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  Encinal School Newsletter
March 18, 2012
Encinal PTO/La Organizasión de Padres y Maestros
Boletin en espanol -
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Four day school week - no school Friday - staff development
Things To Do
- Submit Encinal Site Council parent survey - due today click
- Bring just one book (or more) to donate to Encinal by Thu click
- Volunteer for PTO electronic communications team click here
- Join today's Garden Work Day from 2-4pm click here
- Register students for spring after school activities click here
Dates to Note
This Week 3/18-25
Sun Last day of Encinal Site Council parent survey click here
Sun Garden Work Day 2-4pm click here
Mon Book Donation Week begins click here
Tue by noon: Last day to mail Card Day cards in Eagle Express
Wed Tickets for MPAEF Auction event go on sale click here
Thu Last day of Book Donation Week click here
Fri No School - Staff Development Day
Beyond
3/27 Card Day click here
3/28 3rd Grade Wax Museum event 5:30pm click here
3/31 Encinal Read-a-Thon ends, forms due 4/9-13 click here
4/1 Nominations due for SSA and HSA volunteer awards click
4/2-6 No school - Spring Break April 2-6
4/12 Parent orientation for next year's 4th grade families click
Review next year's 2012-2013 calendar on District web site
Ways to Support Encinal School
Consider having your child collect Read-a-Thon pledges click
Buy tickets for the April 21st MPAEF auction event click here
Donate new and gently used children's books click here
Report an Absent or Tardy Student click here
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Encinal Site Council Parent Survey Ends Today click
Please complete the parent survey sent out by Principal Liner and the Encinal Site Council before it closes tonight. The survey asks Encinal parents to offer their thoughts on academics, classroom experience, atmosphere and what is important. Responses from parents aid the Site Council in drawing conclusions about what is working well and which areas could improve. In turn, the Site Council develops a strategic plan for the coming school year.
Please click here to complete the survey before it closes tonight. Haga clic aqui - version espanol. All survey responses are anonymous. These responses will be reviewed by Principal Liner and shared with individual staff members as appropriate. In addition, a report highlighting key strengths and areas for growth will be made available in April on the Encinal school website and in the Encinal office.
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Book Donation Week - Just One Book from Everyone Helps
 Just One - Please consider donating even just one book to our new/gently used Encinal Book Drive this week. All books will go into the Encinal Library or classrooms. Donation bins will be in front of school and in front of library. If every family donates just one book it will make a difference.This is part of our March Read-a-Thon which we hope yourchildren are enjoying. Please keep encouraging them toget pledges/log their reading minutes and enjoy. Two moreweeks left. For more information, click here. |
MPAEF Auction Tickets Go on Sale Wednesday click here
You've been hearing about the details for weeks, and now's your chance to purchase tickets to the spring auction event. The web site will be live for ticket sales on Wednesday, March 21 -- that's exactly one month before the big event. Best of all: You'll be able to preview the catalog for both the Online Auction (kids' parties and teacher items) and the Silent Auction (getaways, sports tickets, and theme parties). The Online Auction runs April 13-20 and details will be out soon. Get your tickets early, as the Black & White Dinner for early party-goers has limited seating and is sure to sell out. There are plenty of General Admission tickets to go around, but buy early because prices go up April 12th. Looking forward to seeing you there! Black & White and Spring All Over Event Details: Saturday, April 21, Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel, Palo Alto 6:00 pm Black & White Dinner - $200/guest 7:45 pm General Admission - $85/guest and $50 teachers & staff Tickets go on sale March 21 at www.mpaef.org. Back to Top |
Card Day Will Be Tuesday, March 27
 Tuesday, March 27, will be Card Day at Encinal School, organized by the PTO. This is a special day to honor teachers, staff and Encinal friends with cards made by students. Cards for classroom teachers, aides, Special Ed support staff, maintenance team members, administrators or specialist teachers for art/music/PE/library can warm the hearts of the many professionals who dedicate their working day to our children's education. Children should bring cards to school on Card Day or mail before noon Tuesday, March 20, via the on-campus green post boxes of Encinal's Eagle Express. Click here to review how to use Eagle Express.
Thank you for helping to show appreciation to our wonderful staff! The PTO is also hosting a staff appreciation luncheon on Card Day called 'Soup for the Soul'. |
MPAEF Thanks These Local Businesses
 The Foundation is grateful for the donations we receive from many businesses in our community, some of which are listed below. The next time you pass by and see a Foundation sticker in the window, please stop in and let them know you're thankful for the contribution they make to your kids!
