Oak Knoll PTO
Otter WeeklyBacktotop
April 27, 2014
In This Issue
To Do

This Week

Monday, April 28 - Friday, May 2
  • Teacher Appreciation Week

Monday, April 28 

  • California Academy of Sciences Trip, K-2 MLB: 8:45am-1:30pm

Tuesday, April 29

  • California Academy of Sciences Trip, K-2 Chan/Poole/Jagelka: 8:45am-1:30pm
Wednesday, April 30
  • Teacher Appreciation: Flower Day
  • History San Jose Trip, Bartlett: 8:45am-2:00pm
  • Mayer Theater Trip, All Kindergarten: 9:45am-12:30pm
  • 5th Grade Walk to Hillview: 9:00-11:00am
  • 5th Grade Parent Night at Hillview: 6:30pm-8:00pm, PAC

Thursday, May 1 

  • California Theater Center Trip, Quarre/Johnston/Brewbaker: 8:30-11:30am

Friday, May 2

  • Davies Symphony Hall, 3-5 Multi-Age, 4th & 5th Grades, and 3rd grade violinists: 8:45am-12:15pm
  • Jon J. Muth Author Visit, 1st-3rd Grades: 1:00pm

Looking Ahead

Monday, May 5 - Thursday, May 8
  • Star Science Testing, 5th Grade only

Monday, May 5

  • Bing Concert Hall, 3rd Grade: 9:20am-2:30pm

Wednesday, May 7

  • Roaring Camp, 4th Grade: 7:00am-4:00pm
  • Davies Symphony Hall, both K-2 Multi: 8:45am-12:15pm

Thursday, May 8

  • MPAEF Board Meeting: 8:45-10:45am, TERC

Saturday, May 10

  • Q & A Play, incoming Kindergarten
 
See the Oak Knoll calendar for more important dates and events.

5th Grade Parent Night at Hillview 

ATTENTION FIFTH-GRADE PARENTS: Meet teachers, learn about MS transition, and hear about all the great advantages of Hillview's program on Wednesday, April 30, 6:30-8:30pm in Hillview PAC! Click here for the flyer.

 

Back to top

5th Grade Graduation T-Shirts

ATTENTION FIFTH-GRADE PARENTS: Traditionally fifth-graders wear "graduation" t-shirts on the last day of school for the clap-out (a kind of goodbye ceremony from the teachers and parents).  Please order your child's t-shirt by no later than May 18, giving checks (made out to Oak Knoll PTO) TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER.  The shirts cost $12 each.  For more information, contact parents Elizabeth Lorenz or Erin Dolinko.

 

Back to top

Blood Drive for Encinal 5th Grader

We need our community's support! An Encincal 5th grader has been diagnosed with cancer. She is an amazing little girl with the fight of a lion. Her family, along with Stanford Blood Bank, have put together a blood drive and we would love to support their efforts. Each blood donation can help up to 3 patients.  Please view the flier on how to sign up.

 

In addition, Encinal teacher, Janet Meister, and her class are participating in Relay for Life in Redwood City.

 

Back to top

Spring Family Picnic

Mark Your Calendars!

 

Spring Family Picnic

Food, Games & Fun

Friday May 16, 5:30-7:30pm

 

More info to come!

 

Back to top

Proposed PTO Board Slate

At our PTO Board meeting on April 9, 2014, the PTO Board approved the following slate of executive officers for our 2014-2015 PTO Board.

 

Proposed PTO Board Slate 2014-2015:

Vice President - Stephanie Chen

Secretary - Page Curtin

Financial Secretary - Emily Record

Auditor - Aarti Chandna

Communications - Tamara Russel

 

PTO Board Officers 2014-2015 (automatically filled):

President - Jill Wurster

Parliamentarian - Tracy Watt

Treasurer - Gina Skinner

 

We will be voting on the PTO Board slate at the PTO General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, May 28 at 1:00pm in the Gym.

 

Back to top

Are You In RUN for Education 2014

 
Are You In RUN for Education Presented by Nelson Roberts Investment Advisors
 
The RUN is happening on June 1, so purchase your race entry and run or walk in the 5k Are You In RUN for Education. Please consider patronizing the generous sponsors below who are making the event a success.

 

To register for $25 before May 16 click here.
To become a Family Sponsor click here.
For more information click here.

Headline Sponsor:

Partner Level:


Leader Level:




 

MPAEF News 

 

Thank You To Our New and Returning Business and Realtor Partners

 

Please support these businesses and realtors who support our schools! Thank you to these new 2013-14 business and realtor sponsors:

 

Business Partners

Bohannan Foundation

Chris E. Lindsey, D.D.S.

