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In This Issue
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Halloween
Hillview Handbook
Lunch Clubs
Mini-Course Volunteers
Mini-Course Registration
MPCSD NewsCommittee Openings Blood Drive ActivitiesAfter-School Classes
ASB
Drama
Library
Science Fair
Sports
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Quick Links
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Questions? Email:
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This Week
Thursday, October 29- Email registration for Mini-Courses for 8th graders
Friday, October 30
- Halloween Parade and Costume Contest, 11:30 a.m. (during lunch), Quad Stage
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Looking Ahead
Monday, November 2
- ASB Canned Food Drive ends
Tuesday, November 3
- Email registration for Mini-Courses for 7th Graders
Thursday, November 5
- Hillview Drama presents The Tempest, 3:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
Friday, November 6
- Are You IN Day -- Wear Orange!
- Deadline to return Hillview handbook signature slip to Launch teachers
- Email registration for Mini-Courses for 6th Graders
- Last day to register for Hillview Science Fair
- Hillview Drama presents The Tempest, 7:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
Saturday, November 7
- Hillview Drama presents The Tempest, 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
Tuesday, November 10
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Hillview School News
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Halloween
Halloween is coming! We will have an extended lunch on Friday, October 30, for our annual costume contest. Students are encouraged to wear their school appropriate costumes to school on this day and earn spirit points for their academy!
Please encourage your students to remember the following when they are putting together their costumes:
- The school Dress for Success Norms apply on Halloween.
- All costumes MUST be school appropriate - no weapons, excessive gore, references to drugs, tobacco, or alcohol.
- Masks may not be worn during classes.
- You must be able to fully participate in all classes.
- No cross-dressing without verbal permission from Mr. Haug, Mrs. Martin, or Mrs. O'Brien.
- Exercise good character in your costume choices - please avoid costumes that may be offensive to some.
Hillview Handbook
Our 2015-2016 Parent and Student Handbook is updated and available on our Hillview website. Please review the handbook with your child so that all school policies and rules are clear. On Thursday, October 15, your student received a handbook signature slip -- please sign this slip and have your child return it to his/her Launch teacher by Friday, November 6. This is an academy competition and the academy with this highest percentage of handbook signature slips returned will earn spirit points.
Lunch Clubs Is your child looking to get involved at school or looking for something fun to do at lunch? Check out one of our many lunch clubs - we have over 20 to choose from! See the list of clubs here.
Mini-Course Week STILL Needs YOU! Mini-Course week is March 28-31, 2016, but we are planning now to make it the best experience possible! We are still in need of a few Logistics Volunteers to serve as coordinators - like room parents - for the following great courses. Please email minicourse@mpcsd.org if you would like to help out. We cannot run this incredibly popular program without the community pitching in! If you are not able to help, maybe a grandparent, friend or neighbor would be interested. Please feel free to share this exciting opportunity. Beautiful Inside & OutAll about empowering girls to embrace their inner beauty and put their best selves forward, this course also includes overnight camping at Costanoa. Behind-the-Scenes Sports What's it really like to be an elite athlete? Tours at local sports facilities and time with players and journalists will enlighten you. Parents with connection to area sports are encouraged to volunteer! Caring for Critters: All Things AnimalsFor the animal lover in all of us, the purrfect way to help kids help pets. Equine ExtravaganzaThere's something special about horses, and we are sure this new course will be a galloping good time! Film Critic New this year, love of film and SF history combine! A parent with an interest in either of those would be a great fit for this intriguing course.
Hero's Journey
We are all heroes in our own way. Help the kids find their inner hero in this popular course that includes overnight camping on Angel Island.
