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MARCH 8, 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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Box Tops For Webkinz
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Congratulations to February's Webkinz winner, Vincent Louthan with 173 Box Tops, wow! Great job Talia.
Don't
forget to turn in your Box Tops to the office by Wednesday, March 31st for your chance to win a Webkinz!
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Another Successful Dinner Dance Auction
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 Thank YOU Strandwood!
Thank you for making our Dinner Dance Auction another HUGE SUCCESS! We will have final numbers for you in the coming week. We are so fortunate to have the incredible support of Mrs. Kim and our wonderful teachers! We are so fortunate to have such an awesome community here at Strandwood! YOU made our auction a success. Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Thank YOU!
Pick up your cMarket/auction items this week!
Congratulations to all our cMarket winners! Lucky winners can pick up your cMarket items before or after school on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. Please see below for the pick up schedule.
Monday 7:50-8:15am or 2:40-3:00pm
Tuesday 7:50-8:15am or 2:40-3:00pm
Wednesday 7:50-8:15am or 12:15-12:45pm
Read next weeks Roadrunner for more on the success of the auction and the fantastic people who were behind it.
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FAME for March
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Students participate in activities that demonstrate how all
forms of art can communicate mood. The Russian composer Mussorgsky and
his musical paintings are introduced, and the unique, elongated style
of El Greco is explored.
Click here for the FAME page on our website and look at some of El Greco's work and listen to a Mussorgsky
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Nominees for Strandwood PTA Executive Board 2010-2011
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At the last PTA General Membership Meeting the following Executive Board nominations were presented. The elections will be held at the next general meeting on April 1st.
Nominations
President: Marth Alexander
Executive VP - Lea Harringrton
VP Communications - Jeff Eide
*Assistant VP Communications - Orlando Guzman
VP Programs - Noga Kessler
*Assistant VP Programs - Katherine Brackin
VP Ways and Means - Cindy Turner
VP Hospitality - Rose Bargmann
*Assististant VP Hospitality - Evellyn Barrera
Treasurer - Jessie Thomas
Financial Secretary - Michelle Dinsmore
Secretary - Shanna Holden
Historian - Roxanne Gambill
Auditor - Camilla Podowski
*Parliamentarian - Sue Noack
* - These positions are appointed by the Executive Board (not voted on)
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 Read and Dream Awards
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On Friday, like the first Friday of every month, the Read and Dream coordinators, Noga Kessler and Suzie Silva, awarded books to those students that met their grade level goal in February. Mrs. Kim announces the winners at lunch time and the students come up and grab a book of their choice. Here some of the 3rd graders choose a book from the selections set out on the stage. Each grade level has specific books to match the reading levels. What a great program Strandwood and the PTA have developed to encourage and reward reading.
This years Read and Dream Team now has 473 students, about 87% of all students! Teachers that have 100% of their students on the team are Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Tarapore and Mrs. Schuster. Close behind are the classes of Mrs. Perona, Mrs. Rowe, Mr. Brown and Mrs. Culbertson with all but 1 student on the team and Mrs. Beck, Mrs. McCaffrey and Mrs. Sinow's classes only need 3 or less students to make it 100%.
To date, the PTA has given out a total of 1,360 books to our Read and Dream Team students.
Great job Noga and Suzie and thank you for your hard work on this great program.
Parents, before turning in your reading logs you can log those minutes at a website for a chance to earn Strandwood $5,000 for our library. Check out the article below.
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Read, Click and Win For Strandwood
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Raise a Reader School Challenge
 The International Reading Association and Parents magazine have teamed up to sponsor the Raise a Reader School Challenge. Between March 8, 2010 and May 31, 2010, the school with the most minutes read per enrolled student will win $5,000 for their school library!
Let's encourage all our Strandwood kids to read this spring and our school could win $5,000. Register students beginning March 8 at www.parents.com/reading/school. Once registered, parents or students log their minutes individually per student between March 8, 2010 and May 31, 2010. The winner will be selected on or about June 4, 2010.
We urge every parent to register their students and log their Read and Dream minutes. Together we can accomplish great things!
During the challenge you can check Strandwood's reading minute at www.parents.com/reading/strandwoodelementaryschoolpleca
Any questions please contact Kelly Gallagher at kelgallagher@gmail.com or 671-9553.
Read, Click and Win for Strandwood!
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See's Fundraiser March 8-16
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 Are you looking to satisfy a sweet craving, for a perfectly sweet gift, or something to fill an Easter basket? We have the solution for you - See's Candies. Join our 4th grade students and their parents as they kick off their See's Candies Spring fundraiser to help raise money for their 5th grade Outdoor Education program next year.
The sale begins Monday, March 8 and ends Tuesday, March 16. Pre-sale order forms and envelopes are available in the office or by clicking here. All orders and monies must be turned in by March 16, 2010. Checks should be made out to: Strandwood Outdoor Ed. A box labeled "See Candies" will be in the office to collect all orders and monies. Orders are expected to arrive the week before Spring break and will be delivered to your child's classroom. An email blast will be sent out when the See's Candies arrive.
