|
|
|
|
|
|
| Next Week |
|
Monday, 2/1
Kindergarten Registration Begins
Build It Festival, all day, Multi
Tuesday, 2/2
Menlo Park City School Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 2/3
Thursday, 2/4
No Events Scheduled
Friday, 2/5
PTO Council Meeting, 8:30 a.m., District Office
School Spirit Day - wear blue and white! |
| Upcoming Events |
2/10 PTO Executive Board Meeting, 8:40 a.m.
2/10 Parent Education Night, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
2/11 Staff Appreciation Luncheon
2/15-19 NO SCHOOL, Presidents' Day and February Break
2/23 Spanish Immersion Parent Information Night, 7:00 p.m.
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.
3/26 NO SCHOOL, Staff Development Day
3/29-4/2 NO SCHOOL, Spring Break |
|
PTO Executive Board Nominations! |
We're looking for PTO Executive Board candidates for the the 2010-2011 school year. Consider nominating yourself or someone you know. Be a part of the Board, get involved, and make a difference! Please email nominations and any questions to Tracy Uyeki, tracyuyeki@yahoo.com.
For information about the PTO Executive Board positions click here. |
| Parking Reminder |
|
When dropping off or picking up your child, please remember not to park in or block the driveways of homes neighboring Laurel School. If this continues to occur, Atherton Police will begin ticketing. |
| The Laurel PTO: Putting Your Dollars to Work! |
|
The Laurel PTO is funding the following new items for our classrooms:
- "Handwriting without Tears": Program, with workbooks and guides (all grades)
- Specialized Supplies: O-Glue, pens, construction paper, glue sticks, specialized pencils, grips, etc (all grades)
- Recess Equipment: New hoola hoops, balls, jump ropes, cones, etc.. (all grades)
- Pioneer Living Museum: Program that reflects the actual day-to-day life in pioneer times. (2nd)
- Site License to a letter and phonics program for use on the computers
These are just a few new things to land in the classrooms and on the playgrounds shortly. In addition, things you see ongoing at Laurel like the Riekes personnel at recess, Mary Beckstrom's music teaching, field trips and assemblies, the newsletter, the directory are just a few other items that exist due to your support. THANK YOU!! |
|
February is Kindergarten Registration Month |
Priority registration is scheduled from February 1st to February 26th, 2010. Applications for the magnet Spanish Immersion Program will also occur at during this time.
A mandatory information meeting for parents who are interested in learning more about the Kindergarten 2010 Spanish Immersion Program is scheduled for 7:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m. on January 26th and February 23rd at the District Office at 181 Encinal Avenue. This program is lottery based and enrollment will occur in the spring.
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 information about the process to register for the lottery and the Parent Information Night click here.
Additionally, mark your calendars for 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.
For kindergarten registration information, click here. |
| Art & Science Fair: Volunteers Needed! |
Bob sled racing, electricity, paper airplanes, bread making, sugar eggs, puppet making and much, much more! This fun filled morning gives parents (and grandparents, aunts or uncles too!) a chance to be the teacher! Volunteers run 30-minute art or science workshops to four groups of 12 kids. Not to worry - we provide the all workshop content and detailed instructions! INTERESTED? Contact Carolee Hazard at carolee1@yahoo.com. Please provide the following information: Do you prefer art/science/either? Would you like to lead/assist/either? What grade(s) is you child? ASF will be Thursday, April 15th, from 8:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. |
| New! Flag Football on Mondays at Laurel |
Tim Bowler, National Board Certified PE Teacher and Coach at MA, will teach the proper fundamentals of Flag Football through drills, skills and games in this new after-school program at Laurel. Class is open to 1st and 2nd grade students, both boys and girls, class size is limited. Click here to sign up. Click here to view the weekly schedule for all after-school programs. If you have any questions, contact Kristi Waldron at swaldron@yahoo.com. | |
 |
|
Green Tip of the Week |
BUY LOCALLY when you can. Visit the farmers markets to support the local growers - it's better for the environment in so many ways!. And take your reusable bags with you!
