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  Encinal School Newsletter
January 22, 2012
Encinal PTO/La Organizasión de Padres y Maestros
Boletin en espanol - haga clic aqui
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Things To Do
- Enjoy Encinal/Laurel Week of the Family (no homework) click
- Donate to MPAEF by 1/31 for donation matching click here
- TODAY - Skate at Ice Oasis to start Week of the Family click
- Order the 2011-2012 Encinal Yearbook by Jan. 31 click here
- Make a nomination for the 2012 PTO Board by Jan. 31 click
- Collect and bring in "Good Clean Trash" to class click here
- Consider serving on the Board of MPAEF before 2/15 click here
Dates to Note
This Week 1/22-1/28
- Today Encinal Family Skate, 12:30pm, Ice Oasis RWC click
- Mon Encinal Week of the Family begins (no homework!) click
- Mon MPCSD Board of Education regular meeting, 6pm click
- Tues Su Hong Fundraiser click here
- Fri Encinal kindergarten parent tours, 8:45am click here
Beyond
- 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
- 2/15 Deadline for MPAEF Board member submissions click
- 2/17-20 Presidents Day holiday, no school
- 2/22-23 Pizza My Heart Fundraiser
Calendar - Get the dates for the rest of school year click here
Ways to Support Encinal School
- Participate in MPAEF Foundation 500 drive click here
- Eat or order out at Su Hong on Tues. Jan. 24 click here
- Volunteer for the MPAEF Board of Directors click here
Report an Absent or Tardy Student click here
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2012-13 Kindergarten Registration Information Now Online
 Registration for next year's Kindergarten, new Transitional Kindergarten, and Spanish Immersion program starts on Feb. 1. Please refer to the district website for important instructions, tour information and parent meetings. Click here for more information. |
From MPAEF: Matching Grant Update
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Foundation 500 Challenge Grant Update
from Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation
Since launching the Foundation 500 Challenge in December we've raised $154,415 for our schools! That brings us closer to meeting the district need of $4 million, but there's still over $95,500 waiting to be matched. Let's not leave any of the Challenge Grant funds on the table! If you're a new donor and haven't given-or if you'd like to donate again and have your increase matched-there's no better time than now! The deadline for this Challenge Grant is February 15.
As a final step in our overall annual campaign that closes on February 15, we will be calling those families we haven't yet heard from. Want to avoid this call? Make your donation by January 31 and you won't hear from us. That's a promise. Thank you. Click here to donate.
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PTO Announces Encinal Family Skate Sunday Jan. 22
 Looking for a fun family activity to kick off Week of the Family? How about family ice skating? The Ice Oasis in Redwood City has public skating hours on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. They are offering a discounted rate of $6/person for Encinal families that covers both admission and skate rental. They have a restaurant upstairs with hot chocolate, hamburgers, chick strips, etc. for those who get thirsty or hungry. For anyone interested in watching a hockey game, all are welcome to stay and watch the game starting at 2:45 featuring their local league of kids 10 and under (the Redwood City Blackstars versus the Tri-Valley team). Make sure to tell them you are with Encinal at the ticket booth to get the discounted rate. Ice Oasis is less than 5 minutes from the Encinal campus at 3149 Bay Road in Redwood City. www.iceoasis.com 650-364-8090. |
Week of the Family at Encinal and Laurel Jan. 23-27
 During the week of January 23, Encinal and Laurel schools will celebrate the Week of the Family to honor the vital role that families play in supporting the growth and education of children. Traditional homework will not be assigned during this week, although students should continue to engage in nightly reading and fact practice.
Strong family connections along with adequate sleep and abundant opportunities to engage in free play are some of the most critical building blocks for a child's success. This week provides an opportunity for families to enjoy a slower pace in the evenings, reserve some time for simple fun, enjoy a warm meal together or ask our children how they would like to spend this time together. The PTO has organized an Encinal Family Ice Skate (above, click here), and has also researched some family activities in the community. Click here for our community section for a listing of other activities you might enjoy during Week of the Family. |
Su Hong Dinner - Mention Encinal for 20% to PTO, Jan. 24
 Next week we celebrate both Encinal's Week of the Family and Chinese New Year. On Tuesday Jan. 24, if you would like a break from cooking, how about enjoying some yummy Chinese food with your family? Have fun celebrating 'The Year of the Dragon' at Su Hong in Menlo Park.
Su Hong Dining and Su Hong To-Go have generously offered to donate 20% of your bill to the Encinal PTO. Please be sure to mention you are with Encinal. For address, menu and other information, go to www.suhong.com. Gung hay fat choy!
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Cultural Arts Day Mon., Jan. 30 - Volunteering Update
 Thank you so much to the many wonderful parents and community members who have volunteered to help with Cultural Arts Day! And thank you to the HRPs who have given so much help. We really appreciate your support! It's going to be an incredible day for everyone. Volunteer training We want to make sure volunteers know which activities will be happening at different times during the day and what your role(s) will be. What is the training? What times will it happen? Click here for information.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, visited every classroom last 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.
