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APRIL 12, 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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Wacky Wednesday is This Week
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 Wacky Wednesdays continue this week with Hawaiian Day on April 14th.
Dress up in your favorite Hawaiian wear and show your school spirit, and look cool too.
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Superintendent News
By Dr. Steven Lawrence
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Dear PTA Member: We want to inform you that the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Trustees recently placed Measure C - a $348 million facilities bond - on the June 8, 2010 State Primary election.
Measure C will:
* Upgrade science labs with up-to-date technology;
* Improve classrooms and labs for career training and vocational programs;
* Replace old, leaky windows and doors and make other basic repairs needed at local schools;
* Improve classroom technology to support English, math and science;
* improve energy efficiency through solar technology and other upgrades that will cut costly utility bills by more than half.
Measure C funds cannot be taken by the state. All funds will go directly to improve our local neighborhood schools. Funds will be subject to independent audits to ensure funds are used only for voter-approved projects.
Measure C would not increase property owner tax rates above the rate approved by local voters in 2002, when the last school bond was passed. The total annual property owner tax rate of Measure C plus the 2002 school bond will not exceed $60 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value) - which is the rate voters approved with the last school bond in 2002. If Measure C passes, it will not increase taxes above voter-approved rates.
You will hear more about Measure C over the next couple of months.
For more information on how to vote, visit the Contra Costa County Elections Division at www.Cocovote.us
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Photo courtesy of the Bargmann family.
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Calendar
Click the calendar below to go directly to the Strandwood web calendar.
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Fact or Not?
The Brooklyn Bridge in New York has the longest span of any bridge in America.
Melody and Millicent are the two nieces of Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie.
Makers of the cult film, "The Evil Dead" went on to create the television series "Xena:Warrior Princess" and "Hercules:The Legendary Journeys".
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| WHAT IS IT? |
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| This is a close up of an object. What is it? The Answer is at the bottom of the page. |
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April Field Trips
| | It looks like all grades except 1st have field trips planned for the month. The calendar at the bottom of the newsletter has the information as of last week. Teachers will be reminding parents of the field trips too. |
NEW PTA Bulletin Board
| The PTA has installed a new bulletin board at the front of the school, between the PTA door and the office. Soon, the board will have information on various PTA events. The board will be divided up between Communications, Programs Health/Safety, Ways and Means and Hospitality.
We will let you know as the board becomes populated with information.
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After School Basketball Program
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Do you like to play basketball? Do you want to be a better shooter, dribbler, passer, defender? Do you want to have fun learning how to become a better player?
Join ONE on ONE BASKETBALL for After School Hoops at Strandwood Elementary School. Throughout the spring, skilled and experienced basketball instructors will conduct a one hour clinic, once a week, for you and your friends. These clinics will help you become a better basketball player through drills, contests, and game competition.
After School Hoops will meet on Mondays from April 19th thru may 24th. The cost is $65 for the 6 week session.
If you have any questions please contact Brent Wyse at brent@1on1basketball.comor (925) 451-5888. Please send the checks and registration form to: P.O. Box 2486 Danville, CA 94526. Look for a link for online registration later this week. Students will meet on the outdoor basketball courts.
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Bike to School Day - April 30th
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Get in the Spirit of Spring
Friday, April 30th
* Come join schoolmates in riding your bike to school
* Earn a compass/whistle by taking a Bike Safety Quiz on-line at Strandwood's website.
* Complete the quiz and print out a certificate to bring on Bike To School Day
* Strandwood water bottles and snack available while supplies last.
Question: Please email Noga at nogakessler@yahoo.com
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Read and Dream Team Book Exchange
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When: Friday, May 7th
All Read and Dream Team members can join in our Read and Dream Team Book Exchange
How it Works:
*Just hand in a grade-level, Read and Dream book, received this year
*Turn the book in by Friday, April 30th,
along with your reading log
*Attach your name and log to your book that is to be exchanged.
*Bring to your classroom on the date above.
If you have any questions, please email: Nogaat nogakessler@yahoo.com or
Suzieat silvacrew@aol.com
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California Stands to Lose Out in Race to the Top
Article From the Sacramento Bee April 6, 2010
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California stands to lose out on up to $700 million in federal education money because of two entrenched problems in the state's public schools: a contentious relationship with the teachers union and a weak data system for tracking student performance.