DeLeon Realty

Kennolyn Camps

Northwestern Mutual

DLM Architecture

Monica Michelle Photography

RGM and Associates

Scott Kaloust, DDS, MS, Menlo Park Orthodontics

Sundance The Steakhouse

Tavarez Orthodontics

 

Realtor Partners

Doug Andrew Gonzalez, Coldwell Banker

Mary Gullixson Brent Gullixson, Alain Pinel Realtors

Anonymous, Coldwell Banker

Colleen Foraker, Alain Pinel Realtors

Mary Gilles, Alain Pinel Realtors

Jennifer Gonzalez La'O, Oliver Luxury Real Estate

Michael Hall, Alain Pinel Realtors

Carol MacCorkle, Pacific Union

Debbie & Manny Ojeda, Intero Real Estate Services

Karin Riley, Coldwell Banker

Annette Smith, Dreyfus Sotheby's International Realty

Leslie Woods, Sereno Group Real Estate

 

Parent Book Club 

Please join School Counselor Nicole Scott and School Psychologist Jenny Ryan for a parent book club.  We will be reading The Good Enough Child: How to Have an Imperfect Family and Be Perfectly Satisfied by Dr. Brad Sachs.  Each week participants will read parts of the book and join other district parents in a lively discussion. 

 

The remaining dates of the Book Club are all Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 at Keplers, April 30, May 7 and May 14.

 

To RSVP please email Nicole Scott or Jenny Ryan.

 

Back to top

ParentEd

 

"Who's In Your Teen's Village?"

Kent Pekal, Ed.D., President/CEO of the Search Institute

Thursday May 1, 7:00-9:00pm

Menlo-Atherton High School Performing Arts Center

 

Do you know who's in your teen's village?  All teens need to learn how to build strong, supportive non-parent relationships for success in school and in life.  How can your teen develop this important skill?  The presentation will include a short video featuring the stories of M-A students, a keynote address by Dr. Kent Pekel, and a moderated Q&A with Lisa Medoff, Ph.D.  Register here.

________________________________________________________________________________

 

Are We Pushing Too Hard?

Race To Nowhere Film and Panel

Wednesday May 14, 6:30pm

Hillview Performing Arts Center

 

In an age where our kids are over-scheduled and pressured to perform at increasingly higher levels, Race to Nowhere highlights the growing issues of cheating, anxiety-induced illness, and withdrawal from academics, leading to a new generation of underprepared college students.  With the help of world-renowned Psychologists and Education experts, this film is aimed at helping to change the broken system so that we can raise students to be excited and inspired not only in our schools, but beyond as well. The film will be followed by an expert panel discussing the difficult balancing act of raising teens in today's high-stakes world.

 

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

    

Community News

 

El Camino Real Corridor Study Community Workshop

Wednesday April 30 6:30-9:00pm

700 Santa Cruz Ave (MP Presbyterian Social Hall)

Please join Menlo Park's Community Workshop to review potential transportation and traffic safety improvements to El Camino Real in Menlo Park. Light refreshments will be provided. Learn more at www.menloPark-ElCamino.com

 
After-School Mandarin Class in Hillview Middle School
5th Grade Parents
If your child will be interested in signing up for After-school Mandarin class in Hillview Middle Schools in Fall 2014, please contact Vivien Fitzhugh. All levels are welcome. We especially need a couple more students to open up an advanced level class (Level 4). Once we have nough students to open up a class, we will need Hillview PTO approval by June.  Please contact Vivien Fitzhugh as soon as possible.

Help your child fall in love with writing!
June 23 - July 1, 9am to 3pm, at Hillview Middle School. Authors, teachers, and musicians are teaming up to help your child fall in love with writing this summer!  This two week program allows campers entering grades 2-6 to write, edit, and publish their own eBook under the guidance of professional authors.  Lessons are delivered as songs, and new writing skills are practiced through games, theater and songwriting. The program is designed to inspire reluctant writers and delight those that already have "the bug." Learn more by watching the video or calling (415) 322-0511. Extended care available from 8am to 5pm. Additional dates and locations include: Palo Alto (6/16-6/27) and Burlingame (7/21-8/1).

Come cook up some fun and learn in small structured groups!

Little Sous Chefs (PK-to-First Grade): Social Skills Intensives for kiddos and their Parents (debriefing after group) with fun arts and cooking themed activities.

Children (4-young adult) Groups: June 16 - September 5. Sample activities include: "Stories for Glory" writers' workshop and grammar curriculum, Visualizing/Verbalizing(t) by LindamoodBell(t), Executive Functioning Therapy, Movie Making, Field Trips, Cooking, Stop Animation, Survival Guides, Teen Hangouts, and more! Please email Jenn for more info.

  

Menlo Park El Camino Real Corridor Study

Wednesday April 30, 2014

6:30-7pm Open House; 7-9pm Presentation and Workshop @ Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Social Hall (700 Santa Cruz Avenue). This Menlo Park El Camino Real Corridor Study will review potential transportation and traffic safety improvements to El Camino Real between Sand Hill Road and Encinal Ave.

 

U-Me Summer Camps!

U-Me is excited to announce our Summer Camp line-up, including Tynker Coding and Lekha School of Creative Writing! Please visit the camp website  for full schedule and descriptions.


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

Quick Links

Oak Knoll Website  
     
  Oak Knoll Calendar            MPAEF Website 
         MPCSD Website

Newsletter Submissions
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 dateGuidelines for submission are available online. 

Newsletter Archives
To read past Oak Knoll PTO newsletters, please visit our archives.