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A Strandwood PTA Publication
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APRIL 25, 2011
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 PTA and school websites. 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 these electronic communications please use the "Safe Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the newsletter.
ENJOY YOUR SPRING BREAK
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PTA To Launch Instructional Assistant Fundraiser
By Mrs. Kim, Principal
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In the old days.....
Fifteen years ago the majority of regular education classrooms in elementary schools in California had a teacher student ratio of one to thirty. Ten years ago many elementary schools in California went to a teacher student ratio of one to twenty in the primary grades. Three years ago in MDUSD, with the state of California's rapidly dwindling per student compensation to schools, we went back to a ratio of one teacher to thirty one students.
"Measure S" organizers at Strandwood rallied our parent community to raise funds to provide a five hour a week instructional assistant to support student learning in the larger classes in the first and second grades. Our generous, mindful PTA has continued to provide that support for the last two years.
Strandwood teachers say:
"Having an instructional assistant is the only thing that enables us (the classroom teacher) to have time to reach all 31 students' specific learning needs through small group instruction." Strandwood 2nd Grade teachers
"Having an IA allows all students to receive more individualized support, including one to one and small group instruction, enrichment and intervention from both the teacher and the aide." Strandwood 1st Grade teachers
Now it's time to rally that Strandwood synergy that makes this community so unique. Our PTA will be launching a campaign for additional funding from our parents to ensure that this valuable asset can carry on for an additional year. It is time to put your effort where the future is - your children. They are our most valuable resource.
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The PTA will be launching this fund raising campaign next Monday, May 2nd. Watch your email this week for more information.
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Photo courtesy of the Bargmann family.
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Calendar
Click the image below to go directly to the monthly Strandwood PTA web calendar.
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What is it?
What is the object in the close up photo below?
Find the answer in the Dates, Times and Places section at the bottom of the newsletter.
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Read and Dream Schedule Changes
| Due to Spring Break and 3 scheduled school furlough days, the Read and Dream schedule has changed and will be as follows:
For the month of April, Read and Dream logs will be due on Monday, May 2. Awards will be given out on Friday, May13.
For the month of May, Read and Dream logs will be due on Thursday, May 26. Awards will be given out on Friday, June 3.
Please mark the changes in your calendars. Thank you for your flexibility.
Questions: Please email Noga at nogakessler@yahoo.com or Suzie at silvacrew@aol.com |
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After School Chess Comes to an End
|  After-school chess has ended for this school year. Chess parents, please remind your students they no longer have chess after school on Wednesdays. If your student would like to continue working on their chess game, you can check out the ongoing classes and summer camps offered by Berkeley Chess School at www.berkeleychessschool.org
Thank you to all who helped with this after-school program, especially Mrs. Bartlett and Mr. Wright for allowing us to use their classrooms throughout the year, and to Ellie Clark our energetic volunteer parent
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STAR Testing
| Every spring, California students take tests that are a part of the Standardized Testing and
Reporting (STAR) Program. Most students take the California Standards Tests (CSTs), which were developed for California public schools and are aligned to the California content standards. California standards are statements of what students are expected to know and do and what schools are expected to teach.
Strandwood's STAR testing will be held from May 2nd through May 13th. Here are some helpful hints for the testing days.
* Being on time each morning is critical for the success of every student every day, including STAR testing days. Students who arrive late disrupt not only their own testing but also their classmates. We are in this as a team at Strandwood and success of one student is the success of all. Please be on time!
*Allow your child to get a good nights sleep before the tests
*Be sure you child eats a well balanced breakfast.
* Encourage your child to do his or her personal best but do not overemphasize the tests, they are only one measure of your child's performance.
PLEASE, Do not schedule vacation, doctor or dental appointments during the testing window. Homework assigned should be light during testing.
For more information, sample test questions and more please click on the links below.
About the Test - This section included the purpose for testing, who is tested and more.
Sample Test Questions - View and print questions for specific grade levels, subject and performance levels.