Mix 'n Mash A real look at the behind-the-scenes world of music and concert production. SCUBADo you dive...or have you always wanted to learn? You can even take this course along with the kids and you'll be ready for your certification. STEM-SationalBring the excitement of STEM challenges and careers to our Hillview technologists in the making. Mini-Course Registration Starts This Week
The catalog has been distributed to all students via their email. It is also available on the Hillview website here. On Thursday, October 29, the 8th graders will be registering for their courses via email on their iPads. 7th and 6th graders will register next week. The Yosemite trip registration process is underway and will conclude before the registration window opens for the on-campus courses. Please be aware that interest may exceed availability for some courses; in those cases, the names of all interested students will be placed into a pool and spots will be randomly assigned. Some courses may fill up before the 7th and 6th grade registration window opens. If you have any questions about mini-course registration, please email minicourse@mpcsd.org.
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| MPCSD News
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MPCSD Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee: Open Positions
The Menlo Park City School District is seeking potential candidates to fill four vacant positions on the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee: a representative of the business community within the District; a representative active in a senior citizen's organization; a representative active in a bonafide taxpayers organization; a representative who is a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District; or a representative who is a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the School District and is active in a Parent-Teacher Organization or School Site Council. One position is at large. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the School District. If you are interested, please submit a Letter of Interest as well as background information about yourself and the organization in which you are active to Ahmad Sheikholeslami. For more information and the full ad announcement please click here.
MPCSD Blood Drive
Most of us know someone who has had cancer. But did you know many cancer patients need blood transfusions as they undergo treatment? In the last three years, two MPCSD kids have battled cancer. This year the nephew of an Oak Knoll teacher is fighting this disease. In situations like this we can feel helpless. But we can make a difference. Not just to cancer patients but to anyone in need of blood. Each blood donation you make can help up to three people. One hour of your time and you get to make a difference in three people's lives. It is an amazing gift.
The MPCSD event will be held at the Menlo Park Center, 445 Burgess Drive, all day on Tuesday, November 3, Thursday, November 5, and Saturday November 7. The Menlo Park center is open for whole blood donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but you are encouraged to make an appointment either online or by calling (650) 723 - 7831. The Blood Center accepts donors aged 17+ (or 16 with parental consent). For the full list of donor requirements, visit the Eligibility page of their main website.
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Programs & Activities
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After-School Classes
Cardinal Fencing Club is offering a second after-school fencing session from October 30 through December 11 (with no class on November 27). If your child would like to continue with the fencing program on Friday afternoons from 3:20 - 4:20 p.m., please click here to download the registration form, or visit the PTO website for more information. There will be second sessions for the following programs as well, with more information to come shortly:
- Bookopolis
- Lacrosse
- Junior Chef Stars
- Speech and Debate
- Writing Workouts
- Wizbots
There are scholarships arranged by the PTO for qualifying students. For more information on scholarships, please contact your child's counselor, or click here. Please contact the After-School Classes PTO coordinator Erica Galles with any questions.
Hillview ASB
ASB Canned Food Drive
ASB is running a canned food drive from October 19 to November 2. Help us become closer as a community through helping others, provide food to people in need, and encourage students to make a difference in the world. Please send your child to school with canned food, which will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank. Second Harvest has the greatest need for canned meals (stew, chili, and soup), tuna, canned meat, canned foods with pop-top lids, canned fruit in juice, and canned vegetables with low sodium. Rice, flour, sugar, and items packaged in glass unfortunately cannot be accepted. Thank you for your help!
HVTV
Our HVTV 10.8.15 episode is online with stories produced by students, for students. Check out this episode and more stories from our Hillview Television broadcast team here.
Hillview Drama
Hillview Drama Presents The Tempest
Come join the Hillview players as they re-create Shakespeare's last play, The Tempest. It is a beautiful and poetic comedy of redemption and forgiveness. Full of mayhem and magic, this classic tale is widely regarded as one of the bard's absolute best. Performances will take place at the Hillview PAC on:
- Thursday, November 5, at 3:30 p.m. - This is the student - pizza performance. Tickets are only $5 for students and include a slice of pizza.
- Friday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, November 7, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Hillview LibraryBooks Come Alive: This Friday, students dressed like characters from a book should come to the library before school or at brunch to get their picture taken and pick up their prize! Bring the book with you! Book Clubs: The book club meets this Thursday, October 29, at lunch to discuss The Swap. 8th graders are invited to attend the 8th grade book club on Wednesday November 4, to discuss The Name of the Star.
