|
|
  Encinal School NewsletterDecember 4, 2011 La Organizasión de Padres y Maestros de Encinal Boletin en español - haga clic aqui |
|
Things To Do
- Consider helping Encinal families in need click here
- Volunteer for Cultural Arts Day, PTO Nominating Committee click
- Make time to join the Winter Sing, 12/20 click here
Dates to Note
This Week 12/4-12/10
- Sun Honeybear Trees fundraiser continues click here
- Sun Caring & Sharing gift drive continues click here
- Mon Grade 1-2 drama: "Aesop's Fables" 3:30pm click here
- Fri Grade 3-5 drama: "The Princess & the Pig" 4:00pm click
- Fri Cheeky Monkey fundraiser final day click here
Beyond
- 12/13 MPCSD Board of Education meeting, 6pm, District Office
- 12/20 Winter Sing click here
- 12/23 First day of Winter Break
- 1/9 School resumes
- 2/1-3 Spanish Book Fair, Laurel School, times TBD
Information to Know
- Holiday food gift cards & donations are still needed click here
- Cultural Arts Day is collecting colorful junk mail click here
- Girls Leadership Institute Workshops Registration click here
- December Life Skill: Cooperation click here
Ways to Support Encinal School
- Visit Cheeky Monkey & mention Encinal through 12/9 click here
- Shop at Honeybear Trees with flyer through 12/24 click here
- Go to Kepler's and mention Encinal (ongoing) click
- Collect Box Tops for Education (ongoing) click here
Report Your Absent or Tardy Student click here
|
Encinal Winter Sing, Tuesday, December 20
by John Ashfield, Music Teacher
 The weather is starting to get cold, the sun sets earlier, winter is here. . .what better time to join together in song. On Tuesday, December 20, we will be having our Winter Sing. Come to the multi with your child's class, sit with the kids and sing your heart out. We will be singing a varied selection of songs from near and far. Lyrics will be projected and the 5th grade students are the band. We'll rock out on some things and even get up to dance on a few (yes, everyone will have to get up and dance!). This is not a concert. It is a community singing event, where everyone is involved. It'll be fun. So come on out to the winter sing and celebrate the Encinal School Community!
The Winter Sing is made possible due to the generosity of everyone who donates to the MPAEF, which funds the Music program district-wide.
Due to the size of our school we will have 3 separate winter sings, so check the schedule, and with your teacher to make sure you know the time to come.
9:15-10:00 10:45-11:30 1:15-2:00 Jonas K Nestler K Merk K Campbell 1 Callahan K Mathia 1 Hatfield 2 Sullivan 1 Chin 1 Barrera 2 Napolitani 2 McCann/Ow 2 Leff 3 Peterson 3 Bienaime 2 Collier 3 Mar 3 Vargas 3 Sanchez 4 Strohmaier 4 Preston 4 Schmidt 5 Walton 4 Ward 4 Hendrickson 5 Naishtut 4 Yamada 4 Booth 5 Flynn 5 Mattos 5 Meister 5 Camper 5 Clemo 5 Ruth SDC |
The Giving Tree and December Holiday Meals
Thank you very much for all the generous donations that funded grocery cards for the Thanksgiving holidays!
The Caring and Sharing committee is running two December drives, and we hope you will consider contributing to these efforts to support Encinal families in need this season.
 The Giving Tree
Participate in the Encinal Caring & Sharing Committee's Gift Drive from Nov. 29 to Dec. 13. Here is what to do: 1. Visit the Encinal office and find the Giving Tree by the door. Check the list under the Giving Tree and select a child's request, then choose an ornament from the tree. There is a family code on the back of the ornament. 2. Enter the family code and your name and contact information into the Giving Tree Intake Form on the table next to the Giving Tree. Get the corresponding label from Pam or Cecilia in the office. 3. Please mark your unwrapped gift with its family code, and leave the unwrapped gift in the container located by the Encinal front office no later than Tuesday, Dec. 13th. Holiday Food Drive: December Meals & Food for Thought Donate funds to provide a grocery gift card to Encinal families in need for a December holiday meal. Your contribution also supports the Caring and Sharing Committee's Food for Thought program for the rest of the school year. Food for Thought provides fruit in classrooms for any student who has not gotten a breakfast. You can donate funds online - please click here. Thank you very much for you help and support during this holiday season. Back to Top |
PTO Parent Ed Presents: Girls Leadership Institute
 The Girls Leadership Institute is offering its "Real Parents, Real Daughters" workshops to families with girls in 2nd through 5th grade. Led by professional educators, the workshops for girl/parent pairs will help your daughter learn important skills for developing healthy relationships, managing conflict, expressing her real emotions and becoming a strong leader.
