Encinal PTO Newsletter September 18, 2011

Encinal School Newsletter

September 18, 2011

La Organizasión de Padres y Maestros de Encinal

Boletin en español - haga clic aqui

Things To Do

Join PTO online or by check - Sept 28 deadline click here
Join or pledge to MPAEF - Sept 28 deadline click here
Volunteer - Harvest Festival click here newsletter, posters click
Join after school programs - most still have space click here
Find orange clothes for parents and students for 9/27 click here
Reserve your 'free' tickets to parent ed event 10/20 click here
Participate in parent book club or online class click here

Dates to Note

THIS WEEK 9/18-9/23

TUE Hot Lunch volunteer training 8:30am TERC click here
TUE Deadline for Harvest Festival volunteer forms click here
THU Superintendent Coffee, Laurel 8:30am
THU Hot Lunch volunteer training 8:30am TERC click here
FRI Garden Harvest Festival 4th & 5th Grades click here
FRI Wear green for Encinal Spirit click here

BEYOND

'Are You In?' Day for PTO & MPAEF 9/27 wear orange click here
End of MPAEF and PTO Joint Campaign 9/28 click here
Garden Volunteer Training Oct 4-6 click here
Art Volunteer Training Oct 11
Make up Picture Day Oct 18
Art Room Clay Prep Party Oct 20
PTO General Membership Mtg & Principal's Coffee Thu Oct 20
Parent Ed "Seven Practical Ways to Help Your Children Attain Joy, Balance and Success", Michele Borba Oct 20 click here

COMPLETE 2011-2012 CALENDAR click here

Information to Know

Many after school programs underway still have openings click
Comcast low cost internet access and PCs for low income click
Parent Book Club and online class "Raising Happiness" click here

Ways to Support Encinal School

Join the PTO and pledge or donate to the MPAEF click here
Buy costumes at House of Humor for 15% to Encinal click here
Collect Box Tops for October 17 deadline click here

Community news and events for children and families click here

Dates to Note

Harvest Festival for 4th and 5th Grades this Friday 9/23

This year's theme is Native Americans and the Two Sisters crops: corn, beans and squash. Classes will visit the garden for an hour and rotate through stations where they can taste food grown in the garden, harvest food for donation to a local food bank, make crafts and learn about Native Americans.

Volunteer Deadline Extended - We still need lots of volunteers!

For more information and to find out how you can help, please click here for the flyer.

Hot Lunch Volunteer Training This Monday & Thursday

This year Encinal along with the rest of the school district signed up to join the Federal lunch program, this does bring a number of benefits to the district but in return we have to comply with a number of regulations stipulated by the program. We are holding two training sessions (30 min long) covering everything you will need to know in order to serve hot lunch in a way that complies with these regulations. Please choose one of these two sessions and RSVP:

Monday 19th September, 8:30am TERC

Thursday 22nd September, 8:30am TERC

Please RSVP to Sharon Morgan at hotlunch@encinalschool.com if you can attend one of these sessions.

Wear Orange for Are You In Day on Sept 27

Are You In orange circle graphic

Encourage everyone in your family to wear orange as a reminder to support Encinal! This year's joint campaign of the MPAEF and Encinal PTO ends the following day, Sept 28.

Go to www.mpcsd.org to support both organizations.

Information to Know

Join and Support Encinal PTO Today!

Deadline: Wednesday, Sept 28th

Hello Encinal Parents!

A huge thank you to the 45% our Encinal families who have joined the PTO. Thanks to you, we are more than halfway there. However, we are still counting on the rest of our families to join in order to fund the wonderful programs planned and to bring our 2011-2012 PTO budget to life! Click here to see how your contributions are put to work! Be IN for Encinal!

Our goal is for 100% of Encinal families to support the PTO at any contribution level. Please give what you can, contributions of all amounts are needed and greatly appreciated! Help us support and inspire every child in every CLASS!

Our Membership Drive ends on Wednesday, September 28th. If you have not yet joined, please do so now by filling out a Membership Form or donating online via PayPal. Please join the PTO TODAY!

ARE YOU IN? Help our Eagles Soar!

Many thanks,

Elizabeth Ouren
Encinal PTO President

Donate or Pledge to MPAEF By Sept. 28th

MPAEF schoolhouse

WE NEED TO RAISE $1500 PER CHILD? REALLY?

THAT SEEMS CRAZY! ISN'T PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPPOSED TO BE FREE?

It does seem crazy, but sadly it's the only way we can continue to fund the wonderful teachers and innovative programs our children benefit from at Encinal today. Encinal's operating budget is funded by the district through a mix of property taxes, parcel taxes, federal and state funds, and due to the generosity of a large number of our parents, the MPAEF.

