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View the complete calendar for the 2009/2010 school year.

Principally Speaking
A Message from Lisa Zimmer

Dear Family,

I hope you enjoyed the three-day weekend with your children.  On Friday, Mill Valley teachers and administrators spent the day at a technology training called "Show and Go Tech Show!"  This was presented by the talented teachers throughout the district who form the Teaching and Learning Collaborative Design Team. Participants chose specific training in subjects such as iWeb, iMovie, Keynote, and blogging.  The training is part of an initiative to incorporate more technology into the curriculum by providing teachers with specific skills.

I want to thank all the parents who have responsibly come out every week to work the Car Line, especially in the rain!  We couldn't do it without your help.  I am continuing to be diligent about requiring parents to pick up their children in the back lot. It's my least favorite part of my job, but the children's safety must come first.  Parents who are continuing to park in the front area are receiving tickets from the Mill Valley Police Department. It takes less than 10 minutes to get all of our students on their way home with the help of Car Line.  

Students are getting very excited about Steeplechase on October 23rd, which is approaching fast.  Please come out and join us for this event.  It is fun to have everyone cheering on the runners!

Best Regards,
Lisa Zimmer

Make a Difference with Steeplechase!
Make a difference in your child's education. Now is the time to get pledges for Steeplechase 2009! The race is on this Friday, October 23rd at 1:00 p.m. for kindergarten and 2:00 p.m. for grades 1 through 5.

Walk and Roll Every Wednesday
Thank you everyone who participated in a super successful International Walk and Roll to School Day. Edna Maguire had about 270 students walk, bike, or carpool to school on October 7th. There were 170 bikes and scooters at the new bike racks. Check out the video. Thank you Girl Scout Troop 453 for supporting the event and handing out patches and treats to walkers and rollers.

Now every Wednesday is iWalk and Wheel Wednesday. Contact Rhonda Campbell or Lisa Gilmore if you would like to start your own walking or biking school bus in your neighborhood.

Fall Harvest Festival and Chili Cook-Off
The Fall Harvest Festival is Sunday, November 8th from noon to 4:00 p.m.  Come bob for apples, make potions, compete in the pie-eating contest, play games, help judge the chili cook-off, and have an amazing time! Watch for the flyer in your children's backpacks.

Sign up now for the Great Chili Cook-Off of 2009 in either the meat or vegetarian category, or both! There are terrific prizes for winners, including a trip to Tahoe! Download the flyer with all the details.

Make-up Picture Day October 26th
For those students who were not available on picture day in September, or if you would like a re-take, make-up Picture Day is Monday, October 26th. A special thank you to James Cabral and Lisa Joss for your help on September's picture day. You were missed but not forgotten.

Halloween Candy Drive for Soldiers in Iraq
Bring your extra Halloween candy to school on Friday, November 6th! All donated candy will be sent to Army soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Your extra lollipops and chocolate bars will surely brighten the day for our brave troops! Look for donation tables at the front and back parking lots on Friday before and after school. Green Beans Coffee has offered to ship all of the candy for us at no cost! If you have any questions or would like to help collect donations, please contact Karen Olson.

Garden Workday Success
The fourth grade-sponsored workday was a big success with about 30 volunteers getting a lot done, including preparing the pumpkin patch, getting rid of more invasive mint, weeding the berry bed, irrigating the butterfly garden, and creating new raised beds out of hay bales. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

Psychologicaly Speaking - Jobs and Allowance
Do your kids get an allowance? Do they do chores? However you handle money with your kids, read what district psychologist Claudia Trinklein-Engman says about the importance of independence and money.

Educating Kids in our 24/7 Digital Media World
Tuesday, October 20, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Multimedia Room, Mill Valley Middle School (through the main entrance and to the left)

This parent education presentation provides an overview of today's media landscape and how it has changed over the past several decades, as well as the impact – both positive and negative – that digital media can have on children. Audrey Shapiro of Commonsense Media will discuss 21st century skills, virtual worlds, social networking sites, cyberbullying, and the ethical implications of kids' digital media use and creation. She will also offer suggestions on how schools can create partnerships with parents to address media and technology issues. Questions? Daphne de Marneffe, 381-0278.

Kiddo!
Kiddo! 2009 Annual Campaign Update
The Phonathon is coming, the Phonathon is coming! Kiddo! works very hard to get donations in before the end of the year, and this year, more than ever, we have more work to do. This means that starting November 9th, we will be calling all families who haven't yet made a donation for this year. We've not yet met our goal of raising nearly $2 million and we have obligations to the school district that must be met. Please help us by putting kids first and helping Mill Valley kids reach their full potential!

If you'd like to avoid the call and save our volunteers some time, make your donation today by visiting www.kiddo.org or calling 389-7789 to arrange a payment plan. You can also mail your contribution to Kiddo!, 409 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley, 94941. The recommended donation is $750 or more per student. Contributions at all levels are appreciated and our goal is 100-percent family participation. Currently family participation is at 55 percent district-wide.

Please remember that all the art, music, drama, dance, poetry and technology programs as well as library and classroom aides are counting on your support!

5th Annual Kiddo! Goblin Golf Classic Dinner Party
Mark your calendars and scare up your costumes, because October 30th is the Kiddo! Golf Classic with a Halloween theme. The golf portion of the event has sold out, but there are still tickets available for $125 per person for the fun dinner party that evening. Dinner will be hosted by Maria Maria at the Golf Clubhouse at 6:00 p.m., followed by live music and dancing with local band Close Enough. Costumes are optional, but encouraged. Call the office to reserve your spot or for more information: 389-7791.

Community Connection

Don't be Ghoul! Stay Cool on Halloween
Be safe. Be smart. Make good decisions. The City of Mill Valley reminds students and parents of the actions they can take for a safe Halloween celebration. The goal for everyone is to have a safe Halloween, free of violent and unacceptable behavior. A "Zero Tolerance" policy will be in effect on Halloween night. Violations will not be tolerated and rules will be firmly enforced. Success will depend on everyone working together.

Parents:

• You are responsible for your children's actions.
• To ensure their safety, supervise your children while they trick-or-treat.
• Carry bright flashlights and keep children on sidewalks.

Students:

• Behave in a safe and legal manner. Acts of violence or harm to other people or their property will have serious consequences.
• Know that violations will not be tolerated and rules will be firmly enforced.
• Carry bright flashlights and stay on sidewalks.

You can help by calling the Police Department business line, or "Halloween Hotline," at 389-4100 to report undesirable behavior before or on Halloween night. Please help ensure a safe and fun celebration of Halloween this year and in years to come!

Girl Scouts ReFashion Event
Check out ideas on how tween girls can wear the latest trends, reinvented and recycled from used clothing. The Girl Scouts ReFashion Event will rock a catwalk, guest speakers from the Academy of Art and Teens Turning Green, and information tables.