European Styling Parlor 877 El Camino 650-322-1848
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Please Make Nominations for District Council by March 28th
 The MPCSD has an advisory council working on fostering relationships and facilitating communication within the District. It is called the District Council. The District Council is composed of representatives from the key areas of the District: PTOs and Principals of Encinal, Hillview, Laurel and Oak Knoll Schools; MPAEF leadership, the District Superintendent and the School Board.
Menlo Park City School District Council is seeking candidates for its officer positions for the 2012-2013 school year. District parents who have demonstrated involvement with Member PTO's and MPAEF can use their background and knowledge as a benefit to this advisory Council. Open positions include Secretary/Parliamentarian, Auditor and others. For more information, please contact Marian Kremer at hagermans@gmail.com. Nominations are due March 28.
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Nominate an Outstanding Volunteers for Recognition by 4/1
Call for Service Award Nominations - due April 1st  Every year our District is lucky enough to have parents, teachers, staff, and community volunteers give of their time, skills, and creativity to our schools. Many programs would not exist if it was not for this formidable group of volunteers, "the Pillars of our Community." The PTO's Honorary Service Awards and School Service Awards recognize those individuals who have contributed in an extraordinary way to our District.
Please take a moment to nominate someone you know who goes above and beyond to make a difference in our schools. You can download a nomination form or pick one up in the school office or email your nominee to ptopresident@encinalschool.com. When sending an email include your nominee's name and briefly describe the nominee's contribution(s). Nominations are due April 1st.
The HSA/SSA Nominating Committees rely on nominations from parents and teachers for the Awards Ceremonies. School Service Award (SSA) Recipients Encinal School will honor all of our parents volunteers including our SSA recipients at our Volunteer Appreciation Brunch on Tuesday, May 22 from 9:30-11am. All parents are encouraged to attend this special occasion. Honorary Service Awards (HSA) Recipients The district-wide HSA ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 24 from 4-6pm at Laurel School. |
Third Grade Wax Museum Is Wednesday, March 28th
 The past few months, Encinal third grade students selected and read a biography about a famous person past or present. At school, students learned about the genre of biographies and wrote a 1-2 page paper about their subject. They researched their selected person at home and prepared a costume for a presentation at school. As the culminating activity, each student will be a "model" in a Wax Museum on March 28th. Students will dress as the subject of their report and memorize a short summary of their subject's biography. Third grade families are invited to tour the Wax Museum and visit all the famous "wax" figures. This event takes place Wednesday, March 28th at 5:30pm in the Encinal 3rd grade classrooms, and will be a truly memorable event. |
Incoming 4th Grade Parent Orientation: April 12th, 4:30pm
 Parents of the Encinal and Laurel third grade students who will make up next year's Encinal 4th grade cohort are invited to a meeting to learn about the 4th grade curriculum and meet the teachers. This is a parent only event in the Encinal large multipurpose room.
Parent Orientation - Encinal 4th Grade 2012-2013 Thursday, April 12th, 4:30-5:30pm, Encinal multi |
5th Grade Parents - Hillview PTO Needs You
 The 2012-13 school year is a great time to get involved at Hillview. We are opening the brand new middle school and welcoming a new principal. We have PTO committee chair positions open on the following committees: - Camp Hillview (6th grade event) - Need two more 6th grade parents to chair
- Greek Festival (6th grade event) - Need two more 6th grade parents to chair
- After School Classes (2 co-chairs)
- After School Sports (1 more co-chair)
- Arena Check-in (1 more co-chair)
- Book Mending (chair)
- Membership (2-3 co-chairs)
- Teacher Fund-a-Gift (2 co-chairs)
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Background in Marketing Communications? Want to Help PTO?
 Build skills on the Constant Contact email marketing platform as part of the PTO Communications volunteer team.
Work at home on an internet-connected computer -- make the time commitment that works for you. One hour a week helps and more time is welcome, too. Your work would be valuable to Encinal's electronic communications: newsletters, mid-week reminders, Principal's Posts, surveys. No special skills necessary because we will teach you everything.
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Help Get the Encinal Garden Ready for Its Big Showing
 The Encinal Garden will be shown as part of the Slow Food/Common Ground school garden tour of April 28, and it needs to be cleaned up for the occasion. Please pitch in during Garden Work days on Sunday, March 18, 2:00-4:00pm and Sunday, April 15, 2:00-4:00pm. Our emphasis will be on weeds, so bring gloves, a hat, sunscreen, and your favorite weeding tools. Snacks and water will be provided. If you can't attend a workday, please consider spending some time weeding in and around your classroom's garden bed before April 28th. If you have questions please email Kristi Waldron, the garden coordinator.
