Join the PTO 

 

Volunteer 

Thursday, April 18

 

Next year we are initiating a second strand of K-2 Multi-Age. Our new multi-age cohort will follow the same structure and program as our existing group. Three teachers will team together in three connecting classrooms. The children will stay in the program with their teachers through 2nd grade. The new team will collaborate with the present team to design their theme based instruction. Reading and math will be delivered in flexible ability groups across the three rooms. Students will participate in Suzuki violin instruction as their core music program. Teachers for the new team are Ms. Lavezzo, Ms. Boatright and a third teacher who will be announced very soon.

 

Creating this new strand allows us to add students who will be 1st and 2nd grade students next year. If you are interested in participating, please send an email or note to Mr. Ackerman by April 15. If there is a need for a lottery it will be conducted on April 17 with notices mailed home shortly following the lottery.

 

 

On Monday, April 15 we will be having a school-wide assembly about 'Writing as a Launchpad'. Award-winning, Stanford-educated author, Mister Lemur will be visiting our school.

 

Please see the flier for more information.

Please have your child bring a homemade card of appreciation to your teacher and aide. 

 

The room parents in your class will send a request if additional volunteer help is needed.

 

  

The room parents in your class are coordinating this.

 

Attention all science minded parents - the Science Olympiad Committee is looking for eager 4th and 5th grade parents to volunteer for this fast paced, thrilling day of science games and fun. The Science Olympiad will be held Tuesday, June 4th and we have two volunteer slots available: 7:50-10:00 and 9:50-12:00. No science experience necessary. We've been told this is one of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities out there so sign up now. Dads are encouraged to sign up too! 

Be a part of the new district-wide are you in RUN for education on Sunday, June 2 at 9am!  

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.

                                

Please email Sarah Westfall if you can help.

Please join Nicole Scott, MPCSD School Counselor and Jenny Ryan, MPCSD School Psychologist, for a weekly book club at Kepler's Books. We will be reading Teach your Children Well:  Parenting for Authentic Success by Madeline Levine. Participants read portions of the book each week, then come to the book club to discuss what was read. 

 

The book club begins Thursday, April 18, 9:30am-10:30am, and continues at the same time on the following dates: 

 

Wednesday, April 24

Wednesday, May 1

Wednesday, May 8

Thursday, May 16

Thursday, May 23. 

 

Limited to 20 participants. Please email Nicole at nscott@mpcsd.org or Jenny at jryan@mpcsd.org to register for the group, or if you have any questions.

 

The book is available at Kepler's Books.

 

 

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Join us for a special preview of the upcoming PBS film by Kikim Media and Hawkview Pictures: Extreme By Design 

 

Learn how Stanford students and MPCSD K-8 students are using design thinking

to tackle challenges big and small with an innovator's mindset

April 18, 2013

6:15pm-8:45pm

Hillview Performing Arts Center

 

Keynote by Erik Burmeister, Principal of Hillview Middle School

"Blazing a New Trail: How Hillview is Using Design Thinking to Redesign School"

 

Design thinking is all about developing and using an innovator's mindset-the habits of mind that help our kids from Kindergarten to eighth grade embrace challenges and persevere with confidence. MPCSD is committed to Innovation as a Core Value, and wants our kids to be inspired to make positive change in our community and in the world! So how do we encourage an innovator's mindset in the classroom? Come hear Erik Burmeister share his vision for how Hillview is using design thinking to redesign school from the master schedule to instruction in the classroom. Ralph King, Jr., filmmaker and Pulitzer Prize nominee, will introduce the film. The hour-long documentary follows a band of Stanford students who design and build products to solve seemingly intractable problems for the world's poor. A panel discussion, composed of MPCSD elementary and middle school teachers, administrators, and parents, along with a graduate student and producer from the film, will follow to discuss ways our students are developing an innovator's mindset and answer questions from the audience. Join us for an evening of inspired conversation!

 

To learn more the film and what teachers across the nation have to say, click here.

 

Space is limited. To register, please click here by Friday, April 12, 2013.   

 

 

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Upcoming Events

 

"The Culture of Perfectionism" Ana Homayoun, Author of The Myth of the Perfect Girl and That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week

 

Thursday, May 2, 2013

7:00pm-8:30pm

M-A Performing Arts Center

 

A Collaborative Event of MPCSD and Menlo-Atherton High School. To register, click here.

 

Now is the time to learn about some of the exciting camp opportunities in our community! Many new camps have added their information to our

Summer Camp Website in the last two weeks. This website will be updated as new information arrives, so check back often. (Please note that we have not evaluated this information or endorsed any of the camps, and the District is not responsible for any aspect of these camps.)

There are many ways to volunteer to help our organization end homelessness on the Peninsula.  Click here to learn how your family (or a group of families) can help us make and distribute meals, collect needed donations, improve facilities, and more. 

You can have fun outdoors, learn about the Bay and help us protect it by joining one of our on-the-Bay programs. Click here to see a list of volunteer opportunities at several sites around San Francisco Bay.

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

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