Car Line, Traffic and Parking at Edna Maguire
(The Good, the Bad and the Ugly)
It's 2010 and traffic, car line and parking continue to be issues. Our student population continues to grow (we welcomed 10 new students in January) but our streets and parking lots do not. When Edna Maguire School had close to 600 students 10 years ago, we also had additional back parking lot spaces and use of the now-closed fire road next to Marin Day school. Until our new school and parking lots are completed, we all need to work together to make traffic, car line and parking work. This past week we tried blocking the front loop to see if that would ease traffic. It did not — it seemed to make matters worse! Thank you for bearing with us as we try different approaches.
Going forward, we will be opening the front loop to fourth and fifth grade families. We would like all kindergarten, first, second and third grade families to continue to use the car line for drop off and pick up. Your turn in the front will come! As always, the safety of our children comes first so please SLOW DOWN and BE PATIENT.
—Lisa Zimmer
Walk and Wheel Wednesdays
Every Wednesday is Walk and Wheel Wednesday at Edna Maguire! Join the Mill Valley School District on Wednesdays and walk, bike or carpool to school. You'll help relieve traffic congestion, reduce your carbon footprint, and live healthier!
Physical activity helps kids to concentrate, makes them stronger and more energetic, prevents weight gain, keeps bodies supple, keeps hair and skin looking good, and contributes to higher self-esteem, and lower anxiety and stress.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, short motor trips contribute significant amounts of air pollution because they typically occur while an engine's pollution control system is cold and ineffective. Shifting 1 percent of automobile trips to walking or biking decreases emissions by 2 to 4 percent!
It takes about 10 minutes to walk a quarter of a mile or bike an entire mile. Join us this and every Wednesday!
Trash Free Lunches
The Green Team would like to begin the new year right. If we make less trash, we create a greener planet for all of us. We can make a big difference by making small changes in how we pack our lunches each day. Edna Maguire School encourages every student to:
- Bring a reusable lunch container/bag.
- Bring a trash free lunch. Use reusable containers such as a thermos, "Tupperware" containers, cloth napkin, and reusable utensils.
Bring uneaten, nonperishable, and half-eaten food back home, so parents can see what was not eaten.
Tips For A Trash Free Lunch:
| Yes |
No |
| Container for sandwiches |
Plastic bags or wrap |
| Thermos/reusable bottle |
Juice boxes |
| Reusable containers |
Juice boxes |
| Cloth napkin |
Paper napkin |
| Reusable utensils |
Disposable utensils |
| Foil |
|
Family Math Night Cancelled
Family Math Night, which was scheduled for Thursday, January 21st, has been cancelled. The PTA hopes to reschedule soon with the Lawrence Hall of Science; we will publicize any new dates or information in the Pony Express. Stay tuned!
Family Bingo Night Date Change
Family Bingo Night has been changed to Saturday, March 6th, from 5:30-7pm in the Multipurpose Room. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for details about this fun, community-building event!
Have Any Outgrown Shoes?
Ever wondered what to do with your children's shoes that are outgrown but still in decent condition? Step by Step for Shoes was founded in 2006 by Avery Hale, a 13-year-old Marin girl, to provide new and gently used shoes to children in impoverished villages around the world. Donated shoes have since been distributed in Peru, Ecuador and Costa Rica. We encourage each Edna family to bring a gently worn pair of shoes to their classrooms by January 27th to donate. Questions, please contact Erin Griffis.
Kiddo! Mini Grants
The Kiddo! Mini Grant program is designed to foster creativity and innovative teaching by providing resources to implement new ideas that strengthen or augment the curriculum. Teachers can apply individually or as a group and proposals are reviewed by a committee comprised of a teacher from each of the six schools, a representative from Administrative Council and a parent from PTA Council. This year, there was $12,000 available to fund mini grant proposals throughout the District. Congratulations to this year's recipients from Edna:
Adam Sanchez and the second grade teachers – Green Technology in the Garden. Students will use photography to study and document natural change over time in the garden. Students will be guided by an expert photographer and master gardener to observe, photograph and study changes they notice in the garden. They will use various technologies, including digital cameras, scanner and different dye techniques. They will use their own images to design a final collage of their work to create a furoshiki, or traditional Japanese "green" alternative to plastic bags.
