8/21/26 Bear Tracks

Posted Date: 08/21/26 (04:34 PM)

August 21, 2026

Rally Day is here!!! Join us at drop-off on Wednesday, August 26 to rally for learning. Your support of the LASD Education Partners helps every student receive an excellent, well-rounded education far beyond what public funding provides.

Donate or Pledge Today!

Upcoming Dates

8/24 - 8/28 Rally Week!

8/26 - Rally Day! Wear Gardner Bullis spirit wear or school colors!

8/26 & 8/27 - Dining for Dollars: Estrellita Mexican Bistro

8/28 - PTA Stay & Play + Summer Reading Log Ice Cream Social Celebration Dismissal until 4:00 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

9/11 - Walk or Wheel

9/11 - PTA Meeting at 8:45 AM

9/18 - Yard Duty Volunteer Gathering - Tips and Tricks at Library

9/18 - Multicultural Festival 5:00 - 7:00 PM

A Message from the Principal

Dear Gardner Grizzlies Families,

What a wonderful week at Gardner Bullis! It was so nice to meet and connect with so many of you at Back to School Night and to hear our teachers share their plans, hopes, and excitement for the year ahead.

Today, we also held our first Friday Assembly featuring our Grizzly Greatness Awards! A big thank you to third grade teacher, Natalie Cannon, for leading this week’s Grizzly Greatness recognition and helping us celebrate our students! This week, we honored Grizzlies who demonstrated kindness in so many meaningful ways - inviting others to join in, showing new Grizzlies around campus, being helpful at recess, supporting one another, and spreading kindness and joy throughout our school community.

Looking ahead, I hope many of you will stay next Friday for our PTA’s Stay & Play after school! After dismissal, students and families are invited to gather at the lunch tables, lower blacktop, and lower playground to spend some time together, connect with other families, and enjoy our Gardner community. Students that received a coupon for submitting their reading log can pick up their ice cream treat near the Multi! Complimentary beverages and snacks will be provided courtesy of the PTA.

Please take a moment to review our Parking Lot + Drop Off/Pick Up Guidelines, and share them with any caregivers as well. We appreciate your support in keeping our Grizzlies safe!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,

Ellen

Parking Lot & Drop Off/Pick-Up Reminders

Thank you for helping us keep arrival and dismissal safe, smooth, and efficient for all of our Grizzlies! Please follow these guidelines when using the Gardner Bullis parking lot:

Students should be dropped off and picked up along the designated curbside lane ONLY.
Please do not drop off students from other lanes or in other areas of the parking lot.
If you park your car, please walk with your child across the designated crosswalk.
Pull forward as far as possible along the curb before stopping to drop off or pick up your child. This helps keep traffic moving smoothly.
Please remain in your vehicle while in the curbside drop-off/pick-up lane. If your child needs assistance getting in or out of the car, please park and walk with them.
Please drive slowly and cautiously at all times: 5 MPH and no cell phone use while driving.
Keep the crosswalk clear and follow the directions of our Crossing Guard and Parking Lot Attendant.
Please enter the curbside drop-off/pick-up lane from the designated traffic flow rather than crossing into it from the inside lane or parking aisles.
Never back up along the curb. Children may be walking behind your vehicle.
Please respect all designated handicap, auction winner, principal, nurse, secretary, and staff parking spaces.
Please use the center parking aisle only when accessing the handicap or auction winner parking spaces.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and partnership in keeping everyone safe!

After-School Programs are starting soon! Don't forget to sign up!

After-School Programs

Snapshots from the Week

New Volunteer Information for 2026 -2027

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.

A new Volunteer webpage is now available and includes:

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.

Updates from your Gardner Bullis LAEF reps

Let’s come together and support a high-quality, well-rounded education at Gardner Bullis this school year.

For 44 years, LAEF has funded the teachers, staff, and programs that make our students’ education exceptional beyond what public funding covers.

Beginning in 2026–27, LAEF is expanding its role by fundraising for instructional programs and materials that were previously supported by the PTAs. This change allows us to provide more consistent support for these programs across every LASD school. This is a shift in fundraising responsibility, not educational priorities, creating clearer roles and simpler giving for families. So we are asking you to shift some of their donations toward LAEF, in a similar way to how the fundraising responsibilities are shifting.

Let's set our students up for a successful year. Learn more about what your gift makes possible.

Here’s how to partner with us: Complete the LASD Back to School process at LASDEducationPartners.org

Step 1: Donate to LAEF.

Step 2: Join and donate to the PTA for each school your children attend.

Thank you for supporting our neighborhood schools!

Become an Art Docent!

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!

A Note From Living Classroom

Living Classroom Docent Training

9:30 AM -12:30 PM Mondays 8/31-10/19*

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. No experience necessary as we teach you everything you need to know. Please join us from 9:30 AM -12:30 PM 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!