Thank you to everyone for the expressions of support for the Cadigan family.  The family has asked us to share enough information to help the school community process the accident.  The oldest brother was not injured and returned to school on Friday. One of the younger brothers suffered a broken arm and he will be back at school on Monday.  The other brother has more complicated injuries and will be out of school for an undetermined amount of time.  

The boys would like to get back to school and not be treated in any special way.  Please allow the family some privacy during this time.   As more time passes and we have clearer understanding of the family's needs we will reach out to you for any additional support that might be helpful.

Before school on Friday, the staff met to share information and review best supportive practices.  In most classes short discussions were held to answer questions, reassure students, and give them an opportunity to express their feelings.  We kept these class meetings short, developmentally appropriate, and worked to stick to our typical routines and structures.  If you need any support or advice please feel free to contact Nicole Scott, school counselor, Jenny Ryan, School Psychologist, Kristen Gracia or me.

Sincerely,

David Ackerman

Parents: Want to Run off with the Circus?

We need book fair volunteers! Please contact Tamara Russel if you are interested in decorating, setting up, cashiering, working Family Night, or helping in general.

Come to a Captivating Family Night!

Bring the whole family and join us for a night of enchantment with magician "World-Famous Magic Mike" and his sidekick Lolo on Wednesday, October 23 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Wander through the book fair with them starting at 6:00 and then watch their spellbinding performance beginning at 7:15pm!

Don't Forget to RSVP! Parent Author Talk on Tuesday, October 22 at 8:30 am

Sheryl Sandberg is the author of the number-one bestseller Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. RSVP to oakknollbookfair@gmail.com with your name and the name of your youngest child's Oak Knoll teacher so that we can accommodate the most number of Oak Knoll parents as possible. 

Hours for The Greatest Book Fair on Earth!

Questions? Contact Alison Fleming, Jennie Lang or Mary Speiser.

The revised budget for the 2013-2014 school year will be presented to all PTO members for a vote at the fall PTO General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 23 at 8:15am in the Gym. All Oak Knoll PTO members (that's YOU!) are encouraged to attend. We expect the meeting to be short and brief.  The proposed budget is posted on the bulletin board outside the school office or you can click here.

MPAEF Pledge and Payments Drive

Five Days Remain To Help Earn an Additional $50,000 for our Schools! 

Friday is the last day to order Noteworthy Art.  This is the ONLY CHANCE to order cards - reprints are NOT available after the order period.  

You should have received the order form in your child's backpack last week.  This PTO Fundraiser features your child's original drawing, reproduced on high-quality note cards, packaged with envelopes in sets of 12.  They make great thank-you cards as well as holiday gifts for relatives and friends.  They are also a cherished keepsake.

Please fill out the order form and deliver with payment ($15/package) to the office or use PayPal on the NoteWorthy Art webpage no later than Friday, October 25.  The cards will be delivered before the Thanksgiving break.  

Thank you for supporting this PTO Fundraiser!

For questions about your order, contact Mary Karen Lundh.

3rd, 4th & 5th grade Oak Knoll students can register to play basketball now.  This is a recreational league offered by the city of Menlo Park and organized by the Oak Knoll After School Sports Program.  All practices will be at Oak Knoll facilities, and games will be against other schools in the Arrillaga Gymnasium in Menlo Park.  No prior experience is necessary. Practices will begin late November, and games will likely start in December and end in mid-March.

To register your child please visit sportability.  Registration ends October 25. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. The registration fee is $115, and scholarships are available. All teams are coached by parent volunteers.   

If you are interested in coaching, or if you want to learn more about scholarships, please email Laura Huber, Stefano Baldassi, Noelle Carpenter or Nancy Witeck.  For more information about the basketball program, visit the Oak Knoll website Basketball Page. 

Our Caring and Sharing Committee has been busy this Fall.  Ollie gives another high five out to Lisa Langer, Nancy Lieberman and Kathy Motamedi who organized a Brilliant Book Drive and thanks to all the Girl Scout Troops who came out to help collect the books each morning! Way to go Girl Scouts!

Have you seen the children looking fabulous in their fantastic Otterwear?  Ollie is also loving seeing all the cars show their school spirit with their Ollie magnets too.  A huge high five goes out to all the people who helped distribute the awesome Otterwear this year.  With 827 items this was no small task.  Thank you to our Committee Co-Chairs, Stephanie Chen and Tracy Roeder and their trusty helpers:  Karen Dearing, Amy Thornborrow, Mary Anne Becking, Vickie Mrva, Jill Leonard, Sara Maas, Amy Redell, and Tracy Watt.

We are now composting at Oak Knoll!  Ollie sends a huge high five to Gwen Solomon and Anne Morrissey who have worked hard to make this happen for our community.  Ollie was happy to see children not only learning about the importance of composting but actually doing it at lunch time.  Yet again our children are increasing our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle on our Oak Knoll campus! 

