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In This Issue
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8th Grade Grad Party
8th Grade M-A Info Night
Bikes and Bicycle Safety
Preplanned Absences
8th Grade Yearbook Ads & Baby Pictures
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Quick Links
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Questions? Email:
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This Week Monday, January 18 - No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Thursday, January 21
- Science Fair Open House, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. (Participants should arrive at 5:45 p.m.), Hillview PAC
- MPCSD Special Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m., District Office, TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton
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Looking Ahead
Wednesday, January 27
- Parent Education: "The Connected Family" with Kiran Gaind, 6:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
Sunday, January 31
- Deadline to submit eighth grade baby pictures and optional dedication ads for yearbook
Monday, February 1
- Menlo-Atherton Joint Concert with Hillview 7/8 Concert Band, 7/8 Orchestra, and Jazz Band, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Menlo-Atherton High School PAC
Tuesday, February 2
- Menlo-Atherton High School Overview with Principal Simone Kennel, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
- MPCSD Special Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Office, TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton
Friday, February 5
- 7th/8th Grade Dance, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
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Hillview School News
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Eighth Grade Graduation Party
You are likely aware that the annual 8th Grade Graduation Party is a wonderful celebration for our 8th graders. But you may not be aware that the celebration is funded solely by donations. If you are a parent of an 8th grader and have already made your donation, we greatly appreciate it! We hope to have the support of every 8th grade family that is able to contribute. If you are able to donate and have not yet done so, please click here to make a donation. As the graduation party is open to all 8th graders regardless of donation, please consider sponsoring an additional child (or two); you can adjust your donation amount using the pull down menu. If you have any questions please feel free to email joelrut@pacbell.net or swaldron@yahoo.com. Eighth Grade Parents: Introduction to Menlo-Atherton High School Mark your calendars to hear Simone Kennel, Principal of Menlo-Atherton High School, give an overview of M-A's academic, athletic and extracurricular offerings on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the Hillview PAC. Get the inside scoop on life at M-A from Mrs. Kennel, M-A's College Counselor, and students.
Bikes and Bike SafetyIn this winter weather, biking can be a bit more dangerous with slick roads. Please be sure to remind your student to follow all rules of the road when biking to and from school:
- Wear a fastened helmet.
- Obey all traffic signs and signals.
- Stay in designated bike lanes.
- Lock bikes when parked on campus.
Preplanned AbsencesIf your student has an upcoming preplanned absence, please have your student check in with his/her counselor for an ISP (Independent Study Plan). An ISP allows students to keep up with schoolwork while away and avoid unexcused absences. Contact Mrs. Cardosi for 7th graders and 8th graders with last names A-L, and Ms. Watts for 6th graders and 8th graders with last names M-Z. Students Arriving to School After Appointments In order to excuse your student's tardy when he/she arrives to school after an appointment, please notify Mrs. Bell via a note with the student, an email, or a phone call, or walk in to the office to check your student into school. Without verification from an adult, your student will be marked tardy. Our tardy policy, as outlined in the Parent and Student Handbook, states that the first two tardies in any given trimester are "free," tardies 3, 4, and 5 each earn a 30 minute office detention, and tardies 6 and up each earn a SaturdaySchool. Yearbook Ads and Baby Pictures for Eighth Graders
There will be two opportunities to get your child's baby picture into this year's Hillview Yearbook:
- A baby picture collage where you can submit your child's baby picture to be included with other 8th graders. This service is offered to 8th grade families free of charge to thank you for your support.
- In addition, we are continuing to offer optional dedication ads you may purchase for your 8th grader. We are using an online system where you and your child get to personalize everything about the ad. Some parents like to use it to immortalize a message to their child along with a baby picture; others create a timeline using multiple photos of their child through the years.
Please click here for more specific instructions on how to submit a baby picture for the collage and/or order the dedication ad. Some families decide to only enter a picture into the collage, while others do both. Please note that both the dedication ad and the baby picture submissions are due by January 31, 2016.