The prices for our See's Candies fundraiser are the same prices charged at the See's Candies retail shop. Avoid the long lines at the See's Candies shop and help our fourth graders at Strandwood Elementary, by pre-ordering your Spring/Easter See's Candies through this fundraiser.
If you have questions, please contact one of the Outdoor Education Parent Coordinators.
Thank you.
Outdoor Ed. Parent Coordinators:
Cynthia Turner (pcturner@sbcglobal.net)
Lorie Tuey (tuey@sbcglobal.net)
Mindy Simpson (ffmindy@aol.com)
Lea Harrington (harringtonlea@yahoo.com)
May Hanecak (may_hanecak417@yahoo.com)
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Crazy Hair Day is Wednesday
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The next Wacky Wednesday is this Wednesday, March 10th and will feature the ever popular Crazy Hair Day. Get your hair spray today.
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New Chess Class Starts Wednesday
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 Chess is fun 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!!
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.
Enroll or read about the Berkeley Chess School at www.berkeleychessschool.org. There are also green colored fliers in the office with an enrollment form in case you wish to mail it in.
Join us for this 8 week session from March 10th to May 5th (no class on April 7th).
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Staff Appreciation Week
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Staff Appreciation Week will be held the week of March 22nd. A meeting for Staff Appreciation volunteers will be this Thursday, March 11th after school (3:00pm - 3:30pm). Location will be announced later this week.
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FPHE Supporter Offering Free STAR testing Workshop for Parents
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FPHE supporter, Kaplan Tutoring is offering a free STAR testing workshop to parents.
Kaplan will help you:
·Understand why California Standards Test scores are important
·Learn what material your child will see on STAR tests
·Get tips to help your child prepare for upcoming state tests
When: Thursday, March 18, 7:00 pm
Where: Kaplan Tutoring, 35 B Crescent Drive, Pleasant Hill
Registration: Register by March 16. Call (925) 676-8921 or stop by Kaplan
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Music Foundation Fundraiser
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Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation is in the midst of launching a fund-raising campaign that has great potential to raise the funds to reinstate 5th grade music for the 2011-2012 school year. Strandwood mom Amands Szakats has volunteered to work with the Foundation in facilitating the successful implementation of our "Draw For Disney" an opportunity to make a contribution to the Foundation and in return get an opportunity to win a Disney vacation. If anyone would like to work with Amanda on this venture please email her.
Look or information on how to get your drawing tickets in the next week or so.
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FPHE Comedy Improv Night
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The Foundation for Pleasant Hill Education and Club 50 present
the final celebration of FPHE's Annual Campaign: A night of improv!
Featuring comedy troupes: Trapped in a Rumor and A Touch of Zen
What could be better than raising money for Pleasant Hill schools while laughing at comedic improv?
Family Friendly Shows:
Saturday, March 20, 4:00-6:00 pm
Sunday, March 21, 2:00-4:00 pm
PG-13 Show:
Saturday, March 20, 7:00-9:00 pm
Cost: $8 per person. The entire $8 will go to FPHE. Pay at the door (cash or checks payable to FPHE),or pay by PayPal at www.fphe.org.
Reservations required - two ways to reserve tickets:
Call Club 50 Fitness: (925) 938-5050 or make a reservation by paying with PayPal at www.fphe.org. Make your reservation today; seats are limited.
Location: Club 50 Fitness - 609 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill (Next to Kelly Ann's Day Spa)
Arrive 30 minutes before the show to enjoy complimentary appetizers and wine/beverages.
FPHE thanks Club 50 Fitness and both improv troupes for donating their time and talent to benefit our schools.
Help Schools Thrive - Give $55
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Outdoor Ed and Maverick's
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Mark
your calendars! The next Outdoor Ed Dining Night is Thursday, March
25th. Maverick's BBQ & Catering will once again be hosting a drive-thru
dinner pick-up at Strandwood.
Watch next week's RR and the communication's
folder for flyers and more information. Thank you for your continued support of
our Outdoor Education program.
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Make A Difference Day March 27th
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 Make a Difference this Spring!
Spring into action on Saturday, March 27, and help beautify California Distinguished School Strandwood Elementary!
Come help us rouse our gardens from their longer winter slumber and restore our campus to its springtime glory. Spare a few hours between 9:00 - 5:00 for our gardens, for our school, for our children!
Contact Belinda at brcsullivan@sbcglobal.net to sign up to help.
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Strandwood Talent Show
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| Come and light up our school and light up the night with your talent in the Strandwood Talent Show! Save these dates: The talent show this year is scheduled for May 21st and and 22nd at 7pm. Pre-views will be Wednesday, April 15th after school. More info to come soon. |
Plan Ahead, Slow Down and Be Courteous
an editorial
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Speeding and Parking. These two things seem to pop up as hot topics around Strandwood Elementary occasionally. From people driving too fast on the surrounding streets to double parking in the parking lot and blocking driveways around the different entrances to school.
