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August 20, 2009
Good Morning
Look for Blast's throughout the summer keeping you informed of happenings around the campus, and district if necessary. We will check the strandwood_emailclub@hotmail.com address during the summer so drop us a line if you have any questions or comments.
From The PTA President
By Sue Noack
Welcome back to many of you and welcome to those of you new to Strandwood!  On behalf of the PTA, I hope all of you have had an enjoyable summer.  The Board of the PTA is gearing up for a busy and exciting year.  First up is Jump Start Day.  Hopefully, you have all picked up your Jump Start Day packet and plan on joining us for pizza on August 24th.  Second is the first day of school - August 31st .   There will be a Welcome Back Coffee that morning.  Please stay around after drop off for some coffee and catching up.   Third up is Back-to-School-Nights - Sept. 1st  for Kindergarten and 1st grades, Sept. 3rd for 4th and 5th grades and Sept. 10th for 2nd and 3rd grades.  And fourth is the first general PTA meeting on Sept. 9th at 6:30 to 8:30 in the Library.  We will be reviewing the budget put together by the Budget Advisory Committee and approved by the Executive Board (meeting on August 25th). 

As many of you are aware, Strandwood's success is a result of great teachers, staff and administration and also from many of you as volunteers.  Whether you have some time during the school day or only on weekends and evenings, there are plenty of ways to contribute to the school and, therefore, your child's success.  Don't worry if you don't have experience or unsure of what many of these volunteer positions or opportunities entail, the Board of the PTA is here to provide whatever support you may need.  Please consider attending a PTA meeting or just contacting one of us (e-mails are on the website and phone numbers will be in the Strandwood directory. 
Jump Start Day is Monday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Jump Start Day (JSD) is next Monday. If you haven't picket up your packet yet you might want to head down to the school office today or Friday to pick it up. Having the forms filled out prior to arrival will simplify your JSD experience. The online packet is also available by clicking here.

In the packet are flyers from various school groups and forms to join the PTA, contribute to the PTA Student Donation Program, sign up to volunteer for various events or duties and sign up to be included in the school directory and join the email club. Also included are the Emergency and Disaster cards that need to be completed before receiving your students classroom assignment.

One reason for Strandwood's excellence is the volunteering efforts put in by you, the parents. If you have any questions about various volunteer duties on the "Yes I Can" form please ask us at JSD or email strandwood_emailclub@hotmail.com with your questions.

Since we are going to paperless newsletters this year don't forget to sign up for the Roadrunner and Email Blast on bottom of the Student Directory form. If you don't want to use your regular email for the email club you might consider opening a free email account at gmail, hotmail or another free service and using that new email address for the email club list.

Of course the JSD Student Donation program is a major fundraiser. Please contribute what you can to the PTA. Check below for more information on the Student Donation or stop by the PTA table and find out just how much the PTA does for Strandwood.  

Measure "S" is still collecting funds to support instructional assistants for the increased class sizes. If you have been wanting to contribute to this special fund you can do it at the Strandwood website by clicking here. Look for the "DONATE" button on the right side of the page.


PTA Student Donation
Did you know that the Strandwood PTA will spend over $200 per student this year?

The PTA funds the following programs:
  • FAME
  • Nutcracker
  • Read and Dream Team
  • Fall Fest
  • Talent Show
  • Art Instruction
  • Reading Specialist
  • Computer Lab Site Tech and Instructional Assistant
  • Instructional Assistants for increased class size grades
  • Science Instruction
  • Educational Assemblies
  • Teacher Allotments
  • Bike Safety
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Health/Hygene Awareness
  • Make A Difference Day and Campus Improvements
  • Roadrunner Communication
  • Coffee and Kleenex for parents on the first day of school!

just to name a few..........

Please support your child. You will find the Student Donation Form in your Jump Start Day Pack. We look forward to seeing you at the PTA table at Jump Start Day and thank you in advance for your contribution.

Updated On-Line Jump Start Day Packet Now Available
If you can't make it to school prior to JSD, or just like using your computer, the entire JSD packet is available on our website. With the exception of the emergency and disaster cards, all forms can be filled out on line and printed at home. Bring these forms with you when you check in.

