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The Otter Weekly
Oak Knoll School
1895 Oak Knoll Lane
Menlo Park, California 94025
650-854-4433 September 23, 2012
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Oak Knoll Elementary PTO Newsletter
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This Week
Monday, September 24
Wednesday, September 26
- Fuller - 5th Grade Balclutha Trip; 11:00am-10:30am (overnight)
- 4th & 5th Grade Instrumental Music Parent Information Night; 6:00pm, Gym
Thursday, September 27
- Are You In? Day - wear orange!
Friday, September 28
- Bike Safety Rodeo Day for 4th/5th Graders
Sunday, September 30
- Bike Safety Family Ride; 9:00am
- 1st Grade Social; 1:00pm-3:00pm
- 3rd Grade Social; 3:00pm-4:00pm
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Looking Ahead Monday, October 1 - Thursday, October 4Monday, October 1 - Kindergarten: Mornings Plus 2 begins extended days
Friday, October 5 - 2nd Grade Social; 5:00pm-7:00pm
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Announcements from the Office
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Clothes Needed
The office needs boys and girls shorts and underwear in all sizes. Thank you for any donations.
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Reminder to Volunteers to Sign-in at Front Office
All volunteers and visitors should sign the Volunteer/Visitor Log in the front office and remember to wear a "School Visitor" name tag for safety reasons.
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Reminder to Carpool Line Parents
Please be patient in our carpool line and stay in your car. Getting out of your car slows down our line. We have teachers and staff on duty to help find and load your precious cargo. We will never load kids into cars in the passing lane. Move all the way up in line as cars leave.
Thank you!
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Ollie Salutes
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Thank you to Noelle Carpenter, Denise Henry, Sharon Purcell and Rebecca Wargo who put together our fantastic Fall Family Picnic on Friday night! Thanks to the many parent volunteers and Hillview students who also helped at this event. It was great to see so many new and returning families together for this annual school-wide event at the start of the school year.
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You Otter Know
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Want to be a ninja, too?
Click THIS LINK to hear what our kids have to say about their favorite times at school.
It's For Our Kids! Support their education by supporting your PTO and the MPAEF. We'll be reaching out to our whole community on Monday. Check this banner out on Santa Cruz Ave near El Camino. Together our community can support our great schools. Thank you Dana Shields Design for contributing the design and creation of the banner. |
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THANK YOU to the many families who have already contributed to the Oak Knoll PTO and donated or pledged to the MPAEF - your generosity and support is much appreciated.
Thursday, September 27 is Are You In? Day. Wear ORANGE. Send your kids to school wearing orange. We'll see you curbside to celebrate all that our Oak Knoll community will accomplish this year!
4 DAYS REMAIN until the end of the joint campaign on Thursday, September 27. If you haven't yet contributed to these organizations, read on . . . .
The Oak Knoll PTO has already started to fund its programs and needs to have its funding in place by the close of the campaign. Please join the Oak Knoll PTO this week!
The competition to reach 100% participation in each class is exciting but understand that raising funds for our school is serious business.
As a bonus, every class with a 100% donation participation to the PTO gets an extra recess. Competition among classes is fierce. Here's who is closest to winning a free recess:
- Ms. Bouret, Multi 3-5, 75%
- Ms. Guerra, 3rd Grade, 75%
- Ms. Clancy, Multi 3-5, 71%
Please ensure that our children continue to go on wonderful field trips (21% of funds), attend enriching assemblies and benefit from more enrichment opportunities afforded them on campus (52% of funds).
Last year, the PTO spent $250 per child but it only costs $5 to become a member. Give at a level comfortable for your family.
To donate to the Oak Knoll PTO, click HERE.
The MPAEF will continue its fundraising to meet our $4 million goal and 80% participation after the close of the joint campaign. If you aren't ready to donate now, you can still make a pledge to be fulfilled at a later date. This is a great way to space out your giving to fit your needs. Of course, if you are ready to donate now, please do so!
To donate or pledge to the MPAEF, click HERE.
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 Halloween Costume Drive It's time to start digging out your kids' outgrown costumes and spooky decorations! The annual Caring and Sharing Costume Drive will be held Monday, October 1 - Thursday, October 6. The Girl Scouts will be collecting your gently used costumes at pick-up for local kids in need.
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International Walk to School Day
October 3rd is International Walk to School Day! All schools in the District will be celebrating with parades and music on the way to school and prizes for walkers and bikers as they arrive! If you can't walk all the way to school, pick a spot where you can safely park and walk the last half mile or so. Get some exercise and reduce traffic around school! Transportation Safety committees at each school are looking for volunteers to lead walking groups, staff prize tables and help promote Walk to School Day. If you're interested please contact Kathy Schrenk at kschrenk@mpcsd.org.
