The Otter Weekly

 

 

Oak Knoll School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park, California 94025

650-854-4433                                              September 9, 2012 

To Do
In This Issue
Message from Mr. A
Parking Etiquette
Ollie Salutes
BTS Checklist
Donate to MPAEF
Parent Social - Kinders & New Families
Otterwear
Safe Routes to School
Bike Safely Back to School
Choice Lunch
Purchasing Milk?
Cub Scouts
Fall Family Picnic
Sign up for eScrip
After-School Programs
School Supplies
Holiday Boutique
Community Annoucements
Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links



This Week  

 

Monday, September 10  

  • Coldoff - 5th Grade Balclutha Trip; 11:30am-10:00am (overnight)
  • PTO/MPAEF Fundraising Campaign begins  

Tuesday, September 11

  • Sanchez - 5th Grade Balclutha Trip; 11:30am-10:00am (overnight)

Wednesday, September 12

  • Tom - 5th Grade Balclutha Trip; 11:30am-10:00am (overnight)    
  • PTO Board Meeting (teacher lounge); 8:15am-10:00am 

Thursday, September 13

  • MPAEF Board Meeting, 8:45am-10:30am  
  • Back to School night
    • Kindergarten-2nd; 6:30-7:20pm; (Multi Age K,1,2 on 9/20)      
    • Grades 3-5, Multi-Age (3,4,5); 7:35-8:25pm    

 

Looking Ahead 

 

Wednesday, Sept 19 - Friday, Sept 21

  • School Picture Days

Wednesday, September 19 

  • Veneman - 5th Grade Balclutha Trip; 11:30am-10:00am (overnight)   
  • Parent Social for Kinder and New Families; 7:00pm-8:30pm
Thursday, September 20
  • Back to School night
    • Multi-Age (K,1,2), Room 24; 7:00pm-8:00pm

Friday, September 21

  • Fall Family Picnic; 5:00pm-7:00pm  

Wednesday, September 26

  • Fuller - 5th Grade Balclutha Trip; 11:30am-10:00am (overnight)  

Announcements from the Office




Message from Mr. Almquist (Art Teacher) 

 

I wanted to personally thank you for a wonderful first year at Oak Knoll! The community, teacher, and student support has been exceptional in making art a creative place for students. The creative journey continues....here is a breakdown of artists and themes we will be exploring during our first month back:

  • Kindergarten: Primary colors and color mixing
  • First Grade: Vincent Van Gogh and texture
  • Second Grade: Wax resist and fish
  • Third Grade: Georgia O'Keefe and fabric paints
  • Fourth Grade: Vincent Van Gogh and the Starry Night
  • Fifth Grade: Claude Monet and perspective  

Feel free to stop by, have a cup of coffee, and say hello!

 

Mr. Jayd Almquist

 

Parking Etiquette   

 

Please respect the posted "no parking" zones around the school when parking on the street; and be sure to leave room so that pedestrians do not have to walk in the street.  

 

Menlo Park police officers will be ticketing aggressively due to neighbor complaints about blocked driveways.

 

Ollie Salutes

Back-To-School Lunch Co-chairs & Oak Knoll Community Outreach Team

Monica Chua and Julie Pietrantoni for providing the delicious Back-To-School Lunch. Thank you for feeding our amazing teachers and staff during this very busy first week!

Hildy Agustin, Carolyn Bowsher, Airel Tinajero, Ana Uribe Ruiz, and the Oak Knoll Community Outreach (OKCO) Committee brought our Tinsley families together at the OKCO Welcome Brunch. Thank you for making our families feel welcome and for organizing such a wonderful back-to-school event!

You Otter Know


Back To School Checklist

  

Get organized for the 2012-2013 school year with the Back To School Checklist! Please review the list thoroughly as it contains very important information about the following activities and events. More detail can be found here. 