A huge high five goes to Cyndy Hogan who spent Thursday baking an assortment of delicious scones and cakes for our teachers and staff to show our appreciation for their help during the PTO Membership Drive.  Ollie thought the blueberry and lemon scones were particularly delicious.  Thank you Cyndy!    

Lost and Found:   The Oak Knoll Lost and Found is overflowing!  If your child is missing an article of clothing, a lunchbox etc., please take a look at the lost and found.

Visitors and Volunteers:  All volunteers and visitors should sign the Volunteer/Visitor Log in the front office and remember to wear a "School Visitor" name tag for safety reasons.

Oak Knoll composting and recycling program began at lunch recess on Wednesday, October 16.

We are recruiting parent volunteers to help educate the children on where to put all the leftovers that once was placed in the trash bins.  Please email Mrs. Solomon to volunteer! Thank you.

GLI EVENTS FILL UP FAST - DON'T WAIT TO REGISTER!!!

We are excited to partner with the Girls Leadership Institute (GLI) once again to offer THREE Parent & Daughter workshops on emotional intelligence. Parents and daughters learn about identifying healthy relationships, finding their voices, and communicating more effectively. Girls also develop resilient responses to conflict, drama, challenges, and mistakes. The program is interactive, fun, and enlightening, and it's also a great opportunity for parents to gain insight and spend time with their daughter in a new and different way. Click here to learn more and register now.

Each workshop is 90 minutes long, once a week, for four weeks. 

Who: Girls in 2nd or 3rd grade and one parent, or girls in 4th or 5th grade and one parent.

Cost: $200 per family

When: There are two sessions for grades 2/3 starting mid January on Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm and one session for grade 4/5 starting mid January on Thursdays from 6-7:30 pm. 

Please see flyer for more details and specific dates per grade. 

Register at :  www.girlsleadership.org/OakKnoll.

Please note:  This event fills up very quickly. Priority registration for Oak Knoll expires on October 28 and event can fill up within days so please register ASAP.  If you have any questions, please contact: Jill Wurster via email or phone (617) 510-2082.

For a complete listing of all the parent education events in and around our community, please visit the district's ParentEd webpage.

SPORTS, CLASSES, ETC. 

The Silicon Valley Boychoir.  November 15.  Now taking appointments for its auditions. Auditions are open to boys ages 7-12. The multi-level choir is held after school in downtown Palo Alto, 600 Homer Ave. Older boys with experience may audition for upper levels. SVB provides a personalized approach to teaching singing, music theory, and sight-singing, and provides flexible scheduling for busy families. Email: info@svboychoir.org or call 650-424-1242.

Brain Development Study at Stanford Research Lab.  The Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford University is looking for healthy 3^rd and 4^th graders for a research study exploring brain development in children over the course of an academic school year. There will be 3 separate 1-2 hour sessions. Participation will involve an IQ assessment and a fNIRS scan while performing a behavioral task. fNIRS  scans are safe, non-invasive and x-ray and radiation free. Participants will receive up to $75 for their participation, as well as a results report  from the IQ assessment and other assessments upon request. Please contact Meredith Schreier at msch@stanford.edu / (650) 723-4871 if you are interested in enrolling or would like more information!

SmartFit Kids at Menlo Swim and Sport.  Acclaimed for coaching excellence, Menlo Swim and Sport's SmartFit Kids is an after-school homework and tutoring program that provides academic coaching and homework oversight for students from 1st - 5th grades. Open Monday - Thursday, 3:30-5:30pm. Visit our website for more details.

EVENTS

Halloween Boo-nanza. Thursday, October 31^st, at U-Me!, 10am-1pm.  Day pass rates apply. Free for members. Celebrate the spookiest time of year at U-Me's Halloween Boo-nanza! Don't miss our musical parade, haunted crafts, and scavenger hunt, followed by yummy Halloween treats. Please come in costume!

3rd Annual Pumpkin Plunge.  Saturday, October 26.  Join the Menlo Mavericks Swim and Water Polo team on Saturday, October 26, from 1-3pm at Belle Haven Pool for a floating pumpkin patch. Admission includes Open Swim and a pumpkin to take home. All ages welcome, fun for the whole family! www.menloswim.com

Gingerbread House Making Contest.  December 14th from 2:00-4:00 PM.  At the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025.  Teens ages 11-18 are encouraged to let their inner architect shine by creating their own Gingerbread House at Menlo Park Library on December 14th from 2:00-4:00 PM.  Pictures will be taken of each confectionary creation and the most original gingerbread house will be awarded a prize.  Gingerbread and candy will be provided by Menlo Park Library.  Registration is required; please send an e-mail to Irish Atajar at atajar@plsinfo.org.