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Wednesday, April 20
- 4th Grade Missions & Portfolio Night, 7:00-8:00pm
Thursday, April 21
- Woodside Store Field Trip (Guerra), 9:15am-1:15pm
Friday, April 22
- Earth Day
- Playing with Poetry (Jagelka), 8:15-10:15am
Thursday, April 21-Thursday, April 28
- MPAEF Online Silent Auction
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Thursday, April 21-Thursday, April 28
- MPAEF Online Silent Auction
- SBAC Testing Begins, Dates Vary by Grade (See Below for by Grade Specific Dates)
Saturday, April 30
- MPAEF Auction "The Wild Wild West," 6:30-10:00pm, MacArthur Park
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It will soon be time to start the class placement process for the 2016-2017 school year. Once again, this year we have an optional Parent Input Form, due no later than May 1. There is no reason for parents to gather information about teachers, or lose sleep over placement. Please do not lobby your child's current teacher for preferential teacher choice or placement information; instead fill out the form! This is our job, we know our students, we see the big picture, and we feel confident in our abilities to do this well.
This process went extremely well last year and we expect the same this year. We appreciate your trust and support in our process and look forward to this work.
To read Mrs. Gracia's full letter on class placements please click here.
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2016-17 School Year Calendar
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MPCSD Strategic Directions
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In his most recent MPCSD newsletter, Superintendent Ghysels continued to describe the District's Strategic Directions, this time pointing to the domain of Talent:
Talent. We believe that our people are our best and most valuable resource. Embracing the research that nothing impacts student achievement more than an effective educator, we believe in hiring the best professionals and creating a compelling and supportive environment for them to work. We have a vision to elevate the teaching profession, honoring educators for their perseverance and empowering them to lead. We believe in proactively recruiting and retaining professionals who possess the mindsets and talents that reflect our core values, serve the diverse populations in our schools, and operate based on the needs of students. We believe that all staff from the professional who maintains the building to the teacher in the classroom serve the primary purpose of student learning and thus, must themselves embrace a growth mindset, engage in meaningful collaboration with colleagues, and seek feedback in the pursuit of continuous improvement. Read more about Talent.
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Please be on the lookout for your mail-in only ballot due by May 3, 2016. On the ballot are two measures that impact our schools - Measure A and Measure C. You can find information about Measure A and Measure C online from the Official Election Site of San Mateo County at www.shapethefuture.org. Every vote counts.
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Office Reminder - Snacks & Lunch
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Please remember to send your student to school with a snack for first recess as well as a lunch. Hot lunches may be ordered from Choicelunch.
In an emergency, Choicelunch can provide a lunch for a student. This requires parent and office permission. Please only rely on this in an emergency because the available emergency lunch supply is very limited.
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Upcoming Portfolio Nights & Musical Performances
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Please make a note of these upcoming dates for portfolio nights and musical performances by grade:
Wednesday, April 20 7-8pm 4th Mission Night and Portfolio Night
Tuesday, May 24, 7-8pm Kindergarten Portfolio Night
Wednesday May 25, 7-8pm 1st Grade Portfolio Night
Thursday May 26, 7-8pm K-2 Multi Age Portfolio Night
Tuesday May 31, 7-8pm 2nd Grade Portfolio Night
Wednesday June 1, 7-8pm 3rd Grade Portfolio Night
Thursday June 2, 6-7pm 4th Grade Concert
Thursday June 2, 7-8pm 3-5 Multi and 5th Grade Portfolio Night
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 April 22 is Earth Day, the annual event when worldwide day events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Oak Knoll would like to celebrate Earth Day by trying to have zero waste at Snack and Lunch. This might seem impossible but we know we can do it! Each day at lunch we compost and recycle but we still produce over 3 garbage cans full of trash a day just from snack and lunch. Will you help us celebrate Earth Day with zero trash? Check out this link for great tips.
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5th Grade Graduation T-Shirt Orders
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Fifth Grade Parents! You should have received a half-sheet flyer in your fifth-grader's backpack last week with information to fill out about the Hanes T shirts the 5th graders will wear for their graduation Clap Out on June 14. Please return the form to your teacher no latter than Friday, April 29 with a check made out to the Oak Knoll PTO for $12 For question, please contact Elizabeth Lorenz.
