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FEBRUARY 15, 2010 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.
If you no longer wish to receive the electronic communications from Strandwood Elementary please use the "Safe Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the newsletter.
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A Message From The PTA President
By Sue Noack
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Life-Long Learner
 I was attending a meeting the other day and someone brought up the term life-long learner.
We all commented what a great term that was
and something to strive for. Life-long learning can mean many things to many people. To some it may mean continuing to go to school. I went back to graduate school at age thirty and was surprised to find myself in the middle of the age pack. To others, it may mean reading and exploring and to others it just means staying curious.
At this meeting the term came up with respect to technology. No where is continuous or life-long learning more important. When I went to college (and I am dating myself here), there were no such things as laptops or even PCs. We did have electric typewriters but our computers required typing on a keyboard in one building and go to another to get your output (batch processing). I look around today and I see iPhone's, DSis, blue tooth headsets, and Kindles. I am amazed at the speed of the changes. And the pace continues.
As parents we need to be life-long learners. We all know the internet can be a scary place for our kids to explore. We need to ensure that we and they have the tools to stay safe. But as important, we want our kids to have the tools they need to succeed in the world. Many of us have had to teach our parents to use ATMs, use e-mail or Skype. I know it will take effort on my part to keep up but I think it will be worth it.
The PTA will be forming a technology committee to work on providing information and tools to parents to help with this process along with assisting Strandwood with its needs. I hope that anyone who is willing to help in this area or has some thoughts and suggestions will contact me. So we can all strive to be life-long learners! |
Fun-Raiser Dining Night This Thursday
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Take a night off from cooking! Sweet Tomatoes in Pleasant Hill will donate 15% of dining sales to Strandwood's Outdoor Ed Program. Present this flyer between 5:00pm and 8:00pm on Thursday, February 18th and purchase a meal and a beverage. Enjoy! |
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MDUSD Budget News
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From the Contra Costa Times, February 10, 2010. "The Mt.
Diablo school board has cut $4 million from adult education,
counseling, intervention for struggling students, campus supervision,
technology and staff training. The continuing cutbacks forced by
state funding reductions angered trustee Gary Eberhart, who laid into
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators at Tuesday's meeting. "He
should resign for the good of California," Eberhart said. "So should
any other politician that advocates cutting funding for public
education. ... I'm just appalled at coming here and having to make the
ridiculous decisions that we're having to make." An additional
$17 million reduction could come from employee pay cuts, furloughs or
higher benefit costs. The board has asked the administration to begin
such discussions, said board President Paul Strange." For the remainder of this article click here. The entire list of proposed budget cuts (for this round) are available by clicking here. The board only acted on those numbers that are in bold.
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Dinner Dance Auction News
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 What's all the the buzz about on cMarket?The game is on! The bidding wars have officially started...be sure to check out all the action and great auction items and log onto www.strandwood.cmarket.com. Again, all class projects and teacher experiences/donations are online auction items only. In addition, there are over 170 awesome auction items that are available online only. Incredible items like the concert of the year - (two) U2 tickets at the Oakland Coliseum; (two) Saturday Night Live tickets in NYC; 3-night stay in Napa Valley; 1-night Monterey Getaway and Aquarium tickets and so much more! Be sure to log on and bid...it's all for the kids! Help our school and...HOST A PARTY! What a great way to make new friends or get together with old friends! It can be for 4 or 50 people, kids or adults! The ideas are endless, but here are some popular ideas: Dad's poker night Kid's cookie decorating Jewelry making Disco party Soccer game Tea Party for Kindergarten girls Wine and Cheese party Back to school Brunch for moms These parties are big items at the auction. We need your help! Questions? Call Katie Roarty 944-2432. For more info:For everything you need to know about this event and more (including donation forms), click onto the DDA page at Strandwood's website at www.strandwood.org. |
Dinner Dance Slide Show Presentation
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The Auction Committee is in the midst of putting a slide show presentation together for our Dinner Dance Auction. Now is the time to see your child and our Strandwood community on the big screen!
We are in need of photos of students doing activities in class, around campus with others and of staff. If you would like to share your photos you have taken this current school year, please email in JPG format or put disc in the PTA basket in the office.
Contact is Kelly Gallagher at kelgallagher@gmail.com or 671-9553.. |
FPHE Weekly Fundraiser
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YeeHaa, Amici! (Translation: YeeHaa Friend!)
