The Otter Weekly 

Oak Knoll School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park,  CA 94025

Phone:  (650) 854-4433

http://oakknoll.mpcsd.org/                            June 2, 2013

Ollie would like to thank our amazing "are you in RUN for education" volunteers who helped make this year's RUN a huge success!  We will report on the financial results next week but we definitely raised more money for our schools and want to thank you and the community for your support in our first year as a district-wide event.  Ollie is sad that his picture is no longer on the t-shirt but is glad we raised more money for the students.

Thank you to our two RUN co-chairs, Denise Henry & Sarah Kirkham and all the Steering Committee members from Oak Knoll:

Our school team:  Domonique Matthews, Julie Nelson & Christa Olson

Our school ambassadors:  Gina Skinner, Erika Drazan & Sharon Purcell

Big thank you to Christine Keefer who spearheaded the marketing effort this year for the RUN and also to Molly Gibbons who helped with the Wellness Fair.  Thank you to Jody Buckley, Clint Chao and Calla Griffith who helped coordinate the entire event at the district level.

....and thanks to the village of folks who helped with registration, pre-race day activities, and race day itself!

School Supplies for 2013-14 - Last Week to Order - Deadline June 7

Want to avoid the last-minute rush to purchase school supplies this fall?  We have the solution for you!  Order school supplies through Oak Knoll PTO and you will have all you need in the fall.  It's that simple!  Starting on Monday, May 20, online orders can be made at www.shopttkits.com and enter in school account number: 81339. Paper orders to come home with your student as well.  All orders due by Friday June 7.

Yearbooks Will be Delivered to Classrooms on June 12  

Anyone who pre-ordered a yearbook will receive it in their classroom on Wednesday, June 12.  If you did not order a yearbook, there is a very limited quantity available to purchase.  If we do have extra yearbooks to sell, they will be available for purchase after school on Wednesday, June 12 in front of the school office.

Summer Playgroups for Fall 2013 Incoming Kindergarteners!  

Join other families with incoming Kindergartners (Fall 2013) for a few informal playgroups to be held on the Oak Knoll Kindergarten playground during the summer!   Some of you may have attended the Kindergarten Q&A in May.  These casual playgroups offer more opportunities to help students and families meet each other before school starts in August.  To sign up, please join the e-mail distribution list to receive information about the playgroups throughout the summer.

If you have any questions, please email Oak Knoll parent and playgroup organizer Gina Skinner.  Hope to see you there!

This past week our 5th graders got a little taste of what Hillview is all about.  Think they want more? Then mark your calendars for June 17 from 9:00-10:30am for a tour of the school led by 7th and 8th graders! There will be snacks and lots of fun to be had on this special day. Your kids will really get to know their way around the campus and will learn from current students all there is to know about being a Hawk at Hillview Middle School. This is a great way to get to know your future school!

This event is open to all incoming 6th graders from Oak Knoll and Encinal. Hope to see you there! 

Date:        June 17 

Time:       9:00am 

Location:  Hillview Middle School, meet in the PAC (Performing Arts Center)  

To RSVP or inquire about this event, please email hvserviceclub@gmail.com. If you have any further questions, please contact Nicole Scott via email or 650-854-4433 ext 4107. 

Please mark your calendars for the following date in August for the annual HILLVIEW ARENA CHECK-IN (ACI).

Wednesday, August 21 - ACI for incoming 6th grade Students and Parents

Attendance for all students is MANDATORY.  More specific information will be in next week's newsletter.

If your daughter is entering  4th or 5th grade for the 2013-2014 School Year, she can now sign up for Girls' Fall Volleyball!  The girls will learn the basic skills of the game in a fun and encouraging environment on teams coached by parent volunteers.  Practices will be held twice a week at Oak Knoll, while weekly games will be played at Arrillaga Gym in Menlo Park.  Games will commence mid-September and end mid-November.  And, parents, coaching volleyball is a wonderful, volunteer opportunity!  No experience is necessary--just a positive attitude and a willingness to bump, set, spike, and dig it!  Contact Laura Huber, Nancy Witeck, Stefano Baldassi, or Noelle Carpenter if you would like to coach or if you have any questions.  Registration is now open at Sportability and will close August 29.  For more info, visit Oak Knoll After School Sports.