There were some problems with the first forms on line but those have now been resolved. To view the JSD ePacket click here. When printing the individual forms make sure you check "current page" on the print menu so the entire package doesn't start printing. You will still have to fill out and return the emergency and disaster cards that come with your packet to get your classroom assignment.

Questions or Comments? Contact Jeff Eide at JEideVP@gmail.com
Thank You JSD Packet Stuffers
I would like to thank all those that showed up in early August to stuff the almost 600 JSD packets. Thank you Sue Noack, Orlando Guzman, Noga Kessler, Jessie Thomas, Katie Roarty and Margaret Casebeer. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

Jeff Eide
FAME Needs You!!!
Are you a creative soul just looking for an outlet? A designer looking for a way to create your vision? We have an opportunity for you! FAME is looking for someone with a good eye for setting a scene to help us with our lesson presentations.

We present 6 lessons a year and will provide you with a subject (for example, October's will be a harvest/farm scene) and you can go from there! We will be on hand with all the back-up support you need. Would you feel better about sharing the job? Grab a friend--the more the merrier.

Please contact Laurie Wozniak (274-9082 or alborzandlaurie@yahoo.com) or Kendra Phair (682-6599 or kkphair@sbcglobal.net) if you are at all interested in helping FAME with set design. We will be happy to talk to you about details and answer any questions you might have.

You can also stop by the FAME table at Jump Start Day and get more information about this exciting program.
Pap Murphy's Pizza Join Us For Pizza on Jump Start Day
Enjoy a pizza dinner at Strandwood
Pizza will be sold from 4:00 - 7:00 pm
BAKED, Cheese, Pepperoni, or Veggie Pizza/ $3 a slice
Soda or Water/$1 each
Ice Cream Bars/$1 each
Cash Only

Family Pizza Meal: (Cooked or Raw)
Family meals are by pre-order only
1 family size pizza, 4 sodas and 4 ice cream bars/$30
(Payments must be received by 2 pm, Friday, 8/21 for pre-order to be processed)

To order:
1. Email giffordpalermo@yahoo.com & indicate pizza choice. Please be sure to include your name in the email. If you are picking up a cooked pizza, please specify the time (within 30 minutes) that you would like the pizza ready. Check in with the pizza kitchen prior to starting your jump start day tour.

2. Send $30 check payment to Strandwood PTA, JSD Pizza, 416 Gladys Lane, PH, CA or drop off in school PTA basket.   In the memo section label check JSD Pizza.

Questions Contact:  Cindy Gifford-Palermo or Carolann Ianora

Funds raised will support the 2009 Outdoor Education Program
Thanks to the generosity of Papa Murphy's
2009 STAR Test Results Are Published
The statewide STAR Testing results were released Tuesday and Strandwood Elementary showed great improvement from last year. Way to go Strandwood. It is unknown when the individual STAR results will be available. Click here to view the August 19th Contra Costa Times article regarding the state school test results.

To view this years Strandwood Elementary STAR test results click here.
For all other schools click here.

Want to compare to last years results, click here for the 2008 STAR home page.

Request for Community Input: Superintendent Search
The Board of Education of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District is conducting a search for a new district superintendent.  Community input about the desired characteristics to be used in recruiting and selecting this person is desired.  The Board is soliciting input to respond to the prompt:  What personal and professional qualities for an incoming superintendent will be a match for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District?

Jim Brown and Rene Town of Leadership Associates were selected to advise the Board in this important process.  They will be in our district on September 1 and 2, 2009.

Individual input from members of the community (parents, employees and others interested in our district) is desired.  You may attend and participate at a community open forum which will be held on September 1 and 2, 2009, at the Willow Creek Center, 1026 Mohr Lane, Concord 94518, between 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Input may also be offered by fax or phone to (949) 461-9119 or by email to leadershipassociates@cox.net. 

To view the District Superintendent search time line click here.
Dates, Times and Places
The 2009-2010 school year calendar has been approved and is on the MDUSD website. Click here to view that calendar. 

August 24th - Jump Start Day
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 7 - Labor Day Holiday
September 9 - PTA Meeting
September 10 - Back to School Night - 2nd & 3rd Grade