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Oak Knoll PTO
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September 29 - October 10
- Halloween Costume Donation Drive
Friday, October 3
- CuriOdyssey Field Trip (Kindergarten), 9:30am-2:00pm
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Monday, October 6
- No School, Staff Development Day
October 7-10
- Minimum Day, EARLY DISMISSAL at 11:20am! No After School Programs.
- Parent Conferences
Wednesday, October 8
- International Walk to School Day
- PTO Board Meeting, 8:15-10:00am
- Be A Student For The Night, 7:00-8:15pm
Thursday, October 9
- Mandarin Immersion Charter School Petition, Parent/Community Meeting, 8:30am, Oak Knoll
October 13 - 24
- New & Used Book Donation Drive
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Oak Knoll's philosophy is rooted in the Mindset work of Dr.Carol Dweck. We teach our students the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset, as well as the parts and working of the brain. As a school, we write goals around this work because it applies to everything we teach and expect students to know and be able to do. My hope is that this year we can also help you to better understand the importance and application of this work! Here is a little information and an opportunity that will get you started in learning more.
In 2006, Dr. Carol Dweck published, her book, Mindset asserting that intelligence and other human attributes are not determined at birth. Achievement and ability are flexible and can be influenced by effective hard work. Learners are identified as those who have either a "fixed" or a "growth" mindset. Students with a growth mindset embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, see effort as the path to mastery, and learn from coaching, criticism and mistakes. Those with a fixed mindset avoid challenge and seek out easy tasks that confirm their view of themselves as superior, and collapse when confronted with failure. A central tenet of Dweck's research is that beliefs about the self and one's abilities influence behavior and subsequent educational outcomes, and beliefs can be changed. She demonstrated through decades of research that people could be influenced in the direction of a growth mindset. Once mindset changed, behavior changed accordingly.
This is how we explain it to the kids:
Your mindset is:
-what you think you are capable of achieving
-your mental attitude towards learning
-how you approach life and challenges
Fixed Mindset:
Some people believe that being smart is fixed. Intelligence is something you have or you do not have. These people want to look smart, so they:
-avoid challenges
-give up easily
-see effort as a sign of weakness
-feel threatened by the success of others
Growth Mindset:
Other people believe that smart is NOT something you are, but rather it is something you GET! Intelligence can be developed. Their desire is to LEARN. They:
-treat their brain like a muscle that can get stronger with hard work and practice
-recognize that a challenge will make their brain stronger
-keep trying when faced with difficulty
-find inspiration in the success of others
-see their mistakes as an opportunity to learn and grow
-see effort as a path to mastery
Tips for parents:
1. Model, model, model! Take on a challenge and let your kids see you putting in the effort to get through it.
2. Point out the amount of EFFORT your child put into something rather than focusing solely on the OUTCOME.
-example: "I can tell you worked hard on this project." vs. "You are such an artist!"
3. Next time your child says they can't do something, make sure you remind them of my favorite word...YET! "You can't do it YET, but with practice you will do it."
4. Make sure your child(ren) know that having a growth mindset is an ongoing challenge, that in itself, takes a lot of practice...even for adults.
5. Point it out! Great examples are everywhere.
-example: "She must have practiced a lot to become that great." Take a look at this growth mindset video which the staff have shared with the students. Throughout the year we will continue to provide you information and tips to apply this work to your parenting.
We highly recommend you attend her upcoming presentation in Redwood City (see information below) and read Dr.Carol Dweck's book Mindset.
Take care,
Kristen Gracia
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 Chris Atikinson, Learning Center Teacher K-5
Favorite thing about Oak Knoll: The high levels of expertise, professionalism and creativity with all of our staff.
Share a passion of yours: I've worked in Special Olympics in the past to help support my students.
A fun fact about yourself: I love reading, gardening and cooking and am always up for a new adventure.
A favorite quote: "Everything you can imagine is real." -Pablo Picasso; and "A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself." - Jim Morrison.
