From our June issue

Lakeside School
We Honor Susie Knipe
Karl Chrisman

Spirited singing and testimonials marked the Walden West Outdoor School dedication of an interpretive display in honor of former Lakeside teacher Susie Knipe. On hand were members of the Walden West staff, Lakeside students attending science camp with teacher Mrs. Wingfield, and Susie’s son Brent with his wife Tiffany and three-year-old son Hunter. Susie passed away in January 2008, in Spokane, Washington.

Susie took groups of kids to Walden West from 1988 until her retirement in 2002. Her dedication and enthusiasm for outdoor education made Walden West a central element of the fifth-grade program at Lakeside School.

Walden West is a residential outdoor school for fifth- and sixth-graders from throughout Santa Clara County. Students, accompanied by classroom teachers, live and learn in an outdoor environment for one week. The program is operated on the premise that students learn through hands-on activities in which the educational and living experiences merge. Lessons in science, ecology, and the environment are brought to life. Walden West Center is adjacent to Sanborn Park in Saratoga and is operated by the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

From our March issue

Lakeside  PTA

Rachael McBrayer

Are you interested in taking on a role in the Lakeside PTA? Positions are currently open for the 2009/10 school year. Not interested in taking on a formal position?  Consider becoming the scrip coordinator, or writing the monthly newsletter for the Mountain Network News. Both require minimal time commitment, yet provide a remarkable service to the PTA and school. For more information, call Theresa Bond, PTA president.

Annual Auction

Lakeside Foundation is currently seeking donations for the annual auction. All donations are tax deductible. This is a wonderful way to support your local school while getting exposure and a tax break. For more information, call the office at 408- 354-2372.

Personal Thank You

As many of you know my husband, an active-duty Army soldier, recently returned from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. After a very short month home, he left for more training. The children and I will join him in July in sunny Arizona as we continue on our journey as an Army family. Our time here on the mountains has been amazing. We are so lucky to have wonderful neighbors, Theresa and Eddie Fafard, and their two boys, Ziggy and Quinn. Eddie taught me how to wield a chainsaw and reminds me to never take myself too seriously. Theresa is my biggest supporter, always there to lend a hand and an ear. With Theresa’s encouragement, I joined the PTA, and a new world was opened to me.

I met many kind people, and took on an active role in the planning and execution of many fun activities. Being part of something bigger than myself has been incredibly rewarding in more ways than one. My children and I not only survived the deployment but managed to thrive. We could not have done it without the love and support of the Lakeside community. Thank you!  Thank you, Kathy. Thank you, PTA. Thank you, to every Lakeside family and to every staff member. 

From our January issue

Lakeside News

Rachel McBrayer

November and December were filled with celebrations. During our annual Thanksgiving feast the children tasted foods from around the world. I was thrilled to see my son try foods that, if we were at home, would have been rejected. Thanks to the parents and children who cooked, baked, and purchased enticing food. December brought parties, parades, and the sweet voices of children singing during the holiday program. Thanks go to our Orff music specialist Casey LeLake, who worked tirelessly to design and present the holiday program.

Congratulation to Giulianne Pate, alumna of Lakeside, who was selected for Los Gatos Youth Citizen of the Year for her contributions to the Lakeside School community. She represented Lakeside at the Los Gatos tree-lighting ceremony and started the holiday parade in the lead car.

Mark your calendars. January 19 is our e-waste drive. Clear out your house of your old computers, televisions, and broken electronics. This is your chance to make room in your house for all the new Christmas gifts while supporting Lakeside.

Calling all shovels, rakes, pruning shears, and their owners. January 24 is our garden clean-up day. Help spruce up the Lakeside grounds. Helpers of all ages are welcome, so join us for some fun family time. Pizza lunch will be provided.

Business partners are needed for our annual Walk-A-Thon. On Friday, February 27, students will lace up their running shoes and set off around the school field to help raise money for the PTA. The money is used to fund enrichment programs such as P.E., music, dance, and other school-enhancement projects, such as new classroom technology. Business partners will have their names and logos prominently displayed on our Walk-A-Thon T-shirt. For more information about becoming a business partner, email Lakeside PTA at pta@lakesidelosgatos.org. Earn a tax credit and help our school.

Purchasing gift cards through the eScrip program is an easy way to support Lakeside. Gift cards can be used for weekly grocery shopping, gas purchases, gifts, vacation expenses, dinners out, and more. Order forms are available in the office or online at www.lakesidelosgatos.org. Click on the eScrip-family-order-form link. Turn orders into the office by the first of the month. Due to the holiday break, January orders will be due on Tuesday, January 6.

Lakeside's Technology Team

The technology-team parents worked 75 to 100 hours over the summer in preparation for the start of school.

 Ralph Becker donates an hour or two per week on computer maintenance and installation during the school year, and teaches computer skills most Fridays to our students.

Linda Kelley shoulders half of this work during the summer, and she continues to support Lakeside throughout the school year.

Ann-Marie and Mike Pate do all the ordering of hardware from HP, which occurs every few months.

Evan Lloyd supports us at the County Office of Education.

James Davis helps during the summer.

All of these dedicated volunteers support Smitty, our classroom technologist.

Thank you to each of these volunteers for their support of our classroom technology.

Running Feet Make Healthy Hearts
  Kathy McKinney

Students at Lakeside are earning rewards and reaping the benefits for running laps during recess. For every five miles earned on their “lap cards,” students earn a plastic foot charm to wear on a chain. It has proven to be a great motivator for students who proudly wear their hard-earned feet around their necks.

Top runners for the year include Anthony Campbell, Ethan Hickey, and Anders Rosenquest, who each logged more than 35 miles in just three months. They are still running strong. Collectively, Lakeside students were well past the 450-mile mark in early December.

The payoff is apparent. Last year, almost 90 percent of Lakeside fifth-graders tested in the healthy fitness zone for aerobic capacity. Four years ago, only 62 percent of students were in the zone. Fitness scores have risen steadily.

Noon jogging is available to students three days a week during lunch recess. Students also earn laps for the once-a-month mile they run during physical education classes.

Heifer Project at Lakeside
Bob Chrisman

During a study of the world’s continents and cultures, Lakeside’s first-grade class learned of a family in India who received a water buffalo, and a little girl in Kenya who received a goat from Heifer International.

Lakeside’s first-grade class voted to buy a water buffalo. The rest of Lakeside’s students are joining in to raise money for two goats, a llama, hive of bees, and another water buffalo. Additionally, the staff decided to forego the annual secret-Santa gift-giving and buy another animal. The Lakeside community believes that giving to others is the true meaning of this holiday season.