Dear Blach Families,

Happy Friday! A hearty welcome to the new school year! Hope you enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating summer. We are so excited to start the school year together with you and eagerly preparing for our students’ arrival on the 19^th!

Here are some important ‘beginning of the school year’ details (yes, it is a lengthy message but it is packed with important information to help start the school year for your child and for you!)

Schedule Day@ Blach on August 14:

 Students can pick up their Schedules, Planners, Buy PE Uniforms (we are asking for a $20 donation, cash or check) and Spirit Wear on this day. Campus tours for new students will also be offered!

Please follow this schedule when coming on this day:

10 A.M.- 11:30 A.M.- 7^th grade only

12 P.M.- 1:30 P.M.- 8^th grade only.

This day is not just for students! Parents, you are also very welcome and encouraged to come to Blach and meet other parents and our wonderful PTA volunteers- connect with old friends, meet new people, learn more about the parent volunteer opportunities and help us build a strong community around our students! It truly does take a village!

I look forward to meeting everyone and introducing myself as the new person on your team on August 14! 

If a student is unable to come by, a friend can pick up the schedule (accompanied with a parent note) and PE uniform, or please stop by the office on the 17th or 18th to get everything.

Please Note: Junior high students will not be allowed to pick up their schedules on August 14th if their InfoSnap update is not completed. Parents, we will have computers available in the library to fill out your InfoSnap and Blach back to school forms if you haven't already done so prior to this event. Be on the lookout: Parents should be looking for an email from Registrar@lasdk8.org with instructions about completing the InfoSnap Online Registration. It is recommended that you add registrar@lasdk8.org to your contacts to prevent the email from going into spam folders

First Day of School:

August 19 is the first day of the 2015-16 school year! Please remember that it is a late start Wednesday. School starts at 9:17 A.M.

Block Schedule:

 We will continue to have block schedule on Wednesdays and Thursdays this year. In the spirit of continuous improvement in the best interest of our students, we have made some changes to the former Falcon Time. It is now a ‘Jumpstart’ period that will occur at the end of every Wednesday from 2:28 PM-3:03 P.M. The bell schedule can be found here

School Supplies:

Our suggested school supply list can be found here

Teachers will let your child know what supplies might be needed during the first week of school. Students will be fine on Day One as long as they have their planner, pens/pencils, and some binder paper.

Communication:

Our effective home-school partnership hinges on consistent and strong communication.  As we move forward to strengthen communication, LASD is excited to launch a new communication service that will allow us to communicate with you via SMS text messaging. This service will be used to enhance our existing methods of communication and will be used only to provide information that is timely and relevant such as emergency notifications and minimum day reminders.

In order to participate in the new service you must indicate your willingness to receive text messages via your phone. Please make sure to enter your cell phone number when you complete the InfoSnap registration.  Your wireless number will receive an invitation to opt in during the first week of school.  Be prepared to opt in when you receive the message!

Please note, although the district does not charge for this service, normal text message charges may apply according to your wireless contract.

Please refer to this letter from LASD with information on SMS text messaging and the new online directory.

School Pictures

School pictures will be taken during the school day on September 1st. You can order your pictures online through http://order.gsp-photos.com.  Paper forms will also be available on the 14th. The online form can be found here as well. Please make sure you have ordered online or have your child bring a check on the 1st to order pictures. This picture is also used for the Blach Yearbook, and students will receive their ID cards on the September 1^st. There will be a make-up day for pictures on October 2nd.

Getting to Blach:

Changes to Loyola/Fremont Bridge Routes due to Construction

--If you are coming from west of Miramonte form the San Antonio Hills/Loyola Bridge area, use Loyola Drive to Frontero to Magdalena to Springer to Covington OR Loyola to Granger to St. Joseph to Grant to Covington.

--If you are coming from east of Miramonte who would normally use the Fremont Bridge, use Fremont to Grant to Covington OR Fremont to Portland to Miramonte to Covington

Please review the following Suggested Routes for help with planning your commute!

Last but not the least, I want to share my deep gratitude for all the support we receive from our Blach PTA and LAEF. We, at Blach are so fortunate to have this support to create unique learning experiences and an amazing Junior High program for all our students! When we come together as a strong community of supporters, we empower our students to take charge of their own learning in a community that is rooting for them every step of the way!

Please do not hesitate to call us at (650) 934-3800 with all your questions. Our school office is now open-we are here to help!

We will be sending another email out on Tuesday, the 11^th with Back to School information from PTA including hot lunch ordering information and details and links to complete Back to School Forms.

Here’s to a great 2015-16!

Gratefully,

Bhavna

Bhavna Narula, Principal and a Proud Blach Falcon

Blach Intermediate School

http://www.blachschool.org/