PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
A Message from Lisa Zimmer
Dear Parents,
Welcome back from mid-winter break. It is great to be back with your wonderful children, learning and having fun! We have our Family Dance coming up this Saturday night, which is always a blast. You can read more about it below. I hope to see you there!
I would like to share some important information about the revised Academic Performance Index (API) scores for our school. At this time each year, the California Department of Education (CDE) provides all schools with revised API scores. These scores are used as a measure of whether a school meets the state benchmark API score of 800. It takes into consideration performance of all classes in the school on the annual STAR tests.
For the past several years, Edna Maguire's API score has been over 900, which, compared to most schools in California, is truly exceptional! For the most recent revised API released on February 10, 2009, Edna Maguire will not receive an API score, due to what the CDE describes on its website as "adult irregularities" in the testing process. There are no penalties to individual students, and their scores are not invalidated. There is no adverse affect on funding for our school or school district. Additionally, there are no different requirements placed on the school by the state or the school district for any changes in how STAR tests are administered. Despite the fact that our API scores will not be reported this year, we know, and the community of Mill Valley knows, that we have an exceptional school. We are blessed with an outstanding staff, supportive parents, and eager students.
We will begin this year's STAR testing in the next six to eight weeks, and I am certain that our students and our school will do a great job, as they always do.
In all areas of learning, Edna Maguire and its staff and students continue to be a source of pride. Because of your support for every staff member in our school, Edna Maguire is a special place for our children.
Warm Regards,
Lisa Zimmer
Edna Maguire Family Dance
Edna's famous Family Dance, a fundraiser for "Common River," is all set for this Saturday, February 28th. Come to the multipurpose room from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to rock out at the event of the season! This year's line-up includes:
- "The band formerly known as Chasing Maya," starring Edna's own fifth grader, Reed Felder
- "Close Enough," starring Chris Newell, dad to 5th grader Jake and 1st grader Aidan
- "The Jonas Sisters," featuring our fearless principal Lisa Zimmer, and PTA leaders Katrina Kehl and Leslie Lewczyk
Your $5 donation at the door will go to Common River, which supports the town of Aleta Wondo, Ethiopia, and a small portion of the evening's proceeds will go to the fifth grade graduation fund. Bake sale goodies and refreshments will also be on sale. Bring your family and friends, and come dance the night away for a great cause!
Jumping Rope for a Happy Heart!
On Friday, February 27th, Edna Maguire students will jump rope for the American Heart Association. The goal is for each child to donate $2 toward this cause, and the money raised will fund lifesaving heart and stroke research and educational programs. There is no pressure to donate; either way, your child will have fun jumping rope! Leave donations in the office, in the envelope labeled "American Heart Assoc." or with your child's teacher. In February, your child will learn about heart disease and stroke while engaging in fun physical activity. Thank you Schuyler Harvey for organizing this event, and thank you Edna community for your support!
Support Your Children’s Garden at
Sloat Garden Center
Attention all Mill Valley Children's Garden supporters: Sloat Garden Center is sponsoring Growing Up Green Week, February 20th through March 2nd. Bring in our flyer (pdf) and Sloat will donate a percentage of your purchase to the Garden. The higher our participation, the greater the benefit! Thanks to you, the Growing Up Green Week program has raised $200 in Sloat gift cards for the Garden so far this school year.
Consider planting some trees (now is a great time to take advantage of the rain to encourage a good root system) or picking up some tools or furniture. Thanks for supporting the Garden!
Marin Theatre Company Performs at Edna!
The Marin Theatre Company is coming to Edna on Thursday, February 26th to perform "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." The show begins at 11:00 a.m. in the multipurpose room.
This beloved children's story by C.S Lewis comes to life on stage in a delightful and imaginative adaptation by le Clanché du Rand. The children will join Tumnus the Faun, the White Queen, and Aslan the Lion in the magical land of Narnia.
This MTC presentation was underwritten by proceeds from the 2008 Edna Maguire Variety Show!