Click here to find the ones closest to our zip code. |
|
Build It Festival |
On Monday, February 1st, all day, in the multi, the 10th Annual "Build It Festival"
will be held. Second grade students will practice and hone their geometry skills with hands-on activities designed to reinforce their understanding of geometry. Drop by to see math in action! |
|
Celebrate Chinese New Year, Support the PTO! |
 Bring your friends and family to celebrate the Year of the Tiger with dinner at Su Hong in Menlo Park on Tuesday, February 9th! Su Hong Dining and Su Hong To Go have generously offered to donate 20% of your bill to the Laurel/Encinal PTO!! See flyer for more details. Hard copies will go home with your student. Remember to present the flyer to make sure the schools get credit! Gung hay fat choy! See you there! |
|
Help for Haiti |
For those of you interested in helping victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the FBI recently issued a warning about the many scammers who are profiting during this tragedy in Haiti. The following are a list of legitimate groups who are currently raising money and distributing it appropriately.
American Red Cross
1-877-help-crs
1-888-392-0392
Unicef 1-800-4unicef | |
|
|
|
Mark Your Calendar for a Parent Education Night |
The PTO Council is pleased to present:
- Suze Rutherford, The Kindness Campaign
- Wednesday, February 10, 2010
- 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- Hillview Middle School Library
For the past four years, Suze Rutherford has been facilitating The Kindness Campaign at Hillview. The campaign fosters a culture of dignity and respect by creating common ground among participants, addressing the root causes of meanness and inspiring youth to come together to make a difference at school. For the parent evening, Suze will help parents better understand how bullying, relational aggression, entitlement and our current popular culture can undermine a learning culture. She will talk about what parents, as role models, can do to support their children's academic and life success.
The event is free, however please RSVP at rutherfordevent@yahoo.com with the name(s) of the person(s) attending. Childcare for elementary age children is available for $12 if reserved before February 8th. If you are reserving childcare, please include the ages of your children in your RSVP. |
| Rock the Foundation! |
 Come on and "celebrate good times" at this year's MPAEF spring event! You told us you loved last year's rock 'n roll themed party, so we're planning another night of live music, dancing, good company, and fun for Saturday, April 24th. Watch your email next week for more information about this year's party.
In the meantime, there are two important ways you can "bust a move" and get involved NOW! First, make a donation to the silent auction, which will feature parties, getaways, and teacher items. Go to www.mpaef.org/springevent for more information about the donations we're seeking or contact Celine Sanie or Carol Kelly. Donations are greatly appreciated through Friday, February 12th.
Second, consider becoming an event sponsor. Opportunities are currently available for businesses or groups of parents to make their mark on the party by underwriting the bar, the band, or other exciting aspects of the event. More information can be found at www.mpaef.org/springevent or by contacting Lois Giovacchini.
Thank you. Your participation is what makes our Foundation rock! |
|
Community News |
|
Kepler's Family Event
- Family Game Day!
- Sunday, January 31, 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.**
Menlo Park Library
- Dad & Me at the Library with Puppet Art Theater
- Thursday, February 4th
- 6:30 p.m.
- Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma Street, Menlo Park
This popular and free event is tailored to dads and their kids, but all are welcome. Dads (or other adults) are invited to bring their kids to the Menlo Park Library for great entertainment and a positive literacy experience. The Puppet Art Theater Company will perform The Tortoise and the Hare and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Click here to view the flyer.
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
Newton's "Ski Week" Camp in Menlo Park
Join us this winter for a fun-filled "Ski Week" break with the Newton Camp. Our camp's offer an exciting and positive environment where your child will enjoy creating arts and crafts, exploring music, discovering science through hands-on activities and playing with old and new friends. We serve children in grades kindergarten to 5th. Click here to register or learn more. If you have questions, call 650-345-4043 or email info@newtoncenters.org | |
|
|
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. | |
|
Laurel Elementary School | 95 Edge Road | Atherton | CA | 94027