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Weekly Post
December 2, 2013
Michael's Message

Did You Know?

 

Seventh grader, Cameron J., was a Broadcom MASTERS finalist after submitting an entry based on his STEM Fair project from last school year, "We're Jammin': Using the Jamming Principle to Build a Universal Gripper."

 

Broadcom MASTERS, a program of the Society For Science and the Public, hosted Cameron as one of 30 finalists in Washington, D.C. earlier in the school year, where he got to present his project and meet President Obama! As a result of his accomplishment, Broadcom has also awarded CMS a grant in the amount of $1000 to support the development of excellence in science, math, technology and engineering. Congratulations to Cameron!

 

Master Schedule Community Information Night - December 10, 6:00-8:00PM in the Annex

 

As part of our strategic plan implementation process, CMS is partaking in a process that examines our master schedule and how we can continue to best support our students and their learning within the context of our new strategic plan. There is a group of staff, parents and students working with facilitator, Co Barry from CreatEdu. The group is using the Design Process to prototype and test schedules for implementation next school year. 

 

At this community night, we will share what we have learned so far from talking to community members, shadowing students, and performing outside research at other schools and analogous industries to learn about best practices. We will also be seeking additional input from community members. This is a great opportunity to gain insight on what is going on at school and participate in the process to ensure all points of view are taken into account. 

 

After this meeting we will begin testing initial prototypes in the community and we hope you will join us again in January to see how the process has progressed and see some of the prototypes that are developed.

 

Michael Corritone

Corte Madera Principal
In This Issue
Safe Routes to School
eScrip and Amazon.com
PTO Fundraiser
Pajama Drive
Star Lab
STEM Fair
Reusable Bags Sale
Community Section
This Week's Calendar
Ormondale * Corte Madera * District
Mon, December 2 (A)  
 7th Graders at Yosemite

5th Grade Class to Chabot 8am 
Tue, December 3 (B) 
7th Graders at Yosemite
Wed, December 4 (A)  
7th Graders at Yosemite

ORM Bike/Walk to School  
Thu, December 5 (B)  
7th Graders at Yosemite

ORM Cultural Arts Assembly-Star Show
Fri, December 6 (A) 
7th Graders at Yosemite

CMS Walk/Bike to School

CMS 4/5 Cocoa Breakfast 7:30am

ORM Cultural Arts Assembly-Star Show
Weekly Post Reminders: 
To submit an article to the Weekly Post, please send it to weeklypost@pvsd.net.  Deadline is Thursday at noon.  See the PVSD website for more information
Safe Routes to School
Final Bike/Walk to School Day of 2013!
Ormondale - Wednesday, December 4th
Corte Madera - Friday, December 6th

Come ride your bike, take the bus, or walk to school on Bike/Walk to School Day and enjoy treats, stickers, spirit points (CMS), and seeing your friends out on the trails!

TURKEY TROT TRAINING WINNERS
Training for the Turkey Trot races took place during lunchtime recess and P.E. for four weeks. Here are our winners:

Kindergarten - Owen D (6 miles), Reese M (4 1/2 miles)
First Grade - Ishan H (9 miles), Ellie R (10 miles)
Second Grade - Leif A (18 miles), Sophia H (13 miles)
Third Grade - Anders B (24 miles), Emie N and Leah N (15 miles)

Ormondale Total Laps: 9,737 laps
Ormondale Total Miles: 1,217 miles!
And every student at Ormondale ran at least one mile! Congratulations to all of our runners, and a huge thank you to Mr. Cullinane and all of our lunchtime volunteers.
Perfect for Holiday Shopping, the Amazon School Rewards Affiliate Program - It Just Adds Up!
Did you know our schools can earn an average of 7% of every purchase made on Amazon with our School Rewards Affiliate Program?   

Let's say you're holiday shopping on Amazon with a shopping cart of say, $300. If you had linked through our rewards program, that would translate to about $21. No much you say. But if 100 families spend $300 on Amazon, that's $2100! If 100 families spend $300 at Amazon every month, that would be $25,200 a year for the kids. It just adds up!

It's simple and free to participate. Simply click this special link (encoded for PV schools) and then bookmark the page. Shop and check out as normal with your own account and you'll earn money for our schools automatically. The next time you want to shop, go back to your saved PV School Rewards Affiliate Program bookmark to access Amazon again. 

