Laurel PTO Notes
Hot Lunch Needs Your Help
Hot Lunch exists only because of the parent
volunteers who serve it. We do not have nearly
enough volunteers for Tuesday lunch, and we still
have a several Wednesday and Thursday slots, too.
If your child gets hot lunch, please make time to
serve hot lunch once a month from 11:30 to 12:30.
Contact: Mary Picciotto, mary.picciotto(at)laurelpto.org or 322-4609.
PTO Financial Secretary
The PTO Executive Board 2006-2007 would like to
announce that Katie Ferrick will be this year’s
Financial Secretary. We are so fortunate to have
her aboard! Thank you Katie for stepping up to the
plate.
Quarter Gourmet Dishes
Please pick up your bowls and serving utensils in the
community room, and your coolers in the Multi. If you
are unable to locate an item, email Frances Gray at
francesdgray(at)hotmail.com.
Sponsor a Book
You can help our Laurel School Library grow and
honor a teacher, student or friend at the same time!
The PTO’s Sponsor a Book program is a great way to
get new titles on our library’s shelves for just $18 per
book. A commemorative bookplate will be affixed
inside the book’s cover honoring someone special,
your child, or you! These books include newly
published works as well as duplicates and
replacements of books well loved by our Laurel
students. These books are carefully pre-selected by
our special librarian, Mrs. Lezlie Glare. If you’d like to
view these books, they can be found on a special
cart outside Mrs. Glare’s office in the library. See a
list of books and detailed ordering information on the
Sponsor-a-Book Form.
Safety Training Class
Tuesday, September 19
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
In the Encinal Library
Atherton Police Traffic Supervisor, Sgt.Anthony
Kockler, will give a safety training class specifically
about biking and walking to both Laurel and Encinal
schools. This is a unique chance to address safety
issues, dangerous intersections, best routes to
school, and more. We'll review regulations and
proper settings for bikes and helmets. Open to all
parents - come to express your concerns and ask
your questions. Please reply to LLaprais(at)yahoo.com to confirm.
Drop-Off Service
The Laurel PTO provides monitoring at the curb in
front of the school so you can drop off your child in
the morning without searching for parking. Having
this service makes a big difference - not only do
these volunteers help your child get to class safely,
but our waiting time in line drops roughly in half when
we have help at the curb! If you use this service,
please help us out just once each month by taking a
15-minute turn at the curb. Please contact Marcia
Bever - marcia(at)premierbenefits.com and help keep
your school moving in the morning!
Afterschool Fencing
Openings are still available in EMFC Fencing's
Afterschool program. Fencing for all grades is
available on Wednesday at 2:45 or Thursday at
1:30. Call Valerie at 353-0717 or use the registration form.
Soccer Donations Needed
Menlo-Atherton High School Outreach is collecting
monetary and new and slightly used soccer
equipment donations to help start a soccer league in
San Miguel Allende, Mexico. Drop off donations in the
Outreach office (in the Admin. building) at M-A High
School or contact gnichola(at)seq.org or call 322-5311, ext. 5020.
Quick Links...
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Monday, 9/18
Regular Day
Tuesday, 9/19
7:30 p.m. Biking and Walking Safety Class,
Encinal Library
Wednesday, 9/20
3 p.m. Site Council Meeting
7 p.m. PTO General Meeting
Thursday, 9/21
All-Together Day, all students attend school
from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Friday, 9/22
School Spirit Day - Wear Royal Blue and
White
Walk or Bike to School Day
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Weekly Action Checklist
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- Attend the PTO General Meeting on
Wednesday.
- Volunteer to serve hot lunch on
Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
- Send the pink box tops from participating
products to school for "Box Tops for Education."
- Pick up your serving dishes and utensils
from the Quarter Gourmet - they are in the Multi and
the kitchen.
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PTO General Meeting
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- Wednesday, September 20
- 6:15 p.m. Refreshments
- 7 p.m. Official PTO Meeting
- In the Laurel Multi
Please plan on attending this year’s first PTO general
meeting. Enjoy appetizers before the meeting while
chatting with Principal Nancy Hendry, the Laurel
teachers, and other parents. The meeting will
feature Superintendent Ken Ranella, who will update
all of us about the upcoming facility changes and
other hot topics.
The PTO will provide free babysitting from 6:15 p.m. -
8:30 p.m. in the Laurel library. The deadline for
reserving babysitting is today, September 15. Please
email PTO Vice President, Gina Watkins, at ginamark(at)mindspring.com, and include the
names and ages of your children.
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Upcoming Events
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10/3 Kids' Art Fundraiser Order Deadline
10/9-13 Laurel-Encinal Book Fair
10/11 PTO Exec Board Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
10/11 School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.
10/18 Site Council Meeting, 3 p.m.
10/19 Minimum Day
10/20 No School, Staff Development
10/24 Box Tops for Education Deadline
10/24 Picture Day
10/31 Laurel Halloween Parade, 8:30 a.m.