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The Spring Testing schedule is up for our 3rd-5th graders under "School Information" on the website. Please mark the dates on your calendar.
3rd Grade-5/4, 5/5/, 5/6, 5/9, 5/10, 5/12
4th Grade- 4/28, 4/29, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4
5th Grade SBAC- 5/16, 5/17, 5/18, 5/19, 5/20
5th Grade Science- 5/5, 5/6
We ask that you make every effort to avoid appointments and missing school on these days, so that your child does not miss additional class time for makeups.
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The Oak Knoll Spring Family Picnic is right around the corner! Save the date for Friday, May 6, for a memorable Springtime celebration with old and new friends on the Upper Play Yard! Break out your picnic blankets and get ready for a gourmet hot dog menu from Top Dog Catering, bounce houses and inflatable obstacle course, karaoke, face painting, and field games organized by Bull Dog Sports!
Tickets for the Spring Family Picnic will go on sale next Sunday, 4/24, and will cost $10 per person for a meal including choice of dog, chips and drink.
P.S. New this year: Local Menlo Park neighborhood Rainbow Ice Cream Truck will make an appearance at the Picnic! Don't forget to bring a few bucks for dessert. Rainbow Ice cream truck will have a large selection of popsicles and ice cream - perfect to celebrate springtime with our amazing Oak Knoll family and friends.
Hope to see you there!
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Blood Drive & Relay for Life
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Oak Knoll is participating in two upcoming events in support of the fight against cancer. Most people have someone in their circle who has battled cancer. Oak Knoll families we can work together to help stomp out this disease.
Blood Drive:
On May 10 from 8:30am-12:30pm, Oak Knoll will be hosting a mobile blood bank from the Blood Bank of the Pacific. Many cancer patients who are undergoing treatment need blood transfusions. Members of the community who are eligable to donate can sign up.
Relay for Life:
On May 13 Hillview is hosting a mini Relay for Life event and Oak Knoll is putting together a team. This event is from 9pm -12am (the normal relay for Life is 24 hours).
Each kid who participates must have a parent accompany them and remain on the site but the parents do not have to walk. If both parent and child want to participate great, just register each one separately. Each person who is registered and raises $100 will earn a t-shirt.Would you like to join our team? Click here to sign up. The page will say August 6 because that is when the Menlo Park 24-hour relay is, but our event will be on Friday, May 13 at Hillview from 9pm-12am.
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Kinder Q&A and Play for Fall 2016 Incoming Kinders
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Kinder Q&A and Play for Fall 2015 Incoming Kinders on Saturday, May 14, 10:00am-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.
Please pass this information on to any friends with incoming Kinders who are not yet at Oak Knoll.
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Kindergarten Field Day: Tuesday, June 14, 10:00-11:00am
1st Grade Field Day: Friday, June 10, 8:10-10:10am
2nd Grade Field Day: Friday, June 10, 10:35am-12:00pm
3rd Grade Field Day: Monday, June 13, 12:30-3:00pm
4th Grade Field Day: Friday, June 10, 12:30-3:00pm
5th Grade Field Day: Monday, June 13, 8:45am-12:30pm (Burgess Park)
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March Madness Book Battles - Winners Announced
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Winners for the March Madness Book Battles have been chosen in each class and many classes have already sent reps to share their winner on KNOL.
The enthusiasm generated around books was so awesome to see!
To see pictures of ALL the winners, check out Ms. Cebrian's teacher page. Each photo is linked to a website with more information about the book and/or author. Happy reading everyone!
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Carline Reminder of the Week:
Drivers should pull as far forward in the Carline as possible. Your passengers can walk to class from any point in the Carline. Stay in the far right lane unless otherwise prompted by a Carline volunteer and follow the car in front of you as far as possible before unloading. If you notice that the car in front of you is finished unloading and is about to move, wait to unload your passengers so you can continue to move
forward, filling any empty space ahead, before unloading.
Friendly Bike Commuting Safety Reminders:
General Rules
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 Wear a helmet and stop at all stop signs. If in a group, proceed together after stopping. - No riding bikes on sidewalks - walk your bike when on campus.
- Pass on the left (cyclists or pedestrians) when safe.
Morning
- Approaching campus from Oak Ave is the safest route.
- Cross Oak Knoll only at the crosswalk in front of the school. Recently, there has been an increase in parents and kids crossing earlier, which is unsafe.
