9/25/26 Bear Tracks

Posted Date: 09/25/26 (04:40 PM)

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September 25, 2026

Upcoming Dates

10/2 - Coffee with Principal 9:00 AM in the Flex Room Topic: Our New Bridges Math Curriculum

10/8 - LASD Minimum Day 12:15 PM Dismissal

10/8 - 12:15 - 1:45 PM PTA Stay & Play

10/9 - No School For Students (Staff Development Day)

10/16 - Walk or Wheel

10/17 - Walkathon 9:00 - 1:00 PM

10/21 - School Picture Day

10/23 - 9:00 - 10:00 PTA Meeting

10/30 - 5:00 - 6:30 Fingerprinting at GB for Volunteer Clearance

10/30 - 5:30 - 8:00 PM Trunk or Treat

A Message from the Principal

Dear Families,

Curious about Math teaching and learning experiences at Gardner Bullis? I’d love to invite you to our first Coffee with the Principal of the 2026–27 school year! Our focus will be on the new Bridges Math curriculum we are using in grades K–5 and giving families a firsthand look at what math learning looks and feels like in our classrooms.

Join me, Director of Teaching and Learning Gregory Drummond, and 3rd Grade Teacher Laleh Rowhani for an interactive session where you’ll participate in a Number Corner activity, play a Work Place math game, and experience some of the same conversations, problem-solving, and collaborative learning our students engage in during math class.

In our classrooms, we are already seeing how these new curricular materials are stretching students’ thinking, encouraging questioning and inquiry, promoting meaningful collaboration, and providing a range of strategies and resources to support learners across different levels of mathematical understanding.

We hope you’ll join us for this hands-on opportunity to learn more about Bridges Math and experience some of the learning our Grizzlies are doing each day!

Your Proud Principal,

Ellen

Coffee with the Principal

Friday, October 2

9:00 AM (immediately following our Assembly)

Flex Room

Topic: Our New Bridges Math Curriculum

Featuring Special Guests:

Gregory Drummond, LASD Director of Teaching and Learning

Laleh Rowhani, 3rd Grade Teacher

Remember to Join our PTA!

Our school-wide PTA participation challenge is well underway! A big thank you to everyone who has already joined!

Every class that reaches 90% participation by the end of October will earn:

• 10 minutes of extra recess

• A special pin for student's backpacks

• A visit from our Grizzly mascot!

The PTA is the heart of our school community, and joining is easy:

• Only $15

• No commitment—join to show your support and get involved as much or as little as you like!

• One parent membership per student counts!

JOIN HERE TODAY Check out how your child's class is doing below!

Way to Go Ocean Club!

A big shout-out to our Gardner Bullis Ocean Club for making a difference during California Coastal Cleanup Day!

Nine Gardner Bullis students, from TK through 4th grade, joined their families and other community members to help clean up the Permanente Creek bed in Los Altos. Together, the group helped remove and divert an impressive 60 pounds of waste from the creek!

Thank you to our Grizzlies who rolled up their sleeves and gave back to our community: Shloka G, Anna, Zoe and Ines G., Ella Y., Mika M., Eva M., Felix and Lucas G.!

We are proud to see our students showing care for their community and environment and putting kindness into action beyond our campus!

The LAEF-funded Art Docents program is underway for the 2026–27 school year, and students across the district are already deeply engaged in exploring art. In classrooms from TK through 6th grade, children are engaging with unique art forms, experimenting with materials, and creating original pieces.

These hands-on experiences are possible because families like you support LAEF. Donations to LAEF fund the Art Docents program, along with other specialized teachers, staff, and instructional materials that public funding alone does not cover. Huge thanks to the families who have already donated. If you have not yet made your 2026–27 gift, please consider doing so now during our Fall Fundraising Campaign. Gifts of any amount are greatly valued.

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

Your donations make programs like Art Docents possible for every elementary student. Thank you for your partnership.

AI Parent Night

AI Parent Night: Gardner Bullis parents are invited to attend AI Parent Night at Mountain View High School!

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.

A Note From Art Docents

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

9:30am-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!