Released STAR Test Questions - Actual questions from prior years.
STAR Parent Guides - Read grade specific parent guides to STAR testing.
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Make A Difference Day
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WHEN: Saturday May 7, 10:00AM - 3:00PM
WHERE: Strandwood
WHAT: Please join us in making Strandwood beautiful! Bring your garden tools, your wheelbarrows and your gloves. Please come have fun planting and weeding with us.
QUESTIONS: Please email Noga at nogakessler@yahoo.com
Thank you and hope to see you there
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5th Grade Social
| Attention all 5th grade families!
Please save the date - Saturday, June 4th from 6:30pm-9:00pm
For the first time in Strandwood history....we are very excited to announce our 5th grade Social! Thanks to the idea of a group of parents and the support of our incredible Principal Liz Kim and wonderful 5th grade teachers along with the help of our spectacular 5th grade Student Council.
WHAT: 5th grade Social
WHEN: Saturday, June 4th from 6:30pm-9:00pm
WHERE: Strandwood MUR
WHY: A time for our 5th graders and their parents to come together as a community to celebrate before they head on to middle school.
The event will be FREE to all 5th graders and at least one parent is required to attend (although both are encouraged to come!). No siblings please - this celebration is for 5th graders and their parents only. The evening will be chalked full of activities...entertainment, yearbooks will be handed out, yummy desserts and, mainly, hanging out and having fun! More details will follow as we get closer to the event. In the meantime, please save the date! Questions? Contact May Hanecak at may_hanecak417@yahoo.com or Cindy Turner at pcturner@sbcglobal.net
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Vegas Night on April 30th to Raise Vital Funds for High School Sports
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With MDUSD high school sport collections more than $300,000 behind last year, the United Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation (UMDAF) is partnering with the six MDUSD athletic booster clubs to host a fun-filled "Vegas Night" fundraiser at the Concord Hilton on April 30th.
This will be a full house casino event run by professional gaming providers. There will be fabulous prizes for all the winners, including a one-year 2011 Camry lease from Toyota of Walnut Creek to the winner of the Texas Hold'em Tournament.
Doors will open at 6:00pm with the games starting at 7:00pm. The $50 cost per person includes dinner and gambling chips. Buy-in to the Texas Hold'em Tournament is an additional $100. There will also be a live band for dancing.
Because participation is limited, sign up now to ensure a spot and directly support MDUSD high school sports. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to UMDAF's web site at www.unitedmtdiabloathletics.org.
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Parenting Tip of the Week
From www.parents.com | |
The Truth About Tough Love
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Experts say praising kids promotes good behavior. Yelling at kids for bad behavior is only a short-term fix. If your child draws on the wall, for example, rather than shouting at her, put her in a time-out and explain what she did wrong. Then compliment her the next day when she draws on her paper.
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Click here for the article. Remember to click through all the pages of information by clicking Next.
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Dates, Times and Place
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May 2 - May 13 - STAR Testing - Your teacher should brief you on the grade level schedule
May 2 - Field Trip - B-4 to Tilden Park
May 2 - Field Trip - Kindergarten to the Aquarium By The Bay
May 5 - PTA General Membership Meeting
May 6 - No School - Teacher Furlough Day
May 7 - Make A Difference Day - 10:00am - 3:00pm
May 9 - Field Trip - B2 to Tilden Park
May 10 - Field Trip - B-3 to Tilden Park
May 10 - School Site Council Meeting - 3:15 in the Library
May 12 - Kindergarten Orientation
May 18 - Student Council Spirit Day - Sports Day
May 19 - Field Trip - 5th Grade to Pleasant Hill Middle School
May 25 - Bike To School Day
May 25 - Strandwood Open House
May 27 - No School - Teacher Furlough Day
May 30 - School Holiday - Memorial Day
May 31 - No School - Teacher Furlough Day
View the calendar on the Strandwood PTA website by clicking here.
Visit the Strandwood Elementary School website by clicking here. 
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