Newsletter of the Stanley PTA
September 11, 2016
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Upcoming Events &
Important Dates:
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Back to School Night (Parents Only). Principal's Presentation at 6:30PM in the Gym. Class visits at 7:00PM.
September 21
Parent Ed Night
"Finding Your Words"
6:00PM - 8:00PM, Library
September 27
Parent Ed Night
"Middle School 101"
7:00PM - 8:30PM, MUR
September 28
Picture Make Ups
Lunch, MUR
October 10
NO SCHOOL
Staff Development Day
October 20
EARLY DISMISSAL at 12:00PM Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 21
PTA General Meeting/Friday Forum 8:45AM, Library
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Hello Stanley Families,
I am looking forward to seeing you on September 13th for Stanley's Back to School Night. We will begin at 6:30PM in the Stanley gym, where I will give a brief overview of Stanley. Then at 7:00PM classrooms will open for you to follow your child's daily schedule and meet their teachers.
We have an exciting Parent Education event on September 27th, where I will be partnering with our counselors to discuss tools to best support your thriving middle school student(s). This is targeted to all parents of adolescents who are starting middle school. We all know how challenging this time can be for families, and we hope to give insight and start conversations around effective support of our adolescents. Here are the details:
Finally, as school settles in, please remember we have many programs here on campus to support students with their academic progress. Afterschool Homework Help and Math Help are two of the most popular. Students can finish homework and get their specific questions answered by Stanley staff. For more information, please check the Stanley website at https://sms-lafsd-ca.schoolloop.com/
David Schrag
Principal, Stanley Middle School
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PTA Announcements and Events
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PTA PRESIDENT'S LETTER
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Dear Fellow Parents,
School is officially underway and routines have likely been established, some of which we embrace enthusiastically, some that may make us think, summer - oh, man, I miss you! Although the sunny days of summer have been with us this week, "homework", "carpool", and "packing lunches" are now, once again, a daily part of our vernacular. I hope that your students are adjusting and thriving - and you, too!
The PTA has been busy reaching out to volunteers, updating our website, kicking off the Stanley Café, preparing for Wildcats on Stage, having meetings and planning for a terrific year. We held our first General PTA meeting in conjunction with the Back-to-School Coffee. It was so exciting to see so many of you, both new to our school and veterans alike! Thank you for coming and thank you for being engaged in our school community! We were pleased to approve our PTA calendar and budget for the year, both of which you can view on the Stanley PTA website at stanleypta.org. We will remind you of upcoming meetings (there are only four); we look forward to seeing you there.
Please volunteer your time as a Campus Cruiser and help our chair, Charlotte Archer. It's fun to walk around and see what your child and others are doing! We need volunteers to cruise around campus during lunch. Please bring a friend and sign up to be a Campus Cruiser at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0448a4ab2f4-stanley2.
Also on Wednesdays, we have the Stanley Morning Café run by volunteers. You would make Stephanie Snyder, our amazing chair person, very happy if you'd sign up to help. Bring a friend and your Stanley student as well. If you can't volunteer at Stanley on those mornings, offer to pick up and deliver the nutritious food the Café serves. Please sign up to help at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4ba5a629a31-stanley.
A special thank you to Jim Freeby, our Webstore chair, for updating our online registration system for Wildcat Day, and Christina Englebrecht, our webmaster for the PTA website, who have been working behind the scenes to keep our site current. Please visit the Stanley PTA website to see what's happening, know who to contact and answer questions you may have.
Lastly, if you joined the Stanley PTA and made a donation to the Wildcat Fund during the Wildcat Day registration process....thank you! If you haven't already, it isn't too late. Please visit the Stanley PTA website to make a donation.
I look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 13th at 6:30!
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Get Your Stanley Spirit Wear!
Sales of Spirit Wear Extended to Tuesday, Sept 13th!
Wear your school spirit with Stanley Wildcat gear! There's still a chance to order a Stanley sweatshirt (photo below) or other clothing! The deadline has been extended, but don't delay! Show your Stanley love by ordering today!
To order: https://stanleymiddleschool2016.itemorder.com/sale
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Stanley and Lafayette School District
Announcements & Events
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Middle School 101
Sharing the Keys to Success
in Middle School and Beyond
When: Tuesday, September 27th, 7:00 - 9:00PM
Where: Stanley Middle School, MUR
Join Principal, David Schrag and the Stanley Counseling Department for an interactive presentation aimed to familiarize new parents to the tools necessary for supporting a thriving student. -
The whole child perspective
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Effective school & parent communication
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School Loop & vital Stanley resources
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Navigating our digital world
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Look At What We Do:
Annual Giving Campaign
We are on our way to making Stanley a 100% participation school. This year's goal of $2.935 million will support current programs and provide funding for new initiatives like teacher development and technology. Please consider giving the suggested ask of $800 per student or championing your child's education at any level. All donations make a difference! Donate now.
