Bancroft Elementary
Bancroft Elementary
Bobcats
Bobcat Tracks - January
Letter from our PFC President
 Hello Bancroft Families: 

Happy New Year to all students and families! I hope everyone enjoyed their winter break and had good quality time with family and friends.

 

With the new year, we have some exciting events to look forward to.

  • Family Movie Night - February 6th
  • 5th Grade Science Festival - February 25th
  • Odyssey of the Mind Tournament - February 28th
  • Read Across America -March 2nd
  • Country Hoedown Auction Night - March 7th
  • Book Fair - March 31st
  • Open House - April 2nd
  • Spell-A-Thon - April 24th
  • Staff Appreciation Week - May 4th to May 8th
  • "The Aristocats" School Musical - May 7th to May 9th
  • 5th Grade Promotion - June 11th

Volunteers are always welcomed. If you are interested in sharing your talents, please contact me and I will be happy to connect you with the event Chairperson.

 

Please know that some dates are subject to change, stay tuned to our weekly Bancroft Blasts for the latest information on event dates and times.

 

As always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me at lgagag@aol.com

 

Best~

Lisa

Auction: Soliciting Volunteers

Bancroft Elementary Hoedown for Education

Saturday March 7, 2015

 

Happy New Year! It's our favorite time of year, Auction Time! How can you help?
* Purchase your auction tickets! Have a date night with your spouse or make it a girls night out.
* You can purchase your tickets online, through the school office, or in front of the school. Invitations will be sent home in your child's Friday/Monday folder in the next few weeks.
* Tickets are $45.00 a person if purchased before February 20th. If purchased between February 20th and March 3rd they are $50.00 a person.
* Sign your kids up for Kids Night Out. Look for the flyer to come home in your child's Friday/Monday folder in the next few weeks.
* Volunteer to help with Procurement, Set up, Clean up, Check in/Check out. Sign up through Sign Up Genius.
* Bring in extra clear clean jars for the table centerpieces.

* Do you have extra gift cards you want to donate? Are you interested in hosting a home party? Do you have a home business you would like to promote through a gift basket?

* Donation procurement. Print out and use this letter and this form when reaching out to businesses you frequent.

* Can you help in any other ways? Please contact Cherisse Riney at (925) 270-5735. 

 
** Again, don't forget to mark your calendars for our Spring Auction ~ Dinner, Dancing, Drinks and Southern BBQ

March 7, 2015 6:00-11:00 pm

Heather Farms Community Center Lakeside Room

After School Enrichment
Fall After School Enrichment was a success with 156 enrolled students. The next session will start the week of February 23rd. Flyers and registration forms will be sent home with your child in early February. In addition to our usual offerings we will have a new science class called "Toyology: Science Through Toys" and a debate and public speaking class for 4th and 5th grade students.
Family Movie Night - The Aristocats


Coming Friday, FEBRUARY 6th - Bancroft PFC will host its second annual family movie night in the MUR. In anticipation of the 5th grade Spring Musical, we will be showing the Arisotcats. Doors open at 6:30 and the movie will begin promptly at 7 p.m. Look for information to pre-order tickets in yo
ur child's Friday/Monday folders.

Help Wanted!
Dine-to-Donate Coordinator Needed
Elizabeth Real, who founded Dine 2 Donate in the 2013-14 school year and continued to spearhead this fun, easy fundraiser this year, has moved to SoCal.  So the PFC is now seeking someone to organize these events. We are also looking for someone to assist with the science lab. The job descriptions are as follows. 

Role: The D2D Coordinator directs the effort to partner with local eating establishments to raise money for Bancroft.

Time Commitment: 4+ hours per month (almost all from home on your own schedule)

Busiest time of year: work flow is consistent throughout the school year as a D2D event usually occurs every 4 to 6 weeks, but is flexible and varies depending on scheduling

Responsibilities include: research & choose participating 

restaurants; negotiate rates and times; coordinate event timing with the PFC President to make sure it is not in conflict with other Bancroft events; submit Bancroft's I-9 & contracts to the restaurant; obtain approval of event and flyer by Mrs. Schuler; promote restaurants to the Bancroft community and neighbors; publicize the fundraising events online, through Constant Contact, on Bancroft Marquee, and via email to Room Parents & Teachers; write short monthly newsletter section announcing the results, informing parents of next event, asking parents for new dining ideas, locations, etc.; attend events when possible; and, follow up with restaurant to ensure check is sent or, when necessary, pick up the check.  

