October 5, 2007

Laurel School Newsletter
Next Week
Monday, 10/8
 - Book Fair, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Laurel Multi

Tuesday, 10/9
  - Book Fair, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Laurel Multi
  - Library Mending Training, 10:30 a.m., Hillview Library
 
Wednesday, 10/10
  - Book Fair, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Laurel Multi
  - PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
  - Book Fair Ice Cream Social, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m., Second Grade Arbor

Thursday, 10/11
  - Book Fair, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m
  - Book Fair Movie Night, 5 to 8 p.m., Second Grade Lawn

Friday, 10/12
  - Book Fair, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Laurel Multi
  - Walk and Bike to School Day
  - School Spirit Day - Wear Blue and White
Upcoming Events
10/17      Laurel Site Council Meeting, 3 p.m.
10/18      MINIMUM DAY, school dismisses at 11:35 a.m.
10/18      Teacher Conferences
10/19      NO SCHOOL, Staff Development
10/23      Laurel Picture Day
10/23      Last Day to Submit Box Tops for Fall Drive
10/23      Deeelish! Meal Building Session, 6:30 p.m.
10/31      Halloween Parade, 8:30 a.m.
11/2        PTO District Council Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
11/12      NO SCHOOL, Veteran's Day
11/14      PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
11/14-15 MINIMUM DAYS, school dismisses at 11:35 a.m.
11/14-15 Teacher Conferences
11/21-23 NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Vacation
11/27      Picture Make-up Day
11/28      Site Council Meeting, 3 p.m.
 
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Book Fair
Ringwood Gate - No Parking
Costumes Available
Picture Day Volunteers Needed
Box Tops for Field Trips
Membership Drive Results
Safe Routes Survey
Battery Recycling
Extra Directories
Kid Chow Volunteers Needed
KidsArt Fundraiser
Library Mending Training
Caring and Sharing at the Book Fair
Drop-off Volunteers Needed
MPAEF
Community News
Quick Links
Join our Mailing List!
Book Fair Blizzard
  • October 8 through 12
  • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday
  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday
  • 8 a.m. to 3 p.m and 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m on Thursday
  • In the Laurel Multi

Come chill out at the Book Fair Blizzard at Laurel. Encinal and Laurel classes will visit the book fair according to this class schedule.

Meet Author Laura Johnson
Wednesday from 2:45 to 3:15 p.m. in the Multi.  Laura Johnson, author of "The Tails of Brinkley the Berner," and Brinkley, the hero of the book, will visit the Book Fair to read the book and sign copies.  Laura, a local author, is generously donating $6.95 to the PTO for each copy sold.

Ice Cream Social
Wednesday from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. in the second grade arbor at Laurel.  Come enjoy a chilly treat and browse the book fair.

Movie Night
Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. on the second grade lawn.  Let your children watch cartoons and eat pizza while you shop.

Gift certificates will be available for pick up at the book fair - they will not be delivered to your child's classroom.  We will deliver certificates to each class as they come to the fair on their visits.  If your gift certificate is not for your child or his or her teacher, please come to the book fair to pick it up or email Mary Sapountzis marysapountzis(at)yahoo.com with the delivery information.

Ringwood Gate - No Parking
No parents should park inside or in front of the fire gate off of Ringwood.  No parents should ask their children to meet them inside the Ringwood gate.
Halloween Costumes Available
Halloween is around the corner!  The Caring & Sharing Committee wants parents to know that if your child needs a costume for the holiday, please tell your teacher. We have plenty of choices and sizes and the costumes do not need to be returned. You may also email chazens(at)sbcglobal.net if you have any questions or need additional assistance.
Picture Day Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to help organize, comb hair, gather classes for one of three shifts
on Picture Day, Tuesday, 10/23:

Shift #1:  8:15 - 10 a.m.
Shift #2: 10:20 - 11:45 a.m.
Shift #3: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Contact: Dori Britts, dori(at)dbritts.com.
Box Tops for Field Trips Drive
The Fall Box Tops for Field Trips Drive is on now! Remember to use those Box Top Baggies (that arrived in your student's blue folder) to Clip, Save and Send those Box Tops in to class between now and October 23. Support your kids being in charge this year - help THEM tally their own Box Tops and see how their effort will contribute to School Field Trips.

We can reach our goal even more quickly by doing our online shopping through the Box Tops Marketplace  www.boxtops4education.com/AboutBoxTops/#.  Big name vendors like Target, GAP, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Lands End, Oriental Trading Company and many more will donate up to 8% when you access their site through the Box Tops Marketplace.
 
For more details and a list of participating products, click here.  Thanks for your support!

Contact: Amy Barry at aminibarry(at)hotmail.com.
PTO Membership Drive Results
PTO Membership DriveThe PTO Membership Committee would like to thank all the Laurel and Encinal families for helping  the PTO soar through the skies.  Without your dedication and support OUR children would not experience such an enriching educational environment.   We reached 90% of our dollar goal.

Laurel's sky high success includes Kindergarten participation at 81%, 1st grade at 81%, 2nd grade at 81% with an overall participation of 81%.