Over the last five years, while enrollment has increased by over 23%, property taxes haven't kept pace and state funding has decreased by 69%. This year alone, the state cut $1.4 million from our district's budget. Collectively, we need to raise 50% more than we did last year just to maintain status quo. As a community we can do this, but we need ALL OUR PARENTS to invest to the best of their ability - be it $10 or $100,000.

It's in your hands. ARE YOU IN? Click here to make a donation or pledge to the MPAEF.

After School Programs Still Available

The following after school-programs still have openings. Let your child enjoy healthy activities and learn new things while you get to avoid the busy carpool lane. Most classes that have already begun still have open enrollment. The more the merrier!

Intro to Sports K-1st Tues
Spanish K-2nd Tue 3rd-5th Wed
French* K-2nd Tue 3rd-5th Wed
Hiphop Dance 3rd-5th Thu
Girls on the Run 3rd-5th girls Mon & Wed
Flag Football 2nd-5th Thu
Young Rembrandts K-5th Tue or Wed
Mandarin 3rd-5th Wed
Lacrosse K-5th Tue or Wed*
Basketball 3rd-5th Thu

* - will cancel without more enrollment

Click here for full program listings

Low Cost Internet, PC and Training to Low Income Families

Last week Comcast announced an Internet Essentials program offering $10/month internet access, a $149 computer and free internet training to low income families with children in grades K-12. Click here or call 1-855-846-8376 for more information.

CAMPUS Presents Parenting Expert Michele Borba Oct 20th

7 PRACTICAL WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN ATTAIN JOY, BALANCE AND SUCCESS

Thursday, October 20th 7 - 9 p.m.
Menlo Atherton High School Center for Performing Arts

Does it seem as if your children are forced to shortcut today's freedom for tomorrow's success? Would you like them to have the space to enjoy unstructured exploration and discovery without fear of losing ground? Don't miss Michele Borba, Ed.D, award-winning author, speaker and educational consultant, as she shares specific skills to help you teach your children how to survive and thrive in today's play-deprived and standards-driven world.

Please reserve your free ticket at http://drmicheleborba.eventbrite.com. Open seating so please arrive early. For further information email weisman-goff@hotmail.com.

Life Skills Program at Encinal - Sept Theme is Friendship

This month the students are reading "Have You Met Danitra Brown" and discussing the September theme of Happiness.

For interested parents, there is a Parent Book Club reading "Raising Happiness" by Christine Carter and meeting Monday mornings at Encinal and Wednesday mornings at Oak Knoll. This week counselor Nicole Scott will lead discussion of Steps 2 and 3 from the book. Email nscott@mpcsd.org if you plan to join.

"Raising Happiness" author Christine Carter offers online classes teaching busy parents the skills they need to raise joyful children. She will donate 10% of course fees to the MPAEF if 24 district families register for the October 3 class using code "HappyMPAEF" by clicking here.

Wear Green on Fridays to Show Encinal Spirit

Every Friday Encinal students wear green to show their school spirit. Join in the fun and remind your student to pick something green to wear on the last day of the week.

For those who are interested, many Encinal Spirit Wear items are green. Click here to learn more.

Volunteer Opportunities - You Make A Difference!
Click here to see an overview of ways to volunteer

We'd Like Some Help with the News & the Posters
Text YES to 380-4405

Would you like to help Encinal's administration and volunteers by getting out the weekly newsletters and event posters? Do some work from home and devote as much or as little time as you would like. Email ptocommunications @encinalschool.com or text YES to 380-4405.

Eagle Pride

Let's Give an Eagle Shout Out!

thank you cartoon

Kristi Lutge for organizing all the After School Activities and to her team Anne Schneider Kelly, Elizabeth Nagel Hove and Julia Molise
Cristy Barnes and Kristi Moesler - for getting all the teachers their classroom supply checks, working on the budget, and processing membership checks
To all the parents who have started volunteering with their children's classrooms for art, library and garden

Ways to Support Our School

House of Humor Gives 15% of Purchases to Encinal

You can never plan too early. From September 15th through October 20th, shop for Halloween costumes and accessories at House of Humor in Redwood City (open everyday of the year) and they will donate 15% of our sales to Encinal!

You must bring in the attached coupon for credit -- click here.

Collect and Submit Box Tops by October 17

One of the easiest ways to support our school is by clipping box tops from your food packaging. Last year we earned over $1,200 for our PTO with Box Top donations. Please place them in the "Box Top" box in the office or send them in your child's green folder in a Ziploc bag. The upcoming deadline is October 17.