The workshop dates for 4th/5th Grade Girls are: Wednesday evenings January 11, 18, 25 and February 1. For 2nd/3rd Grade Girls, the workshops will take place Wednesday evenings February 8, 15, 29 and March 7. Workshops will meet in the Encinal Library from 6-7:30 p.m. The cost is $190 per parent-daughter pair, and financial aid is available. To register, click here. Back to Top |
December Life Skill: Cooperation
by Nicole Scott, Encinal Counselor
 December's life skill is Cooperation. We are reading Subway Sparrow by Leyla Torres. "An English-speaking girl, a Spanish-speaking man, and a Polish-speaking woman might not be able to converse, but when a sparrow trapped in their subway car needs help, their common concern bridges the language barriers between them." ( Amazon.com description).
Cooperation is essential to a successful life. We are constantly working with others on sports teams, in clubs, and in our families. Cooperation is about having a good attitude and being able to compromise. The best way to teach your children cooperation is to work on projects together. It can be helping to do the laundry or clean the dishes to building a lego tower or a gingerbread house. When they get disappointed because something did not go their way talk with your child about how to cooperate- what are important ideas they should argue for and what ones can the compromise on.
Life Skill and Culture is sponsored through a Jeanie Richie Grant from the MPAEF.
Back to Top |
Encinal 1st-2nd After School Drama Presents
"Aesop's Fables"
 On Monday 12/5, the Encinal 1st & 2nd grade After School Drama class presents "Aesop's Fables" at 3:30pm in the large multi. The performance will run 30 minutes and doors open at 3:15pm. There is no admission fee.
The cast is composed of Encinal students in grades 1 & 2 who enrolled this fall in the after school drama program led by Peninsula Youth Theatre's School Play in a Box. |
Encinal 3rd-5th After School Drama Presents
"The Princess & the Pig"
 On Friday 12/9, the Encinal 3rd-5th grade After School Drama class presents "The Princess & the Pig" at 4:00pm in the large multi. The performance will run 30 minutes and doors open at 3:45pm. There is no admission fee.
The cast is composed of Encinal students in grades 3 to 5 who enrolled this fall in the after school drama program led by Peninsula Youth Theatre's School Play in a Box. |
Author & Children's Advocate Trudy Ludwig Dec. 15th, 7pm
by Nicole Scott, Encinal Counselor
 On Thursday evening, December 15, The Friends of Menlo Park Library will be hosting Trudy's parent talk at Menlo Park Council Chambers at 701 Laurel Street, "Understanding Our Kids' Social World: Friendships, Cliques & Power Plays." This event will take place from 7:00- 8:15 p.m. and is open to the community.
Trudy has been featured on ABC's "Good Morning America," PBS's nationally syndicated show, "Keeping Kids Healthy," the National Crime Prevention Council's Circle of Respect program, and, most recently, as an expert panel member on Sesame Street Workshop's video series addressing bullying. Her books (My Secret Bully, Just Kidding, Sorry!, Trouble Talk®, Too Perfect, Confessions of a Former Bully, and her newest release, Better Than You) have received national praise for helping children cope and thrive in their social world. The author's web site is www.trudyludwig.com
Keplers will be there selling some of Trudy Ludwig's books and author signings will take place immediately following the presentation.
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to The Friends of the Menlo Park Library for helping to make this author visit possible.
Back to Top
|
Bring Us Your Colorful Junk Mail for Cultural Arts Day
 We will be making Ugandan paper bead necklaces for Cultural Arts Day, and we are in need of your cardboard junk mail to create them. We are talking about election campaign literature, Bed Bath and Beyond coupons, etc. Please drop them off at the back door of the art room. Our goal is for all 800 kids to have a necklace on the day, so we need a bunch. Questions or want to help with Cultural Arts Day? Please contact Ed Vail at culturalartsday@encinalschool.com. |
Recognizing the People Who Make Encinal Excellent
 Halloween for Hunger
Hooray to the Student Council for collecting a whopping 1,701 pounds of food during the Halloween For Hunger Food Drive. The food will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank for individuals and families in need during this winter season. Thanks to all of the Encinal families who participated by donating food to the drive!