  

Assistant Science Lab Coordinator Needed

Role: The assistant Science Lab Coordinator (ASLC) works directly with the Science Lab Coordinator (Melissa Horgan)  in partnership with the Grade Level Coordinators/Teachers/Science Lab Instructional Assistants to assist in all matter relating to the Science Lab.   

Time Commitment: 3-4 hours per week.

Busiest time of year: Prior to the start of school. Otherwise time commitment is consistent throughout the year.  

Responsibilities include: Order materials and equipment necessary for labs; organize, inventory and order all general equipment and supplies prior to the start of school; receive material requisitions/lab set-up forms from teachers at least two weeks prior to a lab (each grade level has access to the science lab 3 times per month); and work with Grade Level Coordinators to assure materials/set-up are ready for grade level science lab days; approve all check request forms; and, set the budget for each grade level based on the approved funding.    

  

Please email Lisa Guarnaccia if you are interested in one of these open positions. 

 

Faculty Spotlight - Janet Gay, Librarian
Education - SF State University, BA in Liberal Studies; teaching credential for K-12 (life credential); Cal State Hayward, MS in Child Literature; and San Jose State, librarian credential.

Position and years at Bancroft - I have been here 14 years as librarian and 10 years teaching 2nd and 3rd grades. Before coming to Bancroft I taught 10 years at Holbrook Elementary.

How did you come to Bancroft? I found out about a teaching opening at Bancroft through my friend Darlene Chapman (Mrs. Giffin's mother). I knew a lot of the teachers and I had a good feeling about the school.

What do you most enjoy about teaching at Bancroft? Getting to see all the kids throughout the years. I love getting kids excited about books.

What is your mission as a Librarian? Help foster and encourage a lifelong love of reading in students.

What are your favorite things about Bancroft? The people - the administration, faculty, parents, and kids. I feel blessed to be at this school. The community here is just incredible. I wake up every day looking forward to going to work. 

What is the best part of your job? All about books and interacting with the kids. I love shopping for books and shelving books. I love being open at times they can come on their own.

Why are you in education? Both of my parents were teachers. I grew up never wanting to do anything else. When I played with the neighborhood kids growing up we played school in my garage. My parents had painted one wall with chalkboard paint and I was always the teacher.

What makes your job challenging? There is not enough time. I only get 30 minutes per class and I can't take the library home with me.

What are your guiding principles? The Golden Rule - treat others the way you want to be treated. Also, Bancroft's 3 Bs - Be Safe, Respectful, Be Responsible.

What profession, other than being a teacher, could you also see yourself doing? I would open a little bookstore/coffee shop by the ocean where local artisans could sell their wares.

What are the traits you admire most in others? Kindness, honesty, and sense of humor. I love to see people smile.

What are your hobbies and interests? Besides reading, I love working in my yard and garden getting my hands dirty. I also like to go to the ocean and pick shells and rocks. I also teach Sunday School at my church.

What was the last good book you read? I read a loot of children's books so I can recommend them to students, but my Christmas book last year was Small Victories by Anne Lamott.

Who has been the largest influence on your life? Definitely my Mom. She was a teacher at Mountain View Elementary and was awarded Teacher of the Year for Mount Diablo Unifed School Disctrict. She also liked to travel the world. Another huge influence was Ellie McDougal, a former Bancroft Librarian who recruited me out of the classroom and into the library.

What have been the greatest influences in your life? Being a parent. You look at the world differently.

Do you have a favorite quote?

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not." ~The Lorax, Dr Seuss

In This Issue
Upcoming Dates
1/19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

1/20: 2015-16 Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten Packet Pickup

1/22: Site Counsel Meeting

1/23: Life Skills Assembly 

1/26: Teacher In Service - No School

1/27: 2015-2016 Kindergarten Orientation

2/3: 2015-2016 Kindergarten Registration

2/6: Family Movie Night - Aristocats, 6:30pm

2/13: Lincoln's Birthday - No School

2/16: President's Day - No School

2/19: Site Counsel Meeting

2/25: Science Festival

2/27: Life Skill Assembly

2/28: Odyssey of the Mind Competition
 
Visit the Bancroft online calendar for future dates.
Thank you!
* Thank you Emerald Bristol for stepping up to be the Assistant Art Appreciation Coordinator. 
Next Tracks Release
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
*Submissions Due
Wednesday, February 11th
* Submit articles to Hillary Osness 
2014-15 Money Raised
vs
Budgeted Expenses

Ongoing Fundraisers
 
 
 
 

10% off everything every day and 5% back to Bancroft.  Just mention Bancroft when you check out.
Contact Us
Bancroft Elementary
925-933-3405
Bobcat Tracks | Bancroft PFC website