September 14, 2007 Laurel School Newsletter Next Week Monday, 9/17   - One-on-One Basketball begins, 2:45 to 3:45 Tuesday, 9/18   - Berlitz Kids Language begins (various days and times) Wednesday, 9/19   - Art Training Meeting, Art Room, 9:30 a.m.   - Laurel Site Council Meeting, 3 p.m. Thursday, 9/20   - No Events Scheduled Friday, 9/21   - Head Room Parent Meeting, Multi, 1:30 p.m.   - Walk and Bike to School Day   - School Spirit Day - Wear Blue and White Upcoming Events 9/16      Laurel Fall Clean Up Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 9/26      Free Obsolete Textbooks, Conf. Room, 8 a.m. to 4 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. In This Issue Upcoming Events Join the PTO Quarter Gourmet Fall Clean-up Day Used Books Needed Traffic Flow Information Art Training Meeting Walk and Bike to School New Calendar! Quick Links PTO Membership Form Laurel PTO Calendar Laurel Newsletter Archives Laurel Souvenir Order Form Laurel School Web Site Menlo Park City School District Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF) Join our Mailing List! The PTO Membership is Flying High The PTO membership drive is flying high but we need your support to reach our goal of 100% participation per grade level.  You can download a membership form and drop it off with your donation at the school office, or join online using a credit card. Quarter Gourmet TONIGHT! 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). Contact: Daren Tuchman at dbtuchman(at)hotmail.com, Erin Glanville at erin.glanville(at)gmail.com, or Sarah Jones at sarahjones888(at)hotmail.com. PTO General Meeting Wednesday, September 26 6:15 p.m. Refreshments 7 p.m. General PTO Meeting In the Laurel Multi All Laurel parents are invited to attend this year's first PTO general meeting (the next general meeting will be held in the spring). Enjoy appetizers before the meeting while chatting with Principal Nancy Hendry, 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 5:45 p.m. - 9 p.m. in the Laurel library. The deadline for reserving babysitting is Sunday, September 23.  To reserve, send the names and ages of your children to Jeremy Gundel at pto_vicepresident(at)laurelpto.org. Fall Clean-up Day This Weekend! 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. Donate Your Used Books - Coming Soon! Do you have unwanted adult fiction and children's books that you've been meaning to get rid of?  Well, look no further!  The time has come to clean out your closets and rid your house of those unwanted books.  The 2007 Laurel/Encinal Book Fair is just around the corner and we are looking for used books.  Look for more information in coming newsletters to find out where you can drop off those unwanted books starting September 24.  Please no board books, magazines, coloring books, text books, or books that are in really bad shape.  Contact: Susan Tanner at mstanner(at)bluetopazsolutions.com. Traffic Flow Guidelines Please follow these guidelines to keep drop-off and pick-up moving as smoothly and safely as possible: Exit the parking lot by following the driveway past the front of the school.  It is very unsafe to turn left into oncoming driveway traffic in order to circle back through the parking area. Enter the pick-up line only on Ringwood.  Do not try to turn left into the line from Edge Road, as this backs up cars and gridlocks the exit from the school driveway. Use the parking lot or Ringwood if you will leave your car and walk your child on or off the campus. The driveway in front of the school is a strict no parking area during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Even one parked car can create a huge backup in the line.   When walking to or from the arbor at pickup time, please walk around behind the office, not through the front carpool area where teachers are helping children into cars. Practice remembering your carpool number with your child, so he or she knows it right away and can be ready in the right spot when you get to the front of the line. Art Training Meeting Wednesday, September 19 9:30 to 10 a.m. Laurel's Art Room (D2) Not just for coordinators - new volunteers are welcome too! Art Coordinators and new volunteers to art, please attend the Fine Arts Training Meeting. We will distribute the coordinator packets at the meeting and go over basic art volunteer/coordinator issues. Contact: Michelle Marini at mmarini3(at)yahoo.com or Tara Roussel at tararoussel(at)mac.com. Local Businesses Support Laurel PTO! Be sure to mention you are a Laurel PTO Member when shopping at the following local businesses, as they donate a percentage of your purchase right back to the PTO to support programs for our kids. Kepler's - 10% back on every purchase Deeelish! - a percentage back on every session order Walk and Bike to School on Fridays Every Friday is Walk and Bike to School Day here at Laurel. Our school has a healthy daily walking and biking community, which expands considerably every Friday. Even if you can't walk or bike to school any other day, please consider joining in the fun on Fridays. It's a habit that's great for you, your kids, and our community as a whole. See you Friday! 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: Laurel School Calendar Hillview Gift Wrap Fundraiser It's time to replenish your gift wrap supplies!  The Hillview PTO Gift Wrap fundraiser is in full swing, and this is your chance to order high quality festive gift wrap, ribbon, and gifts from Sally Foster.   The Hillview PTO earns 50 cents on every dollar spent.  Orders can only be placed online at www.sallyfoster.com. Remember to enter the Hillview account number (0357229) so the school gets credit for your purchases. Orders ship within 1-2 weeks. Orders including food items ship November 1. Fundraiser ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, October 1. Contact: Jill Roumeliotis at jroumeliotis(at)sbcglobal.net or Kim Guthrie at kimguthrie(at)earthlink.net. Community News Girl Scout Informational Meetings Thursday September 20 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. Laurel Second Grade Arbor The Girl Scouts are hosting TWO informational meetings: ONE specifically for Laurel parents on Thursday, Sepember 20 (details above). A SECOND option is to bring your daughter on Saturday, September 15, 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church library room, 1100 Middle Avenue (at Arbor) in Menlo Park.  The girls will experience some Girl Scout songs, activities, and a snack while the parents learn about the Girl Scout program. No RSVP required. Contact: Debbie Hall at 322-8470 or halldla(at)gmail.com, or Elizabeth Katz at 327-4943 or el_katz(at)yahoo.com. Children's Concert to Benefit Victims of Peru Earthquake Saturday, September 15 11 a.m. Escondido Elementary School grounds, 890 Escondido Road,Palo Alto Suggested donation $10/person Come enjoy a concert performance by Susy Dorn from Let's Play in Spanish. Bring a blanket to sit on. Funds raised go directly to relief drive for families devastated by the August 15th Peru earthquake. More info at www.letsplayinspanish.com/web_susy.htm. 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 Submit newsletter items by Wednesday at noon or attachments by Tuesday at noon to newsletter(at)laurelpto.org or phone: 473-1299