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In This Issue
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Character Education
Mini-Course Week
Sweatshirts, Yearbooks
New Crossing Guard
CDE Lawsuit
ActivitiesAfter-School Programs
Dance Show Debate to Discover
Drama Most Likely to Succeed, Movie Screening and Panel Discussion
Auction
Jeanie Ritchie Grants
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Quick Links
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Questions? Email:
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This Week
Tuesday, March 1
- Hillview Chorus Concert, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
Thursday, March 3
- Hillview Dance Show Preview, 3:30 p.m. Hillview PAC
Friday, March 4
- Hillview Dance Show, 7:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
Saturday, March 5
- Hillview Dance Show, 7:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
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Looking Ahead
Wednesday, March 9
- Parent Education: Most Likely to Succeed, Movie Screening and Panel Discussion, 6:30 p.m., Hillview PAC
Thursday, March 10
- MPCSD Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Office, TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton
Friday, March 11
Saturday, March 12
- District Wellness Fair, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
Sunday, March 13
- Debate to Discover Tournament, 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
Monday, March 28 - Thursday, March 31
Friday April 1
- Collaborative Planning Day - No School
Monday April 4 - Friday April 8
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Hillview School News
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Character Education: Volunteers Needed
One high-impact program at Hillview is Character Education for 7th and 8th graders on such topics as Bullying Prevention, Communication and Empathy. Character Education classes, which are moderated by parent volunteers, provide a meaningful opportunity to stimulate young minds while simultaneously modeling adult behavior. Hillview urgently needs ten additional parents to moderate sessions on March 9 and March 10. Moderating is easy. Scripts and instructions are provided in advance. Click here to sign up. Mini-Course Week, March 28 - April 1 Mini-Course Week is a month away. Letters were mailed home last week about your child's min-course. All the information you need to support your child in his/her mini-course, including any special drop-off or pick-up times and locations, is included in this letter. All permission slips, waivers and other forms in the letter must be signed and returned to Hillview by Friday, March 4. There are many ways to help out, either as a chaperone or by donating supplies. Read the letter to learn more. If your child will not be at school during Mini-Course Week, you should have received an email with information on what to do. If you did not receive a packet in the mail, or an email, please email minicourse@mpcsd.org. Please note both the start and end times for your mini-course. If you need help with transportation, please email minicourse@mpcsd.org. Most courses begin late on Monday, March 28, but the campus will be supervised beginning at 8:20 a.m. if your child needs to come to school at the regular time.
Sweatshirts and Yearbooks
Check out the fresh, new items in our store: new Hillview sweatshirts and yearbooks. Yearbooks may now be purchased as an individual item. Yearbooks cost $40 until May 31; after May 31, the price will increase to $45. Scholarships are available for yearbooks ; if interested, please contact your child's counselor. If you have already purchased an ASB card, no need to worry about purchasing a yearbook as yours is included with your ASB card. Click here and be one of the first to wear your new sweatshirts on campus. Bring your receipt during lunch or brunch to the Student Center to pick it up. Your yearbook will be delivered to your classroom. Third Crossing Guard Added at Valparaiso and Elder
On February 22 we added a third crossing guard, before and after school, to help Hillview students safely navigate the busy intersection at Elder and Valparaiso. In-pavement lighting is scheduled for installation. Once installed, the crossing guard will be removed. Crossing guards also helps students navigate Olive Street and Santa Cruz Avenue.
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Hillview PTO News
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Hillview PTO Board Nominations
The Hillview PTO is actively recruiting volunteers to serve on the PTO Board and to fulfill other volunteer positions for the 2016 - 2017 school year. The Board, with parent volunteers, works with Hillview's administrative and teaching staff to create and support vital school programs and events. Interesting in learning more? Or know some great people who are just too shy to raise their hands? Feel free to nominate them as well. Please email Katie Angioletti to learn how you can get involved.
