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The Otter Weekly

 

Oak Knoll School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park, California 94025

650-854-4433                                         January 20, 2013 

Oak Knoll Elementary PTO Newsletter
To D
o
In This Issue
Parent Survey
Kindergarten Information Night
5th Grade Choice Lunch Reminder
Car Line Changes
MPAEF News
Traffic Safety Reminder
Safety Volunteers Needed
Ollie Salutes
Thank You From the Lunt Family
5th Grade Baby Photos
Yearbook Ordering
Science Imagineers
Winterfest
Kidspower Parent Workshop
Teacher Appreciation Lunch
Math Night
Carpool To School
PTO Volunteer Opportunities
Parent Education
Community Opportunities
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List

This Week


Monday, January 21
  • NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

Monday, Jan 21 - Friday, Jan 25

  • Baseball field closed all week

Tuesday, Jan 22 - Friday, Jan 25

  • 4th Grade "Mission Building" project   

Wednesday, January 23 

  • Safe Routes to Oak Knoll Neighborhood Meeting; 7:00pm, Library

Thursday, January 24

  • Kindergarten Information Night; 7pm, Library (Parents only - no children please) 
Friday, January 25
  • Last day to complete Parent Survey
  • Kelley: Ardenwood; 11:30am-2:30pm

Saturday, January 26

  • Winterfest; 5:00-7:00pm

 

Looking Ahead


Monday, Jan 28 - Friday, Feb 1
  • 5th Grade: Outdoor Education  

Wednesday, January 30

  • 4th Grade: Mission Day; 1:00-1:55pm
  • 3rd Grade: Fujitsu Planetarium; 10:45am-2:00pm 

Thursday, January 31

  • Brewbaker / Bartlett/Fox: Ardenwood; 9:00am-12:45pm

Friday, February 1

Wednesday, February 6 

  • Family Math Night; 6-8pm, Gym
  • Quarre: Ardenwood; 9:15am-12:15pm

Thursday, February 7

  • Johnston: Ardenwood; 10:00am-1:45pm 

Friday, February 8

  • Teacher Appreciation Lunch; 11:45am-12:45pm
 

School Office Announcements


Parent Survey - Your Feedback is Important to Us!  

 

The Oak Knoll SITE Council and administration would like your feedback!  Please give us your opinions in our annual anonymous survey by January 25th.  Because the survey includes specific information for each teacher, please fill out one survey for each of your children.  (If you have two children at Oak Knoll, please fill out the two surveys.)

 

Access the survey here.

 

Please contact Carolyn Bowsher with any questions.  

 

Kindergarten Information Night, January 24th at 7pm
  

If your child will be attending kindergarten next year and you would like more information about our programs, please join us on January 24th at 7pm in the Oak Knoll Library. This night is designed for new families, but all parents are welcome to come. Our Oak Knoll administrative team and kindergarten teachers will be there to share information and answer your questions. This night is for parents only, so please leave your little ones at home. If you have any questions please call the Oak Knoll Office at 854-4433.     


5th Grade Parents Reminder - Cancel Choice Lunch During Outdoor Ed!
  

If you have already pre-ordered it, please remember to cancel your 5th graders Choice Lunch for next week (Jan 28-Feb 1) while they are at Outdoor Ed.    


Morning Car Line Changes!
  

As many of you have noticed, we are staffing morning car line with

staff and parent volunteers which has reduced the amount of student

tardies and improved the flow of traffic.

 

To help keep the flow of cars moving, please observe the following:

 

HAVE BACKPACKS ON KIDS' LAPS (not in car trunks) - have kids ready to release their seat belt with backpacks in-hand once you come to a full

 

stop

PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD - we need to fill the entire car line with cars

DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR - we have staff and parents who will open

your car door for you

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED - if you need to have a long goodbye

with your child, you should park and walk-in to school

KIDS SHOULD EXIT CURB-SIDE - move car seats to the curb-side of your

car if needed - it is unsafe for kids to exit the car into traffic

 

If you would like to volunteer to help with our morning car line,

please email Betsy Muhlner.

