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September 9, 2012
Encinal PTO / La Organizasión de Padres y Maestro
Boletin en espanol - haga clic aqui
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|  Dear Encinal Families,
What an amazing start we've had this week! The energy in the air was evident as students returned to campus, reconnected with their friends, met new friends, and met their teacher. Teachers have also enjoyed meeting their new classes, and we shared highlights of the great learning experiences to come this year at our grade level welcome assemblies. Our 4th and 5th grade teachers are busy preparing for this year's Advisory program. The program's purpose is to have students select an interest area, meet with a lead teacher weekly, and cooperatively plan to do something that contributes to/betters the school or fosters leadership skills. Last year's Advisory groups included organizing a 5K run, building bird houses for the school, sewing the beautiful welcome sign that hangs proudly in the main office, and teaching yoga to younger students, just to name a few. This year, we're adding Student Council as an Advisory choice that will be run by our school counselor, Nicole Scott. This will replace the former Student Council elections and provide a venue for many students to contribute to Encinal in a leadership capacity. On Wednesday, Sept. 19th I'll be hosting a Principal's Coffee in the small Multi at 8:30 am, sponsored by our PTO. I hear the Principal's Coffee at Hillview was well attended, but I believe the Encinal parents' attendance will be even more outstanding if we set our minds, and our calendars, to it! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Also, look for news very soon about the Specialist Night at Encinal school where you will be able to meet your child's teachers of Music, Art, Library, and PE. Lastly, I also hope to see everyone at the Fall Family Picnic on Friday Sept. 21st with special guest, Eva Parra, who will be leading us in the latest Zumba moves!
Sincerely, Principal Burns |
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Week at a Glance
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Things to Do
Upcoming Dates
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Encinal PTO and MPAEF are Working Together to Support Our School
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Top Ten Reasons to Support Encinal PTO & MPAEF
10. Library books and our librarian, Ms Healy: Not only do our kids love going to library, it is good for them!
9. Community-building events: They're fun for the whole family and help make our Encinal community stronger. Don't miss the "Fall Family Picnic" on Sept. 21!
8. School communications: Helping you keep on top of everything with the weekly newsletter, District directory, website, and other types of communications throughout the school year.
7. Classroom supplies and teacher resources: Our teachers and staff are so appreciative of all that we do to help them so that they can remain focused on their top priority-our kids.
6. Lunchtime programs: Sports supervision and teacher-directed clubs allow kids to explore different activities during their free time.
5. Art: There may be a future Picasso at Encinal thanks to Ms Noon.
4. Science: Most parents can't answer all of the "why" questions, which is why we have science classes. Plus, science is just plain fun for kids!
3. Music: Did you know that children who have received music instruction scored higher marks on tests of their spatial and arithmetic skills? Mr Ashfield's music class is more than just a fun class for your child!
2. Field Trips and Assemblies: What students learn in the classroom is reinforced in other meaningful ways.
1. Public education is priceless, but it isn't free. We need everyone's help to continue providing these outstanding people, top-notch programs and fun community events at our school for our kids.
Thank you to all those who have already donated. If you haven't donated yet, please consider supporting both organizations before our Membership Campaign ends on Sept 27th.
Every donation matters and helps the Encinal PTO and the MPAEF reach our goals.
  Click here to donate Click here to donate or pledge to the Encinal PTO. to the MPAEF.
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Smile! Picture Day is Sept. 13th & 14th
School pictures will be taken at Encinal this week by iClickSmiles.
- Grades K-2: Thursday 9/13
- Grades 3-5: Friday 9/14
Unlike prior years, there are no order forms to fill out before picture day. All students will be photographed for free and then you will be able to view and order photos through the iClickSmiles website. You will be emailed information on how to access the website. If you don't have access to email, you will be mailed an order form via the mail.
3 Parent Volunteers Needed Each Day
We do need 3 parents to help with pictures on each day from 8:30-12:00. Please email Carol Kelly if you can help for all or part of this time slot on Thursday or Friday.
