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| Next Week |
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Monday, 1/11
No Events Scheduled
Tuesday, 1/12
Menlo Park City School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 1/13
PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:40 a.m.
Thursday, 1/14
Family Math Night, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, 1/15
School Spirit Day - wear blue and white! |
| Upcoming Events |
1/18 NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King Holiday
1/20 Menlo Park City School Board Meeting (Special Meeting re: O'Connor Campus), 7:00 p.m.
2/2 Menlo Park City School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
2/5 PTO Council Meeting, 8:30 a.m., District Office
2/10 PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:40 a.m.
2/11 Staff Appreciation Luncheon
2/15-19 NO SCHOOL, Presidents' Day and February Break
3/5 PTO Council Meeting, 8:30 a.m., District Office
3/9 Menlo Park City School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
3/10 PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:40 a.m. |
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Family Math Night - Next Thursday, Jan. 14th! |
Please attend Family Math Night at Laurel next Thursday, January 14th, 5:45 - 7:30 p.m. with your Kinder, 1st or 2nd grade Laurel student(s)!
5:45 - 6:00 Gather and Chat over a few appetizers
6:00 - 6:45 Overview and Tips from Teachers and Linda Creighton, Principal (adults only; students in Library)
6:45 - 7:30 Math Games with your child/children
Come learn about Everyday Math! The District recently adopted Everyday Mathematics, which focuses on computational and procedural mastery as well as conceptual understanding and problem solving. In addition, Everyday Math promotes communication and cooperation between the school and families. During the first half of the Family Math Night, Linda Creighton and some teachers will give an overview of the program and tips on how to facilitate learning at home (while the students watch a fun math movie in the library). During the second half, you will have an opportunity to be "hands-on" with your child(ren) and play games, differentiated for a range of learning sizes, that they've been playing in class this year.
This evening is designed specifically for you and your Laurel student(s). We will have parents and Girls Scouts on hand to facilitate a math video and/or games for the students during the adult portion of the evening. If you need babysitting for a non-Laurel sibling in order to attend, we have limited space for additional children. Please RSVP to Debi Rice at debirice77@gmail.com to inform us of your Laurel student(s) (no limit on Laurel students) and if you need childcare for a sibling (over 2 years and potty trained, please; limited availability). We look forward to seeing you there! |
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Kindergarten Registration for Spanish Immersion |
For those with incoming kindergarten children interested in Spanish Immersion for Fall 2010, please attend a mandatory parent information meeting on either January 26th or February 23rd, 2010. The meetings will be held in the District Office Board Room located on the Encinal Campus from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information about the Spanish Immersion Program or if you questions, please contact Tami Girsky, Administrator on Special Assignment, at tgirsky@mpcsd.org or 321-7140 x 5621.
For more information on the Spanish Immersion Program:
http://www.mpcsd.org/curriculum_spanish.html |
| After-School Program Sign-Ups |
Don't delay! Its time to sign up for the next session of afterschool programs! Sign up by Monday, January 11th to ensure your program won't be canceled!
Welcome back Fencing!! First Place Fencing Club in San Carlos will once again have fencing classes on Wednesdays in the Multi. Classes will be open to beginner to intermediate students in 2nd to 5th grade so siblings and Encinal students can join in the fun!
Laurel Welcomes Total Golf Adventures (TGA)! Class will be held on the 2nd grade field and ALL equipment, clubs balls, training aides and targets are provided. Students are taught fundamentals including 5 required swings, rules of golf and course etiquette while building confidence, focus and motor skills. Cost for the 5 week session is $99 and is open to grades K-5, Encinal students are welcome to participate. For more information or to register please visit http://penvalley.golftga.com/ or call 650.898.8064.
The following programs will have new sessions beginning this month:
Mondays:
Foundations for Education (F4Ed Math)
1 on 1 Basketball (Hoops)
Wednesdays:
Olympic Fencing (attach flyer here)
Thursdays:
Bay Area Chess (Both Team and Club)
Sports & Fun!
Fridays:Total Golf Adventures (attach flyer here)
For more information or to register please for these classes please click here. (link to afterschool programs page) NOTE: The Legos class has been canceled, please contact Kristi Waldron at swaldron@yahoo.com if you have registered for the spring session. |
| MPAEF News |
Happy New Year and welcome back to school. As you know, the Foundation's goal this year is to grant our school district $2 million in June. When we left for winter break, we had raised $1.3 million from 766 families and were on track to meet our goal. Let's keep up that momentum because the schools need our support more than ever. This month, beginning January 12th, we will phone families who have not yet contributed. Please help us bridge the gap! For more information, visit www.mpaef.org. | |
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Kindergarten Orientation Dates |
| Mark your calendars for the 2010 Kindergarten Orientation at Laurel. Orientations will be held on April 7th at 6:30 p.m. and April 22nd at 2:30 p.m. You may sign up for one of the orientation dates when you register your child for Kindergarten in February. |
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Volunteers Needed for Thursday Drop-Off |
| Drop-off gets a little nutty sometimes, especially on Thursday mornings when the whole school drops of their children between 8:00 and 8:25. We are seeking parents interested in helping facilitate the flow of cars, helping to keep drivers in their cars, opening doors to assist children out, etc.. A body or two would be so helpful! Arrive at 8:00 a.m. and you're done by 8:25 a.m., if not earlier. Smile, wave, and move 'em in and out! If interested, please contact Carla Posthauer at pto_president@laurelpto.org. |
| Thank You! |
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The Holiday Boutique committee would like to thank all the amazing bakers, crafters and generous local merchants who ensured there were plenty of great things available for sale at the annual event and equally importantly we would like to thank all of you that shopped the event! The event was a huge success due to everyone's overwhelming support. In particular, we would like to thank the following local merchants for their contributions: The Willows Market, Cafe Zoe, Avenue Florist, Cindy's Flowers, Starbucks Coffee, Hobee's Restaurant, Penzey's Spices, Ocassions Etc., Amici's East Coast Pizzeria, Summerwinds Nursery, The Milk Pail, and Flowers by Johanna. Special thanks goes to Gail Bradley for allowing us to use the library for the event (and turning a blind eye to the chaos!) and Mrs. Hirsh and Mrs. Dehne's 2nd grade class for the amazing dog treats! I'm sure there were many happy dogs over the holidays! |
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Book Donations Needed for the Laurel Library |
| Do you happen to have books at home your children no longer want? The Laurel Library would be glad to take them off your hands! We are always looking for more books to add to our "Take One, Leave One" book shelf. As many of you know, the Laurel Library has a collection of donated books children may borrow when they aren't able to check out a regular library book. Thank you in advance for your donations!! | |
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Community News |
Kepler's Family Event
- Story Time with Terri Silveira, Puppy Pen Pals
- Sunday, January 10, 2009
- 11:30 a.m.
- Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino, Menlo Park
**Remember to mention Laurel School at the register and 10% of your Kepler's purchases comes back to our PTO.**
Spirit of Uganda
Come see this amazing group of children from Africa (age 8-18) perform riveting dances from East Africa and help raise money to support and educate children orphaned by AIDS, war, and poverty. "Invigorating the stage with that elusive thing called joy." - The New York Times. Thursday, January 14th, 6:30 p.m. at the new Performing Art Center at Menlo-Atherton High School. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by clicking here. If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Ouren at 322-6891 or eouren@gmail.com. To learn more visit www.EmpowerAfricanChildren.org.
Online Registration for Menlo Atherton Little League 2010 NOW OPEN!
M-A Little League includes six levels of baseball. Boys and girls between the ages of 5� and 16 (by April 30, 2010) are eligible to participate if registered by January 19, 2010. Visit the league's web site at http://www.m-all.org/ to enroll your child for the 2010 season. Play begins in late February and extends through the end of the school year. Applications received after January 19th are subject to a waiting list and a late fee of $25. Scholarships are available; contact registration@m-all.org. Menlo-Atherton Little League boundaries are west of HWY 101 and east of El Camino in Menlo Park (except unincorporated Fair Oaks) and all of Atherton. There are other Little Leagues available for those living outside these boundaries. For information on the other leagues: http://www.cadistrict52.org/
Menlo Park Children's Chorus
Does your child love to sing? Consider signing your child up for Menlo Park Children's Chorus. Participants will meet each Wednesday from 4 - 4:45 pm at the Burgess Recreation Center, beginning January 6. Children in grades 1 through 6 are welcome. No former singing experience necessary; no need to read music or words; all your children need to bring is enthusiasm! You can sign up your child/ren now, either online or at the front desk of the Burgess Recreation Center. Any questions should be directed to April McNeely at 408-314-7589 or april.mcneely@gmail.com.
Friday Night Fun Parents: This is your chance to drop off your child at the Burgess Recreation Center and enjoy a Friday Evening out! Our enthusiastic staff will facilitate various themed activities for your child and in addition, they will be provided with a snack for the evening. It's cheaper than a babysitter and more fun for your children too! Advance registration through the City of Menlo Park is required. You can do so by calling 650.330.2200 or by clicking here. This month's event takes place on January 8th from 7:00-9:00pm and we will be screening the movie "UP." The fee is $10.00/child.
Alpine-Menlo-Atherton (AMA) Girls Softball Spring Sign-Ups
Is your daughter interested in playing softball? Visit www.eteamz.com/amasoftball for more information and to register by January 31, 2010. AMA is a recreational softball league for girls ages 5-14 serving the Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, and Woodside communities. The season runs from mid-March through the end of May. Please invite friends that you think might be interested in playing. We also need coaching and volunteer help with the league, so please email Fred Wang, the softball commissioner, at fredwang@pobox.com if you're interested in helping!
How Social Thinking Impacts Academic Success Social thinking is what allows us to participate in the world around us. It is the ability to interpret and take perspective of a situation and to figure out how to appropriately regulate feelings and reactions. For students, it is a critical skill in effectively participating in class activities and group discussions, reading comprehension, following directions, written expression, doing homework, staying organized, fitting in and thriving without anxiety. Please join us on Tuesday, February 9th from 7pm-9pm in the Oak Knoll Multi for a panel discussion and Q&A with our nationally renowned experts to learn first hand about social thinking and its role in your child's academic and personal development. Hosted by Oak Knoll's "Appreciating Our Differences" committee and organized by AIM4MP. Featuring Michelle Garcia Winner, Dr. John Brentar, Ph.D., and Karen Grites. RSVP to aim4mp@gmail.com
TheatreWorks Spring Break CampIn these fun skill-building workshops for grades K-5, students engage in language-based activities, movement, poetry, music, and improvisational theatre games. Spring Break Camp is March 29 - April 2 from 9am-3pm at Oak Knoll Elementary School. For more information call 650-463-7146, e-mail dramaschool@theatreworks.org or visit www.theatreworks.org | |
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Submit Friday newsletter items by Wednesday at noon or flyers by Tuesday at noon to newsletter@laurelpto.org. Please write concisely and proofread your submissions. For past issues of the Laurel Newsletter click here. | |
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