 

MPAEF News

MPAEF Campaign Continues Strong into 2013!    

 

Our annual campaign has been up and running for several months now and over the holiday break we've been busy gathering important data to share with our parent community.  This status update will help us to prepare for the second half of the campaign and to set strategies towards reaching the District's $4 million need.

 

Coming Soon...Look for activities and events that will support our campaign and schools, including:

 

- An exciting announcement from your school's principal later this week that we hope will inspire new donors and increase donations!

 

MPAEF Auction -- save the date for April 27!  Planning for our Spring auction is already underway and event details will be released shortly!  Contact Karen Dearing or Cyndy Hogan to help with auction solicitations, event planning and support, decor, marketing, raffle and more!

 

- A new District-wide family fun event in June that will bring students and parents together from all four schools -- all in the name of raising dollars for our kids' education!

 

As we start this new year, please consider making a gift that will materially impact your child's educational experience.  Your gift matters!

 

Donate Now

Pledge Now to Give Later

Set Up A Monthly Payment Plan

 

Questions? Contact [email protected]

 

Traffic Safety

REMINDER!

 

DO NOT WALK THROUGH THE PARKING LOT - pedestrians cause cars to stop

unnecessarily and prevent a smooth flow of cars in & out of the

parking lot

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Traffic Safety

 

Have you ever worried about your child's safety when riding his/her bike to school? Have you ever been frustrated by the traffic around school?  Do you find the carline aggravating at times?  A new PTO committee is determined to work on some of these issues.

Starting this month, we are targeting several areas to station volunteers to educate and direct parents and students how better to get to and from school to increase safety and ultimately efficiency.  We will need a few parents each morning, rain and shine, 7:45-8:10 to be at these posts, directing parents and students. Prior to this, we will run spots on KNOL educating students about safety and the implementation of some new procedures.  The hope is that by re-training parents and students, teaching some better habits, we can create a more safe environment for our students while traveling back and forth to school.  We will start with the morning drop-off at first, expanding to afternoons later.

If you are interested in helping out, please contact Betsy Muhlner.

 

Ollie Salutes

Ollie gives two big flippers up to Betsy Muhlner & Karen Wang who are spearheading the effort to improve traffic and safety issues around school. This includes improving our morning car line process and reminding drivers to pull all the way forward in the morning to try to unload as many kids at the same time. The amount of student tardies has improved and many parents and caregivers are extremely pleased with the new process. Please extend your gratitude to them by following the new process and making sure your kids are ready to get out of the car when you pull up to the curb.

 

You Otter Know

A Special Thank You From the Lunt Family!

 

Dear Oak Knoll Staff, Parents and Students, 

 

We are so grateful for your kindness and generosity in helping us get a wheel-chair accessible van for our sweet daughter, Lucy.  All of the donations were so unexpected and so thoughtful... you must all be such kind and special children to be so generous and considerate to us.

 

You will see us driving around the neighborhood in a silver van that looks like it has an extra-low floor.  We'll try and wave or honk to say "thank you!" 

We cannot adequately express how grateful we are for such a caring and generous community.  We feel so fortunate that we are able to live around so many wonderful people.

 

Many Thanks!

 

The Lunt Family (Chad, Cherisse, Dallin, Jocey, and Lucy) 

 

P.S.  If you check out our blog at www.chadncherissefamily.blogspot.com, you can check out a video we made to show you how much you have done for us!

 

5th Grade Families - Submit Your 5th Grader's Baby Photos for Oak Knoll Yearbook!

 

Attention 5th Grade Families: We need your BABY PHOTOS! It's a tradition at Oak Knoll to have baby pictures of our 5th graders in the yearbook.  If you would like to have your child's picture appear in this year's yearbook, you may submit either a digital image or a hard copy.  Note, photos between the ages of 3 and 12 months are best.