Grab a Friend & Volunteer
at the Art & Wine Festival
 Did you know that LPIE is the major beneficiary of the Art & Wine Festival? Parent volunteers are needed to staff the central beer and wine ticket booth. Please consider coming out and volunteering for a short shift on either 9/17 & 9/18. Click here to sign up.
Be sure to stop by the LPIE booth in La Fiesta Square where we'll have crafts and games for the kids. Hope to see you there!
Questions? Comments? Contact the LPIE Team at Stanley:
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The Yearly Washington, D.C. Trip
(School Supported but not School Sponsored)
For the 21st year, Worldstrides, Ms. Shegoian and Mr. Rasmussen are offering a tour of Washington, D.C., including a trip to Gettysburg. The D.C. trip will be during Spring Break, April 2-7, 2017.
Air travel, buses, hotels, three meals a day, admissions, tour guides, chaperones, night security, and a panoramic picture are all included. All eighth graders are welcome, but space is limited.
Information packets are available in the office. Questions can be directed to Victoria Shegoian, 8th Grade History/Leadership Teacher (927-3530 x1407) or vshegoia@lafsd.org.
An informational meeting will be held Tuesday, September 13th, in the Library at the conclusion of Back to School Night. If you have already registered, you do not need to attend.
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DRESS CODE
Choosing the appropriate attire for specific occasions is an important life skill. School is a place of work and students should wear clothing which is suitable for the pursuit of learning. In order to support our students in making appropriate selections as they dress for school, we have identified straightforward and gender-neutral rules pertaining to attire. We expect parents to monitor and help enforce the dress code according to the following simple guidelines:
- Students should dress in clothing that is well-suited to a school environment
- Clothing will cover torso, midriff, and backside and have sleeves or straps
- Clothing length should have at least a 12 cm inseam and be free of any holes or tears which expose skin above this line
- Clothing should not obstruct a student's vision or obscure their identity
- Clothing that depicts any drug, alcohol, sexual reference, derogatory or inappropriate message or image is prohibited at Stanley Middle School
If a student's attire is inappropriate or distracts from the learning environment, the student will be sent to the office to change into suitable clothing. The first offense of the dress code will result in a warning. Continued violations of the dress code will result in disciplinary consequences such as a lunch detention. The administration reserves the final judgment on the appropriateness of dress at all times.
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ATTENDANCE: Students are required to attend all classes regularly. Full day absences must be verified by a parent/guardian by calling the attendance line at 927-3548 before 9 a.m. In the event that your student is absent, please check School Loop for makeup assignments. Communicable diseases must be reported.
LATE/TARDIES: If a student is frequently late or tardy to class or school, there will be consequences. This may include lunch or after school detention.
APPOINTMENTS: If you are picking up your child for an appointment, please come to the office 10 minutes early to allow time for the student to report to the office. If your child is walking to an appointment, you must send a note stating the time your student should depart for the appointment and that your child has permission to walk there. If your child is being picked up from school during school hours by someone not listed in your contacts, you must send a signed note to the office that morning including the student name, time of pick up, and full name of the person picking up.
INDEPENDENT STUDY: If your child will be out of town for five (5) days or more, please inform the office at least two (2) weeks prior to departure and request an Independent Study Contract. The parent/guardian and student must sign and date the forms and the student must complete all requirements.
SARB (School Attendance Review Board): Students who accrue excessive absences or tardies will receive communication from the school in order to support student attendance. 8 ATTENDANCE: EFFECT OF ABSENCES ON SCHOOL FUNDING: Changes in the law eliminated funding for absent students, which means every time a child is not in school, regardless of the reason, the district loses funding. Last year, Lafayette School District lost $51 per child for each day missed due to unexcused absences. That added up to $55,896 of lost revenue for Stanley and almost $265,000 throughout the district. Next year, the district will lose $52 for each absence. Students benefit from attending school regularly. We appreciate you making every effort to ensure your children attend school every day.
