Things To Do     

• Volunteer now for Cultural Arts Day Mon. on Jan. 30 click here 
• Donate to MPAEF by 1/31 and have your donation matched click 
• Register your student for January after-school activities click 
• Order the 2011-2012 Encinal Yearbook by Jan. 31 click here 
• Participate in the PTO Board nominations for 2012 click here 
• Start planning some evening family time during Encinal Week of the Family next week click here
• Collect and bring in "Good Clean Trash" to class click here

Dates to Note 

This Week 1/15-1/22

• Mon  No school - enjoy Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
• Thu   Spanish Immersion parent mtg, Laurel multi, 8:30am click 
• Fri    Encinal kindergarten parent tours, 8:45am click here 

• 1/22     Encinal Family Skate, 12:30pm, Ice Oasis RWC click 
• 1/23-7  Encinal Week of the Family (no homework!) click here 
• 1/23     Board of Education regular meeting, 6pm click here
• 1/24     Su Hong - Break from cooking night click here 
• 1/27     Encinal kindergarten parent tours, 8:45am click here 
• 1/30     Cultural Arts Day celebrating Eastern Africa click here 
• 1/31     PTO Board nominations deadline click here 
• 2/1-29  Kindergarten and Spanish Immersion registration click
• 2/1-4    Spanish Book Fair, Laurel School F pod click here  
• 2/1       Special Education Breakfast click here
• 2/6       Outdoor Education Program parent meeting click here
• 2/17-20 Presidents Day holiday, No school

Spanish Immersion Parent Meeting Thu. Jan. 19

• History of Spanish Immersion in Menlo Park
• Possible 4th and 5th grade configuration
• Foreign language opportunities at middle school
• Assessments

For more information contact Tami Girsky at tgirsky@mpcsd.org or 650-321-7140 ext.5601.

Cultural Arts Day Mon., Jan. 30 - Volunteers Needed Now

We still need many volunteers.  Please volunteer by contacting your HRP or sign up here.  Please sign up right now so we can get you slotted into the right spot for the big event in two weeks.  

 

The excitement is building for Cultural Arts Day on Monday, January 30th. Our African children dancers ("Spirit of Uganda") have arrived in the country. A local Ugandan, Francis, is visiting every classroom this week to play the Adungu, drums, and tube fiddle.  Francis was a performer with the "Spirit of Uganda" when he was younger. Teachers are sharing East African folktales and videos. The 4th and 5th grade students have made paper bead necklaces for the younger classes. All we need are more parent volunteers.

 

What will happen during Cultural Arts Day 2012?

We have a whole day of events including East African crafts, food, another musical performance by singer/diva Omega, drums, and videos. Please join your Encinal community for a profoundly moving experience that the children will remember for the rest of their lives  -- volunteer (click here). 

 

We need "good clean trash" for a creative student activity  

We need egg cartons and "good clean trash." What is "good clean trash?" Nothing sharp, no food, nothing icky, nothing hazardous, no glass. Yes to paper towel rolls, wine corks, washed food packaging, packing material, cardboard, etc. We need a minimum of 8 bags of "good clean trash" and 4 egg cartons for each classroom.  Please turn in to your child's classroom.

 

"Spirit of Uganda" part of "Empower African Children"
This tour group of Ugandan children will perform during the morning of Cultural Arts Day.  If you would like to see their full show, you can see them at the Performing Arts Center at Menlo-Atherton High School at 6pm on Sunday, January 29th.  This is a show you don't want miss.  Check out a (boisterous!) preview here. Click here for tickets.

 

"Young, proud, and marvelously spiritied musicians and dancers. Whatever these performers do, in whatever different bright attire, they do with discipline, fervor, and joy.... The pounding feet and agile bodies, the drums and vibrant human voices all send a message - one of courange and hope."
- Village Voice

 

"Dynamic dancers and singers galvanize an audience into dancing in its seats" - Financial Times

Questions?  Email Ed Vail (culturalartsday@encinalschool.com). Thank you for your support!

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Information to Know 

After School Programs Registration for January

New After School Classes

Registration is underway for Encinal's after-school programs run by a variety of providers and organized by the PTO. The classes include intro to sports, flag football, yoga, wizbots and more. Information on grades, class days & dates is available on the signup page -- click here to learn more and to register your student. We are will be adding some new classes to the schedule this week so make sure to check back.

 

Most of the classes begin this week. Please refer to your student's after school program flyer and online information for any last minute changes. Click here for all after school program information.

If you would like to request a scholarship or make a donation to our after-school activities scholarship fund, there is more information on our webpage, please click here. 

Encinal Pride 

PTO Board Positions Openings for 2012

Nomination Deadline Tuesday, Jan. 31st

Encinal needs you! Please nominate yourself or someone else you think would be great at one of these positions by January 31. To submit a nomination or if you have any questions about the Board, please email our PTO parliamentarian Gina Ryan or any member of our nominating committee. Thank you to the following volunteers for agreeing to serve on the Encinal Nominating Committee to recruit and select next year's PTO Board: Amy Nelson, Heather Karp, Laurie Sapp, Holly Baudler and Kelly Perri.

Executive Vice President

Assist the President; represents the Encinal PTO on the District PTO Council; advisor to nominating committee; review of outgoing PTO communications, organize the Back to School Coffee and other responsibilities described in the Bylaws. 2 year term (becomes President the following year). Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees.

Financial Secretary

Works closely with the treasurer in keeping records of income, receipts, and distributions; and other responsibilities described in the Bylaws. 2 year term (becomes the Treasurer the following year).   Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees.

Secretary

Responsible for recording the minutes of the monthly Executive Board meetings and the PTO General Meetings; coordinates correspondence as needed. Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees.

Community Coordinator

Responsible for oversight of PTO efforts to build a sense of community among all students and families; coordinate efforts to provide additional support to students/families as needed. Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees.

School Support Coordinator

Responsible for coordinating programs and events that support the operations of the school and Student Council. Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees

Volunteer Coordinator(s)

Responsible for head room parent selection, training, and coordination; communication between head room parents and PTO Executive Board; assist with Back to School Coffee and recruiting and managing of other PTO volunteers.  Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees.

Communications Coordinator

Responsible for developing and coordinating the communications messages and vehicles of the PTO to parents and staff to ensure consistency and timeliness of messages. Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees.

Auditor

Responsible for auditing the PTO financial records twice during the school year and for developing and maintaining volunteer processes (handbook, training, tracking hours, etc.). Provides oversight and direction to several assigned committees. 

New Community Listings  

Want to see everything, not just what's new?  Click here. 

Events for Students and Families

(Ages 5 to 9) Stranger Safety Workshop from Kuk Sool Won, Saturday, January 21, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Arrillaga Recreation Center, 700 Alma Street, Menlo Park.

Encinal PTO Communications

Email articles for the Encinal newsletter to 

newsletter@encinalschool.com

Email community announcements to

communitynews@mpcsd.org

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