 

Hard copy: Have your child put his/her photo in the large, manilla envelope marked "Yearbook" in their classroom.  Make  sure to label the back of the photo with your child's name and teacher.  Be sure to have your child write their name on the attached list on the envelope for tracking purposes. There will be a "back-up" manila envelope in the Yearbook folder in the PTO box in the office.

 

Digital Image (preferred method!) - Please e-mail the digital photo, with the child's name, to Rhonda Bucklin.

 

Important: If you would like the photo returned to you, attach a note letting us know and we will return it to your child's teacher later in the year.

 

All photos are due no later than Friday, February 8th! 

 

Yearbook Ordering Time!

 

Oak Knoll's 2012-2013 Yearbook is on sale for 3-weeks; January 20th through February 8th.  Please order online only.  If ordering more than one book, specify which grade and teacher for each book to streamline delivery.  Books are $20 each and a great way to keep Oak Knoll memories alive for your kids.  Please contact Rhonda Bucklin if ordering online is not an option.  Our goal is no checks for the yearbook this year! 

 

Science Imagineers! 

 

Sixty-plus second and third graders enthusiastically crowded into Room 15 for the Rocket Racers Kickoff.  Wow! We're all excited to come back together to test our engineered solutions against others who are taking on this balloon car challenge.  

 

Review the rules and other information by following this link.

 

If you need help getting started... here is a clip to watch that shows a "basic" Balloon Car.  You can modify and improve upon this model, or engineer a completely different solution.

 

And here's a link to LOTS of different solutions (shown on KNOL)!!

 

Hope to see you on Wednesday, January 23rd, at 12:15pm!  Happy Imagineering!!

 

Winterfest  

 

Are you a family that would like to make new friends?  The first 40 families to RSVP get to mix and mingle at Winterfest while having fun at a flashlight scavenger hunt, playing games, doing crafts and eating at our potluck.  This event helps Oak Knoll's resident families and Oak Knoll's families from the Tinsley Voluntary Transfer Program get to know each other.  Winterfest is this Saturday, January 26th from 5pm-7pm.  

 

If you are interested in attending, please rsvp to Carolyn Bowsher or Airel Tinajero.

 

KidPower Parent Workshop

 

For Oak Knoll parents and caregivers

Wednesday, February 27th at 6:30-8:30pm

Oak Knoll Gym

Sponsored by Oak Knoll PTO (free to attend)

 

People Safety skills help people be safe with people at home, at school, online, out in the world... everywhere. They also help strengthen important relationships. Learn ways to help young people learn and use age-appropriate People Safety skills on an everyday basis to have safer, more positive experiences with people, including strangers, siblings, peers, and other people they know.

 

During the workshop, we will practice how to help kids: 

* Be and act aware and confident

* Check with adults if anything seems unsafe

* Move away from possible problems

* Follow Stranger Safety rules

* Stay safe from hurtful words

* Use voice as a safety tool

* Set clear boundaries

* Say "No" or "Stop" clearly and respectfully

* Deal with other kids poking, pushing, grabbing, etc.

* Use safety plans if lost in a store, park, or library

* Get help from busy adults - and persist!

 

 

For more info on KidPower, please go to their website at: www.kidpower.org

 

To RSVP for this event, please email Tracy Watt

 

 

Oak Knoll Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Looking for Volunteers!

 

This yearly event celebrates our wonderful teachers and staff that make it all happen every day at Oak Knoll.  Check out our Jooners link for items and volunteer shifts we need.

 

This is a one time event and a perfect way for busy parents to participate.  We have needs for baked goods, purchased items (plates, napkins, etc), and shift volunteers to help during our festive Thank You lunch.  The event will be on Friday, February 8th this year.  Go to Jooners today to sign up  or contact Janet Falkner or Courtney Gillette with any questions.

 

Math Night  

 

Save the date for Family Math Night, Wednesday, February 6th from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Oak Knoll Gym.

 

Enjoy fun and engaging activities that get your kids to think about and make sense of numbers.

  • Explore 8 hands-on stations
  • Choose from 3 activity levels at each station
  • Create projects to take home
  • Go at your own pace
  • Reinforce classroom learning

Volunteers needed to help facilitate activities. Contact Jody Buckley for more information.

