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Monday, April 13
- Teacher Appreciation Week
- Marine Science Institute Field Trip (Brewbaker, Johnston), 8:45am-12:30pm
- Talent Show Informational Meeting, Lunchtime, Gym
Tuesday, April 14
- District Board Meeting, 6:00pm
Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16
- Bee Tee's "Spring Sing" Concert (1st Grade), 11:00am
Friday, April 17
- Talent Show Contracts Due
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April 20 - April 24
Monday, April 27
- Deadline for Parent Input Forms
Tuesday, April 28
- Redwood City Century Theaters Field Trip (Rooms 1/2/3), 9:15am-12:15pm
Wednesday, April 29
- Redwood City Century Theaters Field Trip (Rooms 8/9/10), 9:15am-12:15pm
Thursday, April 30
- 5th Grade Graduation T-Shirt Orders Due
See the Oak Knoll calendar for more important dates and events
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Message from Mrs. Gracia on Class Placement
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Spring has barely sprung and already we're planning for the fall, but thoughtful planning is one of the secrets to our success. It's hard to believe that it's time to begin our placement process for the 2015-16 school year! Our placement process begins with the classroom teachers, specialists, intervention team and administrators using our full range of expertise and intimate knowledge of our students. The entire Oak Knoll team works to create heterogeneous groups that prevent racial isolation, group to effectively provide services, balance social and academic needs, and ensure that students have a familiar face in the class. There is no reason for parents to gather information about teachers, or lose sleep over placement. This is our job, we know our students and we feel confident in our abilities.
This year we have an optional Parent Input Form, due by April 27.
To read the full message from Mrs. Gracia on class placement please click here.
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Memory Keepsake for Principal Ackerman
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To celebrate Principal Ackerman's retirement and commemorate the years he has dedicated to the Oak Knoll community, we are putting together a VERY SPECIAL surprise AwesomeBox for him! AwesomeBox is way to collect photos, messages and memories from a group that get printed into a beautiful keepsake of custom cards to tell a group story of why Mr. Ackerman is awesome. We would love as many families and teachers to participate as possible to make this a truly memorable gift that will be presented to Mr. Ackerman at the May 15th picnic. Don't miss out to include your tribute! Please add your name and email address here by May 4 if you would like to receive an invitation to participate in this special keepsake gift (there is no cost to you!).
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General Reminders: We have been noticing that there has been an increase in the number of dogs on campus, especially during drop-off and pick up. As a reminder, we ask that you respect our rule of no dogs on campus. Also, with our break coming up, please check the Lost and Found to find all of those missing items. Unclaimed Lost and Found items will be donated to charity at the end of this week.
Portfolio Night Schedule:
- K-2 Multi: May 26, 7:00pm
- Kindergarten: May 28, 7:00pm
- 1st Grade: May 20, 7:00pm
- 2nd Grade: May 21, 7:00pm
- 3rd Grade: May 27, 7:00pm
- 4th, 5th, and 3-5 Multi, June 4, 7:00pm
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All 4th and 5th grade students are invited to participate in Oak Knoll's talent show on June 3. An informational meeting will be held in the gym tomorrow on Monday, April 13 at lunchtime. Students may participate as: talent (either solo or in a group), tech crew, or announcer. Contracts will be handed out at the April 13 meeting and must be turned into the office by April 17, before spring break. If you have questions, please email Jenny Ryan or Cathy Petersen.
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Attention 5th Graders:
Don't forget to order your Class of 2015 Graduation T-Shirt! Orders due to teacher or office by April 30. Also, Save the Date for 5th Grade Field Day - Monday, June 8 at Burgess. Details coming soon!
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Kinder Q&A and Play for Fall 2015 Incoming Kinders
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Kinder Q&A and Play for Fall 2015 Incoming Kinders on May 2, 10:30am-12:00pm
Incoming Kindergarten families (parents and children) are invited to this informal event at the Oak Knoll Kindergarten playground. Come meet other incoming Kinder parents and chat with current Oak Knoll parents and PTO Board members while your children play on the playground. Parents can also learn about and/or sign up for the Kindergarten Summer Playgroups, Kindergarten Yard Duty (Playground) volunteering, Girl Scouts, the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF), and more. We hope to see you there!
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Oak Knoll Gardening Workshop
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Gwen Solomon will host a garden workshop in collaboration with The San Mateo County Master Gardener's on May 2 from 9:00-11:00am. We'll begin the morning in the science lab with instructional time talking about easy summer crops for schools and home gardens and ways to prep garden areas and beds for summer solarizing and and cover crops. Because we are presently in the fourth year of a serious drought and water rationing on the horizon, we will address ways to optimize the little water we have. We'll then move outside to the beautiful learning garden to weed, plant, dig fava beans into the soil and set up solarizing in the beds that won't be planted this summer. Space is limited and registration is required. Please send an email to gsolomon@mpcsd.org and save your space for a fun and informative morning! Refreshments and take homes provided.