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The PTO Team Needs YOU!
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Only NINE DAYS LEFT to Join!
Join the PTO at any membership level and help us
make our participation goal. We want every family to
get in the game and join the PTO Team for the 2006-
2007 school year. The fourth grade is holding its
lead in the grade-level participation standings, but all
grades are still in the running:
4th Grade: 67%
3rd Grade: 65%
5th Grade: 65%
Kindergarten: 58%
1st Grade: 56%
2nd Grade: 49%
Any grade with at least 80% participation will win an
extra recess! This annual PTO fund-raising drive
helps equip our schools to provide the championship-
quality education that Laurel and Encinal families
have come to expect. Please print out the membership form and decide
today how strong your support for learning can be!
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Kids' Art Fundraiser
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The children are working on artwork for the Kids' Art
Fundraiser (formerly Note Card Art). Your child will
soon bring home a packet that includes your child's
artwork and a price list and brochure from Original
Works. You can order note cards, aprons, totes and
much more. These items make beautiful, unique gifts
that will be treasured for years to come while
providing a terrific fundraising opportunity for our
PTO!
All Orders must be turned in by October 3 -
you may turn them in either in the school
office, or via your child's classroom. Please make
checks payable to Laurel PTO. Questions? Contact
Sarah Wright at 328-3755 or Carol Kelly at 325-
6702, email at KidsArtFundraiser_chair(at)laurelpto.org..
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Box Tops for Education
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Our school-wide Box Tops for Education contest is
under way! Please clip and send Box Tops to your
child's class now through Tuesday, October 24 -
each classroom has a special envelope to collect Box
Tops. Ask family and neighbors to clip Box Tops to
give to your child to submit. The class that collects
the most Box Tops will earn a special treat! Last
year we submitted over 8700 Box Tops, earning the
PTO over $875
Betty Crocker, Ziploc, General Mills, Pillsbury,
Cascadian Farm, and Yoplait are a few of the many
brand names that have Box Tops for Education
coupons. Take a look at the list of participating products.
Contact: Sarah Wright wright_sarah(at)sbcglobal.net.
Box Tops for Education is just one of several
Business Alliance programs. Your Business Alliance
Committee works to create community partnerships
with local and national businesses that are a win-win
for the companies and for us. Please see the
attached flyer for a list of current programs that earn
money back for our PTO. If you have additional
ideas, please contact Elizabeth Ouren eharris_ouren(at)yahoo.com or Dana Stone dana1rae(at)comcast.net
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Drop-off and Pick-Up Tips
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When lining up for Car/Carpool Pick-up, please do
not park forward of the green dot. This area is
reserved exclusively for the various buses that pick
up from Laurel. Also, please turn off your engine as
soon as you are in line in order to reduce the amount
of exhaust around our school.
During morning dropoff, please pull forward through
the dropoff area to any available space along the
curb. Do not wait for a specific part of the curb,
especially at the end near the parking lot, as this
causes the line of cars to back up on Ringwood and
creates a safety hazard. One of the orange-vested
volunteers will help your kids out of cars and make
sure they know how to get to their classrooms as
they leave the area.
Kindergarten parents, the rules for the 12:10 p.m.
carpool pick-up are the same as the later car pool
rules. You should not leave your car unattended in
front of the school. If you are walking up to the
classroom to pick up your child, please park in the
parking lot or on Ringwood.
Drivers of vehicles, please be aware that cyclists will
be dropping some children off at the curb in the
school driveway (from trail-along bikes) . Please
watch for them, as they are smaller and more
exposed than a motor vehicle.
Special Thursday Alert
No matter your mode of transportation, everyone
should be aware that Thursday, our "all together
day," will be the busiest both for morning dropoff and
afternoon pickup. It may take you a little longer to
get through the traffic around the school, so allow
extra time. More people are choosing to walk and ride
bikes, especially on Thursdays, so expect to go a
little more slowly on popular bike routes (like Coleman
Avenue).
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Berlitz Foreign Language
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We are off to a great start this week with Berlitz
classes. We have over 100 children signed up for the
program, and still have openings in the following
classes:
Tuesday Beginning Spanish at 7:15 a.m.
Thursday Intermediate Spanish at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday Advanced Spanish at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday Intermediate French at 2:45 p.m.
Contact: Cara Henry at 321-6160, carahenry(at)yahoo.com or Liz Matchett at 364-
6886, lizmatchett(at)yahoo.com.
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Eco Squirrel at the Quarter Gourmet
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Eco Squirrel here to tell you that at the Quarter
Gourmet, we composted your plates, utensils, food
and napkins instead of sending them to the landfill.
We also recycled the bottles and cans. Thanks to
you, the people who put on the event, and Leo the
custodian, the waste from this event will be turned
into usable compost in nine weeks. Please go get
some of this good dirt next to the two story bulding
at Holbrook Palmer Park - it's free! Thanks for your
support in minimizing the trash we produce at Laurel.
