Parent Welcome Coffee 

A beautiful Californian morning, freshly brewed coffee from the GAIS kitchen, a variety of snacks, and good conversation made up the winning recipe for the GAIS welcome coffee morning.  A collection of new and returning parents were on hand to share opinions and ideas on many topics.  It was also great to hear how positively our students speak about their school experiences at home.

This year we have a 'New Parents Welcome Team' that will host a series of coffees and get-togethers to make sure that families that have recently joined the school get connected.  The team is made up of Hala Kleinknecht, Julie Hsu and Beate Teufel.  The first coffee is set for October 3rd at Café Zoe from 8:30 to 10:00.         

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PYP Corner by Maike Silver  

Time flies and it is almost the end of the first Unit. Students have been busy preparing for their summative assessment which assesses their understanding of the central idea they have been exploring for the past few weeks. Most classes have either a presentation or an open classroom before the October break. This is a great opportunity for parents to gain an inside of what and how the students are learning. If you are interested in finding out more about inquiry, the main pedagogical approach to PYP learning, please join us tonight at 6 pm in the gym for an introductory workshop.

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Preschool Corner by Heike Schmalstieg     

During this year of collaboration, we are trying to find news ways to collaborate with different groups of the school. In order to facilitate a better connection between preschool and school, some of the 5-day preschool classes have paired-up with buddies from the Elementary school. The 'Guerteltiere' had their first event last week. The preschoolers met their new 5th grade buddies, who came to visit them in their class to read stories and play. In return, the children baked cookies the following day and visited their big buddies in their classroom. The little ones were excited to visit their buddies and share their treats with them. Throughout the year, they will continue to have exchanges with them

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Carpooling at GAIS     

Parking placards are currently being distributed to families this week. For more details on new procedures, please refer to the letter distributed via email yesterday, September 28th and the resources/carpooling tab of the school website.  Also, during tonight's Member's Meeting presentation, the Traffic Taskforce will be providing an update on the background and rationale of the Less Cars = More Kids program and looks forward to answering any questions.  

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Need Parent Volunteer Hours? 

Like Gadgets?  We have a job for you.  Install and configure the new GAIS traffic counting box.  This device will count cars driving to and from school.  We will use the data to fine-tune the Less Kids = More Cars trip reduction program and to demonstrate to the City of Menlo Park that we have successfully reduced car trips to campus.  If you would like to set up and operate this box as your volunteer job for the school, please let Stella Klose know at sklose@gais.org.  You can learn more about the box here: www.diamondtraffic.com/product/157. 

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Members Meeting 

The first annual Members Meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7:30 pm and will take place in the Gym. All parents are invited to attend this important meeting  

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Auction Party  

This Friday, September 30, is the last day to contribute to our upcoming auction.
 
We are very pleased that more than 120 families and staff members came up with amazing and unique donations. There will be over 35 different parties for adults and kids, lodging all over the world, wine and champagne, and gifts for the holidays.
 
The German-Californian agency Pro Aupair will sponsor our event. In addition, ProAuPair donates an Au Pair to stay with a family for one year. If you are considering hosting an Au Pair to live with your family and help with your daily routine - this is your chance! Bid on the Au Pair and you will a) have a helping hand at home and b) your money (less variable costs of the agency) will benefit the school.
 
Don't miss our great event and order your tickets here.
 
The Fundraiser Team is looking forward to welcome you at our 13th Annual Fundraiser Auction. 

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Treffpunkt GASPA is pleased to once again be able to present Uwe Spillmann's Kiepenkasper!  Please join us on Saturday, October 29th from 1:30-3:00pm at the GAIS Campus for Halloween songs and games followed by two performances from the Kiepe, "Henker, Tod und Teufel" and "Graf Pomme deTerre, der Raubritter". For the festivities, attendees are welcome to come in costume, but no full face masks please, thank you!  Tickets are available at the door. Ticket price is $10 per person and the performance is for children ages 5 and up. See you there!
 

The Annual GAIS Clothing Swap will take place after school on Thursday and Friday, 6-7 October.  This year's event hosted by the GAIS Action Club has been expanded to include the elementary school, Grades 1-8.  Parents, now is the time to start saving shirts, pants, coats, shoes, jackets, coats and Halloween Costumes that your kids have outgrown and drop them off at the School Collection Box and Table starting on Monday 26 September.  The Action Club will collect clothes the last week of September and then set up a giant swap meet after class on Thursday and Friday 6-7 October.  Everyone is welcome to come after school and look at the donated clothing and take as much as they want.
 

In the documentary Miss Representation, writer/director Jennifer Siebel Newsom interweaves teenage girls' stories with provocative interviews with Condoleezza Rice, Lisa Ling, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, and Gloria Steinem. For more information please go to  

www.eventbrite.com/event/2169268340/zvents

Sat, October 1, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
The Aquarius
431 Florence Street, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA
Tickets on Eventbrite for $12