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MPCSD News
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California Department of Education (CDE) Lawsuit
As MPCSD informed parents on February 22, the California Department of Education (CDE) is currently engaged in litigation regarding the disclosure of students' protected personal information and records arising from the court order in the Morgan Hill Union School District's Concerned Parents Association and the Concerned Parent Association v. California Department of Education lawsuit. The plaintiffs in this litigation have requested numerous documents, as well as student data collected and stored by CDE, which may include personally identifiable student information from all students that have been enrolled in a California public school since 2008. To comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) the CDE has been ordered, among other things, to inform parents and students of the disclosure of such information.
MPCSD is not a party to this litigation and is not required to disclose any student information, nor does it intend to do so. However, the California Department of Education has all of the student information pertaining to MPCSD students and will be required to release this information to the plaintiffs. This information may include names, addresses, and mental/physical assessments of every student enrolled in any CA public school since 2008.
There is litigation to block this order; however, there are no guarantees that this will succeed. The only way to ensure that your child's private information will not be released is to complete the Objection to Release form here provided by the CDE, and follow the directions to submit the form prior to April 1, 2016.
MPCSD's First Wellness Fair to be Held on Saturday, March 12
Spring into wellness with good health and attend MPCSD's first Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. here at Hillview. This exciting event will focus on the physical wellness of children and parents and will offer attendees vision screenings, hearing tests, CPR/AED information, blood pressure screenings and more. This event is free and our entire community is welcome to attend.
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Programs & Activities
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After-School Programs
Spring session registration is open for After-School Programs. Back by popular demand is Matclub, an introductory wrestling program taught by the coaches of the M-A wrestling team. This program, which proved wildly popular last spring, is geared toward both boys and girls. M-A boasts a strong wrestling team comprised of more than fifteen female athletes. Registration information is available on the Hillview PTO website. Scholarships are available, through the PTO, for qualifying students. For scholarship information, please contact your child's counselor or click here. For more information on After-School Program offerings, please contact Erica Galles, PTO Coordinator.
Hillview Dance Show
Mark your calendar for the Hillview Dance Show on March 4 and 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hillview PAC. There will be a preview show on March 3 at 3:30 p.m. Purchase tickets here. Hillview Debate First through eighth graders with speech and debate experience are invited to a "Debate to Discover" scrim on March 13, 2016. Students will compete for five rounds. "Best Speaker" awards follow with an optional "Exhibition Match" between the top teams. Check-in will take place at 8:30 a.m. Awards will be presented at 5:15 p.m. The registration deadline is Sunday, March 6. The fee is $15.00 per student. Tournament of Champions (TOC) Points: 3 points per win; 1 point per loss. First through third graders may need to attend two or more tournaments to reach the 19 points required to enter the TOC. Fourth through eighth graders, who will need 29 points to enter the TOC, may need to enter three or more tournaments. Click here for details and to register. Hillview Drama
Hillview Summer Drama's 4th annual Summer Camp is offering three separate two-week camps this summer between June 27 and July 22 - Jungle Book for incoming 4th and 5th graders, Peter Pan and High School Musical 2 for incoming 6th graders through exiting 8th graders. Each camp is two weeks long with a performance at the end. Please go to the Hillview Drama web site and click on the "Summer Drama 2016" page for details and registration.
Hillview Sports
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports will continue on Wednesdays and Thursdays until further notice. Activity is now back to soccer/hockey or volleyball, badminton, or possibly ping pong, depending on the Physical Education department class set up. 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.
After-School Basketball
Basketball games for all teams continue. Game days are: Monday - 8th grade boys/girls; Tuesday - 6th grade girls; Wednesday - 6th grade boys; Thursday - 7th grade girls; Friday - 7th grade boys. 6th/7th graders play at Arrillaga gym. 8th graders play at any of the following schools: Hillview/La Entrada, Woodside Elementary or Corte Madera. 6th/7th grade schedules and standings can be found here. Click here for the unofficial 6th/7th grade game and standings schedule.The 8th grade schedule, found here, is also attached to the PTO website as is an unofficial 6th/7th grade game/standings schedule. League games have now concluded. Playoffs will begin this week for all grade levels. Best of luck to all Hillview teams.