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.
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Yearbook Order Deadline Jan. 31 click here
 The PTO's Yearbook committee announces that now is the time to order your 2011- 2012 yearbooks! The yearbooks start at $24 and there are accessories and personalization available at an additional cost. All orders are processed online and are by credit card only. Please be sure to order your yearbook by the deadline, which is January 31st, 2012. To order go to www.jostensyearbooks.com and use the pull down menus to select California, Atherton and Encinal Elementary School and order from one of the three options. Scholarships are available by contacting Pam Garcia in the Encinal office at pgarcia@mpcsd.org or 326-5164. The yearbooks will be distributed at school to your child at the end of the school year. |
Spanish Book Fair Feb. 1-4 at Laurel School
 If you are interested in Spanish books for kids, please come to the Spanish Book Fair at Laurel School in the new "F" Pod from Feb 1-4. Our book vendor "Let's Read in Spanish" will bring a wonderful selection of Spanish books for children from many Spanish publishing countries. You can preview the books online at their web site.20% of the proceeds from the book sales will be given back to our schools' PTO's. For families in the Spanish Immersion Program at Laurel and Encinal, please be sure to check out the wish boxes of books that teachers and librarians have selected.Book Fair hoursWed Feb 1, 8am - 4pmThu Feb 2, 8am - 3pmFri Feb 3, 8am - 4pm and Special Evening Event 6 - 8pmSat Feb 4, 2pm - 5pmStay tuned for more details on our Special Friday Evening Event.We are also looking for volunteers to help with set-up, take-down and staffing, please email Mary Sapountzis at bookfair@encinalschool.com. Questions: Contact Traci Christie at bookfair@encinalschool.com. |
Special Education Breakfast with the Director Feb. 1
from MPCSD Student Services Director Olivia Mandilk
 A meeting for parents of children with IEPs hosted by Students Services Director Olivia Mandilk and featuring special guest Superintendent Ghysels. Wed., Feb. 1, 9:30-11am in the District Board Room. |
Box Tops Collections Underway - Deadline Feb. 22
 Hear Ye, Hear Ye Encinal Community!Our next and last collection date for Box Tops for this school year will be February 22, 2012. Please start cleaning your junk drawers for the box tops you have misplaced. Each and everyone counts and adds up to hundreds of dollars for our school.
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MPAEF Annual Auction and Party on April 21
 What's Black and White and Spring all Over?
This year's annual MPAEF auction and party!
Mark your calendar for April 21! Lots of food, drinks, silent auction items, and live music by the Cheeseballs -- San Francisco's top dance band! The party is at the Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto and you won't want to miss it. New this year: The Black & White dinner for early party-goers and online bidding for many kids' parties and teacher items.
If you have a second home available for a week/weekend, have access to a unique sports experience, or would like to throw a theme party with a group of friends or host a kids' pool party, please contact Celine Sanie ( celine@sanie.com). The deadline for submitting auction items is March 1. |
5th Grade Families - Send Baby Photos for the Yearbook
 Attention 5th Grade Families: We need your BABY PHOTOS! Both digital and hard copy images are great and please include the student's name, classroom teacher and classroom number. It's a tradition at Encinal School to have baby pictures of our 5th graders in the Encinal yearbook. If you are interested in having your child's baby picture appear in this year's Encinal yearbook, you can submit a hard copy or a digital image.If you have any questions, please contact Kristina Sakamoto (kristinasakamoto@yahoo.com). Hard copy - Submit the photo in an envelope marked "Yearbook" in the Yearbook drop in Encinal Office. Please attach to the photo your name, your child's name & her teacher's name, as well as the classroom number. Photos will be returned to you later in the year so we must have your child's teacher.
Digital copy - Create an account on the Yearbook web site at at http://www.replayit.com, then click Add Photos/Upload to transfer your photo from your computer to the Yearbook web site. Please enter student name, grade 5. Please enter the teacher's name in the file information under "Tags" or "Caption". Finally, click on "Share with School." It may take a few minutes until it is in our database. You can view what you have uploaded by clicking on your name at the top of the page.
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5th Grade Parents - Outdoor Education Program Meeting February 6, 6:30 pm
 The Outdoor Education Parent Information Meeting for 5th Grade Parents will take place Monday, February 6th, 6:30 - 7:15 pm in the Encinal School Library.
All 5th grade parents are invited to attend this Outdoor Education information meeting. Please come and meet Mark Nolan, Director of San Mateo County Outdoor Education, who will share information about the program, describe the weekly schedule for students, and answer any questions you may have.
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Recognizing the People Who Make Encinal Excellent
 Thank you very much to all the Encinal HRPs who have done so much this year, most recently working to find Cultural Arts Day volunteers and to steer "good clean trash" into the classroom for use during Cultural Arts Day activities. Your dedication and thoughtfulness have brightened the Encinal community all year long.