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Principal's Coffee on Sept 19th, 8:30-10am
A great way to meet and welcome our new Encinal Principal, Sharon Burns. Principal Burns will share more about her ideas and plans for the coming year. Join us! Wednesday, Sept 19th from 8:30-10:00am in the Small Multi located in the front of the school next to the carpool lane.
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 Fall Family Picnic & Bike Rodeo
Sept 21st, 4:30-7:30pm Enjoy this fun Encinal community tradition! Bring a picnic and a blanket - and maybe even a dessert to share - for this school-wide event for all Encinal families. If you can't bring your own picnic, you have the option to pre-order food from Jeffrey's Hamburgers! Please click here to order. (Order function will begin working tomorrow, Monday, Sept 10.) Orders must be placed by Tues. Sept 18 at 10:00 p.m. Food will not be available for sale at the event. Event Schedule:
- 4:30: Bike Rodeo - safety station and courses on campus
- 5:00: Fall Family Picnic - on the field
- 5:00-6:30: Pre-ordered food from Jeffrey's available for pick up at Encinal Kitchen
- 6:00-7:00: Learn to Zumba Dance with Eva Parra
- 4:30-6:00: Crafts and other activities
- 4:30-6:30: Encinal Spirit Wear will be on sale
We encourage families to bike to campus and join in the bike rodeo.
You can also get in the rodeo spirit by putting on some Country/ Western attire! Yee haw!
Questions? Email Carrie, Jim & Tara, Fall Family Picnic Coordinators
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 Support Safe Routes to School Complete a Transportation Survey by Sept 21st
The Menlo Park City School District received a grant from Safe Routes to Schools to help more families bike, walk, carpool and take the bus to school, making the roads around schools safer for everyone. One of the requirements of this grant involves conducting in-class and parent surveys to find out how kids get to school and why parents choose the modes of transit they do.
On Sept 12 your child will be encouraging you to "do your homework" and fill out the survey online. It will take only 5-10 minutes to complete. You can fill out the survey now or at any time before Sept 21. The district that gets the highest parent participation rate wins 150 bike helmets!
Questions? Please contact Kathy Schrenk, Transportation Safety Coordinator. |
Register Now For After-School Activities & Athletics
There are many wonderful after-school programs offered every day of the week for every grade on the Encinal campus. Scholarships are also available for every program.  After-School Activities: Click here for all the registration info and other details (schedule, price, grades offered, scholarship opportunities, etc.) Please note that most of the programs will begin the second or third week of school. Girls Volleyball (4th and 5th grade): Join us for the 11th Season! The girls play in the Menlo Park Recreation (Burgess) League  competing against other area schools. Teams will be comprised of 4th and 5th grade girls with balanced skills and experience levels. No experience necessary! All coaches are parent volunteers. Registration is open now through September 11th. For more information and to register, click here.
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PTO Volunteer Opportunities
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Hot Lunch
Volunteer once a month at Lunch!
Pick which day of the week works for you; shifts offered daily from 11:15 am-12:30 pm.
This is a great way to serve the school, meet other parents, see your child for a moment, and get a peek at what school is like during lunch! Volunteers also get one Choice Lunch credit for a free lunch for their child for each shift completed. Please contact Kim and Sue, Hot Lunch Co-chairs, to get added to the schedule if you can help once a month or more, or if you would like to join the sub list: Hotlunch@encinalschool.com.
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Encinal's Garden is Preserved!
(But Still Needs Your Help)
Garden classes will continue for 2012-13! We  are so glad to have two great volunteers who stepped up to serve as overall Garden Coordinators for the year. But, we still need some more help. We are seeking one coordinator for each grade and volunteers to facilitate the garden lessons offered in your student's class 1-2 times per month.
