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December 9, 2012
Encinal PTO / La Organizasión de Padres y Maestro
Boletin en espanol - haga clic aqui
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Week At A Glance
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Safe Moves Presents Commute Tips, Coffee & Treats
Monday, December 10, 8:30 a.m, Small Multi
After dr op-off, stick-around for coffee and nibbles and get your toughest commute issues addressed. Want to bike in the rain? Want to learn how to teach your kids safe commute habits? Safe Moves, the organization that leads some of the district's great bike rodeos and safety assemblies, has a special program for parents.
Coffee and treats served starting at 8:10am. Program starts at 8:30.
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Bring Your Presents for the Encinal Giving Tree by Dec 11th
We are so grateful for the outpouring of support before Thanksgiving to our Encinal families in need. Participating in Encinal's Caring & Sharing Gift Drive is another great way to help make the holidays special for our Encinal families.
The Gift Drive will run from November 26 - December 11. How you can help:
- Choose an ornament from the Giving Tree located in the front office after checking the list under the tree for the child's request. On the back of the ornament is a family code (e.g. 4E).
- Enter the family code, your name and contact information on the Giving Tree Intake Form (located on the table next to the Giving Tree) and ask Pam or Kat in the office for the corresponding label.
- Mark your gifts with the appropriate family code. Bring your UNWRAPPED gifts back to Encinal and place in the container in the front office by Tuesday, December 11.
You can also donate funds online here.
Thank you so much for your help and support
during this Holiday Season!
Questions? Please contact Amy or Julie, Caring & Sharing Coordinators
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Introducing the Encinal Spelling Bee!
First written round on Dec. 17, Final on Jan. 11 
Calling all super spellers - Encinal School is participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year! On December 17, all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be given the opportunity to participate in a written Spelling Bee. The top finishers at each grade level as well as overall best spellers will be invited to participate in Encinal's first ever Oral Spelling Bee on January 11.
To prepare for the Bee, students can study words from the attached "2013 Encinal Bee Study List". The list contains a subset of the words from the 2013 Scripps Spelling Bee recommended study lists for grades 3 through 8 which will be used in the Encinal School Spelling Bee.
For more information, email one of the class representatives:
3rd grade: Katie Ferrick
4th grade: Mary Sapountzis
5th grade: Lynn Cox
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Mark Your Calendar for the Encinal Winter Sing
Wednesday, December 19th  Families and friends are invited to join Encinal students in the annual Winter Sing. Come hear the great holiday inspired songs your student has been learning to sing and play this year. Everyone will be invited to sing along. Check out the song list along with lyrics and MP3 downloads here. Are you a guitar or ukelele player? Bring your instrument and play along! Winter Sing Times by Class9amKinder - Merk, Jonas 1st - Campbell, Mathia 2nd - McCann, Barrera 3rd - Leff, Mar-Hill, Napolitani 4th - Sanchez, Collier, Stroh, Preston 5th - Hendrickson, Camper, Booth and Best/Schmidt
10:45am
Kinder - Callahan, Rocha-Nestler
1st - Chin, Nelson/Sullivan
2nd - Hatfield, Bienaime
3rd - Bulkin, Vargas
4th - Walton, Ward, Naishtut, Ybarrola
5th - Clemo, Meister and Mattos
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Check out the New Winter After-School Activities
After-School Activities for the Winter (January - March) are now open for registration. Click here and scroll down to see the Winter 2013 schedule. We have several new vendors and offerings for the new session, including:
- Yogi Birds
- Legos
- Young Rembrandts Art
- Hope Theater
- Dance Expressions
- Speech and Debate
Scholarships are available. Click here for more info. |
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Calling All 5th Grade Families:
Important Info on Ship Trip & Outdoor Ed
 It's time to register for Ship Trip & Outdoor Ed, two wonderful enrichment programs for Encinal 5th graders. Please click here to download registration and payment details, for Ship Trip (due Jan 11th) and Outdoor Ed (due Feb 1st.)
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Encinal Shout Outs
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Thank You to the PTO Staff Appreciation Team!!
