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Monday, March 23
- After School Programs Spring Session begins: LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!!
- Stanford Memorial Auditorium Field Trip (Guerra, Yob, McColloch, Bartlett), 9:15am-1:00pm
- Stanford Memorial Field Trip (5th Grade), 10:15am-1:00pm
Tuesday, March 24
- Flint Center Field Trip (1st Grade), 9:00am-12:00pm
- 49er Museum Field Trip (2nd Grade), 8:30am-2:30pm
- Parent Coffee Talk, 7:00pm, Gym
Wednesday, March 25
- De Anza Planetarium Field Trip (3rd Grade), 9:15am-12:30pm
- Levi Stadium Field Trip (5th Grade), 8:30am-2:30pm
- Walt Disney Museum Field Trip (Kelley), 8:45am-1:00pm
- Smarter Balanced Parent Information Meeting, 6:45-8:00pm, Encinal Large Multi
Thursday, March 26
- Willy Wonka Jr. Field Trip, Group 1, 8:35-10:45am
- Willy Wonka Jr. Field Trip, Group 2, 10:00am & 1:15pm
- Willy Wonka Jr., 3:30pm, Hillview
Friday, March 27
- Walt Disney Museum Field Trip (Brewbaker), 8:45am-1:00pm
Saturday, March 28
- Willy Wonka Jr., 7:00pm, Hillview
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Monday, March 30
- NO SCHOOL, Staff Development
Tuesday, April 1
- Fujitsu Planetarium Field Trip (Clancy, Bouret, Tom), 9:00am-12:30pm
Thursday, April 3
- Folger Stable Field Trip (Guerra), 9:30am-1:30pm
See the Oak Knoll calendar for more important dates and events
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Oak Knoll Principal Selected
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 Many congratulations to Kristen Gracia on her appointment as Principal of Oak Knoll! Kristen will be formally presented to the MPCSD School Board for approval at its April 14, 2015 meeting. Erik Burmeister, Temporary Superintendent, applauded Kristen for her knowledge, commitment and devotion and called her "an ideal candidate to serve as Oak Knoll's next principal". To read his full announcement please click here.
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If you were unable to make the last morning coffee talk with Mrs. Gracia and Mrs. Kessler, the same topic will be covered at an evening meeting on Thursday, March 24, at 7:00pm in the Oak Knoll gym. They will review parents' feedback from the recent Site Council Survey and share some upcoming school developments, including a preview of a World Language program.
Mark your calendars with further upcoming Parent Coffee Talk dates: April 7 at 8:15am, and May 12 at 8:15am, in the Gym.
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After School Programs Begin Monday
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER for Oak Knoll After School Program SPRING SESSION!
Spring Session classes begin the week of March 23 and continue through June 5. We have several terrific class offerings including some great classes new to Oak Knoll this year, and some good old favorites! New to Oak Knoll this session are two awesome Computer Coding classes, two classes on 'Mindfulness' instructed by Dr. Amy Saltzman, and The Green Room Theater & Dance, TGA Golf and Hi-Five Sports. Please click here to be directed to the ASP webpage for a complete list of after school classes and registration information. For questions, please contact Mark Baker.
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 Showing this week! Oak Knoll's production of Willy Wonka Jr., will be performed by 4th and 5th graders at the Hillview Performing Art Center (PAC): Thursday, March 26 at 3:30pm and Saturday, March 28 at 7:00pm. The kids have been hard at work rehearsing for the show and they are excited to perform for their peers, friends and family.
Tickets are $10 and available for purchase at http://mpcsd.seatyourself.biz. Both Oak Knoll and Encinal show dates are listed so be sure to choose the correct show. As part of your purchase, you will be able to select your own seat assignment(s). Tickets will be available for pickup at "Will Call" at the show.
The Hillview PAC seats 400 and last year we had two sold out shows! 300 seats are sold online ahead of show with 100 seats available for purchase at the door.
DVD's of the show will be available for $10 each. Please email Denise Henry if you would like a copy.
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Track & Field for 4-5 Graders
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Oak Knoll and Encinal 4th and 5th graders are invited to participate in Hillview's Track and Field season. Registration is open until early March or when capacity is reached. The program will begin on April 13 and conclude on May 27 and takes place primarily at the M-A high school track from 6:00-7:30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. There is no program during Spring Break. Contact Harry Bell with questions 650-483-4049.
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5th Grade May Madness Basketball Camp
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Oak Knoll 5th graders are invited to attend Hillview's May Madness Basketball Camp on Fridays during May. This camp will emphasize basketball fundamentals important for beginning and intermediate players at the middle school level. Target students are those who are seriously motivated in learning more about mastering the important foundations of solid basketball play. Friday May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 from 3:30-5:50pm at the Hillview gym. Cost is $160. Register at sportability.com/hillview. For more information contact Coach Bell (650 483-4049) or Coach Eaton.
