theotterweekly
Oak Knoll School News
May 1, 2016 
               En Espa�ol 
In This Issue
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To Do: 
Checklist for Parents 
> Vote On Measures A & C

> Complete optional Parent Input Form by today

> Make a note of SBAC testing dates for 3-5 Grades

> Buy tickets for Spring Family Picnic 5/6

RSVP to Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon 5/20

Register for Schoolhouse Rocks 5K Run 5/22

> Save the Date for Parenting in the Digital Age evening 5/16

Scroll down below for more details on all these items. 

This Week 


Sunday, May 1
  • Last day to complete optional Parent Input Form (see below)
Monday, May 2
  • Last day for discounted entry fee to the Schoolhouse Rocks 5K Run (see below)
  • Puberty Information Night (5th Grade Parents), 6:30-7:30pm, Hillview
Tuesday, May 3 
  • Exploratorium Field Trip (Fujimoto, Lavezzo, Boatright), 8:30am-2:30pm
Wednesday, May 4 
  • Last Day to Buy Spring Picnic Tickets (see below)
  • Exploratorium Field Trip (Chan, Poole, Jagelka), 8:30am-2:30pm
  • Bake Sale for American Cancer Society, Pick-up, By Bike Racks
Friday, May 6 
  • Mother's Day Performance (Fujimoto, Lavezzo, Boatright), 8:30am, Gym
  • Playing With Poetry (Johnston), 9:45am, Gym
  • Spring Family Picnic, 5:00-7:00pm, Big Playground

Looking Ahead  


Tuesday, May 10

  • Blood Drive, 8:30am-12:30pm, Oak Knoll
  • RFEP Ceremony, 6:00-7:00pm, District Office

Wednesday, May 11

  • Roaring Camp Field Trip (4th/5th Grade), 7:00am-4:00pm (please NOTE departure/return time!)

Thursday, May 12

  • RSVP due for Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon (see below) 

Friday, May 13

  • Mini Relay for Life, 9:00pm-12:00am, Hillview
  • Woodside Store Field Trip (Yob), 9:15am-1:15pm

Saturday, May 14

  • Kinder Q&A and Play (incoming Kindergarten), 10:00am-12:00pm, Kinder Yard
Monday, May 16
  • Parenting in the Digital Age, 7:00-8:30pm, Gym
Friday, May 20
  • Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, 11:45am, Gym
  • PTO General Membership Meeting, 1:00pm, Gym 
Sunday, May 22
  • Schoolhouse Rocks 5K Run, 9:00am, Oak Knoll
See the Oak Knoll calendar for more important dates and events 
Last Chance to Vote
Your mail-in only ballot for Measures A and C is due on Tuesday, May 3!  Learn more about the measures at www.shapethefuture.org, as well as how to replace missing or lost ballots.  Be sure to get your ballot postmarked by Tuesday - every vote counts! 
 
2016-17 Class Placements - Optional Parent Input Form Due Today
Today is the last day to fill in the optional Parent Input Form. Please remember 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 process went extremely well last year and we expect the same this year. We appreciate your trust and support in our class placement process and look forward to this work. 

To read Mrs. Gracia's full letter on class placements please click here.

Complete class placement lists will be posted on the bulletin boards outside the school office on August 25.

Incoming Third Grade Class Placement - Multi-Age or Traditional
To the Parents of current 2nd Graders (incoming 3rd Graders), if you have a preference on whether your child is in the Multi-age or the Traditional program for 3rd grade, you MUST put in a request on the Parent Input Form today! If you do not complete an input form we will place your child(ren) in a program. Both programs are subject to lottery based on the program demand.

Parents of incoming 3rd graders will find out which program their child will be in (Multi-age or Traditional) by June 10. 

Traffic & Safety Hazard
If you are dropping off and picking up your children at school by car, you have 2 options only:
1. Join the back of the carline
2. Park legally and walk into school
 
Please do NOT drop-off illegally on side streets near school in "no stopping" areas (eg. at the crosswalk on Oak Knoll Lane in front of school, at White Oak & Oak Knoll Lane). This is a hazard for pedestrians, bikers, and other cars and presents a safety issue. Menlo Park police patrol the area around school regularly and you can get a traffic ticket.
 
PTO Board Slate 2016-2017
The PTO Board has approved the following slate of executive officers for our 2016-2017 PTO Board.  
 
Proposed PTO Board Slate 2016-2017:
President - Janelle McCombs (automatically filled)
Vice President - Christa West
Parliamentarian - Stephanie Chen (automatically filled)
Treasurer - Karen Dobbyn (automatically filled)
Financial Secretary - Renee Bache
Secretary - Lauren Heysse
Auditor - Sherrie Feinstein
Communications - Tamara Russel
The PTO Board Slate will be voted on at the PTO General Membership Meeting on Friday, May 20 at 1:00pm in the Gym.
 
Ollie Salutes - MPAEF Auction
On Saturday night, District parents sauntered over to MacArthur Park in their jeans, fringe jackets, boots and hats and partied at the Wild Wild West MPAEF Auction event! Fun was had by all with mechanical bull rides, line dancing routines, photo booth antics and of course, catching up with old and new friends.

The MPAEF Auction, and the funds it raises, would not have been possible without the efforts of many people across the District. Specifically at Oak Knoll, a big shout out to  Calla Griffith, MPAEF Co-President, who was instrumental in leading and making the donations and online auction happen this year, with 400+ items on offer for parents to buy and bid on. Other Oak Knoll parents who worked on the Auction included fellow MPAEF Co-President Alka Gupta, as well as Teri Bettinger, Jen Birk, Ashley Honerkamp, Amy Redell, Kelly Schmitz, Roopa Shah, Laura Paul, Tamara Russel, and Gina Skinner. Thank you to all of them and all of the Oak Knoll parents who donated parties, experiences, vacation homes and a myriad of other items, volunteered on Auction night, and otherwise contributed to making this year's Auction a success.
 