Thank You!

The Membership Committee
Kim Steere, Dori Britts, Chirstie Tonsfeldt, Darcy Leschly, Leslie Burke, Carol Collins
Jane Baran and Gina Watkins
Safe Routes to School Parent Survey
Your child brought home a bright yellow survey this week that will provide important parent input about our roadways and transportation around our school. Please take just a minute or two to fill out the survey - either on paper or online. If you choose paper, please return it in your child's folder, or to the tray in the office.
Curbside Battery Recycling
Allied Waste Management Company, which serves Menlo Park, Atherton and East Palo Alto, has started battery and cell phone collection for its residential customers this month.  It is illegal in California to throw batteries and cell phones in the regular trash.

Battery Recycling: Place batteries, both disposable and rechargeable, in a clear resealable plastic bag. Place the sealed bag on top of your mixed paper bin on the day of your recycling collection.
Cell Phone Recycling: Wrap cell phones in newspaper to protect them from leakage, then place in a clear resealable plastic bag. Place the sealed bag on top of your mixed paper bin on the day of your recycling collection.

Note: You may place both batteries and cell phones in the same resealable bag, but the cell phone must be wrapped in newspaper.

Contact: Allied Waste, 650-592-2411.
Extra Directory Orders
Every family in the school district receives a student directory for each school their children attend. (If you have children at Laurel and Encinal, you will receive ONE Laurel/Encinal Directory.) If you would like additional directories from your child's school, or any other school in the district, you may order them for $4.50 each. Use the Order Form to order by Friday, October 5.
Kid Chow Volunteers Needed
Kid Chow volunteers are needed in the Second Grade Arbor Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  Please contact Mary Picciotto, mary.picciotto(at)laurelpto.org, with days you can help.  If you are curious about our new food vendor, this is a great way to see the lunches first hand!
KidsArt Fundraiser
The children are working on artwork for the KidsArt Fundraiser (formerly Note Card Art).  Your child should have brought home a packet that includes artwork, a price list and a brochure from Original Works. You can order note cards, aprons, totes and much more. 

ALL ORDERS MUST BE TURNED IN BY TODAY, OCTOBER 5.

You may turn in your orders either in the school office (front round table), or via your child's classroom. Please make checks payable to Laurel PTO. Contact: Carol Kelly, 325-6702 or rolandandcarol(at)yahoo.com
Library Mending Training
  • Tuesday, October 9
  • 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Hillview Library
On the first Tuesday of each month, beginning in November, a group of parents will meet at the Hillview Library at 10:30 to mend books for the Hillview, Encinal, and Laurel Libraries.  Training will be October 9.  Come and learn all the exciting mending techniques, enjoy coffee and a bagel, and have fun repairing books together for our schools' library shelves.  All help is greatly appreciated.

Please RSVP to Tracy Piombo, Hillview Librarian, at tpiombo(at)mpcsd.org or Ora Chaiken, Volunteer Coordinator, ora(at)odsd.org, so we can make sure to have enough supplies.
Caring and Sharing at the Book Fair
The Caring and Sharing committee has identified a school library that has not had a budget for new books in over three years. Please consider donating books to the Cesar Chavez Academy, which serves East Menlo Park and East Palo Alto, when you visit the book fair at Laurel. You will find their wish list with our teacher's wish lists. They will greatly appreciate our generosity.
Contact: Kim Garlinghouse-Jones, kimghouse(at)yahoo.com or Daren Tuchman, dbtuchman(at)hotmail.com. Thank you!
Drop-off Volunteers Needed
Want to make a difference for our school?  Volunteer to help our kids out of their cars and into their backpacks one morning a month! Share your winning smile and great attitude while keeping kids safe, and our drop-off area flowing smoothly!  It's the easiest, most enjoyable 15 minutes of volunteer time! Contact: Marcia Bever at marcia(at)premierbenefits.com or 322-8869.
MPAEF
Annual Campaign Kicks Off October 15MPAEF New Logo
Every year, the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation relies on the contributions of families across our district to raise funds to support essential programs for our schools. Last spring, the MPAEF granted $2 million to the Menlo Park City School District for teaching excellence, technology for learning, and curriculum enrichment. Last year the MPAEF provided funds for technology training for teachers on SmartBoards, laptops, projectors and digital cameras. In addition, the MPAEF's Excellence in Teaching Initiative allowed the district to spend an average of $2,600 per teacher on training courses including differentiated instruction. Did you know that the MPAEF also funds the salaries of school personnel including all 4 district librarians, 4 school-based technology teaching and support positions, 3 school-based science aides and district-wide technology and science coordinators?
 
The MPAEF's goal for 2007-08 is to raise $2.3 million from at least 1000 families. Every family matters, and every gift matters.  You'll be hearing more about our annual campaign and the second annual Donation Day from your Classroom Ambassador.  Look for us on Donation Day, November 6, or donate online at www.mpaef.org.
 