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Newton Registration Now Open
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Registration for Newton 2015-2016 is now open! This year's registration process will be completely online.
In order to register your child, please visit www.newtoncenter.org and follow the Menlo Park Enrollment link. The Newton system will allow you to select your program, complete medical forms and waivers, make payments, and even print receipts.
Please contact Newton with any questions at: office@newtoncenter.org or at: (650) 345-4043
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My New Red Shoes - Thank You Oak Knoll Students & Parents
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A HUGE thank you to all those that participated in our compassion project with My New Red Shoes. Your time and conscientious effort accomplished the following:
365 gift bags were decorated/sewn
150 first day cards were written
142 pairs of shoes were donated
We exceeded our goals and should all be extremely proud of the results. Thank you so much for your compassion!
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 Caryl Brewbaker, 2nd Grade TeacherFavorite thing about Oak Knoll: Innovation, Empathy, and Growth Mindset! For many years, Oak Knoll's administration has trusted and encouraged Oak Knoll teachers to follow their hearts and inborn talents to find creative ways to meet every child's unique needs. This is just one of the reasons why, when you walk through campus, you see students eagerly rushing to class for their next classroom experience. Share a passion of yours: I love science. I am in awe of everything from atoms and butterfly wings, to the collective brainpower used to land a probe on a distant comet. This fascination makes teaching science incredibly fun for me. I thrill at watching children making connections... the process starts small, and increases exponentially as children learn to wonder, explore, experiment, and wonder some more.A fun fact about yourself: I absolutely love "Do It Yourself Jobs." It takes a level of risk which is nerve-racking, but IF the project turns out, it's fun to savor the moment. My father was my mentor and hero. It seemed he could do anything he set his mind to. I've always admired "out of the box thinkers". A favorite quote: "Where there's a will, there's a way."  Erik Olsen, ParaeducatorFavorite thing about Oak Knoll: What I love about Oak Knoll are the amazing kids and friendly staff that I get to work with on a daily basis.Share a passion of yours: For the last seven years I have supported a few different not-for-profit organizations to help abolish human trafficking of children and adults around the world. Not-For-Sale is one of the most recognized organizations based out of San Francisco. Additionally, I spent last summer working as a volunteer at a food kitchen that serves the homeless in downtown Palo Alto.A fun fact about yourself: I have been able to tour and record music all over the country. My favorite place to play has always been New York City because of the amazing energy of the city. This summer I will get to play bass guitar all over Italy and Great Britain backing a singer songwriter named Don Dilego. A favorite quote: "Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." -Leonard Cohen
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This week Ollie Salutes our amazing After School Sports team of Stefano Baldassi, Julie McEvilly, Melissa Englekemier and Patti Buck for all the hard work they have been doing to make sure Oak Knoll's Volleyball and Basketball seasons were fun and well organized!!! This committee has a huge job - they work all year long to organize teams, coaches, game schedules and player registration. Thank you again to Stefano, Julie, Melissa, and Patti for ensuring the success of our Volleyball and Basketball seasons!!
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Calling All 5th Grade Parents
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If your child is going to Hillview next year and you're wondering whether you'll be able to stay connected as a volunteer, rest assured that your contributions will be just as valued at Hillview as they always have been at Oak Knoll! The Hillview PTO sponsors community building and staff appreciation events throughout the school year, thanks to a small army of enthusiastic volunteers, and there are currently openings on the Back to School Luau, Camp Hillview (perfect for incoming 6th grade parents!), Staff Appreciation, Campus Activities, Student Enrichment, and Parent Education teams. Any of these opportunities would be a great way for you to get to know the Hillview community and feel more closely connected with your child's Hillview experience. If you're interested, please contact Michelle Box or Kate Kennedy, 2015-2016 Hillview PTO Co-Presidents. Thank you!
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Parent Information Evening for English Language Learners
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Parents of English Language Learners, please come to this Oak Knoll EL Special Event on Thursday, April 9!
- 5:30-6:00pm: Parents come to the library for teacher presentations on how to support English Language learners. Teachers are welcome to attend. Child care for your child and his or her siblings will be provided by Newton after-school care.
- 6:00-7:00pm: A catered dinner will be provided for all. The kids can participate in games and/or art projects.
I hope you can attend. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all of us to get together! Please RSVP to the invitation I sent out by Thursday, April 2.
Susan Hogan, EL Teacher
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Call for Service Award Nominations
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Tell Us About an Exceptional Volunteer!
