Featured LetterFeaturedArticle
From John Loeser, Head of School
John Loeser

Think Big, Think Great  

Last week, I attended the National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference in Philadelphia with approximately five thousand educators from around the nation. The conference theme, "Think Big, Think Great," set the tone for the event. Keynote speakers, including Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, Built to Last and Great by Choice, Tererai Trent, global humanitarian and "Oprah's all-time favorite guest," and Soumitra Dutta, author of The Bright Stuff and Innovating at the Top, challenged us to think creatively about pursuing greatness and instilling....  click here to read full article

Calendar HighlightsCalendar
Calendar
Please check the calendar regularly for updates throughout the year (can't remember your RDS community password? Email us and we'll remind you!) or, better yet, subscribe to the RDS calendar to get updates automatically via RSS or Atom Feed, get calendar reminder emails, or download an iCal file to sync with your personal calendar system. 

March
8No School - Grading Day; X-Care Open
11No School - CAIS Regional Meeting; X-Care Open
13Spirit Day: Rainbow/Neon-Color Day
13Pi Day Assembly, 10:50-11:35 in the MS Gym
14Parent Education Series Event: Affinity for Inclusion at Redwood Day School led by Alison Park; 7:00 p.m.
15Middle School Movie Night
16RDSPGA Auction; 5:30 p.m. at Classic Cars West, Oakland
21-22Parent/Guardian/Student/Teacher Conferences - No Classes; X-Care Open
27Cesar Chavez Day of Service
28LS Musical: A Year with Frog and Toad: 4:30 p.m. in the MS Gym 
29Java with John (LS families)
29LS Musical: A Year with Frog and Toad: 6:00 p.m. in the MS Gym 

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Action ItemsAction

Spring Conference Registration Now Open; Register Now for X-Care 

The Pickatime online conference scheduler is open for you to reserve an appointment with your child's teacher(s) and/or advisor(s) for the Parent/Guardian/Student/Teacher Spring conferences. Please check your email for the link and instructions. The scheduler will close on Sunday, March 17. Please email Derek Clark if you have any problems signing up for your conference(s).

Conference days are Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22. School is closed on these days; however, X-Care is available from 8-6 p.m. with pre-registration. Registration and payment must be returned to the Front Office by Monday, March 18. Unlimited Users may register via email by Monday, March 18. Registration is not required for student(s) who will only be on campus for their conference. Please contact Meredith Spencer, Director of After-School and Athletic Programs if you have any questions.

Pizza Friday Volunteers Needed Beginning March 29! 

We need parent and guardian volunteers beginning March 29th through the end of the year to help make Pizza Friday's run smoothly. Ideally, volunteers work a few consecutive Friday's. You need to arrive at 11:25 a.m. and you finish no later than 12:30 p.m. It's a great way to sneak a peek at your kids and get a free slice of pizza! If you are available to help, please contact Jill Nesbitt at 534.0800 or by email.

Sign-Up for Friday "Java with John"; 8:30-9:30 a.m. coffee cup  

Please join John at any of the following "Java With John" gatherings. Get a chance to ask any questions you may have about our program, learn more about initiatives at the school, or just kick back and enjoy a cup of coffee with our Head of School. Please RSVP for the date(s) you would like to attend by emailing Derek Clark. Space is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. The dates are as follows:

  • Friday, March 29 (Lower School families); RSVP by March 26
  • Friday, April 19 (Middle School families); RSVP by April 16
  • Friday, May 17 (K-8 families); RSVP by May 14

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News and NotesNews

Pi Day PiDayPi Day

Families and friends are invited to attend our 10th Annual Pi Day Assembly this Wednesday, March 13 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Pi Day is a prime example of how Redwood Day School differentiates math instruction and provides opportunities for students to develop mathematical thinking through a variety of teaching methods. Students in grades 5-8 are invited to participate. Categories for the competition include:

  1. Memorizing Digits of Pi: Students in grades 5-8 recite as many digits from memory as they can. The student who correctly recites the most digits for each grade is named "Grade Level Champion."
  2. Pi Art: Students in grades 6-8 submit artwork inspired by the number or symbol for Pi. Faculty and staff judges will choose the top three pieces of artwork from each grade.
  3. Pi Media Presentation: Students in grades 6-8 submit short clips on a flash drive or DVD (3-4 minutes maximum) inspired by Pi. Faculty and staff judges will choose the top three media entries from each grade.
  4. PIE Baking: Students will submit pies to be judged on appearance, texture and overall taste. Faculty and staff judges will choose the top three pies from each grade. Students may submit more than one pie. Students may work with a partner, but must do all the preparation and baking on their own.

All media presentations are due Tuesday, March 12 before Noon. Students may bring them to Mr. Kanady before school starts or during study hall. All pies and artwork should be delivered to Mr. Kanady's classroom before the start of the school day on Wednesday, March 13. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Kanady. 

 

Winter Concert/Celebration of Light Videos Now Online!

We had a great Winter Concert/Celebration of Light event this past December and we have now posted videos of each performance on our website. To respect the privacy of our families, you will be challenged for a username and password to view them.

If you have not logged into our website this year, we reset our accounts this past summer as part of our site redesign. Send an email to Daniel Johnston and he will reply with simple instructions to re-enable your account.

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Parents' and Guardians' Association NewsPGA
PGAlogo

To find out what's happening in 2012-13 visit us here.

RDSPGA Board Meeting, Monday, March 18. Please join the RDSPGA Board onMarch18at 7:00 p.m. in the school library for our monthly meeting. All parents and guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend.

RDSPGA Board nominations season is here! Have you thought about serving on the board? To find out what it means to be on the RDPGA board, please contact Jen Edmister. Here are 3 easy ways to nominate yourself of someone else:

  1. Send an anonymous email to the Nominations Committee;
  2. Email the Nominations Committee Co-Chairs directly: Rhonda Ngom or Susan Weeks; OR
  3. Slip a piece of paper in the Nominations Box in the gallery.
All we need to know is the name of the person being nominated, and the position for which you're nominating them. Nominations will remain open until April 5. 

The catalogs came home yesterday. Make sure to check those backpacks!

Online Auction Open! Remember that all class projects, faculty donations, and many other terrific items are available ONLINE ONLY, so don't miss out! Click HERE to get started!

RSVP deadline has been extended to Monday March 11 at 10pm! This is your last chance to buy your tickets to the party at Classic Cars West! We will have items at the event that are not available online - you won't want to miss out! Can you see yourself at Stinson Beach in an awesome house on the beach, or enjoying our fabulous wine cellar that is unique to RDS? Fantastic food, drinks and your friends will be waiting for you! For the first time, this event will directly support the exciting S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) initiative at RDS. Click HERE to RSVP today!

AffinitySave the Date: March 14 for our next Parent Education event; Affinity for Inclusion at Redwood Day School. Please join us on Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 pm for a workshop led by Alison Park of Blink Educational Diversity Consulting. This event is FREE and for RDS parents and guardians only. There will be limited free childcare for school age children only.

For more information about the event and to RSVP, click HERE.

CommunityCommunity
TreeCircus Planting trees in Wood Park Tomorrow!

Learn about tree care, conservation, our environment and a healthy planet with Timmy Womick's TreeCircus! This energetic stage show is interactive, educational and captivating for all ages. Womick and fellow tree climbing arborist Chad Brey cover it all, from urban particulate pollution to basic tree biology, while keeping the audience in stiches.Our intention is to make Wood Park: Even more Beautiful, Safe and Clean!!!!TreeCircus2

When: Saturday, March 9th and 16th from 9-noon 

Where: Located at 2920 McKillop Rd., Oakland, 94602

We have plenty of tools and will have water and snacks available. (It helps if you bring your own water bottle as we'll have gallons of water available to re-fill bottles.) We'll also have hot tea and hot chocolate ready.

