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Oak Knoll PTO
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Otter Weekly
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February 2, 2014
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Monday, February 3
Tuesday, February 4
Wednesday, February 5
Thursday, February 6
Friday, February 7
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Tuesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 12
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PTO Board Meeting: 8:15-10:00am
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Outdoor Ed Talk for 5th Grade students: 1:00pm
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My Digital TAT2 with Erica Pelavin & Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet: 6:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21
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Town Hall Meeting Wrap-Up
Thank you to everyone who attended the transportation Town Hall meetings or submitted an email. Still want to sound in? Please email commutes@mpcsd.org by Wednesday, February 5. Here is what is next:
- Available Now: slides presented at the two meetings (here)
- Coming February 5: Summary of meetings (when completed) (here)
New! Bike Registration
Menlo Park Police Department is offering a free online bike registration service: click here. A registered bike that gets stolen can be identified if it is recovered anywhere in California.
Heads Up: Traffic Enforcement
Menlo Park Police Department will have two motorcycle officers deploying to "hot spots" including intersections near our campuses. They can ticket drivers, bike riders, pedestrians, young and old. So make sure to stop your bike at the stop signs. And be sure not to pull into bike lanes for drop-off.
Menlo Park Police Traffic Unit: link for requesting the portable speed measuring trailer or to report a traffic complaint
A Reminder about Biking to School - coming from White Oak to Oak Knoll Lane
Parents --- many children and parents who bike to school coming from White Oak are not walking their bikes along Oak Knoll Lane. Proper bike safety rules state that bikers should walk their bikes if going against traffic. Since students coming "to" school from White Oak are going against traffic, they need to get off their bikes and walk the half block from White Oak to the crosswalk. This is safer for the parents & students walking to school along that stretch of Oak Knoll Lane who could get clipped by a biker who is riding and not walking a bike. Thanks for being safe!
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Outdoor Education Parents' Night - Tuesday
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5th grade parents, please come this Tuesday, February 4 at 6:30pm to the Outdoor Ed. Parents' Night in the Oak Knoll Library. This is a parent-only event - no children please.
Outdoor Education is a week long camp (overnight) that all 5th graders are encouraged to attend, along with their teacher. This year our Oak Knoll 5th graders will go to Outdoor Ed from April 7-11. This is a wonderful and memorable experience! With that said, Mark Nolan, the director of Outdoor Education, will be hosting a Parents' Night for you to find out more about the program. Please mark your calendar.
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Family Math Night - Thursday
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Count on attending Family Math Night, this Thursday, February 6 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Oak Knoll Gym.
Enjoy fun and engaging activities with your children that will get them to think about and make sense of numbers.
- Explore 8 hands-on stations
- Choose from 3 activity levels at each station
- Create projects to take home
- Go at your own pace
- Reinforce classroom learning
No RSVP necessary. Contact Jody Buckley for more information.
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Teacher & Staff Luncheon - Friday
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3rd Grade Debate - Parents' Night
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There will be a Parents' Night for the 3rd Grade Speech and Debate program on Thursday, February 13 at 7:00pm in the Library. Parents only please.
Come to the Oak Knoll Library and meet Coach Brier. You will learn about our 3rd grade Speech and Debate program, as well as the upcoming debate tournaments!
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Did you attend the wonderful Winterfest event at school on Saturday night? We had delicious food, lots of fun and games for the kids and once again it brought our Community closer together. Ollie wants to give out a huge high five to the following individuals on the Winterfest Committee who did an amazing job putting together the event: Airel Tinajero, Jennifer Djafari, Neymi Madrigal, Hildy Agustin, Rafaela Maravilla, Carolyn Bowsher, Alma Maldonado, Christine Keefer, Marisol Tiznado, Ruth Demma, Mari Heiss-Molina, Nicole Scott, Tracy Watt, Gina Skinner, Jill Wurster, and Allison Chao. He would also like to thank the parents who brought the amazing food to the event!
If you are interested in being more involved in Oak Knoll Community Outreach (OKCO) or Winterfest, please contact Carolyn Bowsher for further information.
