Fencing: January 9 to May 28 (no class 2/20, 3/19)
Wednesdays, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. in the Laurel Multi
See flyer for details.
Lego Engineering: January 11 to March 14
Fridays, 2:45 to 4 p.m. in the Laurel Multi
Register online at www.play-well.org.
Know Chess!:February 7 to June 5
Thursdays, 1:30 to 2:30 or 2:30 to 3:30, 1st Grade Arbor
See flyer for details.

Math/F4Ed: January 14 - March 10 (no class 1/21, 2/18)
Mondays, 2:45 - 4:15, in the Multi
Register online at www.F4Ed.org

After School Hoops!: January 28 - March 10 (no class 2/18)
Mondays, 2:45 - 3:45, 2nd Grade Playground
See flyer for details.

Sports 4 Kids: February 26 - May 20 (no class 3/18)
Tuesdays, 2:45 - 4:15, 1st Grade Playground
See flyer for details.

Newsletter Deadline

There will be no newsletter on December 21. The deadline for the January 4 newsletter will be Wednesday, December 19, at noon.

LE News - December Edition

Find out all about the Blue Ribbon celebration at Encinal, read award-winning essays, and hear about what's happening at our schools. This month's issue features an article about holiday customs around the world and lots of pictures of our favorite people--our kids! Happy holidays to all.

Click here to read the LE News online.

Winter Sing DVD Orders

Orders for this year's Winter Sing DVD will be taken through December 20. Order yours today, they'll make a great post-holiday gift! Order forms are available in the office or at the link below. All proceeds benefit the PTO and DVDs will be distributed in early January.

Download the Winter Sing DVD Order form.

Box Tops for Field Trips

As you all get ready for the holidays and winter break, don't forget to keep collecting those Box Tops! Click Here for a fun Box Top collection sheet your kids can fill in during their time off. These collection sheets can be turned in to the office after the break or submitted during the Winter Drive, which ends February 12. (If you didn't receive your child's Box Tops Collection Baggie after the last drive, Click Here for a new Tally Sheet.)

Also, when doing your online holiday shopping, don't forget to check out the Box Tops Marketplace. Pottery Barn, Discovery Stores, Sharper Image and so many more contribute up to 8% of your purchase back to the PTO when you access their sites through this link.

Happy Holidays, and thanks for your support!

Lost and Found

Please check the Lost and Found rack in the Multi to see if any of your child's items have found their way there! We will clear out the Lost and Found on Wednesday, December 19, and donate any remaining items to Haven House. As you get new clothing (especially sweaters and jackets), make sure you label items with your child's name so misplaced items can find their way back to you.

MPAEF

SAVE THE DATE! The 2008 MPAEF Auction is May 17, and it's time to start getting organized! Interested in helping create this fun and worthwhile event? Please come to a volunteer coffee:

Tuesday, January 15
9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
at the home of Mark Box (825 Cotton Street)

Co-chairs will present this year's theme and share some of the exciting changes planned. You'll have a chance to learn about and sign up for different volunteer opportunities. Contact any of this year's chairs (Polly Berquist, Janet Devereux, Kim Guthrie, and Juliet Wilson) if you have questions. Please join us on January 15 and help us raise money for our schools!

Join the MPAEF Before the Year Ends!
The year is coming to a close...Don't forget to make your tax-deductible donation to the MPAEF! Last spring, the MPAEF granted $2 million to the Menlo Park City School District for teaching excellence, technology for learning, and curriculum enrichment. Our goal this year is to grant $2.3 million. We need your year-end gift to make our goal! Every family matters, and every gift matters. Donate online at www.mpaef.org/donate.html. You may also donate appreciated securities by contacting Lois Giovacchini, MPAEF Executive Director, at 325-0100 or loisg(at)mpaef.org. Discover if you can double your contribution with a matching gift from your company by visiting our website at www.mpaef.org/corporateMatching.html. Thank you for your generosity!

Community News

Little League Registration
Online registration for the Menlo-Atherton Little League 2008 season is now open! M-A Little League includes six levels of Baseball and three levels of Girls Softball. All K-12 boys and girls between the ages of 5� and 16 (by April 30, 2008) are eligible to participate if they submit a completed registration form by the January 17, 2008, deadline. Go to the league's web site at www.m-all.org to sign up your son or daughter for the 2008 season and access information on the various levels of play. Play begins in late February and extends through the end of the school year. Menlo-Atherton Little League boundaries are west of US-101 and east of El Camino in Menlo Park, and all of Atherton.

Kepler's Family Story Time

Bob Barner: Penguins, Penguins Everywhere
Sunday, December 16
11:30 a.m.
Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

Smiles and fun follow Bob Barner when he comes a-callin' on our Story Time crowd! Join the master collage artist as he presents his fanciful, gorgeous and most informative new book about penguins of every kind in every place.

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

Redwood City Girls Softball League - Register for the 2008 Spring League Now!
The Redwood City Girls Softball League (RCGSL) is conducting registrations for the 2008 Spring League. Families can register online or by regular mail. Join the more than 250 girls who have already registered to play! Visit the RCGSL Web site at - www.rcgsl.org to learn more.

Showbiz Dance
The Show Biz Dance program, held at the Menlo Park Recreation Center, is starting up for the winter session. We offer a variety of dance classes for all different ages and abilities. Registration starts December 3 for Menlo Park residents and December 13 for non-residents. For more information, check out our website at www.showbizdance.net or call Maryanne at 450-3209.

Viking Wrestling Club
Looking for a winter activity for your child? Wrestling develops self-confidence and discipline and enables children of any size to fairly compete. Open to all boys and girls, grades K-8. (Children in grades K-3 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.)

The Winter season runs January 8 to February 29. Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 7:45 p.m. at the Palo Alto HS Wrestling Room. $75 per participant. For information, contact Steve Wong at 269-1596 or Jack Moses at 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