The Otter Weekly

Oak Knoll School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park, California 94025

650-854-4433                                       January 27th, 2013 

The date for completing the anonymous Oak Knoll School survey has been extended to this Wednesday, January 30.  This is your last chance to tell Mr. Ackerman, Mrs. Gracia and your teachers what kind of a job you think they are doing.  We welcome all opinions so that we have an accurate picture as to what our strengths and weaknesses are.

The survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete.  Please fill out one survey for each of your children.  

Access the survey here.

Our community continues to experience increased student enrollment, and the District is now in the process of identifying options to ensure that we have enough classrooms to meet our enrollment projections for the next 10 years.  

The District invites parents to learn more, and give input on potential options:

• How could we accommodate additional students on existing campuses (e.g. add more classrooms, increase class sizes)?  
• Should we use the District-owned O'Connor site, currently rented to the German American International School, to add more capacity? If so, what are the options and how would they affect the enrollment, attendance boundaries and grade level configurations of our existing schools?
• Are there other solutions that should be considered?

Please come engage with Superintendent Maurice Ghysels, Board members and District staff at one of the following community meetings:

Thursday, February 7: Laurel multipurpose room, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.

Thursday, February 7: Hillview, Performing Arts Center, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, February 12: District Office, Board Room, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 13: Oak Knoll, Multi-Use Room, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.

Tuesday, February 19: Encinal, Multi-Use Room, 8:45 - 9:45 a.m.

If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, please feel free to email your thoughts to our Superintendent Maurice Ghysels or MPCSD's Board .

Registration for Kindergarten, Spanish Immersion, and Transitional Kindergarten

During the month of February, parents can enroll their children for next Fall for Kindergarten, Spanish Immersion, and Transitional Kindergarten.  Click here for an overview and further links to details.  

Kindergarten Registration:

A child is eligible for kindergarten in 2013-14 if his or her fifth birthday falls on or before October 1.  Priority Registration is from February 1 - 28, 2013.  A link to the online registration site will be posted on Feb. 1 on the district website, click here.

Spanish Immersion Parent Information Meeting:

Come learn about the program by attending one of the mandatory parent information meeting on either Wednesday, February 6, from 8:45 am to 9:45 am or Tuesday, February 26, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the District Office, Board Room (next to Encinal School), 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton.    Acceptance into the Immersion program will be determined by lottery.

Transitional Kindergarten Parent Information Session 

Come learn about the program by attending the parent information meeting on March 14, 2013 from 4pm to 5pm at the TERC (next to District Office), at 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton.  A child is eligible for the transitional kindergarten program if his or her fifth birthday is: 2013-14 school year - October 2 through December 2.

Questions:  If you are not sure of the school in your attendance area or you have further questions, please contact the District Registrar or call 650-321-7140, Ext. 5600.

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.

Ollie gives two big flippers up to the Traffic Safety Volunteers who are helping to improve traffic flow at morning drop-off.  They are giving up valuable time from their morning routine and their contributions have really made a difference to the drop-off process.

ATTENTION ALL HOT LUNCH PARENTS!!!!

We are having a LOT of emergency lunches recently. It is very difficult for the volunteers when there are so many. Choice Lunch only sends a small amount of emergency lunches. Please, please, please take a minute to order your lunches. Choice Lunch also has a great EASY ORDER feature that allows you to pick your child's favorite meals and which days and they do the rest. Click here for more info: http://www.choicelunch.com/how-it-works/#easyorder

Also, please make sure you have placed your hot lunch orders for February. The first day of the month tends to have a lot of Emergency lunches. Thank you!

We're looking for Oak Knoll Executive PTO Board candidates for the 2012-2014 school year.  Being on the PTO Board is a great way to get involved at Oak Knoll. The Board works closely with the school staff and administration, as well as the parent community, to create and support vital school programs and events. Positions available for nomination are Vice President (who will become President in 2014-15, Secretary, Financial Secretary (who will become Treasurer in 2014-15), Auditor and Communications Chair.  Please email nominations and any questions to Jody Buckley by Thursday, February 14th.  

For more detailed information about next year's PTO Executive Board positions please click here.  

Oak Knoll Science Fair 2013 - Mark Your Calendar!

How many chocolate chips does it take to make a tasty cookie?  How many Mentos make the biggest volcanic eruptions? What color candle burns the fastest?

The Oak Knoll Science Fair is a place where your child(ren) can explore real-world topics and learn the Scientific Method with fun experiments. 

Hillview PTO Seeking Nominations for Executive Board

February 8th.  

Email Russ Peterson or Juliana Andersen with your nominations. 

Chinese Class After School Program

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! 

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!

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.

Wild Zone Open Dates    

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. 

"Take It Personally" Study Group 

with Project Cornerstone

Wednesdays, January 23 - February 27, 2013

6:30-8:00pm 

Hillview Library

Building assets in our students may be some of the most important work we do as adults. Come learn more about what assets are and how you can help develop them in your own children as well as in the children of our community. Facilitated by Pam Von Wiegand, founder of Project Cornerstone. This is the last week to join the study group!

Please RSVP to Pam Larkin at pdl@motionio.com.

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.

The Menlo-Atherton High School Fashion Show: “iM-Agine...A Bright Future

Saturday, February 23, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. in the M-A Performing Arts Center. We will highlight fashions from local stores and the seniors will model and dance. Online ticket sales are now open. 

Go to www.mabearspta.org/FashionShow.html to order tickets!

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.

FAMILY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

Restoration Workday at Arastadero Preserve

Saturday, February 2, 9:30am-12:30pm.  As part of the Acterra Stewardship Program, volunteers help with habitat restoration work. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.  Sign up here.

Operation Care and Comfort: Care Package Assembly

Sunday, February 10, Come join us as we box up supplies for our troops at the American Legion in San Jose.  Ages 5 and up are welcome to join in the fun, but children must be supervised by an adult. For more information, please contact Julie at 408-373-8635 or julie@occ-usa.org.

Decorate Brown Grocery Bags & Make Colorful Cards to Support the Fight against Hunger

Read this PDF brochure to learn more about these and other simple ways that kids under 14 can help support the work of Second Harvest Food Bank. 

SPORTS, CLASSES, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES