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Principally Speaking
Dear Families,
Our school district faces significant financial challenges as a result of state budget cuts, declining property taxes and the costs of unprecedented enrollment growth. We are grateful to Kiddo!, the school district's primary fundraising organization, for their commitment to raise more than $2 million this year to help fund the gap the district is facing. I thank each of you in advance for your participation in Kiddo!'s fundraising efforts at any level - only if we work together can we protect the quality education our students deserve!
Donation Day - May 7th. Please join in kicking off Kiddo!'s 2010 Annual Giving Campaign on May 7th. This year Kiddo! must raise $950 or more per student to help preserve and maintain the excellent programs our children enjoy. Every donation counts! Your 2010 contribution will preserve the vital arts and technology programs our children receive, and continue to save library and classroom aides from budget cuts. Giving is easy--just drop, click or mail:
Drop: you'll find donation drop boxes at each school, making it fast and easy to make your contribution
Click: make your donation online at www.kiddo.org.
Mail: send your donation to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941
We are also designating this Friday, May 7th as Kiddo! Spirit Day and are asking students, staff and parents to wear red, yellow or black.
Please give as generously as you can on May 7th and help our schools receive the additional funding they need in these challenging economic times. With your support, we can do it!.
Lisa Zimmer
Kiddo! Donation Day May 7
May 7th is Donation Day for Kiddo! and this year, more than ever, we need you to be as generous as possible. Our school district is facing steep, unprecedented cuts to its budget. For 28 years, Kiddo! has stepped up and helped keep our schools excellent by raising the funds necessary for vital programs like art, music, drama and technology. This year, Kiddo! has been working closely with the district to identify ways we can help bridge the current funding gap. We have committed to raising an additional $300,000 to pay for classroom and library aides as well as technology. We can't do it without widespread support among our district families. Please help keep our schools great. Kids need Kiddo! and Kiddo! needs you. Click here to donate now!
Wanted: Talented Volunteer Videographer!
Are you a whiz with a video camera? We need a volunteer to film Edna's Kiddo Donation Day festivities at 8:15 a.m. this Friday, May 7th. We plan to post the video on the Edna Maguire website for everyone to enjoy. Please contact Julie McCrady at jamccrady@mac.com to volunteer.
Make a Breakfast Date with Mom on May 14th
It's time for Muffins with Mom! Join us in the multipurpose room from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. to celebrate Edna's extraordinary moms. Volunteer husbands and partners will be on hand to greet guests and serve muffins, coffee, juice and fresh fruit. Don't miss out on the fun!
Edna's Got Talent
Get ready to be wowed by the greatest little show on earth! The Edna Maguire Variety Show Circus rolls into town on Friday, May 14th. The two-part performance kicks off at 6 p.m.
see the flyer
Make a night of it and join us for dinner. The refreshment stand opens at 5:30 p.m. and will feature pizza, baked goods and other fun snacks. You can also buy flowers and souvenirs. Entry donations support Edna's variety show and the PTA.
Garden Sing Photos
Our kids didn't let a little rain dampen their spirits at Edna's annual Garden Sing. The event was held in the multipurpose room where each grade performed beautiful songs to celebrate Earth Week. Check out the great photos here.
Innovative Teaching Fund Grant Awards
The Innovative Teaching Fund (ITF) is a line item of the PTA Budget designated specifically for teachers to use toward unique teaching practices. This year, a total of $3500 was allocated to the ITF, and every penny has been spent. Teachers apply as individuals or as a grade level, and the requests are reviewed by the Site Council. Below is a list of the grants distributed this year:
Library: $150 for visit from author Thacher Hurd (for 2nd graders)
Kindergarten: $657.64 for a document camera
First Grade: $500 for a document camera
Second Grade: $425 for "Green Technology in the Garden"
Third Grade: $750 for accompanist Ricca Wolfe, Third Grade Musical
Fourth Grade: $192 for video camera accessories
Fifth Grade: $450 for America Sings (Ricca Wolfe, accompanist), and $280 to Walker Creek Scholarships
RAMP: $87.36 for partial funding for "Read Naturally" CDs to add to their existing program
Thank you PTA for helping to fund these programs, activities and resources! If you have questions regarding the Innovative Teaching Fund, please contact ITF Coordinator, Mari Allen at allenmari@hotmail.com.
