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In This Issue
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Menlo-Atherton H.S. Registration
Lost and Found
Mini-Course Week
Muslim Traditions Presentation
MPCSD NewsService Award Nominations Student Re-Enrollment
8th Grade Graduation
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Quick Links
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Questions? Email:
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This Week
Monday, March 21
- Public Hearing at Menlo Park Planning Commission Meeting on Greenheart Complex, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Menlo Park Civic Center Council Chambers
Wednesday, March 23
- Menlo-Atherton High School Registration Form due for 8th Graders
Thursday, March 24
- Menlo-Atherton High School Open House, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., M-A High School (location details below)
Friday, March 25
- Deadline to submit Block H Points for Trimester 2
- Deadline to sign-up for Hillview Talent Show audition spot
- "Exploring Muslim Traditions and Practices" presentation during 5th and 6th periods, Hillview PAC
Saturday, March 26
- Middle School Quiz Bowl, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
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Looking Ahead
Monday, March 28 - Thursday, March 31
- Mini-Course Week - note schedule changes below
- No After-School Programs
Friday, April 1
- No School - Collaborative Planning Day
Monday, April 4 - Friday, April 8
Tuesday, April 12
- MPCSD Regular Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., District Office, 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton
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Hillview School News
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Attention 8th Grade Parents - Menlo-Atherton High School Registration
Your child received a Menlo-Atherton High School registration information form on Friday. Please look over this information with your child and note the elective choices on the reverse side. Forms are due to the office by March 23, with parent signature. If your child will not be attending M-A, please attach a copy of the acceptance letter to the registration form and turn it into the office.
Lost and Found
Spring Break is fast approaching and there is a RECORD amount of clothing and other items in the Lost and Found. Please come by and check it out to make sure nothing is yours before it is all donated on March 31.
Mini-Course Week, March 28 - March 31
Just 8 more days! NEW requests for supplies and chaperones can be found here. Please clearly label all items with the course name. If you loan an item you would like returned, please be sure to also label it with your first and last names and phone number. Unless otherwise specified, items may be dropped off to the Hillview office beginning TOMORROW. Thank you for your help. The more supplies we get donated, the more of our district budget can go to priceless experiences - field trips that can't be donated - and that's what makes this week so exceptional. The kids count on you to make this program possible.
Please note that during Mini-Course Week, there will be no After-School Programs. Flight School, Hawk Stars, Homework Center and Math Clinic. All PTO-sponsored classes will not take place.
Please note the following information about transportation for Mini-Course Week:
- The Tinsley Transfer Student bus will run its regularly scheduled morning routes, Monday through Thursday. The Tinsley Transfer Student bus will not run in the afternoon, however we will have rides home available for students who need them.
- Sam Trans will run its regularly scheduled morning routes on Monday through Thursday.
- SamTrans will run its regularly scheduled afternoon routes on Monday and Tuesday.
- We are in negotiations with SamTrans to change the timing of the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon routes to match the 3:05 p.m. release time. This has not yet been confirmed.
Muslim Traditions and Practices PresentationOn Friday, March 25, during 5th period (12:42 - 1:27 p.m.) and 6th period (1:31 - 2:16 p.m.) in the Hillview PAC, all parents are invited to join the 7th grade social studies classes for a presentation on Exploring Muslim Traditions and Practices. The presentation is designed for middle school classes in world history and geography and teaches students about Muslim traditions and practices in relation to other world religions. The speaker, Khushroo Shaikh, will join us from the Islamic Networks Group.
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Call for Service Award Nominations Tell us about an exceptional volunteer! Every year our District is fortunate to have parents, teachers, staff, and community volunteers give generously of their time, skills, and creativity to our schools. Many programs would not exist if not for this formidable group of volunteers, the "Pillars of our Community." Honorary Service Awards (HSAs) and School Service Awards (SSAs) recognize individuals who have contributed in an extraordinary way to our District. Please take a moment to nominate someone you know who goes above and beyond to make a difference in our schools. To nominate an individual, please complete the online nomination form by Sunday, April 3.
Mandatory Student Re-Enrollment was due last Friday, March 18
Thank you to the 75% of MPCSD families who submitted their 2016-17 re-enrollment before the deadline. Reminders were sent to all families who have not submitted. Re-enrollment is required for all MPCSD students so even though your plans for next year may not be finalized, please complete the re-enrollment process in any case. You always have the option of contacting the District's Registrar to update your enrollment status. If Internet access is an issue, a computer is available at the District office at 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton. If you have any questions about this process, please contact the District.
