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In This Issue
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Picture Retakes
International Walk to School Day
Bike Safety
Mini-Course Volunteers
Parent-Teacher Conferences
PowerSchool
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Quick Links
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Questions? Email:
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This Week
Sunday, October 4
- After School Basketball Registration begins
Monday, October 5
- Picture Retake Day, during PE Classes
Wednesday, October 7
- Parent Education: "Demystifying Design Thinking and Innovation" workshop, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
- Online parent-teacher conference scheduler opens
- International Walk to School Day
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Looking Ahead
October 12-15
- Parent-Teacher Conference Days: Minimum Days, dismissal at 11:45 a.m.
Tuesday, October 13
- MPCSD Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., District Office, TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton
Friday, October 16
- No School: Staff Development Day
Wednesday, October 21
- Parent Education: "Rise and Thrive with Our Girls," 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
- Menlo-Atherton 8th Grade Information Night, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m., Ayers Gym, M-A High School
Thursday, October 22
- PTO General Meeting and MPCSD Strategic Directions Input Session, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., Hillview PAC
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Hillview School News
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Picture retakes will take place on Monday, October 5. Please make sure your students are prepared for these! Pictures will be taken during PE classes. This is the only day for picture retakes! The pictures will be available for view and purchase about two weeks after photos are taken.
International Walk to School Day
Wednesday, October 7 is International Walk to School Day so we encourage all students to walk or wheel to school on Wednesday! If you can, walk or wheel to school to do your part to conserve our valuable resources and our environment, and to show off your global citizenship. We appreciate your support on International Walk to School Day! For more information, click here. Bike Safety
Your child's safety is our top priority and we are noticing poor bike riding habits. Please remind your child to bike safely to and from school. This means that helmets are on and fastened; bikes obey all the rules of the road: bikes ride single file; bikes ride in the bike lane and not on the sidewalk; bikes ride on the right hand side of the street; and bikes obey all traffic signs, including stop signs and stoplights. We will be partnering with Menlo Park Police to ensure the safe travel of all our students.
The Mini-Course Program Needs You!
We are currently seeking parent volunteers who would like to serve as Logistics Volunteers (LV) for our amazing courses, including some great new topics like horses, Latin cuisine and the science of how things work. As an LV you would help the teacher plan the course and arrange field trips, chaperones and donations of materials. It is very rewarding and allows you first dibs on your course's exciting field trips! Hillview loves Mini-Course week, but we count on you to make it happen. If you want more information about the LV job or a complete listing of available courses, please email minicourse@mpcsd.org.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are Coming!
Hillview devotes four days to parent-teacher conferences in the fall each year, just after the mid-point of the first trimester. This year, those days are October 12 - 15. They are minimum days, which means students are released at 11:45 a.m. (Please make a note: There is no SamTrans bus service after school on minimum days, so plan accordingly for student transportation home from school on those days. Also, after-school programs such as Homework Center, Math Clinic, HawkStars, and Flight School, as well as the late bus, do not run during minimum days). At the middle school level, it is impossible for us to conference with every family. Our practice, therefore, is to set up conferences first with those students who are most in need of them. After we have scheduled these conferences, we open up our online conference scheduler to the remaining families, and you may at that time take what slots remain. If you do not receive an invitation from your child's teachers to conference, it doesn't mean they don't want to conference with you; it simply means that a conference with you is not a high need. Stay tuned for more information. Our online scheduler will open on Wednesday, October 7. Please refer to the front page of our website at 9:00 a.m. on this date for the link.
PowerSchool Single Sign-On
We want parents to be aware that the way they access PowerSchool is new this year. With your Back to School Night mailing that you received the week of September 7, we included a personalized letter that walked you through the steps to set up what is called "Single Sign-On" to to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, along with the "Access ID" and "Access Password" for your student(s). The instructions can be found on our website. In the "For Parents" section on the left-hand navigation pane, refer to "PowerSchool Single Sign-On," or go directly to the page through this link. Need your students' Access ID and Access Password? Call the Hillview front office.
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Programs & Activities
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Check Out Books: All students are now in our system. eBooks can be checked out through OverDrive on virtually any device - watch our online tutorials or bring your device to the library for help. 8th graders are invited to check out books from our new Teen section. Bring the parent permission slip once and enjoy engaging books all year.
New Contest!: Rick Riordan's new series debuts October 6 with Magnus Chase. Take a quiz at the library to see which Norse God you would be and read up on the Gods of Asgard!
