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March 3, 2013
Encinal PTO / La Organizasión de Padres y Maestro
Boletin en espanol, haga clic AQUI
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Principal's Spotlight on Learning
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Dear Encinal Families,
 CONGRATULATIONS Encinal Families - YOU DID IT!! At the 11th hour we reached our 80+% participation rate in the MPAEF drive! This means that all our Eagles will be celebrating with an upcoming extra recess, but more importantly, it shows how much you care about the amazing education your children are receiving. As a staff, we take our role very seriously and work hard to provide the best learning experiences for your children and you are all part of making that happen. Thank you.Now is the time to also provide feedback to the staff about your child's educational experience at Encinal. Our Encinal School Site Council has authored the annual school survey. Please note, this is different than the District survey sent out earlier this week by Superintendent Ghysels. If you haven't already, please complete the parent survey by this Wednesday, March 6th. Your feedback is encouraged and appreciated.Lastly, it's always fun to celebrate our successes while we continue to work on our areas of growth and concern. I can't stress enough the importance of driving, biking, and walking responsibly on your way to and from Encinal. We had two incidents last week that serve as good reminders that both parents and students must follow safety and traffic rules like crossing at crosswalks and careful biking practices. Click here to read more about these traffic safety reminders. We appreciate your extra attention to this matter.Have a great week everyone,
Ms. Burns
sburns@mpcsd.org
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Week at a Glance
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5th Grade Reminder: Outdoor Ed Begins Monday 3/4
 5th graders and their luggage should be dropped off at Encinal on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 8:30 am so as to miss the morning drop off traffic and have the space needed to unload luggage. On Friday, buses will return students and luggage to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints at 1105 Valparaiso Rd., Menlo Park. Parents should pick students and luggage up at the Church at 12:30 pm.
Also, if you ordered a 5th grade Class of 2013 sweatshirt, your student should have received it in their backpacks on Friday so they can wear them during Outdoor Ed week.
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Annual Parents' Survey
Please Offer Your Thoughts to Principal Burns and the Encinal Site Council by March 6th
How is the school year so far for your students? Please tell the Encinal Site Council. Click here to complete the survey any time before March 6.
Please note, this is different than the district survey that was sent out last week by Superintendent Ghysels. Also, it is also important that parents provide feedback every year, so even if you have shared your thoughts in past years, we encourage you to complete this year's survey for each of your students.
The Encinal Site Council is a collaborative committee of parents, teachers, and administrators, mandated at every school by the State of CA. It is responsible for setting strategic direction for school improvement. We do this planning based in part on what we hear from parents in our annual survey.
Every spring, the Site Council conducts a survey to gather feedback. This year, our goal is to receive 500 parent responses to ensure that we have a well-rounded sample from which to draw conclusions about the improvements that must be made in the 2013-3014 school year. All survey responses are anonymous. These responses will be reviewed by Principal Burns, and will be shared with individual staff members as appropriate. In addition, a report highlighting key strengths and areas for growth will be made available on the Encinal School website later this spring.
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Spirit Wear Flash Sale -
SWEATSHIRT + T-SHIRT BUNDLE ($45)!
Starting Today through Sat. 3/9 - Online Sale Only
Bundle ONE sweatshirt* with ONE t-shirt* for $45 (up to 10% savings!) Click here to purchase.
Did you know every Friday is Spirit Day at Encinal? Kids are encouraged to show their Eagle pride by wearing green on Fridays. Buying Encinal spirit wear is a great way to get your green and celebrate Eagle Pride!
*select styles include Navy Hoodie Pull-Over sweatshirt OR Forest Green Zip Hoodie sweatshirt to be paired with Kelly Green Eagle T-Shirt OR Daisy T-Shirt
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Order ChoiceLunch for March
 We have had a small increase in emergency lunches requested at Hot Lunch. Please remember to order your child's hot lunches for March. |
The Encinal Read-A-Thon Starts Next Week!
March 11th-March 22nd - Check your student's green folder this week for all the details
Have your child set a goal, read and raise much needed funds for our wonderful Encinal library. Since we only have two weeks this year, we are hoping you will help your kids set a goal and start asking for pledges right away! We are aiming for 100% participation to raise the money for library books in order to raise the number of books closer to the state standard.
Contributions can be any amount. It all helps and it's so easy for people to support our students with either cash, check or via our website. Click here.
All of Encinals students will enjoy a celebration in April to commend their efforts!
March 11: Come to school dressed up as your favorite character
March 18-22: Donate books Lets all READ to SUCCEED!!!
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TOPS Assemblies - March 14th
 The Women's Dermatologic Society will visit Encinal School on March 14th to present their Time Out, Protect Your Skin (TOPS) assembly to all K-5 students. The program is designed to instill sun safety and good skin health habits at an early age, and incorporates safety education, outreach and materials as part of an ongoing collaboration between local WDS members and Encinal School. Dr. Ashley Wysong and Dr. Latanya Benjamin are our local members and are looking forward to working with the Encinal community in educating our staff and students in healthy skin habits.