SBAC Testing Schedule
Here is the Spring Testing schedule or our 3rd-5th graders, also 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. 

Bake Sale for American Cancer Society
Hillview students will be holding a bake sale at Oak Knoll by the bike racks at pick up on Wednesday, May 4, with items all $1.00. Bring some cash! All money raised will go to the American Cancer Society.
 
Spring Family Picnic this Friday
Join the Oak Knoll community at the Spring Family Picnic on Friday, May 6, 5:00-7:00pm, 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 are $10 per person for a meal including a choice of dog, chips and drink and are available to buy online . If you would like to pay by check instead, please download the form here and return to the office to the "Spring Picnic" folder. Please purchase your tickets by Wednesday, May 4. 
 
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. 
 
Please note there are no dogs or alcohol allowed on school campus.

Hope to see you there!  
 
Attention All Parent Volunteers - Come to the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Thank you on behalf of the teachers, staff, and PTO for your hard work this year! Once again, you have helped make this another banner year for Oak Knoll!

To show our appreciation for your efforts and support, all school volunteers are invited to attend Oak Knoll's annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, May 20, from 11:45am to 1:00pm in the large gym. Whether you volunteer in the library, on the playground, at hot lunch, at a community event, in the classroom, as a room parent, as a committee chair, on a committee, or in any way that supports our school and community, we invite you to attend our annual luncheon. At the luncheon, we will also recognize this year's Golden Oak, Continuing Service Award (CSA), Honorary Service Award (HSA), and School Service Award (SSA) recipients.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Thursday, May 12. We hope to see many of you there! 

Blood Drive & Relay for Life
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.  
 
Please contact Nicole Scott  if you have any questions.

Kinder Q&A and Play for Fall 2016 Incoming Kinders
Incoming Kindergarten families (parents and children) are invited to an informal Q&A and Play at the Oak Knoll Kindergarten playground on Saturday, May 14, 10:00am-12:00pm. 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.     

Parenting in the Digital Age - Save the Date
In response to parent feedback in the annual Site Council Survey, Oak Knoll would like to invite all parents to join Mrs. Gracia and staff to discuss parenting in the digital age! Save the date: Monday, May 16, at 7:00-8:30pm in the Gym.

MPAEF News - Schoolhouse Rocks 5K Run

Don't delay! Tomorrow, May 2 is the last day to catch the discounted entry fee to the Schoolhouse Rocks 5K at $30.  After that, the entry fee will increase to $40 per runner. May 2nd is also the last day for Family Sponsors to secure their family's name on the back of the official race t-shirt. To register now go to www.schoolhouserocks5k.com.

The run will take place at Oak Knoll School on Sunday May 22, 2016.  You can enter either the 2.5K 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 Menlo Park. The After Party and Wellness Fair  will occur after the run at Oak Knoll School.  There will be food, family fun and awards.
 
Family Sponsor
Consider becoming a Family Sponsor.  With a donation of $500 you will receive:
  • five race entries,
  • your family's name will appear on the race t-shirt, and 
  • an invitation to the Night Before family party on Saturday, May 21
Volunteer
Interested in being part of the fun but don't feel like walking or running?  Why not volunteer to help on the day? To learn more about volunteer opportunities please email [email protected].

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.

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Thanks to Our Realtor and Business Partners
We 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!

DIAMOND
Nelson Roberts Investment Advisors

GOLD
Chris Lindsey DDS
Pollock Financial Group
Menlo Medical Clinic
DeLeon Realty - Realtor Partner

SILVER
Mary Gilles - Realtor Partner

BRONZE
Peninusla Pediatric Dentistry-Brian Quo
Alkalign Studios
David Barca, Pacific Union Menlo Park - Realtor Partner
Kim and Tim Yaeger - Realtor Partner

TITANIUM
Shadle Construction 
 
Community Sponsored News
AYSO Soccer Registration
Online registration for AYSO Soccer Menlo Park & Atherton starts May 1, at www.mpsoccer.org. Walk-in registration is on May 14 and May 21, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Hillview Middle School library for the fall season. If your children played AYSO in our region before, you can register online and do not need to attend walk-in registration. AYSO does not require tryouts and all participate, regardless of level.

Alpine Strikers Tryouts
Is your child passionate about soccer? We hope so! Alpine Strikers will be holding tryouts for the fall season starting May 10. Many teams have roster openings and new teams will be formed for the youngest age group (boys and girls born between 1/1/2009 to 12/1/2009). Please go to www.alpinestrikers.org for dates and registration. We look forward to seeing you on the field!
 
James and the Giant Peach
May 12-22, Palo Alto Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd.
When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach - and launches an adventure of enormous proportions. BUY your tickets now!
 
Puppet & Magic Show
May 13, 6:00-7:30pm, M-A PAC
All ages are welcome to attend a free Puppet & Magic Show featuring two outstanding Bay Area performers: Steve Chaney and Dante. Steve will delight children with his comedic puppeteering and voices, while Dante will amaze everyone with an award-winning magic performance.
 
Newsletter Details
Please submit announcements and flyers to [email protected] for Oak Knoll events. For the Community Corner, send submissions to [email protected].

The deadline for both email addresses is by noon on the Wednesday 
prior to publication dateGuidelines for submission are available online. 

To read past Oak Knoll PTO newsletters, please visit our archives.