Books Come Alive!: Dress up like a character from a book on Halloween (maybe from Magnus Chase?!) and win a prize from the library. Start planning!
Hillview Service Team Costume DriveSilver Hawks Service Team is backing the Oak Knoll Leadership group for a Halloween Costume Drive. As the Halloween approaches, please consider donating your outgrown and gently used Halloween costumes. All costumes welcome, but please no torn costumes, wigs, masks, plastic guns, knives or anything that depicts violence. Hillview will have bins in the front of the PAC. This drive will end on October 17. Thank you for your participation! And the kids thank you!!
In addition, thank you to all the families who brought their brown grocery bags to school. Second Harvest was so pleased to accept them. The bags are used to distribute food to seniors in their Brown Bag program, and our sizable donation made a huge impact!
Hillview Sports
Intramural Sports: Intramural sports continue this week with either volleyball/badminton or indoor hockey/soccer depending on the PE activities. All students are invited but there will be a limit on how many may participate at once. No food/drink in the gym. Spectators welcome to sit on the bleachers or on the stage to watch and support. All backpacks need to be stored on the bleachers or on the stage; please don't put them on the gym floor.
Girls Volleyball: Practice and games continue with 7th/8th graders on Mondays and 6th graders on Tuesdays. Game schedules and team records can be found here. Flag Football: Games this week on Tuesday, October 6, will include: Blue at JLS at 4:00 p.m.; La Entrada at HV Gold at 3:45 p.m.; and La Entrada at HV 8th at 4:45 p.m. After School Basketball Registration Begins: All Hillview students are invited to register for basketball. Registration will begin on Sunday, October 4, on Sportability. Registration will close on Sunday, October 25. Please only register if you intend on playing. Mandatory Team Placement workouts for 6th/7th graders will take place on Saturday, November 14; for 8th graders, they will be on Wednesday, November 18. We understand some students may not be able to attend the workouts which is not a problem as long as we are notified in advance. The student will be placed on a team, but if at all possible we would like all participants to attend the workouts. More information to follow.
Basketball Tournament Team Program - 8th Graders: Tryouts will occur during the week of parent-teacher conferences from October 12-15. The boys' tryouts will take place on Monday and Wednesday, October 12 and 14; the girls' tryouts will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, October 13 and 15. All four workouts will be held from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. during conference week. As mentioned above, in order to try out, players must be registered for MPMSL (the 8th grade basketball balanced team league) on Sportability. Questions regarding any of these programs should be directed to Harry Bell at 650.483.4049.
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MPAEF & Hillview PTO Joint Campaign 
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The Hillview PTO and the MPAEF say THANK YOU to all of the families, teachers, and staff who have come together during the past six weeks to support our school. Your donations to the PTO and the MPAEF make a real difference in our children's education.
Donations are still coming in and being counted. We are very close to our goal, but every donation still matters and will help us cross the finish line! So if you haven't donated yet, please take a moment to join the PTO today. Everyone who has donated is invited to stop by the school office to pick up a Hillview logo magnet.
THANK YOU AGAIN to all of the families and teachers who have supported Hillview with generous donations to the PTO!
THANK YOU to the families and teachers who have already pledged or donated to the MPAEF.
The Annual Parent Campaign closes on November 20th and we are at 31% participation. We look forward to making another big step toward reaching our goals during the month of October. Click here to make your commitment today!
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Parent Education
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"Demystifying Design Thinking and Innovation" on Wednesday, October 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hillview PAC
Partner up with your K-8th grade student, or come on your own, but bring your open mind for an evening of design thinking workshops! Experience how teachers in our District schools are employing innovative ideas they learned through professional development programs at Stanford's d.school. Through hands-on exercises focused on family dynamics and experiences, our teachers will engage you and your kids in stages of design and encourage you to flex your design muscles.
The Menlo Park City School District is leading the way in educational innovation in its focus on design thinking. Your contributions to MPAEF are making this kind of professional development for District teachers possible. There will be special introductions from Branko Lukic, Designer, Author, and Founder of Nonobject Inc.; Suzanne Pellican, Vice President of Design at Intuit; Erin Raab, Design Coach and PhD candidate at Stanford University; and Lisa Kay Solomon, author of Moments of Impact. Faculty Facilitators: Erik Burmeister, Theresa Fox, Willy Haug, Heidi Hendrickson, Mary Martin, Larra Olson, Susan Sanchez, Lela Ward, Gina Watkins, and Heidi Yamada
Free on-site child care for potty-trained children will be provided. This event is sponsored by the MPAEF.
"Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs" on Thursday, October 8, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., M-A Performing Arts Center Cafe Just say no or say nothing at all? This is the question that many parents face with regard to drug use by their teens -- whether alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. Most drug education programs are aimed solely at preventing drug use. After instructions to abstain, the lesson ends. No information is provided about how to avoid problems or prevent abuse for those teens who do experiment. How can you help your kids stay safe?
Join us for an interactive workshop with Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, founder of the Safety First drug education project at the Drug Policy Alliance and author of Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs. Dr. Rosenbaum earned her doctorate in medical sociology at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). She is the author of numerous scholarly articles about drug use, drug treatment, and drug policy. Her opinion pieces have appeared in USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and San Jose Mercury News. In addition, Dr. Rosenbaum is a proud graduate of Menlo-Atherton High School.
Spanish translation will be available. M-A Parent Education Series events are free, sponsored by the M-A PTA, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and the Sequoia Union High School District. This event is open to parents, students, faculty/staff, and community members. Click here to register.
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MPAEF News
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Dollar for Dollar Week from October 5-12
Good news! Together, we are working towards our goal of 100% participation in the MPAEF by November 6. Thank you to those who have already contributed. You are making a difference for every child in our district. For those who have not yet made a pledge or donation, this is a great week to give! From Monday, October 5 through Monday, October 12 every dollar you donate or pledge to MPAEF with be matched. Double your contribution with ease as every dollar you dish out to the MPAEF will be matched by an anonymous challenge gift.
All week long, every dollar you contribute is doubled. Each contribution goes toward ensuring the goals of our community to keep class sizes small, art and music thriving, physical education and wellness a priority in the school day, and professional development opportunities for our motivated faculty. Get ready to contribute during the week of October 5-12 and watch your dollars double! Support your teachers and all of our kids at the MPAEF website.
Save the Date: Dine Out for the Kids on October 13 and 14
Two days to Dine Out! Leave the planning and clean up of either lunch or dinner or both to someone else for one day, or even two. This year MPAEF brings you TWO days to dine out at local, favorite restaurants. A percentage of proceeds from participating restaurants will be generously given to the MPAEF to support our four schools. Some restaurants included are: Bistro Vida, Mama Coco, Bradley's Fine Diner, Lutticken's, Carpaccio, Freewheel Brewery, Gourmet Lunch, Jeffrey's, Mardini's, Namesake Cheesecake, Sultana, Trellis, Yogurt Stop, and more to come. With minimum days on the calendar that week, what a perfect way to make the most of lunch or dinner with your kids, for you kids! And with a second Dine Out day, plan a dinner with friends. To kick off Dine Out, please join us at Amici's on Monday, October 12, when 20% of their proceeds go to our schools! More details coming to the MPAEF website.
Come to the Auction Kickoff Meeting!
Contribute to our schools in a fun, creative, and meaningful way by joining the MPAEF Auction team this year! The auction is a wonderful community-wide event that raises much-needed funds for the Foundation and our schools. We have many roles open this year, both large and small. Find out more about these roles and the auction as a whole at our kickoff meeting on Wednesday, October 7, at 11:30 a.m. in the TERC (by Encinal Elementary). A light lunch will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there! For more information please email the MPAEF Auction Team here.
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Menlo-Atherton High School News
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Menlo-Atherton High School announces several ways to get to know the school:
Shadowing Program: This program enables 8th grade students to experience a typical day at the school, by pairing them with 9th grade hosts. The program runs from October through February. Shadowing is very popular and appointments fill up fast, so sign up early to reserve your spot. Click here for full program details and frequently asked questions. 8th Grade Information Night: Come learn more about our academic program offerings and graduation requirements on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Our Information Night includes a Principal's welcome, small-group tours led by students and PTA parent volunteers, and presentations by M-A teachers from core subject areas. Prospective students and parents are welcome. The program runs from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Meet at Ayers Gym. No reservation is necessary. Special Saturday Campus Tour: On Saturday, October 24, middle school students and their parents are invited to an informal outdoor walking tour of the campus. Tours will be lead by M-A Leadership students who will share their enthusiasm for the school and answer questions. Meet at the library. Tours run from 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., and the last tour departs at 11:15 a.m. No sign-up is necessary. For more information in English and Spanish, click here.