Oak Knoll 3rd Grade Musical Performance

Ms. Tee will be conducting the following grade-level concerts this week:

3rd Grade Recorder Concert - Thursday, June 6, 11:30am, Gym

The music department invites you to bring family & friends to hear the results of our wonderful young groups who have worked hard over the course of the year.

Science Imagineers - Egg Drop Challenge

Get Ready... Get Set... It's Imagineer EGG DROP Time!

Imagineers are Oak Knoll 2nd & 3rd grade children who enjoy Science Engineering. It's an opportunity to meet together at lunchtime to experience some fun, competitive, and scientific challenges. Challenges range in variety from growing the tallest bean, to discovering the best way to turn a rubber band into a "motor" inside a tin can. To see pictures of our last two challenges, visit our webpage.   Any 2nd or 3rd grade student at Oak Knoll can participate.

Egg Drop Dates to remember:

Wednesday, June 5   -- Egg Drop Event- Lunchtime - Location TBD* 

Friday, June 7           -- Egg Drop Wrap-up & Awards - Lunchtime - Room 15

* If we can get a firetruck to attend, the Egg Drop Event will be held at the firetruck in the Upper Yard.  Otherwise, it will be held on the bridge over the courtyard near the Gym.

Sign Up to be a Room Parent Now!

Looking for a great way to get connected and know what's going on in your child's class? Want to work with other parents and your child's teacher to ensure that your child's class has a great year? The Room Parent Program wants you! The Room Parent role is fun, it's divided among 4 Room Parents per classroom, and it doesn't require lots of on-campus time - so, even if you have little ones still at home or you work full-time, this is a great opportunity for you to get involved. 

Click here to sign up now! 

For more information, click here.

Last Wild Zone Open Day - Wednesday, June 5    

Otter Mileage Club  

A big thank you to Sarah Westfall and all the volunteers who made the Otter Mileage Club possible this year.

SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE!

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EVENTS

CANCELED - Menlo Park Library Storytelling in the Park. This event, scheduled for June 2, has been canceled due to a conflict with the "Are You In" Run.

Legally Blonde Auditions for Peninsula Youth Theatre

June 1 and 2. Students ages 13-18 are invited to audition  for Peninsula Youth Theatre's summer teen production, Legally Blonde. For more information and to reserve an audition time, please visit www.pytnet.org.

Estudiantes que tienen 8-13 años están invitados a audicionar 1 de junio y 2 para la producción de verano para adolescentes de Peninsula Youth Theatre, Una rubia muy legal. Para obtener más información y para reservar un horario de audición, visite www.pytnet.org.

Teen Summer BBQ and Water Games - Teen Summer Reading Kickoff Party!

June 21 at 12:00pm at Burgess Park, between the tennis courts and the Little League fields. Menlo Park Library's 2013 Teen Summer Reading Program (ages 12-18) runs from June 10 to August 16. Sign up for summer reading by coming into the library or registering online. Read books, write reviews and enter weekly raffles for some awesome prizes. 

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

Habitat Restoration Workday with Acterra

Sat June 22, 9:30-12:30. This is an ongoing habitat enhancement project conducted at McClellan Ranch Preserve and Blackberry Farm in Cupertino. Volunteers pull weeds, mulch, set out native plants and water. Our local wildlife will thank you as they are dependent on native vegetation to supply their food and shelter.  To register or for more info, click here.

Gardening at Alemany Farm

Spring is in full effect at Alemany Farm.  We've dug up our first garlic crops, the squash are bursting with fruit, and our spring onions are big and sweet.  Come on out and get your hands dirty at these upcoming workdays.  Monday, May 27, 12:00-5:00pm and Sunday June 2, 1:00-5:00pm. Alemany Farm is located at 700 Alemany Blvd. in San Francisco. 

SPORTS, CLASSES, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES