October:
- October 2: Picture Makeup Day 8:30am
- October 5-6: Challenge Day (8th Grade only)
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October 8: Minimum Day, Dismissal at 12:30pm
- October 9: Staff Development Day - NO SCHOOL
- October 16: End of Quarter 1
- October 23: PTA Meeting - 8:45-10:15am @ Room D3
- October 23: Leadership Dance - 6-8pm @ the Multi
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Dear Falcon Families,
Blach’s Continuing Work on Creating An Inclusive Environment for ALL
The research is clear: when students feel a sense of belonging, feel like they are seen and valued, they simply do better in school. This is especially true for students in middle school, where students are naturally motivated for acceptance- especially from their peers.
We are fortunate that the vast majority of our students come to school daily and show kindness and support to all. It is a reflection of the greater Blach community- of what we expect from our children and what we all want for ourselves. We should also consider ourselves fortunate to live in such a diverse community- where we get to interact with people from various points of view, perspectives, life experiences and challenges. I’ve always felt that a school’s diversity is strength, a muscle that needs to be flexed.
There are a multitude of ways in which a school can build upon an inclusive culture. Creating moments of fun is an important way and our Leadership class does a great job of creating joyous, unifying events on Fun Fridays. Laughter and play, working together towards a common goal- whether it’s in the classroom or out- brings people together to leverage their individual strengths. Participating on a sports team can help bring teammates together. Or, being in the stands and cheering on the team- even if you didn’t make the team, is a show of unity and community. Whether it’s advisory competitions, school dances, or student clubs, we work to foster a greater sense of inclusion at Blach. And, this coming Monday and Tuesday’s Challenge Day for our 8th graders will help foster a sense of empathy and compassion within the grade level.
Last Friday, I gave a presentation to all students through PE classes about what constitutes hurtful to hateful speech, as well as the potential consequences for such behavior. We presented the concept that hurtful words or actions can fall on a spectrum- from playful teasing to outright hateful language. Students were given the clear message that hurtful comments towards anyone that is based on their identity as a person (which includes their ethnicity, race, culture, religion, disability, gender expression, sexual orientation or immigration status) are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Certain words or actions simply cross a line. We have a collective responsibility to stand against behaviors that don’t make everyone feel welcomed and safe. We would appreciate your partnership in reinforcing this message at home with your student.
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Blach is now able to take payments for things like dance tickets, field trip donations, replacement fees for Chromebooks, and other transactions online.
LASD families now have the option to make online payments directly through the PowerSchool Parent Portal
Families can use PowerSchool to conveniently pay student-related fees and charges, including field trips, lost or damaged materials, dances, and other school-related expenses.
When selecting the payment option in PowerSchool, you will be directed to eFunds, the district’s third-party payment provider. Families will need to create an eFunds account before making their first payment. Once your account is set up, payments can be made by credit card or ACH/bank transfer. A small processing fee will apply. Families who prefer to pay by check may continue to do so directly through the Blach office.
Please note: Donations to PTA and LAEF should not be made through PowerSchool.
Accessing Online Payments
To access payments, log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal using the email address you used when registering your child with LASD. If you have forgotten your password, select “Forgot Password” on the login screen.
If you do not have access to your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please contact powerschoolsupport@lasdschools.org for assistance.
Instructions for using the eFunds online payment system are also available to help families get started. You can find instructions on how to use the eFunds online payment system here. We know how busy family life can be, and we hope this new option makes handling school-related payments a little easier. As always, if you have questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Blach office. We’re happy to help!
Wishing you and your family the best!
Wade Spenader- Principal
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Auditions for Blach’s fall musical, Guys and Dolls Jr., are taking place this Monday, October 5 after school in the Blach drama room. Last year’s revival of musicals at Blach, 13 Jr. The Musical, was an amazing experience for the participants and organizers, and the audiences were enthusiastic and supportive. No previous performing experience is required. There are still a few days left to register to audition before they take place. Please click the link below to sign up to audition, and see below for more details.
And please check out the details below on this year’s first Dine-Support-Connect event by the Blach PTA at State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria in Los Altos on Monday, October 12, from 4–9 PM!
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Parent Checklist
✅ Please mark your calendars for the next Blach PTA general meeting on Friday, October 23 in Blach classroom D3.
✅ Please go through the Back-to-School workflow at https://www.lasdeducationpartners.org/, where you can (1) donate to Los Altos Education Foundation, where your donations directly benefit Blach students, then (2) join the Blach PTA and donate to support the Blach PTA.
✅ If you’ve donated to LAEF, but didn’t continue to Step 2 to join/donate directly to the Blach PTA, or if you’re choosing not to donate to LAEF but still want to join/donate directly to the Blach PTA, you can click here.
✅ Show your school spirit and purchase Blach spirit wear here.
You can follow the Blach PTA on Instagram here.
Go Falcons!