Canned Food Drive: Students may bring in cans of food for fine forgiveness (1 can = up to $1, no limit). Cans must be brought to the library and do not count towards the academy totals.
Research: 6th graders are beginning their first research project right around now. Parents can get a sneak peak of their resources on the library website, project pathfinder.
Library Quote Contest: We're looking for quotes to add to a large library display. Students are invited to submit great quotes about libraries, books, reading, and research. Forms available in the library.
MP Public Library Survey: One of our public libraries is looking for your input - students and parents are welcome to take the survey.
Hillview Science Fair Registration is now open until November 6! Last year there were over 100 students who participated in the Hillview Science Fair with some truly innovative and interesting experiments on a wide range of topics including light, food, animal behavior, music, computer memory, chemical reactions, photography, sports, etc. Come join the fun and think outside of the box!
To register, join the Edmodo group using the code: gndhyg, then follow the link. Students can earn Block H points. Questions? Students can go see Mr. Espinoza, Mr. Green, Ms. Hilborn, or Mr. Ritter.
Hillview Sports
Intramural Sports: Intramural sports continue this week with either volleyball/badminton or indoor hockey/soccer depending on PE activities. All students are invited but there will be a limit on how many may participate at once. No food or drink is permitted in the gym. Spectators are 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 do not 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. This will be the fifth week of games. Flag Football: Games and practice continue this week. Games this week include: Tuesday, October 27, Hillview Blue vs. Hillview Gold at Hillview at 3:45 p.m.; Thursday, October 29, Woodside Elementary 8th at Hillview at 4:00 p.m. and Hillview Gold at La Entrada at 3:45 p.m. The following week will be the final week of the program. Games next week will be annual Jamboree with Hillview/La Entrada/Woodside Elementary teams. The exact schedule TBA. All three Hillview teams (Blue/Gold/8th) will all play on November 3-5 (Tuesday to Thursday).
Basketball Registration Ends Today: All Hillview students are invited to register for our most popular after school sport, basketball. Registration ends today, Sunday, October 25, or until teams fill out, whichever comes first. You may already be placed on the waiting list. Please only register if you intend on playing. Mandatory Team Placement workouts for 6th/7th graders will take place on Saturday, November 14. New time for 6th grade boys is tentatively on Friday, November 13, from 4:30 - 5:50 p.m. 8th grade workouts will be held 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. We are only able to field as many teams as we have coaches. For example, if there are 54 players in a grade level that is enough for 6 teams of 9, but if there are only 5 teams of coaches there will be 5 teams of 10 and the last 4 to sign up will be on a waiting list. We will not carry teams of more than 10 for playing time reasons.
Hillview Dance and Cheerleading Spirit Squad: If you have spirit for our number one school, HILLVIEW, then this team is for you! The Dance and Cheerleading Spirit Squad is looking for enthusiastic students to join the team. Students will represent Hillview and learn dance and cheer techniques, stunts, sideline cheers, and pom pom routines while refining performance skills. Practices take place on Tuesdays from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the Fitness Room from December 1 to March 8. There will be no practice during winter break or on February 16 during February break. Performance and game information will follow but most games will be on Tuesdays. Students will attend one practice a week and perform at various school events and basketball games. Hillview's first annual Dance Show will take place on March 4 and 5.
An informational meeting will be held on November 17 at lunch in the Fitness Room. Registration closes on January 13. The registration fee is $120; no refunds will be given after December 1. A minimum of 10 registered students are needed to offer the program. If not enough students register, the program will not be offered. Please contact Katie DeAnda with questions. Questions regarding these sports programs should be directed to Harry Bell at (650) 483-4049.
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MPAEF News
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"Dine Out for the Kids" Update
Thank you for making "Dine Out for the Kids" such a huge success! The numbers are still coming in and looking fantastic! We are so grateful to our participating restaurants for their generosity and to our district families for Dining Out for the Kids.
Trick or Treat! Smell our feet! Let's make our schools so very hard to beat!
