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This Weektop  

Tuesday, September 20
  • MPCSD Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., District Office, TERC Building, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton
Wednesday, September 21
  • Bike Rodeo in 6th grade PE classes
Thursday, September 22
  • Bike Rodeo in 6th grade PE classes
  • Hillview Back-to-School Night, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Hillview Campus
Looking Ahead 

Wednesday, September 28
  • Hillview Music Potluck, 6:00 p.m., Hillview PAC
Thursday, September 29
  • MPAEF Hillview New Family Social, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., RSVP here

Friday, September 30

  • Deadline to submit PTO donations

Tuesday, October 4

  • Hillview and Menlo-Atherton Joint Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m., Menlo-Atherton PAC
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Hillview School NewsHVNews
 
Announcing Back to School Night this Thursday 
The festivities will begin with Mr. Haug's "Back to School Night Address" at 6:30 p.m.in the
Quad. Then, starting at 6:57 p.m., parents will move through their students' schedules period
by period, with the final bell sounding at 8:36 p.m. Please watch your home mailboxes (the physical ones) for a letter, a schedule for you to fill out with your child, and a map of the school. If you do not receive this information by Thursday, you can come to the office between 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. to get your child's schedule.
 
Attendance and Independent Study Plans
Please pay close attention to your child's future by seeing that he/she is in school and on time each day. Your child's education is our number one priority. Please review the school calendar and arrange family vacations around school holidays. Attendance problems hinder progress.
 
If you know your child is going to be out of school for something other than illness or a religious holiday, your child should pick up an Independent Study Form (ISP) from his/her counselor one week before the scheduled absence. With completion of the ISP, the absence is coded as ISP and not as U (Unexcused). However, even if your child is on an Independent Study Plan (ISP), it is not the same as your child being at school and participating. Our aim is to have our overall attendance be at least 98%. You can help us reach this goal by seeing that your child(ren) attend(s) school everyday. Thank you in advance for your help in making education your child's number one priority.
 
Bike Rodeo
Our first bike rodeo will take place during 6th grade PE classes on Wednesday, September 21 and Thursday, September 22. We encourage all 6th grade students to ride their bikes to school that day to participate in the rodeo activities. We will have bikes for students to use who might not have one at school. We are excited to partner with the Menlo Park Police Department (MPPD) and others to bring this great activity to our students and encourage student safety while on bicycles.

Bike Rodeo Volunteers Needed
Interested in helping out with our first Bike Rodeo hosted by Officer Ferguson and the MPPD?  We need volunteers to help run, supervise and chaperone bike stations during the event.  Please click here to sign up! 

We are also looking for bikes in good condition to use in the bike rodeo. Do you have one of these that you'd like to donate to the school?  Please email Danielle O'Brien for donation information.

Congratulations to Recipients of the Jeanie Ritchie Grant
We are very excited to announce the 2016-2017 recipients of the Jeanie Ritchie Grant! You will see each of these grants come to life during this exciting school year. Please congratulate these amazing teachers when you see them! Thank you to everyone who donates to MPAEF and to all of the teachers among us who go above and beyond to make our school district the very best!

This year's Hillview Recipients are:
  • Nicholas Lera: Genius Hour
  • Maia Bromberg: Three Little Pigs House Project
  • Amy Kingsley: Speaking with the world
  • Russ Peterson: School/Life Balance
The mission of this grant is to enable teachers to pursue innovative teaching programs in their classroom, grade or school and provide educational experiences that students would otherwise not be able to have. The grants are funded by the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation and are an important part of the Foundation's motto: Investing in Education. Together. District teachers have been applying for JR grants for over 25 years. Each year, teachers with unique teaching concepts prepare a comprehensive grant and present their idea to the JR committee who evaluate the grant to see if it meets the program's three key qualities of innovation, creativity and enrichment.

Congratulations to this year's recipients and thank you for being amazing role models of innovation and hard work!

PTO Newsletter Editor Needed
Are you looking for a way to get involved at Hillview? Consider job-sharing the newsletter editing role with another Hillview volunteer. This is a role you can do from home while learning a lot about the school and interacting with administrators, teachers, staff and other parents. To learn more about this volunteer position, contact Betsy Muhlner, PTO Communications Chair. 
 
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MPAEF and Hillview PTO Joint Campaignjointcampaign 
  
Top 10 Reasons to Support Hillview's PTO & MPAEF
 
10. Library and Credentialed Librarians: To foster a love of reading that will serve our children for the rest of their lives, Ms. Piombo and Ms. Mathenia, credentialed librarians, take great pride in placing the right book in every student's hands. Your donations keep our librarians on staff, the library full of books and our students full of ideas.
 
9. Community-Building Events: Plays, parties, and debate and spirit competitions are highly anticipated and fun events for students, staff, teachers, and families, and strengthen the bonds of the Hillview community.
 