Afternoon
- When leaving school walk your bike to the crosswalk and enter the road there. If turning left, use crosswalk to cross Oak Knoll before riding.
Look out for a new bike commute handbook coming soon!
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 Wild Wild West Event & Auction MacArthur Park, Palo Alto April 30, 6:30-10:00pm Time's a-wasting, my friends! Best you mosey on over and get your red hot event tickets, on sale here! Let me tell you, you sure don't want to miss out on a humdinger of a party we'll be throwing with good grub, heel-kickin' tunes, and the premier silent auction items that will be available only at the event. Looking at the week's to do list:
- Keep a weather eye out for raffle tickets on sale on all the school campuses this week
- Re-block your cowboy hat
- Git on over to our Online Auction and peruse, muse, and enthuse from April 21-April 28
- Shine up your spurs
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  Schoolhouse Rocks 5K and Community Fun Run Register Today! May 22, 2016 at Oak Knoll Elementary Catch the early bird rate by registering online today for the Schoolhouse Rocks 5K community fun run at www.schoolhouserocks5k.com. Join us for a morning of family fun to raise money for our schools and celebrate the 2015/2016 school year! Choose between the 2.5K Family Fun walk/run or the competitive chip-timed 5K. Following the run, there will be plenty of family entertainment at the After Party and Wellness Fair at Oak Knoll Elementary. Awards, food, music and more. Family Sponsors - Sign-up online to be a family sponsor and receive five race entries, your family's name on the official race t-shirt and an invitation to the Night Before family party held, as the name suggests, on the eve of the run. Volunteers - If you love event planning or are just looking to get involved in the Schoolhouse Rocks 5K, send us an email at schoolhouserocks@mpaef.org. The organizers of The Schoolhouse Rocks 5K are the MPAEF as well as the PTO's of Menlo Park City School District: Encinal, Hillview, Laurel, and Oak Knoll schools. All money raised will support the education of our children. For more information about the MPAEF go to www.schoolhouserocks5k.com. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Thanks to Our Realtor and Business PartnersWe want to take the opportunity to shout out some appreciation to just a few of our many realtor and business partners in the community. Thank you for your support! DiamondNelson Roberts Investment AdvisorsGoldTom Lemieux Associates - Realtor Partner Kaloust OrthodonticsSilverStacey Quo- Mid Peninsula OrthodonticsRGM and AssociatesBronzeDarcy Gamble - Realtor Partner Left BankVivre Fitness and WellnessGold Arrow CampTitaniumRevitalize Integrated Body Systems
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Collage Springs to Life at Menlowe Ballet
April 29, April 30, May 1, MA-PAC
After the stunning success of our recent Nutcracker debut, we are back to work in the studio preparing for Collage. Our new program promises to be spectacular. We have brought together three remarkable choreographers to create three distinct new works, and expanded our company to include 19 dancers, four of whom come to us from a major ballet company. Purchase tickets here, or call 800-549-4849.
11th Annual Big Bear Run
May 1, 9 AM
For the past 10 years, Menlo-Atherton Athletic Boosters has held the Big Bear Run (a 5k fun run) with participants from around the world. This fun community event directly benefits our amazing M-A student-athletes, but most importantly, brings our school and outside community together for a very fun event. Please join us!!!
Kite Day
May 7, 12-3 PM, Bedwell-Bayfront Park - Marsh Road & Bayfront Expressway
Join us at Bedwell-Bayfront Park, the best place to fly a kite in Menlo Park, and enjoy a afternoon with kite flying, food, music, bounce houses, and a hot dog lunch. If the wind is just right, you might see the return of "Mega Fish," a 46' giant kite. Volunteers from the Menlo Park Kiwanis will barbecue the hotdogs while Menlo Park staff and volunteers will help you assemble your kite and get it up in the air.
Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR)
Stanford University Medical Campus
Looking for 8-12-year-old sons and their mothers to participate in the Social Brain Investigation, involving brain imaging with fNIR. Scans are safe, non-invasive and do not use X-rays or radiation. Dates and times can be scheduled depending on participant availability as soon as possible. For your participation, we offer a payment of $30, access to ongoing updates about the study, and upon request, information from behavioral assessment results. Please contact Sharon Bade Shrestha for more information.
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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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