MEDICATION: California Education Code Section 49423 regulates medications at school. Medication (including over the counter drugs) cannot be given at school unless a Permission to Administer Medication form is completed and signed by a physician and a parent/guardian. This form is available in the office and must be updated each year. Please do not send any medication to school with your child. All medications, with the exception of inhalers, EpiPens, and diabetic equipment and supplies, must be dispensed in the school office. Students are not allowed to carry medicine or to self-medicate.
ARRIVAL TO AND DEPARTURE FROM SCHOOL: Stanley wants students to arrive safely to school, and to home at the end of the day. When arriving to or leaving campus, all students should: ~ Listen to and follow directions for crossing guards and school staff ~ Use caution entering parking lots ~ Follow traffic signals and obey traffic safety laws ~ Cross streets carefully by yielding right of way, using crosswalks, and being on alert for vehicles, bikes, and pedestrian traffic ~ Use sidewalks and trails whenever possible. Those on bikes, scooters or skateboards must: ~ Walk their vehicles on campus and in crosswalks leaving campus. ~ Wear fastened and properly fitting helmets. ~ Yield to pedestrians and be mindful of traffic. Students are required by law to wear helmets when riding, and obey traffic signals. Bikes, scooters, and skateboards, or anything with wheels ridden by students not properly wearing helmets or following safety rules will be confiscated. Students must lock their bikes in the bike cages during the school day, and may not loiter at the bicycle cage. The school will not assume responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Students may not ride motorized scooters, mopeds or other vehicles to or from school, or bring them onto campus. Students are not allowed to ride any mode of transportation through or around school grounds at any time (including weekends). Any violation will result in confiscation and parents will be requested to claim the item. This policy is enforced by all district personnel and the Lafayette Police Department.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Electronic devices such as smart phones and tablets, must be turned off and may not be displayed, activated, or used at any time during the school day, unless under the discretion and direction of a classroom teacher, administrator, or district staff. Students can use the school phone in the office at break, lunch, or anytime when feeling ill. Any transgression will result in confiscation of the device for the remainder of the day and an after school detention. Students assume all responsibility for breakage, theft, or loss of any device brought on campus. At the start of the school year, each student will sign and agree to the rules outlined in the Student Responsible Use Agreement for all devices and on-line activity.
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SPORTS EVENTS AT CAMPOLINDO AND ACALANES
Middle school students attending sporting events at Acalanes and Campolindo High MUST be accompanied by an adult. Parents or other adults will need to arrive with the students and supervise them throughout the event.
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High School Announcements
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Parent Ed Opportunity at
Acalanes High School
What: Kelly McGonigal - How to Make Stress Work for You
When: Thursday, October 6th at 7:00PM
Where: Acalanes High School Performing Arts Center
 Kelly McGonigal, PhD, from Stanford University, convincingly delivers the message, supported by research, that stress can make us stronger, smarter, and happier - if we learn how to embrace it. She is the author of "The Upside of Stress" and has one of the most viewed TED talks of all time. For tickets go to kellymcgonigal.eventbrite.com.
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Community Announcements & Events
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The following Community Announcements & Events are not school or district sponsored or endorsed by the Lafayette School District.
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Parent Education
Finding Your Words
When: Wednesday, September 21st, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
Where: Stanley Middle School Library, 3455 School Street
The Lafayette District Parent Education Committee (DPEC) and the Special Education Enrichment Development Foundation (SEED) are partnering once again in response to your suggestions.
"Finding Your Words" is for YOU if your child has medical, physical, or social challenges.
Sharing information about your child's special needs with others can be an on-going balancing act between making enough information available to insure safety and promote acceptance and understanding, vs. making so much information available that it infringes on your child's privacy. This interactive discussion, presented by Deborah Penry with Care Parent Network, offers some tips on finding that balance as you prepare for and have those conversations with family, friends, acquaintances, and community members.
Click here to reserve your seat.
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MEET THE CANDIDATES & DISCUSS THE ISSUES
Lafayette School District Board and
CURRENT ISSUES: Downtown Construction, Traffic Congestion Solutions, Sales Tax Measure
LAFAYETTE HOMEOWNERS' COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, September 22nd, 2016, 7:00PM
Lafayette Community Center
Jennifer Russell Building, 500 St. Mary's Road
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College Financial Planning Workshop
Tuesday, September 20th, 6:30 - 8:00PM
Acalanes High School
Please join Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, the California Student Aid Commission and the College Funding Coach to learn about different strategies for paying for college and how to make higher education more affordable. The workshop is helpful for parents of students of all ages - from K through 12!
