The Otter Weekly

Oak Knoll School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park, California 94025

650-854-4433                                       March 10th, 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.

PLEASE PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD IN THE PICK-UP LANE.  Do not stop earlier in line even if you see your child waiting in the pick-up area.  YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED TO WALK TO YOUR CAR ONLY AFTER IT HAS STOPPED and the pick-up lane has been filled.

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 big flippers up this week to Catherine Dacey, Elizabeth Lorenz, Leigh Ann Bandet and Alison Matthews for doing an amazing job organizing our "Friends & Family Day" last Friday.  This has always been one of the more popular events at Oak Knoll and was widely attended again this year.  Some friends & family members traveled long distances to be here and one visiting grandparent shared with us that he had 20 grandchildren!  HUGE thanks to all the amazing volunteers who helped make the event run so smoothly including all volunteers for set-up/decor, clean-up, greeting, parking lot management, refreshments, sponsor-a-book, etc.  What a wonderful way for your extended families and friends to see what a great school your children attend.  Go Otters!!! 

Champion Speller!!

After School Programs (3 new classes being added)

Sponsor-a-Book - if you missed it at Friends & Family Day

District Calendar Available for 2013-2014 School Year

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. 

ParentEd Conference 2013

"Classrooms of the Future: How Our Schools are Changing Now"

Thank you to everyone who participated in our District's first Annual ParentEd Conference on Sunday, March 3.  If you would like to view presentations and materials from the workshops, please click here.  If you would like to provide feedback on the conference, please send an email by Monday evening, 3/11.  

  Helping Children Cope with Anxiety (5 - 10 years)

Mimi Ezray, LCSW 

Tuesday, March 12, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Parent's Place, 200 Channing Ave., Palo Alto

This class will focus on what anxiety feels like to your child and how it affects your 

family as a whole. Strategies to help your child cope and manage his or her feelings 

will be discussed, and common anxiety triggers--such as school situations, social 

dynamics, sleep, and separation--will be addressed. Fee: $35. Register here.

SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE!

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EVENTS

Annual Atherton Easter Egg Hunt

Steam Train, Dream Train Book Reading

(PreK-1st Grade). Thursday, April 18, 4 p.m. at The Reading Bug in San Carlos. Come hear Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld, the dynamic duo behind the #1 NYT Bestseller Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site as they introduce their new book.  For more info, click here.

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 

Page Mill Road Tree Planting

Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 3000 Hanover Road, Palo Alto.  Help celebrate Arbor Week in Palo Alto with Canopy.org. Go to www.canopy.org/pages/get-involved/arbor-week-2013.php and scroll down to see volunteer events for the week and to register.

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