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Encinal School NewsletterAugust 28, 2011 Boletin en espaņol - haga clic aqui |
Things To Do
- Complete online district re-enrollment click here
- Return 2 signed forms to teacher click here
- Join PTO online or by check - Sept 28 deadline click here
- Donate or pledge to MPAEF - Sept 28 deadline click here
- Sign up for After School Programs click here
- 4th & 5th grade girls register for volleyball by Aug 31 click here
- Order Jeffrey's Hamburgers for Fall Family Picnic click here
Campus Safety Rules to Observe - Sign in and wear name badge when on campus click here
- Drop off students within safe zone click here
- Private vehicle pick-ups must show colored number card click here
Information to Know Upcoming Events - Kindergarten Welcome Coffee, Weds., Sept. 7, 8:30am click here
- Spanish Immersion Parent Meeting, Thu., Sept. 8, 8:30am click here
- Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation Leadership Council inaugural meeting Thu., Sept 8 from 7-8:30pm, TERC click here
- Fall Family Picnic & Bike Rodeo, Fri., Sept. 16, 5-7pm click here
- Meet Superintendent Ghysels Thu., Sept 15. 8:30am click here
- Upcoming events summary on the Encinal web site click here
Ways To Support Our SchoolCommunity News Events and programs for children, families & parents click here. Back to Top |
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From the Encinal Office -- Drop-Off Reminders
Please keep in mind that drop-off is permitted only in the designated drop-off/pick-up area in the front of the school. For safety, do not drop students along Encinal Avenue or Middlefield. Do not pull into the bus zone or our neighbors' driveways.
As you enter for drop-off, please remember
Do not allow children to exit when there is a gap between your car and the car ahead of you. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and pull all the way forward towards the District Office.
- Do not wait for an adult to open the door.
- Allow children to exit on the sidewalk side only.
- Children should be prepared with shoes on and all materials ready to go.
- Adults should avoid getting out of the car.
- Drop off in the red curb zone in front of the office is not permitted.
- Please be courteous to our neighbors and do not block driveways.
Thank you for your cooperation with the above procedures so that traffic can flow safely and efficiently.
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Counselor Nicole Scott Announces Life Skills Program
Encinal will join the other district schools in a year-long Life Skills program funded by the MPAEF through a Jeannie Ritchie Grant. Each month the entire school will read the same book that will reinforce a life skill for that month. The school will promote and educate on that life skill, and parents are encouraged to invite discussions about it at home. This month the life skill is Happiness. Click here to learn more.
Parent Book Club: We have a book for parents too! Nicole Scott will meet with interested parents to discuss the book selected for the "Happiness" theme. It is Have You Filled a Bucket Today by Carol McCloud. Guidance Counselor Nicole Scott will lead parent reading groups in discussions about the book from Sept. 12 to October 10. Email Nicole Scott at nscott@mpcsd.org to get involved.
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From the Encinal Office -- Sign In When Entering Campus
When you visit campus, please arrive five minutes early to sign in at the front office. Please also wear the volunteer name tag provided at the office sign-in desk. When leaving, please sign out. Back to Top |
Re-Enroll Online and Turn In Two Signed Forms
 There are only 30 families still not done with online re-enrollment. The district has emailed the re-enrollment instructions to every family. If you need another copy of the instructions, please email registrar@mpcsd.org (preferred) or call 650-321-7140 with your name and your child's name and grade.
There are also two forms to print, sign and send to school with your child to give to your teacher. These are mandatory forms required for all students:
- Emergency ID Tag - print, sign, add teacher's name, return to school
- Student Technology Acceptable Use Policy - print, sign, have your child sign (if appropriate for her age) and return to school
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Join and Support the Encinal PTO
 Click here to join online or by check
The PTO annual membership campaign funds programs designed to improve the experience of every student, teacher and family in the Encinal community. The PTO spends about $200 per student to provide our programs, and your donation is vital.
Contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated, and early donations help fund our programs and activities immediately. We encourage those who are able to consider even a small extra contribution to extend our programs to as many students as possible.
Donate online or by check. Click here to get started. Be IN for Encinal!
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Donate or Pledge to the MPAEF
 Click here to donate or pledge online or by check.
The Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation is a vital non-profit organization working to preserve our outstanding schools. Are you IN? Please donate or pledge today. Click here.
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Girls Volleyball Registration Deadline August 31
Girls volleyball for 4th & 5th grade is registering now!
The tenth season of Encinal volleyball is here. The girls will be playing in the Menlo Park Recreation League against other area schools. All teams will be comprised of girls with balanced skills and experience levels. No experience necessary. All coaches are parent or teacher volunteers. Registration is online and the deadline is August 31. Interested in volunteering to coach? Contact Dean Wilkins or Jen Nelson at afterschoolathletics@encinalschool.com. Player evaluation is Thuday, Sept. 1 from 1:30-3:00pm in the multi. Back to Top |
Don't Miss Out on Enriching Programs After School
Many sports, classes and lessons are available, with options for students across all grades Monday through Friday. Many programs are registering now. Most programs are with third party vendors. Click here to learn how after-school programs at Encinal work and to review the program schedule. Encinal Athletics Teams- 4th & 5th Girls Volleyball (register now), Boys and Girls Basketball for 3rd to 5th Arts- Art, Drama, Hip Hop Dance, Line Dancing Athletics- Football, Golf, Hoops, Lacrosse, Running, Tennis, Yoga Foreign Languages- Spanish & French, Mandarin Chinese Strategic Thinking- Chess, Math, Robotics Back to Top |
Spanish Immersion Principal's Coffee & Parent Meeting
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, 8:30-9:30, TERC building next to District Office - All Spanish Immersion parents at Laurel and Encinal are encouraged to attend for a report on progress, a celebration of successes, and information about how we plan to support continued growth into the future. For more information please contact Tami Girski at tgirsky@mpcsd.org
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| A Request for Parents of Hot Lunchers
The Encinal PTO hot lunch has joined the Federal Hot Lunch Program, and that will allow students on the Free and Reduced Lunch Program to enjoy a proper hot meal from ChoiceLunch alongside their classmates.
The Federal government requires that every student take his choice of milk, fruit or vegetable before taking an entree. And every student must confirm her name with a PTO volunteer. So... please remind your hot lunchers to take the milk/fruit/veg and state their names.
To order hot lunch and get more information, click here.
To volunteer to serve hot lunch & receive free lunch credits email hotlunch@encinalschool.com.
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Kindergarten Welcome Coffee September 7
All kindergarten moms and dads are invited to attend a casual welcome coffee on Wednesday, Sept. 7, from 8:30-10:30 at the home of Kristin Campbell, parent of an incoming kindergartener, at 1051 Greenwood Drive, Menlo Park.
This is a chance for parents to visit with old friends, meet new friends, and ask questions about school, playdates, the school district, PTO, MPAEF, where to park at school, etc. There will be new parents, returning parents, and representatives from the PTO and MPAEF. This event is co-hosted by the Encinal PTO and MPAEF.
RSVPs are appreciated but not mandatory to Lisa Cope at kindergartencoffee@encinalschool.com. Please drop by for as long as you can stay. Back to Top |
Fall Family Picnic & Bike Rodeo, Sept 16, 4-7pm at Encinal
Bring a picnic and a blanket - and even a dessert to share - for this school-wide event for all Encinal families. There will be activities and some surprises: - Bike Rodeo - bike safety training course for kids & adults, starting at 4pm
- Fall Family Picnic - starting at 5pm
- Line Dancing - with PE teacher Kathy Smithlin from 6-7pm
No time to pack a picnic? Order from Jeffrey's Hamburgers! Jeffrey's will deliver hot food for pick-up at 5:30pm. Deadline for orders is Friday Sept 9. Click here for a menu and to place an order. Bike to campus and participate in the bike rodeo if you would like. Please get in the picnic spirit by biking or walking to campus. Country/Western attire encouraged. Pitch in and help set up, clean up or run an activity. Click here to volunteer. Back to Top |
Meet Superintendent Maurice Ghysels at Encinal Sept 15 8:30am
 All families in the district are invited to meet the new superintendent, Maurice Ghysels Ed D. He will be at a series of coffees and you are invited to meet him and learn about his background and his decision to come to Menlo Park City School District.
Dr. Ghysels will be in the TERC Thursday Sept 15 at 8:30am.
Other dates and locations:
Oak Knoll School: Wed. Sept 7, 8:15am, in the gym
Hillview Middle School: Wed. Sept 14, 7pm, in the library
Laurel School: Thu. Sept 22, 8:30am, in the multipurpose room
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| Missed Back to School Night? Get In the Know...
If you missed Back to School Night, please watch this address from Principal Alison Liner, the PTO and the MPAEF. Click here. Your child's teacher and HRPs also have important information for you.
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| Open Seats on District School Bus 2:30pm Route
For families of kindergarten to 2nd grade students: if you are looking for a way to avoid car pick-up lines, you can still register your student/s for the afternoon run of the District school bus at 2:30pm.
The District school bus driver, Wilfin Morales, was named California Department of Education Classified Employee of the Year in 2011. For information & to purchase a pass, click here.
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| Want Help Finding a Carpool or Bikepool?
The Encinal Green Team keeps a carpool/bikepool map with locations of families interested in forming a group. Email Michelle Daher at michelle@kopisch.com and she will add your name and location so you can find and contact neighbors for a carpool or bikepool.
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| Procedures for Pick-up in a Private Vehicle
Private vehicles must display their colored pickup number card on their front right windshield. Missing cards delay finding students for each car.
Pickups for students in the later dismissal groups cannot begin until the driveway clears from the first pickup, as below:
M, T, W, F: 3pm pickups enter driveway no earlier than 2:50pm
Thursdays: 1:40pm pickups enter driveway no earlier than 1:35pm
Need another pickup number card? Please email carpool@encinalscool.com.
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| Raffle for Students Who Walk, Bike, Carpool, Bus, Scooter...
Encinal's raffle for alternate modes of transportation is underway again this year. The Eco Raffle has monthly drawings to encourage Encinal Eagle to Go Eco with their school commutes.
Students who walk, bike, bus or carpool or get to school without a private vehicle can enter the raffle. Students simply write their name and room number on a single raffle ticket at the raffle box outside the school office and drop their entry into the box.
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Volunteer Opportunities - You Make A Difference!
Click here to see an overview of ways to volunteer |
| Teach in the Encinal Garden
The Encinal Garden Program needs you! Sign up to be a Classroom Garden Volunteer. The garden is completely run by parent volunteers.
No garden experience is necessary. There is a complete and scripted curriculum and there is training. Our garden curriculum reinforces the classroom curriculum in social studies, math and many sciences.
If every parent volunteers just one hour this year, each classroom will be able to do the entire garden curriculum.
Parents who aren't able to help during class hours are welcome to help with garden maintenance such as weeding. Contact your Head Room Parent if you missed signing up at BTS night. Or click here. Back to Top |
| Join MPAEF's New Leadership Council for Volunteers
The MPAEF is excited to launch the Foundation Leadership Council -- a great way to volunteer and support our schools.
If you are interested in joining the Foundation Board in the future, or if you have limited time and want to volunteer in a defined capacity such as sharing your graphic design talents or volunteering with the spring auction, the Leadership Council is a great opportunity.
Please join us and learn more at our first Leadership Council meeting on Thursday, September 8 from 7 to 8:30pm at the TERC.
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| Will You Work on Posters With Us? Text YES to 380-4405
The PTO communications committee makes the posters that publicize Encinal events and even such things as school holidays.
Text "YES" to 650-380-4405 to volunteer with us or email ptocommunications@encinalschool.com.