Every year our District is fortunate to have parents, teachers, staff and community volunteers give generously of their time, skills and creativity to our schools. Many programs would not exist if it was not for this formidable group of volunteers, "the Pillars of our Community." Honorary Service Awards (HSAs) as well as the School Service Awards (SSAs) recognize those individuals who have contributed in an extraordinary way to our District.
Please take a moment to nominate someone you know who goes above and beyond to make a difference in our schools. To nominate an individual, please complete an online nomination form by Friday, April 3.
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Are You IN Run - Business Sponsorship Opportunity
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Are You In - Run for Education. Sunday, May 31, 2015Do you know of a business that would benefit from getting their name and product out in front of 40,000 Menlo Park and Atherton residents? The Are You In - Run for Education is a perfect way to do it! We are currently accepting new sponsors. Benefits include your corporate logo on our banners over Santa Cruz and Marsh Rd, a booth at our Wellness Fair with in-person access to 3,000 attendees, branding on t-shirts, on our website, in registration emails, direct-marketing materials and much, much more! Show the community your commitment to our children and to education! For more information, contact krista@glotzbach.com / 415-275-2453 Download our Sponsor Package and watch our Sponsorship video.
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Hillview Speaker Cancellation
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Final Event - CANCELLED
The final speaker in this year's Hillview Speaker Series is unfortunately double booked and unable to be here for the event on April 27. Tiffany Shlain, Filmmaker/Author was to discuss her film, "The Science of Character: Building On Our Strengths For a Happier Life." The Hillview PTO thanks all attendees who joined us throughout the series and looks forward to providing another beneficial speaker series during the 2015-16 school year.
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Event Announcement: Smarter Balanced Parent Information Meeting
Date: March 25, 2015, 6:45-8:00pm
Location: Encinal Large Multi, 195 Encinal Ave, Atherton, CA
Educational Services leaders, Alicia Bowman, Jennifer Kollmann and Ginny Maiwald will be conducting a session that will include information about teaching and learning updates related to the Common Core and the upcoming assessment for grades 3-8. We will also be talking about health and wellness tips for supporting and preparing your child for testing and how our current instructional program design prepares students for assessment.
The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. We look forward to sharing this important and timely information with our families.
K-5 Math Adoption News:
After an extensive Math pilot process and review involving 34 teachers, two publishers and spanning all grade levels ,(including multi-age classes and Spanish Immersion) the Math Committee voted unanimously to propose the adoption of Math Expressions by publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as the new MPCSD Common Core Curriculum for Grades K-5. There is a strong articulation between Math Expressions Common Core and Big Ideas Math (the recently adopted curriculum at Hillview Grades 6-8) creating a seamless K-8 experience which will allow teachers and students to easily transition from the world of elementary school math to middle school math.
At the March 10 Board meeting, a Math Expressions presentation was made and members were provided with supplemental material about the curriculum. The decision to adopt Math Expressions will go to the Board for action on April 14, 2015.
Math Expressions materials for this proposed adoption Grades K-5 are on display in the small conference room at the District Office for public review until April 14. In addition, if you would like to preview this material on line please follow these directions:
- Go to www-k6.thinkcentral.com and click Evaluators Click Here; click Register.
- Enter the access word: mathexpressions15CA
- Click the check boxes next to Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Enter your name and email address. Click Next.
- Next to the name of your evaluation site, select a role (e.g., teacher) and then click Log in.
- Click View Resources.
General Information: Discover the Parent Pages
If you would like updated information on Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Student Wellness, please go to our "Parent Pages," located on our district website: www.mpcsd.org. (You can find the link to "Parent Pages" in the drop down list under the parents tab). The Parent Pages are space on our website dedicated to keeping parents up to date on the Educational Initiatives happening in our district.
