November:
- November 9-13: 8th Grade Yosemite Trip
- November 9-13: Regular School Day Schedule. Lunch starts at 12:47pm everyday.
- November 18: Turkey Trot during Advisory
- November 18: LASD Art Showcase @ Covington 5-7pm
- November 23-27: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
December:
- December 9: Winter Concert 7-8:30pm
- December 11: PTA meeting 8:45-10am @Room D3
- December 11: Minimum Day - Dismissal at 12:30pm
- December 11: Holiday Faire 1-4pm
- December 21 - January 1, 2027 - December Recess - NO SCHOOL
Janurary:
- January 15: End of Semester 1
- January 18: Holiday- NO SCHOOL
- January 19: Staff Development - NO SCHOOL
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Dear Falcon Families,
Today at lunch, the wind kicked up and blew red, yellow, brown and orange leaves across the campus. This is a sure sign that fall is here and some rain is on its way. I’ve said it before: autumn is my favorite season. There is not even a close second. I love the chilly mornings, which makes the warm afternoon sun feel so good. To me, it’s the most colorful of seasons. And those colors seem to move. First there in the trees and then, just for a moment, the various hues are in the air. Finally, the leaves find their way to the ground. Maybe it’s the hippie in me but I just love it!
Tomorrow afternoon, our 8th graders will return from their week in Yosemite. They will disembark from the buses tired, sore and ready for their own beds. They will also return with a greater appreciation of nature, many memories and stories to share, and a great sense of accomplishment- which they did together as a group.
Considering a private high school for 9th grade?
If your 8th grader is applying or considering applying to a private high school for 9th grade, please be sure they fill out their Getting to Know You Form which is found on the Blach website. The information we receive in the form helps teachers and staff add to their letters of recommendation.
Most private high schools require letters of recommendation from teachers who know the applicants. Students should ask (either in person or via email) the staff member IF that person is willing to write a letter of recommendation for them.
Where are you? We need you to join PTA!
I get it. The school year starts and everything comes at us all at once. Now that we are in full swing, I want you to pause and ask yourself: have I joined Blach’s PTA? Sadly, less than 20% of our families have joined PTA so far. But it’s not too late. You can still join PTA by going here.
Step 2 allows you to join Blach’s PTA, once you go through Step 1.
Just to make it interesting, the grade level that has the most family members join Blach’s PTA by the end of November will get an edible incentive (To be determined)
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Volunteer Reminder: Please Complete All Requirements!
We are grateful for the many parents and community members who give their time to support our students and schools!
As we continue implementing our updated volunteer requirements, we have noticed that many volunteers have completed fingerprinting but have not yet submitted the required online Volunteer Form. Fingerprinting is just one step in the process, and volunteers are not fully cleared until all required steps are completed.
If you have been fingerprinted, please make sure you have also completed the online Volunteer Form and any additional requirements for your volunteer level.
Fingerprinting comes at a significant cost to the District. When volunteers complete fingerprinting but do not finish the process, valuable resources are spent without resulting in an approved volunteer who can support our schools.
Please help us make the most of these resources by completing all volunteer requirements as soon as possible. If you have already completed everything, thank you!
We deeply appreciate your partnership and your commitment to keeping our schools safe, welcoming, and supported.
Stay dry this weekend! It’s supposed to be a wet one!
Wade Spenader- Principal
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Parents, the yearbook staff is hard at work creating our 2027 yearbook and we need your help. We would like to feature Blach students on their adventures this past summer and also during Halloween. Any photos you share will be submitted for consideration to be used in the yearbook.
Please click on the links below to upload your pics. Thanks in advance for your help!
If you have any questions or problems uploading your photos, please contact Mrs. Hickman - thickman@lasdschools.org.
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Mark your calendars for the 2026 Blach Holiday Faire taking place in the Blach Multi on Friday, December 11 from 1pm to 4pm. Information available here.
The next Blach PTA general meeting will also take place on Friday, December 11 from 8:45am to 10am in Blach classroom D3.