  • PTO Membership  
  • Donate to MPAEF
  • eScrip Signup
  • Otterwear
  • Fall Family Picnic Tickets
  • Hot Lunch
  • School Supplies
  • Volleyball Registration
  • After-School Programs
  • Noteworthy Art  
Also, please review the Parking & Pick-Up/Drop Off Line Procedures and check the SamTrans schedule.

 

 


   
10.  Library books and our librarian, Ms. Bennion:  Not only do our kids love going to Library, it is good for them!

9.  Community-building events:  They're fun for the whole family and help make our Oak Knoll PTO community stronger.

8.  School communications: Helping you keep on top of everything with the weekly newsletter, District directory, website, and other types of communication throughout the school year.

7.  Classroom supplies and teacher resources:  Our teachers and staff are so appreciative off all that we do to help them so that they can remain focused on their top priority - the kids.

6.  Lunchtime programs:  Sports supervision and teacher-directed clubs allow kids to explore different activities during their free time.

5.  Art: There may be a future Picasso at Oak Knoll PTO thanks to Mr. Almquist.

4.  Science: Most parents can't answer all of the "why" questions, which is why we have Mrs. Solomon. Plus, science is just plain fun for kids!

3.  Music:  Did you know that children who have received music instruction scored higher marks on tests of their spatial and arithmetic skills?  Whether your child has music with Ms. Tee, Ms. Knight, Ms. Chiet or Mr. Vaughan, music class is more than just a fun class for your child!

2.  Field Trips and Assemblies:  What students learn in the classroom is reinforced in other meaningful ways.

1.  Public education is priceless, but it isn't free.  We need everyone's help to continue providing these people, programs and events at our schools for our kids.
If you haven't already, please support both organizations.  Every donation matters and helps the Oak Knoll PTO and the MPAEF reach their goals.

 

 

If you haven't already, please support both organizations.  Every donation matters and helps the Oak Knoll PTO and the MPAEF reach their goals.   

 

 

      

 

   Click here to Donate                                                  Click here to Donate or  

   to the Oak Knoll PTO                                                  Pledge to the MPAEF 

 
Parent Social for Kinders & New Families

Parents of kindergarteners and new families at Oak Knoll are invited to an evening with Superintendent Ghysels and Principal Ackerman on Wednesday, September 19th from 7:00-8:30pm.  Come meet other parents, learn more about our schools and how our community supports them.  Drinks and appetizers will be served.  Work casual attire suggested, but not required.  The event is hosted by the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation, in partnership with the Oak Knoll PTO.  For additional information on this event, please RSVP to Linda Knoll.

 


LAST CHANCE to Order Otterwear is Monday Sept 10th!    

 

Hopefully you've now seen the great styles offered by this year's Otterwear. Your kids have, and they are hoping you'll be outfitting them with some of the new t-shirts and sweatshirts so they can show their school spirit at the same time you support Oak Knoll. Proceeds from each sale go directly to the school. See samples in the office or online, and then place your orders NOW!    

 

All items are available in youth and adult sizes. Order online with PayPal. To pay by check, use the order form that came home in your child's backpack last week or download it now and return it to the "Otterwear" folder in the office.

 

All orders due Monday, September 10, so DON'T DELAY.
For questions, contact
Stephanie Chen.
 


How will you get to school?  


The school district has received a grant from Safe Routes to Schools to hire a transportation coordinator, Kathy Schrenk. She will be scheduling more bike rodeos and walk-to-school events and helping more families walk, bike, carpool and take the bus to get to school. Contact Kathy at  [email protected] if you would like to volunteer (parents are needed at events and to lead bike pools and walking school buses), have suggestions about traffic safety or need help figuring out the best route for your young pedestrians and cyclists.

 


Bike Safely Back to School

The Bike Safety Committee welcomes you back to school with a back-to-school Bike Safety Week September 24-28th and a family Bike Safety Ride on Sunday morning, September 30th. If you are interested in helping out with the week's safety activities or the family ride, please contact Sidney Marks or call 650-324-8515.

