Marin Chinese Cultural Association Lion Dance
Usher in the Year of the Ox on Thursday February 5th, at 11:15 a.m. in the multipurpose room with the Marin Chinese Cultural Association. Their lion dance team, which is comprised of children from 8 to 18 years old, will dance colorful lion movements accompanied by traditional Chinese drums, cymbals and gongs. The children, including Edna third grader Edward Gilmore, will also explain the significance of the dances.
Interactive Art Show
February 6th through 12th, Edna Maguire will host the Interactive Art Show in the multipurpose room. Download the schedule (pdf) to see when you can join your child for individual classroom activities. Come see all projects on display next Tuesday, February 10th at 6:30 p.m. Please note that there will be a PTA Executive Board and Association Meeting in the teachers' lounge at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Caruso and Shern/Bowen Classes Win
Kiddo! 2009 Mini-Grants
Congratulations to Edna Maguire teacher Lindsay Caruso and her team of second grade teachers, as well as fifth grade teachers Teresa Shern and Aubrey Bowen for winning Kiddo! Mini-Grants! The second-grade team's winning program is an in-depth look at change and stability through art in the garden. Fifth-grade teachers Teresa Shern and Aubrey Bowen were once again awarded a grant to put on the ever-popular "America Sings" performance. We've posted some great pictures, teacher reactions to the news, and more on the Edna website.
Hot Lunch News!
The February hot lunch menu is now available and the March menu will be up on February 1st. New items include pasta with butter and cheese, cream of tomato soup, clam chowder, and four-layer nachos. To order, click here or go to the Edna website and click on the Revolution Foods logo. Please make sure you are up-to-date on your lunch payments after you place your order by checking the account balance against your future orders. The lunch program is our second largest fundraiser and all funds benefit the children at Edna.
Terrific Tuesday at E&O Trading Company Tomorrow
This week's Terrific Tuesday is at E&O Trading Company in Larkspur. Have a great dinner out (or take it home!) and earn 20 percent for Edna Maguire. Tell your server you are with Edna Maguire School and write Edna Maguire on your restaurant bill. You'll be treating yourself and helping support your children's education.
St. Vincent's Thanks Edna Volunteers
Many thanks to our dedicated Edna volunteers who have been driving food twice weekly to the St. Vincent de Paul kitchen in San Rafael. Karen Olson, Laura Figueirinhas, and Erin Griffis have been bringing the uneaten fruit, carrots and milk from the PTA lunch program to those in need since the beginning of the school year. The fresh food has been greatly appreciated by the more than 300 people served.
First Grade Hosts Garden Workday this Saturday
Come one, come all! This Saturday, February 7, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, everyone is welcome to join in spring plantings, hosted by our first grade students and families. Bring your friends and have a great time planting strawberry plants, fruit trees, grapes and more. Whole Foods will have plenty of yummy snacks and drinks on hand to keep gardeners fed while doing this important work! Questions: contact Saor Stetler at sstetler@earthlink.net
Got a Mirror Ball? Got DJ Skills?
Does anyone have a mirror ball that we can use for the Family Dance? If so, please contact Nancy Felder at 381-4371 or ronancy@pacbell.net.
Does anyone have music mixing ability so that we can polish one of the acts for the Dance? If so, contact Katrina Kehl at kkehl@pacbell.net or 378-9267.
Valentine's Day Community Outreach
Are you looking for a way to spread some Valentine's Day cheer? Edna is looking for donations to fill gift bags for our neighbors at the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin. St. Vincent's offers compassionate, individualized assistance to help our neediest neighbors obtain nutritious food, affordable housing, and meaningful employment. Our gift bags will be distributed to the homeless guests in the dining room. A box has been placed in the front office to collect donations until Friday, February 6th. The following items are needed:
- New men's and women's white athletic socks
- New men's and women's underwear
- Toiletries (shampoo, combs, razors, toothbrushes, soap)
- Individually wrapped snack items (granola bars, trail mix, bags of peanuts, crackers, etc.)
- Paper bags with handles or large shopping bags. Decorating the paper bags with simple drawings or making simple valentine cards would be appreciated.
Questions, please contact Karen Olson at cokobo@comcast.net.
Amazon.com School Rewards Program for Valentine's Day
Remember that through Amazon's School Rewards Program, Edna Maguire can earn up to 10 percent of every purchase made through our special Amazon.com link, including products sold through Amazon by other companies. You can always access the link from the right-hand sidebar of Edna's website. Then start shopping for that special someone for Valentine's Day or any day – it's easy and available all year!
Reminder: Kindergarten Registration
The final priority registration dates for 2009/10 kindergarten are this week. For more information, visit http://www.mvschools.org/registration/kreg2005.htm.
It Takes a Village
Speaker Event: Christof Bessler
"Math for the Other 40%"
Thursday, February 5th, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Mill Valley District Office, 411 Sycamore Ave.
Students' diverse learning styles can be addressed through a multi-sensory, structured, comprehensive methodology. Math can be entertaining, foster confidence, and effectively teach the required math concepts. An entertaining math evening will show you what is possible.
Christof Bessler traveled the math world in Germany, New York, and California. He earned a master's degree in education in Germany, a M.S. in educational technology while in New York, and completed a series of "Making Math Real" courses through the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Bessler's private practice, Mathemagic, focuses on students with a wide variety of learning styles.
This educational program is provided in collaboration with the Mill Valley PTA District Council and It Takes a Village Special Education PTA. For more information, please contact Andrea Brandeis, 383-9800.
Parent Coffee
Friday, February 13th, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
405 Wendy Way
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. These coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us at the home of Tam Valley parent Caron Stapleton. If you have questions, please contact Caron at 383-1192 or caronstapleton@psalaw.net.
Website
Please visit our website at www.itavmv.org to learn how we can help you and your child. We post information about our speaker events (including speaker notes and handouts), parent coffees, and playgroups.
Shop Mill Valley Market and Support It Takes a Village!
Mill Valley Market has offered to donate a portion of its proceeds from your grocery shopping to It Takes a Village. When you check out, give the Market the number 7093. It couldn't be easier to support our kids!
Kiddo!
The Kiddo! Supporter List is Coming Soon!
Watch for your name in our spring newsletter as a public "thank you" to all of our donors who join with Kiddo! to help the children of Mill Valley public schools reach their full potential. Please take a moment to check our donor list for any omissions or errors in your name by visiting http://kiddo.org/?page_id=155. If you believe you have contributed, but do not appear on the list, please contact the Kiddo! office at 389-7789. Thank you!
Michael Thompson, PHD Speaks in Mill Valley on February 4th
Mark your calendars for February 4th to hear world-renowned author and child psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD speak on "The Pressured Child," at 7:00 p.m. in the Park School Auditorium. A dedicated speaker and traveler, Dr. Thompson has spoken at or consulted to more than 500 schools in the U.S. and abroad. He has appeared on "The Today Show," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," ABC's "20/20" and CBS's "60 Minutes." He was the co-author, host and narrator of a two-hour PBS documentary entitled "Raising Cain: Focus on Boys."
Dr. Thompson will also speak earlier in the day in Kentfield and Larkspur. Dr. Thompson's books will be available for sale and for him to sign. (Personal checks and cash only, please.)
The event is sponsored by Fidelity Investments and is free to the public. Forty percent of sales from Thompson's books will benefit It Takes A Village special education PTA. In addition, Fidelity will donate $50 to Kiddo! for anyone who goes in for a complimentary portfolio review by April 15, 2009. Please call Janet McKinley at Fidelity Investments for questions: 415-925-9155 ext 53590. |