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MPCSD News
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Special Board Meetings to Discuss Possible Parcel Tax
We encourage you to attend upcoming special Board meetings to learn more about the possibility of an MPCSD parcel tax for this spring. The two Special Board meetings are:
- Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. (Note change from January 19)
- Tuesday February 2 at 6:00 p.m. (Possible action to place parcel tax on May 2016 ballot)
Both Board meetings will be held in the MPCSD TERC building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton.
At the January 11 Board meeting, Superintendent Ghysels and the Long Range Planning Ad Hoc Committee continued their discussion with the School Board on the possibility of renewing and/or increasing a parcel tax as Measure C expires on June 30, 2017. Following the Board's initial discussion at its November 10, 2015 meeting, Superintendent Ghysels and staff held thirteen informational meetings with parents, staff and the community in December. The informational meetings included Measure C background information, student enrollment data, District's financials, and an overview of MPCSD's commitment to excellence. The Board continued its parcel tax discussions on December 8, 2015, December 15, 2015 and January 11, 2016.
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Programs & Activities
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Hillview Music
Congratulations!!
Five Hillview musicians took part in this past weekend in the CMEA BAY SECTION Honors Ensembles at Chabot College in Hayward. These students spent all Friday rehearsing with their respective ensembles (Concert Band, String Orchestra & Mixed Chorus (SATB)) and then presented a concert on Saturday afternoon. More than 350 young musicians from all over the Bay Area performed together, representing 250 middle and junior high schools. Congratulations to Rebekah Lindsay (band), Hannah Drucker (band), Joseph Vanderhoven (orchestra), Jacob Richter (orchestra) and Charlie Smith (chorus) for representing Hillview!
M-A Joint Concert - Monday, February 1
Mark your calendars! The M-A Joint Concert is your chance to hear the advanced instrumental ensembles from Hillview, La Entrada and M-A perform. Hillview will be represented by the 7/8 Concert Band, 7/8 Orchestra, and Jazz Band. This concert demonstrates to our middle-schoolers just how good they will sound as they continue in their music education into high school. Musicians in all grades are encouraged to attend, even if they are not performing. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m., and run until 8:30 p.m.
National Music Standards Adopted by the MPCSD School Board At the January 11 MPCSD Board meeting, the District's Music Team presented its first draft of how the District will apply the 2014 National Standards for Music Education to the current curriculum. Over the course of the year, the Music Department (district-wide) will meet to review objectives and set goals through defined units of study following the strands set forth in the National Standards. Hillview will be following the "Ensemble" strand. One of the most interesting changes to the 2014 Standards from the original 1994 National Standards for the Arts is the promotion of creativity as exemplified by composition and improvisation. At Hillview, we have begun consistent drilling and work in all 7/8 ensembles in rhythmic and melodic dictation and music theory. The plan is to have students create compositions in the the 3rd trimester, and culminate in a small recital of original works. Look for more information on these developments in the coming weeks and months. This year, the Hillview Drama Department is presenting "The Music Man" on March 17-19. We provide the pit musicians. If your student is interested in playing in the Band, please ask them to see Mr. Vaughan. The pit band musicians will include: Piano: rehearsal and performance - must have great reading skills! Any parent who can help with this vital instrument is encouraged to contact Mr. Vaughan! The piano is the linchpin to the entire Pit Band.Reed 1 (flute, piccolo) Reed 2 (Bb Clarinet, English Horn, Oboe) Reed 3 (Bb Clarinet, Soprano Sax) Reed 4 (Bb Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo) Reed 5 (Bb clarinet, Bari Sax, Bass Sax, Bassoon) Violin 1,2,3
Cello Bass Trumpet 1,2,3
Trombone 1,2 Percussion: drumset plus toys, sound effects, timpani and mallets
Hillview Science Fair
Visit the Hillview Science Fair on Thursday, January 21, in the Hillview PAC. More than 100 students voluntarily carried out investigations and collected data that they are eager to share with others who are passionate about science. The fair will be open to the public from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. All participants should plan to arrive at 5:45 p.m. See you there!