MPAEF Ambassador Training
  • Tuesday, October 9, 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. OR
  • Thursday, October 11, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • In the District Office conference room on the Encinal campus
We're looking forward to seeing all of you MPAEF Ambassadors at training.  If you haven't already RSVP'd, please send a message to Shari Conrad at sconrad(at)pacbell.net or call 322-7291 and let her know which training you'll attend.
Community News

Firehouse Pancake Breakfast

  • Saturday, October 6
  • 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Menlo Park Fire District, 300 Middlefield Road

Come and join the fun at the Menlo Park Fire District Pancake Breakfast benefiting the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Enjoy a delicious breakfast served by the fire fighters in the Menlo Park firehouse. While you are there, meet the fire fighters, learn about fire safety, tour the fire trucks, and have fun with all the children's activities.  Tickets are available at the event.

Your $5 suggested donation benefits the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, which works in partnership with firefighters, educators, and burn care professionals to develop innovative programs and services.

Parent Education Lecture: Organizing the Disorganized Child

  • Thursday, October 11
  • 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.  Networking Reception
  • 7:15 - 9:00 p.m.  Lecture and Discussion
  • in the Oak Knoll Multi Room 

The Oak Knoll Appreciating Our Differences Committee is pleased to extend an invitation to our fellow Menlo Park parents to attend a parent education lecture, Organizing the Disorganized Child with Damon Korb, MD. School-aged children with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex demonstrate limited executive functions, and may struggle with planning, appropriate pacing, perspective taking, and problem solving.  Emphasis will be placed on how these brain differences impact a child's organization and behavior; and strategies to address these issues will be highlighted.  Please RSVP to bronteab(at)aol.com.  This is an adult only event.

Designing the Family Garden with John Black

  • Saturdays, October 20, 27, AND/OR November 3
  • 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Elizabeth Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley Street, Palo Alto
  • Members: $50 each/$130 series, Non-members: $60 each/$160 series.

Residential landscape designer John Black teaches a series on Designing the Family Garden as families with children face multiple challenges in designing a safe, beautiful, and functional yard and garden.  The three two-hour classes address these different needs and may be taken in sequence or individually.

  1. Developing the Landscape Design Program: How to analyze your site and assess your family's needs (October 20)
  2. Hardscape, Structures, and Water: How to determine what structural features will be useful, beautiful and safe for your entire family (October 27)
  3. Plants and Plans: Determine what plants will be best suited to your family's garden (November 3)

The class is limited to 25 participants. Contact: 329-1356 x201 or admin(at)gamblegarden.org

Free Speaker Series: Praising Intelligence

  • "Praising Intelligence: Costs to Children's Self-Esteem and Motivation" with Professor Carol Dweck
  • Thursday, October 18, 2007, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
  • Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud Ave. (corner of Avy), Menlo Park

Professor Dweck will talk to us about the ways in which even well-intended adult praise of certain sorts can sometimes lead children to give up later in the face of difficulties and some alternative types of praise that may prove more effective in the long run. On the Friday following the speaking event, we will offer a morning discussion group led by a qualified facilitator at 9:30 in Bethany's Fireside Room for parents to further discuss the topic in a smaller more intimate setting. Contact: Linda Bradley, 854-5897 or lindab(at)bethany-mp.org.

Story Time at Kepler's

  • Mother Goose's Little Treasures with Rosemary Wells
  • Saturday, October 6, 2007, 11:30 a.m.
  • Max's Dragon Shirt and Bunny Cakes
  • Sunday, October 7, 2007 11:30 a.m.
  • Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

Illustrator for the popular Mother Goose collections with colleague Iona Opie, Rosemary Wells comes to Kepler's for a special Saturday Story Time.  If you have to miss out on our Saturday Story Time, come to our Sunday reading of a Rosemary Wells "Max and Ruby" adventure with guest reader Chelsea McNeel.

**Remember to mention Laurel School at the register and 10% of your purchases comes back to our PTO.**

Marsh Madness 10k/5k Fun Run and Walk

  • Saturday, October 27
  • 8 a.m.
  • Palo Alto Baylands

Palo Alto Family YMCA in collaboration with the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital will host the first annual Marsh Madness 10k/5k Fun Run to combat growing youth health problems,
including poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, youth obesity, and adult-onset diabetes. 100% of funds raised will go to enhance, advance and provide access to YMCA programs that help local youth be healthy. For details and to register visit www.marshmadnessrun.net.  Contact: 856-9622.

Kids' Viking Wrestling Club

  • Fall Session: Thursday, October 4, through Thursday, November 15
  • 6 to 7:45 p.m.
  • In the Palo Alto High School wrestling room

Wrestling develops self-confidence and discipline, and enables children of any size to compete fairly. The Viking Wrestling Club is open to all boys and girls grades K to 8. To find out more about kids wrestling or carpooling from Menlo Park, contact Coach Steve Wong, 269-1596 or swong(at)rigel.com, or Head Coach Jack Moses,  321-7991 or vikingwrestlingclub(at)yahoo.com.
Submit newsletter items by Wednesday at noon or attachments by Tuesday at noon to newsletter(at)laurelpto.org
or phone: 473-1299