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Parent Checklist
✅ 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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Get ready to see the multi transformed into a gallery! Join us on November 18 at Covington Elementary from 5:00-7:00 pm for the annual LASD Art Showcase. Let’s celebrate our students’ creativity together.
From colorful paintings and bold prints to textured collages and clay creations, there’s something from every grade, TK through 8th. It’s a great chance to wander and admire your student’s artwork alongside others.
And this year, there’s a little mystery in the mix! LAEF is bringing a fun scavenger hunt to the showcase, with a chance to win exciting prizes.
From the Art Docents program in our elementary schools to art electives in junior high, our students learn about art appreciation as well as art elements, techniques, and so much more. And your donations to LAEF help fund it all. Thank you for supporting art education for all LASD students.
See you at the showcase!
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Are you interested in participating in the Holiday Faire, where you can create and sell your own products?
(Note: Parent signatures are required on printed contracts)
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What happens when students lead their own learning and dive deeply into a question that matters to them, and share their voices in powerful ways? Illuminate LASD invites students to become experts, innovators, and change-makers. Whether it’s researching a topic they’re passionate about, solving a problem that inspires them, or creating something to make an impact, students will share the artifacts that highlight the learning process. From TK to 8th grade, Illuminate LASD invites students to share what they now know and can do by sharing the process and products of their learning on Friday, February 26th from 4:00PM - 7:00PM.
Register today to participate and submit an Intent Form by November 18th by visiting https://tinyurl.com/illuminateLASD. We invite you to share in this experience that connects student curiosity, creativity, and agency!
Intent to Participate is as follows:
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As we embark on a month of gratitude, I wanted to pause for a moment to appreciate all that October brought. Watching our students come together to include, accept, speak up, connect, and lift each other up has been a priceless experience—not just because of Unity Day, but because that is simply the culture of Blach. You are the best part of Blach.
From the desk of M🖤
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Please email Michele or Steven if you are able to coach or if you have any questions:
Season 5 - March 15-April 30
Track and Field (5-6 coaches)
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Dear Parents,
As a token of appreciation, Lifetouch is offering discounts on school photography!
- 50% off a purchase of $50+ with code GREAT50
- 40% off a purchase of $40+ with code GREAT40
- 30% off a purchase of $30+ with code GREAT30
Valid through 11/30/26
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account, find your student and order using your student's student ID number (if available at your school).
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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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Before applying...
1. We recommend you research the schools and create a list of the ones you are certain you will apply. You should know all the due dates for each school to which you are applying. It is the student's responsibility to follow all guidelines provided by the private schools.
2. Some schools require recommendations from your 8th grade English and mathematics teachers; other schools allow you to select any 7th or 8th grade teacher. You must contact your teacher to ask if they are willing to write you a recommendation. Do not assume they are willing to do so.
3. As soon as you have a list of schools and the names of the teachers who have confirmed that they will write you a letter of recommendation, complete the Getting To Know You Questionnaire. This will help your teachers complete the recommendation for you.
While applying...
All teacher recommendation requests should be directed to the individual teachers. Their email addresses are listed on the school website.
Use this checklist to guide you:
✅ Email the teachers you wish to receive recommendations from, asking for permission.
✅ Complete all necessary applications for private schools, pay attention to their specific dates (most use the Ravenna system for applications).
✅ Submit a transcript release to Mrs. Kam: skam@lasdschools.org. We MUST have this in order to send transcripts.
After you’ve applied...
1. Blach does not send transcripts to the private schools until the first semester marks are issued in late-January. Please do not contact the school secretary until a week after the first semester grades have been issued. Mrs. Kam will submit transcripts to the schools.
2. Due to the large number of recommendation requests teachers receive, they may not complete them until after the December break.
Keep in mind...
Blach cannot guarantee that the private high schools will receive all necessary materials by their deadline unless the above requirements are completed by December 11.
If you have questions about anything listed here, please contact:
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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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