Message from Kristen Gracia

David Ackerman and I need your help on the morning of Tuesday, November 5 at 7:30am.

There have been a number of near tragic incidents near and around our school. We believe these incidents are related to driver and bicycle behavior. It is time for a safety intervention. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Please come to the office on the morning of Tuesday, November 5 at 7:30am. We will distribute volunteers, wearing traffic vests, to as many intersections of our neighborhood as we can. We will give directions that morning and have signs for the volunteers to hold. Our hope is to have at least 15 volunteers. 

Our goal is to remind the community that safety is a priority, and to make an impression on and educate drivers and bicyclists.

If you can help out on November 5, please email me at: kgracia@mpcsd.org

Thanks for your support.

MPAEF Pledge and Payments Drive

Our ghosts and goblins will be making loops around the school track this Thursday. Parents should gather on the soccer field for pictures. Class pictures can be taken at the end of the parade on the big field.

Oak Knoll's Halloween parade will start around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 31.

Remember that for Halloween at Oak Knoll, any guns, knives, pitch forks, karate sticks, swords or other realistic looking weapons must get prior approval from Ms Gracia or Mr Ackerman.

We also ask that very scary costumes not be worn for the Oak Knoll parade (Chain Saw Massacre, Freddie Kruegar). The use of fake blood should be saved for the evening activities.

Students may come to school in costume. Students should bring regular school clothes for the remainder of the day.

5th Annual Books Come Alive! Thursday, October 31, 7:40 AM outside the Library.

Students, don't forget Ms. Bennion's Halloween tradition! Come to the library Thursday morning dressed up as any book-related character to get your photo taken and receive a special treat! Make sure to bring your book! Come early to ensure you have time for this spooky book event before the first bell.

Tomorrow, Monday, October 28, is the final day to order your Noteworthy Art cards for 2013. There is no option for reordering later in the year.  Please bring your order form and check to the office by 3pm on Monday or submit your order by PayPal online. If you have lost your order form or have any questions, please contact Mary Karen Lundh. 

Cards will be delivered before the Thanksgiving holiday break.  Thank you for supporting this PTO fundraiser. 

The art room is in need of a couple old working record players for a painting project. These record players will be non-returnable because they will be covered in paint.  Please email Jayd Almquist if you have one you can donate.  Thank you!  

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The office needs boys and girls underwear in all sizes, especially girls in smaller sizes. Thank you for any donations.     

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Picture make-up day is November, 8 from 8:30-10:00am.  

Need a Ride When It Rains?

The drop-off and pick-up traffic jam at school intensifies when rain hits. Before the rains start, get your child to take the SamTrans bus. Riding the bus keeps you and your child out of the long drop-off and pick-up lines, making your family's day less stressful. For more information, visit the district website.

Consider This: Don't Rule Out Walking or Biking When It Rains

Kids in wet climates walk & bike come rain or shine. Here is how: Seattle Biking in the Rain Advice and  SF Gate Rain Bike Advice and Commuting By Bike in the Rain Advice. Safety vests for visibility are ESSENTIAL. Please stop by the office to collect free safety vests in adult and child sizes, no matter what the weather. 

Is your daughter interested in being in Girl Scouts?  Have they seen the Girl Scouts helping out with the Costume & Book Donation Drives at school or wearing their uniforms and wondered what Girl Scouts is all about?  We have some openings in one of our 1st grade Daisy troops.  For more information or if interested, please email Allison Chao. 

Thank you to everyone who donated Halloween costumes and decorations to the annual Oak Knoll caring & sharing Halloween costume drive!  It was a great success.  We had a large number and wide variety of costumes that went to local kids and Shelter Networks.  Also, thank you to the Oak Knoll Girl Scouts who helped with collecting donations and to Calling All Kids and the individual volunteers who helped with sorting the costumes.  

Thank you again!

Kathy Motamedi, Lisa Langer & Nancy Lieberman

Co-Chairs Caring & Sharing Committee

Did you make it to the Greatest Book Fair on Earth this week?  Ollie did and he had a magnificent time!  

Ollie sends out a huge High Five to the three Co-Chairs behind the magic of this event:  Allison Fleming, Jennie Lang (who is on her 6th year chairing this event!), and Mary Speiser.  Thank you for co-ordinating such an wonderful event for our entire Oak Knoll Community!  

The week-long event kicked off on Monday with the delicious Teacher's Luncheon Co-Chaired by Oak Knoll's own creative duo Jenny Sullivan and Kris Swanson.  Thanks also goes to Mira Olson, Julia Dunn, Tracy Watt, Chantal Ferrini, Sharon Purcell, Jill Wurster , Michelle Box, Calla Griffith, Allison Chao, Carolyn Bowsher, Melissa Coleman, Mary Falvey, Tamara Russel, Meredith Walsey, Kelly Otis and Christy Ericson for bringing wonderful food and drinks and volunteering at the luncheon.  Tuesday morning was the Author Talk for our parents and a huge Ollie High Five goes to Sheryl Sandberg who spoke to around 150 members of our Oak Knoll Community about her book Lean In, answered many of their questions and signed books.  If that wasn't enough, Wednesday Night was all about our families when the Greatest Book Fair on Earth had their Family Night with magicians, stilt walkers and a spellbinding magic show.  The children were enchanted with the performance and it gave the parents some time to leisurely browse the books. 

Thanks goes out to all the Book Fair Committee Members who helped the Co-Chairs make the week run smoothly:  Beth Cobos,  Christie Connaghan,  Christy Ericson,  Domonique Matthews, Jenny Sullivan,  Jody Buckley,  Katie Angioletti,  Kristen Swanson,  Meredith Walsey, Naed de la Vega,  Noelle Carpenter,  Tamara Russel,  Tracy Sartorio

Finally a big thanks to our partners Books Inc. who are an integral part of the team and selected all of the wonderful books that our community was able to peruse and purchase this week. 

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. 

Women Basketball Players. Sundays, 10 a.m., Oak Knoll Multi. Join Oak Knoll, Hillview, Encinal and Laurel moms for basketball scrimmage and drills.  Whether you have played before or would like to learn, we would love to have you join us. It is a great workout and a lot of fun. For more information, email Margie Roginski.

VOLUNTEERING

Classroom Volunteers Needed in East Palo Alto.  An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life. We are looking for parents willing to volunteer in a K-4 classroom this school year.  Assist teachers with tutoring and individualized instruction much like you may have done in your own child's classroom, but these classes have no parents helping.  The school most in need right now is Brentwood Academy.  It's one hour per week starting in early November. Our organization provides orientation and coordinates everything. To learn more about us, visit www.allstudentsmatter.org.  Have questions or want to sign up?  Contact Carolyn Blatman at CBlatman@aol.com. 

Clothing Drive for RWC Fire Victims.  October 23 - 30.  St. Francis Center in Redwood City is collecting clothing and bedding for families impacted by the recent fire in Redwood City. All sizes of clothing for adults and children is needed.  Drop off donations at Sequoia Realty, 135 Franklin St., RWC. Questions? Contact Kristin at 650-365-7829