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PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
A message from Lisa Zimmer
Edna Maguire students and staff are busy as we enter March and the last three months of school. The family dance, the student variety show, student projects, field trips, spring planting in the garden, progress reports, and preparing for the California State Achievement tests have kept us on our toes! I hope all of our Edna Dads are able to attend Donuts for Dads this Friday, March 21st at 7:45 am. Please remember that parking is open in front of Ring Mountain School as it is public access parking.
As Edna Maguire continues to be a “peanut alert” school, I have visited each classroom to share the book, The Peanut Pickle by Jessica Ureel. I used it to discuss ways in which we can be considerate of classmates with allergies. This story shows a six-year-old boy with a severe peanut allergy going through his daily life in school, sporting events, and play dates. The hope is to show students what it is like to live with this condition so they can understand what a good friend does to help someone in their class be safe, and how to make good choices for their friend’s well being. Wendy Dalia, mother of kindergartener Myla Dalia, shared additional information on peanut allergies and some wonderful ideas for peanut-free lunch options.
This month I am working with a group of students on our first student newspaper, Eye on Edna. Two fifth grade students, Emily Luster and Haley Fretes, will be the editors. About 12 other students at various grade levels will be freelance writers and will be contributing articles that are of student interest. Look for the first issue in April! Contributing writers will vary each month to give as many students an opportunity to publish their work as possible.
No Dogs on Campus! This is a rule for everyone on school property, and complies with a city ordinance. For some reason, quite a few of our dog owning families are not abiding by this rule. Many students are afraid of dogs, allergic to them, or really don’t appreciate stepping in dog messes. Please don’t tie your dog up outside of classrooms or near the office; this is not an acceptable way around the rule. Kids don’t understand why dogs are brought to school when the signs clearly say that there are no dogs on campus. There are currently NO EXCEPTIONS!
I urge all of you to attend the District’s Board Study Session on finance, Tuesday, March 25th at 6:30 p.m. at Strawberry Point School. We are facing budget cuts due to the state cutbacks that will affect our schools, and it is important to stay informed.
Each year the county recognizes a teacher and a fifth grade student to be honored with the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching and the Elizabeth Terwilliger Award for student community service. This year, Lisa Stapp, kindergarten teacher, will receive the Golden Apple Award for her vast contributions to our school, particularly in developing the Green Team. Jasmine Lee, a fifth grader in Teresa Shern’s class, will be receiving the Terwilliger Award for her work with homeless shelters and soup kitchens in San Francisco. It is an honor to work with both of them.
Have a safe and happy spring break,
Lisa Zimmer
SCHOOL NEWS
Lice Volunteers Needed Friday, March 28th
Biannual lice check will take place on Friday, March 28, the hour before pick-up (kindergarten check is at 12:30; grades 1 through 5 are at 2:00 p.m.). Please donate an hour of your time. We need at least two parent volunteers for each class. Sign up sheets will be posted on classroom doors this week. Homeroom parents may be contacting you to volunteer. Informal training is available. This is a great way to get to know the children and another parent in your child’s class.
Questions, please contact Josie Viscardi Jv64@sbcglobal.net or 686-0291
Donuts with Dad
Friday, March 21st, 7:45 – 8:30 a.m. in the multipurpose room
Calling all dads and donut connoisseurs! Grab your dad and come join in for some very sweet and tasty connection time. How often to you get to sample some sticky and delicious confections while sharing some quality time with dear ol’ dad before the busy day unfolds?
We’ll have coffee, juice, and assorted fruits, so don’t miss this popular event. We hope to see you there!
Your hostesses,
The Moms of Edna Maguire
Book Drive
Brownie Troop 453 is sponsoring a book drive for the Marin Community Clinic, which gives books to pediatric patients to encourage literacy and education. Please donate new or gently used picture books and easy readers to the collection box in the office. If you have any questions, you can contact Jennifer Oreste at 388-7938 or jenoreste@pacbell.net.
PTA Member Vote Needed for Table Purchase
In accordance with our PTA Bylaws, any purchase over $600 must be voted upon by the Association members. Our Executive Board discussed the purchase of 30 new tables to be stored in the multipurpose room and used for such events as the International Potluck, Book Fair, First Day Coffee, Donuts With Dad, Family Math Night, Muffins With Mom, and others. We currently have about 15 tables that are in quality condition.
Here is the cost breakdown. This includes the discount offered to schools.
$50.81 x 30 tables = $1524.30
Tax at 7.75% = $118.13
15% shipping = $228.60
Total amount = $1871.03
Please vote by April 15 to approve $1875.00 to be spent on the purchase of 30 tables. Any unspent monies will be returned to the Edna Maguire PTA general fund. To vote, please email your opinion to Mari Allen (allenmari@hotmail.com). Thank you for your participation!
2008-09 PTA Executive Board Nominations
After an amazing effort and commitment, the Nominating Committee has found all of the nominees for 2008-2009 PTA Executive Board! Pursuant to Article V, Section 3.g. of the PTA Bylaws, this e-mail constitutes the report of the Nominating Committee that is being submitted to the Executive Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Election Meeting. The annual election will be held during the PTA Association Meeting (prior to the Garden Sing) on April 25, 2008, at 10:15 a.m. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to vote, please contact Mari Allen (allenmari@hotmail.com). Thank you for your participation!
The Executive Board Nominees that we will vote upon are listed here.
MVSD Board Special Session - Budget Discussion
Please attend a Special Session of the Mill Valley School District Board on Tuesday, March 25th at 6:30 p.m. The location has been changed to the Strawberry Point School Auditorium.
Representatives from the MVSD Community Financial Advisory Commission look will share important information regarding the district's financial health, including the state budget crisis, recent polling in our community about the school district, budget planning for 2008-09, and a possible parcel tax for November 2008.
Psychologically Speaking
Read the latest column from school counselor Claudia Trinklein-Engman. This month, Claudia talks about helping children work through the repercussions of bad decisions.
REMINDERS
Variety Show Permission Slips Due Today
Auditions for the “Show Biz Kidz” Fourth Annual Edna Maguire Variety Show are Thursday, March 20th, from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. Permission slips are due today, March 17th, in the front office.
All Talents Welcome! Past acts have included: skits, joke telling, reciting a story or poem, dog tricks, jump rope, dance, instrumental, song, and martial arts.
Clarification: by “practiced and stage ready” we simply mean that there should be a solid idea for the act. There will be rehearsal time to polish the act!
Questions: contact Jody Branham jodyvera@pacbell.net or call 388-1282. Download pdf copies of the letter to parents, schedule, and permission form.
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