 Heidi Veneman, 5th Grade Teacher
Favorite thing about Oak Knoll: My favorite thing about Oak Knoll is the wonderful sense of community that exists here. I moved out of the area for awhile and when I returned to Oak Knoll it felt as if I were coming home.
Share a passion of yours: I would like to be involved in working in some way to support foster children. Through no fault of their own, their lives are often chaotic and unpredictable and they often go without.
A fun fact about yourself: I love, love, love to travel. I could easily live out of a suitcase. There is so much to see and do in our country and the world. I could make traveling a full time profession.
A favorite quote: "Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -Leo Buscaglia.
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Volunteer in the Nature Zone!
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The Nature Zone (formerly known as "The Wild Zone") is the fenced off area at the side of school (towards the back field/playground) where kids have the opportunity to explore nature and interact with trees, branches, leaves, dirt and all the "natural toys" within The Nature Zone. In order to have the resource open to our students at lunchtime, we must have parent volunteers to supervise the area. Many shifts are still available - please sign-up today!
Contact Becky Bullard for more information.
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Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed!
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Volunteer Opportunity
Have you ever volunteered to serve Hot Lunch at Oak Knoll? No? Well you don't know what you're missing out on! Don't wait any longer to sign up!
Long gone are the days of hairnets and serving spoons. It's now workout gear and compostable containers. No need to be nervous, we train you on the job. Other than a good opportunity to chat with other parents, there's not much more to it than that.
Come join us - we promise you'll have fun! If you have any questions, please email Patti Buck, Melissa Coleman, or Emily Record Buck.
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Girl Scouts - Join New 1st & 3rd Grade Troops
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If your daughter is interested in joining a Girl Scout troop at Oak Knoll, we are forming new troops in 1st and 3rd grade and are looking for more girls to join. We are also looking for parents interested in helping form the new 1st grade troop. Troops normally meet once a month after school on campus for about an hour. The day/time of troop meetings varies based on the co-leaders who organize the troop. If you are interested in finding out more about the Girl Scout troops at Oak Knoll, please contact Allison Chao.
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Tip of the Week: Please remember that sidewalks are for pedestrians, not bikes! The same goes for crosswalks. If you want to use a sidewalk or crosswalk, WALK your bike whie on the sidewalk or in the crosswalk.
Bike Inspections: Feeling sad that Bike Safety Month is coming to an end? Don't be! Every month is a good month to be safe on a bike. In October, there will be four FREE bike inspections provided in front of Oak Knoll. They will be on Friday October 10, Monday October 13, Friday October 24, and Monday October 27 before school, 7:40-8:10am. Come by the bike rack area and let the professional mechanics from Menlo Velo look over your child's ride. They will check brakes, pump up tires, adjust helmets, and provide a general safety check. Due to popular demand, bike inspections for student bikes will be prioritized. This event brought to you by the PTO Bike Safety Committee.
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International Walk to School Day
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The MPCSD will be participating in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8. Since 1980, students around the world have walked and biked to school to mark this day.
MPCSD is encouraging students, families and staff to consider using human power to commute to and from campus that day. There will be prizes handed out to students who walk or bike to school that day. And there will be "walking buses" and bike groups meeting up that morning to have fun traveling as a group. Please click here for more information.
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California Coastal Clean Up and Tree Care Work Day
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 Thank you to all the families who participated in the California Coastal Clean Up! It was great to see so many otters out keeping our creeks and oceans free of trash. Our volunteers were part of the 54,124 volunteers that participated in the event statewide, and cleaned up a total of more than 686,000 pounds of trash. Way to go Otters!
If you like helping with the environment, there is another event coming up:
Tree Care Work Day
Saturday, October 11, 9:00am-12:00pm
Costaņo Elementary, 2695 Fordham St. East Palo Alto
Get outside and help maintain young trees to keep our urban forest happy and healthy! Join Canopy as we continue to do some much needed weeding and mulching. To sign up and for more information, go to our calendar.
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Be A Student For The Night
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Please join us on Wednesday, October 8 from 7:00-8:15pm for a very special evening as our ART, LIBRARY, MUSIC, and P.E. teachers let us "walk in our children's shoes." Mr. Almquist, Ms. Bennion, Ms. Knight, Ms. Chiet, Ms. Tee and Dr. Westfall have planned a fun, interactive night that will allow parents to see what our children experience every day at Oak Knoll. All parents are encouraged to come meet their children's teachers. This night is a great opportunity to experience the programs at Oak Knoll that our community's donations to be Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF) make possible.
Please RSVP here.
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MPCSD Receives Menlo Mandarin Immersion Charter School Petition
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On September 12 our District received its first Charter School petition from the parents of the Menlo Mandarin Immersion Charter School. Click here to see the entire Charter petition including petition signatures.
We encourage parents and community members to attend the following public meetings, to be held with Superintendent Maurice Ghysels, Board President Joan Lambert and Board Vice President Maria Hilton:
Parent/Community meetings:
- For Encinal and Laurel communities: Wednesday, October 1 at 8:45am at Laurel Elementary School, 95 Edge Road, Atherton
- For Oak Knoll and Hillview communities: Thursday, October 9 at 8:30am at Oak Knoll Elementary School, 1895 Oak Knoll Lane, Menlo Park
Open School Board meetings will then be held at the District Office-TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton:
- Public Hearing on Tuesday, October 14 at 6:00pm
- Study Session on Monday, October 27 at 6:00pm
- Final Decision on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:00pm
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Halloween Costume Drive Starts Monday! Book Donation Drive Soon...
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The Caring & Sharing Committee wants to announce two opportunities this fall to donate to those in need: A Halloween Costume Donation Drive (9/29-10/10) and a New/Used Book Donation Drive (10/13-10/24). All donations will go to the Children's Fund of San Mateo County. The book drive will culminate in a book sort on October 30, 1:30-3:30pm in the small multi, in which Oak Knoll kids can help prepare the books for distribution. Everybody interested please come!
Starting this MONDAY: Halloween Costume Drive: Please consider donating your outgrown and gently used Halloween costumes. All costumes welcome, but please no wigs/masks, plastic guns, knives or anything that depicts violence. We will be accepting costumes for two weeks (9/29-10/10). Barrels will be set in front of the office and Multi for easy drop-off.
Coming in TWO WEEKS: Used/New Book Drive: Looking forward to Oak Knoll's October Book Fair? Let us help you prepare! When making room for those new books, please donate your previously loved books to the Oak Knoll book drive! Then, please consider buying a new book or two for the donation drive. All purchases help our school and donated new books will help children in need. All new books will be set aside and provided to needy children in San Mateo County as holiday gifts.
Note on the Children's Fund: The Children's Fund was established as a grassroots effort by social workers to assist foster and low-income children in San Mateo County and provide them with goods and services that are not available through public funds. The Children's Fund benefits low-income and foster children/teens who reside in San Mateo County. In 2014, the Children's Fund will serve more than 4,600 children in San Mateo County.
Questions? Please contact Meg McGraw-Scherer.
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Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck
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Oak Knoll encourages a Growth Mindset instead of a Fixed Mindset. Learn more!
MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS
Carol Dweck
Stanford in Redwood City Speaker Series
October 16, 5:30-7:00pm (doors open at 5:00pm; general seating)
Carrington Hall, Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City
Free and open to the community
More Information & RSVP: www.stanfordredwoodcity.com
Professor Dweck is a leading researcher on motivation and achievement, particularly known for her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, focusing on why people succeed and how to foster success. She'll explain how, with the right mindset, you can motivate students, employees, peers, & children to reach their personal and professional goals. She has been featured in The New Yorker, Time, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, and many other media outlets.
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PTO and Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation
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THANK YOU to all our Oak Knoll families and teachers who have donated to the PTO! Your donations to both the PTO and MPAEF make a real difference in the education that Oak Knoll provides to all our children. The school came together on Wednesday when all the kids and staff took part in a spirit rally to celebrate the end of the PTO campaign and enjoyed KNOL broadcast from the playground, a message from Ms. Gracia and some groovin' led by Ms. Bennion.
Your donations to the PTO are still coming in and being counted! So if you haven't donated yet, please donate now.
THANK YOU to our families and teachers who have already pledged or donated to the MPAEF. The Annual Parent Campaign closes on November 20 and we are approximately XX% of the way toward reaching this year's goal.
If you choose to pledge your donation amount now, please know there are three pledge fulfillment dates: November 20, December 15 and March 15. And remember to please consider employer matching options or donation of stock.
Click here to make your commitment today!
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Raising Your Teens Without Losing Your Mind - Part 2
Erik Burmeister, Principal
Hillview Middle School, PAC
Monday, September 29, 6:30-8:30pm
From mood swings, to puberty, to the complex life changes that are a result of growing up in the 21st century, raising a healthy and responsible teenager is a task that can boggle the mind of even the most seasoned caregivers. Join Hillview Principal, Erik Burmeister, as he discusses the difference between how girls and boys react to their changing physical and emotional environments, the way in which our daily routines can affect how our kids grow and perform in and out of the classroom, and the boundaries and limits we can expect to have challenged as our kids strive to become more independent. Missed Part 1? Don't let that stop you. Part 2 will still be a very informative event. Free childcare is provided on-site for all potty trained children. For more information, contact Jennifer Allen.
My Digital Tat 2: Parenting in the Age of Social Media
Thursday, October 2, 6:30-8:00pm
Encinal School, Large Multi
This interactive presentation will provide an overview of the digital landscape and explore the benefits and challenges parents and children are facing today as they live in a 24 hour digital media world. Through short video clips and group discussion, parents will learn about cyber-bullying, digital tattoos, social networking sites and common sense strategies for cyber-safety. Overuse and supervision will also be explored. Parents will leave with cyber-sense and tools to help guide their children to become smart, ethical producers and consumers of technology.
"What Parents Need to Know About the Common Core and More"
Sunday, October 12, 1:30-5:00pm
Hillview Middle School
This conference will give you an insider's view on important developments relating to your children's education. This year, we'll be covering the sweeping changes to the math curriculum lead by the Common Core, as well as new student assessments and report cards. There will also be workshops, taught by district teachers and staff, that will give you first-hand knowledge about what happens in the classroom, as well as tips and tricks for helping your student succeed in school. Free childcare will be available for children ages 2.5 through Middle School (special program for Middle School students to earn Block H points) to allow as many parents as possible to attend, but advance registration is required in order to take advantage of this option.
"I learned so much by attending the District ParentEd conference -- it was really interesting and inspiring" - Lydia Lee, Encinal parent of 1st and 4th graders
Register early to get your first choice of workshops and to reserve a childcare spot.
Conference Details are on the MPCSD ParentEd Page.
Register online for Parents & Childcare by Monday, October 6.
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Fun Private Piano Lessons by Opus Piano Studios
Monday-Thursday, 2:30-7:00pm. Prelude class (age 5-18) is designed to provide convenient, in home piano lessons for busy parents. If you are interested in signing up, please contact us at info@opuspianostudio-sf.com.
NJB Winter Basketball
Registration is now open!
Our focus is on skills-based instruction, personal growth, and positive competition for kids from 1st through 8th grades in MP, Atherton, PV, Woodside, or EPA.
Player Capital Tennis
Monday-Friday after school and Saturdays and Sundays, Holbrook Palmer Park, Atherton. Fun kick-off event at Holbrook-Palmer on Saturday, October 4 from 10:30am-12:00pm. Email to register or to find out more! See you on the courts!
4 Rules To Use To Avoid Being A Target for Bullying!
The free event will be held on Friday, October 3, 4:00-8:30pm in the Sequoia Room of the Arrillaga Recreation Center at Burgess Park. Pizza and water will be provided for dinner. Sponsored by Kuk Sool Won of Menlo Park Martial Arts and Character Development Academy. Register here.
Girl Scouts
Please join us on Wednesday October 8, 7:00-8:30pm in the Encinal library. Childcare will be provided by Senior Girl Scouts but you must contact Kelly Perri to reserve a space by October 3. RSVP to Kelly to attend and to reserve childcare.
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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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