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Leland High School Speech Workshops

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Leland High School Speech WorkshopsLeland High School will be hosting two speech workshops for elementary school students this summer. The workshops will be led by coaches from the nationally ranked Leland High School Speech and Debate team, under the guidance of Gay Brasher, celebrated public speaking coach and Leland teacher.

The workshops are for students entering second grade through sixth grade and will be conducted in two sessions. During the workshops, students will be trained to write, practice and present short speeches. They will get a chance to develop key public speaking skills that will remain with them for a lifetime. The details are as follows:

Session 1: June 26, 27, 28
For students entering 2nd – 4th grades
Cost: $160
Location: Leland High School, Room J-2
Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Session 2: July 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
For students entering 4th – 6th grades
Cost: $390
Location: Leland High School, Room J-2
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon

To register, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/summerelementaryworkshop2019
Checks are payable to Leland Speech and Debate and all proceeds will benefit Leland Speech and Debate.

Almaden Swim & Racquet Club Courses

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Almaden Swim and Racquet ClubThe Almaden Swim & Racquet Club (ASRC) is hosting a series of American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard training courses between March and May 2019. The courses will be provided by Norcal Lifeguard Training under the guidance of instructor Tami Moore.

The dates are as follows:

  • Session 1: March 9 – 10
  • Session 2: April 13 – 14
  • Session 3: May 18 – 19.

The costs are $125 for a one-day recertification course and $200 for a two-day new certification course. The training is open to all participants 15 years or older.

NorCal Lifeguard Training is an authorized American Red Cross provider. This Lifeguard certification also includes First Aid, CPR and AED certification, and is valid for two years.

For more information, contact Tami Moore at Tami@NorCalLifeguardTraining.com or call 408-772-9016, or visit http://www.almadensrc.org/swimming/red-cross-classes

Almaden Community Center Winter 2019 Activities and Classes – UPDATED 2022

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Almaden Community Center Winter 2019

[CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS TO MORE RECENT ALMADEN COMMUNITY CENTER ACTIVITY GUIDE.]

The Almaden Community Center Winter 2019 activities and classes are open for registration. Here are some of the exciting new offerings for the season.

Art with the Masters – Participants will learn about some of the great masters in art and study their paintings.

Painting Party with Ms. Marla – Learn to paint from scratch. All painting material including canvas, paints and brushes will be provided.

Apprentice Electrical Engineering: Electrified – Participants use Snap Circuits and other engineering design process tools to design, create and test various electronic circuits. Objects designed include a flashlight and a magnetic levitation vehicle!

Electronic Game Design: Racing Games – Participants create their own racing games complete with cars, race tracks and the full racing environment. Fun stuff for the young speedsters.

Junior Civil Engineering: Fun Foundation – In this fun class, children understand the engineering concepts behind big infrastructure projects like skyscrapers and bridges.

Junior Wedo Lego Robotics 2.0: Robots in Motion – Children learn to build robots using Lego Wedo.

Little Sports Medicine – In Little Sports Medicine, your child can learn about common sports related injuries and how real doctors do their diagnoses.

Minecraft YouTubers: Let’s Play – This is an exciting one for the diehard young Minecrafters. Participants create and upload Minecraft videos for YouTube, and in the process also learn about Internet safety.

New Year, New You – As we move towards 2019, find your inspiration through this motivational course. Goals, dreams, ideas and joy. Explore your inner zen.

For more information on these courses and to enroll, call 408-793-5565 or view the full catalog here.

Upcoming Events at Almaden Valley High Schools

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Almaden Valley high schoolsAlmaden Valley high schools Leland and Pioneer both have exciting events that you can attend over the weekend and next week.

On Saturday, October 20, the Leland Parent Club is hosting its annual music and dance event, the Dandiya Raas Mela. The Dandiya and the Garba are traditional ritualistic dances performed during the Indian festival of Navratri or the “nine nights”.

This event is one of the biggest fundraisers for Leland High School. A special highlight of the event this year is a performance by the “Naach” group, a students club specializing in Bollywood dance. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the door. All proceeds go towards enrichment programs at Leland High. For more information, visit: http://www.lelandparentclub.com/dandiya.html

Next week, from October 24 to October 27, students at Pioneer High will be performing twin fall plays, 12 Angry Men and 12 Angry Women.

12 Angry Men is adapted from the American courtroom drama of the same name, while 12 Angry Women is a feminist adaptation of the same play.