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Want to Earn Free Lunches For Your Child? 
We still NEED volunteers to serve Hot Lunch at school! Shifts are from 11:30-12:40 any weekday. Volunteer for a shift and earn a free lunch credit!
No experience needed. New to Oak Knoll? It's a great way to meet other parents, too! Please email Naed if you are interested. To sign-up your child for Choice Lunch visit: www.choicelunch.com, password is otters. Choice Lunch flyers are available in the office. Back to Top
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Grade-Level Parties 
FIRST GRADE "LEMONADE & LOLLIPOPS" Join us for a Lemonade and Lollipops 1st Grade Family Social. Come out and meet up with good friends and make some new first grade friends. We'll have lemonade, lollipops, and good old-fashioned fun! Siblings welcome.
Sunday, September 30th from 1pm-3pm Upper Playground SECOND GRADE "BYODinner & DESSERT" Please join us again as we get together with other Oak Knoll families who have second-graders for a fun evening out! Reconnect with old friends and make some new ones! Bring a picnic dinner and we will provide the dessert and the fun! Siblings welcome. See you there! Friday, October 5th; 5pm-7pm Lunch Tables ~ Upper Playground Questions? Contact Grade Level Coordinators for Second-Grade: Gina Skinner or Alison Matthews.THIRD GRADE SOCIAL
Third Grade Social for the Whole Family; Details to follow at a later time Sunday, September 30th from 3-4:30pm on the Upper Playground FOURTH GRADE MOVIE NIGHT
Fourth Grade Movie Night for Kids Only Friday, November 2nd from 6:30-8:15pm in the Gym FIFTH GRADE MOVIE NIGHT
Fifth Grade Movie Night for Kids Only Friday, November 16th from 7-8:45pm in the Gym
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Basketball Registration Opens October 1st 
3rd, 4th & 5th grade Oak Knoll students can register to play basketball on October 1st. This is a recreational league offered by the city of Menlo Park and organized by the After School Sports Program. All practices are held at Oak Knoll facilities and games are held against other schools in the Arrillaga Gymnasium in Menlo Park. No prior experience necessary. To register your child please visit sportability. Registration ends October 22nd. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All teams are coached by parent volunteers. If you are interested in coaching, please email Laura Huber, Erica Galles or Monica Young. There will be a mandatory coaches meeting at 5:45pm on Thursday, November 1 for team selection. Practices will begin late November and games will begin in January. For more information about the basketball program visit the Oak Knoll School website. |
Bike Safely Back to School  The Bike Safety Committee welcomes you back to school with Bike Safety Week September 24-30th. Check out the safety tips posted at the bike racks or on the PTO bulletin board by the school office, and ask your children about the safety tips they will hear all week on KNOL!
- Monday 9/24 -- Dr. Westfall will discuss Bike Safety and encourage our children to write safety pledges on colorful ribbons. Look for the ribbons at the front fence
- Tuesday 9/25 -- Bike Safety Assembly for Grades 4/5 (no bikes necessary this day)
- Wednesday 9/26 -- Bike Safety Assembly for Grades K/1/2/3 (no bikes necessary this day)
- Thursday 9/27 -- Helmet Fitting at the bike racks before/after school. If you or your child have a question about helmets, please see one of our volunteers :-)
- Friday 9/28 -- Bike Safety Rodeo for Grades 4/5. We encourage all students to bring bikes and helmets on this day; there will be a limited # of loaner bikes/helmets available, too.
- Sunday 9/30 -- Bike Safety Family Ride 9:00am at Oak Knoll bike racks. Come join the Bike Safety Committee and meet other families who like to ride to/from school. We'll share some thoughts about tricky intersections near school, review rules of the road and hand signals, and then take to the streets to practice on a short loop.
Volunteers Needed! If you are interested in helping out with the week's safety activities or the family bike ride, please contact Sidney Marks or 650-324-8515. |
Transportation Surveys: Please help Safe Routes to Schools Last week your child's teacher conducted a survey of students to determine how many kids walk, bike, carpool or take the bus. This is an important aspect of the District's Safe Routes to Schools funding. Parents can help by filling out an online survey about how kids get to school and why. If you haven't filled it out already, please do so now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Parent_SMC_Fall2012. The district that gets the highest parent participation rate wins 150 bike helmets! If you have any questions, please contact Transportation Safety Coordinator Kathy Schrenk. |
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Language Translators Wanted
Do you speak another language fluently? Would you be willing to be available for informal translation needs that arise at Oak Knoll? If you or a family member would be willing to serve on our in-house team of occasional translators, please email Hildy Agustin.
