Dear Parents,

Where do you think our District should be heading in the next five years? If you missed the Burton Valley Strategic Planning meeting last Wednesday, it's not too late to have your voice heard. Log onto the District web page and go to the Strategic Planning portal and fill out the on-line survey. Our voice is important and our School Board wants to hear from you. Click here: (http://www.lafsd.k12.ca.us) to get started.

We've had an overwhelmingly positive response to our Burton Valley Wall of Character. It warms our hearts to see and read about our students and their acts of character. Below are a few examples from our students:

"I am responsible because I feed my animals and a stray cat and I sometimes ask someone if they want to sit with me at lunch and at recess. And I also never exclude."

"I almost always turn in my library books on time, I follow the rules and don't cheat, and I am nice to new people at school."

"When there was a new student, I showed him around. I made sure he was comfortable and had friends."

"I always say "thank you" when someone passes papers out."

"I demonstrated responsibility by taking care of Smiley Bear from room 4 all weekend. We went out on a boat and all over but I was in charge of keeping him clean and safe.

"I am responsible for feeding my baby brother. I help take care of baby brother because I am the oldest. I make him smile at me. I love him."

"Caring is being kind, never bullying or making people feel bad. I helped a friend who was struggling with math. I feed my cat at night."

"I pick up littered trash. I let younger kids go first in activities. I don't cheat on tests or at games. I make my sister dinner."

Jim Manheimer