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Gardner Bullis Elementary School

8/7/26 Bear Tracks

Posted Date: 08/07/26 (02:00 PM)
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Gardner Bullis Grizzlies

Upcoming Dates

8/7 - Class Placements Emailed This Afternoon
8/9 - Sweet to Be Back PTA Picnic 3:00 - 5:00 PM
8/12 - First Day of School and Back to School Coffee at 8:30 AM
8/14 - School Assembly 8:30 AM
8/15 - LASD Welcome Back Social 5:30 - 7:00 PM (Hosted at Almond)
8/20 - Back to School Night 5:30 - 7:00 PM
8/31 - First Day of Full Day Kindergarten
9/4 - Minimum Day - Dismissal at 12:15 PM
9/7 - Labor Day - No School
9/8 - First Day of Full Day TK

A Message from the Principal

Dear Gardner Bullis Families,

I hope you are enjoying these final days of summer! Please be sure to refer to yesterday's Parent Square message from Kimberly Fletcher which includes lots of Back to School information.

This week, an absolute highlight for me was joining our classroom teachers during professional learning days focused on our new Bridges K–5 Mathematics program. During the learning sessions, I was impressed with our teachers’ growth mindsets and dedication to creating engaging learning experiences that foster curiosity, inquiry, and joyful learning! We'll be sharing more about teaching and learning with our new mathematics curriculum as the year progresses. That spirit of collaboration and commitment is reflected in the outstanding educators who make up our Gardner Bullis team. I'm excited to introduce our finalized 2026–2027 Classroom Teaching Team below!

I hope to see many of you this Sunday at our “Sweet to Be Back” event! I’ll be there meeting students, welcoming families, and handing out a few treats, so please stop by to introduce yourself and your family. I can’t wait to begin building connections and celebrating the start of a wonderful school year together.

Warmly,
Ellen
 

Introducing Our 2026–2027 Classroom Teachers

Please join me in welcoming two new teachers to Gardner Bullis - Shannon Saepharn (2nd) and Izzy Bardman (6th). You may also notice a few changes within our teaching team this year. Tessa Chen stepped up to fill a 6th-grade teaching opening at Covington and moved over to join the Covington team. We wish her all the best. We are also excited to share that Jane Gervais will be teaching 5th grade this year!
TK: Maddie Hernandez Kindergarten: Lauren Kuo and Kelsey Sawamura First Grade: Brooke Van Ryswyk & Diane Wharton Second Grade: Ami Lutz & Shannon Saepharn Third Grade: Natalie Cannon & Laleh Rowhani Fourth Grade: Nicole Sivan & Shannon Tong Fifth Grade: Jane Gervais and Sydney Straight Sixth Grade: Izzy Bardman & Jasen Stuart

Welcome Shannon Saepharn - 2nd Grade Teacher

Hello, I'm Mrs. Saepharn (say-farn) and I'm so excited to be teaching at Gardner Bullis this year! I just moved to the area from San Diego and I previously taught second grade. This will be my third year teaching and I can't wait to get started. 

Welcome Izzy Bardman - 6th Grade Teacher

My name is Izzy Bardman and I am thrilled to be teaching at Gardner Bullis. LASD has been a home to me for many years as both a student and a teacher. As a student, I was a Springer Stinger and a Blach Falcon before graduating from Mountain View High School. As a teacher, I have taught 6th grade at Springer and Covington. I have my B.S. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Oregon and my M. Ed. and teaching credential from San Jose State University. When I am not in the classroom, I love to travel, create pottery, and spend time with my family.
 

Class Placements Emailed This Afternoon

This afternoon, your child's classroom placement will be emailed through Parent Square. I know students eagerly anticipate who their teacher is going to be. Because of the extensive planning required to balance each room, our class lists are final, and placements will not be changed. Our class lists are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level to best serve all of our students. Moving students is difficult without causing imbalances and inequities. Please rest assured that we are confident each child is set up for a successful year. Beyond their assigned classroom, students will have plenty of opportunities to reconnect with old friends, make exciting new ones, and feel the encouragement of our entire school community.

In addition to the email through Parent Square, there are other ways to check your child(ren)'s class placement.


  • Option 1: PowerSchool - If you log in, you will see the class placements assigned to your child(ren). Please contact powerschoolsupport@lasdschools.org if you need help logging in.
  • Option 2: Parent Square - The ParentSquare Portal is open! If you log in, you will see the class placements assigned to your child(ren).
  • Option 3: Class rosters will be posted on classrooms during our Sweet to Be Back School event on Sunday.

New Volunteer Authorization Process

Beginning this school year, LASD is introducing a new Volunteer Authorization Process that provides one consistent system for all school volunteers. The new process builds on procedures already in place for certain volunteer roles and aligns with updated California law and district policy.

To make the process as simple as possible, volunteers are grouped into three levels based on the type of volunteer work they perform. Most classroom volunteers who are always under the supervision of an LASD staff member will complete a straightforward application and tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment or testing.
Volunteers who may work independently with students or transport students (including after school sports) will complete additional requirements appropriate to those roles.



  • An overview of the three volunteer levels
  • Information about whether you are considered a visitor or a volunteer
  • Step-by-step instructions for each volunteer level
  • Links to all required forms and resources

To provide families with plenty of time to complete the new requirements, volunteers will have until December 30, 2026, to complete the authorization process.
 

Special Upcoming Events

sweet to be back flyer
lasd welcome back
Living Classroom Informational Coffee 10-11:30am Monday 8/17 Los Altos School District iLearn Studio 201 Covington Road, Los Altos CA 94024 Living Classroom is seeking volunteers to teach our fun nature-based lessons and help care for our school gardens. Volunteering is fun and no experience is necessary as we teach you everything you need to know! Please join us from 10-11:30am on Monday 8/17 at the LASD iLearn Studio to learn more about volunteering. Questions? Please email Living Classroom at livingclassroom@lasdschools.org or call (650) 947-1103. Check us out at LivingClassroomLASD.org!
 

Gardner Bullis Quick Links

 
Download the ParentSquare app today.