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Oak Knoll PTO
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Tuesday, December 2
- 3rd Grade Debate Parent Night, 7:00-8:30pm, Gym
Wednesday, December 3
- 4th Grade Debate Parent Night, 7:00-8:30pm, Gym
- Levi Stadium Field Trip (MLB), 9:00am-2:30pm
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Tuesday, December 9
- Parent Coffee Talk with Principal Gracia, 8:15-9:15am, Staff Lounge
- San Juan Bautista Field Trip (Cline/Murphy), 8:15am-2:30pm
Wednesday, December 10
- PTO Board Meeting
- Coffee Cart
- Levi Stadium Field Trip (Chan/Poole/Jagelka), 9:00am-2:30pm
Thursday, December 11
- MPAEF Board Meeting, 8:45-10:30am, TERC
See the Oak Knoll calendar for more important dates and events
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Parent Coffee Talks with Principal Gracia
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SAVE THE DATES!
Parents, mark your calendar! Mrs. Gracia and other members of the Oak Knoll Staff are looking forward to holding regular informational meetings for parents on various topics of interest throughout the year. More detailed information will be coming out soon, so make sure to get the dates on your calendar now. All meetings will be held right after drop off in the Staff Lounge, from 8:15-9:15am.
Parent coffee talks will be held on the following dates: 12/9, 1/13, 3/10, 4/7, 5/12.
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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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 Johnna Becker, 4th Grade Teacher
Favorite thing about Oak Knoll: I love that the staff and community feel like a second family. We work to support one another in trying new things and facing new challenges.
Share a passion of yours: For the past several years, I have organized a team of family and friends to participate in the American Diabetes Association event - Step Out in San Jose. Our team has raised about $5,000 a year in memoriam of my father.
A fun fact about yourself: I am a competitive person. I enjoy pushing myself to take on different athletic challenges. I have done a triathalon, a few half marathons, and even the Tough Mudder!
A favorite quote: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney
 Trish Stella, Kindergarten Teacher
Favorite thing about Oak Knoll: The climate of the school....both students and staff. It is supportive, collaborative, and creative.
"Everybody Loves Oak Knoll"!
Share a passion of yours: I am a huge supporter for cancer research and raise funds through various walks and marathons.
A fun fact about yourself: I would hike or travel most anywhere, and cooking is a favorite past time.
A favorite quote: "It's not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves, that make them successful human beings."
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Spring Musical - Audition Sign-Ups Now Open
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 All 4th and 5th graders are invited to try out for Oak Knoll's Spring Musical, Willy Wonka Jr.
The show will be cast and directed by Oak Knoll's Music Specialist, Bee Tee, and Hillview's Drama Director, Bill Hairston. Students will rehearse after school Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week beginning in January. Ten weeks of rehearsals will culminate in two performances at Hillview on Thursday, 3/26 and Saturday, 3/28 followed by a school assembly on Tuesday, 3/31.
Auditions will be held after school on Tuesday, December 9 and Wednesday, December 10. Please visit Mrs. Tee's Fusion Page to sign-up for an Audition time. Details on what to prepare for the audition as well as important rehearsal and parent volunteer requirements are provided.
Please contact Page Curtin with any questions.
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After School Programs - Winter Registration Now OPEN
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Registration for Oak Knoll's Winter After School Program is now OPEN! Classes begin the week of January 12 and continue through mid-March. We have many terrific class offerings - some great new classes to Oak Knoll this year, and some good old favorites! Please click here to be directed to the ASP webpage for a detailed list of after school classes and registration information. For questions, contact Mark Baker.
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Oak Knoll's 2014-2015 Yearbook is on-sale through December 31! The yearbook is a great way to keep Oak Knoll memories alive for your kids. And this year, yearbooks will be in full color!
Orders are exclusively online for $25. You should also have received an email from Jostens with a link to purchase the yearbook. Be sure to specify your child(ren)'s grade and teacher for each book.
Next up: 5th grade parents, please start searching for a favorite baby photo of your child between the ages of 3-18 months. Inclusion of baby photos is a 5th grade tradition. You can provide a digital copy (preferred) or a hard copy (will be returned). Hard copies should go to your child's homeroom class. There will be a manilla envelope in the front office too. Paula Da Cruz Griffin, Yearbook Baby Photos, will assist in collecting the photos beginning after the Thanksgiving break.
Please contact Rhonda Bucklin with questions.
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Grades 2/3 Spots Still Open for Girls Leadership Institute Workshops
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There are still spots open in our Girls Leadership Institute Workshop for grades 2/3 during February. Parents and daughters will learn about identifying healthy relationships, finding their voices, and communicating more effectively. Girls will also develop resilient responses to conflict, challenges, and mistakes. The program is interactive, fun, and enlightening for parents and daughters! Workshops for K/1, 2/3 in January, and 4/5 are full at this time.
Click here for details, including cost and specific dates, and to register online!
If you have any questions, please email Stephanie Chen.
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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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 Earn money for our schools when you shop online for holiday cards and gifts through Shop.MPAEF.org. Start your holiday shopping at Amazon, Best Buy, bloomingdale's, Picaboo and many more stores. Just go to Shop.MPAEF.org, click on a merchant link, shop like you normally would, and earn up to 10% of your purchase total for our schools when you shop. Happy shopping!
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Participate in GivingTuesday to Give Our Teachers Access to 21st Century Professional Development Programs
Your Donation Will be Matched $2 to $1
This Tuesday, December 2nd is "GivingTuesday" -- a day globally dedicated to giving back. Please participate in this important movement and support our MPCSD teachers with a $10 donation to the MPAEF Endowment, a gift that will give in perpetuity.
The MPAEF Endowment is a permanent, self-sustaining investment fund, grown through donations and investment gains. The Endowment's earned income helps the district fund critical professional development programs that foster 21st century teaching and learning.
A $10 donation is all that's asked, but contributions of all sizes are welcome to help grow the Endowment. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the MPAEF Endowment for Excellence in Teaching today! To make a donation, click here. Our goal is to raise $5K on December 2 (GivingTuesday), which will unlock an additional $10K of Endowment support from two of our generous families. So each $1 you donate during the 24-hour campaign, will be matched $2 for $1.
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Twas the Night Before Christmas
Saturday December 6, 4:00pm
Sunday December 7, 1:00pm and 4:00pm
Saturday, December 13,1:00pm and 4:00pm
Sunday, December 14, 1:00pm and 4:00pm
Presented by Dancers Repertory Theatre and Menlo Park Academy of Dance Located at the Woodside Performing Arts Center - Tickets . Some of our very own Oak Knoll students will be dancing in the performances of Twas the Night Before Christmas! Savannah Lang, Isabella Arizini, Soleil du Bois, Olivia Matthews, Carolina Arizini, Ella Skinner, Mary Gaughan Curtin, Alaina Egnal, Meghan Feick, Bridgid Cutright, Sadie Evans, Chelsea Feick, Annabelle Johnson, Helena Yassa.
Mindfulness and Parenting January 27th, 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Oak Knoll Library Finding Grace Amidst the Chaos Presented by Dr. Amy Saltzman This event is sponsored by the Oak Knoll PTO.
Camp Menlo
December 22-23, 29-31, January 2, 19
Burgess Pool, Menlo Park
Kids age 5-9! Each day includes a 45-minute swim lesson and out of the pool group games and activities that encourage self-confidence, growth, teamwork, and fun! http://menloswim.com/camp/school-holiday-camp/aquatics-camp
The City of Menlo Park and the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce
Friday, December 5th, 2014 from 5:30pm-7pm.
Second Annual Menlo Park Holiday Tree Lighting at Fremont Park
This is a FREE Menlo Park community event with festivities including holiday treats, family movie, and a spectacular tree lighting. If you have been good boys and girls this year, Santa just might make a special appearance!
Peninsula Youth Theatre
Auditions for the full version of Les Miserables with actors ages 8-18.
Auditions are December 3-4 with callbacks Dec 6-7
For more information and to schedule an audition please visit www.pytnet.org.
The Nutcracker
Sunday, December 7th at 1:00pm and 4:00pm
At the Fox Theater in Redwood City on. Tickets are available via the website.
Friends of Allied Arts
Children's Holiday Party
Sunday, December 14 at 12:30 pm until 3pm.
At Allied Arts Guild
75 Arbor at Cambridge Ave., Menlo Park
Exciting entertainment for children ages 4-9 accompanied by an adult. ($25 per person) Visit alliedartsguild.org for details.
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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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