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Good Morning
Every Monday, Email Club members receive important
information regarding upcoming events and communications from The PTA and
Strandwood staff via the Roadrunner. The Roadrunner 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. NOTE: Unless you specified that you do not want to receive the Roadrunner at Jump Start Day your email address was added to the mailing list. If you do not want to receive the Roadrunner and Email Blasts please click on the "Safe Unsubscribe" button on the bottom of this newsletter. |
From the Principal
Liz Kim
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 Welcome back! We missed you!
Welcome back returning Strandwood families and welcome to all our new families! We have had a very busy summer at Strandwood! We have moved classrooms, we have moved staff out (sadly) and moved staff in (warmly). We have put furniture into classrooms and taken furniture out of classrooms. The remarkable staff and community of Strandwood have done all of this with a positive, "yes, we can" attitude! That "yes, we can attitude" is what makes this an amazing place to work and learn.
Our staff just completed three days of professional development and paid time readying classrooms - teachers have put in countless hours this summer during their unpaid vacation time. We were trained in implementation of our new Math adoption. Our district's expectation is that we teach math standards at every level with fidelity. We received invaluable training from our own Sally Ericksen in the fundamentals of reading instruction. Mrs. Kim's expectation is that every teacher will be a reading specialist. Our teachers can and will meet both those expectations - they are the best of the best.
We welcome to our school - Linette Perona, 1st grade teacher who comes to us from Mtn. View Elementary, Karen Mraovich, Kindergarten teacher who comes to us from Westwood Elementary and Carol Smith, Special Day Class teacher who comes to us from Pleasant Hill Elementary.
We welcome back our school - Anna Rowe 2nd grade teacher and Amber McCaffrey, 4th grade teacher.
We are ready for this school year to begin, last year was a good year and we are confident that this will be a great school year! We have what it takes to go from good to great!
"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice."
Jim Collins
Good to Great
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Photo courtesy of the Bargmann family.
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Calendar
Click the calendar below to go directly to the Strandwood web calendar.
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Fun Facts
Today's horses evolved from a doglike ancestor, the Hyracotherium.
Giant tortoises can live more than 100 years.
The planet Venus spins in the opposite direction to all other planets in out solar system.
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WHAT IS IT?
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This is a close up of an object. What is it? The Answer is at the bottom of the page.
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Student Donations |
Were you waiting until you received your child's teacher assignment before donating to the PTA Student Donation Program? Click here and scroll down to the donation form. Fill in the blanks and print that page only. You can drop off the form with a check to the PTA basket in the office. Thank you for your contributions. For those that contributed to an unknown teacher, we will be directing the funds to your child's teacher.
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Wednesdays are Half Days
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Don't forget that grades 1 through 5 are released at 12:30 on Wednesdays.
You will only forget that once!
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Box Tops for Education
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In times like these, schools need all the help they can get.
Our Box Tops program can make a significant contribution to our PTA - in fact, up to $20,000 each from the Clip, Marketplace and Reading Room programs. Think about what we can do with even a fraction of that money! Last year we earned $1000 - that was a big increase from the previous year but certainly we can do much better!
Box Tops Clip
Look for Box Top coupons on hundreds of favorite brands such as Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Kleenex, Juicy Juice, Ziploc and many more. Box Top containers are located in each classroom and the office.
Box Tops Marketplace
The Marketplace is an online shopping program where school supporters can shop at more than 100 favorite online retailers like Target, Lands End and Staples. A percentage of all qualifying purchases will be automatically credited to Strandwood. All shoppers need to do is start their shopping trip at the Marketplace on www.btfe.com and lick on their selected retailer.
Box Tops Reading Room
Box Tops and Barnes & Noble have teamed up to create the Reading Room, which is an online shopping program with an emphasis on children's books. When school supporters buy books through the Box Tops Reading Room at www.btfe.com, Strandwood automatically earns 6% on new book purchases and 3% on all other purchases.
Contact Cindy Turner or Lea Harrington with questions.
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Help Strandwood Earn Thousands More $$$
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 Strandwood can earn thousands of dollars with Safeway's 10% Back to School Promotion. From now until September 15th, Strandwood can earn 10% of purchases on over 2000 participating store products. Just tell your friends and family to look for the YELLOW SCHOOL BUS when they shop, and choose these products! And this includes you!
Strandwood's eScrip supporters will automatically have their 10% of these purchases donated to Strandwood (you'll see theses totals on the bottom of your cash register receipts), BUT we can collect cash register receipts from ANY SAFEWAY CLUB CARD MEMBER and get their 10% too! They don't have to be registered eScrip supporters. All they have to do is buy these products (which they probably normally buy anyway) and use their club card. This is how we turn hundreds of dollars into THOUSANDS $$ for Strandwood!
Here's what you do:
1.Tell your friends, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, babysitters, bosses and coworkers to look for the 10% YELLOW SCHOOL BUS on select Safeway items from now until September 15 and use their Safeway Club Card when checking out.
2. Beginning September 18 thru October 9, a redemption code will appear at the bottom of their Safeway cash register receipts. This redemption code represents the grand total of all their promotional purchases.
3. Collect one of these "redemption receipts" from each friend and family member, put them into an envelope marked "eScrip" and send them to school with your child NO LATER THAN MONDAY, OCTOBER 12.
4. The receipts will be collected and turned into STRANDWOOD CASH!! It's that easy!
The top 5 students will receive a brand new Strandwood t-shirt and have their names published in the weekly Roadrunner newsletter!!
Contact Paula Miller, eScrip coordinator, at paulalreno@yahoo.com or 925-323-6899 with any questions.
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Box Tops and Webkinz Contest |
 This year we are excited to announce a fun new contest for our Box Tops collection campaign. Last year Strandwood earned over $1,000 and we hope to bring in even more this year! To help us reach our goal we are giving away one Webkinz every month to the student who turns in the most Box Tops.