Reviewers cited those as significant factors in explaining why California didn't make the cut in the first round of the nationwide competition known as Race to the Top. States are being offered a second chance to compete for a share of nearly $4 billion in education grants from the Obama administration - but California's odds of winning anytime soon appear low.
State education leaders are now deciding whether California should even bother to reapply, given its monumental weaknesses in the first round."It will be very challenging - not impossible but challenging - for California to be successful in round two," said Bonnie Reiss, secretary of education for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Still, she said, "Any chance to get extra funding for California education is worth fighting for." Jack O'Connell, state superintendent of schools, was even more noncommittal. "We are in the evaluative process," he said. "We want to thoughtfully approach the decision-making process and be realistic about our chances."
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MDUSD Board of Education Meeting Tomorrow Night
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The Board of Education will meet tomorrow night to once again to propose cutting jobs and reducing hours of classified positions such as office managers and secretarys to save $1.2 million. Click here for the list of proposed cuts. In addition, there are cuts to custodians and adult education positions listed here.
On January 12,
2010, the Board of Education approved an on-going budget reduction of
$1,500,000, commencing in the 2011-1012 fiscal year, to be realized
through the consolidation/closure of schools. The timeline of the School Closure Committee is listed here. The timeline has the Board making a decision in January of 2011.
For the complete agenda please click here.
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RALLY for Education Funding
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Thursday, April 15, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
College Park HS
Speak up For Our Students Everyone is invited and encouraged to attendParents, students, children, educators, community members and all others interested in the future of our State as we seek to stop further devasting cuts to education and children's services.
Our numbers matter!! Come to the rally and show your support for our youth!Invited Speakers
· California State PTA President - Jo Loss
· All five State Legislators from Contra Costa County
· CCC Office of Education Superintendent - Dr Joe Ovick
· California State Superintendent of Schools
Rally Site: College Park High School, 201 Viking Dr, Pleasant Hill
Rally and Speakers Organized by 32nd District PTA
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Recreation Summer School 2010
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Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District's Recreation Summer School, now in its 32nd year, continues to provide a very affordable, safe, exciting, summer experience containing enrichment opportunities for children entering first through 8th grade, next fall.
Recreation Summer School will be held at Pleasant Hill Middle School, 1 Santa Barbara Rd., Pleasant Hill, June 22-July 29, Tues.-Thurs., 9:30 am-12:20 pm. Children entering first (Locomotion Kids) and second grades (Sliding into Second) are in "block" programs and work out of one room. The 3rd through 8th graders travel to three 50-minute classes each morning such as acting, art, CPR, photography, sports, tennis, and much more.
Registration is by mail only. Look for the Recreation Summer School 2010 brochure at your school in mid-April or call 798-3824. For other youth programs, check out the PHR&PD website, www.pleasanthillrec.com.
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| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? | 1st Grade Question - True or False? Castanets are a percussion instrument.
2nd Grade Question - In 1770, what country was in charge of the American colonies? 3rd Grade Question- Which planet is closer to the sun: Mercury or Jupiter?
4th Grade Question-True or False? Louis Braille developed a process to pasteurize milk.
5th Grade Question - During the month of December, is the Southern Hemisphere tilted more toward the sun or away from the sun?
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Dates, Times and Places |
April 13th - Site Council Meeting - 3:15 in the Library
April 14th - Field Trip - B-8 to the PH library, 10:00 - 11:00
April 16th - Field Trip - P-3, P-4 to DVC Planetarium
April 20th - Field Trip - Kindergarten to Smith Family Farm
April 21st - Field Trip - B-9to the PH Library, 10:00 - 11:00
April 22nd - Field Trip - 3rd Gradeto Chabot Observatory - 9:00 - 2:00
April 23rd - Field Trip - P-2to DVC Planetarium
April 27th- Spring Photo day
April 29th - Field Trip - E-1, A-5- John Muir Historic Site - 9:30 - 1:30
April 30th - Field Trip - A-3, A-6- John Muir Historic Site - 9:30 - 1:30
April 30th- Bike to School Day
April 30th - Pizza Lunch - Blue slips must be turned in by Wednesday, April 28th
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. |
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| Answers | Are you smarter then a 5th grader?1st grade - True2nd grade - England (or Great Britain) 3rd grade - Mercury4th grade - False(the same person invented the first vaccine for rabies.) 5th grade - Toward the sun What is it? Flute
Fact or Not? (If underlined, click for more False information) 1) Not |
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