And a big thank you to the PTO Business Alliance team of Robin Soran, Ninette Wong and MaryAnn Shen for organizing the yummy restaurant fundraisers, the valuable holiday shopping fundraisers, the Box Tops for Education drive and much more.
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Volunteer Opportunities - You Make A Difference!
Click here to see an overview of ways to volunteer |
PTO Board Openings for 2012 - Nominations Due Jan. 31
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, to nominate yourself or to any questions about the Board, please email the PTO parliamentarian Gina Ryan or any member of our nominating committee: Amy Nelson, Heather Karp, Laurie Sapp, Holly Baudler and Kelly Perri. Thank you to these volunteers for agreeing to serve on the Encinal Nominating Committee to recruit and select next year's PTO Board. Click here for full descriptions of these open PTO Board positions. - Executive Vice President
- Financial Secretary
- Secretary
- Community Coordinator
- School Support Coordinator
- Volunteer Coordinator(s)
- Communications Coordinator
- Auditor
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MPAEF Foundation Seeks Board Members - Deadline Feb. 15
The Menlo-Park Atherton Education Foundation is a board of 40 parent volunteers from our school district. The Foundation is seeking new board members who are motivated to work on our fundraising efforts with parents, businesses, and the community at large. Parent volunteers serve a two year term. If you are interested in serving on the MPAEF board please email Alison Leupold at alisonleupold@sbcglobal.net or Theanne Thomson at theanne_thomson@yahoo.com by Feb. 15. Please click here to visit our website and learn more about what we do. Thank you for your support.
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East African Artifacts Needed for Cultural Arts Day click here
 Encinal School is hosting its fourth Cultural Arts Day featuring East Africa on Monday, January 30th. This is an all-day event organized for the entire school by the PTO and our committee is planning wonderful experiences for everyone. - Have some East African artifacts we can borrow for the day?
- Want to pick out some Kenyan coffee for staff and volunteers?
- Or figure out where to get plantains?
- Or help our children dancers on event day?
- Or eat a roasted grasshopper in front of Encinal students?
Click here to volunteer. We also plan to have two adult volunteers per classroom throughout the day, in addition to the teachers, to lead activities and chaperon the kids to activities outside the classroom. Talk to your HRP to volunteer for this.
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Coaches for Girls on the Run - It's About More Than Running
 The Encinal After School Activities coordinator is searching for parent volunteers to coach Encinal's group for Girls on the Run. This Bay Area organization provides an innovative running program for girls ages 8 to 13 that uses experiential learning to teach very specific and well- defined social and personal skills. You do not need to be a runner to be a successful coach for Girls on the Run. You will serve as a role model for girls by showing up prepared and on time, listening attentively, having a positive demeanor and outlook and by leading a healthy lifestyle! You will encourage the girls and coach them on proper stretching, explore emotional issues faced by girls their age, and discuss the importance of nutrition and physical activity. Don't worry, this will all be covered in coach training. To learn more and to apply by Jan. 23, click here. |
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Community News & Events
For complete listing click here
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New Community Listings
 Want to see everything, not just what's new? Click here.
Events for Students and Families
(All ages) Week of the Family & Cultural Arts Day twofer! Masai Warrior and Elder Sabora Ole Oyie at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo San Jose - Thursday. Jan. 26 6:30pm. $10 admission covers building a well in Sabore's village and supporting Happy Hollow conservation efforts. RSVP required at 408-794-6404. Click here for information and click here for directions.
(Early Grades) Kepler's Boat Story Time, Sunday, January 29, 11:30 a.m., 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, Featuring Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip C. Stead
(Ages 5-12) Sweethearts Family Dance, Presented by the Atherton Dames Saturday, February 11, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Jennings Pavilion, Holbrook Palmer Park, Atherton
(All ages) "Spirit of Uganda" is touring the USA from coast to coast. Don't miss their local performance at the Performing Arts Center at Menlo-Atherton High School at 6pm on Sunday, January 29th. Click here for tickets.
For Parents (For parents of children ages 5-12) Speaker: "Angry Birds! Ways to Help Your Child Manage Anger" with Brandyn Street, PhD, Thursday, February 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Children's Health Council, 650 Clark Way, Palo Alto. Learn the causes of anger, ways to stay calm, and methods for decreasing problem behaviors and promoting new skills.
(For parents of children ages 5-12) Speaker: "The Entitlement Battle: Raising a Selfless Citizen in a Me-Centered World" with Ashley Taggart, MA Tuesday, February 9, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Children's Health Council, 650 Clark Way, Palo Alto
Sports, Classes, Volunteer Opportunities for Students & Families
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Encinal PTO Communications
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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. Click here or text "SUBSCRIBE" to 42828. 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 |
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