Hillview Sports
After-School Basketball Season Begins
Basketball games for all teams continue this week. Game days will be Mondays for 8th grade boys/girls, Tuesdays for 6th grade girls, Wednesdays for 6th grade boys, Thursdays for 7th grade girls, and Fridays for 7th grade boys. 6th/7th graders will play at Arrillaga gym; 8th graders will play at one of the following schools: Hillview/La Entrada, Woodside Elementary, and Corte Madera. The 6th/7th grade schedules and standings can be found here. The 8th grade schedule can be found here. Click here for the unofficial 6th/7th grade game and standings schedule.
Intramural Sports Intramural sports will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays until further notice. Basketball will be the activity of choice as long as participation remains high. All students are welcome to participate, but there will be a limit of 40 players at any one time. Spectators are welcome, as always, to sit in the bleachers or on the stage. Please note that there is no food/drink in the gym and backpacks should be off the floor.
Registration for after school tennis will begin later in January. Tennis fills up very quickly and a limited number of players can be accommodated. If your student plans on playing tennis, please enroll as soon as registration opens. Tennis season extends from the beginning of March through early to mid-May. There will be no program during Spring Break.
Track Registration
Track registration will begin in early February. The program will begin on Monday, April 11, immediately following Spring Break and will continue through Wednesday, May 18. Track practices will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. on the Menlo-Atherton High School Track. Participating schools include: Hillview, Oak Knoll, Encinal, Woodside Elementary, La Entrada and Corte Madera.
Questions regarding these sports programs should be directed to Harry Bell at (650) 483-4049.
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Parent Education
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MPCSD Parent Education Speaker Series: "From Control to Connection," with Kiran Gaind, Wednesday, January 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Kiran Gaind, modern parent coach at the Connected Family: Raising Great Parents, will share basic tenets of brain science, demonstrate how to practice mindful listening and self-awareness, and how to use connected parenting tools with children of any age - including tools for maintaining a strong parent-child relationship during adolescent years. Join us for this enriching event on Wednesday, January 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the Hillview PAC. For more information on the Connected Family click here. Light refreshments will be provided, and free, onsite childcare will be available for potty-trained children.
Please also mark your calendars for these upcoming speakers:
- Julie Lythcott-Haims - "Throw Out The Checklisted Childhood" on February 24
- Most Likely To Succeed - movie screening and panel discussion on March 9
Click here for more details, as well as for recordings of past speaker events.
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MPAEF News
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Make a Difference. Join the MPAEF Board and Invest in Education. Together.
Happy new year! We are looking for interested parent volunteers to join the MPAEF Board for the 2016-2017 school year. There is a place for everyone, so whether your interests are in event planning, donor or business stewardship, graphic design or campaign leadership, we'd love to hear from you.
Get involved and help us enable excellence in our schools as we invest in best-in-class teachers, arts and sciences, innovation and technology and guidance and wellness. Nominations are now being accepted. Please email nominating@mpaef.org if interested.
To get an idea of who we are, click here to see a list of current positions and Board members.
MPAEF Spring Auction Items Needed!
The time has come to think about donations to the MPAEF Spring Auction on Saturday, April 30. To make it the best ever, we need your help with donations. Donate an item to inspire, entertain or motivate our kids, or donate a party, event or experience for adults! Auction submissions are due Friday, February 12. Already organized and ready to donate? Please email auction@mpaef.org. More details coming soon!
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Community News
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Calling All Baseball and Softball Players! The Alpine/West Menlo Little League and Softball is open for registration for ball players aged 4 to 13. We're looking to teach young players, give parents opportunities to hone their coaching skills and provide (paying) jobs for kids interested in youth umpiring. Little League Baseball and Softball offers a combination of fun and competitive play in a community-centric environment unparalleled in youth sports. Come join the fun! Registration closes on January 21for players ages 8-13. Click here to sign up.
Try Lacrosse this Spring! There will be a free beginner Clinic for 7 - 13 year old girls and boys on Saturday, January 23, from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. The M-A Grizzlies has openings for boys and girls ages 7 - 13 for teams this spring. The season runs from February to May. Lacrosse is a fast-paced game that young players can learn quickly and has similar skills to soccer and basketball. Come on out for some fun! Click here for more information and to register online.
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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 the preceding 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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