So remember, if you're Amazon shopping, go to bookmarks, and click the link!  It just adds up!   
(And make sure you tell your spouse, friends, and family!)
Shop at Honey Bear Trees and Cheeky Monkey Toys...

... to help raise money for the PV-PTO!


We have two easy ways to raise money for the PV-PTO during the holidays.


If you are buying a tree or wreath for the holidays, HONEY BEAR TREES at 955 Woodside Road, Redwood City, or 1579 El Camino, San Carlos or 2495 S. Delaware St., San Mateo they will donate 15% of the sale to our schools!

Simply bring this flyer when you purchase your tree and/or wreath. (If you happen to forget it, there will be extra flyers on the lot). It's that simple!

Redwood City lot opens November 23rd, San Carlos lot opens November 23rd and San Mateo November 28th.

When you shop at CHEEKY MONKEY TOYS at 640 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park between November 25-December 6, 10% of your net purchase will go to our schools. Just tell them you are from Ormondale or Corte Madera.  This includes online shopping as well at www.cheekymonkeytoys.com. As always, Cheeky Monkey offers complimentary gift wrapping and assembly. Spread the word to your family and friends.


Ormondale Home
Kindergarten Pajama Drive

December 2-20th

 

The kindergarten classrooms are collecting NEW pajamas for the Scholastic Pajama Program.  Pajama Program is a nonprofit organization that provides new books and new pajamas to children in need, many of whom are waiting and hoping to be adopted. Since 2001, Pajama Program has donated over one million pajamas and books to children nationwide.  There will be boxes at Ormondale to drop off pajamas in the office, library, and Room 5.  Kindergarten children will be coming to school in their pajamas on the last day of collection Friday, December 20th.  Make a child's holiday season bright!

 

Contact Sherry Andrighetto sandrighetto@pvsd.net

 

Here's What We Need:

*Brand-new pajamas in all sizes, from newborn to adult(Please do not donate used pajamas)

*Pajamas must be complete sets-a top and bottom or an appropriate nightgown

*Pajamas for all seasons, but especially for the winter months.

Star Lab: The Portable Planetarium comes to Ormondale
Be sure to do a little star gazing with your student(s) this weekend!  This Wednesday through Friday, each class will get to view and study the night sky in a portable planetarium set up in the MUR.  Students will see the stars and planets as they actually appear in Portola Valley that very night.  Local astronomer Allan Stern will share grade-appropriate content, covering topics such as constellations, which stars are brightest, visible planets, seasonal changes, finding north, and sunrise/sunset.  Thanks to our PTO for funding and arranging this wonderful opportunity.

Corte Madera Home
STEM Fair 2013-2014

The STEM Fair once again is upon us, and I'm sure we're all excited about seeing the great projects the students produce. Our CMS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fair will be held from Jan 8th - 9th , in the MUR. A science reception will be on Thursday evening, Jan 9th, from 6-7:00 p.m. All projects need to be taken home on Thursday evening. Projects advancing to the County Science Fair will be announced that evening.

 

Project drop-off will be on Tuesday, Jan 7th from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the MUR. Please check the science fair brochure/website for the project drop-off form. This will ensure that all students are credited with the correct project.

 

All students are encouraged to participate in this exciting event. Science Fair is a wonderful way for students to use the Scientific Method to answer a question, or exercise their problem solving and critical thinking skills by making a great invention. Please review the STEM Fair brochure (available online) with your child to review safety precautions and other information.

 

"But how can I help and support my child in this endeavor?" you may ask. I'm glad you did! We need parent volunteers to help the science department judge our wonderful projects for submission to the County STEM Fair. If you'd like to help judge, please contact any member of the CMS science team: Ms. Brown (bbrown@pvsd.net), Ms. Diehl (tdiehl@pvsd.net) or Ms. Burrows (sburrows@pvsd.net).

 

Thanks in advance for your always-appreciated support.

 

CMS Science Department

Reusable Bags to Support 4/5 Learning Service Project
Ready to do some guilt-free shopping for a great cause? We need your help! Mixed Bag Designs is helping CMS 4th and 5th grade classes with our Service Learning Project -- to support four street children in Afghanistan via Trust In Education.