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8th Grade Graduation - Help Needed
To make this graduation event a big success we need LOTS of parent help, both on the big day and beginning this month. We are planning to build many of the props and decorations needed for the party rather than rent, and we need folks that can sew, work a jigsaw, paint by numbers, use a hot glue gun, have experience set building, or are just willing to learn something new and help out. If you are interested in helping out please click here to contact us. We will email volunteers periodically with information about projects and work sessions. We also need someone to coordinate a fundraiser night at a local Menlo Park eatery such as Amici's, Una Mas, or one of the others. You would be responsible for contacting businesses, finding the best deal, setting up a date, and publicizing it at school. If you are interested, please email us.
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Programs & Activities
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Hillview ASB
Block H points due for Service Hours and After School Sports
Trimester 2 has officially ended. You know what that means? Block H points for service hours and after school sports completed during Trimester 2 are due by Friday, March 25. Both Hillview Sports and non-Hillview sports are eligible to receive Block H points. The form can be downloaded here and printed or picked up from Mrs. Fichou in the student store. Forms must be turned in at the student store at recess or lunch before next Friday, March 25. Note: If the season for the sport ends during Trimester 3, please wait until the season is complete.
ASB 2016-2017 Elections
Even though it seems like a long time away, ASB elections will be here before you know it. An informational Q&A meeting was held on Monday, March 14, for students to learn about the process. If your child missed this informational meeting, but would like the details, have them see Mr. Darmanin in Room G3 ASAP. We have a Constitution test coming up just after spring break and an edmodo group where we provide the study materials and upcoming application details.
Hillview Talent Show
The Hillview Talent Show is still a few months away, but the Talent Show Audition process is about to begin. Due to Mini-Course and Spring Break timing, we are going to have students sign-up for auditions spots this week.The Talent Show timeline is as follows:
March 14-25: Audition Sign-ups: Please have your child see Mr. Darmanin in Room G-3 at lunch during the week of March 14 to fill out the audition sign-up form and be guaranteed an audition spot. Plus, receive "Tips & Tricks" for improving your act before the audition. Students who miss the audition sign-up window, but who still wish to audition are not guaranteed an audition, but every effort will be made to find an open time slot. The categories are: Musical Acts/Bands, Singing/Choral, Dance, Drama/Comedy Skits, and Miscellaneous.
April 12-15: Auditions: Auditions will take place during lunchtime or after school by special arrangement. Staff judges will grade performances on preparation, creativity, audience appeal, and, of course, talent! Not all acts make it into the final performance, but all categories are usually represented to create a variety of acts.
April 18: Talent Show list posted, acts notified, pre-sale notices for tickets to families of acts. April 29: Tickets go on sale online to the public. Both shows typically sell out before the show. May 2-5: Talent Show rehearsals after school. May 6-7: Talent Show - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Theme TBD)
Hillview Debate
Hillview's Second Annual Debate Tournament
Any 1st - 8th grader with Speech & Debate experience/understanding of Parliamentary Debate is welcome to join Hillview's Second Annual Debate Tournament the weekend of April 16-17. We only have 120 spots and had over 110 debaters participate at the last tournament, so sign up ASAP.
On Saturday, April 16, check in will start at 8:30 a.m. and awards will start at approximately 5:15 p.m. All students will compete for 5 rounds, followed by "Best Speaker" awards and an optional Exhibition Match between the top teams. On Sunday, April 17, roll call will start at 9:00 a.m. and final awards will start at approximately 3:30 p.m. The top teams return on Sunday. All rounds are Single Elimination and immediately followed by awards. The day ends with a Championship round for 1st & 2nd place.
NEW - Tournament of Champions (TOC) Points: 3 points per win, 1 point per loss. 1st - 3rd graders will need 19 points to enter the TOC. You will likely need to attend 2 or more tournaments to reach 19 points. 4th - 8th graders will need 29 points to enter the TOC. You will likely need to attend 3 or more tournaments to reach 29 points.
The registration deadline is Friday, April 1. The participation fee is $25 per student since the Hillview Debate Club is responsible for covering the cost of the tournament, including the awards, supplies and use of facilities. Please visit the website for the full details and to register.
Hillview Library
It's Bonus Book Week
The library will be closed for Mini-Course week, so students with clear library accounts may check out up to six books from the Hillview library to keep through Spring Break.