Let Your Edna Spirit Shine
Support the Mighty Mustangs with spirit wear from Lands' End school uniforms. Almost everything Lands' End offers - high quality clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes and more---can be embroidered with the Edna logo for an additional $5.50. Three percent of all spirit wear purchases are donated to Edna Maguire. Use our preferred school number (#9001-2976-8) when you order. Click here to see samples.
Volunteer wanted: We need someone to be the Lands' End contact person and run quarterly reminders in the Pony Express for the 2010-11 school year. This is an easy commitment that doesn't take much time. Contact Lisa Gilmore for more information at lgilmore@iapsf.com.
Know When to Ask For Help
When should parents become concerned about their child's behavior and consider seeking professional help? District psychologist Claudia Trinklein-Engman has a list of behaviors considered by mental health practitioners to be possible indicators of a child experiencing emotional difficulties.
Catch a Giants Game and Go to Bat for Kiddo!
Cheer on the Giants as they take on the Huston Astros at AT&T Park. Kiddo! Day at the Giants is Sunday, May 16th. The game starts at 1:05 p.m.
Come early to hear the MVMS Eighth Grade Choir* sing the National Anthem. And if you're one the first 20,000 fans to arrive at the ballpark, you'll get a Willie Mays "The Catch" bobblehead.
$8 from every $21 ticket will go to Kiddo! Tickets are selling fast, so buy yours today!
* Choir families: please contact Jessica Stewart at jstewart@mvschools.org to order tickets.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
May at the Mill Valley Library
El Día de los Niños/ El Día de los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day). Join us as we celebrate books, reading, and the children of the world with bilingual stories, a colorful craft, and a surprise snack on Wednesday, May 5th at 3:30 p.m. in the Creekside Room. All ages, no sign-up required, and it's absolutely FREE!
It Takes A Village at the Library - ITAV, Mill Valley's special education PTA has put together a list of books on parenting, learning differences, and much more. Ask for the ITAV Recommended Reading List in the Children's Room. Thanks to ITAV for donating books and expertise to this collaborative project.
Are you ready to "Catch the Wave" this summer? - Whether you're a surfer, swimmer, bookworm, couch potato, or all of the above, you won't want to miss our Summer Reading Program. The Library will offer more than 45 amazing activities including reading and guessing games, entertainment, hands-on art projects, lizards and dogs at the library! (Yes, the Marin Humane Society's Share-A-Book dogs will be back to listen to young readers.) Librarians will be visiting your school to give you the details; summer flyers will be available on May 26th.
Fourth and Fifth Graders: don't forget to schedule your Early Bird PeRL (Personalized Reading List) appointment! Get a customized reading list before summer starts. Ask about our A-List personalized reading program for kids going into 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.
For information on all of our programs and services, including PeRL, HelpNow online tutoring, regular story times, and My First Library Card, please visit our website or call 415-389-4292 x106.
County Libraries on the June Ballot
This June, Marin County voters will vote on Measure A, a $49 per year, five-year parcel tax measure to support the Marin County Free Library system. Due to declining revenue, the library's budget is short more than one million dollars per year. Measure A provides the local funding to protect branches from being closed, maintain children's programs, and preserve programs and services for disabled residents. The Marin County Free Library serves the unincorporated areas of Marin County as well as the city of Novato and the towns of Fairfax and Corte Madera. For more information, please visit the Marin Library website.
Explore and Restore at the Richardson Bay Audubon Society
This month, the Richardson Bay Audubon Center has some wonderful family programs, including Welcome Summer Birds guided walk on May 8th, the Restoration Work Day on May 15th and Mudflats Exploration on May 22nd. For more information, visit the Weekend and Family Programs section of the website.
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