|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
November 2 - November 6
- Specialist Showcase Tours, 1 hour, Various times
November 2 - November 30
- Embracing Our Differences (EOD) - Abilities Awareness Month
Tuesday, November 3
- Election Day - Small Gym Closed
Wednesday, November 4
- PTO Board Meeting, 8:15-10:00am
Thursday, November 5
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Field Trip (Clancy, Bouret, Tom), 1:45pm - 12:00pm next day
Friday, November 6
- Are You In Day for MPAEF Close of Campaign, Wear Orange!
- Tech Museum Field Trip (Becker, Emmert, Murphy, Cline), 8:00am-2:30pm
- San Francisquito Creek Field Trip (Sanchez), 9:00-11:30am
|
Monday, November 9
- Embracing Our Differences - Parent Night, 7:00-8:30pm, Oak Knoll Library
Tuesday, November 10
- Parent Coffee Talk, 8:15-9:15am, Gym
- Kick-off of Growth Mindset Mini-Course
Wednesday, November 11
- NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day
Thursday, November 12
- MPAEF Board Meeting, 8:45-10:30am, TERC
- Embracing Our Differences - Student Assembly: Speaker Dr. Alette Coble-Temple
- Camp Campbell YMCA Field Trip (Bartlett, Nulman, Austin), return 11/13.
November 12-13
Wednesday, November 18
- Embracing Our Differences - Student Assembly: Speaker Eliza Riley
Friday, November 20
- Embracing Our Differences - Student Assembly: Dance Performance by College of Adaptive Arts, San Jose
|
|
|
11/10 Coffee Talk on Mindset & SUPER COOL Car Magnet!
|
Building on our continual work and goals to develop growth mindsets in all of our students, we are offering parents an exciting new way to get involved. Starting November 10, we would love you to participate in a free online mini-course that guides parents through how to help their children develop a growth mindset. Once you complete the course you will receive a super-cool "This family has a growth mindset" magnet for your car! We will kick off this initiative at the Coffee Talk on November 10 from 8:15-9:15am in the gym. Join Mrs. Kessler, Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Scott for an overview of the work Oak Knoll is doing to teach this work to ALL of our students. Along with coffee, you will participate in the online course, engage in conversation, and leave with inspiration, motivation, and a super cool car magnet! Bring a friend, the more the merrier!
|
|
Book a Specialist Showcase Tour
|
Specialist Showcase Tours will be the way to check out how your MPAEF donation is enriching your child's education through Art, Music, Library and PE! Tours will be during the final week of the MPAEF campaign, with many options from November 2-6, and last about an hour. Come shadow our students and see these amazing programs from kindergarten to 5th grade!
Call the Oak Knoll office to sign up for a tour.
|
The Oak Knoll "Ollie glasses" will be back on sale this week! Look out for them at the MPAEF Campaign curbside tables by the gym at these times: Monday drop-off, Tuesday pick-up, Wednesday drop-off and Thursday pick-up.
So if your kids missed out during the last round of glasses, stop by and pick up a pair for $3. While stocks last.
|
|
November is Abilities Awareness Month - Embracing Our Differences
|
We invite the entire Oak Knoll community to participate in a month-long celebration of abilities during our Abilities Awareness Month - Embracing Our Differences, held all November. The purpose of the month is to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of different abilities, and most importantly to see beyond disabilities and recognize the similarities, strengths and abilities of all people. To see the ABLE in disabled, the difference NOT the deficit!
Embracing Our Differences is a reminder that whether or not we have a disability, we all most likely know someone who does. It is something that connects each and every one of us and is important to talk about. A variety of events are planned to engage students, staff, parents, siblings and families of the Oak Knoll community in conversations about disabilities, abilities, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
Each Monday during November Oak Knoll students will be taking part in classroom sessions exploring differing abilities.
Our Kick-off event will be a Parent Night on Monday, November 9, 7:00-8.30pm in the Oak Knoll Library, with two great speakers - Dr. Alette Coble-Temple, Ms. Wheelchair America 2016 and Eliza Riley, (Dis)Abilities Advocate - who will share their experiences of having a disability from childhood through to adulthood, the challenges they met and the experiences they gained. Both speakers will also be talking with Oak Knoll students at two separate Student Assemblies. We are also thrilled this year to have a Dance Troupe from the College of Adaptive Arts perform for the students!
Event Schedule:
- Embracing Our Differences Event Kick Off Parent Night: Monday, November 9, 7:00-8.30pm Oak Knoll Library, Speakers: Dr Alette Coble-Temple, Ms. Wheelchair America 2016 & Eliza Riley, Disabilities Advocate
- Student Assembly#1: Thursday, November 12, Speaker Dr. Alette Coble-Temple
- Student Assembly #2: Wednesday, November 18, Speaker Eliza Riley
- Student Assembly #3: Friday, November 20, Dance Performance by students from the College of Adaptive Arts, San Jose
- In-classroom modules: Every Monday in November - to encourage students to discuss and think about differences and abilities
- Art, Music, Physical Education & Library Programs will be incorporating this theme into their work with students in imaginative and fun ways!