After-School Tennis
Tennis Registration is now closed. All those on the list will be assigned to a team or will be able to sign up for tryouts and be placed on a team. Tryout dates will be March 1-4. Following tryouts, coaches will determine which players will be on the Varsity A Gold or Varsity B teams. Once players have been assigned to teams, those who used the free signup code will need to complete the registration process and pay. Those who paid when they registered will not need to register again. Anyone who signed up after February 12 will be placed on a waiting list. Team practice will begin the week of March 7. League matches begin the week of March 21.
Track
Track registration will begin this week. The track program will begin immediately following Spring Break on Monday, April 11, and continue through Wednesday, May 18. Track is every Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. on the Menlo-Atherton High School Track. Participating schools include Hillview; Oak Knoll; Encinal; Laurel; Woodside Elementary; La Entrada and Corte Madera. There will be a limit of 75 participants for Hillview/Encinal/Oak Knoll/Laurel students.
Boys Volleyball Hillview boys have been invited to join a Spring Volleyball League with Palo Alto schools and others. The League will start the week of April 18. Practice will begin in late March. The program was just approved this week, and registration will begin sometime between today and Sunday, March 7. There will be a limit of 12 players on the team.
Questions regarding any of these sports programs should be directed to Harry Bell or (650) 483-4049.
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Parent Education
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MPCSD Parent Education Speaker Series: Most Likely to Succeed, Movie Screening and Panel Discussion
You've heard the buzz, now come see what it's all about. Are public schools in need of a drastic overhaul? Where is MPCSD in the continuum of innovation? Join us for a screening of the thought-provoking documentary followed by a panel discussion of education leaders on Wednesday, March 9 in the Hillview PAC. Light refreshments will be provided, and free onsite childcare will be available for potty-trained children. Click here for details or to listen to recordings of past speakers.
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MPAEF News
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Yeehaw! Round up your friends and mosey on over to the Saloon (MacArthur Park in Palo Alto) on Saturday, April 30 for our Wild, Wild, West Auction Celebration! We'll shoot the breeze over fine grub and spirits and kick up our heels (cowboy boots, naturally) on the dance floor. It's a casual affair - jeans, boots and your favorite Western buckle or Stetson hat will work just fine. Tickets go on sale on April 12 here. Tuesday, March 1, is the deadline to donate your auction item/experience or party/getaway. Please help support the auction in a way that feels meaningful to you. How to help? Some ideas are listed below, and the online donation form can be found here.
Co-host a Party - Whether it's a dinner party for 10 or a backyard bash, we can help!
Co-host a Kids' Party - Imagine a party your child would enjoy and offer it to kids in your child's grade. Kids love seeing friends after summer break. Sports, Game Tickets - Donate 2, 4 or more tickets to see the Giants, A's, Sharks, Warriors, Stanford Football, Stanford Basketball, 49ers, Raiders...Earthquakes. Theater or Concert Tickets - Everyone loves a great show or experience! If you love ballet, opera, the symphony or theater, chances are someone else will, too! Kids in Training - Share your day with an MPCSD student. Broaden their horizons and open their minds to what you love professionally. Getaways and Adventures - Getaways and adventures are always popular and a great addition to the auction unless it's a stay in your garage. Do you love to bake, code, cycle, hike, invent, invest, sail, sew, or photograph? Help others by donating your time, your goods, your services.Wines, Champagnes and Spirits Donate a bottle, a wine experience or a wine club membership...something worth talking about over a nice bottle of Bordeaux or Chablis.
Thank you to those who have already contributed to the auction. Questions? Our auction co-chairs are Krista Rosa Brennan, Mary Grundy, Flavia Herrod and Cyndy Hogan, and can be contacted here.