8. School Communications: It's a busy life, and we help out by keeping you as informed as possible with a weekly newsletter, District directory, Hillview PTO website, and other important communications throughout the school year.
 
7. Classroom Supplies and Teacher Resources: A fully-stocked classroom means our appreciative teachers and staff can stay focused on their top priority: their students; our children.
 
6. Field Trips, Assemblies, and Lunchtime Programs: Seeing exotic animals up close or listening to an author read from his or her newest book broadens our students' horizons. Providing sports supervision and teacher-directed clubs at lunchtime allow kids to explore new activities during their free time.
 
5. Credentialed Arts Specialists: Just ask electives instructors Mr. Bratt (Industrial Arts), Mr. Darmanin (Broadcast & Leadership), Mr. Hairston (Drama), Ms. Kogan (Art), and Mr. Vaughan (Music), all credentialed specialists. When we support the arts through donations, our students can express themselves on the stage, in mixed media, in acrylic paints, by carefully drawing a bow across the strings of a violin, and through the beautifully complicated tubing of a French horn.
 
4. Credentialed Science Teachers: In addition to the impressive grade-level science teachers, elective science teacher Ms. Hilborn (Environmental Science) helps our 6th grade students discover increase their understanding of how the earth works and how humans are connected to it. With your donation, you can be the spark of something amazing and keep science flowing.
 
3. Design Thinking Curriculum, Technology, and Mini-Courses: Hillview is proud to offer many exciting electives, like Video Production, Industrial Arts, Improv, Speech and Debate, 3D Art, Guitar, Robotics, Coding, and Maker Space, to name just a few. On top of that, Hillview students get to spend a week each year immersed in an area of interest during Mini-Course week. With your support, your child can take a Hero's Journey, experience life as a medical professional, delve into design thinking, have fun with physics, take an ocean odyssey, or change the world one person at a time with a video documentary. In addition, your donations help Hillview to provide a design thinking curriculum and technology to foster creativity, flexibility, and collaboration, as well as encourage innovative teaching through Jeanie Ritchie Grants. With your support, we can open our students' minds to new and better ways of doing things.
 
2. Guidance and Wellness: Dedicated on-site counselors and technology specialists support the emotional well-being of our students, as well as coach them into being technologically responsible and safe. Your donation helps us support the whole child, inside and out.
 
1. Teachers and Professional Development: Having more best-in-class teachers and continuing their development through access to the latest educational research and best practices means our class sizes stay smaller than average and our teachers can foster deeper and more effective relationships with students.
 
Imagine your child's day without these people, programs, supplies, and events. It just wouldn't be Hillview! All of this exists because of your support of the PTO and the MPAEF.
 
PTO donations are due by September 30. Please make your gift or pledge to the MPAEF by 
November 4. You can also reach out to your PTO Membership Team at 
[email protected]  and the MPAEF Ambassadors Team at [email protected] with any questions.
 
Click here to support these organizations today. Thank you for your support!
 
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PTO Newsptonews 
 
Volunteer at Hillview
The Hillview PTO and MPCSD need people to help greet and check-in guests at three Parent Education workshops being held at the Hillview PAC on October 5 and November 16. Volunteer for one or all three. For details contact Julie Nelson.
 
Want to help at Hillview but not sure how?  Please click here to fill out our volunteer questionnaire or contact PTO Volunteer Coordinator Patti Buck and she will help identify a meaningful way for you to help!  
 
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Programs & ActivitiesPrograms

Sports
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays during lunchtime in the gym. The first activity this year will be badminton and/or volleyball. Both nets will be up.
 
Girls Volleyball Tournament Team
Tournament Team volleyball practice continues this week following their first match play over the weekend. More matches will be scheduled soon at Hillview and the other schools so please stay tuned for announcements about the schedule. Please come out and support the team at the games, especially when they are held at Hillview.

Burgess League Volleyball
Teams at each grade level have been formed and the first week of practice has ended. Matches start tomorrow, September 19, for 7th and 8th graders. The first match for 6th graders will be held on Tuesday, September 20. Click here to see all of the schedules.  All of the games will be played at Arillaga gym in Menlo Park (Burgess Park complex). Best of luck to all Hillview teams. There are a total of 26 teams in the 6th/7th/8th grade leagues and Hillview accounts for 15 of those teams

Flag Football
The third week of practice will be held this week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. All players must wear a mouthpiece. The first games will be held on Friday, September 23, for the 7th and 8th graders. The first game for 6th graders will be on Monday, September 26.  

Please direct questions regarding any of the sports programs to Harry Bell, Athletic Director,
(650) 483-4049.

