PTA Meeting & Garden Sing/Picnic April 21st
The annual Garden Sing has been changed to Wednesday, April 21st at 11:15 a.m. At 11:45, all students will be excused for lunch, and parents are encouraged to bring along a picnic to share with their children. The PTA Executive Board & Association Meeting has also been changed to 10:45 a.m. April 21st. Please meet in the teachers' lounge to vote on next year's slate of nominees. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
2010-11 PTA Executive Board Nominations
After an amazing effort, the Nominating Committee has found all nominees for the 2010-11 PTA Executive Board! Pursuant to Article V, Section 3.g. of the PTA Bylaws, the report of the Nominating Committee was submitted and posted by the Executive Board more than thirty (30) days prior to the upcoming Annual Election Meeting. The election will be held during the PTA Meeting on Wednesday, April 21st at 10:45 a.m. in the teachers' lounge, prior to the Garden Sing.
PTA Executive Board Nominees are the following:
President: Janie Karp
Co-President: Kit Harris
VP Student Well Being: Michelle Barenbaum
VP Programs: Stirling Somers
VP Fundraising: Mari Allen
VP School Community: Karen Carr
VP Site Enhancement: Ingrid Lin
Treasurer: Jeannine Berman
Financial Secretary: Catherine Grava
Recording Secretary: Deb Luster
Historian: Leslie Lewczyk
Auditor: Lisa Gilmore
Edna Maguire New School Public Input Meeting
Monday, April 26th 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
The Mill Valley School District is launching the Facilities Modernization Bond Program funded by the proceeds of the November 2009 voter approved "Measure C." They are collecting public input on the first three projects: the new Edna Maguire Elementary School, and modernization at the Old Mill and Tam Valley Elementary School campuses.
The District feels that the more robust the public process, the better the project outcome will be. A site committee at each of these three schools is working with architects to develop the Schematic Design. For information about our school, please come to the meeting in the Edna Maguire multipurpose room on Monday, April 26th at 6:00 p.m.
If you are unable to attend this meeting and wish to submit input, please send your comments to the District's Program Manager, Van Pelt Construction Services, attention Pete Norgaard, at pete@vpcsonline.com (415) 389-7762. For more information on this an other meetings, visit the Mill Valley School District web site.
Variety Show Updates
Variety show sign-up forms are due today! Forms and information sheets are on the Edna Maguire website.
Auditions are April 8th and 9th, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. They are divided into three one-hour time slots on both days. Please indicate ALL possible times that you can audition. It will not be possible to accommodate all requests for early Thursday audition times.
Rehearsals are Wednesdays April 21st, 28th, and May 5th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and are divided into one-hour rehearsal time slots. Students will be assigned to one of three time slots.
We still need performers for the fantastic 4th and 5th graders Group Act Dance with Alan Scofield! Rehearsals have been changed to Monday mornings (to accommodate Orchestra students with Thursday morning rehearsals). Also, 4th and 5th Students are needed for show hosts, backstage Hands, and announcers.
Parent Volunteers are still needed for Lighting Tech, Special Effects Tech, Rehearsal and Show Assistants, Strike Crew.
Sutter's Fort Pictures
On April 1st, 84 Edna Maguire fourth graders, four teachers, and 60 parent volunteers attended the Environmental Living Program at Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. Thanks to your PTA contributions, the students experienced life in 1846 first-hand.
Parents became docents for the day, teaching the children about activities that actually took place more than 160 years ago. Becoming pioneers, riding in horse-drawn covered wagons, cooking over open hearths, churning butter, roping cattle, creating corn husk dolls, hammering stools, making candles, baking bread and rolls, weaving a tapestry and dancing the Virginia Reel all added up to an unforgettable experience. See some terrific pictures from their visit to the past. Thank you, Edna Maguire, for making this all possible.
Thank you to all of the parents, teachers, and sponsors of this wonderful event! Click here to see who did what!
Aesop's Fables Performance
Last month, Marin Theatre Company brought live theatre to the Edna Maguire stage. Funded by proceeds from last year's Variety Show, three talented actors from MTC took Edna students on a hilarious romp through the familiar "Aesop's Fables." The performance was educational as well as entertaining, and students were mesmerized by the actors and production design. We look forward to next year's production!