Announcing Hillview Recipients of the Jeanie Ritchie Grant
Congratulations to Maia Bromberg ("Three Little Pig House"); Julie Hilborn ("Teaching the Next Generation Science Standards with Watershed Model"); and Tom Lyons ("Engineering a Greener Future: Designing Wind Turbines") at Hillview. Each received a Jeanie Ritchie Grant to pursue innovative teaching and provide unique educational experiences to students. Funded by the MPAEF, Jeanie Ritchie grants embody MPAEF's motto: Investing in Education. Together. Thanks to MPAEF's generous donors and a special thank you to all of the teachers in our district whose stellar contributions make our school district among the best in the country. Congratulations to this year's recipients! Thank you for being amazing role models of innovation and hard work.
Thanks to Our Realtor and Business Partners
We want to take the opportunity to shout out some appreciation to just a few of our many realtor and business partners in the community. Thank you for your support!
Gold Level
Left Bank and LB Steak are donating all Sunday Night corkage fees during 2016 to the MPAEF!
Support our schools by bringing your own bottle of wine to enjoy with your favorite Sunday meals, such as the Prime Rib Dinner at LB Steak or 3-course Sunday Supper Prix-Fixe at Left Bank.
Thank you to Alkalign, MPAEF Bronze Business Partner  The first annual Alkalign for Education Drive was a great success! 40 schools and 300 people worked out for a great cause, and the MPAEF had the highest level of participation. Imagine what we could do next year! For more information email info@alkalignstudios.com.
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Menlo-Atherton High School News
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2016 M-A Foundation Auction Party: Early Bird Tickets on Sale
Join us on Saturday, March 12, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. for a night of unforgettable music and dancing at the Fox Forum in Redwood City. This new, fun club setting is the perfect place to party...where the music (high-energy party band Pulse) and company will rock you and the live auction items will make you roar! Click here to buy your tickets now for M-A's Rock n Roar Auction 2016 and keep M-A Rocking! M-A Dance Team Show and Fundraiser Support the M-A Dance Team at its 13th Annual Dance Team Show and Fundraiser on Saturday, March 26, at 6:00 p.m., M-A PAC. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.) Purchase tickets directly from Dance Team members for $15.00 for adults and $8.00 for students here or email Robbie Baxter.
M-A Drama Presents Into the Woods
Into the Woods takes the audience on a musical adventure featuring favorite familiar characters in a lyrically rich re-telling of classic Brothers Grimm fables. Curses, quests, romance, and surprises abound in these woods. Performances take place on March 3 - 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Menlo-Atherton PAC. Tickets are available for $14 for adults and $10 for students/seniors at the door or online.
M-A Senior Fashion Show: "Be aM-Amazing" The M-A Senior Fashion Show is a professionally choreographed, high-energy production that stars the incredible 2016 senior class. For more than 35 years, the Senior Fashion Show has been an M-A tradition and the PTA's largest fundraiser, funding many important student and school services. The show helps seniors bond, celebrate their last year of high school and brings together the community in a celebration of M-A spirit. There will be three performances. Tickets go on sale March 1. Join us before the first show for a catered lunch at 11:30 a.m. The show will take place on March 19 at 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. in the M-A PAC.
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Community News
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Gailieo Innovation Camps for Pre-K through 8th Graders: Spend Summer Awesome
Sign up for Galileo Summer Camp and MPCSD Benefits. Galileo believes that summer camp should be crazy fun and profoundly enriching at the same time. That's why their summertime silliness is backed by thoughtful curriculum and an audacious educational approach that inspires kids to become bold, visionary innovators. Staffed by the best instructors in the business, Galileo runs engaging camps to inspire kids from pre-K all the way through 8th grade. Camp Galileo (pre-K - 5th graders) offers art, science, and outdoor activities wrapped in four fresh weekly themes for 2016. Galileo Summer Quest (5th - 8th graders) offers 12+ majors that let kids realize their personal vision in the subject of their choice. Extended care and an optional healthy lunch program are also offered.