Save the dates for gardening at Wood Park on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 9am to noon. Our next work dates are March 16, April 20, May 18. RSVP for groups to Lisa Lemus or Phillip Wong via phone (534-1480), or email. You can download a PDF of the event here.

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After-School ProgramX-Care

New Enrichment Class Offered on Wednesdays!

Girls' Club for grades 2-3 with Celeste Havercamp, 2A Intern

Girls' Club offers a space for girls to talk, listen, and reflect in a respectful and empowering environment. Together we will make projects, play games, and have fun! From book and mask making to kickball to team building games. Register now! Classes run March 13 through May 22. Please contact Celeste Havercamp via email or Meredith Spencer, Director of After-School & Athletic Programs via email with questions.  

Piano Lessons  

There are two openings for private piano lessons on Thursdays from 4:45-5:15 p.m. and 5:15-5:45 p.m. beginning March 14.

For more information, please email Nasus Aransu.

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AthleticsAthletics

Basketball 

Both A basketball teams followed up an exciting time at last Friday's Jamboree with final games this week. The Girls A team returned to Athenian, where they were defeated. Both boys teams hosted Athenian yesterday. The Boys A team remained undefeated at home with a convincing victory. The Boys B team continued to show dramatic improvement, finishing the season on a two-game winning streak as they battled Athenian, pulling out a thrilling victory in a close contest.

We would like to thank families for supporting the Cougars basketball this season. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Middle School Athletics Banquet on May 30!   

Basketball Uniform Return by March 15

Clean uniforms (jersey and shorts) should be returned to the front office by Friday, March 15 in a clear bag with your child's name attached. Bags are available in the front office, if needed. 

Spring Sports: Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball 

This spring, students in grades 6-8 can join the track & field, ultimate frisbee or volleyball teams at RDS. All teams are co-ed.There will be two volleyball teams divided by skill, not grade. Volleyball tryouts will be held Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March14 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Interested students should attend both days.  

Informational meetings for ultimate frisbee and track & field will be held in late March; games and meets begin after Spring Break.

 

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HonoringHonoring

  

Our school community is enriched each week by the fabulous volunteerism of our families and friends. Please join us in honoring the following parents and guardians who have recently given their time and talent to RDS:     

   

   

  • Art: Thank you to Cathy Johnston, Sita Ghate and Stacy Ward for volunteering in the Art Room. 
  • Athletics: Kate Hartley, Sherri LaBeaux, and Rebecca Thomas for providing snacks and driving carpool, as well as Chloe K. and Colby V. for keeping game stats and managing the clock during basketball games.  
  • Library: We would like to acknowledge Rabi Abdullah, Antoinette Chevalier, Sue Schoening, and Lanie Mette for their help in the Library last week. 
  • Pizza Friday: Thank you to last weeks wonderful volunteers: Anna Lisa Fear, Jessie Nakamura, Lucy Nguyen, Edward Mitoma.  
  • KB: The Fast Cheetahs would like to honor Davina Dickens, Gregory Kovecses, and Michael and Maria Caruso for volunteering in our room this week.  
  • 2A: Thank you to the Ng-Yu and Njissang families for the yummy snacks this week.  We want to thank Donna Cala, Lucy Nguyen, Anna Lisa Fear, May Wong, Christine Chen  and Tracy Reichmuth for cooking, serving, and cleaning up during our Dr. Seuss celebration. Thank you Meera Desai, Anna Lisa Fear, and Stacie Clark for coming in to be our special Dr. Seuss readers. Thank you to the Njissang family for the yummy Super Star Snack. Your support is greatly appreciated by everyone in 2A!
  • 2B: 2B would like to honor the Forney and Brownlee families for bringing snack this week.  We would also like to honor Trina for helping with writer's workshop and Paige, Carl, Brenda, Kristie and Reven for driving on our field trip.
  • 3A: We would like to honor the Lents and the Pates for providing us with a healthy snack this week. 

"Honoring" is a weekly feature of the Friday Folder. We make our best effort to include all volunteers. If we miss you in our listing, please let us know at communications@rdschool.org. We are grateful for your contributions to the life of our school community.

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