- Abilities Hall of Fame: All month at the library - a look at famous people (some are surprising!) that have disabilities. Open to all - come in and have a look!
- KNOL TV - Embracing Our Differences Theme - various days throughout November
We hope your kids will be bringing home information, ideas and topics for discussion from this informative and fun month!
WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARENT PUPPETEER VOLUNTEERS TO OPERATE OUR PUPPETS FOR THE K-2 PROGRAM - TRAINING PROVIDED AND NO NEED TO LEARN SCRIPTS! Please click here for the Puppet Show volunteer sign up sheet.
For more information or to offer support or volunteering of any type, please contact Elaine Glynn.
|
 Most of us know someone who has had cancer. But did you know many cancer patients need blood transfusions as they undergo treatment? In the last 3 years two MPCSD kids have battled cancer. This year the nephew of an Oak Knoll teacher is fighting this disease. In situations like this we can feel helpless. But we can make a difference. Not just to cancer patients but to anyone in need of blood. Each blood donation you make can help up to 3 people. One hour of your time and you get to make a difference in 3 people's lives. It is an amazing gift.
The MPCSD event will be held at the Menlo Park Center, 445 Burgess Drive, all day on Tuesday, November 3; Thursday, November 5; and Saturday November 7.
The Menlo Park center is open for whole blood donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00-7:30pm and on Saturdays from 7:30am-3:00pm.
Walk-ins are welcomed, but you are encouraged to make an appointment either online or by calling 650-723-7831. The Blood Center accepts donors aged 17+ (or 16 with parental consent). For the full list of donor requirements, visit the Eligibility page of their main website.
|
|
Yearbook - 5th Grade Baby Photos
|
A huge thank you to all 5th graders who submitted artwork for the 2015-16 Yearbook Cover Contest. All 49 submissions were truly amazing! Mrs. Gracia, Mrs. Kessler and Mr. Almquist completed their anonymous selection process and as in prior years, the cover and back cover art selections will be unveiled when the yearbooks are distributed at the end of the school year! All of the drawings submitted however, will be displayed in a few weeks on the bulletin board by the front office. Please be sure to stop by and take a look at the work of all of our incredible young artists!
5th Grade Parents, this week the Yearbook staff will begin gathering your 5th grader's baby photo for inclusion in the yearbook. This is another long-standing Oak Knoll tradition. Please find a single, favorite photo of your child between the ages of 3-18 months - please, no photos of older babies as they get too easily recognizable. We want to ensure 100% participation with this special 5th grade tradition, so please start looking now and submit your photo asap.
You can provide a digital copy (preferred) OR a hard copy (will be returned) of the baby photo:
- Digital photos should be emailed to Andrea Potischman with the subject line "Oak Knoll -- Baby Photo [Child First and Last Name]".
- Hard copies should be clearly labeled and placed in the large manilla envelope marked "5th Grade Baby Photos" in the front office just outside Ms. Gracia's office.
|
 Veteran's Day is approaching and Oak Knoll would like to honor our student's family members who serve or have served in the armed forces. If your family has served in the country you were born in, we would like to honor those as well.
Please send a 5 x7 photo or smaller (do not send originals as the photos will not be returned). Along with their name, military branch, rank, number of years served, tours/stationed and the students name and relation to service personnel and we will display it (this info should fit on an index card). Please see samples.
If you have any questions, please email Nicole Scott with Honor Wall in the subject.
|
|
Poetry and Art Project: Connected
|
Oak Knoll Otters, we want to hear from you! Our theme this year is "Connected" and we are interested in what the theme means to you. We are asking students of any age to write a poem or draw or paint a picture related to the theme of "Connected." Use your imagination and express yourself. Please submit what you have created to the big box in the library marked "Poetry and Art" during the months of October and November, and Ms. Scott and Ms. Ryan might pick your poem, picture or project to share on KNOL!
|
|
Ollie Salutes our Caring & Sharing Committee Co-Chairs
|
Oak Knoll's wonderful Caring & Sharing Committee, headed up by Dayna Chung, Nancy Lieberman, Meg McGraw-Scherer, and Nicole Scott, deserves a huge round of applause for organizing both the Costume Drive and Book Drive last month to benefit the Children's Fund of San Mateo County. In addition to those two opportunities, the committee is in the process of planning and putting together more community service opportunities that our Otters can look forward to, including Cards for Veterans in November and our second annual Vase Drive and second annual Community Service Fair later in the school year. Keep your eye out for these events and more!
|
|
Just 5 Days Remain in MPAEF's Annual Parent Campaign!
With November 6 approaching fast, the MPAEF would like to thank you, the parents, for your generosity and participation in this year's Annual Campaign. For those of you out there who haven't given yet, there is still time to participate in the APC. And don't forget, many companies provide corporate matching opportunities to increase the impact of your donation dollars.
Join the 50% of families who have already given to date and help us support our teachers, specialists and students this year. We are counting on full participation to be able to grant the $3.6 Million needed to fund these amazing programs and teachers. Pledge or donate today at www.mpaef.org.
