Good Morning
Every Monday, Email Club members receive important
information regarding upcoming events and communications from The PTA and
Strandwood staff via the Email Blast. The Email Blast also provides links to important flyers
and new items on the school website. The deadline for submitting your article is Thursday at 5:00pm. All submissions should be sent to strandwood_emailclub@hotmail.com. |
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Earth Day Art Contest
Winners on
Display in MU Room TODAY!
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| The winning art pieces from the Earth Day Art Contest sponsored by Allied Waste
will be on display all day today in the MUR. Stop by and check out the 1st,
2nd, 3rd place winners for each grade level. If you would like your art pieces
back, please pick them up after school today (including Honorable Mentions).
Any art pieces not picked up today will be recycled unless otherwise
notified. Please contact May Hanecak may_hanecak417@yahoo.com if you have
any questions. Congratulations again to everyone! |
STAR Testing
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STAR (California's Standardized Testing and Reporting) testing will be held from May 4th through May 15th. Here are some helpful hints for the testing days.
* Being on time each morning is critical for the success of every
student every day, including STAR testing days. Students who
arrive late disrupt not only their own testing but also their
classmates. We are in this as a team at Strandwood and success
of one student is the success of all. Please be on time!
* Allow your child to get a good nights sleep before the tests
* Be sure you child eats a well balanced breakfast
* Encourage your child to do his or her personal best but do not
overemphasize the tests, they are only one measure of your
child's performance.
PLEASE, Do not schedule vacation, doctor or dental appointments during the testing window.
Homework assigned should be light during testing.
We have three very valuable links listed below. These are the same sites that our 2nd through 5th grade teachers use to help them pace the teaching of standards throughout the year as well as prepare them with test taking strategies.
First, there is a 3 page Parent/Guardian Guide that answers many of the questions about the STAR Program. To view that guide click HERE.
Second, view a blueprint of the testing program by clicking HERE. Third, practice testing on some actual questions from recent years by clicking HERE. You can also find links to these sites on our webisite, www.strandwood.org. |
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Photo courtesy of the Bargmann family.
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Calendar
Click below to go directly to the Strandwood web site calendar.
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Fun Facts
Ye-Ye was the French equivalent of the American rock music in the 1950's and 60's.
Certain cultures hold the belief that it is necessary to cover one's mouth when one is yawning in order to prevent one's soul from escaping the body.
Jim Morrison died in a bathtub.
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WHAT IS IT?
This is a close up of an
object. What is it? Hint - Think music. The Answer is at the bottom of the
page.
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Wacky Wednesday Spirit Day
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 Wednesday, May 6th is Hawaiian Day at Strandwood. Put on your flower shirts and best Hawaiian accessories and show your school spirit on the last Wacky Wednesday of the school year.
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Library Reading Festival
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Randel McGee Takes the Stage as Hans Christian Andersen
2ND Annual Contra Costa County Library Reading Festival Celebrates
Reading, Libraries and Community, May 3 - 9, 2009
On Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill Library storyteller Randel McGee will bring to life Hans Christian Anderson, creator of such beloved folk tales as The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. Come and be enchanted with his storytelling and paper cutting. For everyone from 5 -105.
All Reading Festival programs are free and open to all.
The 2009 Reading Festival is a celebration of reading, libraries, and the community and all 25 community libraries in Contra Costa County will feature authors, events and performances - free and for the whole family - throughout the week of May 3 - 9, 2009. For a complete schedule of events at the Pleasant Hill Library and other community libraries, visit the Contra Costa County Library Reading Festival's website at www.ccclib.org.
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Business Classes for 4th Grade
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Our fourth grade teachers would like to implement a business education program developed by Junior Achievement. We need 15 volunteers to help. Your time commitment is one 30 minute session in the classroom plus a single one hour evening training led by a Junior Achievement representative. The classroom date/time you pick is flexible and would be in May after STAR testing.
The training material is from Junior Achievement and is completely developed and scripted...no material development required by you.
If interested, contact Mike Morehead at 939-6935 or morehead@gene.com.
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Measure D Volunteers Needed
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We are coming
in to the home stretch. Now is when we need to try to "really pour
it on". The campaign gurus are telling us that contacting the voters
via phone and by personal contact at their doors will now be our most important
activities.