Ya'll ready for some FPHE-style spaghetti western? Whether you have a hankering for Texas BBQ or you desire a tasty bowl of pasta, you are in luck:
Week Four of Dine Out for Education! Tuesday, February 16:Back Forty Texas BBQ & Pasta Pomodoro
Support Pleasant Hill public schools by dining at participating restaurants. Restaurants will donate a percentage of your meal to FPHE. (See the flier for the list of restaurants and dates.) Includes lunch, dinner, and take-out.
Click here and print the "Dine Out for Education" flier and bring it with you each week to ensure that FPHE receives the percentage.
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Help Schools Thrive - Give $55!
FPHE Annual Campaign Update:
Together, we have raised over $15,000 toward the $55,000 goal. Let's keep the momentum going! Our donor list is updated weekly at www.fphe.org. If you haven't yet donated to the ANNUAL CAMPAIGN, please donate at www.fphe.org or click here for the campaign flier.
Thank you to those who have already donated to the campaign and to those who attend our Dine Out events. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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Urge Legislators to Protect Children's Education
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From the Mt. Diablo Council of PTAs.
Attached are letters to legislator templates and instructions for use by parents and staff of MDUSD to send to their legislators urging them to pass a State budget that protects children and invests in the economic health of California through increased stable revenues for education and children's health and human services. Please pass this on for use by your units, parents, and staff at your schools, friends, other schools....
Your letters do make a difference. Thank you for supporting our children!
Kathy Rabun
Legislation VP
Mt Diablo Council of PTAs
·Senator Mark DeSaulnier
·Senator Loni Hancock
·Assemblymember Joan Buchanan
·Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
·Assemblymember Tom Torlakson
2. The "Big Five" decision makers
·Governor Schwarzenegger
·Senator Darrell Steinberg, president pro tempore of the Senate
·Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, Senate Minority Leader
·Assemblymember Karen Bass, Speaker of the Assembly
·Assemblymember John Pérez, Speaker of the Assembly Elect
·Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee, Assembly Minority Leader
Click here for the entire package. All you need to do is print it and mail it.
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This next item is part of a press release endorsing a ballot initiative that would allow parcel taxes to pass at 55% instead of 66%.
California State PTA Endorses Local Control of
Local Classrooms Funding Act
Million-member organization mobilizes to qualify initiative for November ballot
Sacramento - Feb. 4, 2010 - The California State PTA announced that it is mobilizing its nearly 1 million members to support Californians for Improved School Funding's ballot initiative, the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act (www.improvedschoolfunding.com).
If qualified for the November 2010 ballot and approved by voters, the proposed Act would lower the threshold for passage of educational parcel taxes to 55 percent, from the current 66.6 percent - two-thirds - provided certain requirements are met. These include advance disclosure on how funds will be spent, annual audits, oversight by an independent citizens' committee, and offering an exemption to senior citizens. Funds raised under the initiative could not be taken or offset by the state in its educational funding decisions.
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| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? |
1st Grade Question - What three colors are found on the flag of the United States of America?
2nd Grade Question - What are the three primary colors? 3rd Grade Question - How many inches are in a yard? 4th Grade Question - If our planet rotated faster, would each day be longer or shorter? 5th Grade Question - True or False? The Inca Empire was conquered by Francisco Pizarro. |
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Dates, Times and Place |
February 15th - Holiday - Presidents Day
February 17th - 5th Grade Science Day
February 17th - Field Trip - B-9 - Luckys
February 18th - Assembly - Asia Fantasia
February 22nd - Hearing Screening
February 25th - Field Trip - 4th Grade to Sutter's Fort and Indian Museum
February 26th - Principal Pizza Lunch - Blue slips due by Wednesday Feb 24th.
March 3rd - Read In Day - Look for more information in next week's Roadrunner
March 5th - Spotlight Assembly
March 6th - Strandwood Dinner Dance Auction
March 10th - Field Trip - 5th Grade - Water Treatment Plant
March 12th - Field Trip - 2nd Grade - Percussion Discussion
March 17th - March 24th - Library Book Fair
March 25th - DARE Graduation
March 26th - Report Cards Sent home
March 26th - Principal Pizza Lunch - Blue slips must be turned in by February 24th.
Check all the calendars on the Strandwood website by clicking here.
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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. | No new fliers this week
Return To Top
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| Answers |
Are you smarter then a 5th grader?
1st grade - Red, White and Blue
2nd grade - Red, Blue and Yellow
3rd grade - 36"
4th grade - Shorter
5th grade - True
What is it? Popcorn
Fact or Not? (If underlined, click for more information) 1) Fact - Parts of the ear | |
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