September 7, 2007

Laurel School Newsletter
Next Week
Monday, 9/10
  - No Events Scheduled

Tuesday, 9/11
  - Kid Chow Lunch Delivery Begins

Wednesday, 9/12
  - PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
  - EMFC After-school Fencing begins, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Thursday, 9/13
  - After-school Chess begins, 1:30 to 2:30 and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Friday, 9/14
  - After-school Sports 4 Kids begins, 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.
  - After-school Engineering with Legos begins, 2:45 to 4:00 p.m.
  - Quarter Gourmet, 5 p.m.
  - School Spirit Day - Wear Blue and White
Upcoming Events
9/16      Laurel Fall Clean Up Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
9/19      Art Coordinator Meeting, 9:30, Art Room
9/19      Laurel Site Council Meeting, 3 p.m.
9/26      PTO General Meeting, 7 p.m.
10/5      PTO District Council Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
10/8-12  Laurel-Encinal Book Fair
10/10     PTO Executive Board Meeting 8:45 a.m.
10/17     Laurel Site Council Meeting, 3 p.m.
10/18     MINIMUM DAY, school dismisses at 11:35 a.m.
10/19     NO SCHOOL, Staff Development
10/23     Laurel Picture Day
10/23     Last Day to Submit Box Tops for Fall Drive
10/31     Halloween Parade, 8:30 a.m.
Laurel School Calendar
The PTO has created a NEW online calendar for all of Laurel School's most important dates.  The calendar includes district dates (holidays and staff development days), school events, after-school program schedules, and PTO dates. 

The calendar is easy to access from the "Quick Links" section of every newsletter and from the PTO web site (www.laurelpto.org). To check out the calendar now, use this link:
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
New Calendar!
Quarter Gourmet
Join the PTO
Fall Clean-up Day
Box Tops
After-School Programs
Library Volunteers
Eco-Squirrel
Contact Information Form
Art Coordinator Meeting
Berlitz Language
Free Obsolete Textbooks
MPAEF News
Community News
Quick Links
Join our Mailing List!
Quarter Gourmet
  • Friday, September 14
  • 5 to 7:30 p.m. (please note earlier start time!)
  • Second Grade Field
Come meet your teachers, classmates and families, and groove to the sounds of the Whoa Nellies Band (great 60's and 70's music). We need a few more volunteers to fill cashiers and table managers shifts. Look at our flyer to see more details, to RSVP for the Quarter Gourmet, and to sign up for a volunteer slot. 

Contact: Daren Tuchman at dbtuchman(at)hotmail.com, Erin Glanville at erin.glanville(at)gmail.com, or Sarah Jones at sarahjones888(at)hotmail.com.
The PTO Membership Drive Has Clear Skies
PTO Membership DriveYou can help keep the skies clear by joining the PTO, which supports Science, Art, Music, Technology, P.E., Field Trips and many other valuable programs at Laurel and Encinal.

You can download a membership form and drop it off with your donation at the school office, or join online using a credit card.
Fall Clean-up Day
  • Sunday, September 16
  • 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • meet at the First Grade Playground
Please join us to beautify Laurel school. We will clean up and do some gardening (no experience necessary). Kids are welcome to play while you work. Please bring gloves and pruning devices if you have them.
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops LogoStart saving those pink box tops for our Fall Box Top Drive! Every Box Top the school submits earns money for things like PE equipment, library books, computers and field trips. These box tops can be found on hundreds of General Mills products (click here for a list), so look around your house and start saving them today! We will have 3 Box Top drives throughout the year, and the Fall drive is just around the corner!  
After-School Programs
Several PTO-sponsored after-school programs will begin next week.  Most of them are still accepting applications. Please see the After-School Program Overview for program descriptions and schedules.

To register for these great enrichment programs, go to:

EMFC Fencing Form (class begins 9/12)
Know Chess! Form (classes begin 9/13)
Sports 4 Kids Registration Form (class begins 9/14)
Engineering FUNdamentals with LEGOsŪ Form (class begins 9/14)
Berlitz Kids Language Program Form (classes begin week of 9/17)
One On One Basketball ONLINE Registration (class begins 9/17)
After School Math ONLINE Registration (class begins 10/8)
Library Volunteers Needed
The following classes still need library volunteers to help their classes check out books. 
 
Grade               Teacher             Library Time and Day
 
   1st                  Posilippo           Wednesday 12:45
    K                   Callahan            Thursday 8:25
    K                   Merk/Wynn        Friday 10:15
 
If you would be willing to volunteer (even if you do not have a child in any of these classes), please contact Shari Conrad at sconrad(at)pacbell.net or 650-322-7291.

Please include your name, your child's name, your phone and your email address.
Eco-Squirrel
Eco-Squirrel here to talk about Laurel's Zero-Waste Lunch. 

Where has all the garbage gone?  For the past two years, Laurel 1st and 2nd graders have been doing an awesome job at making the Zero Waste program work. Thanks to Allied Waste's innovative program, food and paper products become rich compost for your garden in just 9 weeks. Last year we saved 5 tons of garbage from going to the landfill!

We will begin the program again with the commencement of hot lunch on September 11. Parent volunteers will be helping the kids with the program for the first few weeks.

