Encinal PTO Newsletter October 9, 2011

Encinal School Newsletter

October 9, 2011

La Organizasión de Padres y Maestros de Encinal

Boletin en español - haga clic aqui

Things To Do

Plan transportation for 11:20 dismissal on Thurs. Minimum Day
Donate a new or gently used Halloween costume click here
Ask your 2nd/3rd grader about working for Eagle Express click

Dates to Note

THIS WEEK 10/9-14

MON 2nd & 3rd grade applications for Eagle Express open click
TUE Cultural Arts Day planning mtg 8:30am TERC Room A click
TUE Art Volunteer Training 2pm Encinal Art Room click here
TUE Orders for Kids Art program due click here
TUE MPCSD Board of Education mtg 6pm District Office click
THU Minimum Day - 11:20 dismissal all grades click here
FRI Halloween Costume Drive ends click here

BEYOND

10/17 Collection deadline for Box Tops click here
10/18 Make up Picture Day -- Volunteer click here
10/20 PTO General Membership Meeting 8:30am TERC
10/20 Principal's Coffee 9:30am TERC
10/20 Parent Ed with Michele Borba click here
10/20 Clay Prep Party in Encinal Art Room 12pm-3pm click
10/31 Halloween Parades click here

COMPLETE 2011-2012 CALENDAR click here

Information to Know

Students dismissed at 11:20 on Minimum Day Thu. Oct. 13 click
Encinal's Eagle Express Post Office re-opens in November click

Ways to Support Encinal School

Collect Box Tops for October 17 deadline click here
Buy costumes at House of Humor: 15% to Encinal click here

PTO Membership Summary and Thanks

THANK YOU for a Successful PTO Membership Drive

Dear Encinal families,

The Encinal PTO membership drive came to a close last week. I am thrilled by the responsiveness of the Encinal community, particularly in the crucial final days. THANK YOU for joining the PTO, especially those families who stretched to make their donations!

72% of Encinal families contributed to the PTO this year. While this is lower than in prior years, a greater number of families went above and beyond the suggested contribution of $200 per child, enabling us to meet our financial goal and move forward with all of the wonderful programs that are planned for the 2011-12 school year. Thank you for your generosity!

The PTO is continuing to receive membership donations, corporate matching gifts, and contributions from the community at large. We are grateful for these additional contributions, as our student population continues to grow each year.

What's next? Thursday, October 20 - Save the Date

The 2011-12 PTO budget will be presented at the Fall PTO General Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 20, 8:30-9:30 am in the TERC building on the Encinal campus. We'll outline our spending plans to provide wonderful programs and services that support every child in every CLASS. We will also discuss additional fundraising efforts, have open discussion, and vote to approve the budget. I encourage all PTO members to participate.

Inspire! Involve! Invest!

At this time, I'd like to thank two extraordinary parent leaders, Susan Masetti and Patty Pflaging, PTO Membership Co-chairs, who drove this effective campaign with conviction and grace -- and some sleepless nights. Please join me in thanking them for their incredible stewardship!

With thanks and appreciation,

Elizabeth Ouren

Encinal PTO President

Dates to Note

Cultural Arts Day Meeting Oct. 11 - Adventure to Africa

Jimmy Ayo from Spirit of Uganda - dance troupe

Jimmy Ayo from Spirit of Uganda dance & music troupe

This year we are going to Africa for Cultural Arts Day. Or rather, Africa is coming to us. The Spirit of Uganda dance and music troop is coming to Encinal to put on a show on January 30th!

Starting this week, we will have weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 8:30 am in TERC A next to Encinal to learn about this part of the world and discuss how to present it to our children so they get the most out of this experience. Just in Uganda, there are plenty of interesting subjects: all the big African wildlife, amazing cultural diversity with over 40 different languages, and poverty with some signs of hope.

Topic of October 11 meeting: Introduction and the lessons from past Cultural Arts Days. Can't make a meeting, but want to help? Email Ed Vail at culturalartsday@encinalschool.com.

Kids Art Program Orders Due Oct 11

Like the swallows to Capistrano, the Original Works Kids Art program has returned to Encinal! Click here to learn more or visit www.originalworks.com.

Encinal students have created beautiful works of art at school for parents to order reproduced on a wide variety of items including magnets, t-shirts, tote bags, ceramic tiles, pillow cases, water bottles, note cards, and much more. These high-quality products make fantastic gifts and wonderful keepsakes, and kids love having their artwork immortalized on objects that they and their families use every day.

Order packets went home last week. If you wish to place an order, forms and artwork are due back to school Tuesday, October 11.

Does your student or their sibling want to create additional artwork?

If you want to create additional artwork at home to order, it's easy. You may create a new work on heavy card stock following these instructions (with Encinal student name, grade and teacher on the back) and request an order packet by emailing your child's name, grade and teacher to notecardart@encinalschool.com. You will need one order packet per work of art and we welcome you to ask for as many packets as you need.

This program benefits the Encinal PTO.

Halloween Costume Drive Ends Oct. 14

Email Amy Hamilton at caringandsharing@encinalschool.com if you have questions.