OverDrive eBooks
If your reader works through those six books really quickly, encourage them to check out an eBook. If the book will not download onto the school iPad, either choose Read in Browser, or try a different kind of device. Most books work on most devices, and you can find directions here on the website.
Hillview Sports
Intramural Sports
During this week only, intramural sports will take place on Monday (3/21) and Tuesday (3/22). Mr. Bell will be out of town the rest of the week. There will be no intramurals held during Mini-Course week. The activities this week will include soccer/hockey or volleyball, badminton, and possibly ping pong, depending on the Physical Education Department plans. All students are welcome although there is an upper limit to how many can play at once. Spectators are welcome, as always, to sit in the bleachers or on the stage. There is no food/drink in the gym and backpacks should be off the floor.
Sports During Mini-Course Week
Some after-school sports will be held during Mini-Course Week: Tennis, Boys Volleyball League, and Spring Volleyball clinics. If your child has a conflict due to Mini-Courses, please ask him/her to notify his/her coach(es).
After-School Basketball
Basketball season officially ended last Thursday and Friday with 7th grade girls and boys finals. Great games were played by all teams. Please return uniforms to the coaches or to the Hillview front office. Uniforms should be in a bag with the player's/coach's names written on them.
After-School Tennis
Tennis practice continues this week and league matches have also begun. Good luck to all three Hillview teams!
Track Registration Continues
As of March 15, there was only one slot remaining. Once we fill, all others will be placed on a waiting list although there is a good chance that players will be added from the waiting list. The program will begin immediately following Spring Break on Monday, April 11, and will continue through Wednesday, May 18. Track participants will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Menlo-Atherton High School Track.
Boys Volleyball We are excited to have our first boys volleyball team in years. The team is currently full. Others are welcome to sign up and join the waiting list. The first practice will take place on Friday, March 18. League matches will begin during the week of April 18.
Spring Volleyball
Another volleyball program for both boys and girls will begin this Tuesday, March 22 following a successful first year in 2015. Hillivew parent coach Kutlu Aricanli started the program and continues as Program Director. Coach Aricanli, as well as other parent and high school coaches, will teach players through drills and skill development activity. All players will play their share of matches too. Click here to register on Sportability. Questions can be directed to Coach Aricanli.
Questions regarding any of these sports programs should be directed to Harry Bell or (650) 483-4049. Quiz Bowl
Does your student enjoy the TV show Jeopardy? Quiz bowl is becoming popular in the Bay Area. It is similar to Jeopardy, but with easier questions and no money prizes. It's a lot of fun. The M-A High and Hillview quiz bowl clubs are sponsoring a middle school quiz bowl tournament on Saturday, March 26. The location will be at Hillview and it will run from about 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students can sign up for morning only, afternoon only, or all day. Students can sign up as an individual, or put together a team of three to five students and compete as a team. Questions cover academics, current events and popular culture. To see sample questions, visit the club website and click on Sample Questions - middle school. Please pass the word to friends at other local middle schools, since this is open to everyone. The Hillview Quiz Bowl club meets on Tuesdays at lunchtime in the music room. Want to sign up? Questions? Please contact Sue Kayton at (650) 853-1711.
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Menlo-Atherton High School News
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Menlo-Atherton Open House, Thursday, March 24, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.We are excited to welcome families to M-A to tour classrooms and view student work displays and performances. This year we'll have food trucks available so families can purchase dinner. Come join the fun! Click here for more information.
- 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - BBQ and Waffles food trucks (food available for purchase)
- 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Welcome to M-A in the PAC
- 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. - Meet M-A teachers in their classrooms, see student work displays and student performances in M-A campus classrooms. Student work displays include: Ceramics in Action, Dancing with a little badminton and volleyball, Dissecting eyeballs in Biology, Family Portraits, Guitar and Vocals, Student Art Show, World Language Garden Party
- 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. - Resource Fair for new families in the PAC Café. Meet Principal Simone Kennel, Complete address verification, Sign-up for M-A summer programs, Receive 9th Grade registration information and course selection information, Find information about Athletics, Electives, AVID, BUILD, MyLife, PTA, The Foundation for the Future, and other support programs.