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Set in 1950s New York City, Guys and Dolls Jr. is a lively musical comedy about navigating luck, big bets, friendship and love. Performances will be December 3rd and 5th in Blach’s Multipurpose Room. No previous performing experience is required.
How to Participate:
Monday, Oct. 5: Auditions. Follow the sign-up link above to register for auditions. Students should prepare a 60-second song and will learn a short dance routine at the audition. More details regarding the audition materials will be provided at sign up.
Tues., Oct. 6: 5:30-8:30pm: Callbacks
Wed. Oct 7: Cast List Posted
Thurs. Oct. 8 3:15-5:45pm: Rehearsals begin
Rehearsals generally will run Tuesdays – Thursdays from 3:15-6:15pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm (between Oct 8 - Nov. 21 (excluding October 31) and then every day from November 29 to performances).
There is a participation fee of $375 that will be due payable to the Blach PTA. If this participation fee is a hardship, please reach out to Carrie Williamson carrie.l.williamson@gmail.com. We are also looking for parents to help with various tasks such as finding costumes, set construction, set painting, lighting and backstage supervision. Please contact Carrie if you are interested.
If your student is interested in being part of the musical to work on the tech team, please email Director Jack Whitlow, jackowhitlow@gmail.com.
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Join the Blach PTA for Blach’s very first Dine–Support–Connect event at State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria in Los Altos!
When: Monday, October 12, from 4–9 PM
Who: All Blach families and friends are welcome!
Where: State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria, 101 Plz N, Los Altos (includes online pickup orders and delivery through their website—excludes DoorDash)
Order food and beverages in person or online and use promo code FALCONS at checkout. State of Mind will donate 15% of your purchase to the Blach PTA to support future community events.
We can’t wait to see you there!
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Wednesday, October 7th, 8:30am.
Are you interested in participating in the Holiday Faire, where you can create and sell your own products?
The Holiday Faire is on Friday, December 11th, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
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Please email Michele or Steven if you are able to coach or if you have any questions:
Season 3 - December 11-January 29
8th Grade Girls' Soccer
Season 4 - February 12-March 5
7th Grade Girls' Basketball
Season 5 - March 15-April 30
Track and Field (5-6 coaches)
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Join the Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) board members, principals, and parents from every school, and LASD leadership for a night of texting and calling to raise funds for specialized teachers, essential programs, and materials to benefit every TK-8th grade student this school year.
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Hey Falcon Parents!
If you weren't in the Quad on Tuesday, you missed out on Thrive & Vibe's first event of the school year: Slime Time!
Students gathered in the grass area during lunch and moved through different hands-on stations as they crafted their own fluffy slime. It got messy, but it was an absolute blast—who knew we had so many Slime Experts on campus?
A Big Falcon Shoutout!
Special thanks to Mr. Molskness, our AWESOME leadership students (Charis, Desmond, Weiling, Annika, Mirae, Sonia, and Adi) for helping anyone who needed a hand, and our Yearbook crew for capturing all the fabulous moments!
Why Slime?
You might wonder why we made slime! Beyond being fun, slime-making serves as a powerful sensory and emotional regulation tool:
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Stress Relief & Mindfulness: Crafting slime gives students a quick mental break, allowing them to focus on tactile details (touch, sight, and sound) to lower stress and stay grounded in the moment.
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Self-Regulation: Manipulating slime helps students practice emotional control and release pent-up energy, especially during times of frustration or overstimulation.
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Problem-Solving & Resilience: The unpredictability of slime-making teaches kids to adapt their recipe, cope with minor setbacks, and tweak their strategy when things don’t go as planned.
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Sensory Engagement: Whether gooey, crunchy, or smooth, slime provides a supportive tactile experience for students with sensory sensitivities.
It got a little messy, but we did it! .
From the desk of M❤️
Mo Graves
Mental Health Therapist
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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.
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Please let the office know by 9am each day your student will be out by one of the following methods:
- Complete the Absence/Appointment Reporting Form
- Call the attendance line at 650-934-3838
- For last minute appointments, call the office at 650-934-3800 so we can send a dismissal pass to their class. (A parent or someone on your student's emergency contacts list must pick up your student.)
NOTE: Notifications will be sent out via ParentSquare at 10:30am instead of School Messenger. You will receive a notification if your student was marked absent and we have not heard from parents regarding the reason.
If you child is going to be late, please drop them off at the front office as they need to sign in and get a pass before they return to class.
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- Each student may utilize a maximum of 15 ISP days per school year
- Please notify the office of the dates of absence 1 week prior to leaving. We request advance notice so teachers can prepare materials
- All Independent Study Plans are subject to principal approval
- Work MUST be completed during the absence and returned to school on the student's first day back in class
- Parent to initiate the 2026-27 ISP Agreement form, then we will give the paperwork to the student to get the assignments from the teachers.
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