A huge thanks to Tatjana Faruqi, PTO Staff Appreciation Coordinator, and her team of parent volunteers including Prascilla Crook, Jamey Hawkins, Elizabeth Shane, Anne Kelly, Katie Ferrick and Carolyn Lynch. They provided three days of delicious lunches for the staff during last week's Minimum Days. The teachers and staff greatly appreciated the food and all the care that went into these lunches.
And a special thank you to Su Hong of Menlo Park for providing a significant discount for the Chinese food during one of these lunches.
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Congrats to the November Eco Raffle Winners
 Congratulations to the November Eco Raffle Winners - Whitney Allen, Kate Trevor, David Blecherman, and Elisabeth Leon. These students entered the monthly Eco Raffle for students who go green with their school commute by walking, biking, or carpooling to school. If you are an Eco Commuter, be sure to enter your raffle ticket. Tickets located right outside of the main office.
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MPAEF News
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Help Support Our Schools This Holiday Season!
What's one of the most important gifts you can give this holiday season? A donation to the MPAEF to support our schools! And now, there are just 22 more days until 2012 comes to a close! With the end of the calendar year comes two important deadlines related to charitable contributions, like your donation to the MPAEF. If you've waited to make your donation, please don't wait any longer!
Earn a 2012 Charitable Contribution Deduction
The Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation is a non-profit organization. Your gift is fully tax-deductible in accordance with IRS regulations. When you make a donation, you will receive written documentation for tax purposes.
Qualify for Employer Matching
Many companies will match their employees' charitable donations, which extends your donation considerably. You can find out if your company matches by clicking here or contact your company's HR representative. Many companies require that you submit your request for matching before the end of the calendar year. Don't miss out on this incredible employee benefit by donating and requesting the match before it's too late.
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JOIN US FOR THE SPRING AUCTION INFORMATION COFFEE!
Tuesday, December 11th, 8:30-10:30am at the TERC
This year's auction celebrates 30 years of the MPAEF! Please join us to help make the auction a smashing success in honor of this milestone. With parents representing all four schools uniting together, the 2013 auction will be one for the ages. Whether you have two hours to give or are a seasoned volunteer, we have a role for you (before, during, or after the event).
Please stop by for coffee to learn about how you can get involved or, if you are already involved, to speak to potential volunteers. All are welcome! Tuesday, December 11, 8:30-10:30a, TERC building, Encinal campus.
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Shop Your Favorite Stores at the eScrip Online Mall & Earn Money For Our Schools
This holiday season, shop online at your favorite merchants and earn money for our schools through the eScrip Online Mall. Popular merchants like Amazon, Nordstrom, Apple, Target, and many more will donate up to 10% of purchases. Get started by registering for eScrip here, then each time you shop, start here at the eScrip Online Mall. Or automatically track and earn by downloading the Auto Earn app here.
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Parent Ed Opportunities
For a complete listing of events,
visit the district's Parent Ed webpage.
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How to Raise Your Teenager Without Losing Your Mind
-- Last Two of A Three Part Series --
Come hear our own Hillview principal, Erik Burmeister, as he provides valuable tips and insights into raising teenagers. During the course of three different sessions, Erik will discuss a variety of topics including gender differences, brain development, rewards and consequences, setting boundaries and Internet reality and safety. Attend as many as you like - each part will cover a different set of topics.
Part 2: Monday, 12/10 - 6:30-8:00 pm - Hillview PAC
Part 3 with Q&A: Thursday, 12/13 - 10:00-11:30 am - Hillview PAC
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How can we help our kids thrive? What is most important in helping my child succeed in school academically AND in life? How can I show my child I support their efforts and dreams? These questions and more will be answered in a 6-week parent study group series, Take It Personally, facilitated by Linda Silvius of Project Cornerstone.
Here are some of the comments from Encinal parents who attended the first session:
"The Project Cornerstone class has been the best 9 hours I have spent learning how to be a better parent and friend. Being a parent is complicated. This class and the network I have built from this class have given me the tools and the ideas I now rely on every day."
-Parent of Kinder & 2nd grader
"This class taught me simple and effective ways to help kids be successful. I used to think this kind of work took specialized training, required some kind of sixth sense or enormous amounts of time. Not so! Each little positive interaction I instigate builds assets that kids need to thrive. Linda Silvius reminded us repeatedly that our goal is to 'create 1000's of moments in time where kids feel valued, loved and respected.' I totally embrace that challenge and feel it is within my capability to make it happen."