Please show
your support and join us on Wednesday, May 13th for Strandwood's
Phone Banking Night. We will be using the J. Rockliff Realty,
Office of Pete Sabine located at 3799 Mt Diablo Blvd, Suite 100 in
Lafayette. This is nearly to the entrance to the Reservoir at
the cross street of Village Ctr Dr, across from the new Veteran's Hall.
A very nice office with about 5 land lines we can use, others can use
cell phones. We will be phoning from 5:30-9:00pm - stay an hour or the
entire time. We have had very little Strandwood volunteers able to
phone and walk precincts - so let's show those other PH schools how awesome we
really are by showing up and volunteering a couple of hours of your time.
No
experienced is necessary and we will provide you with a script to follow and a
list of FAQs and Frequently Asked Questions. Don't worry - we will train
and support you to reach voters during this critical crunch time.
Please RSVP
to Cindy Turner at pcturner@sbcglobal.net
if you are able to attend. Thank you so much for your support and remember to
VOTE on May 19th. Return To Top
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FPHE Restaurant Walk
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The Foundation for
Pleasant Hill Education (FPHE) presents the
Oak Park Restaurant Walk
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Oak Park Center, 1098 Oak Park Blvd.,
Pleasant Hill
Support the
Pleasant Hill public schools by sampling and
enjoying the food specialties from:
Bangkok
Restaurant, Dallimonti's, Kobe Japan, Mangiamo Catering, Nibblers, Smokin
Okie's and more!
Bring the
whole family - activities for all. Enjoy the
music of Phresh Press. Participate
in merchant exhibits
Enter the
Prize Drawing
Tickets
available at these locations: Online at www.fphe.org
Pleasant
Hill Farmer's Market on May 2 and May 9, 10am-2pm
From any
FPHE board member
$20 Adults,
$5 Children (ages 5-12).
The Oak Park Restaurant Walk is co-sponsored by
the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from the event benefit Pleasant
Hill public schools. Questions? Email generalinfo@fphe.org or visit www.fphe.org.
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H1N1 Virus - How to Talk to your Children
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Concern over Swine Flu (H1N1) can make children and parents anxious. Although to date very few people in the United States have become sick, there is uncertainty about how far and quickly the virus will spread. Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in people taking actions that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety regarding the flu requires providing prevention information without causing alarm.
Click here to read the informative flyer.
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Bike To School Day
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Spring is here. Bike To School Day is back.
Dust off those bikes. Come join us on Friday, May 22, and ride
those bikes to Strandwood.
We will once again have Strandwood water bottles available
to riders, as well as healthy snacks.
For questions please email Noga at nogakessler@yahoo.com |
Honorary Service Awards
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Congratulations, nominees!
The National PTA is the nation's oldest and largest volunteer organization working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. Each year we honor our founders and support the PTA's mission by recognizing individuals who have given outstanding service on behalf of the youth of our school and community. The Honorary Service Awards are presented to those who work so tirelessly to make our community a better place.
This year we received a record 109 nominations for 68 individuals-thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination, and congratulations to everyone who received a nomination! It was difficult to choose only a handful of recipients from such an amazing group of nominees.