Advanced reserved seats may be booked through phsdrama.ludus.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. So, come with you family and friends to watch this classic adaptation from a highly talented drama team and help raise funds for Pioneer High. For more information, visit: https://pioneer.sjusd.org/index.php/calendar/filter-by/event/699/2018/10/24/

Spring Is In The Air – Prepare Your Home! (Part 2)

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prepare your homeSprucing up for Spring – from Hardscapes to Roof

Spring is almost here, and it’s time to prepare your home! In this, the second in our series on home and yard maintenance for spring, we focus on everything from hardscapes to the roof. Here’s the checklist of do’s for this season:

Repair and refurbish hardscapes – After the rains, it is a great idea to clean all hardscapes – walkways, patios, steps and retaining walls which have brick, pavers, stone or tile. Pressure wash to remove any dirt or moss which might make the area slippery. Replace broken tiles or flagstones and fill in new sand in the joints.

Roof check – Check for and replace any broken tiles or shingles in the roof. If there are signs of moss or lichen, call a professional roofer for a clean-up.

Trim large trees – Trim away any overgrowth from trees and shrubs. If you have large trees like oak or redwood, get an arborist, if needed, to trim back branches. This will allow more sunlight into the yard and encourage new growth. It’s also important to keep tree branches at least six to seven feet away from the house.

Foundation vents – Walk around the perimeter of the house and check all foundation vents to ensure that they are clear of leaves, debris or anything that would prevent air circulation in the crawl space. Good air circulation is important for the moisture in the crawl space to dry. Repair any holes or rips in vent screens to prevent rodents and critters from getting in.

Drains, ditches, rafters and gutters – Sweep clean all leaves and debris which may have gathered in drains, ditches and gutters. If possible, connect gutter pipes to the sewage. This will take overflow water away from the foundation of the house. Check rafters for wood rot. Replace any broken ones. It’s also a good idea to give the rafters a coat of paint to prevent wood rot.

Check irrigation systems – With the onset of spring, it is time to check irrigation systems for leaks and repair any broken sprinkler heads. Check rain sensors and booster pump for proper operation. Secure drip irrigation lines properly to respective plants.

Fences and trellises – Check fences and trellises and replace any broken or rotten panels.

Bird baths and fountains – Check fountain pumps and fix leaks if any. Scrub clean bird baths and fill with fresh water.

Spring Is In The Air – Prepare Your Yard! (Part 1)

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prepare your yardSpring Gardening

It is not officially spring yet, but with winter on the wane and the days getting warmer, it certainly feels like spring is in the air… and this is the perfect time to prepare your yard! With a little bit of work now, you will have a bountiful spring and summer garden, rich in vibrant colors with plenty to harvest.

There are four main tasks which are recommended for your garden this month.

Pruning and fertilizing

Late winter and early spring is the best time to prune fruit trees. If you haven’t already done it, now is the time. Pruning before the buds bloom will relieve the plants resulting in better growth and a better crop later on. Fertilize fruit trees with an organic fertilizer or compost for better quality yield.

Prune evergreen trees and shrubs leaving out branches in the direction you want to encourage growth. Rose plants and bushes should be pruned before they start budding. For spring flowering plants, wait until after blooming. Fertilize the rose plants at this stage. Fertilize garden beds at the top soil level and let the nutrients percolate down.

Planting

Now is the perfect time to plant fruit trees, perennial crops like berries and spring crops like beets, carrots, peas, spinach, leeks and lettuces. Bare fruit trees root in the winter and begin sprouting leaves and branches through spring summer.

Weeding

Control weeds in the garden while they are young. You can also use a weed preventing product like Preen.

Lawn care

Lawns should be watered deeply once or twice a week at this time, depending on the amount of rain. Avoid overwatering. Spread lawn seeds on bare patches and fertilize.

For more garden maintenance tips, visit:

http://eartheasy.com/grow_garden_early_spring.html

https://www.almanac.com/gardening/tips/CA/San%20Jose/02

 

How Does Your Garden Grow?

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garden growHow Does Your Garden Grow?

Imagine yourself in a bountiful spring garden surrounded by tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses and beautiful blossoms in a riot of colors and hues. But how do you bring this spring wonderland to your own front yard and backyard? The answer is, by starting now.

For many of us, gardening projects end in the summer. Yet, fall planting is crucial to a good harvest in spring, be it flowers or vegetables. Here’s how to go about creating a beautiful spring garden.

Picking bulbs for spring blossoms: Right now, garden stores and nurseries are stocked up on bulbs and seeds for planting. Tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, daffodils, irises are some varieties which are sure to give you a blooming garden come spring.

Spring veggie patch: For a vegetable harvest in spring, choose vegetables which can withstand the winter chill and frost. Carrots, cabbages, turnips, broccoli, celery, parsnips, radishes, kale, and brussels sprouts are among the varieties which are most hardy.

Planting time: Plant the bulbs after summer but before the ground gets frosty. October is usually a good time for fall planting, but here in the Bay area, it is safe to plant till early November.