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Parent Educationparented 
 
Project Cornerstone For Parents: Take It Personally Workshop  

Project Cornerstone's "Take it Personally" class is a great way for parents to learn a powerful framework for positive youth development. Project Cornerstone has identified 41 development assets to help young people to thrive in life. Parents are welcome to join the 6 week study group to learn tips and tools to keep up with the fast changing growth of our children, tween, and teens. Each week, you will explore new ways to build stronger kids, families, and neighborhoods. There is a local group meeting on Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. starting on September 30 through November 4 at La Entrada Middle School, 2200 Sharon Road in Menlo Park. Please see the sign up website to join (space is limited) any of the locations listed. Click here to see the flyer for more detailed information. 

 

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MPAEF Newsmpaef
  
MPAEF's New Family Social
As seen in the recent MPAEF newsletter, we look forward to welcoming all new parents to a casual Welcome Social at a fellow Hillview family's home on Thursday, September 29 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. You will meet Hillview Principal Willy Haug and MPCSD Superintendent Maurice Ghysels, and our MPAEF and Hillview PTO leaders; they'll be talking about our amazing school and our community-funded school district.

Our goal is to make this a fun and educational evening for you to meet other parents and to hear about what is happening at Hillview and in our District. Drinks and nibbles will be provided. 

Thank you to Cannonball Wine Company for donating their delicious wines and thank you to Mama Coco Restaurant for donating the wonderful food.

Parents only please. Click here to RSVP.

Save the Date to Dine Out
Mark your calendars for the annual MPAEF Dine Out during Minimum Day Week. On October 24 and 25, support the MPAEF by enjoying lunch and/or dinner at Bradley's Fine Diner, Jeffrey's, Left Bank, Mama Coco, and more.

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Menlo-Atherton High School News mahsnews
  
Parents: Get an inside view of M-A! Be a facilitator at M-A's Freshman Challenge Day
Join us on October 10, 11, or 12 (Monday to Wednesday) from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for this memorable workshop that helps freshmen break down barriers and create new levels of empathy and respect. This is one of the most meaningful volunteer opportunities at M-A and a great way for future M-A parents to gain insights into high school at M-A. Volunteer facilitators lead students through games, activities and trust-building exercises and are guided by  professional Challenge Day leaders. 

To volunteer, email Kathryn Rakow at [email protected]. Please put "Challenge Day Volunteer" in the subject line.

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Community Newscommunity2
 
Adopt a Teacher at the Ravenswood City School District: The Adopt-a-Teacher program is intended to meet two needs of the Ravenswood City School District. The first is to increase teacher morale and improve teacher retention. The second is to provide much needed materials to the teacher and their classroom. If you are interested, contact Pamela Benson for more information.

AYSO Soccer Girls, U14 Openings: Is your 12- or 13-year old daughter interested in soccer? Our AYSO season has just started and we could use a few more players; any skill level is welcome. Practices are Wednesday at Burgess and Thursday at Hillview.  Saturday games through the fall.  If you are interested, please email Eric Olson.

Common Ground Speaker Series: This speaker series features a calendar of Parent Education talks throughout the year with distinguished speakers in education, parenting and health at venues on the San Francisco Peninsula. Guests affiliated with Menlo Park City School District schools are welcome to attend for a $20.00 fee at the door. Please check out their website for more details.

FREE Lacrosse Clinic: September 25, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m., Holbrook-Palmer Park. Introductory clinics hosted by Menlo-Atherton Grizzlies Lacrosse for boys and girls ages 6 to 14. Please register on our website.

Grease Sing-Along: October 1, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Menlo-Atherton PAC. Come in costume with the family ready to sing-along, act-along, and laugh-along to our favorite 1978 American musical. There will be a costume contest with a chance to win fabulous prizes. GREASE is the word! Click here for more information.

Learn to Square Dance: Sunday evenings in Menlo Park with three free introductory nights offered on October 2, 9, and/or 16 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Does your family want to learn to square dance? Fun for families (kids ages 9 and up), couples and singles. No partner, special clothes, or dancing talent required. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Click here for more information, see our flyer, and watch a YouTube video of a recent class. Questions? Contact Sue Kayton.

Media Rules: Healthy Connections in the Digital Age: September 30, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University. Join Challenge Success, a non-profit organization affiliated with Stanford's Graduate School of Education, for our annual public parent education event. This year's event features Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair and Challenge Success Co-Founders Dr. Denise Pope and Dr. Madeline Levine. Click here for more information and event tickets.

NJB Winter Basketball: Registration is now open on our website. Our focus is on skills-based instruction, personal growth, and positive competition for kids from 1st through 8th grades in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, Woodside, or East Palo Alto. The season runs from November through February. Deadline for early registration with reduced fees is September 28.

Stanford Flu Vaccine Study for Young Children: Do you have a child 6 months - 13 years of age? Are you interested in a helping scientists learn more about how the immune system develops? If eligible, your child will receive a licensed flu vaccination and compensation for each of 2-4 clinic visits. Call the Stanford-LPCH Vaccine Program at (650) 498-7284 or email at [email protected].
 
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Newsletter DetailsNewsletter
 
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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.