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"A Night in Old Hollywood" Spring Event and AuctionSaturday, April 11, 7-11:30pm, Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, 2900 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park "A Night in Old Hollywood" is just around the corner! Auction catalogs are coming home this week - please check for them in your child's backpack. Look through the catalog to get an idea of the amazing array of parties and events we have on offer this year for kids and adults alike. You won't want to miss out! And as we get closer to the event itself, please keep these key dates in mind: ** auction tickets (early bird pricing) go on sale on Wednesday, March 25 ** week of raffle ticket sales at schools starting Tuesday, March 31 ** online auction opens Friday, April 3 ** ticket prices go up Friday, April 3 ** auction night is Saturday, April 11 - book your babysitter now! And in other auction news, we are still seeking donations of fine wines and unique bottles of tequila (yes, you heard us right). Should you wish to contribute a bottle or two please email us. Finally, please consider underwriting our event. Underwriting support helps defray event costs, allowing money raised at the auction to go directly to our schools. As an underwriter, you will be recognized on our Hollywood Wall of Fame. We thank you in advance for your kind and generous support! Underwriting levels are as follows: - Producer $5,000 (Two tickets to the Auction, four teacher tickets, 20 Raffle Tickets)
- Director $2,500 (Two tickets to the Auction, three teacher tickets, 12 Raffle Tickets)
- Super Star $1,500 (Two tickets to the Auction, two teacher tickets, 5 Raffle Tickets)
- Star $1,000 (Two tickets to the Auction, one teacher ticket, 5 Raffle Tickets)
- Diva $500 (Two tickets to the Auction)
Individual auction tickets are $130, Raffle tickets are $10 each, 12 for $100, or 20 for $150. Please make your sponsorship donation online by clicking here and in the notes column indicate "2015 Spring Auction". If you have questions, please email Event Co-Chair Cyndy Hogan. All underwriters will appear on the event night Hollywood Wall of Fame. ====================================================MPAEF Raffle Tickets On Sale March 30 to April 4 On CampusWe'll always have Paris! Or a fabulous m&m bling necklace, a night at the Rosewood, Soul Cycle classes in some Lululemon, An American Girl Doll, a GoPro or a Stanford Football home game! Glam it up or get your game on, the choice is yours for how you want to support the MPAEF "An Evening in Old Hollywood" Auction event. Buy your raffle tickets to play in the game of treasures. Six incredible prizes just for the raffle alone. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 30 just until Friday, April 4. You can buy your tickets right in carpool at Laurel, Encinal and Oak Knoll. You can buy your tickets at all the Willy Wonka performances too. Buy one ticket for $10 or 12 tickets for $100 or 20 tickets for $150. Raffle drawing will be on April 11 at the MPAEF "An Evening in Old Hollywood" Auction event. Must be present to win! Here's lookin' at you, kid! =======================================================Thank You to These New and Returning Realtor PartnersMary Gullixson and Brent Gullixson, Alain Pinel RealtorsDeLeon Team, DeLeon RealtyMichael Johnston, Alain Pinel RealtorsNathalie de Saint Andrieu, Pacific UnionTom LeMieux, Pacific UnionOmar Kinaan, RE/MAX Distinctive PropertiesKeri Nicholas, Coldwell BankerVeronica Kogler, Coldwell BankerLeslie Woods, Sereno Group Real EstateElyse Barca, Pacific UnionMary Gilles, Alain Pinel RealtorsJudy Citron, Alain Pinel Realtors=======================================================Thank You to Our New and Returning Business PartnersPlease support those businesses who support our schools!The Bohannon Group FoundationChris E. Lindsey, D.D.S.Roebbelen Contracting, Inc.Cameron L. Aboudara, D.D.S. MSGould Jacobson DermatologyNicole Scarborough PhotographyPersonifyAcademic TrainersCollege Counseling AssociatesFishman VisionShadle Construction SRI International
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Tennis Enthusiasts
Former Laurel Squirrels Lane Leschly, Bo Leschly (Menlo School), Ben Boggs, Jack Stone, David Desai (Sacred Heart), Alex Iyer, Chris Iyer, Theo Novak, Zack Novak, and Nishant Relan (M-A) are Serving "Aces4Kidz" in an Ace-a-thon raising funds for local non-profit EPATT (East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring) during the Varsity Boys tennis Season. Please visit the website to learn more and Make a Pledge. Questions? Email lane.leschly@menloschool.org.
Menlo Park Library: Teen Spring Book Club
Saturday, March 28 from 3-4:30pm
Menlo Park Library
Menlo Park Library's Book Club program for ages 12-18 is set to meet during the spring. Meeting dates are on Saturdays, March 28th and May 2nd from 3:00-4:30 PM. The March 28th meeting will be to vote and decide on what book we will read. To register for the book club, please see our Teen Library webpage for registration.
Menlo Park Library: Teen Blackout Poetry Contest
April 1 - 27
Menlo Park Library
Throughout April's National Poetry Month, the Menlo Park Library will be hosting a Blackout Poetry Contest! Participants create poetry by leaving select words visible and blacking out the rest. Pick up a newspaper or stop by the Teen Section for used book pages. Entries should be one page and must be submitted with: Name; Age; Contact Information; and Name of School. Submit at the library or email Sydnee.
Menlo Park Library: Teen Game Night
Friday, April 10 from 6:30-8:30pm
Menlo Park Library
Bring your friends & join us for a night of fun at the library. Teens (12-18 years old) will have access to the library's computers and can challenge fellow teens to popular board games. Snacks and some games will be provided. Feel free to bring your own games and or gaming consoles! Please see our Teen Library webpage for registration.
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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.
To read past Oak Knoll PTO newsletters, please visit our archives.
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