School Starts In Just 5 Weeks :-(
Get your Jump Start Day forms filled out in advance
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That's right, summer is half over (or half is remaining). That means that preparations for Jump Start Day (JSD) are well underway. Jump Start Day is Monday, August 23rd from 4:00PM to 7:00PM. Information packets will be available outside the school office beginning Wednesday, August 11th from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
All you have to do is fill in the forms using your computer and print them. It really makes the process easier and eliminates the need to come to school and pick up a packet. The 2009-2010 school year saw the conversion to all electronic communications (Roadrunner and Email Blasts) and next year the JSD packet will be available only on-line.
To view the JSD packet click here or visit Strandwood.org and look for the link in the upper right hand corner. I will send another reminder notice when the paper packets are available. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Jeff Eide at JEidevp@gmail.com or strandwood_emailclub@hotmail.com.
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Fingerprinting and TB Tests
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Starting in 2009 all volunteers working with students have been required to be fingerprinted and provide a negative TB test. Every year, as school starts, parents flood the district with fingerprinting appointment requests. Early in the school year that appointment might be 3 to 6 weeks away. If you have not completed your fingerprinting you will not be allowed to work with the students. This requirement also applies to field trip drivers.
If you are going to volunteer this year please beat the rush and get your fingerprinting appointment right now. Get the instructions and form by clicking below.
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2010-2011 Classes
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Here is the line-up for this years classrooms from Mrs. Kim.
(3) - Kindergartens
(3) - 1st grades
(3) - 2nd grades
(1) - 2nd/3rd grade combination class
(2) - 3rd grades
(3) - 4th grades
(3) - 5th grades
The teachers have all been assigned and there aren't any changes in grade levels for the teachers. Randi Costa will be teaching the 2nd/3rd grade combination class. Third grade made the decision as a team and Randi stepped up to take the combination. Debbie Culbertson and Stephanie Wilson (aka Sinow) will be the 3rd grade teachers.
We welcome three new teachers Gaudy O'Connell at Kindergarten; Keri Guncheon at 2nd and Paige Hong at 1st. All three of our "new" teachers have been teaching for several years. We are fortunate to have them join our team - each is a talented teacher.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at kime@mdusd.k12.ca.us. I am checking my email on a daily basis. Have a great summer, read a lot, write a lot and play a lot!
Mrs. Kim
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After School Music Program
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The 4th/5th Grade After School Concert Band and String
Ensemble are coming this Fall 2010. There will be a table at Jump Start
Day with instruments to look at and instructors to talk to about the classes.
To find out more about these after school enrichment classes and to register to
join please see attached flyer and stop by on Jump Start Day. For
questions please call Village Music School at 676-8400 or email Noga at nogakessler@yahoo.com.
Click here to view the flyer for more information
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Site Council Elections |
| There are three site council positions open to Strandwood parents next year. Elections will be held a week after school starts in the fall. A reminder notice and applications will go out in August. For a description of the school site council duties check the strandwood faculity/staff web page (www.strandwood.org) or click here. |
Lake Strandwood Drained!
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I stopped by the school yesterday and noticed that crews have started working on the new drain line on the primary playground. No more will the 1st, 2nd, and now 3rd graders have to dance around the winter lake. |
District Financial News
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Yes, the bad news hasn't gone away while we have been on summer break. The Mt. Diablo Unified School District still has major financial concerns heading into the 2010-2011 school year. Stay informed by checking the district website for news or by reading education writer Theresa Harrington's blog on Contra Costa County schools. Click here to read her recent articles. The third article is an interesting one titled "The Mt. Diablo district is running out of cash." I'll put out more district news in a few weeks.
The Board of Education will meet tonight regarding many new issues. For the entire agenda click here. Some of the items to be discussed are listed below.
Item 16.4: The 2010-2011
proposed budget includes earlier actions taken by the Board of Education
for 2010-2011; the Governor's May Revise; and costs associated with
moving from one year to the next, such as moving employees' salaries
throught the salary schedule and changes in employee benefit rates. The
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) at -.39%, and the deficit factor of
22.205% results in a deccrease to the revenue limit. The district
revenue budget will be revised within 45 days of the state budget
adoption to reflect the actual revenue to be received. Click hereto view the power point presentation of the budget. You must have Power Point on your computer to view this report.
Item 16.8: Presently, the
District has a limited opportunity to participate in the California
Solar Initiiative (CSI) Program at 'Incentive Level' 7. Participation at
this level will secure incentive payments to the District (based on
actual Kwh production) at a rate of $0.19 per Kwh for a period of five
(5) years, or, approximately $2.8 million per year for five years. In
order to reserve our application in the CSI Program it is necessary to
submit a refundable application fee with the application. Staff is
requesting approval to submit the $321,250.00 application fee using
available, unallocated Proposition 55 funds. To view the CSI application summary and the estimated savings click here. (You must have Power point to view the savings report).
Editors Note - Last week the Contra Costa Times reported that the California Solar initiative Program was being halted. "The California Public
Utilities Commission has stunned public officials and the solar industry
by suspending lucrative rebates to school districts, cities and other
government agencies that install solar panels on public buildings." Since a major portion of the Measure C monies was for solar, and they were counting on the rebates, I'm sure the board will have to revisit this item. I haven't read comments from the district as to how this will change the solar plans. To read the remainder of this article please click here.
Item 16.9: Athletic Fees for 2010-2011. Click here to view the fee schedule. OK, no more budget news so get back to having a great summer and we will see you in 5 weeks :-) |