Speeding:The answer to most of our speeding problems is to plan ahead and leave enough time to comfortably get to school, or an appointment, on time. I was taught that you leave early enough to arrive at your destination at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to your appointment. I know that in this hustle and bustle world we live in that is difficult at times but it leaves a cushion needed when you seem to hit all the red lights or get behind the slowest driver in all of California. If I asked my dad (he is 91 now) to come over at 2:30pm to watch or visit the boys I sometimes caught him in his car at the end of the driveway at 2:20pm, waiting that 10 minutes before he came to the door (He was welcome earlier than 2:30pm). That might be a little overboard but he believed in being prompt. I guess 2:30pm meant 2:30pm, not 2:25pm in his days.
When you are running late you tend to drive faster and are not as careful as you normally would be. Maybe you will run that yellow/red light or not look for pedestrians when making that right turn from a stop sign (that you rolled through). Driving faster because you are late is putting yourself, and those students who walk or ride to school on our narrow roads, at risk. And with the "green" movement there are more children walking and riding bicycles to school than ever. I'm always amazed when I see cars flying into the parking lot dropping students off later than 8:10am. Arriving late to class is also disruptive and unfair to the other students whose parents planned ahead.
And when it rains the water seems to short circuit the logical part of everyone's brain. Traffic is going to be slower when it rains, and there will be more of it around school because many students are not walking or biking to school. Doesn't it make sense to leave earlier than normal?
So please, plan ahead, slow down and get there on time safely.
Want to break your habit of always being late (or punctually challenged).Visit IAmAlwaysLate.org (no kidding) for all kinds of tips on being on time.
And here is a little advice from Dr. Phil :
"Examine your mental process.
If you know that it
takes 45 minutes to get ready and arrive at a destination, ask yourself
why you would spend 30 minutes doing something else and then try to get
ready and get to your destination in 15 minutes. How do you justify the
behavior? You're not late at 11:00. If you have to be somewhere at
11:00 and it takes 30 minutes to get there, you're late at 10:30 if
you're still at home." For more advice on not being late or procrastination click here to read the remainder of the article.
Parking: Again a simple solution, courtesy. Whether it is on Eloise, Galdys or Monte Circle/Court don't block someone's driveway, even "for only a minute". I know they bought the house knowing that there was an entrance to the school nearby but they are not complaining about the school, only parents blocking their driveways. Think back to the last paragraph and imagine you didn't leave that cushion to get to your job interview on time. You come out and someone is blocking your driveway and is nowhere to be found. Now you are 5 or 10 minutes late. You will be upset at that inconsiderate driver and then there's a good possibility you will speeding to make your appointment on time. That's a good recipe for an accident, ask any police officer. If you get stopped by the police you will be even later to your appointment. If you get in an accident you might never make it.
The double parking during pick-up times is sometimes unavoidable. If you do double park, please have the common courtesy to stay with your vehicle. If you want to get out and chat with the other parents, arrive early and get a parking spot. There are always spots on Monte or Eloise in addition to the parking lot. A note to those Kindergarten parents, Monte Cirlce/Court is a great place to park. I have also heard of vehicles double parked, unattended, in the middle of the roadway, preventing anyone from passing! That's not cool. So when you are parking at school, not in the red zone of course, please think of your fellow drivers.
To those that have written me with your concerns I hope this covers your topics. To everyone else, thanks for listening.
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| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? |
1st Grade Question - What color is a tomato before it turns red?
2nd Grade Question - Which is longer, your small intestine or your large intestine? 3rd Grade Question - The transparent covering on the outside of your eye is called what?
4th Grade Question - Who wrote the music for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?
A) Handel B) Mozart C) Beethoven
5th Grade Question - If you fly from California to Connecticut, how many time zones have you passed through?
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Dates, Times and Place |
March 9th - School Site Council Meeting - 3:15 in the library
March 10th - CRAZY HAIR DAY
March 10th - Field Trip - P-2 and P3 - Water Treatment Plant
March 11th - Technology Committee Meeting - 6:30pm in the library
March 12th - Field Trip - 2nd Grade - Percussion Discussion
March 17th - March 24th - Library Book Fair
March 22nd - March 26th - Staff Appreciation Week
March 25th - DARE Graduation
March 26th - Report Cards sent home
March 26th - Principal Pizza Lunch - Blue slips must be turned in by February 24th.
March 27th - Make A Difference Day
April 2nd - Field Trip - 4th grade to Railroad Museum and Old Schoolhouse
April 5th - April 9th - Holiday - Spring Break
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. | Return To Top
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| Answers |
Are you smarter then a 5th grader?
1st grade - Green
2nd grade - Small intestine
3rd grade - Cornea
4th grade - B) Mozart
5th grade - 4
What is it? World Globe
Fact or Not? (If underlined, click for more information) 1) Fact | |
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