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Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Daisy troops forming for kindergarten girls. Troops will meet 1-2 times per month. Typically, a meeting consists of circle time to briefly discuss what value is the theme, craft time, songs/silly games, story time, and sometimes field trips to the police station, homeless shelters, and other service-related organizations. Troops are volunteer led. Girl Scouts is a fun way to teach girls about being decent, smart, curious, independent, and strong in character, mind, and body. 
Contact Hildy Agustin if you're interested in learning more.
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Noteworthy Art - Drawing in Classrooms Has Started
Your child will be drawing his or her individual artwork in class for Noteworthy Art this week (if they haven't already done it). The drawings will be reproduced on high quality notecards and packaged with envelopes in sets of 12. These cards make great gifts, personalized thank-you cards and easy gift enclosures. Now is the perfect time to help your child come up with creative ideas for their artwork. A great design leads to nice gift opportunities and a special keepsake that your child will love! Noteworthy Art cards will be delivered in mid-November. If you have questions about this exciting Oak Knoll PTO fundraiser, please contact Annie Peterson or Betsy Muhlner. Back to Top |
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Speaker: Linda Silvius, "Project Cornerstone-Building Climate in our Community"
Thursday, October 4, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Hillview Performing Arts Center, 1100 Elder Avenue, Menlo Park
Join us as Linda Silvius, School Partnerships Director at Project Cornerstone, introduces us to Project Cornerstone. She will describe what the developmental assets are and how we can help develop these valuable assets-the positive values, relationships and experiences youth need to thrive-in our students. Come see the exciting work Hillview is doing on climate and learn how this project will carry forward to our other schools to meet a District-wide climate goal.
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Speaker - Dr. Madeline Levine, "Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success"
The M-A Parent Education Series presents Dr. Madeline Levine, "Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success" Thursday, October 11, 7:00 p.m., M-A Center for the Performing Arts (PAC)Psychologist Madeline Levine brings together cutting-edge research and thirty years of clinical experience to explode once and for all the myth that good grades, high test scores, and college acceptances should define the parenting endgame. This event is FREE to the public and sponsored by Kepler's Books, the Menlo-Atherton PTA and the Sequoia Healthcare District.
Ticket will go quickly, so register early for this special event! For more information, contact Charlene Margot.
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Community Corner
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Speaker: "Inspire Great Thinkers, Building a Generation of Leaders" by John Hunter Wednesday, October 3, 9 a.m., Trinity School, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. Visionary educator John Hunter is a musician, filmmaker and award-winning teacher who speaks on innovative ways to prepare young people to be compassionate global citizens. $20 at the door.
Saturday, October 6, 7:30 - 11 a.m., 300 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Donations for event entry at the door.
Saturday, October 6, 210 Park Lane, Atherton. Cycle or Walk to help us raise funds for families seeking health care in East Palo Alto and the East of Bayshore area. Visit our website for all event information and to register. The two-mile walk portion of the event is perfect for families.
November 9 and 10, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1040 Border Rd., Los Altos. Celebrate the experience of being a girl through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions. Tickets are $30 ($20 is tax-deductible). For reserved seat information, visit paloaltoauxiliary.com or call 650-364-2588.
Meet the Candidates: Education Forum
Monday, September 24, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, College of San Mateo Theatre, 1700 West Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo. Please join us for an opportunity to meet the candidates running for state senate and assembly in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and hear their views regarding public education. Please RSVP by registering at: www.smcsba.org/events/.
Ravenswood Adopt-a-Teacher ProgramThe Adopt-a-Teacher program is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for families, friends and neighbors to work together to provide much needed encouragement and school supplies to a K-8 teacher in East Menlo Park/Palo Alto schools. Contact: Kelly Morehead or Stacie Zell.
Studio Rincon
Mondays after school at Studio Rincon on Alameda in Menlo Park! "Tiny Tappers", ages 5-7. "Funky Tap", ages 8-11. Advanced Tap, ages 12-teen. Fridays feature "Break Dancing & Poppin", ages 10-teen and "Hip Hop", ages 10-teen. View the schedule at www.studiorincon.com. To signup or if you have any questions, please email: contact@studiorincon.com
For past community news, click here
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Please submit announcements and flyers to newsletter@oakknollschool.com for Oak Knoll events. For the Community Corner, send submissions to communitynews@mpcsd.org. The deadline for both email addresses is by noon on the Wednesday prior to publication date. Guidelines for submission are available online.
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