Weekly News From Parkmead Elementary

Every school has an emergency plan. This plan guides our procedures in all types of emergencies from fires to "stranger danger." Over the past several years we have been streamlining our plan so that staff and students better understand their roles and responsibilities during an emergency.

I would appreciate having a parent with some background in emergency planning/response assisting us in fine-tuning some of our response protocols.

DISTRICT COLLABORATION

This week while your students are in art, music, and PE grade levels are collaborating at the District office. This allows for cross-school grade alike teams to work together. District collaboration happens three times a year. This District Collaboration explored ways we can set up our classroom structures and lessons to most effectively deliver the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

HALLOWEEN IS COMING

Our Parkmead Halloween parade will be Thursday, October 31st at 8:25am. This year Halloween is a half day. Kindergartners are dismissed at 11:30 and 1st through 5th graders will be dismissed at 12:20.

No gory, scary, bloody costumes and no weapons (or "look alikes") of any kind. Every year, even with these reminders, some students come in costumes with scary items and/or weapons. We really don't like to ask our students to take off pieces of their costumes. So, we ask parents to work with us in making sure costumes aren't scary for young and tender students.

...HALLOWEEN CAN BE HEALTHY (AND SAFE)

If you are among the wonderful parents who plan class parties, remember that the WCSD Wellness Policy encourages healthy eating habits. We ask that parents support this effort by providing nutritious foods for classroom celebrations and activities -- limiting or omitting sugary, fatty snacks and providing creative, healthy items in their place. There are also numerous students with severe food allergies. Please inquire with the teacher before bringing food to these events. Thank you for your cooperation.

Chris Reddam - Parkmead Principal

Science Night Attendance Survey

Parkmead Science Fair committee would like to survey your interest in attending Science Night in January 2014. The goal of Science Night is to get students excited about science and to think about their Science Fair projects. It will likely take place in MPR 6:30-8:00 PM during a weekday evening.

If there is not sufficient interest to attend, we will not organize Science Night. However, if there is an overwhelming interest, we will invest a significant part of our budget to make it special. For example, we may offer a science show by Chabot Science Center or other science outreach programs.

If you have not already done so, please complete the online survey below by October 31, 2013.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CW7HGK--UwW4BBWAT-AD52MBnF_iyMxgC-Gn0Kn9iU4/viewform

WCEF

It isn't too early to think Turkey! Turkey Trot that is........

Save the Date!

Be part of Walnut Creek's premier holiday events, the FORMA Gym Annual Turkey Trot 5K/10K Run and Kids Fun Run, by participating or volunteering on Thanksgiving morning, November 28th. Last year WCEF earned $20,000! It's a healthy activity to share with thousands of other enthusiastic runners and you will be home in time to get the turkey in the oven!

To register for the race, click here.

To volunteer November 26, 27 and Race Day, click here.

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WCEF 2013-2014 Board Update

WCEF is pleased to announce the following updates to the Board for the 2013-2014 school year. For a complete listing visit the WCEF website.

Check out our October First Fridayand the businesses supporting our schools and students. These businesses have invested in our students' education and are offering special discounts throughout the month of October - just be sure to mention WCEF!

President - Tim Schultz

VP Parent Development (Site) - OPEN

BV Site Reps - Tina Chung & OPEN

MW Site Reps - Tonya Makowski, Samantha Balboni, Krista Peters & Erin Sicotte

PM Site Reps - Catherine Nissen & Harriet Rosen

WH Site Reps - Heidi Gatty, Mai Nguyen-Huynh & Lori Gillespie

Las Lomas HS Site Reps - Lisa Sun, Anne Woods & Mary Joslin

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Do you have family and friends living in Rossmoor?

Friends of WCEF Club: Education Funding Talk at Rossmoor

Do you have family and friends living in Rossmoor who are interested in our local schools?

Please let them know about the Rossmoor Friends of WCEF club meeting at Rossmoor on October 17th at 4:00 pm in Creekside Rooms 1&2. John Nickerson, Superintendent of the Acalanes Union High School District, will be presenting on California's new funding model for education and how it effects Las Lomas High School. For more information please contact April O'Dea at [email protected] or 210-1168.

