Roadrunner Masthead
A Strandwood PTA Publication
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 
Good Morning 
Every Monday morning Email Club members receive important information regarding upcoming events and communications from The PTA and Strandwood staff via the Roadrunner. The Roadrunner also provides links to important fliers and new items on the PTA and school websites. Do you have any comments about this Roadrunner or suggestions for future Roadrunner articles or features? Drop us a line at roadrunner@strandwood.org.

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In This Issue
Last Week of Believe Fundraiser
Important Nutcracker Information!
Want to Host a Party?
Navigating Middle School
Sutter's Fort
Dates, Times and Places
Last Week of Believe Fundraiser
Ends Friday, October 4th

This is the 2nd and final week of our Believe/Otis Spunkmeyer fundraiser, so make it a good one! Don't forget to turn in your child's progress "coupons" (located at the bottom of the white slip in the fundraising packet) for extra prizes! 

Important Nutcracker Information!
by Renee Penegor

NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS THIS WEEK!
Nutcracker auditions for principal roles will be held this week as follows:
 
Wed., Oct. 2nd: 12:45pm - 2:00pm -- CLARA (open to 3rd grade girls)
Thurs., Oct. 3rd: 3:00pm - 5:00pm - NUTCRACKER, DROSSELMEYER, RAT KING, MAMA MOUSE (open to 5th grade boys and girls)
 
Your child must turn in his/her permission slip in order to audition. No permission slip, no audition, no exceptions. Permission slips for auditioning students are due Tues., Oct. 1st. There is a Nutcracker box in the office where you can leave them.  
 
What happens in the audition room? For Clara, the girls will learn some simple choreography, then be asked to wait outside the MUR. They will return in groups of 5 to perform the choreography. For 5th grade principal roles, all kids will gather in the MUR; groups will be taught choreography for each character and students will then be asked to perform moves for up to two different roles in small groups or individually, to be determined in the room.   
 
No parents or siblings of students auditioning will be allowed in the MUR. Thank you for your cooperation.
 
Some parents have asked what it takes to get cast. We have a group of impartial judges that will follow an established procedure of assessment that aims to uphold the highest level of fairness and integrity. Judges will be assessing many attributes of the performer, from stage presence (eyes alive, smiling, enthusiasm) to technical ability with steps and ability to follow directions.  
 
The cast list for each show will be posted at school on Friday, October 4th.  
 
We understand this can be a highly emotional moment for many of the children auditioning (and for the parents that love them) so we encourage you to speak with your child about what happens if they are not cast in their first choice. As an actor myself, I am deeply aware of the sting of not getting "the part!" You'll have your own way of comforting your child but here are some tips: Remind them this is one audition and does not define them as a dancer/performer. Remind them to be happy for whomever is selected for the roles, that we are a community and strive to support one another. Remind them to remember there are no small roles in any production - from the Little Mice to Back Stage Crew, everyone's part is important and helps make the Nutcracker a special event for our Strandwood Community.  
 
If you have any other questions or concerns, please email me at reneepenegor@hotmail.com.
 


 

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calendar
Calendar

Click the calendar to go to the Strandwood PTA monthly calendar for important dates and events!
Want to Host a Party?  

The planning for Strandwood's Dinner Dance Auction has begun and our party list is growing! The wonderful parties auctioned off at the event are an opportunity to bring together parents and/or kids who share a common interest or who just want to relax and have some fun. Many parties are hosted by multiple families who share the burden of cost and planning. If you have a party idea, would like more information about hosting a party, or would like to host a party but don't know where to start, please e-mail Blanca Nelson at bnlnelson@hotmail.com. Interested in hosting one of the parties below or have your own great idea? Let us know!

  

Ice Cream Social         Outdoor Movie                   Kids' Pool Party                   Cocktail Party  

Cookie Decorating       Chili Cook Off                    Kids' Tea Party                    Movie Night
 
Navigating Middle School
October 9, 2013

 

Hear all the buzz about middle school at Pleasant Hill's "Navigating Middle School" Parent Education Night. Ask questions at this moderated, open mic event or submit them online at www.pleasant-hill.net/nvm. 

 

Principals from both PH middle schools along with teachers, seasoned parents and other educators in our community will be available to share their knowledge and experience. Parents of students in grades 4-8 are encouraged to attend, but all are welcome. Topics will include: communication with teachers and staff, discipline, friendships, electives, lunchtime drama, transportation, standardized testing, Common Core implementation, Homelink and anything else parents want to know about! For more information, see this flier.

 

Date: Wednesday, October 9th, 2013

Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Location: Pleasant Hill Middle School Multi-Use Room at One Santa Barbara Rd., Pleasant Hill

 

This valuable Parent Education Night is organized by the Pleasant Hill Education Commission as part of the Pleasant Hill Education Initiative. 

 
Sutter's Fort
Environmental Living Program

 

The Environmental Living Program is a special event that allows our school's fourth graders to experience a piece of history. The students, along with their volunteer leaders and trained parent helpers, spend 24 hours portraying characters of 1840's California and partake in the various trade activities and entertainment of the era.

  

This is a hands-on 12-week program beginning in January. Fourth graders will meet everyWednesday from 12:30pm-2:00pm, with the program ending in an overnight trip to Sutter's Fort on March 25, 2014. Parent participation is mandatory and each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the overnight stay. The program is limited to 45 students on a first-come, first-served sign-up basis in November.  

 

A mandatory parent meeting will take place on Monday, October 21st at 7:00pm in the school library. If you have any questions, please contact Jill Olivier or Cindy Turner.

Dates, Times and Places
October 1 - Nutcracker Permission Slips Due from Auditioning Students
October 1 - Clara Auditions (3rd grade girls) 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm in MUR
October 2 - Principal Roles Auditions (5th grade boys & girls) 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm in MUR
October 3 - PTA General Membership Meeting, 7 pm in Library
October 4 - Believe Fundraiser Ends 
October 9 - Nutcracker Permission Slips Due from All Other Students


 
View the calendar on the Strandwood PTA website by clicking here.  
Visit the Strandwood Elementary School website by clicking here.  
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