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The purpose of the District Council is to foster cooperative relationships among the Laurel, Encinal, Oak Knoll, and Hillview PTOs, the MPAEF, the District and the School Board in order to facilitate communication in the District.
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Spring After School Activity Schedule Is Here!
Check out the new Spring schedule for After School activities. Consider new classes like Speech & Debate, Yoga, Lego Ninjaneering, Vision Tech Engineering, Animation, or Game Design. Or, register for old favorites like Think Math, Bay Area Chess, Wizbots, Mad Science, Mandarin, Art, Hi Five Sports, Flag Football, and One on One Basketball. There's something for everyone - or if not, let us know what you're interested in for next year!
Scholarships are available! Click here for more info.
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Encinal's Garden Program Needs Volunteers!
 Encinal is fortunate to have a K-5 garden program with dedicated curriculum and so much garden space, but we need many volunteers to keep this great program going! We are hoping to recruit 4 to 5 people to co-chair the garden committee, each person will have a dedicated role. A few terrific individuals have already stepped forward and we are looking for a few more volunteers to help with the following tasks for this year and next school year (2013-2014):Garden Maintenance: Volunteers will keep the garden looking good, some garden experience helpful but not necessary, training provided. Volunteer Coordinator: Manage recruitment of classroom volunteers and training, no garden experience needed. Harvest Festival Chair(s): The 2013 Harvest Festival (for 4th and 5th graders) will be a repeat of the Native American theme, volunteers are needed soon to plant and tend crops over the summer and manage volunteers for the September festival. Please contact Kristi Waldron if you would like more information about any of these volunteer roles.
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Encinal-Laurel Family Social & Scavenger Hunt
Friday, April 5, 5-7pm, Encinal
 Calling all Encinal 3rd grade families! Help us welcome Laurel 3rd graders to the Encinal community before they come to our school next Fall. We will have a family social and dinner event including a scavenger hunt to help the Laurel students get to know the Encinal campus. Encinal 3rd graders will get the opportunity to show their new and old Laurel friends around their current stomping grounds.
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The Encinal Talent Show is coming!
Friday, April 19th, Times TBD
Encinal students in 4th and 5th grade are encouraged to participate in the annual Encinal Talent Show. The Show reflects the students' creativity, nerve, uniqueness and, of course, talent!
Acts can be as varied as our students themselves and include bands, singing, dancing, playing instruments, juggling and even comic acts. There are also crew member and emcee roles to be filled. If your 4th and 5th grade students are interested, please have them talk to Mr. Ashfield for more information on how to sign up.
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Traffic Safety at Encinal Reminder!
A friendly reminder to all families to obey all traffic laws and walk, bike, and drive safely to and from school!
Always use crosswalks while crossing Middlefield Road (and all roads) during your school commute. Last week, a parent and child crossed Middlefield in the middle of the street and were almost hit by a car that could not see them. Also, please watch out for cyclists. Last week, one of our youngest Eagle cyclists swerved around a garbage can and came dangerously close to a passing car. Luckily he was fine, but it's a good reminder that student cyclists aren't always thinking about what's behind them when they make their moves. |
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PTO Donation 2012 Tax Receipt
Thank you for your donations!
 Click here to download a tax receipt for donations made to the Encinal PTO in 2012.
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Encinal Shout Outs
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Thank You For Supporting the Foundation!
 A huge thanks to all the families who stepped up to donate to the MPAEF during the Participation Challenge. We are so happy to announce we made the goal of 80% participation!
A special thank you to the Foundation's Encinal School team - Tracy Gray, Jodi Robbins, and Laurie Scott for the countless hours they (and their families) put in to encourage families to donate to this important cause.
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MPAEF News
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We did it! A heartfelt thank you to each and every family that made a donation and demonstrated we are a strong community that actively supports its schools. And kudos to all of our hard-working parents, teachers, principals, and students who spread the word, waved the signs, and kept up the momentum!
We are so proud to be a part of the Menlo Park City School District community -- and hope you are too!
Warm Regards,
Clint Chao, Scott Hinshaw & Lynne Van Tilburg Co-Presidents and Executive Director Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation |
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MPAEF Benefit Auction - April 27th at Cabana Hotel
Get Ready to Celebrate and Raise Money for our Schools!
Introducing "Cheers! Champagne and Wine Tasting"
Celebrate supporting our schools with a toast of bubbly! To kick off this year's auction and party -- and to celebrate 30 years of the MPAEF -- a limited number of tickets will be available for the Cheers! Champagne and Wine Tasting.
Starting at 6:00pm, Cheers! will feature wine and champagne tasting tables from some of the valley's best vintners, hors d'oeuvres, an Italian buffet dinner, and an exclusive wine-themed silent auction as well as early-bird access to the ever popular subscription parties and events. Ticket sales begin April 2, so plan your night and be sure to get IN early.
Whether you can make it to Cheers! or not, auction night is fast approaching. General admission for our April 27 Dancing through the Decades event starts at 7:45pm. Tickets for Cheers! and for the general event will be available on the Dancing through the Decades website beginning April 2.
