SEPTEMBER 14, 2009
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. Do you have any comments about this Roadrunner or suggestions for future Roadrunner articles or features? Drop us a line at strandwood_emailclub@hotmail.com. |
|
Fridays are Strandwood Spirit Days
|
Last Friday looked great with so many children, and adults, wearing their Strandwood gear or colors. Every Friday, show your spirit by wearing your Strandwood spirit wear or blue or yellow clothing. Look for the schedule of monthly Wacky Wednesdays (or whatever day is chosen) coming soon to the Roadrunner.
|
Chess is Back
|
Chess is fu n and can be learned quickly and easily. Studies have found that chess helps improve test results in reading, science, and math, and produces growth in critical cognitive skills. Beyond academia, chess influences social behavior including self esteem, respect for others, patience, and good manners. And did we mention it's FUN!!
Classes are held Wednesdays on campus from 12:35pm to 1:35pm beginning October 7th. The cost is $98 for a 9 week session. Watch for a flyer next week with the application form or go online at www.berkeleychessschool.org and register there.
Boards and sets are provided for our classes. The minimum class size is 10, maximum is 20. Enrollments are accepted in the order received. We will call only if the class is full and we cannot accept more enrollments. For siblings, the first child is full price, additional siblings are half price. Also, some reduced fees are available to low-income families upon request.
Note: The first parent to volunteer to assist the chess class by remaining in the room during the class will receive free chess for their child this session. No chess experience necessary! Parent volunteers are required to have fingerprinting and a TB record on file at the school.
Please contact the Berkeley Chess School for more information: 510-843-0150 or bcschool@pacbell.net.
The Berkeley Chess School is a non-profit organization offering chess instruction from kindergarten through high school for over 25 years. It is an affiliate of the US Chess Federation. Over the years our students have won many state championships and several have gone on to become National Masters, FIDE Masters, and International Masters. For further information, please call us at (510) 843-0150, email us at bcschool@pacbell.net, or visit our website at www.berkeleychessschool.org and enroll on line.
|
H1N1 Links
|
The MDUSD has many information sheets regarding the H1N1 virus. Click on the titles to view more information on prevention tips, the procedures the school is taking to help prevent the spread and a home screening tool for parents.
Prevention Tips
H1N1 Flue Procedures
Flu Screening Tool for Parents (shown below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Room Parent Meeting
|
Did you volunteer to be a room parent? If so there will be a room parent meeting on September 22nd at 3:00pm. The location will be announced later.
|
From the Superintendent
|
The following information was distributed Friday afternoon via email and phone message.
"Mt. Diablo Unified School District September 11, 2009
Last evening (Thursday, September 10th) I wrote to you about suspicious behavior at Pleasant Hill Middle School. District staff remains on high alert and are working directly with local law enforcement. The Police have allocated additional patrols in school zones and are actively investigating all leads and potential suspects.
Last night we received information that a suspicious individual was seen videotaping children and parents in Monte Gardens Elementary School neighborhood. The Concord and Pleasant Hill Police Departments were informed, located the individual, and investigated. The police eliminated that individual as a suspect in the Pleasant Hill incidents.
I want to thank staff, parents, and students for their cooperation. Together we can keep our schools and community safe.
Dick Nicoll
Interim Superintendent"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a copy of the Concord Police Department press release from Friday, September 11th with more information about the incident in their city.
|
School Meal Cards
How the School Meal Card System Works
|
With the new school year comes learning new procedures and remembering the old ones. As far as your student charging lunch instead of bringing cash we have the following reminders.
Every student has a meal card created for them at the beginning of the school year. These cards sit on a rack as they enter the MU  room. If you have pre-paid then the card has "credit" on it. The children take that card to the cash register and use it just like a debit card. Unlike a debit card, your child will be allowed to charge up to two lunches even with no funds available. A note will be sent home notifying you that must come to the office and place funds in that account.
To put funds on your child's card you need to visit the school office. You can pay via check, cash or credit card (no debit cards like reported last week). On the counter are white envelopes that say "Food Service - Mt. Diablo Unified School District" on the top. Fill out the information on the front like name, room, amount, etc. and place your check or cash inside. Hand the envelope to an office staff member. Please do not leave it in the PTA basket. If you turn the money in the morning it is usually posted to their account before lunch.
If you wish to use a credit card you must fill out another form available in the office. You can download that form by clicking here.
The meal card is really a great system and is much safer and convenient than sending your child to school with cash.
Lunches are $2.75 each and on Tuesdays and Thursdays the Strandwood Cafe's Salad Bar is open to 3rd thru 5th graders.
|
Constitution Signed this Week, 212 Years Ago
|
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, convened with the purpose of writing a new constitution for the American nation.
On September 17, 1787, the Convention finished its work and 39 members signed this document, thereby creating a new government.  Members, such as Benjamin Franklin, admitted that the document was not perfect, but the Convention felt confident in presenting the constitution to the states for ratification. The success of the American colonists in the Revolutionary War culminated in the moment when these inspired men finished signing the document that created one of the strongest nations in the world, built upon democracy, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.
You can view the text of the constitution by clicking here.
|
| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? |
1st Grade Question -
A group of dolphins is called what? A) School, B) Herd or C) Pod
2nd Grade Question -
Our sun and everything that orbits around it is called what?
3rd Grade Question -
Name the huge mountain range located in Colorado and other western states.
4th Grade Question -
China is located on what continent?
5th Grade Question -
Mildews, molds and mushrooms reproduce by forming what?
Answers are at the bottom of the page. |
|
Dates, Times and Places |
September 22 - Site Council Meeting - 3:15 pm in the Library
September 22 - Room Parent Meeting - 3:00 pm - location to be determined.
September 30 - Walk-A-Thon
October 1 - PTA General Membership Meeting
October 2 - Spotlight Assembly
October 5 - World Teacher's Day
October 13 - Site Council Meeting - 3:15 pm in the Library
October 16 - Fall Picture Day
October 21 - 28 - Library Book Fair
October 29 - Vision Screening K-2
Holidays
November 11th - Veteran's Day
|
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
|
 Answers |
| 1st Grade - Pod 2nd Grade - Solar System
3rd Grade - Rocky Mountains
4th Grade - Asia
5th Grade - Spores
What is it? Bagpipes
Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?
1) A ten-gallon hat holds only about three-quarters of a gallon. This "gallon" is derived from the Spanish galon, a braid used to decorate hats. It has nothing to do with liquid measure.
2) Launched in 1797, the frigate U.S.S. Constitution was nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because it's wooden hull survived many sea battles.
3. U.S. nickels are 75% copper and only 25% nickel.
| |
|