 

Carpool To School!  

 

Oak Knoll is now on Carpooltoschool.com!

 

Oak Knoll families can now sign up for Carpool To School, a software program matches parents and students wanting to drive, walk or bike together. Go to oakknoll.carpooltoschool.com and sign up. Contact Kathy at [email protected] with any questions.

  
PTO Volunteer Opportunities

Wild Zone Open Dates    

 

Thanks to the several volunteers who came forward, the Wild Zone (WZ) is now open. The WZ open days will alternate between Wednesdays & Thursdays throughout the school year.  The space is limited to 30 students at a time for safety reasons and can only open if two adult volunteers are present.  Please tell your child to look for an "open sign" which will be placed near the WZ entrance.  If we get additional volunteers, we may try to open the WZ more frequently.  To volunteer, please contact Andrea Potischman.

Wild Zone Open Days 
                                                            
Thurs. Jan. 24      Wed. March 13        Thurs. May 2
Wed. Jan 30         Thurs. March 21      Wed. May 8
Thurs. Feb. 7        Thurs. April 4         Thurs. May 16
Wed. Feb. 13        Wed. April 10         Wed. May 22
Thurs. Feb 21       Thurs. April 18        Thurs. May 30
Wed. Feb 27         Wed. April 24         Wed. June 5
Thurs. March 7                 

Otter Mileage Club  

 

We need parent volunteers before school (7:55-8:10am) and during lunch recess (12:00-1:00pm) to help with the "Otter Mileage Club."  We have a ticket system and kids choose to run and walk and need their ticket punched as each lap is completed. Tickets are turned in daily and kids are recognized on KNOL. 

Please email Sarah Westfall if you can help.

 

Parent Education

Challenge Success Online Parenting Class: "Raising Well-Balanced Children in a Fast-Paced World"

Created by Challenge Success co-founders Dr. Denise Pope, Dr. Madeline Levine and Jim Lobdell.

50% off when purchased during month of January (you can take the course anytime).

 

http://www.challengesuccess.org/for-parents/parent-education-courses/online-courses.aspx

 

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"Take It Personally" Study Group 
with Project Cornerstone
 
Wednesdays, January 23 - February 27, 2013
6:30-8:00pm 
Hillview Library

Presented by Our District
 
  
  
 Please RSVP to Pam Larkin at [email protected]. See you there!  

  

*************************** 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 7 p.m.
Hillview Performing Arts Center

NOTE: We've opened up balcony seating-please email  [email protected] to reserve a seat!


 

The Friends of the Menlo Park Library present a special evening with Stanford Psychology Professor and Author Dr. Carol S. Dweck, PhD, whose work has demonstrated the role of mindsets in student motivation and has shown how praise for intelligence can undermine motivation and learning. With a growth, rather than fixed, mindset people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work-brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. 

***************************

Upcoming Events
 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 

9am, Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, Palo Alto

or 

7pm, St. Andrews Episcopal School, Saratoga

  

"The Hidden Logic of Teenagers: How to Hear What They Aren't Saying

Mike Riera, Ph.D., Head of School, Brentwood School

Thursday, January 31, 2013, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., M-A Center for the Performing Arts. 

Ticket registration: http://mikerieramenloatherton.eventbrite.com

  

 

MPCSD ParentEd Conference 2013

Sunday, March 3, 2013

2:30-5:30pm, Hillview Middle School

Save the date! More information coming soon.

ANCHOR: http://district.mpcsd.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=283009#Conference

   

 


For a complete listing of all parent education events in and around our community, please visit the district's ParendEd webpage. 

  

Community Opportunities

Summer Camps are here!  Visit our Summer Camp Website to see information submitted by area camps. This page will be updated as new information arrives, so check back often.

 

 

EVENTS
   

The Menlo-Atherton High School Dance Team Show and Fundraiser

Saturday, February 9, 6 p.m. in the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center. Please support the Menlo-Atherton High School Dance Team by attending this outstanding collection of dance performances including hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, and ballet. 