Where to plant: Choose an area in your yard which is sunny and has good drainage. Prepare the soil with compost and fertilize after planting the bulbs.

Mulch: Be sure to spread a layer of mulch. This keeps keep the moisture in and prevents frost from settling on the bulbs in the winter.

For more information, visit https://www.almanac.com/gardening.
For hardiness zones, check out this excellent resource on fall planting of bulbs: https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/d6/fall_planted_bulbs.jpg

Kudos to Quixilver FTC team 8404

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Quixilver FTC team 8404

Quixilver FTC team 8404Leland Robotics Quixilver FTC team 8404 recently competed against 72 teams from 13 states at the West Super Regional Championships in Tacoma Washington. Of the 203 teams from Northern California, Quixilver 8404 was the only team to advance from the Silicon Valley.

After making it to the top ten in their division in the super regionals, Quixilver 8404 will now compete in the World Championships against 128 teams from 39 countries. The team is now having a fund-raising drive to buy sensors, cameras and other parts. If you would like to help this Almaden team get an edge in the world championships, go to their Go Fund Me page on https://www.gofundme.com/help-ftc-8404-go-to-the-world-championship. For more information about how to get involved with the FIRST Robotics program, contact FTC 8404 Quixilver at ftc8404@gmail.com.

Spring Cleaning Checklist for Your Home

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Spring is now well and truly upon us here in the Bay Area. After the flurry of storms and a particularly wet winter, it is delightful to see hills covered with wildflowers, bare trees full of foliage and verdant green everywhere.

It is also time to get our homes in shipshape condition for the summer. Here’s a handy spring cleaning checklist for around the home and in the yard.

Spring cleaning checklist - guttersRoof, rafters and gutters – Clean out leaves and twigs left by the recent storms from your gutters. Check that the downspouts are properly connected and clear. Look for any broken or missing shingles. Check the frames of any skylights. Get a roofer to fix any damages.

Air-conditioning and heating vents – This includes a change or cleaning of filters as well as the air vents. Check the outside unit to ensure it has clear drainage, and trim away any plants or bushes around it.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – Check that these are working, and be sure to replace the batteries.

Carpets – The warm weather is a good time to get the carpets steam cleaned and shampooed. Make sure you choose a time with a few sunny days for the carpets to dry out.

Attics – This is a good time to venture into attics. Check for signs of seepage or mold as well as rodents and insects. If there are windows, let in the air and sunlight. Be sure to do this on a dry and sunny day.

Crawl space air vents – Take a walk around the house and check the crawl-space air vents and netting for any signs of tear or damage. If any, it is important to fix these to keep rodents and little critters out of the crawl space.

Fences and decks – After the wet and stormy winter this year, all the woodwork in the yard – from fences to decks – needs special attention. Nail down loose boards, and replace broken or rotten ones. Also, promptly treat decks for any mold and mildew as these could quickly spread to the house.

Spring cleaning checklist - power washingDriveway and walkways – Power washing is a great, low-cost way to restore the driveway and walkways to a brighter, cleaner look. Fix any loose pavers or bricks and fill in the cracks. If you notice extra unevenness caused by the ground lifting in any area, it might be a good idea to call in an arborist and check if the roots of any nearby trees are the problem.

Flower beds, hedges and lawns – De-weeding in spring is very important for all areas of the garden. Treat the soil with fertilizers and spread new mulch. Spread grass seed on the lawns to spur growth in any bald patches and fertilize. Prune all trees and bushes to encourage new growth.

Sprinklers and drip irrigation systems – Test all sprinklers and drip irrigation pipes for signs of damage or leakage. Replace any broken sprinkler heads or cracked pipes promptly.

Read more about spring cleaning do’s on the following websites:

http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/clean-and-organize/get-your-house-ready-for-summer

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/05/16/12-must-do-home-maintenance-tasks-for-spring

Williams Elementary Auction Dinner – March 3, 2017

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Enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing and help raise money for Williams Elementary!

Williams Elementary Auction DinnerTickets are on sale now for the Williams Elementary Auction Dinner, a gala event to be held at the Corinthian Grand Ballroom on March 3, 2017 from 6pm to 11pm.

Several popular events will be auctioned off, like Mother-Daughter Tea, Mom’s Night Out, and an exclusive pizza party for kids at the California Pizza Kitchen!

Besides these, the live auction includes Principal for the Day for your child, Santa Cruz and Napa Getaway Weekends, an exclusive Sushi Party, and the opportunity to win your own parking spot at school!

Deadline for purchasing tickets is Friday Feb. 17. You can purchase tickets at the Williams School Office or online at: http://www.williamscommunity.com/auction/.

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