Come meet your teachers, classmates and families, and groove to the sounds of the Whoa Nellies Band (great 60's and 70's music). Please bring a dish for 12 to share. You and your family will enjoy the resulting buffet and pay a "Quarter per Scoop" or go through the $5 (per person) "Express Lane". (Note: the Express Lane will not provide change, so a check/exact cash/or larger donation works) All proceeds go directly to the Laurel PTO!

Berlitz After-School Programs Begin

The following Berlitz After-School Classes begin next week:

Tuesday September 16: Spanish (Intermediate) 2:55 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Wednesday September 17: Spanish for AM Kinders 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Wednesday September 17: Spanish (Beginner) 2:55 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Thursday September 18: Spanish (Advanced) 1:40 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.

Fall Family BBQ and Book Fair!

Fall Family BBQ

Sunday, September 21
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Encinal School

Join families from Encinal and Laurel Schools for an afternoon of fun and games followed by dinner! There are going to be over 20 different activities as well as a visit from the Menlo Park Fire Department! Also, the Menlo Park and Atherton libraries will have a table for library card sign-ups! Hot dogs, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers will be available for $3!

Some highlights include:

Dunk Tank
20 foot dual lane slide
3 Different Jumpys
Cookie Painting
Balloons
Tricycle drag race
Tattoos
Obstacle Maze
Water balloon toss
Bean bag Toss

Book Fair

Come to the Safari Book Fair in the Encinal Multi! View the Book Fair schedule of events and browse through the books online at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/publish/encinallaurel. Enter the Coloring Contest or Word Scramble by printing out the forms and returning them the Encinal or Laurel Office by Friday, September 19. Entries will be entered in a random drawing for a free poster from the book fair.

Visit the Book Fair when your child's class is there: Laurel schedule and Encinal schedule.

Remember, gift certificates are a great way to help teachers build their classroom libraries. To order, return the gift certificate to the office with your check. All gift certificates may be picked up at the fair.

Volunteers Needed - Encinal/Laurel Book Fair 2008

The Annual Book Fair is here again. Calling our devoted parent volunteers of Laurel & Encinal to make this another big gala success. Please click here to sign up for your convenient time slot. For further questions email Misty Patnaik at mistypatnaik(at)gmail.com.

Popcorn Booth Volunteers

What's a carnival without popcorn? Or a book fair, for that matter? Volunteers needed for 1.5 hour shifts at the Book Fair Popcorn Booth on the following dates/times:

9/21 (Fall Family BBQ) 1:00-2:30, 2:30-4:00, & 4:00-5:30 p.m.

9/22 - 9/24 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. & 3:30-5:00 p.m.

9/24 (Movie Night!) 5:00-6:30 p.m. & 6:30 -8:00 p.m.

9/25 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. & 2:30-4:00 p.m.

We would LOVE parent/child volunteer pairs! Contact Julie Wong at girlfig2u(at)yahoo.com or 853-1305.

Wanted: Handmade Note Cards

Stamper? Scrapbooker? Photographer? If you use your talents to create handmade notecards, consider donating a package to the Book Fair Popcorn Booth. Popular themes are Halloween, Thanksgiving, holiday, birthday, and thank you cards. Proceeds benefit Laurel/Encinal PTO. Contact Julie Wong at girlfig2u(at)yahoo.com or 853-1305.

Donate Those Used Books Now

Used books are needed for the 2008 Encinal/Laurel Book Fair! Please donate Adult Fiction and Children's Books - 100% of the proceeds go to our PTOs. Drop off your book donations in the Donation Box outside the Encinal and Laurel school offices the week of September 15, 2008. Please no board books, magazines, coloring books, text books, or books in really bad shape. For more information regarding donating used books, please contact Susan Tanner at mstanner(at)bluetopazsolutions.com.

Community News

Kepler's Family Story Time

Building Story Time
Sunday September 14, 2008
11:30 a.m.
Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

Have you ever dreamed of building something so wonderful, so grand that the whole world would love it? Then these books are for you! After reading about a couple of budding engineers, we'll practice our building skills by making towering creations out of newspaper.

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

Family Day Story Time with author Kate DiCamillo

Saturday, September 27, 2008
2:00 p.m.
Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma Street, Menlo Park

Kepler's Books and the City of Menlo Park present Newbery Award winning author Kate DiCamillo and her newest release "Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken". Beloved author of "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the "Tale of Despereaux", Kate DiCamillo now leads us through Louise's escapades as she encounters pirates, lions, and fortune tellers. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Michelle Barrese (650) 330-2530.

Girl Scout Information Meeting

Thursday September 25, 2008
12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Robbie Baxter's house: 410 Ringwood Avenue, Menlo Park

Interested in Girl Scouts for your daughter this year? Come to a parent informational meeting right before pickup at Robbie Baxter's house, just up the street from Laurel. Girl Scouts is open to ALL girls kindergarten-2nd grade. No RSVP is required. Questions? Contact Robbie at 321-1199 or robbiebax(at)yahoo.com.

Hoops for a Cause - Basketball Fall Clinics

The Menlo College Men's Basketball program is sponsoring 'Hoops for a Cause', which will consist of a series of Fall Clinics with 25% of proceeds being donated to the Autism Society of America. Clinics will be taught in a positive environment and will consist of general skill work and various games. Clinics are open to all boys and girls, grades K - 8:

September 21, 2008 1 p.m. - 4 p.m
Septemper 28, 2008 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
October 5, 2008 1 p.m - 4 p.m
October 12, 2008 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information contact Chris Cobb at menlobasketball(at)aol.com or (650) 543-3760.

Cub Scout Pack 206 Raingutter Regatta

Cub Scout Pack 206 invites you to its annual Raingutter Regatta this month.

Building the Boats:
- Sunday September 14th, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- Laurel 2nd Grade Arbor

Racing the Boats:
- Sunday September 28th, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- Laurel 1st Grade Arbor

It is a time for the boys to reconnect and have fun building and racing model boats. It is also a great time for new families to come and learn about the 206 program and leaders. Cub Scouts is for all boys from 1st grade through 5th grade. For more information please feel free to contact Cubmaster Rich Collyer (327-2806), or one of the Den Leaders: David Chaiken, Jared Smith, or Steve Wong. You can also learn a little about the Pack at www.pack206.org

Showbiz Dance

Showbiz Dance, 24 years at the Menlo Park Recreation Dept. Classes in Creative Movement, Jazz, Hip-hop & Fitness for all ages Children thru Adult. Classes start September 8, 2008 at 700 Alma St. in Menlo Park. Sign-up today at www.showbizdance.net or call 650-477-4004. We are excited to welcome you into our dance family! For further information e-mail Jane and Maryanne at Janeshowbiz(at)yahoo.com and Maryanneshowbiz(at)yahoo.com.