Watch these great videos to learn more about the Galileo experience: Camp Galileo and Galileo Summer Quest. Just like last year, Galileo is offering a camp conveniently located at Hillview. Need-based scholarships are being offered for MPCSD students; for more information, please contact your child's school counselor. In addition, a portion of your registration at the Hillview location will benefit the MPCSD.
Adventures in Writing Summer Camp: Help your child become a better writer! Adventures in Writing summer camp teaches students entering grades 1 through 5 writing skills, then lets them apply their news skills to creating their own eBook! Drawing from music, technology, art and theater, AIW Camp inspires reluctant writers and delights those who already have "the bug." To learn more, watch the video here or call 415-322-0511.
All Students Matter Classroom Volunteers Needed: If you've enjoyed volunteering in your child's classroom, please consider visiting a classroom in East Menlo Park or East Palo Alto where there are virtually no parent volunteers. All Students Matter volunteers volunteer once a week, for about an hour, helping students in grades K - 4 with reading and math skills. Sign up now to volunteer in September. We provide training and coordinate everything. To learn more, or to sign up, visit here or contact Keri Tully.
2016 Girl Scout Fun Run: March 13, 9:00 a.m., Fleet Feet, 859 Santa Cruz Avenue.
Fleet Feet Menlo Park presents the 2016 Girl Scout Fun Run. Please join us for a fast, flat, out-and-back fun run. Free and everyone is welcome. Wear green and enjoy Girl Scout cookies post-run. Sign up here.
Menlo Park Summer Camp Fair: March 4, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. This fun family event provides parents an opportunity to learn about summer camps and gives kids a chance to meet camp staff. Free pizza, games and crafts for attendees while they discover their options. Register your child for a City-run camp at the Summer Camp Fair and receive a 10 percent discount. The event ends with a raffle for summer-themed prizes, including one, free week of camp!
Mid-Peninsula Water Polo Club Spring Session: The Mid-Peninsula Water Polo Club is enrolling players for the Spring session. Menlo-Atherton Coach Brandon Johnson is teaching children, who are grouped by their age, water polo fundamentals while emphasizing fun. Brandon, a three-time All-American who played at UC Irvine and professionally in Australia, is assuming the head coach duties at Menlo-Atherton High School. MPWPC is a non-profit sports club for local kids. Twelve-week session runs from February 22 to May 8 (no practice April 3-10) at the M-A pool on Tuesdays from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The session fee is $400. Click here for more information.
MPCSD Summer Camp webpage: Please visit MPCSD's new Summer Camp web page for updated information about available summer camp programs in the community. Northern California Debate League Family Skating Party: March 20, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Winter Lodge, 3009 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Whether you are a great debater or non-debater, skater or non-skater, you are invited to the Northern California Debate League Family Skating Party for a great time. Enjoy snacks and skating in a friendly atmosphere and meet other families in our community. Debate coach extraordinaire Brier Buchalter will join in the fun. Everyone in the school community is welcome. This is NOT a drop-off event; every child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Admission fee: $16.00 for skaters; $5.00 for non-skaters includes entry fee, snacks and skate rental for skaters. Click here for more details and to RSVP.
The Princess Project Clothing Drive: The Key Club at M-A is sponsoring a prom dress and accessories drive to benefit The Princess Project, which promotes self-confidence and individual beauty by providing free prom dresses and accessories to more than 1,100 Bay Area high school girls who cannot otherwise afford them. Ideal donations include formal gowns, from 2010 to now, short or long, in excellent condition in all sizes and colors. Accessories should be stylish, clean and in excellent condition. Drop off your donations at M-A's front office. If you prefer your donations be picked up and would like a receipt, please email Sally Carlson. The project will run from Monday, February 29 to Friday, March 4, 7:10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., M-A Front Office.
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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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