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Girl Scout Open House
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- Saturday, September 16
- 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
- First Baptist Church of Menlo Park, 1100 Middle
Avenue at Arbor Ave.
Girls in kindergarten through 2nd grade and their
parents are invited to learn about Girl Scouting. Girls
will learn some games and songs while parents hear
about the Girl Scout program. Enter the church from
the back parking lot off of Arbor, opposite Lyle Park.
Contact: Debbie Hall, 322-8470.
The Laurel PTO does not sponsor or endorse this
organization.
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Community News
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The Laurel PTO does not sponsor or endorse any
of the organizations whose activities are listed
below.
Basketball Clinics at Menlo College
- September 24, October 1, and October 8
- 1-3 p.m. (K-4) and 3:30-5 p.m. (5-8)
- Menlo College, 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton
The Menlo College Fall Clinic Series will include
outstanding instruction from Menlo College coaches
and players in the basic fundamentals of shooting,
ball handling, footwork, defense, and general
athletics. Campers will receive a custom camp t-
shirt and daily awards will be given out. Cost is $30
for one session, $55 for two, $80 for three. Family &
Group discounts available.
Contact:Jeff Nakamura, 543-3777 or jnakamura(at)menlo.edu. Website: athletics.menlo.edu/junioroak.
Kepler's Story Time
- Sunday, September 17
- School Stories
- 11:30 a.m.
- Kepler's Book Store
Before we knew it, the summer was over, and the
kids were back in school! Join delightful Kepler’s
storyteller, Chelsea McNeel, as she reads stories
about friends, learning, and fun at school. This Story
Time is particularly geared towards children in Pre-K
through second grade.
Show Biz Dance Company
The Show Biz Dance Company is entering it's 22nd
year of dance instruction serving the community of
Menlo Park. Classes for the 2006-2007 school year
are starting up with a variety of classes for a variety
of levels and age; beginning through advanced and
pre-school through high school. Our studio is located
inside the Menlo Park Recreation Center. For more
information and a list of classes offered check out
our website online at www.showbizdance.net and for questions call
(650) 570-0733.
4-H Club
- First Meeting
- Tuesday, September 19
- 7:00-8:30 p.m.
- Clifford School Multi, San Carlos
The San Carlos-Eaton Hills 4-H Club offers you and
your family opportunities for hands-on-learning in a
friendly, fun environment. Led by parent volunteers,
individual projects meet throughout the year to
explore, do, and make. Project members exhibit their
crafts and show animals each August at the San
Mateo County Fair. Traditional 4-H projects - raising
a lamb at our club farm, learning about your rabbit,
creating a quilt - remain at the core of our club's
activities, but a 4-H project today can be as modern
as web-design and as far-reaching as astronomy! 4-
H builds active, responsible citizens. New parent
orientation is Thursday, October 5. Visit http://clubs.ca4h.org/sanmateo/sancarlos or
contact Julie Figliozzi Wong at girlfig2u(at)yahoo.com.
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Thank You - Quarter Gourmet
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Thank You to all those who helped make the Quarter
Gourmet a success: Amanda Rubio, Shari Conrad,
Cyndi Nolasco, Lisa Izzi, Laurie Sapp, Patte Lowe,
Christine Evans, Lissette Pascual, Tami Arrington,
Ian and Karen Rist, Denise McAdoo, Ashley Giesler,
Victoria Anderson, Becky Adair, Lora Christi, Jim
Lucas, Russ Peterson, Elizabeth Andersen, Richard
Gruschko, Valerie Poat, Becky Jackson, Suzanne
Wilson, Katherine Bailey, Stephanie Shen, Gina
Watkins, Kathryn Kranen, Veronica Kogler, Renu
Prasad Relan, Beth Ann Goldberg, Beth Philbin, Joel
Bautista, Margaret White, Louise Furukawa, Lara
Seller, Steven Hailey, James Bergeron, Liza
McMichael and Richard Powers.
Special thanks to Liz Henriquez, Darren Evans, Inna
Beardsley, Barbara Mainiero, The Wangs, Lexi Bisbee,
The Lehmans, Kim Steere, Andrea Ralston, Cynthia
Sze, Dana Stone, Sue Olson/Ice Donation, Karen
Goodman/Balloon Donation, Kent Smith/Water
Donation, Kris Fichou/Graphics, Carl Jones/D.J, Liz
Shane/Souvenirs, Jen Novak/Membership, the Laurel
Brownie Troops 1010/Christie Tonsfeldt and
2515/Anne Hutchinson, Alice Valentine/Environmental
Education, Daren Tuchman/Correspondence, Leo
Mendoza and Marcus Solache/Setup and Bob
Larson/Round Table Pizza
Apologies to those parents who pitched in but whose
names are not mentioned - you are ALL GREATLY
appreciated!
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