Daylight Foods
The Encinal Caring and Sharing committee would like to extend a special thank you to Daylight Foods. This business provides the fruit for Food for Thought at a great discount and delivers weekly free of charge, making your PTO Caring and Sharing contributions ready to go to work.
|
Holiday Fundraiser at Cheeky Monkey 11/26-12/9
 The holiday season is right around the corner, so get those wish lists ready and visit Cheeky Monkey. Cheeky Monkey will donate 10% of your purchase to Encinal if you shop between 11/26 and 12/9 and mention Encinal during checkout. This offer is valid online as well as in the store, so you can shop at your convenience. And we love that Cheeky Monkey offers free gift wrapping and toy assembly. Check out the attached flyer for more information. Cheeky Monkey Toys640 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park 650-328-7975 www.cheekymonkeytoys.com |
Kepler's Offers 6% Year-round to Support Encinal
 Encinal receives 6% when you shop in-store or online at Kepler's Books all year round. Mention Encinal School at the register, or, if shopping online, select "Encinal School" at the community partners link.
|
Honeybear Trees Through 12/24: Shop & Support Encinal
 Honeybear Trees is offering 15% back to Encinal on purchases in their lots between 11/19 and 12/24. Earn money for our school while you spruce up your home for the holidays. Please mention Encinal School at check-out and show this flyer (which includes maps and addresses for Honeybear Trees in Redwood City and San Carlos.) This is an easy way to support our school so please make Honeybear Trees your destination for the tree and decorations that will grace your home this season. We have a report from our mystery tree shopper that Honeybear's products are fresher than others she has ever bought - and she should know because she is from the Pacific Northwest! Open 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm. www.honeybeartrees.com
|
Holiday Baking = Box Tops = Dollars for Encinal
Remember to look for the Box Tops for Education on your holiday baking items and save them for our school. Each one is worth 10¢ which adds up to $100's of dollars for our school each year. Drop them by the office collection box anytime. Next submission deadline is February 2012.
|
Volunteer Opportunities - You Make A Difference!
Click here to see an overview of ways to volunteer |
Volunteers Needed for Cultural Arts Day
 Encinal's Cultural Arts Day is a one-of-a-kind event. This year's CAD will take place in the end of January, and the planning team still needs more hands right now. There are some great activities being planned and we need help finalizing different components. There are some things that you can do from home or in the evenings. Please contact Ed Vail at culturalartsday@encinalschool.com for more information. |
Seeking Encinal PTO Nominating Committee Members
 We are searching for 5 parent volunteers for the PTO Nominating Committee. The committee's job is to identify candidates for next year's PTO Executive Board and to finalize the slate for next year. The committee will meet a few times between January and March. Please volunteer or send a recommendation for someone you think would be well suited for the committee. Nominating Committee members should not be interested in a Board position themselves. Please email PTO Parliamentarian Gina Ryan before 12/15 to volunteer or submit a name. |
|
Community News & Events
For complete listing click here
|
Latest Community Listings
Want to see everything, not just what's new? click here
Student & Family Events click here for all listings
- "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Dancers Repertory Theater and Menlo Park Academy of Dance, 12/4, 10 & 11
- Kepler's Story Time with David Carter and Lots of Bots!, Sunday, December 4, 11.30 a.m., 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
- Redwood Symphony Holiday Concert, Saturday, December 10, 3 p.m., Cañada College Main Theatre, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City
- Kepler's Story Time with Jim LaMarche - The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree, Sunday, December 11, 11.30 a.m., 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
- (Ages 5 to 9) Drop and Shop at Celebrate Art - Holiday Gift Making Workshops for 5 to 9 yrs., December 20 - 23, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1023-B Chestnut St., Redwood City
For Parents click here for all listings
Sports, Classes, Volunteering for Students & Families click here
- The Giving Tree, Supplies needed in Ravenswood School District. All Students Matter, a grassroots volunteer organization, will provide a quarterly email "wish list" for needed supplies which you can purchase to fill an ongoing need.
- Living Spanish - Spanish Immersion Winter Camp - Dec/Jan
- (Age 3 to Grade 5) Creative Art for Young Children, January 10 through March 31 at the Portola Valley Town Center. Open registrationstarts December 19.
|
|
Encinal PTO Communications
|
Join the PTO Mailing List - Text "SUBSCRIBE" to 42828
Make sure to receive Principal's Posts, Midweek Updates and weekly newsletters by joining the Encinal PTO Mailing List. Back to Top |
| Encinal Newsletter Submissions - Deadline Tuesday noon
 Email articles for the Encinal newsletter to newsletter@encinalschool.com Email community announcements to communitynews@mpcsd.org Back to Top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