1. What goes in the compost bin:
  - paper lunch bags and napkins
  - milk cartons
  - food (sandwiches, crackers, bread, apples, etc)
  - waxed paper
  - corn-based utensils (provided by Kidchow)
  - see-through sugar-based plastic containers (provided by Kidchow)

2.What can't be composted - this stuff just goes into the garbage and eventually in the landfills:
  - plastic sandwich bags
  - plastic wrap
  - packaged food (granola bars, breakfast bars, bags of chips)
  - plastic containers
  - regular plastic utensils
  - Styrofoam
  - yogurt tubes
  - Capri sun or boxed juices and milk (e.g., Horizon)

You can encourage your kids to help out by reminding your 1st and 2nd graders about the zero waste program (we will be training the kids for the first four weeks).   Parents can also help out by packing lunches using reusable/washable containers or wrapping food in waxed paper, and by using reusable/washable or corn-based plastic utensils instead of disposable plastic ones.

If you'd like to help train the kids at lunch time or want more info contact Anne Kolker at mint-tea(at)comcast.net or Ann Hutchinson at douglas(at)earthlink.net, Environmental co-chairs.

Thanks,

Eco-squirrel
Contact Information Form
Please fill out the blue "Demographic Data" report form your child brought home on the first day and turn it in to your teacher as soon as possible (this week if you can). 

This form was pre-filled with contact information and other important data needed for the Laurel School database, the District files, the Laurel-Encinal Directory, and the classroom email alias lists.  If you need a replacement form, please contact the Laurel office at 324-0186.
Art Coordinator Meeting
  • Wednesday, September 19
  • 9:30 to 10 a.m.
  • Laurel's Art Room (D2)
If you are the Art Coordinator for your child's classroom, please come to a meeting to go over the year's schedule and answer any questions you may have.  Contact Michelle Marini at mmarini3(at)yahoo.com or Tara Roussel at tararoussel(at)mac.com.
Berlitz Language
There's still time to enroll in Berlitz after-school language programs.  In addition, Beginning Spanish is now available on Thursday for K-2 at 1:30 p.m.  Send in your registration form today!   Contact: Cara Henry at 321-6160 or carahenry(at)yahoo.com, Susie Morse at 329-0432 or susan_c_morse(at)yahoo.com, or Briant Sarris at (408)377-9513 or briant.sarris(at)berlitz.us.
Free Obsolete Textbooks
  • Public Obsolete Textbook Viewing
  • Wednesday, September 26
  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • in the Laurel Conference Room
We will be having an obsolete text book viewing during which the public may come and take home text books no longer in use at Laurel.  Bring a bag and help yourself to these old but useful (free!) textbooks!
MPAEF News
MPAEF New Logo
Are you interested in learning more about the MPAEF, or just want to help spread the news about the foundation?  We need ambassadors for every class and would love your help.  You do not need to make phone calls asking for donations, manage classroom projects, or speak at back to school night (we have a DVD).  The volunteer job is just to encourage parents via letters and email to support the foundation and pass on news.

The following classes still need an ambassador:

Kindergarten:  Callahan, Fisher
Second Grade:   Cressey, Horwitz, Seely

Contact: Lauren Calhoon, 566-1244.
Community News
San Mateo County 4-H Clubs
Active in San Mateo County since 1947, the 4-H Club encourages learning-by-doing and development of life skills through youth-adult partnerships.  A variety of projects promote leadership, citizenship, and communication skills while teaching about cooking, electricity, poultry, sheep, hobby crafts, beekeeping, and much, much more. Open to ages 5-19.
Two upcoming events will be held at Clifford School, 225 Clifford Avenue in Redwood City, to learn more about the San Carlos Eaton Hills 4-H:
  • Orientation Meeting, September 18, 7 p.m.
  • New Parent Night, October 3, 7:30 p.m.
For more information call (650) 367-8053, or go to: www.sancarlos4h.org.

ShowBiz Dance
ShowBiz Dance, held at the Menlo Park Recreation Center, is starting up its 22nd year of dance instruction. We have great classes for kindergarten-2nd graders plus a variety of other classes for all different ages and levels. For more information check out our web site at www.showbizdance.net or call 570-0733 to leave a voice mail or 450-3209 for direct contact.

Jeff Nakamura Basketball
  • September 23 and 30
  • October 7 and 14
  • 1 to 3 p.m. (K-4) or 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Grades 5-8)
  • at Menlo College, 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton CA 94027
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. Cost:  $30 for one session, $55 for two, $80 for three, $100 for all four.  Family & Group discounts available.

Contact:  Jeff Nakamura at 543-3777 or jnakamura(at)menlo.edu
Website:  www.menlo.edu/Athletics/junioroak

Holbrook-Palmer "Swing in the Park" Fundraiser
  • Sunday, September 9
  • 2 p.m. until dusk
  • Holbrook-Palmer Park
  • $74 for table seating, $35 for blanket seating, $10 for children
Fabulous B-B-Q, desserts & wine, games and activities for children and adults. Live music, live auction of one-of-a-kind swings and Lexus vehicle. Proceeds benefit Holbrook-Palmer Park.

Cantabile Auditions
Cantabile Youth Singers announces auditions for fall enrollment. Students ages 7 - 18 are welcome. Auditions will be held by appointment in late August and early September, 2007.  For information about Cantabile, check our website at www.cantabile.org. For audition info and appointment, e-mail info(at)cantabile.org OR call (650) 424-1410, ext. 73.

Team Ronald McDonald House Half Marathon
  • November 11, 2007
  • Monterey, CA
Join Team Ronald McDonald House as we train to run or walk a half marathon at this year's Big Sur Half Marathon to support the children and families!  Click to Register Now!

Learn about participating in the event at one of our orientation meetings at the House on  September 5 at 6 p.m. or September 7 at 12 p.m. Please RSVP to 470-6012 if you will attend.

Contact: Christina Del Villar at teammgr(at)gmail.com.
Submit newsletter items by Wednesday at noon or attachments by Tuesday at noon to newsletter(at)laurelpto.org
or phone: 473-1299