The Otter Weekly

Oak Knoll School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park, California 94025

650-854-4433                                       March 3rd, 2013 

The carline is moving more efficiently thanks to your adherence to some new procedures and a handful of dedicated volunteers.  We hope it is making your morning more relaxed.  We know it is making a difference in the number of tardies at school and the safety on the streets as drivers are a little less frenzied.  Can YOU volunteer one or two mornings to help?  Sign up now!  If just a few extra volunteers can help for even one morning from now until the end of the year, it would be greatly appreciated.  Pick a morning, come on out and make a difference! The shift runs from 7:45-8:15.  Check out the schedule and let Betsy Muhlner know when you can help.  Thanks to all of the parents who are.... 

• pulling all the way forward
• staying in their cars
• having backpacks on laps, ready to go
• not walking through the parking lot anymore!

The Traffic Safety Committee appreciates your willingness to learn a new way to do things!

If you have not had a chance to get a name placard to place on the dashboard of your car, there are cards in the office.  Stop by to get yours or write the LAST NAME OF THE CHILDREN WHOM YOU PICK UP IN THE CARLINE in large letters on a brightly colored sheet of paper and place it on the dashboard of your car on the far right hand side for best visibility.  

There is ONE, SINGLE LINE now.  Turn into the parking lot and simply follow the car in front of you, pulling as far forward along the curb as you can until you have your passengers. You will not be able to enter the carline from the outside lane! Teachers will call last names and help children into cars.  Please STAY IN YOUR CAR. Please remind your children in the morning if they are to come to the carline and to do so right away when the bell rings.  

Children released at the 2:45 (1:15 Thursday) bell will be supervised in the bioswale area until the 2:55 (1:25 Thursday) bell so there is no need to arrive before 2:55 if any child in your carpool is released at the 2:55 bell.  

Thank you for your patience as we all learn this new system.  We are hopeful that this process will get everyone on their way safely and quickly.

Questions?  Contact Betsy Muhlner.  

The SITE Council thanks you for the 628 responses to our annual survey!  We have reviewed the results and are working to make improvements based on your feedback.  Join us Monday, March 18 at 8:15am in the Gym for "Donuts with David & Coffee with Kristen."  At this meeting, survey results will be shared briefly, and then Principal Ackerman and Vice Principal Gracia will discuss changes they are making and issues that have been raised based on your feedback in the survey. They will also be happy to answer any other questions you may have.  In case you cannot make the meeting, the results will be available at this link.  

Major takeaways from the survey results are that parents are very happy and impressed with our teachers, PTO, and administration.  However, they want to get more information on what our specialists are doing, and they want to improve our carline.  Please contact Carolyn Bowsher with any questions at Csbowsher@aol.com.   

Ollie gives two flippers up this week to Monica Bosch, Lise Olson, and Tracy Watt for helping with the ParentEd Conference at Hillvew this past weekend.

HUGE thanks from Ollie to the MPAEF Oak Knoll Team, Rhonda Bucklin and Linda Knoll and MPAEF Co-President, Clint Chao, and all the families and teachers/staff who supported the MPAEF Participation Challenge and helped the district reach a record 83% participation!  We could not have done it without you!

And another thank you goes to Betsy Muhlner for her continued hard work on improving our car line flow.  Her focus last week was on the afternoon pickup where we've seen great improvements in the flow of the traffic and reducing the wait time in the parking lot.

Seeking Candidates for District Council 2013-2014

The Menlo Park City School District Council is seeking candidates for its officer positions and administrative chair positions for the 2013-2014 school year. District parents who have demonstrated involvement with Member PTO's and MPAEF can use their background and knowledge as a benefit to this advisory Council. The purpose of the District Council is to foster cooperative relationships among the Laurel, Encinal, Oak Knoll, and Hillview PTOs, the MPAEF, the District and the School Board in order to facilitate communication in the District. Selected positions include Secretary/Parliamentarian and Auditor among others. For a complete list of all open positions, please visit the district web site here.

For more information, please contact Lisa Cope.

Nominations are due March 28.

5th Grade Panoramic Photo, March 6

For any questions please email iClickSmiles at: cs@iclicksmiles.com 

District Calendar Available for 2013-2014 School Year

Friends and Family Day

Friday, March 8 is Oak Knoll's 15th Annual Friends and Family Day. Invite a special friend or family member to come to school to get a glimpse of our campus and classrooms. Grades K,1,2 (and K-1-2 Multi-age) Welcome Coffee starts in the Multi at 8:45am. These classroom visits start at 9:05am.  Grades 3,4,5 (and 3-4-5 Multi-age) Welcome Coffee starts in the Multi at 9:30am.  These classroom visits start at 9:50am.  If you can help volunteer for the event please sign up here.

For more information, check out the flier.

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. 

SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE!

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EVENTS

Hillview Middle School Presents HONK!

Honk!'s themes of acceptance, compassion, and understanding are timely reminders that being different is something to be celebrated. This full-scale production features a cast of middle schoolers, most of whom are Encinal and Oak Knoll alumni. Tickets are available on www.hillviewdrama.org/honk.html.

FREE Introductory Airplane Flights for Girls and Women! 

 to girls and women interested or curious about careers in aviation. Register at:

Boy Scout Troop 206's Pancake Breakfast 

Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., at Trinity Church Parish Hall Church, 330 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, $5 for adults, $5 for two children (ages 10 and under); scouts in uniform eat free! 

Speaker: Ms. Graciela Tiscareño-Sato 

Saturday, March 9, 5 to 7 p.m., Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. Ms. Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is an ex-Air Force pilot, trainer, and award winning author. The presentation is FREE and open to the Public. Appropriate for students.

GREASE: An Interactive Sing-along Experience! 

Sunday, March 24, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton. Come in costume with the family ready to sing-along, act-along, and laugh-along to our favorite 1978 American musical. General admission is only $8.00 per person! Purchase your tickets in advance by going to 

PYT Auditions for "The Pirates of Penzance" for actors ages 8-18 

March 8 and 9. For more information and to reserve an audition time, please visit www.pytnet.org.

There With Care is a non-profit based in Menlo Park that supports families of critically-ill children. We are currently serving families referred through Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and we would love your help! We have many opportunities to volunteer directly with our families to deliver meals and groceries or provide childcare for patients or siblings. We also need administrative help sorting donations, helping in the office, or supporting special events. Kids of all ages can volunteer! For more info, visit our website bayarea.therewithcare.org to view our upcoming Volunteer Training Session dates and sign up for a one-time 90-minute session.

SPORTS, CLASSES, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES