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Oak Knoll PTO
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November 10-11
Wednesday, November 12
- PTO Board Meeting, 8:15-10:00am
- MPCSD Final Decision on Mandarin Charter School Petition, 6:30pm, Encinal
- Embracing Our Differences Parent Night, 7:00-8:00pm, Library
November 13-14
- 2nd Grade Vision & Hearing Screening
- MPAEF Gift Boutique, Thursday, 6:00-9:00pm, Friday 8:30am-2:30pm, Allied Arts Guild
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Tuesday, November 18
- Levi Stadium Field Trip (Clancy, Bouret, Tom), 8:30am-3:00pm
Thursday, November 20
- Last Day of MPAEF Campaign
- Are You In? Day - please wear Orange!
November 26-28
See the Oak Knoll calendar for more important dates and events
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Please donate extra kids' clothing to our office - especially needed before (hopefully) rainy days! All kids' sizes welcome.
Also, as you finalize holiday plans, please report planned absences by filling out this online form, emailing Cathy Petersen, or calling the school office at 650-854-4433. Thank you!
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 Megan Jagelka, K-1-2 Multi-Age Teacher
Favorite thing about Oak Knoll: My favorite thing about Oak Knoll are my students. They make coming to work fun and interesting everyday. I also enjoy the people I work with on the Knoll. I feel so fortunate to work with such dedicated, hard working, and wonderful individuals.
Share a passion of yours: I am passionate about sports and the US Women's National Soccer team. I have been to 3 World Cup events and hope to make it to the Women's World Cup in Canada this summer.
A fun fact about yourself: Those who know me, know I love to travel. I enjoy learning about different places, cultures, and trying new foods from all over the world. I have traveled to 32 states in the USA and 25 countries throughout the world. In my spare time, I like researching the greatest locations, hotels, and beaches to visit.
A favorite quote: "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." -Oprah Winfrey
 Sarah Westfall, Physical Education Teacher
Favorite thing about Oak Knoll: The kids!
Share a passion of yours: My passion is teaching and providing opportunities for our students to experience a variety of physical activities that they can pursue for a lifetime of health and wellness. If I had my way we would have PE everyday!
A fun fact about yourself: I grew up on a ranch in the Central Valley and started riding horses at 2 years old. I still ride and when I can, I help out at the ranch. Believe it or not I like to fix fence and drive the tractor. My physical activities include snow skiing, swimming, tennis, yoga and pilates (love the reformer!), and my mountain bike. The past few summers my family and I have started to enjoy stand up paddle boarding and surfing. Most week nights you can spot me walking my silly pal Bandi the Dog (former ranch dog turned city princess) around my neighborhood.
A favorite quote: "Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion." -Thích Nhất Hạnh. "My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors." -Maya Angelou
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Embracing Our Differences Parent Night
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Come hear the speakers who inspired your children! The Embracing our Differences Parent Night has been rescheduled and is occurring on Wednesday, November 12. Come hear speakers Stephanie Faso and Michael King share their experiences of growing up with learning differences and hear their tips and insights regarding building an inclusive community. We will meet in the Oak Knoll Library from 7:00 to 8:00pm.
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Charter School Petition - School Board Decision November 12
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Please continue to voice your opinions on the Menlo Mandarin Immersion Charter School (MMICS) petition. The MPCSD Board will make its final decision on Wednesday, November 12 at a public school board meeting at 6:30pm (Encinal Elementary School, Multi-Use Room, 195 Encinal Ave., Atherton.) Please attend - public comment will be heard and considered.
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. A presentation on Charter School fundamentals was presented to the Board on September 3, and is accessible, click here.
Click here to read Charter Petition FAQs from the MPCSD website.
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Last Chance to Give Feedback on Safe Routes to School
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This is your opportunity to give feedback to the County on what you think about safe routes to school! Whatever your views, please share them via the survey below. MPCSD has a County grant for Safe Routes to School program such as traffic safety assemblies, bike/walk rodeos, KangaDo carpool smartphone app, expanded yellow school bus routes, International Walk/Bike to School Day and web resources. Click here to tell the County your thoughts about the Safe Routes to School programs in MPCSD. We apologize that last week's link was broken. Deadline November 10. Questions? commutes@mpcsd.org.
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Let's give a HUGE THANK YOU to Shannon Garrow and Elaine Glynn for an amazing Embracing Our Differences program last week! Shannon and Elaine worked so hard to create this important program that will continue in future years at Oak Knoll. The kids learned so much and the programs raised their awareness about differences on so many levels. Please be sure to come see our featured speakers from last week on Parent Night on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00pm. Thank you again!
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Substitute Teachers Needed for District Pool
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Looking for a way to contribute to your child's school district and earn yourself a few dollars? Why not try substitute teaching a couple of days a week? Substitutes without a California Teaching Credential are employed on a short term basis (meaning day-to-day subbing vs long-term leave subbing). We often need substitutes for roving purposes, meaning substitutes release teachers for special meetings or trainings for a few hours during the day. In order to sub in California, we need to see a passing CBEST score and transcripts showing a BA or higher. For more information, contact our district office.
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First, thanks to all of the 5th graders who submitted artwork for the 2014-15 Yearbook Cover Contest. The winner will be announced on the last day of school. All of the drawings will soon be displayed in the bulletin board by the front office. Be sure to stop by and take a look at our amazing young artists.
Second, Oak Knoll's 2014-2015 Yearbook is now on-sale, through December 31! Orders are exclusively online for $25. Yearbooks will now be in full color! Be sure to specify your child's(ren) grade and teacher for each book. Also, look for an email blast with a link to purchase the yearbook from Jostens. The yearbooks are a great way to keep Oak Knoll memories alive for your kids.
Please contact Rhonda Bucklin if ordering online is not an option.
Finally, 5th grade parents, in a few weeks, we begin gathering your 5th grader's Baby Photo for inclusion in the yearbook, another long-standing tradition. You will be asked to provide photos of your of child between the ages of 3 and 12 months. Otherwise, it's not challenging enough to identify the baby/toddler.
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Oak Knoll's Spring 2015 Musical
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 What do you do after an unforgettable show like Wizard of Oz? You follow it up with Willy Wonka Jr! And that's what the 4th and 5th graders will be doing this Spring.
"Willy Wonka Jr." is the musical adaptation of Road Dahl's Story, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," a story which is no doubt familiar to all Oak Knoll students.
Auditions will take place after school the week of December 8. Please visit Mrs. Tee's Fusion page for more information to be posted this week.
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Only Days Remain in the Annual Parent Campaign
Support the MPAEF Now to Help Our Schools
We return to school on Wednesday with only 9 days left in the MPAEF's Annual Parent Campaign! Time is of the essence to raise needed funds! between now and then, if you haven't already, please support our schools by making a pledge to pay at a later date, donation, or set up recurring credit card payments. We rely on the generosity of our families to give at a level that's meaningful to you. Thank you for your ongoing support. 
This is the Week to Shop the Boutique!!
5th Annual MPAEF Gift Boutique
Thursday, November 13 & Friday, November 14
Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park
Featuring well-known designers and much-loved local vendors, there will sure to be something for everyone on your shopping list. We invite you to preview our vendors here. Each vendor has contributed a fabulous item to our drawing! Come shop the Boutique and participate in our drawing for your chance to win! New this year, we feature "Boutique Exclusive" items such as Doll-Sized Encinal, Laural & Oak Knoll T-Shirts and Encinal, Laurel & Oak Knoll "basketball socks!" Perfect gifts for the MPCSD students in your life! Advanced tickets to our special events are going fast! Purchase yours here today! Sips, Sweets & Shopping: Enjoy wine and sweet treats while you shop the boutique. Thursday, November 13, 6:00-9:00pm $30 per person advance purchase $40 per person at the door An Evening with the Experts: We've partnered with the highly-regarded caterers and masterful mixologists of Palace Cafe and Catering, and fabulous florist Amanda Thorne to teach you the tricks of the trade and turn you into the hostess with the mostess. Thursday, November 13, 6:30-7:30pm $75 per person which includes entrance into MPAEF Gift Boutique- limited to 30 guests Boutique Brunch and Lunch at the Blue Garden Cafe Seating available Friday, November 14 at 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm $50 per person, space is limited, advance purchase required Boutique Shopping Friday, November 14, 8:30am-2:30pm Complimentary Entrance Invite friends and family! All are welcome! 20% of boutique proceeds benefit the MPCSD schools.Learn more about this event here.
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MPAEF Spring Auction - Come Join the Team!
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Have you enjoyed taking part in the MPAEF Spring Auction year after year? Are you new to the District and excited to get involved? Join us and help us raise $250K+ for our schools!! We are currently seeking a parent volunteer to be the Auction Co-Chair for the 2015 MPAEF Spring Auction to be held on Saturday, April 11 at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club. Cyndy Hogan is returning as the Event Co-Chair so you'll be working with a seasoned partner. We are seeking an auction-side co-chair to oversee the online and event-night auction. If you are someone who has good project management skills, data management skills, and an interest in organizing a large-scale event to support our schools, we need you! If you are interested in learning more about this important and fun role, please reach out to Calla Griffith at 650-906-7960.
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Boy Scouts of America
Menlo Park Club Scouts Pack 222 Food Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank
Tuesday, November 18 and Friday, November 21
Oak Knoll School Front Office
All contributions go direction to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Thanks for your support!
The La Entrada School Used Book Fair is NOW OPEN to the Community! La Entrada Middle School
Monday, November 10 - Friday, November 14 (closed Tuesday, November 11 for Veteran's Day)
7:30am-4:00pm
With over 6,000 new & nearly-new books to choose from, we have a great selection of authors and titles for children, young adults and adults alike.
Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 6
The City of Menlo Park Community Services Department will be hosting the annual "Breakfast with Santa" at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, located at 700 Alma Street, from 7:30am-11:30am. Reservations are required. For more information, please call 650-330-2220.
Hoopsters Basketball Starting December 29, 20, 31, January 2
9:30am-12:00pm, Arrillaga Family Gymnasium
Ages 5-12
Young hoopsters will learn the fundamental skills of dribbling, catching and shooting, as well as basic rules, while having a great time. Coach Tim Bowler is a National Board Certified Physical Education Teacher and Coach at Menlo Atherton High School.
Hillview Middle School Presents The Miracle Worker Hillview Performing Arts Center
Thursday, November 20, 3:30pm
Friday, November 21, 7:00pm
Saturday, November 22, 2:30pm & 7:00pm
Based on the remarkable true story for Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, this inspiring play has become an unforgettable American classic. Please join the young actors of the Hillview Drama department in their presentation of this timeless tale. Tickets are $10; $9 for students with an ASB card.
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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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