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Ways to Support Our Schools
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INspire, INvolve, INvest
 Click here to support the PTO and the MPAEF. The Encinal PTO and the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation are two vital non-profit organizations working together to preserve our outstanding schools. Donate to the Encinal PTO and pledge or donate to the Foundation by Sept. 28 to receive an "Are You In?" window cling. Are you IN? Click here to donate online today! If you are donating by check, please write separate checks to each organization. Thank you for your support. Back to Top |
Support Encinal PTO with Box Tops for Education
 If you buy products with this logo, you can help Encinal raise money by clipping the logo on the box and dropping it in the collection bin by the entrance to the Encinal Office. The first collection date will be in mid-October. Click here for more information. Thanks for your help! Back to Top |
Fundraiser at Klutz Headquarters Sept 10 - 100% to Encinal
Buy art supplies, activity books, games and more. Games, face painting, magic, music and loads of kids' activities at this fun event. Saturday, Sept. 10, 10am - 2pm, 454 Lambert Ave, Palo Alto. 100% of what you spend goes to Encinal School. Click here for flyer. Back to Top |
Support Encinal PTO - Buy School Supplies at Village Stationers
Village Stationer in Menlo Park and Palo Alto will donate 10% of purchases to Encinal School if you present this flyer. Check the school supply list on our web site. Back to Top |
Enroll with eScrip to Automatically Collect Money for Encinal
Registering with eScrip is free. Each credit card you add to your eScrip account automatically triggers a donation to the MPAEF when you use it to make purchases at eScrip stores such as Draeger's, eBay, Big-O Tires, Disney Cruise Lines, Key Markets and Orvis. Safeway also participates and requires renewal every year between August and November. Please click here for eScrip registration. Back to Top
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Community News
 Becoming a Love and Logic Parent, Wednesdays 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 7-8:30 p.m., TERC Room Encinal School Learn easy-to-use strategies you can use with your kids to bring more calmness to your home. The instructor, Janada Clark, MA, teaches this program at Stanford, public and private schools and preschools. Cost: $150 Individual, $225 Couple. Click here.
Kidizens Fall Enrollment (Ages 5-12), 4074 Fabian Way, Suite 4 and 5, Palo Alto Kidizens is a creative and fun social environment with over a million LEGOs where children build, inhabit and run their own small scale city. We also have a guided discovery program for our younger (5-7 yrs old) kidizens. Click here.
Cinda Williams Chima, Author of the Seven Realms Series, Sept 22 7p.m., at the Menlo Park Library Cinda Williams Chima, will share The Gray Wolf Throne, the newest in this exciting fantasy series. Click here.
Start early to reach your goals and make your basketball dreams a reality! We will focus on Ball Handling, Passing, Shooting, Post Play, Defense, Rebounding, Footwork, and Agility and Scrimmage Play. Click here.
SOLO Aquatics offers a year-round program in which swimmers learn excellent swim / stroke technique through outstanding coaching in a fun environment. Click here.
Dance and Yoga Classes at Studio Rincon, September 6, 2011, through May 2012.
Studio Rincon in West Menlo Park is proud to offer New Dance and Yoga Classes taught by excellent, new instructors. Enjoy Hip Hop, Funky Tap, Ballet / Tap Combo Classes, Kids Yoga! Classes start Labor Day week.
Beginning Electronics Workshop at the Museum of American Heritage, September 11, 18, and 25 (Sundays) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. A hands-on class where students learn what electricity is, how to control it to do useful things, and how to read a schematic diagram. $65 Members/$75 Non-Members. Click here to learn more.
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Encinal PTO Communications
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Join the PTO Mailing List
 Make sure to receive Principal's Posts, Midweek Updates and weekly newsletters by joining the Encinal PTO Mailing List. Click here or text "SUBSCRIBE" to 42828.
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Encinal Newsletter Submissions
 Email articles for the Encinal newsletter to newsletter @encinalschool.com before Tuesday noon for Sunday publication.
Email community announcements related to kids, families or parenting to communitynews@mpcsd.org for publication in all MPCSD newsletters.
If you have suggestions or would like to help with school communications, please email ptocommunications@encinalschool.com.
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For lots of useful information about Encinal School, visit www.encinalschool.com
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