Red Ribbon Week

Today, the kids sampled a variety of healthy foods. Ask your child if he/she tried any new foods. On Thursday, please have your child wear RED to support a healthy heart and body! Encourage your child to participate in the Walking Club. Prizes will be awarded.

CREAMY CAULIFLOWER HUMMUS:

4 cups cauliflower, steamed or roasted

2 T tahini

� cup plus 1 T extra virgin olive oil

1 lemon, juice and zest for garnish

Pinch of cumin

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pinch of paprika (optional as garnish)

In a food processor, combine cauliflower, tahini, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice an cumin until smooth. Add more tahini or EVOO to taste. Scoop out the hummus from the food processor, and garnish with lemon zest, the additional tablespoon of EVOO and paprika. Serve with fresh vegetables and olives. You can also use orange cauliflower for a deeper color.

Parkmead Carnival - Saturday October 26th 3:00 - 6:00 pm

The BOO-TASTIC Parkmead Carnival is BACK!

Grab your ghosts and goblins & descend upon this year's best of Hallow's Eve carnival. Don't miss out on this longstanding Parkmead Halloween tradition! Harrowing carnival games, Games 2U video van, giant jumpies, classic carnival fare, & The Great BOO! Bakery will dazzle your ghoulies' senses.

It Takes a Village! ... VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Oh no! Say it isn't so! We are markedly short on volunteers for this kid favorite event. The Spook-tacular Parkmead Carnival is a community event that cannot happen without the helping hands of our parents and/or older sibling(s)! Squeeze in a nice short shift in between soccer games or other activities. Every hour counts & time is of essence.
Sign up HERE or fear the wrath of the Ghosts of Parkmead Carnival's past! For questions please contact: Jill Berg at [email protected]

The Great BOO! Bakery

Calling all Patisserie Chefs & Confectioners! Celebrate the coming of Hallow's Eve by joining The Great Boo! Bakery at this year's Parkmead Carnival in their quest to capture all the tasty and visual delights of the season. We are in grave need of Hallow's Eve inspired (& decorated) delights provided by your hands and imaginations... cakes, baked breads (both sweet & savory), cupcakes, cookies, cake pops, muffins, and confections for the "candy BOO-ffet".

Looking for a healthy alternative! We've got you covered! We are looking to include healthy baked goods as well as gluten & dairy free treats too!

Drop goodies off between 1:30 - 2:30pm (location TBD). Please contact Kirsten Cox at [email protected] or [email protected] for any questions.

Reflections

The Parkmead PTA would like to send out a huge thank to all the students that participated in this year's Art Reflections Art Showcase. We will be holding our official showcase for parents and students on Monday October 28th from 6:30-8:00 MPR. Please stop by and chat with our budding young artists and their families. It was a wonderful turn out and the Parkmead community should be so proud of it's talented artists!

eScrip Changes

Change to eScrip Safeway Card Program as of November 1st

As of November 1st, Safeway cards will no longer generate funds for Parkmead programs through eScrip if purchases are made with a credit card. Only cash, check, debit card, gift card, etc. purchases will count towards eScrip.

Reminder: November 1st is the deadline for renewing your Safeway Card through the eScrip. Please take a moment soon to login and update.

Haven't signed up yet? Log onto www.eScrip.com and register your Safeway, credit and debit cards to generate funds for our programs whenever you shop at participating merchants.

If your child is enrolled in Parkmead Community School enter:

Parkmead Elementary or eScrip Group ID - 500040613

If your child is enrolled in PALS enter:

Parkmead Active Learning School or eScrip Group ID - 137607707

Wellness Committee

Physical Fitness

Need a mental reboot halfway through your workday? Take a yoga break. Just 20 minutes on the mat boosts focus and brain function. Researchers found that a single 20-minute session of yoga helped people not only focus, but also absorb, retain and use new information later on. Those who practiced yoga did better on cognitive tests than those assigned a 20-minute session of vigorous aerobic activity.