 


Choice Lunch       

 

Choice Lunch updated the website and made it easy to use. Your child's favorite meals will be front and center. You can also set the allergen and nutrition restrictions for each child.

 

To sign-up for Choice Lunch visit: www.choicelunch.com, password is otters.

Choice Lunch flyers are available in the office.   

 

We are still looking for volunteers to work a lunch shift (no experience needed).  Please email Naed if you are interested. 

 


Purchasing Milk 

 

Beginning September 10, 2012 the Menlo Park City School District will serve milk every school day. Students may buy milk for $52 per school year. (This amount has increased because MPCSD is no longer subsidized by the Special Milk Program.)  Please note that if you plan to order Hot Lunch through the district vendor, Choice Lunch, they offer a drink (including milk) with each lunch. Hot Lunch service will start on the first day of school and ordering will be available the week before school begins.  

If you would like to sign up for the student milk program, do one of the following:

1) Go to PaySchools to sign up and pay online. OR

2) If you would like to pay by check please download and fill out the Student Milk Program form, attach your check, and turn it in to the school office the first week of school.
  

 

Interested in Cub Scouts?   

 

Cub Scouts offers fun and challenging experiences for boys and parents to do together. If your son is in first grade or higher and is interested in learning more about the scouting experience, come to an orientation Pack meeting on Thursday, September 20, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall) featuring the Lizard Lady.

For more info email Jeremy Wire or visit the Pack 222 website at http://pack222.weebly.com/  


Fall Family Picnic - Purchase Your Tickets 

 

Have dinner with your fellow Oak Knoll families on Friday, September 21, 5:00pm-7:00pm. Enjoy food from Jeffrey's, dessert from The Mix, fun, karaoke and games for all in this fine back-to-school tradition. Purchase your tickets in advance no later than September 18. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door. Pay by check or with PayPal.

 

If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please email  [email protected], [email protected][email protected] or 

[email protected].

 

 


Sign up for eScrip 


What's eScrip? It's a national fundraising program that allows participating merchants to contribute a percentage of your grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to the school or education organization of your choice. Almost 100 merchants - including Safeway and Draegers - will make a donation to the Menlo Park-�-Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF) when you shop with them. Here's how to sign up or click here for a complete set of instructions. 

  • Click on the link on the right side of the page labeled "SignUp - It's Free!"
  • Select Group Name: Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation, or select Group ID: 126417042.
  • Fill out the next form with your basic profile information, then click Next.
  • Select your merchant cards from the drop-down menu (e.g. Safeway Card) and enter in your membership number, then click Next.
  • Be sure to register all your credit cards!!     

After-School Programs


Don't forget to check out the great selection of After School classes here at Oak Knoll.  

 

Many classes are filling up so don't forget to register by September 10th. If you have any questions email Aarti Chandna or Kimberly Hartz Foster. 


School Supplies  

 

School supply lists have been standardized by grade level this year. Please note that Kindergarten does not have a list as teachers will discuss supplies at Back to School Night.

For your convenience, we have provided Village Stationers with copies of each class list, should you choose to purchase your supplies with them. Please consider mentioning "Oak Knoll" when shopping at Village Stationers, as a portion of your school supplies purchase will be donated to Oak Knoll.



MPAEF
 
 

Calling all HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE VENDORS!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Holiday Boutique benefiting the MPAEF at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. 

 

Please mark your calendars:

  • Thursday, 11/15 Champagne and Shopping from 6:00pm-9:00pm
  • Friday, 11/16  Boutique Shopping from 8:30am-2:30pm. 

If you are interested in becoming a Boutique vendor/sponsor, please fill out the vendor application and email Margie Klapper by September 18, 2012.  20% of sales go to the MPAEF, which includes a $250 pre-paid non-refundable Boutique sponsorship. 

 

If you are interested in volunteering at the Boutique, please contact Carolyn Bowsher.