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
The Marin County Office of Education, in collaboration with the Marin County School/Law Enforcement Partnership, will be hosting a workshop entitled "Sexual Assault – Awareness and Prevention" on April 21st from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The Jeannette Prandi Children's Center's powerful film "Irreversible Consequences" will be followed by a panel discussion of awareness and prevention strategies. For more information, or to register for this workshop, please contact Lisa Schwartz, 415-499-5816 or safeschools@marin.k12.ca.us.
Pertussis: The 100 Day Cough
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a very contagious disease that is vaccine preventable and is currently circulating in Marin County schools and communities, with several recent cases reported to the health department. Pertussis starts like the common cold with a runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and a mild cough, usually with a low or no fever. After one to two weeks, coughing becomes more severe. Please read more information on how to prevent pertussis.
It Takes a Village Special Education PTA
Speaker Event:
Transitions from Pre-k to Kindergarten,
Fifth to Sixth, and Eighth to High School
Thursday, April 8th, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Mill Valley Middle School Gym, 411 Sycamore
Panel discussion about the transition from preschool to kindergarten, fifth grade to Middle School, and eighth grade to high school and the unique challenges of each stage.
Featuring:
Lisa Zimmer (Pre K to Kindergarten)
Claudia Trinklein Engman & Peg Katz (3rd to 4th Grade)
Matt Huxley, Barbara O'Toole & Barbara Musser (5th to Middle School) and
Karen Mates (Middle School to High School)
This education event for parents is presented by It Takes a Village in collaboration with the Mill Valley PTA Council.
Parent Coffee
Friday, April 9th, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
900 Ventura Way, Mill Valley
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. Our coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support each other. Please join us. If you have questions, please contact Tam Valley School parent, Pam Sowerby, 380-9680.
Family Walk/Bike/Scooter
Sunday, April 18th, 9:00 a.m.
Strawberry Point School, Mill Valley
Meet at the Strawberry Point School parking lot and either walk the Bay Trail or practice your bike riding or scooter skills in the large flat yard at Strawberry Point School.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
April News from the Mill Valley Public Library
Spring Break Film Festival, April 12th through 16th: free movies and popcorn for the whole family. Monday 4/12– Where the Wild Things Are, Tuesday 4/13 – Ponyo, Wednesday 4/14 – Planet 51, Thursday 4/15 – The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Friday 4/16 – The Princess and the Frog. All films screen in the Creekside Room at 3:30 p.m.
Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22nd. Hear earth-friendly stories, discover new ways to save the planet, and make a personal pledge to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Our craft project will transform the pages of old library books into works of art. Open to kids in Kindergarten and older, no advance sign-up required. (Creekside Room, 3:30 p.m.)
Early Bird PeRPs: Need a customized reading list for summer? Librarians will be visiting fourth and fifth grade classes to tell you about our Personalized Reading Program. Make an appointment with a librarian in May or June and get your list in time for summer vacation!
April 30th is El Día de los Niños/Children's Day and El Día de los Libros/Book Day. Celebrate children and books of all cultures with a bilingual story time and craft on Wednesday, May 5th at 3:30 p.m. in the Creekside Room. Special snack provided. All ages, no advance sign-up required.
For information on all of our programs and services, including HelpNow online tutoring service, My First Library Card, regular story times, and more, please visit our website or call 415-389-4292 x106.
Earth Day Marin: Activities for Families with Children
April 24th is Earth Day Marin at College of Marin in Kentfield, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It will be a free, family-friendly outdoor festival celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day featuring music, food, kid fun, forums, animation and more. Join group bike rides to the event from Ross Valley, Novato, San Rafael and Mill Valley. Presented by Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Next Generation, Hannah Doress Events, College of Marin Students for Social Responsibility and MarinLink. Visit http://www.EarthDayMarin.org for details.
For younger kids: enjoy puppets, hands-on learning, bike your own smoothie, recycled art projects, Leo the Litter Lion and Music & puppets with Grammy-nominated songwriter Let's Go Green, and more! There's also a Green Song Contest (for Youth and Adults) with great prizes and celebrity judges. Come on out and celebrate Earth Day! | 
