beyond simply finding the right answer. Our teachers are designing opportunities for students to think deeply, be curious, collaborate meaningfully, solve authentic problems, communicate their ideas, and persevere when learning becomes challenging.
When we intentionally design the learning experience, we create more opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning and develop the skills they need not only for school, but for life. This is what Deeper Learning looks like at Loyola and I am excited to continue sharing examples of this wonderful work with you throughout the year. Please see the Deeper Learning Spotlight to hear about our 6th grade math classes this week.
Thank you for being such an important part of our Loyola community. We are off to a wonderful start, and I am so excited for all that this year will bring!
Be Kind, Be Strong, Be Well,
Kelly Rafferty
Principal
|
2nd Graders - Using Critical thinking skills in science to create Venn Diagrams to sort insects |
5th graders present their ideas and strategies on finding volume of rectangular prisms |
Kindergarteners work together to make it to the 'island' without touching the 'water' |
6th grade:The Palindrome Challenge
How many steps does it take to create a palindrome when you start with a two-digit number? Students began by exploring this question and quickly challenged themselves to go further—working to create three- and four-digit palindromes in three or four steps.
Working collaboratively, students took on specific roles. The student holding the pen could only write what the group told them, requiring everyone to communicate their thinking clearly and listen carefully to one another. When groups became stuck, one student could visit another group to ask questions and gather ideas, rather than simply being given an answer.
What made this learning especially powerful was the students' persistence and curiosity. They were so engaged in the challenge that they did not want to stop! During a gallery walk, students examined the thinking and strategies of their classmates, then returned to their own posters with new ideas and strategies to try. The incentive wasn't simply to finish—it was to keep thinking, test ideas, learn from others, and push their mathematical thinking further.
This is Deeper Learning in action: students thinking critically, collaborating meaningfully, communicating their ideas, learning from one another, and developing the persistence to work through productive struggle. Most importantly, students were not waiting for Ms. Longo to tell them how to solve the problem, they were driving the learning themselves.
|
It’s Rally Day tomorrow! Wear your Loyola shirts or anything royal blue to show your school spirit! Thank you to everyone who has already donated to LAEF and joined the Loyola PTA! If you haven’t had a chance to do so, here is how:
One lower grade and one upper grade class with the highest percentage of Back-t0-School forms submitted by Monday, August 31 will enjoy a special celebration party and any grade that has a submission rate of at least 80% will get extra recess time!
Calling all student artists! Our annual Walkathon design competition is open! Artists should submit a black outline drawing on a 8.5”x 11” sheet of white paper (no colors yet please) that reflects the Walkathon theme, “Loyola Rock & Roar 2026”. Please label the back of the drawing with the artist’s name and grade in pencil (names will be covered during the selection process) and drop it off at the school office by Friday, September 4 at 3 PM. Click HERE for complete contest rules. The winner will be announced at Friday assembly on September 11.
Sign up for Loyola’s Multicultural Fair on Saturday, September 19 | 5:00-7:00 PM | Outside Multi. This year we will feature guest cultural performers in addition to families hosting food tables and cultural activities. We are looking for parent volunteers to SIGN UP HERE by 9/16 to represent and share a country/region/culture. You can participate by:
- Bringing your culture’s food (homemade or store-bought sampling portions for ~50ppl), and/or
- Hosting a cultural kids’ activity (henna, coloring/crafting, traditional games, toys, hair braiding, etc)
Come dressed in your cultural attire or country flag colors! This event is free and open to the Loyola community, even if you are not bringing a cultural dish or activity to share. No registration required. Come explore the many cultures of our Loyola community! Contact Zaynah, Susrutha or Kavita ( zaynah.rahman@gmail.com, msusrutha@gmail.com, kavitashivanand@gmail.com) with questions.
Important Upcoming PTA Dates:
- PTA Meeting: Friday, September 18, 8:45 AM, Loyola Library
- Multicultural Fair: Saturday, September 19, 5- 7 PM
- Walk and Roll (walk/bike to school): Friday, October 2
- Walk-A-Thon (first fundraiser of the year): Saturday, October 17
- Trunk or Treat: Friday, October 30
Follow us!
- Facebook: LoyolaElementarySchool
- Instagram: @loyola_pta
Have a great weekend!
Liz Hwang
PTA President
Mom of Benji Leung (4th)
|
Let’s get our students off to a strong start and set them up for success this school year. Your financial support is key!
Providing an exceptional educational experience for our students requires support beyond public funding. LAEF has been helping close this gap for over 44 years by funding teachers, staff, and essential programs across the district.
Starting this year, LAEF is taking on additional responsibility by fundraising for instructional programs and materials previously supported by PTAs. As a result, LAEF’s fundraising goal and per-student ask are increasing to help ensure consistent, reliable support for these programs at every school. We are grateful for your contributions in helping us meet this increased goal.
|
Join CHC’s free, virtual parent support groups – a welcoming space to connect, share, and find support from others who truly understand what you’re going through. Each group is facilitated by CHC experts who specialize in supporting children, teens, and young adults.
Topics Include:
- Learning Differences | September 1 | RSVP
- ADHD | September 15 | RSVP
- Anxiety | September 17 | RSVP
- Spanish Speaking | September 21 | RSVP
Come as you are – whether you want to ask questions, share challenges, or simply listen in. We’ll talk through what’s hard, exchange strategies that work, and offer resources that can truly help. Join Us!
Copyright © 2026 | Children's Health Council | All Rights Reserved
650 Clark Way Palo Alto, CA, 94304
|
9:30am-12:30pm Mondays 8/31-10/19*
Los Altos School District iLearn Studio
201 Covington Road, Los Altos CA 94024
Do you like to connect kids with nature? Living Classroom is seeking volunteers to teach our fun nature-based lessons and help care for our school gardens. No experience necessary as we teach you everything you need to know. Please join us from 9:30am-12:30pm on Mondays 8/31-10/19* at the LASD iLearn Studio to train to become a volunteer docent (*no training on 9/7 - Labor Day). If Mondays don't work for you, please ask about our apprentice-style training option. If you are interested in helping to care for your school garden, please contact Living Classroom Garden Manager, Sandi Elefant. For questions or to RSVP for docent training, please email us at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103. Check us out at LivingClassroomLASD.org!
|
The Art Docent training program gives new volunteers everything they need to feel confident bringing art into the classroom. Trainees explore all the art mediums we teach while learning classroom management skills, how to lead engaging discussions, and how to give effective demonstrations.
New Docent Training takes place on Thursday mornings from 8:45–11:30 a.m. starting September 3rd and includes technique, art content, and general program topics. Once training begins, new docents gradually gain classroom experience—assisting in September, co-leading in November and December, and moving into assisting, co-leading, and leading lessons from January through May.
Join us! It’s a wonderful way to learn something new, share your creativity, and make a lasting impact on our students!
|
If you are having trouble with this app/site, please reach out to loyolasupport@lasdk8.org. Please provide as much detail about your issue as possible including your student's name and teacher. |
|
|