Box Tops need to be turned in to the office by the last Friday of the month in a baggie with your name, teacher and number of box tops included.
The contest starts now!! Turn in by Friday, Sept 26th to win the first one!!!
Any questions????
Just ask Courtney Turner and Sophia Harrington.
(Girl Scouts at Strandwood)
or email us at strandwoodboxtops@gmail.com
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A Message from the Superintendent
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August 21, 2009
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
The new school year is rapidly approaching, and I would like to keep you informed of what is happening in your school district.
State Budget
In July, the State approved a revised education budget for this school year. The budget made several significant changes in funding for local schools. At this time, we expect that our projections will end up close to the final state budget. Unfortunately, not all state budget decisions have been finalized, so we do not know for certain whether additional expenditure reductions will be needed over the next three years. Experts believe that state revenues may continue to decline. If the state projections fall short, we will be looking at mid-year reductions this year.
H1N1 Virus
The H1N1 or swine flu virus has not gone away. There are now 6 reported deaths and 130 hospitalizations related to the H1N1 virus in Contra Costa County. Assistant Superintendent Mildred Browne and Student Services Director Margot Tobias have been working closely with the County Heath Department regarding the necessary procedures that should be taken in cases of H1N1 at public schools. You may remember from the last school year that the Health Department did not recommend school closure in all schools with probable cases. We will be emphasizing personal hygiene, monitoring attendance, and following the advice of the County Health Department this year.
Superintendent Search
Leadership Associates is conducting an extensive search for a new Superintendent. On September 1 and 2, Leadership Associates will be talking with community members about the characteristics needed in a new Superintendent. They have scheduled meetings throughout the two days and will hold community forums at 5:30 pm for anyone interested in participating at Willow Creek Center (1026 Mohr Lane, Concord). Additional information about the search is available on the Mt. Diablo Unified School District web page at www.mdusd.org
Staff Readiness
As a result of budget reductions, preparation for the start of school has been especially difficult. When school starts, some classes will be larger than last year, some support positions will be missing, and some programs will be gone. At this point, we have been able to hire back all but 30 of our permanent teachers. Unfortunately, there are still approximately 120 probationary teachers the District has not yet been able to bring back. Many staff are at new schools, teaching different subjects or grade levels. We have held several workshops this month in preparation for the start of school, and I have talked with numerous staff members. I can tell you that in spite of the challenges, district personnel will be ready for the new year, able to create a quality learning environment and offer a welcoming hand for students and families on the first day of school. I find a "can do" attitude in Mt. Diablo and am confident each employee will do their very best in these difficult times.
Fingerprinting
In Mt. Diablo, we have many parent volunteers at our schools. State law requires that volunteers be fingerprinted prior to the start of their volunteer service. In the past, the school district paid the cost of fingerprinting. Beginning this school year, volunteers must reimburse the school district for the cost of fingerprinting, $32. If you have been fingerprinted by Mt. Diablo before, you will not have to do so again.
School Starts
School begins on August 31st. Every day counts and every student needs to be at school the very first day. If you have questions about registration or your student's class schedule, please contact your child's school office.
On behalf of the staff of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, we look forward to the start of a new school year and will continue to provide a safe place for students and families to learn and grow.
Dick Nicoll
Interim Superintendent |
MDUSD Superintendent Search:
Share Your Views!
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Do you want a voice the process of selecting Mt. Diablo Unified School District's new superintendent? MDUSD Voice, a new parent advocacy group in the district, has developed a web survey on the subject and plans to share the results with the district.
Take the superintendent survey here:
If you'd like to submit your input personally (and we'd highly suggest you do!) be sure to attend the community input meetings on September 1 and 2, 5:30 pm - 7 pm at the Willow Creek Center (1026 Mohr Lane, Concord).
Or, submit your input directly to Jim Brown and Rene Town of Leadership Associates, the consultants hired to assist the Board of Directors with the search, by fax or phone to (949) 461-9119 or by email to
leadershipassociates@cox.net.
View the full Superintendent search timeline here: |
Lunch Cost Correction
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The cost of lunch is incorrectly reported in your students Communication Folder as being $2.50 per lunch. The price this year is $2.75.
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| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? |
1st Grade Question - What were the rulers of ancient Egypt Called?
2nd Grade Question - Which of the following astronauts was the first American woman in space? A) Sally Ride B) Judith Resnick or C) Stephanie Wilson
3rd Grade Question - In The Wizard of Oz, is Glinda the good witch from the north, south, east or west?
4th Grade Question - The capital of the United State is Washington, D.C. What does the "D.C." stand for?
5th Grade Question - A cube has how many sides?
Answers are at the bottom of the page. |
Back to School Night Correction
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The Back to School Night information on the blue Teacher Assignment Form is incorrect. The correct dates are:
K & 1st grades - September 1st from 6:30 to 8:00
4th and 5th grades - September 3rd from 6:30 to 8:00
2nd and 3rd grades - September 10th from 6:30 to 8:00
The Strandwood website calendar and prior Blasts were correct. |
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Dates, Times and Places
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August 31st - 2009-2010 school year starts.
Sept 1 - Back to School Night - K & 1st Grade
Sept 3 - Back to School Night - 4th & 5th Grade
September 9 - PTA Meeting
September 10 - Back to School Night - 2nd & 3rd Grade
Holidays
September 7 - Labor Day Holiday
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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 Throughout the year we wil use this space to notify you of flyers available in the office. |
Return To Top
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Answers |
1st Grade - Pharaohs
2nd Grade - Sally Ride
3rd Grade - North
4th Grade - District of Columbia
5th Grade - 6
What is it? A House Key
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