Take Action to Save California Schools
Our state is in fiscal crisis. The legislature's proposal to cut billions from public school funding will affect all of us. In Mill Valley, we also face a lower than expected increase in property taxes (an important source of our school revenue) and projected significant enrollment growth for the 2009/10 school year. Visit Save Our Schools, sponsored by the Marin County Education Coalition for excellent information to help you stay informed and take action. Please take a moment to get educated, then send a letter, email or make a phone call to Sacramento and help Save Our Schools! Your voice CAN make a difference!
Come Cook for Families in Need
On Wednesday, March 18th, come join other Edna families to cook and deliver a complete meal for families living in temporary housing at Homeward Bound in San Rafael. This is a great opportunity for you and your children to cook up a tasty, healthy meal for families in need. We are looking for six adults along with their children (K-5th) to join Debbie Faubel and Erin Griffis in the multipurpose room from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Everything is provided; just come ready to cook. Volunteers will cook on March 18th, April 29th, May 27th and an additional date in June. For more information contact: erin.griffis@sbcglobal.net or debbiewalshrealtor@comcast.net.
Interactive Art Show Thanks!
Children and their parents spent the week drawing, painting, sculpting and working in many media during the Interactive Art Show. Thank you to the art muses Shaila de Leede, Courtney Wimmer, Michelle Zimmermann, Mari Allen, Christine del Castillo, Amy Bonetti-Price, Suzanne DiBianca, Erin Salcuni, Linda Dunne, Sean Norton, Josie Viscardi and Claudia von Welczeck for helping out with this year's Show. Thanks also for the artistic vision of our wonderful Kiddo!-sponsored art teachers, Jackie Lalanne, Amy Faulkner and Katie Mostert. This beautiful weeklong show was made possible by the inspired, creative energy of Negissa Araghi and Teresa Baradaran. Take a peek at the art!
February Garden Work Day an Overwhelming Success!
The February Garden Work Day sponsored by the first grade was a huge success. Classmates and parents socialized while getting lots done for the Garden. Thanks to all who showed up and thanks to the teachers and garden parents who got the word out. Volunteers planted grape vines, peach trees, raspberry canes, kiwi vines and did lots of cleaning, weeding and pruning. The bar is set high for the second grade, which will be sponsoring the next Garden Work Day on March 7th. See the pictures from this great day in the garden.
Thanks for the St. Vincent's Gift Baskets
Thanks to all the Edna families who provided donations for our St. Vincent's Valentine's Day gift bags. We assembled 100 bags filled with food, toiletries, socks and undergarments which were distributed to homeless men and women at the St. Vincent de Paul's dining room in San Rafael. A very big thank you to Hannah and Abby Alpert, Emma Barenbaum, Owen Constant, Charlie and Braden Osborn, Corey and Kalen Whitehead, and Mika, Lucy and Thomas Allen for assembling the bags and decorating beautiful Valentine cards. You spread some love and cheer through your community service efforts! See the photos here.
Extra! Extra! Mighty Mustangs Yearbooks
for Sale!
The yearbook is well on its way and we're looking for more subscriptions! If you did not pre-purchase your yearbook, please do so ASAP as the order deadline is March 2nd! The yearbooks are $20 and you can leave a check in the envelope marked "Yearbook" in the office. Please make checks out to "Edna Maguire PTA" with your child's name, room number and "yearbook" in the memo section of the check. Don’t miss out!
If you have questions or to find out whether you've already ordered your yearbook, contact Jackson Butler at belv@comcast.net.
Edna Maguire's PTA is Changing Banks
In order to upgrade and simplify the PTA's accounting systems, on March 1st the Edna Maguire PTA is changing banks to a local favorite, Tamalpais Bank. If you have a check that the PTA has written to you, whether recently or in the distant past, please cash it before April 15th when we close our Bank of America account. Please contact Suzanne Alpert at suzanne_alpert@yahoo.com with questions or comments.
Please Confirm Your Name on the Kiddo! Supporter List
Kiddo! will be publishing a full list of its 2008 donors in an upcoming community newsletter and wants to make sure your name is listed correctly. Please take a moment to check the donor list for any omissions or errors in your name. If you believe you have contributed but do not appear on the list, please contact the Kiddo! office at 389-7789. Thank you!
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