Yours are the donations that inspire all the stories you've been reading about from fellow parents.
They are the donations that foster musical and artistic talent.
They are the donations that provide for classroom innovation and professional development for teachers.
They are the donations that nurture your whole child, inside and out, mind, body, and soul.
Please understand that whatever amount you can give makes a big difference to our schools, teachers, and specialists, which means you make a big difference in your children's educational lives and their future.
We look forward to celebrating the end of a successful joint campaign and close of MPAEF's Annual Parent Campaign on Are You In Day, Friday, November 6! Send your student to school in orange so that they can be part of that celebration!
|
|
6th Annual MPAEF Gift Boutique
|
 Join us on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 for the 6th Annual MPAEF Gift Boutique at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. 20% of MPAEF Gift Boutique proceeds benefit Menlo Park City Schools. Shop the boutique, and attend one of our signature events:
Thursday, November 12
Sips, Sweets and Shopping (6pm-9pm) - Enjoy wine and sweet treats while you shop the boutique. $30 per person advance purchase - $40 per person at the door - Advance purchase recommended.
An Evening with the Experts: Holiday Party Planning Class (6:30-7:30pm)
Palace Cafe and Catering will teach us how to prepare delicious appetizers and festive cocktails + Mindy Rosenberg of Mindy Rosenberg Design will show us how create a gorgeous floral arrangement to adorn your holiday home. Tickets are $75 and include entrance into the MPAEF Gift Boutique. Purchase tickets.
Friday, November 13
Complimentary Boutique Shopping (8:30am - 2:30pm) -- all are welcome!
Boutique Brunch and Lunch: Enjoy brunch or lunch at the Blue Garden Cafe. $50 per person. Purchase tickets.
Visit http://www.mpaef.org/holiday-boutique for more information or to purchase tickets.
Contact the boutique team boutique@mpaef.org with questions or to volunteer.
|
Have you moved or changed your phone number?
If you moved recently (including temporarily for renovations to your home) or changed your contact information you need to notify our district registrar at registrar@mpcsd.org. Continued enrollment in MPCSD is based on residency in our school district and therefore, every time you move you need to demonstrate residency again. This process includes providing new required residency documents to our registrar. Also, it is very important the District has your current phone numbers in the event of an emergency. If you need to update your address, phone number(s) or have questions, please contact MPCSD's registrar Lois Nissman at (650) 321-7140 x5600 or email registrar@mpcsd.org.
MPCSD Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee: Open Positions
The Menlo Park City School District is seeking potential candidates to fill four vacant positions on the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee: a representative of the business community within the District; a representative active in a senior citizen's organization; a representative active in a bonafide taxpayers organization; a representative who is a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District; or a representative who is a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the School District and is active in a Parent-Teacher Organization or School Site Council. One position is at large. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the School District. If you are interested, please submit a Letter of Interest as well as background information about yourself and the organization in which you are active to Ahmad S. For more information and the full ad announcement please view the MPCSD website. |
Oak Knoll is excited to add an additional yard supervisor during lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in addition to our current staff, to support us providing more varied options for our students and coverage. We are still looking to fill an additional yard supervisor position Tuesday/Thursday 11:40am-1:00pm. If you enjoy working with our amazing students, and are looking for part-time work, please contact Leah Kessler for more information.
|
|
Want to see your Kindergartener in action on the playground? Volunteer for playground/yard duty! We need your help with short 45 minute shifts supervising the kindergarten yard from 10:00am to 10:45am (updated time!) daily. If you can help out once a week or even once a month, please contact Tara Carranza for more information.
|
|
Stanford University's Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research
We are currently looking for male children and young adolescents, ages 8-15, with a diagnosis of intellectual disability, for a treatment study focused on improving eye contact and social skills. If you are interested in participating, please click here or email Annalisa Koch, clinical research coordinator.
Hillview Drama Presents: "The Tempest"
Come join the Hillview players as they re-create Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest. It is a beautiful and poetic comedy of redemption and forgiveness. Performances are at the Hillview PAC on:
Thursday, November 5 at 3:30 pm. This is the student - pizza performance. Tickets are only $5 for students and include a slice of pizza.
Friday, November 6 at 7pm
Saturday, November 7 at 3 and 7 pm
Purchase tickets here.
Adopt A Teacher Who Needs Your Support
Make a real difference for a teacher and his/her students by "adopting" a K-8 teacher in East Palo Alto or east Menlo Park for a school year. Provide the teacher with encouraging notes and/or small gifts of appreciation, school supplies and support for two class parties. Financial commitment $500-600, time commitment very flexible. It's easy and fun to adopt a teacher with friends. Learn more or sign up on the Adopt a Teacher webpage or by contacting Jennifer Wythes Vettel.
New Bike Boulevard Proposed for Safer Biking
The Menlo Park bike commission has proposed a route with dedicated bike lanes that would allow students biking to Hillview and Menlo-Atherton to cross El Camino safely. For more details, see the Palo Alto Daily News story. Parents can help make this happen by emailing City Council. To get the latest on the plan, "like" the Bike Menlo Park FB page.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