Judith Barry and the third grade teachers – third graders will perform a musical review for their parents and the school community. It will be a student-generated "wrap/review" of the academic year of learning. At the end of each unit of study, they will synthesize what they have learned by creating songs/skits/raps/poetry or video to express their understanding of the topics, concepts, facts and sticks studied this year. The performance will help them master the topics and also provide a valuable way to develop oral communication skills and review academic studies in a creative way.
Jane Ritter and the District Teacher Librarians – ten Flip video cameras for use by students in kindergarten through fifth-grade in curriculum-related projects. These easy-to-use cameras will be used to help students in making oral presentations and providing feedback to improve presentations. Students can be paired up and one can film so that a reluctant student has an easier way to practice. Two examples are a second-grade book review project and a 5th-grade body systems movie project. The cameras will be used by Teacher Librarians as well as classroom teachers.
Chamber Choir Tour of Elementary Schools
On Thursday, February 4th at 8:45 a.m., the Chamber Choir will perform for Edna Maguire students. The concert is about 30 minutes long and will include Edna's third and fourth grade chorus, members of the fifth grade chorus, and the MVMS Chamber Singers.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2010/11 School Year Starts Now!
Kindergarten registration takes place at the MVSD Office, 411 Sycamore Ave. in Mill Valley on January 11th and 14th, and February 1st and 4th. All incoming kindergartners must register. If you currently have children at Edna Maguire, don't forget to mark that on your application. Siblings do have priority. For complete information, visit www.mvschools.org.
Fostering Honesty and Integrity
During January and February, Mill Valley schools will focus on the values of trustworthiness, honesty and integrity. In this month's article, district counselor Claudia Trinklein-Engman, Ph.D., suggests ways that parents can support this initiative.
It Takes a Village Special Education PTA
Parent Coffee
Friday, January 15, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
806 Chamberlain Court
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. o Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us. If you have questions, please contact Ross Buffington, 383-7294.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Happy New Year from the Mill Valley Public Library
What great books will you read in 2010? Will it be Book Seven in the 39 Clues series, a new Magic Treehouse adventure, or the latest by Mo Willems? You can look forward to The Ultimate Guide to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and many other exciting new titles in early 2010. Ask our librarians what's new or check out 100% Hand-Picked at http://millvalleylibrary.org .
Our children's librarians are always happy to help you find a book that's right for you, and if you're in 5th or 6th grade, you can try PeRP, our Personalized Reading Program. Meet with a librarian and get a customized list of books just for you. This is a great program for voracious readers, as well as less enthused readers who need help finding high interest books that will keep coming back for more.
Got homework? Check out HelpNow, our fabulous, FREE online tutoring service, where students in grades 3 through 12 can get academic assistance in math, science, English, and social studies. All you need is a library card, a computer (if you don't have one, come to the library and use ours), and homework. Find it on our website.
Coming in February: a very special Valentine's program for kids of all ages. Watch our website for details. Call 415-389-4292 x106 for information about all of our programs and services.
Richardson Bay Audubon Center
In January, the Richardson Bay Audubon Center has some wonderful family programs, including a Plovers Session on Tuesdays for pre-K and kindergarten kids (free preview on January 12th), the Restoration Work Day on January 16th, a Life in a Pond program on January 23rd, and Bird Banding on January 30th. For more information, visit the Weekend and Family Programs section of their website.
Girl Scout Princess Event
Come find out about Girl Scouts and be a princess for a day. Come wear your favorite princess dress and join us for a "royal" day!
Who: Girls in K-3rd and their parent or guardian
When: Saturday, January 23, 10:30 t0 11:30 a.m.
Where: Scout Hall, 177 E. Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley
Price: Free
Questions? Please contact Sheryl Graab at 1(800)447-4475, ext. 118. | 