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MPAEF News
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MPAEF Donor Roll Goes Green
MPAEF now has an friendly, online home for our 2015-16 Donor Roll online for the Annual Parent Campaign on the MPAEF website. And if you are an Endowment donor, this is the place for you. The same green thinking will be applied to this year's Wild Wild West catalog. In order to roll with the gift and match updates year-round, the new, paper-saving, digital auction catalog will not include our donor rolls.  On your mark. Get set. GO! MPAEF Schoolhouse Rocks 5K and Community Fun Run May 22, 2016 at Oak Knoll Elementary School
Lace up your shoes, slip on that sweatband, and mark your calendar for this year's MPAEF 5K and Community Fun Run. This year we will sprint, jog, skip, or stroll the familiar Oak Knoll course that will include both a 2.5K Family Fun walk/run and an electronic chip-timed 5K run. Both events kick off at 9:00 a.m. Following the run, there will be plenty of family entertainment at our Wellness Fair at Oak Knoll School, which features awards, food, music and more. The Schoolhouse Rocks 5K is a great event that celebrates how far we have come this year and gets us warmed up for summer break in sublimely sweaty style. If you love event planning or are just looking to get involved in the Schoolhouse Rocks 5K, shoot us an email.
Thanks to Our Realtor and Business Partners
We want to take this 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.
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Parent Education
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La Entrada Parent Education Speaker Series: "Helping Young Athletes Reach their Potential" with Steve Smith, PhD, Palo Alto UniversityHow can you help your child succeed in sports? We all want our kids to have a lifelong healthy lifestyle, but the balance between athletics, school, and family time can be challenging. In this fun, energetic workshop, Dr. Steve Smith, psychologist and professor of clinical psychology in the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium of Palo Alto University, will address the following topics:
- Healthy youth sports participation
- Specialization issues in youth sports
- Raising balanced kids
- Peak performance under pressure
- Goal-setting and the nature of control
Join us for this event on Tuesday, March 29, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the La Entrada Middle School Multi-Use Room (MUR) at 2200 Sharon Road, Menlo Park. Click here to register. Sponsored by the La Entrada PTA, this event is free and open to parents, students, faculty/staff, and community members. Questions? Contact Charlene Margot at (650) 868-0590.
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Community News
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All Students Matter Informational Coffee: April 18, 10:00 a.m.; Menlo Park address provided upon RSVP. If you've wondered what All Students Matter is all about, then please join other local parents who are already volunteering with us in the K-4 classrooms to learn more. We invite you for coffee and refreshments while you hear about how you can make a true difference in the life of students in east Menlo Park and East Palo Alto by volunteering for an hour a week. Please email Jeanette Kennedy to RSVP.
The Legends Baseball Experience Camp: The Legends Baseball Experience is a one-of-a-kind summer camp coached by the players and coaches of the nationally-recognized Menlo Park Legends collegiate team. Sign up for the Dugout Experience after camp program and your child will be a bat boy, participate in between-innings activities, and hang out in the Legends dugout and watch the coaches play in a real live game. Click here for more information and to register. Menlo Park Student Cultural Exchange: Menlo Park invites residents between the ages of 13 and 15 years old to apply for the Student Cultural Exchange trip to visit the town and families of Bizen, Japan, a friendship city with Menlo Park. This is an opportunity to experience Bizen's rich culture and heritage, see famous 1,000 yr old Bizen-yaki pottery history, and visit Japan's first public school dating back to the 17th Century. The application process and trip details are detailed below:
- Eligibility is for Menlo Park residents ages 13-15
- Prepare a written essay (no longer than one typed page) outlining your interest and what impact this cultural exchange would have on your life and your community.
- Apply online by 5:00 p.m. on April 1; winners will be notified by April 20
- Each participant must purchase their own round trip flight to Japan
- Food and lodging is provided
- Four parents or related adults will be chosen to help lead the trip
Click here for more information and to apply.
Menlo Park Library Friends Need Volunteers: The Menlo Park library is looking for help on a regular basis (3-4 hours per week for at least 6 months) at the main library. Our volunteers turn 200,000 donated books per year into dollars that support our Library's programs and events. Our Library is a vital community resource for students, alums, and parents so please consider joining our team. We offer plenty of training and support, plus flexible hours and a congenial environment. Must be eighteen or older. Please contact us at (650) 330-2521 or email us for more information. Northern California Debate League Family Skating Party: March 20, 3:30 - 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. Oshman Family JCC After-School Program: This weekly program is for grades K-8. It offers an enriching, active, and nurturing afterschool experience. For more information and to sign up, click here. Summer Camp Webpage: Please visit MPCSD's new Summer Camp webpage for updated information about available camp programs in the community.
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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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