And the list of auction items continues to grow! Get in on the action and donate today. Every item makes a difference! Contact Karen Dearing (kfdearing@gmail.com)
To Donate: Please contact Karen Dearing directly with your donations or ideas!
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Parent Ed Opportunities
For a complete listing of events,
visit the district's Parent Ed webpage.
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"Scheduling BY DESIGN: How Hillview Middle School is Using Design Thinking to ReDesign School"
Erik Burmeister, Principal, Hillview Middle School
Sunday, March 3, 2013
1:00pm-2:00pm, Hillview Library
During this workshop, participants will see the two new prototypes created for next year's schedule at Hillview and will have the opportunity to provide feedback. Current and future Hillview parents welcome! (Please note: Although this is a pre-conference workshop, we are unfortunately NOT able to offer child care during this time.)
For more information click here.
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M-A Parent Education Series
Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., Lecturer, Stanford University
Thursday, March 7, 2013, 7:00-8:30pm, M-A Performing Arts Center
Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University and a leading expert in the new field of "science-help." Her most recent book, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It (Penguin, 2012) explores the latest research on motivation, temptation, and procrastination, as well as what it takes to transform habits, persevere at challenges, and make a successful change. Tickets will go quickly for this event!
M-A Parent Education Series events are FREE and sponsored by the
Menlo-Atherton PTA and the Sequoia Healthcare District.
Questions? Please contact Charlene Margot, M-A Parent Education Series Program Director, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650.868.0590.
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Common Ground Speaker Series -
"Yes! Gender Matters"
Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 7:00pm, Castilleja School
Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 9:00am, The Nueva School
As one of the nation's foremost authorities on gender differences, Dr. Leonard Sax examines the role gender plays in how we learn and how we handle stress and anxiety. He clarifies the distinction between self-esteem and resilience, examines the lost virtue of humility and explains why today's social media is anything but gender neutral. Parents and educators will learn about his practical strategies for building resiliency and coping mechanisms in both children and teens.
Dr. Sax's books include Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift and Girls on the Edge.
$20 fee at the door for parents; free for educators.
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Family Community Service Opportunities
For complete listings click here |
There With Care is a non-profit based in Menlo Park that supports families of critically-ill children. We are currently serving families referred through Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and we would love your help! We have many opportunities to volunteer directly with our families to deliver meals and groceries or provide childcare for patients or siblings. We also need administrative help sorting donations, helping in the office, or supporting special events. Kids of all ages can volunteer! For more info, visit our website to view our upcoming Volunteer Training Session dates and sign up for a one-time 90-minute session.
Click here for a list of ongoing service opportunities. |
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Local Community News & Events
For complete listings click here
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Summer Camp Information is Here
Click here and check back often - new camps are being added every week!
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FREE Introductory Airplane Flights for Girls and Women! March 4-10 at the San Carlos Airport. The Bay Area Chapter of WOA is offering free
"discovery flights" - short flights in private airplanes over our Bay Area - to girls and women interested or curious about careers in aviation. Register at: www.womenofaviationweek.org/events/usa-california-event-list-registration/
Boy Scout Troop 206's Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., at Trinity Church Parish Hall Church, 330 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, $5 for adults, $5 for two children (ages 10 and under); scouts in uniform eat free!
Speaker: Ms. Graciela Tiscareño-Sato, Saturday, March 9, 5 to 7 p.m., Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. Ms. Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is an ex-Air Force pilot, trainer, and award winning author. The presentation is FREE and open to the Public. Appropriate for students.
GREASE: An Interactive Sing-along Experience! Su nday, March 24, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton. Come in costume with the family ready to sing-along, act-along, and laugh-along to our favorite 1978 American musical. General admission is only $8.00 per person! Purchase your tickets in advance by going to http://tbirdsings-eorg.eventbrite.com/#
March 8 and 9. For more information and to reserve an audition time, please visit www.pytnet.org.
Sports, Classes, and Other Opportunities
Support Group for Parents Worried About Their Children's Reading and Writing Progress, Tuesday, March 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m., in Redwood City. No charge. To reserve a space and receive directions to the support group, email lizditz@gmail.com.
IN TRANSITION Basketball Skill Development for Girls 3rd - 8th Grade and High School, Monday and Thursday 5:30-6:30, March 11 through May 30 at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. This is a no pressure program, with no set commitment level for each player. There will be one development session per week for an hour and one league game per week, where they are allowed to put their development into play. No try-out required. For registration information please contact Ann Tafolla at anntafolla@sbcglobal.net.
Newton Center's Spring Camp, Monday-Friday, March 25-29, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 1100 Middle Avenue, Menlo Park. We will be exploring the cool, creepy, and curiously complicated natural processes right around us here in the suburbs. For registration and more information, please contact us at camps@newtoncenters.org.
Donate your new or gently used long or short clean party dresses or accessories in the Menlo-Atherton High School Front Office at 555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton, now through the end of February.
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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. Just checking to see if anyone reads all the way down here. If so, click here.
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Join the PTO Mailing List - Text "SUBSCRIBE" to 42828
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