Your Monday Morning Roadrunner from Strandwood Elementary

MARCH 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.

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In This Issue

A Message From The PTA President

Nutcracker DVD's

Thank You Dinner Dance Co-Chairs

Dinner Dance news

See's Candy Fundraiser

Book Fair Starts March 19th

Book Signing at Book Fair

Read, Click and Win For Strandwood

Birthday Book Club

Outdoor Ed and Maverick's

Make A Difference Day

FPHE Comedy Improv Night

Free STAR testing Workshop for Parents

Early Learning Conference

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Dates, Times and Places

Flyers Available in the Office

A Message From The PTA President

Springtime

I know springtime is here when my son starts asking to ride his bicycle to school. I am all for it - less gas, more exercise and fresh air for both of us. I loved riding my bike to school when I was a kid and hope that my son can do the same in a couple of years. However, as I was driving him to school today I was reminded of the hazards of walking or riding. There are more cars on the road and a lot more distractions. I passed at least three cars with drivers talking on their cell phone despite the fact that it is now illegal. I watched other cars driving or taking corners too fast. In the last week I have seen several cars ignore people on crosswalks when they are supposed to have the right of way. Even traffic in the school parking lot is bit more hectic than it needs to be.

With springtime usually comes spring cleaning. Let's all do a bit of spring cleaning on our driving and our awareness of others on the road. Put down the cell phone or breakfast. Keep your eyes out for walkers or riders. Start a little earlier so you don't need to be in such a rush. Or just put away the car keys and walk or ride! Bike to School day will be coming up and you might as well see if the tires are still full and the chains are still working!

Photo courtesy of the Bargmann family.

Calendar
Click the calendar below to go directly to the Strandwood web calendar.

WHAT IS IT?

This is a close up of an object. What is it? The Answer is at the bottom of the page.

Nutcracker DVDs

By now everyone has received their copy of the Nutcracker DVD. What a great job this year. The main menu was a nice addition and behind the scenes action was great. Thanks to Jenny and Dave Reik for putting this all together and to Mark Foley who helped the day of the performances as a second camera man.

With the Reik's moving on next year I hope someone else is ready to step up and take over as videographer extraordinaire.

Thank You Dinner Dance Auction Co-Chairs

By Sue Noack

I just wanted to make sure a quick thanks got out to all the people who helped put together the fantastic Dinner Dance. I was lucky to be one of the winners of the VIP table and it was truly a fantastic evening. A special thanks to Lea Harrington and Cindy Turner, our co-chairs. Without their endless energy, the event would not have been as successful.

And one last thanks, to all those who participated, whether it be at the party or bidding on line. We will let you know the final results when we get them but I know it will be great. Thanks again.

Dinner Dance News - Great job Everyone

Dinner Dance Auction sets record numbers!
We have made more money this year than we've ever made in the history of the DDA! This would not be possible without the generosity of our incredible Strandwood community and beyond. Thank you to everyone who bid and won auction items on cMarket and at the event. Thank you to everyone who donated items and parties. Thank you to our wonderful Principal Liz Kim who went above and beyond the call of duty with her awesome auction items. Thank you to our terrific teachers who are donating their time and energy (and then some!) to make for an unforgettable teacher experience.

Amazing event led by amazing people!
For those of us who have been at Strandwood for a while now..it seems that every year the DDA event is at its best and we wonder how can it get any better and every year it does. This is thanks to the the vision, leadership and countless (countless!!) hours of hard work from our Dinner Dance Auction Committee and our fearless leaders...DDA Co-Chairs Cindy Turner and Lea Harrington!! Thank you Cindy and Lea for your dedication and commitment to our school!

A BIG Thank You to CL!X!
We'd like to give a big shout out to CL!X Portrait Studio (thank YOU Safarians Family and Jurow Family!) for their in-kind donation of those precious photos of our kids that were made available for purchase at the event. 100% of the proceeds went directly back to our school.

DDA Newsletter coming out this week:
Please be on the look out for our DDA Newsletter that will be coming home this week, which will feature details (final numbers, more volunteer thank you's etc.).

Thank you Clean-up Crew!
Many thanks to everyone who stayed after the DDA to clean up the Community Center and load up cars. We even know of individuals who came to clean-up despite not attending the DDA (requested anonymity). Special thanks to the Standish, Toribio and Maddox families who went the extra mile to off-load things at The Jordan's home as well as the Bargmanns, Harringtons and Turners who took items home. Everything is now in its proper place, and it was a great display of team work from beginning to end...but it's not quite over until people pick up their winnings at school!

See's Fundraiser Ends Tuesday

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)

Book Fair Starts March 19th

Are you hungry for a good book!
Then come to Book Fair Diner.

We've got books for all tastes including chapter books, bestsellers, mystery, humor, and more!

Our Menu includes treats such as ice cream, Story time and a book signing by Illustrator Michael Slack. Now that's a recipe for fun!

Here are the Book Fair hours. So get ready to dig in!

Friday March 19th
2:50-8:30pm Open to All
6:00-7:30pm Ice Cream Sundaes

Monday March 22nd
2:50-8:00pm Open to All
6:00-7:30pm* Ice Cream Sundaes & Raffle
* Illustrator Michael Slack will be at Strandwood to sign his book "My Life as a Chicken"

Tuesday March 23rd
11:40-12:40 (3rd - 4th - 5th Grade shopping)
2:00-2:50     Shop without Students
2:50-8:00   Open to All
6:15-7:15     Story Time with Mrs. Kim, Mrs. Burns and Mr. Brown

Wednesday March 24th
8:10-9:00 Shop without Students
12:30-2:00   Last Day of Book Fair

Illustrator Book Signing During Book Fair

Illustrator Michael Slack is coming to Strandwood
on Monday, March 22. Preorder now!

To be sure to get your copy of the California Young Readers Award nominee "My Life as a Chicken", return payment of $18.52 (payable to Strandwood PTA) to the office by Wed., March 17th. Please include student's name and teacher. Then, come in on Monday, March 22nd, 6:00-7:30 to pick it up at the Library and have it signed! Can't make it? Preorder, then we will deliver a signed copy to your child the next day!

Questions? Contact Katie Roarty

Read, Click and Win For Strandwood

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/parent/register (NOTE - This is a different link from last week) 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 minutes 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!

Library Birthday Book Club

The library continues to take birthday book club memberships. Simply donate $15 to the Strandwood Library and a beautiful, new hard cover book will be given to the library in honor of your child's birthday.

The book will be selected by our library media teacher, Mrs. Burns, and it will be presented to your child during his or her library time. A custom-made book plate will be placed inside the book with your child's name and birth date.

The books will become part of the Strandwood library collection to be read and enjoyed for years to come. Support the library and give your child a special treat in honor of his or her special day. To get the birthday Book Club application please click here.

Outdoor Ed and Maverick's

Place your Maverick's BBQ Dinner order online before Friday, March 19th. Click here for details on how to order. This is the easiest dinner you've ever not made - no need to haul the kids off to a restaurant on a school night. Just stop by Strandwood to pick up your dinner - you don't even have to get out of the car.

BBQ dinners will be available Thursday, March 25th. All profits from this dining fundraiser will benefit the Outdoor Education program.

Make A Difference Day March 27th