Interested? Email Julia, PTO Volunteer Coordinator
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Help the Encinal Spirit Wear Team
Please consider volunteering 30 minutes of your time to help with Encinal Spirit Wear this year. You can help with setting up the Spirit Wear table display, selling Spirit Wear, or helping break-down the Spirit Wear table at various fun events such as the Fall Family Picnic or Book Fair.
If interested, please sign up by clicking here to choose the time slot and school event that work for you. It's really fun and it's only half an hour! Thank you!
Questions? Email Karla, PTO Spirit Wear Coordinator
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Art Volunteer Training
Training for Art Volunteers is on Monday, Sept 17th at 2:00PM in the  Art Room (Room 11.) This meeting is for all Art Coordinators and/or Head Room Parents as well as any interested Art Volunteers.
Questions? Email Ed, PTO Art Coordinator.
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 Calling all Holiday Boutique Vendors!
We are planning now for our 3rd Annual Holiday Boutique benefiting the MPAEF at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. Please mark you calendar for this event:
- Thursday, 11/15 Champagne and Shopping from 6:00pm- 9:00pm
- Friday, 11/16 Boutique Shopping from 8:30am-2:30pm.
If you are interested in becoming a Boutique vendor/sponsor, please fill out the vendor application and email Margie Klapper at mbklapper@aol.com by September 18, 2012. 20% of sales go to the MPAEF, which includes a $250 pre-paid non-refundable Boutique sponsorship.
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 Specialists Night At Encinal
The Specialist Teachers and volunteers from the Foundation are planning now for our first ever "Specialist Night" at Encinal where parents will be able to meet their child's music, art, library and PE teachers and learn more about their programs.
We are in the process of scheduling this important night right now, and we wanted to introduce this new event today so that you can start getting excited to meet them. Stay tuned for date and time information in a future newsletter.
Questions? Email Stephanie.
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Local Community News & Events
For complete listings click here
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New Community Listings
For full listings, click here.
Community Events
Kids 4 Sports Foundation 3rd Annual Fall Dash 5K, Sunday, September 16, 9 a.m., starting and finishing at Burgess Park in Menlo Park. Help Kids 4 Sports fund after-school team sports programs, coaches, and referees, and purchase sports equipment to give to local sports programs. Sign up now!
4th Annual Active San Mateo County Conference, Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., San Mateo Main Library Oak Room, 55 West Third Ave., San Mateo. Join us as we discuss new strategies and programs to make our public places desirable destinations that promote healthy living. Workshops will explore the connections between urban planning, public health, parks and recreation.
Sports, Classes, and Other Opportunities
Library Volunteers Needed for Ravenswood District. Check books in and out to students and shelve books when they are returned during school hours; needed at all of the elementary schools in the Ravenswood City School District. Contact Julie Gaston. Captivating Dance by Nona - Fall Dance Classes located in Menlo Park, in many styles including jazz, hip hop, break dancing, lyrical and ballet. Visit their website. 4-H Clubs Enrolling Now. Kids 5-19 engage in projects from science to livestock production.Canada 4-H in Redwood City and San Carlos/Eaton Hills 4-H are enrolling now.To learn about launching a Menlo Park based chapter, contact Julie Wong at . Register for Ragazzi Boys Chorus, Monday and Wednesday afternoons through September, by appointment, Redwood City. Ragazzi Boys Chorus offers a complete music education through a proven, award-winning choral program. No-stress auditions for boys between the ages of 7 and 10; no previous singing experience is required. Appointments: 650-342-8785 or ragazzi@ragazzi.org. Kidizens Fall Program 2012, September through December, Los Altos or Belmont. Fall program is a fourteen-week session where kids build, manage and govern an entire LEGO city, while learning about important civic and economic concepts, in a fun, social and highly engaging learning environment. Contact: info@kidzzinc.com or 650-384-0412, Website:thekidizens.com/ Love and Logic Parenting Course, with Janada Clark, 5-Week Course Begining 9/25, Free Introduction 9/18, Redeemer Lutheran School, 468 Grand Street, Redwood City
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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
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