Forget ghosts and ghouls and goblins, it's pretty scary that the MPAEF Annual Parent Campaign ends on November 6. Don't think our specialists have a hand in Halloween happenings? Think again!
- Our physical education specialists help our kids develop the stamina they need to trick-or-treat on every street in the district!
- Our art specialists can inspire our kids do new and useful thing with all those candy wrappers!
- The guidance counselors we support can help our kids learn how to calm themselves down from the post-sugar crazies!
- Our science and innovation teams might help our students invent a calorie-free candy that actually tastes amazing!
With just a bare two weeks remaining in the campaign, remember how important your donation is to all of our students. Let's invest in education. Together. (And then go eat up all the leftover candy in celebration of a job well done.) Click here to pledge or donate today.
Save the Date: Annual Gift Boutique
Please save November 12 and 13 for the annual MPAEF Gift Boutique, to be held at the Allied Arts Guild! Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
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Menlo-Atherton High School News
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Attention Parents of 8th Graders!
Want to get the scoop on M-A from current M-A parents? M-A's Foundation for the Future is sponsoring a coffee for the purpose of community education. Join parents who currently have students at M-A for an informal conversation about the school on Wednesday, November 18, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the home of Roxy and Chet Bozdog, 33 Irving Avenue, Atherton. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Please send an email here if you plan to attend.
Sequoia Union High School District Election
There is an upcoming election for three Trustees to the Sequoia Union High School District School Board. The Sequoia District includes Menlo-Atherton High School. Ballots are being mailed to residents, and must be either dropped off at designated locations or postmarked by November 3. For information on the candidates, visit here. For information on the mail in or drop off process, click here.
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Community News
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Adopt A Teacher Who Needs Your Support: Make a real difference for a teacher and his/her students by "adopting" a K-8 teacher in East Palo Alto or east Menlo Park for a school year. Provide the teacher with encouraging notes and/or small gifts of appreciation, school supplies and support for two class parties. Financial commitment $500-600, time commitment very flexible. It's easy and fun to adopt a teacher with friends. Learn more or sign up on the Adopt a Teacher webpage or by contacting Jennifer Wythes Vettel.
Girl Scout Information Night: Is your daughter interested in Girl Scouts? Come to a parent information meeting at the Encinal Elementary School Library (195 Encinal Avenue, Atherton) on Tuesday, October 27 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Troops will be forming at many area schools. Parents of girls of all ages are encouraged to attend. For more information, email Amy McGaraghan or Michelle Carlson or call (800) 447-4475 ext. 3018. M-A's Challenge Day: Monday-Wednesday, October 26-28, 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Join us as a facilitator for one day for this memorable workshop that helps freshmen break down barriers and create new levels of empathy and respect. Facilitators lead students through games, activities and trust-building exercises and are guided by a professional, trained Challenge Day leader. To volunteer, email Julie Quinlan; put "Challenge Day Volunteer" in the subject line.
New All-Girls Robotics Team Forming: Does your daughter enjoy tinkering, designing, building, and programming robots in a culture that emphasizes teamwork, organizational and problem-solving skills? We are seeking girls in grades 7-12 to becoming founding members of a brand new FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team sponsored by the Girls Scouts of Northern California. Girls (and adult volunteers) of all skill and experience levels are welcome. For more information, please contact Helen Chen.
New Bike Boulevard Proposed for Hillview and M-A Students The Menlo Park bike commission has proposed a route with dedicated bike lanes that would allow students biking to Hillview and Menlo-Atherton to cross El Camino safely. For more details, see the Palo Alto Daily News story here. Parents can help make this happen by emailing the City Council. To get the latest on the plan, "like" the Bike Menlo Park Facebook page.
Woodside Community Theatre's Chicago, October 16-25 - FINAL SHOW TODAY: For the past month and a half, Woodside Community Theatre has been rehearsing their production of Chicago at Hillview during the evenings and on Saturdays in the Music Room. They have now begun their run at Woodside High School. Come out and see some of the best community theatre on the peninsula. Mr. Vaughan is performing on stage with them! For tickets and information, please click here.
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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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