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Community News
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4-H Youth Development Program: Sunday, October 4, 12:00 - 2:30 p.m., Burgess Park. Not Just Cows and Cake! Discover what 4-H offers youth in the 21st century. From Python Programming to Poultry, there's something for everyone. RSVP here for our potluck BBQ/information session invitation, and come to our next meeting on Tuesday, October 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Laurel School. Ready to join? Enroll online here.
7th Annual Ride/Yoga for Ravenswood: Sunday, October 11, 8:00 a.m. Choose from a 50-mile ride to the ocean or a 30-mile ride in Portola Valley led by seasoned cyclists and local spin instructors, or an outdoor yoga session, led by a well known local yogi. Proceeds help pay for the high quality health care services for low income families at the Ravenswood Family Health Center in East Palo Alto. This event includes gourmet coffee, breakfast, and also a light lunch and refreshments after the ride. Please sign up or donate here. Event is located at the Brody home at 210 Park Lane, Atherton. Please contact Julie Brody with any questions.
MSx Program, Stanford Graduate School of Business: Are you a parent of a 10-14 year old? A team of students at the Stanford GSB are passionate about disrupting the way students are being exposed to STEM. They'd like to get a better understanding of the current state of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning in and out of school. If your son or daughter is available for a 20 - 30 minute conversation, in person, please fill out this form with your contact info as they would love your help in order to help our children's future.
Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR) Stanford University: Looking for 8 - 12 year old mother-son and mother-daughter pairs to participate in the Social Brain Investigation research study, exploring brain function during social interactions using brain imaging via safe and non-invasive fNIRS scans. We are offering $30, access to ongoing updates about the study, and information from behavioral assessment results. Email Sharon Bade Shrestha f or more information.
Family Day at the Pumpkin Patch with Ambassadors for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH): Wednesday, October 14, 1:00 - 6:00 p.m., Webb Ranch, 2720 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. Join the LPCH Ambassadors for a fun, family afternoon picking pumpkins at Webb Ranch. Buy a pumpkin for your family and one to donate to the LPCH pumpkin patch. 100% of the proceeds are donated to LPCH! Enjoy jumpy houses, train ride, pony rides, face painting, haunted house, and pumpkin slingshot. Click here for more information.
GIRLsmarts4tech Workshops: Saturday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., 3475 Deer Creek Road Building #8, Palo Alto. Lunch is provided. All participants will have the opportunity to attend the following four workshops: Programming, Music & Technology, Innovative Technologies, User Experience, and User Interface. This event will take place at our office, with supervision from employee volunteers. Space is limited, first come first served. If you are interested to learn more, email Hasti Seifi.
KIDS DAY at the United Nations Association Film Festival: Saturday, October 17, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Cubberley Theater, Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. FREE ADMISSION. We will screen three kid-appropriate films about the effects of climate change. After the screenings, parents and kids are invited to participate in a special event outside the theater with light snacks and activities focused on the environment and climate change. Click here or email Karenfor more info.
Seeking a Few Good Men of Action to Join Boy Scouts: Are you looking to climb mountains, ford streams, wrestle bears, and safely use potentially dangerous objects? Does learning leadership, helping your neighbors, and improving your life skills appeal to you? Do you want to have confidence that the materials you tie to the roof of your car will safely make it home? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Scouting may be for you. We had a stalwart group of Hillview boys join us in the mountains this summer, canoeing great distances, summiting Half Dome, cooking their own meals, and having a great time. We are lining up a great year of Scouting and have a few open spots for young men of action. Want to consider joining us? Email us for details.
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Newsletter Details
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This newsletter is published by Hillview School parent volunteers every Sunday of the school year, except for Sundays preceding a full week of vacation.
Submissions: The deadline to submit for the Sunday Hillview Newsletter is Wednesday at noon. Please email your submission to hvnewsletter@mpcsd.org. Please note that submissions may be edited for content and/or length. Submissions received after the deadline will be eligible for inclusion the following week. Submissions are eligible to run for up to two weeks.
To submit an announcement for an off-campus community event, please email your announcement to communitynews@mpcsd.org. The submission deadline is Wednesday at noon for the following Sunday newsletter.
Archives: Missed an exciting edition of the Hillview Newsletter or other communications from the school? Look up past issues in our online archive.
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