-Parent of 3rd & 7th graders
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"Mindset - An Evening for Parents" with Dr. Carol Dweck
Tuesday, January 29, 7 p.m., Hillview Performing Arts Center
The Friends of the Menlo Park Library present a special evening with Stanford Psychology Professor and Author Dr. Carol S. Dweck, PhD, whose work has demonstrated the role of mindsets in student motivation and has shown how praise for intelligence can undermine motivation and learning. For more info on this event, click here. To register, please click here. |
Family Community Service Opportunities
For complete listings click here |
| Looking for a way to get your kids involved in community service? Check out these opportunities
Riley's Place - Our Youth Volunteer Program offers kids aged 8 through 15, wonderful and meaningful opportunities to volunteer. Children gain hands-on experience and learn how to feed, exercise, groom, pet, socialize and care for all our animals, most of which were rescued. At Riley's Place, youth are very involved, have a whole lot of fun, and take pride in being the touchstone of our organization. For more information, contact Renette Rambeau at renhaugh@comcast.net.
Lytton Gardens - Whether you want to volunteer on your own or with a group, we can help you use your time and talents to enrich the lives of our seniors. Volunteers bring friendship, intellectual stimulation, and entertainment to the residents of Lytton Gardens. For more info, contact volunteer@lyttongardens.org.
Questions? Know other service opportunities? Contact Kari Riedel
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Please Donate Gently Used Soccer Uniforms
 The PTO Caring & Sharing committee is working with Menlo Park/Atherton AYSO Region 109 to collect slightly used uniforms and equipment to pass on to less fortunate soccer players and organizations who could use them to start a team of their own.
If you would like to help, please gather your child's gently used soccer gear (soccer jerseys, shorts, socks, shin guards and cleats). Please bundle any sets with rubber bands or string and drop them in the AYSO box in the Encinal's office by December 14th.
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Donate A New Toy to Sick Children at the Ronald McDonald House
The 4th & 5th grade student members of the Accepting Our Differences Student Advisory are conducting a holiday toy drive for the Ronald McDonald House. All donations go to kids who are sick with diseases or to kids who are stayin  g at the "House." Our Encinal students are working hard to make a difference in our community. Please help by making a donation of a new toy. You can drop off your donation in one of the many red boxes located around the Encinal campus or at Room 21 by December 14th.
To learn more about the Advisory program, click here. Questions? Please contact Karen Strohmaier, Teacher Representative for the Accepting Our Differences Advisory |
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Local Community News & Events
For complete listings click here
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Community Events & Speakers
"The Wind in the Willows" from Palo Alto Children's Theatre, December 6-21 at Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. A faithful adaptation of the classic novel with a touch of Christmas added to the plot. Call (650) 463-4930 for more information.
Sports, Classes, and Other Opportunities
Menlo-Atherton Little League, Registration for the upcoming 2013 Little League Season is open from now until January 13. Late fees and wait lists will apply after that. To register, follow this link.
Kidizens Winter/Spring Program, January-May 2013, 4546 El Camino Real, Ste. B9, Los Altos. Kidizens inspires kids to become good citizens and future leaders, one LEGO brick at a time! This highly interactive social learning framework inculcates analytical thinking, strategic problem solving and develops public speaking and leadership skills. Please visit www.thekidizens.com or call (650) 384-0412 for more information.
M-A Holiday Basketball Clinic, for 4th-8th Grade Boys, Thursday, December 27, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Menlo-Atherton Ayers Gym. All basketball abilities are welcome. Please sign up on the M-A Boys Basketball website at www.maboysbasketball.com/communityclinic, and bring the liability form (downloaded from the website) and a $30 check, made out to M-A Boys Basketball, to the clinic.
Ragazzi Music and Movement Class, Tuesday sessions, Jan 15 - March 19, Redwood City. An engaging Kodály-based class for active young boys (ages 5-7) with little or no previous musical experience - no auditions necessary. $20 per class. Register online here.
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Encinal PTO Communications
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This email and the Encinal School web site are delivered to you by the Encinal PTO Communications committee. For more information about Encinal School, please visit www.encinalschool.com.
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Join the PTO Mailing List - Text "SUBSCRIBE" to 42828
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