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A Strandwood PTA Publication
MAY 9, 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.

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In This Issue
PTA "Measure S" Campaign
Student Information Forms
Kids' Bike Rodeo
Parenting Tip of the Week
Education News and Information
Flyers Available in the Office
Dates, Times and Places

PTA Opens New "Measure S" Campaign

For Lower Grade Instructional Assistants

Due to the State financial crisis Strandwood has been hit hard by extreme budget cuts, and every year the cuts get deeper.  The PTA has attempted to minimize the impact of these cuts over the last several years by paying for a number of staff positions.  In recent years the PTA has funded the following staffing positions:  Science Instructor; Site Tech 1, Primary Grade Reading Instructional Assistant, Upper Grade Reading Instructional Assistant, Art Instructional Assistant, and Instructional Assistants for the first and second grades.   However, we have been funding some of these positions with the Measure S Campaign from 2009 (the money for the First and Second grade Instructional Assistants) as well as from surplus funds from prior years.  If we continued to provide the same level of staffing for next year it would be just over $80,000.00!!!

It is no longer feasible for the PTA to continue to provide this level of staffing needs as well as OUR programs without seriously dipping into the red.  Accordingly, the 2010 PTA agreed to fund the Science Instructor, Site Tech 1, and the Primary Grade Reading Instructional Assistant only at this time.  We are still in process of discussing other positions, but we know that we cannot fund everything again for next year.
 
We need your help again if we are going to fund Instructional Assistants for first and second grade.  We estimate the cost of six IA's for next year at approximately $16,000.00.  Accordingly, we are re-launching the Measure S Campaign.  We are asking that every family donate between $50.00 and $100.00, but will of course accept any amount.  The more donations we receive the more assistants we will be able to provide.  All donations should be made payable to Strandwood PTA and are tax deductible.   Please make a notation that the donation is for Measure S.   Donations can be dropped in the PTA box in the school office.  We are truly sorry to have to ask yet again for more money.  However, this is the only way we will be able to fund these Instructional Assistants for next year.

Thank you.
Distinguished Flag
Photo courtesy of the Bargmann family.
Calendar
Click the image below to go directly to the monthly Strandwood PTA web calendar.
calendar

What is it?

What is the object in the close up photo below?


Egg slicer
Find the answer in the Dates, Times and Places section at the bottom of the newsletter.

Student Information Forms

Available now in the office, on-line soon

Providing all our students with the most appropriate classroom placement in order to maximize learning opportunities is valued at Strandwood. Parents are an important source of information and can be a part of the process by providing us with information about their child.

 

Student Information forms are available in our school office now. Please return the form to the office on or before June 9th. On August 26th our PTA will host Jump Start day with lots of fun activities, opportunities to mix and mingle with friends and class lists will be posted that day.

 

Our goal is to provide balanced classes and maximize everyone's potential to have a successful 2011-12 school year.

 

Kids' Bike Rodeo Coming Soon

Kids' Bike Rodeo -- Saturday, May 14 from noon to 4pm at the Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd

 

Cruise a miniature city in the library parking lot! A team of bicycle safety experts from Cycles of Change will teach kids about bicycle safety. Bring a bike or borrow one of ours. Enjoy bicycle crafts and snacks at this free family event. Sponsored by the Friends of the Pleasant Hill Library, Kaiser Permanente, Pleasant Hill Rotary Club, Pleasant Hill Community Foundation, Pleasant Hill Library Fund, and Whole Foods Walnut Creek.

 

Parenting Tip of the Week
From
www.parents.com

Grow Your Own Little Gardener  

Mommy(and Daddy)-and-me gardening is a fun spring activity for all ages. Let your child pick a theme, such as a butterfly garden or a pizza garden with tomatoes and basil, then help her pick what to plant and where to plant it.

 

Click here for the article. Remember to click through all the pages of information by clicking Next.  

Education News and Information 

Strategic Planning Input Sessions  

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is beginning a strategic planning process.  A straw model of strategic intents has been developed.   

 

You are invited to attend one of the community input sessions listed below:

· Monday, May 9, 7:00 p.m., College Park High School Multi Use Room

· Wednesday, May 11, 7:00 p.m., Monte Gardens Elementary Multi Use Room (geared for staff input)

· Thursday, May 12, 7:00 p.m., Ygnacio Valley High School Multi Use Room

· Saturday, May 14, 9:00 a.m., TBD

· Monday, May 16, 7:00 p.m., Concord High School Multi Use Room

· Tuesday, May 17, 7:00 p.m., Dent Center (geared for Community Advisory Committee)

· Wednesday, May 19, 7:00 p.m., Riverview Middle School Multi Use Room

· Wednesday, June 1, 7:00 p.m., (geared for Parent Advisory Committee)

· Thursday, June 2, 7:00 p.m., Willow Creek Center  (geared for Foundations)

· Wednesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m., Dent Center (geared for Measure C Oversight Committee)

· Wednesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m., Willow Creek Center

· Thursday, June 16, 7:00 p.m., Dent Center (geared for Measure C Oversight Committee)

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FLYERS

Flyers regarding the following items are available in the office this month. You can also click on the link, underlined if there is one, to go directly to that site.  

Buena Vista Swim Club

Memberships Available For Summer 2011

Click here to view the flyer 



Dates, Times and Place
May 9 - Field Trip - B-2 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 15 -
Staff vs Students Kickball Game
may 17
- Final PTA Executive Board Meeting of the School Year
May 18 -
Student Council Spirit Day - Sports Day
May 19 - Field Trip - 5th Grade
to Pleasant Hill Middle School
May 20 -
A-6 End of Year Musical
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

Jun 1 - Student Council Spirit Day - Patriotic Day
Jun 1 - 5th Grade barbeque
Jun 1 - Annual Choral Spring Program
Jun 2 - Field Trip - D-2 & A-1 - Buddy Picnic
Jun 2 - Volunteer Tea
Jun 2 - Final PTA General Membership Meeting of the School Year
Jun 3 - 3rd Grade Field Day
Jun 4 - 5th Grade Social
Jun 7 - Kindergarten Spring Sing
Jun 8 - Field Trip - Chorus & Bell Choir
Jun 9 - Final Day of 2010-2011 School Year
June 10 - First Day of Summer Smile

View the calendar on the Strandwood PTA website by clicking here.  
Visit the Strandwood Elementary School website by clicking here.  
dates

The photo is of: Egg Slicer

 
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