PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
Dear Family,
Our school district faces continuing financial challenges as a result of state budget cuts and the costs of unprecedented enrollment growth. We are grateful to Kiddo!, the school district's primary fundraising organization, for their continued commitment to raise $1.9 million for our schools in 2009. I thank each of you in advance for your participation in Kiddo's fundraising efforts despite these difficult economic times. Together we can protect the quality education our students deserve!
Donation Day – May 1st Please join in when Kiddo! kicks off its 2009 Annual Giving Campaign on May 1st. This year Kiddo! must raise $750 or more per student to cover the costs of programs and services it provides. Every donation counts, and we're looking for 100-percent participation!! Your 2009 contribution will preserve the vital arts and technology programs our children receive, and continue to save our library and classroom aides. Giving is easy, just Drop, Click or Mail:
- Drop – a donation drop box is in the office, making it fast and easy to make your contribution
- Click – donate online at www.kiddo.org. We also have computers available for your use
- Mail – send your donation to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley, CA 94941.
Please give as generously as you can on May 1st and help our schools receive the funding they need in these difficult economic times. With your support, we can do it!
Best Regards,
Lisa Zimmer
Giant Edna-conda in the Back Parking Lot
by Jack Figueirinhas, Grade 2
Mr. Sanchez's 2nd Grade class was looking for a way to make the entrance to the school more beautiful. We voted for a bunch of different things until we thought of a snake and it was the winner. My mom helped us make the snake out of cob. Cob is a mixture of sand, water, clay and straw. Cob is sometimes called adobe and when it dries it becomes very hard. In some parts of the world, cob is still used to make buildings. We are now almost done with the snake and it is colored red, yellow, green and blue. We hope you stop by and look at it.
Thanks to Laura Figueirinhas for dreaming up this huge undertaking. Her dedication to the project and focus on getting the kids involved in each step has made this a truly meaningful project. Check out the terrific pictures!
Ladybug Release Day
For the grand finale of Earth Week, we celebrated by releasing 72,000 ladybugs into the Mill Valley Children's Garden to help manage pests. The students paired with their buddies to release a packet of ladybugs into our garden. We also had a visit from student Conner Swenberg's chickens – Turkey, Tiger, Squirt and Fluffy – who demonstrated their own method of organic pest management and garden fertilization. A big thank you to our generous garden sponsors who financed the ladybugs: Rob, Jill and Lea Anderson; Stephen Ludin, Sarah Suloff and Tomas; Patrick, Christina, Nicholas and Elias Michael; Rich Ross, Kathy Sonderby and Eliza, Lauren and Graham; Jed, Caitlin and Quinn Smith; and, of course, Sloat Garden Center who supplied the ladybugs at cost. Thanks to everyone for supporting the garden. Here are some photos of the event.
Green Cleaning Product Recommendations
The Nutrition and Wellness Committee is committed to reducing our children's exposure to toxic cleaning agents. Thank you to Nathalie Fraise, mom to second grader Luka, for her research into some terrific green cleaning options, with a list of commercial products and tips for making your own! We would also like to extend a big thanks to Tim Ryan, Director of Maintenance and Operation of all District facilities, for streamlining classroom cleaning supplies to those with the least possible toxic cleaners to help maintain a healthy and safe learning environment.
Clean-up Day Thank You!
Thank you Oscar Rivas, Michael and Isaiah Clark, and Linda and Arthur Berlinger for coming to Edna on Sunday, April 19th to assist our VP of Site Enhancement, Bruce Berlinger, in polishing up the Edna campus. This crew of volunteers worked for six hours cleaning, power washing and doing tree work in the lunch area. Thank you all for your hard work and thank you Bruce for organizing this event.
Humane Society Collection
Don't forget: Girl Scout Troop 30453 is collecting small cans of cat food, towels, collars and leashes for the Marin Humane Society. Please help provide much needed food and other items for the shelter and their partnership programs. A collection box is located in the office and will be there through Monday, May 4th. Thanks for your support!
Keep Walking, Riding, and Carpooling to School
The Frequent Rider Program continues through May 8th. Keep track of when you walk, bike or carpool to school for a chance to win the grand prize, a new bike!
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Learn How to Ride Together
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is offering free bicycle education workshops to parents and children in Marin. Riding with Youth takes adults and students riding together to teach them how to safely navigate streets. Learn about proper equipment, communication, and appropriate behavior. The next free workshop is Saturday, May 9th from 9:30 a.m. to noon. |