The Strandwood PTA is proud to present 2009 Honorary Service Awards to the following deserving individuals:
Honorary Service Award:
Jim Brown
Margaret Casebeer
Alice Forsyth
Lea Harrington
Trish Heaney
Carolann Ianora
Ellen Javete
Lisa Keck
Suzie Silva
Jamie Stoller
Silloo Tarapore
Cindy Turner
Continuing Service Award:
Jennifer Gile
Beth Macy
Very Special Person Award:
Laura Curtis
Honorable Mention:
Kelly Alexander, Martha Alexander, Nancy Anderson, Suzanne Bailey, Jennifer Baker, Scott Barnett, Faye Baskauskas, Avigail Ben-gigi, Gena Bingham, Laura Birnbaumer, Lilia Bracamontes, Alice Burns, Shelley Carmichael, Sunshine Carmichael, Amy Carter, Glen Casebeer, Susan Dailey, Ellen Dutton, Jeff Eide, Azalee Flores, Cyndy Gifford-Palermo, May Hanecak, Mike Heaney, Jenna Johnson, Vangie Jordan, Melanie Jurow, Diane Kastell, Noga Kessler, Kim Khalvati, Carla Kiesler, Liz Kim, Theresa Lantsberger, Kelly Martinelli, Peggy McGurk, Gina Meyer, Stacy Monahan, Stacy Monroe, Jennifer Murov, Julie Niblett, Wendy Nottage, Kendra Phair, Vicki Ramsey, Dave Reik, Jenny Reik, Katie Roarty, Gayle Ruhlen, Aaron Silva, Lori Stoos, Jackie Stuart, Lauren Ulrich, Debbie Wilson, Laurie, Wozniak, Jennifer Wygal
Please help us honor these recipients at an awards ceremony preceding Open House, May 21 at 6:00 p.m., on the lawn in front of the office. Thank you to our Honorary Service Award Committee members: Alice Burns, Lauren Ulrich, Rose Bargmann, Alice Forsyth, Noga Kessler, and Linda Wooldridge..
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Fall Fundraiser
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We have made the
decision to try a new fundraising company for this coming fall. We would like to introduce Vinney Chopra,
Sheri Graybehl and Great American Opportunities. They have been in business for 30 years and
have committed to us to provide unbeatable customer service and quality
products. Their gift wrap catalog has
over 80 items $10 and under! For online
shopping, go to www.gafundraising.com
and type in our school code 1423003.
Our
store is now open and will remain open until June of 2010!! Please remember to shop online for your
special occasions and more! Not every
item in the catalogs is available online, but most are. Fall items will be available in August, but
there are many other Spring/Summer products offered now.
With this new company, our hard working top
selling teachers will be treated to $50 Jewelry shopping spree! Look for your packet the week of September
14th. We thank you in advance for your support.
In addition, we have two of the Spring and Summer catalogs in the Office
for you to take a look at now so you can see what is available!!!! What's Available online NOW! What we can look forward to for Fall!! 
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Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
1st Grade Question - What are the four primary directions on a compass?
2nd Grade Question - What is it called when it doesn't rain for a long, long time?
3rd Grade Question - A pentagon has how many sides?
4th Grade Question - In 1953,Edmund Hillary achieved a lofty goal in the Himalayn Mountains. What was it?
5th Grade Question - Which one of the following expressions means you had to take back something you once said? A) Eat Crow B) Take the bull buy the horns or C) Read between the lines.
Answers are at the bottom of the page.
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Dates, Times and Places
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The 2009-2010 school year calendar has been approved and is on the MDUSD website. Click here to view that calendar. School starts on August 31st.
May 4 - May 15 - STAR Testing
May 12 - Site Council - 3:15 pm in the Library
May 14 - Kindergarten Orientation
May 21 - Open House
May 27 - Vocal Concert in the MU room
Field Trips:
May 11 - 1st Grade, C-1, B-4 - Botanical Gardens and Little Farm, Tilden Park
May 12 - 1st Grade, B-2, B-3 - Botanical Gardens and Little Farm, Tilden Park
May 21 - 3rd Grade, B-7, C-6 - Black Diamond Mines - 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
May 28 - 3rd Grade, A-1, C-5 - Black Diamond Mines - 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Holidays:
May 25 - Memorial Day
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In the Office
Flyers regarding the following items are available in the office this month. You can also click on the link, if there is one, to go directly to that site
NOTE - We
will have Student Information Procedure/Information Forms available for pick-up
in the office from May 18 to May
29. All forms must be returned to the
office by May 29. Summer
Fun at Sequoia Day Care - 939-6336
Science
Adventures Summer Day Camps - www.scienceadventures.com
or 888-458-1812
Keeping
Kids Safe - www.KeepingKidsSafeToday.com
or 943-5858
Firehouse
Rocks at DLOC! 2009 Summer Theatre Workshop for Kids www.dloc.org or 944-1565
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Answers
1st Grade - North, South, East and West
2nd Grade - Drought
3rd Grade - Five
4th Grade - He was the first to climb Mount Everest.
5th Grade -
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What is it? Tambourine
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