The event will be held on Tuesday, September 20th at Acalanes High School from 6:30PM to 8:00PM. If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please contact Assemblywoman Baker's office at 925-328-1515.
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Firecracker Math Enrichment Program
Now Enrolling for the Fall Semester
Every Tuesday beginning September 13th
Firecracker Math enrichment after school program will help your child to build a solid foundation & understanding of mathematics. Students will learn and explore math concepts and problem-solving techniques. Theoretical instructions are combined with practical exercises that employ chess, brain teasers, and logical puzzles to demonstrate serious mathematical concepts. At our math classes we are going to show to your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun.
We guarantee small class sizes (no more than 12 kids), experienced and enthusiastic teachers, and an individual approach according to each student's needs. Location: 955 Moraga Rd., Lafayette
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Mr. Strain's Trombone Choir!
Calling all trombonists: Mr. Strain will lead a Trombone Choir on Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 7:30PM at Lamorinda Music ( 81 Lafayette Circle) and YOU are invited! Whether you play in a Stanley band or not, he wants you to come play sweet music with him and other trombonists. Join us every Wednesday or whenever you can. We'll learn music by ear, play 4-part harmonies, and create riffs to improvise over. Cost: $10 each week. Contact: Andy Strain, strain.andrew@gmail.com www.andystrain.com
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 Join Lamorinda
Water Polo Fall 2016
* Programs for Boys and Girls Ages 14 and Under * Experienced Coaching Staff led by: - Guy Baker - 3x Olympic Medalist and 2x World Champion - Bill Brown - Water Polo Hall of Fame Member - James Lathrop - Miramonte Head Coach * 180+ College Water Polo Student/Athletes and All-Americans * 70+ OMPA 2016 Finalists * Competitive Club with a Developmental Program
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LBBA Future Stars Basketball Clinic!
Open to Boys and Girls in Grades 3 - 8
The Lafayette Boys Basketball Association is sponsoring a Future Stars Basketball Clinic. The clinic will be run by Acalanes High School Varsity Head Coach, Sol Henik, and his coaching staff. It is designed to give boys and girls the attention & coaching they need to elevate their game. Participants will be split by gender and grade level, for more targeted training.
Skill Development:
* Shooting (technique & footwork) * Offensive moves * Conditioning * Ball-handling & Skills * Perimeter & Post Skills * Rebounding
Session 1: Sunday, September 18th, 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Session 2: Sunday, September 18th, 12:30PM - 2:30PM
Location: Acalanes High School Gymnasium
Cost: $75 per session or $135 for both sessions
For more information and to download an application, please click here.
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Stanley families can continuously raise funds for our school simply by participating in any of these ongoing fundraising opportunities throughout the school year. It's a simple way for each of us to give back effortlessly.
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INTERESTED IN ORDERING OR
RENEWING A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION?
Stanley has discontinued its annual Magazine Drive. However, you can still support Stanley if you are interested in purchasing a magazine
subscription. Please go to the Stanley Website for more information. |
Do you shop at Diablo Foods or Lunardi's?
If so, PLEASE READ THIS!
Help raise thousands of dollars for Stanley PTA simply by registering for Escrip. Then, shop as you normally would! This costs you NOTHING.
Just by registering, and then shopping at these stores below (and others), the following gets donated to Stanley:
LOCAL BUSINESSES
Diablo Foods - Up to 5% when paying with a registered credit card
Lunardi's - Up to 4% when paying with a registered credit card
ONLINE SHOPPING - Use your registered card at these stores, and hundreds more, and the following are donated to Stanley:
Nordstrom.com: 4.8% of eligible purchases
itunes.com: 1.2% of eligible purchases
Oldnavy.gap.com: 2.4% of eligible purchases
JCrew.com: 3.6% of eligible purchases paid
To sign up, follow these simple steps:
(If you have already registered, please login and update your information.)
2) Enter your contact information.
3) Choose your school or organization. This is where you choose Stanley Middle School PTA.
4) Then you will be asked to register your payment and/or loyalty cards. Visa, MC and American Express are all accepted. NOTE- we do not get a % of all purchases from these cards, only purchases made at participating businesses.
5) SHOP AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD - EXCEPT ACCESS THE ONLINE SITES THROUGH escrip.com. Simply go to the "Where to earn" tab at the top of the page or "shop online" in the upper right hand corner. You can access all of the sites listed above and more. You MUST access the online site through escrip every time you shop online in order for purchases to qualify. For in-store purchase, just shop in person as you normally would.
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