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Community News & Events
For complete listing click here
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New Community Listings
Want to see all listings, not just what's new? Click here. 
Summer Camp Information for District Families
Click here to get a valuable summary of summer camp information. Check back often - we are adding camps every week!
Events for Students and Families
- Hillview Talent Show - Thursday & Friday March 22 & 23, 7:00- 9:00pm at Hillview Middle School. Tickets available by advance order (download) for $7 per adult and $3 per elementary age child; also available at the door the night of the show.
- A Tale of Four Meetings for the Atherton Library
In February and March. Help us tell the story about the types of spaces you want for the new library, and how you want the library to look. - "Once Upon a Mattress," a Fairytale Musical
3/16-3/24, Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield, Atherton. - "Expanding your Horizons in Math and Science" Conference
For 6th through 12th Grade Young Women, Saturday, 3/17, 8:15-3:00 p.m., at Skyline College in San Bruno. - Kepler's Story Time with Emily Wagner
Sunday, 3/18, 11:00 a.m., 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. - Friends of the Menlo Park Library Book Sale
Sunday, 3/18, noon to 4 p.m., downstairs meeting room at the Menlo Park Library, 701 Laurel Street. - Kepler's Youth Event: Ally Carter, Out of Sight, Out of Time
Wednesday, 3/21, 7:00 p.m., With more than a million Gallagher Girls books sold, a legion of fans have fallen in love with the New York Times best-selling spy-girl series, and the fifth book delivers the most nerve-wracking, high-stakes adventure yet. - Kepler's Dinosaurs Story Time
Sunday, 3/25, 11:00 a.m., 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach and Dinosaur Roar! by Paul Strickland.
For Parents
- Speaker: Stop the Bullying: Parent Strategies to Protect and Support Your Child
With Ramsey Khasho, PsyD, Tuesday, 3/20, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Children's Health Council, 650 Clark Way, Palo Alto. For parents of kids ages 5-12. Free admission, preregistration required, call 650-617-3812. - Panel: Bridging the Gap, Can Technology Successfully Assist Our Schools in Closing the Achievement Gap?
No admission charge, Tuesday, 3/27, 7 to 8 p.m., Woodside High School, 199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside. - Donations Wanted: Ravenswood School District Community Yard Sale
Drop off gently used clothes, toys, household items, electronics and small furniture 4/7, 4/14 or 4/21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Extra Space Storage, 999 E Bayshore Road, Palo Alto. - Ravenswood Parent Outreach Volunteers Needed
Be a part of the momentum to improve the performance of the Ravenswood Schools.
Sports, Classes & Volunteer Opportunities
- Free Lacrosse Clinic
Sunday, 4/15, 4 to 5 p.m., at Burgess Sports Park, 700 Alma Street, Menlo Park. - Solo Aquatics Swim Team (Ages 3-18)
Located at Burgess Aquatic Facility and Menlo Atherton Spieker Pool, serving Menlo Park families for two decades. - Menlo Mavericks Youth Water Polo
Now Accepting Registration, Located at Burgess Pool, 501 Laurel Street, Menlo Park. - Bulldog Sports and Fitness for Kids
Spring classes start 4/2 and run through 6/1, after-school times at Burgess Park - sign up now! - Newton's No School Day Camp
3/23, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1100 Middle Avenue, Menlo Park. A safe, exciting and engaging place to go for this upcoming no school day. Arts and crafts, cooking, group games and Yoga. - Menlo Children's Center Spring Break Camp
Monday-Friday, 4/2-4/6, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 801 Laurel Street, Menlo Park. - Hi-Five Bay Area Sports Club Spring Break Camp
4/2-4/6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium, Menlo Park. - Spring Down Equestrian Center
Offering spring and summer camps and classes. - Mathnasium Math Learning Center
Try us for a week of free tutoring and homework help. 605 Cambridge Ave, Suite A, Menlo Park. - Menlo Aquatics Spring Day Camp
4/2-4/6, 4/9-4/13 and 4/16-4/20, 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday - Friday, Burgess Park Pools. - Paye's AAU Spring/Summer Club Basketball Signups Open
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Encinal PTO Communications
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This email and the Encinal School web site are delivered to you by the Encinal PTO Communications committee. For more information about Encinal School, please visit www.encinalschool.com.
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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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Registrations are going on now for classes beginning this week. Consider having your child join the 287 students who participate in after school activities every week. (And what's more, there is no long line of cars waiting when classes are over!) 