Community Corner

 

Pirates Math Fair at Mathnasium  (Grade 2-5) Saturday, September 22, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 605 Cambridge Avenue, Suite A, Menlo Park. Contact Cathy Umana at 321-6284 or paloalto-menlopark@mathnasium.com to reserve a spot. Students will rotate through eight stations and be rewarded with pirate booty!   
 
Speaker: "Raising Happiness: Five Parenting Mistakes I've Made, and How You Can Avoid Them" by Dr. Christine Carter
Wednesday, October 10, 7 to 9 p.m., at St. Martin of Tours Elementary School, San Jose. Free. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and neuroscience, Dr. Carter gives simple and fun practices for building a happier family.
 
Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., San Mateo Main Library Oak Room, 55 West Third Ave., San Mateo. Join us as we discuss new strategies and programs to make our public places desirable destinations that promote healthy living. Workshops will explore the connections between urban planning, public health, parks and recreation.

Library Volunteers Needed - Ravenswood District. Check books in and out to students and shelve books when they are returned during school hours; needed at all of the elementary schools in the Ravenswood City School District. Contact Julie Gaston at [email protected]
 
Captivating Dance by Nona Fall Dance Classes located in Menlo Park, in many styles including jazz, hip hop, break dancing, lyrical and ballet. Website: www.captivatingdancebynona.com.

4-H Clubs Enrolling Now. Kids 5-19 engage in projects from science to livestock production.Canada 4-H in Redwood City and San Carlos/Eaton Hills 4-H are enrolling now - see http://ucanr.org/sites/smsf4h/Clubs/. To learn about launching a Menlo Park based chapter, contact Julie Wong at [email protected].

Register for Ragazzi Boys Chorus (Ages 7-10)
Monday and Wednesday afternoons through September, by appointment, Redwood City. 
Ragazzi Boys Chorus offers a complete music education through a proven, award-winning choral program. No-stress auditions for boys between the ages of 7 and 10; no previous singing experience is required. Appointments: 650-342-8785 or [email protected]

Speaker: Digital Citizenship, Cyberbullying & Social Media from Common Sense Media, Merve Lapus, Thursday, September 13, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., M-A Center for the Performing Arts (PAC). Presented by the M-A Parent Education Series. Free tickets here.

Children's Cooking Classes offered through Menlo Park Recreation Tuesdays starting September 12 at Burgess Recreation Center. Come join professional Chef Susan de Leon (an Encinal parent) with age appropriate recipes with a nutrition theme of the day. Register through Menlo Park Recreation Center  (search on "Chef").

(K-2)
U-Me Fall Classes: reading and math, music, art, legos, gymnastics, and fitness. Check out our schedule here.

(Ages 8-11)
Kidizens Fall Program 2012, September through December, Los Altos or Belmont. Fall program is a fourteen-week session where kids build, manage and govern an entire LEGO city, while learning about important civic and economic concepts, in a fun, social and highly engaging learning environment. Contact: [email protected] or 650-384-0412, Website:  thekidizens.com/

Love and Logic Parenting Course, with Janada Clark5-Week Course Begining 9/25, Free Introduction 9/18, Redeemer Lutheran School, 468 Grand Street, Redwood City

(Ages 3-8)
Creative Art Classes for Young Children with Jeannie Goldman
September 20 to December 8, at Portola Valley Town Center. Website:  
portolavalley.net

Kids 4 Sports Foundation 3rd Annual Fall Dash 5K  Sunday, September 16, 9 a.m., starting and finishing at Burgess Park in Menlo Park. Help Kids 4 Sports fund after-school team sports programs, coaches, and referees, and purchase sports equipment to give to local sports programs. 
Sign up now!


For past community news, click here

Please submit announcements and flyers to [email protected] for Oak Knoll events. For the Community Corner, send submissions to [email protected]. The deadline for both email addresses is by noon on the Wednesday prior to publication date. Guidelines for submission are available online.