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A note from Kristen Gracia, Oak Knoll Vice Principal
As part of the Oak Knoll staff and part of the Oak Knoll parent community, Oak Knoll is obviously up close and personal to me. Like all parents, I am interested in what goes on at school, and because I work here I have the luxury of knowing. My goal with this ongoing column is to provide that knowledge to you. I plan to share some of the exciting behind-the-scenes information that goes into making Oak Knoll the wonderful school that it is. I hope you will find this update to be a quick-to-read, thought-provoking resource that equips you with enough information to strike up conversations with your kids about what goes on at Oak Knoll. Every column will be focused on part of our mission statement, hence the name...Mission Accomplished! We have a number of school initiatives going on at all times and each article will give you the inside scoop on something that you might not have otherwise known about Oak Knoll.
To read more of Kristen's note please go the Oak Knoll website home page.
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Otter Weekly Position Opening
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Oak Knoll is looking for a new editorial director for its newsletter, Otter Weekly. The position entails coordination with parents, staff and third parties connected to the school and District, and organization/formatting of content for weekly electronic newsletters. No previous experience in editing or publishing is required, though basic computer skills are needed. For more information contact Kristi Rawlinson. Start date is flexible.
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Yard Duty Help Needed - Upper Yard
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We believe recess should be a child-centered time in the day for kids to be kids. Recess is not only an opportunity for kids to exercise, play and interact with other children, but a time to problem-solve. Conflicts will arise and recess is the perfect time for our students to experience the normal, developmental issues that come up when children play. We encourage kids to find a solution, to listen to each other, and to work together.
At Oak Knoll, we are fortunate to have a great Yard Duty Staff. However, having volunteers on our yard during lunch recess would be helpful and greatly appreciated. Being on the yard is a great way to see the kids in action and support their playtime.
The Need: two to three parents each day from 11:45am - 1:00pm (Three parents Mon, Wed, Fri) to help with Nature Zone, Otter Mileage Club and general Yard Duty help.
If you share our philosophy and are interested in volunteering on our Upper Yard during lunch (11:45am-1:00pm) please email Tracy Watt.
Kristen Gracia
Vice Principal, Oak Knoll School
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Ollie is excited to be going on vacation during the upcoming February break, so there will be no Otter Weekly released on February 16 or February 23. The Otter Weekly will be published on February 9 and then March 2.
If there is any important news you would like the Oak Knoll school community to know about regarding events/activities immediately following the February break, please make sure to submit it for the February 9 edition.
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Hillview-sponsored Parent Ed Monthly Series
My Digital TAT2 - Parenting the Media Generation
Erica Pelavin and Gloria Moscowitz-Sweet
Wednesday, February 12 @ 6:30 pm in the Hillview PAC
Our kids are "Digital Natives" -- they have grown up in a world of online access and ever changing media devices. Do you wonder how to teach your child responsibility and ethics online, how to ensure they are aware of their actions, and how to best parent them in the digital age? Recommended for anyone interested in an overview of the digital landscape and learning about thoughtful ways to navigate media with your children.
Hillview is providing free childcare at these events. Click here for the complete Hillview Speaker Series program, and video recordings of past speakers. If you have any questions, email Jessica Raines.
For a complete listing of all the parent education events in and around our community, please visit the district's ParentEd webpage.
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The Auction Donation Deadline is Near - Donate by February 14!
Be a Donor! Organize with friends. Make a call. Send an email. Just say, "Yes! I am IN!" Donate today. It is never as much work as you think it will be, but it is always more fun! MPAEF auction deadline to submit items and ideas is Friday, February 14. Your donation raises money to keep class sizes small, keep art, music, and library classes thriving, and allow administrators and teachers to introduce innovative teaching practices in our schools. Offer time at your favorite getaway, join friends to throw a party, show a student your professional day, share season tickets or a favorite bottle of wine. Look at the following categories, pick one and commit!
Destinations/Adventures/Getaways - Give district families or a couple the opportunity to take a break by spending time in a place you find special! Parties, Events, and Experiences for Adults - Organize an over the top bash or an intimate dinner to highlight cuisine. Donate as a single family or make a party out of your party by donating with friends. K.I.T. - Kids In Training: Teach kids what makes your profession interesting. Designers, technologists, scientists, medics, doctors, chefs, artists, entertainers, public service, open your doors and show a student what you do after the kids go to school. Parties, Events and Experiences for Kids: Whether fitness, art, cooking, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience, donate a chance for kids to break from reading, writing, and arithmetic to play and just be kids! Whatever the idea, just bring them together! Sporting Events and Memorabilia: Donate your Giants, Shark, 49er, premier PGA tournaments, Grand Slam tennis, or NASCAR event tickets or link district families to a round of golf! Exceptional Wines and Wine Experiences: Open up the riches of our region by offering up a unique bottle of wine or a wine experience at surrounding vineyards. Create a personal trip to a vineyard or fill a wine cellar with elite vintages.