Go Green - Stop Idling

Every moment you spend idling your car's engine means needlessly wasting gas, as well as rougher wear on your vehicle. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for startup. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, worth around $78.2 billion.

PTA News

Your Parent Teacher Association, the parent group for parents of the Parkmead Community School is operating in high gear during this school year. We are thrilled to have so many parents coming to our meetings at 7:00 PM on the second Tuesday of the month in the library. Keyspot is now providing child care during the PTA meetings so bring your ideas and your energy and let's get to work for our kids!

In addition to a new and improved website, a PCS volunteer opportunity page and tons of behind the scenes efforts, here are a few of the projects your PTA is working on:

New Programs - With the strong support of parents, teachers and Mr Reddam we are very proud to bring Barrett Lindsay-Steiner and Standing Ovations to PCS. Barrett will apply his decades of experience leading children's theater to help students develop into more confidant, eloquent and effective speakers.

Teacher Communication - We are working more closely than ever with our fabulous teachers to find new opportunities to help in the classroom. We are committed to helping them use our financial support in ways that they feel are most beneficial to their class. We are in the process of figuring out how to work with Room Parents or PTA reps from the classroom through our new Room Parent Liaison.

Social Events - Let's put the Par T in PTA. A Party that Cooks, Parent Playground Olympics, a PCS Cookout and a Kindergarten Decompression Party are just a few of our ideas for Parent Socials.

Parent Education Events - What do you want to know? How can we help? Our short list now includes: Nutrition Education, Keeping Kids Safe, Internet Safety and Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse (just making sure you are paying attention).

Financial Clarity - We are taking the lead and working very closely with teachers, Mr. Reddam, the PTO and PERC to help make the donation experience clearer and more streamlined. From classroom fund donations to whole school projects we are looking forward to bringing the financial picture into greater focus for all.

Keep an eye on the display case by the office for meeting agendas, ideally posted 10 days before the meeting and join us in the Library at our next meeting.

Legislative News

Leg Up from your PTA Legislative Rep.

A. New Assessment Test Aligned with Common Core State Standards

Assembly Bill 484 Signed into law on October 2, 2013, suspends mandatory school testing for a year as California transitions to a new statewide assessment program aligned with the Common Core state standards. The State Board of Education will request a waiver from the federal government asking to be non-compliant with regulations for student testing for one year.

Here is the Bill:

http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/13-14/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_484_bill_20131002_chaptered.htm

B. Free Education Protection - Understanding Assembly Bill 1575

Last week the Principal published an informative piece about AB1575. Here is some extra helpful information

1. Article IX, Sec. 5 of California's Constitution, states: "The Legislature shall provide for a system of common schools by which a free school shall be kept up and supported in each district at least six months in every year, after the first year in which a school has been established."

2. A class action lawsuit, filed by the ACLU in Sept. 2010, accused state education officials of operating by "winks and nods" as "public school districts blatantly violated the free school guarantee" in the State Constitution.

3. Assembly Bill 1575 signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown resolves this lawsuit

4. To understand the constraints under which schools must now operate within this law when asking for money from parents and students, take a look at the ACLU guide which explains by Q & A what is going on.

http://www.lbusd.org/cms/lib2/CA01001643/Centricity/Domain/535/AB-1575.pdf

5. The following link may also be helpful. http://www.edsource.org/today/2012/gov-signs-off-on-free-public-education/20595#.UluSORbti04

Community Information and Flyers

These flyers are updated on a weekly basis. Click here to find district flyers and to download the information that interests you.

e-News Submission Guidelines

Deadline for Weekly eNews is Monday at 5:00 pm
Send all weekly eNews submissions to [email protected]
Copy Principal Chris Reddam ([email protected] ) on all submissions
Articles should be submitted in the body of an email - not formatted or in another file
Attachments cannot be included in the eNews, but articles can be linked to a website
Please provide all necessary links for images and websites
Articles are run for one week, submit a new article for resubmission if needed

Community information must be sent to the District Office for approval. Please click here for the procedures.