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Principal David Ackerman's Farewell Celebration & 2015 Spring Fair
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Join us on Friday, May 15 at Oak Knoll from 5:00-7:00pm to wish our beloved Principal Ackerman well on his retirement! The event will include BBQ Food by BBQ Boy, Inflatable Slides, Bungee Runs, Field Games, Karaoke and lots more!
To purchase tickets online please click here or print out this form and hand it into the office along with a check. Orders are due by Friday, May 8. Sorry, no late orders can be accepted.
We would like everyone to attend, so if you would like to request a scholarship, please email and let us know how many tickets you would like. If you have any questions, including about the school's gift, please email DavidAckermanRetirement@gmail.com.
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Last Tuesday, parents gathered in the gym for the Coffee Talk with Kristen Gracia who was joined by Jenny Ryan, Oak Knoll School Psychologist, and David Ackerman for a discussion on how to talk to kids about race. You can read a recent article on the topic by Jenny Ryan by opening this link. The next Parent Coffee Talk is the last in the 2014-15 series and will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 8:15am in the Gym.
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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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Come Lead the Oak Knoll Composting Efforts
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Are you passionate about composting and interested in leading the composting efforts at Oak Knoll? If so, the PTO would love to have you on our team! If you are interested, please email Stephanie Chen.
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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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Are You IN Run for Education - Early Registration Open!
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On Your Marks, Get Ready - Early Registration Open!Early online registration opens today for the Are You In RUN for Education to be held at Oak Knoll School on Sunday, May 31, 2015. Register prior to May 10, 2015 to secure the discounted entry fee of $25.00. After May 10, the entry fee will rise to $40.00. Choose to enter either the 2.5K (1.5 mile) family walk/ run, or the competitive, chip-timed 5K. Both runs will start at 9:00 a.m. and the course will wind through the streets of West Menlo Park. Consider becoming a Family Sponsor. With a donation of $500 you will receive four race entries, your family or team's name will appear on the race t-shirt and you will be our VIP guest at an exclusive carbo-load dinner provided by our presenting sponsor, Nelson Roberts Investment Advisors. The Are You In RUN for Education is being organized by the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation, as well as the PTO's of the Menlo Park School District: Encinal, Hillview, Laurel and Oak Knoll schools. Funds raised will support our children's education. To register and learn more about the RUN, visit our event website, areyouin.mpcsd.org.
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From the Superintendent's Office
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LCAP Parent Advisory Committee meetingWednesday, April 29, 5:30-7:00pmLocation: MPCSD TERC Building, 181 Encinal Ave, Atherton The Parent Advisory Committee will be to review the Local Control Accountability Plan Draft in preparation for the public hearing on May 12, 2015 at the Regular Board of Education Meeting. Smarter Balanced Information in the Parent PagesThe Smarter Balanced Assessment will begin right after spring break for students in grades 3-8. If you would like more information on the assessment please go to our Parent Pages. MPCSD Water ConservationLast week we announced Menlo Park City School District (MPCSD) will be taking measures to save water per Governor Brown's directive for the first ever statewide mandatory water reductions; here is a list of the actions our district is taking: MPCSD has a modernized landscaping irrigation and plumbing system infrastructure that are very water efficient. The District's landscaping includes drought resistant plants and a synthetic field at Hillview Middle School. In order to meets the Governor's Executive Order B-29-15 to reduce water consumption, the District is implementing the following water conservation efforts:
- Water conservation education for student and staff
- Classroom education and school assemblies
- Water conservation education through posters and newsletters
- Landscape water irrigation reduction and shut off
- Landscape areas to be limited to irrigation only twice a week
- Irrigation to be shutdown and shutoff in certain area
- Signs to be placed throughout the campuses informing the public of water conservation efforts
- Inspection of all school plumbing fixtures and repairs as needed to ensure no water leakage
- No hard-court or building wash downs
- Reduced District vehicle and bus washing
- Meet with local water company personal to explore further water reduction efforts
While MPCSD will do our part to save water, like so many in our State, the cut back in water usage will have an impact on not only the beauty of our landscaping, but it will have a negative financial impact until we recover from the drought. While the cost to our landscaping depends on how long the drought lasts, we believe that it is essential to take steps to support the conservation of California's vital resource. Please know that we will continually monitor our measures and will keep you informed.
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Menlo Atherton Grizzlies Lacrosse Summer League
Local Lacrosse Club M-A Grizzlies is hosting Summer League Tuesday evenings June 23 - Aug 11 at Hillview Middle School Turf Field. Open to all area boys & girls ages 7-15. Affordable, great fast paced fun! Come on out! More info & to register www.menloathertonlacrosse.com.
Hillview Drama Summer Camp
MPCSD will sponsor the 3rd annual Drama Summer Camp at Hillview with productions of The Lion King Jr, June 22-July 2, and Legally Blonde Jr, July 6-July 17. Incoming 5th and 6th graders from Oak Knoll and Encinal are welcome and encouraged to participate as performers or backstage crew! Please go to www.hillviewdrama.org for all the info! Contact Mr. Hairston with any questions!
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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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