Anyone can support us - all they have to do is shop online at www.mixedbagdesigns.com and use our ID#250566 and 40% of the purchase price will be donated to Trust In Education!  Help us keep our four sponsored Afghani students off the street and in school for another year.

Mixed Bag Designs has tons of products for everyone in the family including reusable grocery bags, travel totes, shopping bags and more! With the recent county wide ban on plastic bags, this is the perfect time to get stylish bags for holiday gifts AND some for your self too.

 

Go to the www.mixedbagdesigns.com and start shopping! Every purchase helps us! Forward this email on to your friends and family too, we need all the help we can get and the more the merrier!

 

Want to have a full color catalog delivered to you? Email Renee Courington and we will drop one off.

 

Thank you!  

 

4th and 5th grade Students of Ms. Fox/Ms. Rhodes/Ms. Gronet


Community Calendar and Events
Give a "sole-ful" gift this Holiday Season

Can you imagine wearing a pair of shoes that are too big or too small?

Believe it or not, many Children in the Bay Area do.

Please join the Portola Valley Girl Scouts along with the Shelter Network help these Children by donating a new pair of athletic shoes.

 

Collections will be taken at the Portola Valley Holiday Fair;

Sunday, December 8th from 10am - 4pm at the Priory Performing Arts Center. 

 

The 6th Grade Girl Scout troop will be there to sell Holiday Sweets, Tasty Treats and collect all donations. All proceeds will help purchase the shoes that these Children have been dreaming about.

 

Give a gift this Holiday Season that will be appreciated every single day!! 
Camp Menlo Holiday Camps
Register now for one-day December day camps at Burgess Pool for kids age 5-9! Each day includes a 45 minute swim lesson and out of the pool, campers enjoy various group games and activities that encourage self confidence, growth, teamwork, and fun! http://www.menloswim.com/menlo/camp_menlo/holiday_camps.html 
Music Lessons 
What: Academic support and/or instrumental music lessons for students in grades 2-8 (specializing in supporting students with disabilities)
Who: Wiatt Grant, M.Ed., Lead teacher at Children's Health Council (previously taught music and special education at Corte Madera School)
When: Available hours 4pm-8pm Mondays-Thursday
Contact: wiattgrant@gmail.com, 650.814.1741
M-A Basketball Clinic
Menlo-Atherton Boys Varsity Basketball Team will be holding a Community Basketball Clinic  December 30th for 4th thru 8th graders from  9 a.m.-12 p.m  in the Ayer's Gym on M-A's Campus.  Sign up on line htt://maboysbasketball.com/communityclinic or contact Coach Mike Molieri at mmolieri@seq.org for additional information.
Christmas Holiday Youth Basketball Camp 
FUTURE STARS HOOPS ACADEMY  Brings you its...  

5th Annual Christmas Holiday Youth Basketball Camp

Hosted By Coach David Moseley & Coach Mal Thurston of

Woodside Priory School

 

Camp Runs Saturday December 21st - Tuesday December 24th

 

RSVP your child(ren) w/ email addressed to Register@FutureStarsHoop.com

Email should include: Name, Age, & Gender of child(ren)

 

Dates : December 21st - 24th, 2013

Time : 9:00am - 3:00pm (December 24th: 9:00am - 12 noon)

Ages: 6 - 13

Location:

Woodside Priory School

302 Portola Road

Portola Valley, Ca 94028

 

Pizza, drinks and snacks available for purchase at our snack bar OR you can bring your own lunch.

 

Please Contact us with Questions or for More Information: Info@FutureStarsHoop.com

 

!! Just $275 for 21 hours of fun and expert instruction!!

*Discount available for siblings and/or referrals*

Bulldog Youth Flag Football Comes to Ormondale!

1st, 2nd, 3rd grades co-ed

Thursdays: 3:00pm to 4:00pm

No scores! No Stats! JUST FUN!

 

Winter Session:

Jan 9th-March 7th 2014

10 classes $250 (includes team shirt!)

Kids will be mixed and placed in age appropriate groups.

 

Register here:

http://www.bulldogsportsandfitness.com/PDF/Bulldog%20Sports%20and%20Fitness%20at%20Ormandale.pdf