More information: www.bearsathletics.org.

 

Give Kids a Smile Day

(Ages 1-18)

Friday, February 1, at participating dental offices throughout San Mateo County. Free Dental Care! Dental exams, cleaning, fluoride application, possible x-rays and dental treatment for children ages 1 to 18 years. For uninsured and underinsured San Mateo County residents. Call: 650-616-2002

 

For past community news, click here

CLICK HERE to see more community opportunities.

Did you know MLK Day is a National Day of Service? Here are some great ways for your family to serve together.

 

FAMILY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

 

Creekside Weeding & Mulching at El Palo Alto Park with Acterra

Saturday, January 19th, 9:30am-12:30pm, Join us for a few hours of mulching native plants and weeding on the banks of a local creek!  Help us improve habitat for native insects, birds, fish and other animals as we work to help restore the "bottom of the food chain" - our native plants that support all other native life. All ages are welcome. Click here for more info and to RSVP.

 

Collective Roots

Monday, January 21, 9AM - 12PM: Martin Luther King Day Community Work Day. Join us at Collective Roots in East Palo Alto for lots of garden tasks, planting seeds and getting the garden in tip-top shape for spring! Contact Eron for more information or to RSVP.  

 

Palo Alto JCC, Mitzvah Day

Monday, January 21, times vary based on project. Join hundreds of your neighbors for a community-wide day of tikkun olam (repair of the world) as part of a National Day of Service to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over 20 hands-on service projects available for participants to work in small groups addressing issues of poverty, hunger, housing and homelessness, aging, the environment, and more. Open to all ages. Advance registration required.

 

 

For more information on the events above or events listed in prior newsletters, visit the District's Community Links page.  

SPORTS, CLASSES, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

  

Flu F.A.C.T.S.

The MPCSD Health Services department recommends this Flu F.A.C.T.S. website at www.FluFACTS.com as a resource for educating students and parents about flu.

 

Full of Ourselves: A Program to Advance Girl Power, Health & Leadership 

(girls 11-14)

8-week empowerment group for girls 11-14 years old, held at 626 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City. The Full of Ourselves program is an upbeat, educational group designed to prevent girls from developing problems with body image, self-esteem and peer relationships. 

 

SamTrans Tokens 

Students who ride SamTrans to or from school can take advantage of bus tokens and save money. Tokens available at local outlets or by mail.

 

Jeff Arons' Spring Tennis Program

Beginning February 1st at Sacred Heart Schools. Website: www.jeffaronstennis.com, Email: [email protected]

 

Ladera Community Church Preschool

Saturday, January 26, from 10:00-11:00, 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. Ladera Community Church Preschool is holding its annual Open House. Bring your children to meet our fantastic teachers and visit our preschool in a lovely rural setting. We welcome all families with children 2 years to 5 years old. To find out more, please visit our website at www.laderapreschool.org or contact Director Katherine Rhames at 854-0295.

 

Thursday Storytimes at Menlo Park Library

800 Alma Street, Menlo Park. The Menlo Park Library is now offering three new and exciting free storytimes on Thursdays: Mandarin/English Storytime at 10:15 with Miss Stephanie, Toddler Storytime at 11:15 with professional storyteller John Weaver, and our pilot afternoon Preschool Storytime at 2:15 with John Weaver. Website:  www.menloparklibrary.org/children.html.

 

Alpine/West Menlo Little League and AMA Softball Registration

Majors and Minors (8 - 12 year olds) baseball registration will close midnight on January 20. Tryouts for Majors and Minors will be held the weekend of Jan 26-27.  All players must try out and be registered. See details at: www.eteamz.com/alpine.

 

Menlo-Atherton Little League Registration 

Registration deadline is TODAY, January 13, for the upcoming 2013 Little League Season! Late fees and wait lists will apply after today. To register, follow this link: Register Now.For more info, go to our Fees & Eligibility page.

 

 
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.