PTO General Membership Mtg & Principal's Coffee - Oct. 20

eagle

You are invited!
The PTO announces its Fall General Membership Meeting taking place on October 20 at 8:30am in the TERC. Please join the discussion about Encinal PTO's plans for wonderful programs and services for all students. The agenda will include approving the PTO budget for the 2011-2012 school year. All parents who contribute to the PTO are voting members and are encouraged to participate!

Immediately following the PTO meeting will be a Principal's Coffee at 9:30am. Principal Liner will discuss the Professional Learning Communities within the Encinal teaching team and she welcomes School Counselor Nicole Scott to discuss the school district's new Life Skills Program. As always, Principal Liner will take questions from the attendees.

We look forward to seeing you at both of these important events!

Halloween Parades at October 31 - Families Welcome

Encinal will celebrate Halloween with student parades in costume on Monday, October 31. Parents are invited to watch and photograph the parades.

Kinder: 11:00a in the kinder yard
1st grade: 11:00a on the black top playground
2nd - 5th grades: 1:15p on the field

Parents, please remind your children that weapons of any kind, including pretend weapons, are not permitted at school. If a costume includes a weapon, the weapon will need to stay at home. We look forward to seeing you on the 31st for a spooky time.

Information to Know

October Life Skills Program Theme is Responsibility

from Nicole Scott, Encinal School Counselor

The MPCSD program on Life Skills continues in October with the theme of "Responsibility." This program is funded jointly by the Encinal PTO and a Jeanie Ritchie Grant from the MPAEF. The book for October is "The Golden Rule" by Ilene Cooper.

The word responsibility is one we use in everyday language but we don't always explain what we mean when we say it. Responsibility is the ability to respond. This means you have a choice on how you will respond in any given situation. Each response has a set of consequences. Some consequences will be positive, others negative. Our challenge as parents and teachers is to help guide our children into making the responsible choices that will help them have the most positive outcomes.

The book "The Golden Rule" focuses on the responsibility we have towards other people. We have an obligation to one another to be kind, helpful and compassionate.

This month discuss with your children their responsibilities. What happens when they fulfill them, or when they don't? How do those choices make them feel about themselves?

Eagle Express Post Office Reopens in November

After a successful launch last year, the Eagle Express will re-open for business in early November. Click here to learn more or volunteer to help.

What is the Eagle Express? This exciting letter writing program turns Encinal into a virtual town with its very own post office, street names and a personal address for each Encinal student. All students and faculty can write letters within the Encinal postal system, and families can even write to students from outside of school. Click here for instructions on sending mail via Eagle Express.

Staff positions are open to all 2nd and 3rd grade students and applications will be sent home this week.

What can parents do to support the Eagle Express?

Volunteer! Opportunities will be available to fit your schedule.
Talk to your children about what the post office does in our community and around the world. Ask them what their Eagle Express address is.
If you have a 2nd and/or 3rd grader talk to him/her about working for the Eagle Express.
If your child is new to Encinal, have him/her ask a friend about the program and locate the green mailboxes on campus.
Donate supplies. We need all sizes of blank paper, mis-matched envelopes and stickers (used as stamps).

Winners of September Go-Eco Raffle

Our first Encinal Go-Eco Raffle of the school year was a big hit. We have four winners for the September drawing:

Athmika S. - 2nd grade

Mayson R. - 4th grade

Paris H. (not pictured) - 2nd grade

Abby T. - 5th grade

Each of these students won either jump ropes or a basketball so they can keep being active. To participate, all they had to do was walk, bike, carpool or bus; and put one raffle ticket in the bin in front of the office for each day they "Go-Eco" to school --and they won! With hundreds of kids who Go-Eco to Encinal, we all win with less traffic and safer roads.

There will be a raffle drawing each month, so keep up the fantastic work of getting to school the Go-Eco way! As the weather cools off, don't forget to put on your gloves so you can enjoy the changing season as you Go-Eco to school!

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

Help Everyone Understand the Newsletter

If you are a Spanish speaker, your work translating the newsletters could help Spanish-only families get the information they need. Email Susannah Hill at ptocommunications @encinalschool.com or text ESPANOL to 380-4405.

Eagle Pride

Let's Give an Eagle Shout Out!

thank you cartoon

A big thank you to Michelle Daher for organizing our Walk Bike Day! Thanks also to Kelley Wolf, Lola Rockwell & Ken Baker (for pre-planning, set-up in addition to hosting event tables) , Mette Neess, Rita & Antii Nerg, and Lauren Calhoon (hosting event tables). Thank you, also, Elizabeth Ouren and Susannah Hill (for project outreach & preplanning as well as wrap-up summaries). And we send our appreciation to all the students who braved the rain to join in the event. Stay tuned because Michelle will plan another one later in the year.

Thank you to Diane Mavica and Lola Rockwell for their hard work starting up Food for Thought this school year, and for keeping it going in the future.

Ways to Support Our School

Next Box Tops Deadline is 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 plastic bags (ideally in groups of 25 or 50) and drop them in the "Box Top" box in the office or send them in your child's green folder. The next deadline is October 17.

House of Humor Gives 15% of Purchases Until 10/20

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.