To Donate: Please contact Karen Dearing or complete our online donation form here!
Need ideas for what to donate? View last year's auction catalog here.
The deadline for submitting auction items is February 14!
And mark your calendars for Saturday April 5, 2014 at the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club for A Night in Monte Carlo! See you in April!
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Creighton School of Wrestling. March 10. Now at Sports House, Redwood City! Come get CREIGHTONTRAINED by two-time National Champion and Wrestling Hall of Fame Coach Braumon Creighton! Spring wrestling classes are available for ages 8-18, and all skill levels are welcome. We offer training for beginning through advanced wrestlers on Mondays and/or Wednesdays starting March 10. Register now at www.creightontrained.com. Summer camps will be posted soon.
"In 500 Words or Less" Award-winning Documentary, Menlo-Atherton Parent Ed Series
Thursday, February 6, 7 - 9 p.m., M-A PAC. Introduction by Alice Kleeman, M-A college advisor. Going to college is a rite of passage for many American high school students, but the process can be overwhelming: college fairs, SATs, tours, applications. And then there's the personal essay. How does a seventeen year old define herself to total strangers when she's only beginning to discover who she really is? And how can he or she be expected to do it in an essay of 500 words or less? This honest film is a "must see" for any parent or student starting or looking ahead to the college application process.
Registration: https://in500wordsorless2014ma.eventbrite.com/
Sponsored by the M-A PTA and the Sequoia Healthcare District. For more information, please contact Charlene Margot, Parent Education Series Program Director or (650) 868-0590.
"BULLY" Documentary. Thursday, February 6 from 6:30-9:00 pm. Parents Place and the Oshman Family JCC is proud to present a free screening and panel discussion of the documentary BULLY. This film opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. After the film we will hold a thought-provoking panel and separate teen discussion lead by experts in the fields of bullying and counseling. This free event is for teens (ages 13+) and adults. The event will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2014 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at the Schultz Cultural Arts Hall at the Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303. There will be free parking. This is a free event but registration is required. Register here.
"Speaking in Tongues" Documentary. Sunday, February 9 from 2 - 4PM at the Menlo Park Main Library, 800 Alma St. in Menlo Park. We are thrilled to invite you to attend a free community education event on the subject of bilingualism and the immersion model, which will include a screening of the award-winning documentary, "Speaking in Tongues". Afterwards, we will facilitate a discussion with our distinguished panel of experts:
* Marcia Jarmel, "Speaking in Tongues" Filmmaker and Director
* Dr. L. Ling-Chi Wang, Professor, UC Berkeley
* Dr. Thomas Sudhof, Professor and 2013 Nobel Laureate in Medicine and Physiology
Stanford University
Priority registration will be offered to Menlo Park residents before we open up the event to other communities and seats are limited, so please RSVP to miimps1@gmail.com and indicate the number in your party and your city of residence.
10th Annual Art Takes a Bus Ride contest. Deadline for submissions is February 24. SamTrans, in partnership with the San Mateo County Office of Education, is excited to be a part of the 10th Annual Art Takes a Bus Ride contest. Art Takes a Bus Ride gives 1st - 6th grade students a chance to have their artwork displayed on the side of a SamTrans bus for an entire year! It's a great way to engage students in San Mateo's thriving community while providing an opportunity to showcase their talent. Six featured works of art (2 from each grade division) will be displayed on the outside of a SamTrans bus and on the adcards inside the bus. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 24, 2014 and winners will be announced at the May 2014 SamTrans Board Meeting. For the more information on the program, including this year's entry form and flyer, please click here. If you have questions about the program, please feel free to email tietjenb@samtrans.com or call 650-508-6495.
Junior All Terrain Runners (Jr-ATR). Join us for an exciting new program for kids age 7-14! Through our fun, non-competitive curriculum, kids will work on all aspects of movement using confidence (obstacle) courses, core & strength work, and running. For more info click here.
For more information on events/opportunities listed above or events listed in prior newsletters, visit the District's Community Links page. |
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Please submit announcements and flyers to newsletter@oakknollschool.com for Oak Knoll events. For the Community Corner, send submissions to communitynews@mpcsd.org.
The deadline for both email addresses is by noon on the Wednesday prior to publication date. Guidelines for submission are available online.
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To read past Oak Knoll PTO newsletters, please visit our archives.
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