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PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
A Letter from Lisa Zimmer
I would like to personally thank all the families that participated in our Steeplechase Lapathon on Friday. It is our goal to raise over $100,000 to fund classroom supplies and enrichment opportunities for all our students. In addition, we are in desperate need of classroom and laptop cart computers. Each computer costs a little over $1,000, including software and warranty. Currently, we have only 30 laptop computers for more than 400 students. The stationary classroom computers are in dire need of replacement as well. We will keep working toward getting our students familiar with the keyboarding and technology skills that are so important today!
Speaking of technology skills, a huge thank you goes to Jason Snell, father of second grader Jamie. Jason taught the staff how to develop iWeb sites so each classroom can create its own webpage as part of our school's website. I am excited to say that starting this Friday, October 24th, you will be able to go online to see the happenings and events for your children's classrooms. These sites will be updated throughout the year. I would also like to thank our “in house” technology team: Michael Stachon, Teresa Shern, Kimba Lackey, Kate Sprague, and Lisa Monge. Their expertise, along with Jason's, allowed our staff to achieve this School Improvement Plan Goal. Please be patient with us during our learning curve!
Congratulations to Blake Villanueva and Kimo Karp who are two of the five Marin County Spelling Bee finalists to move on to the regional competition in November. Bennett Keane was also a contestant in the county spelling bee. It was great to see Edna Maguire so well represented. Click here to see photos of the event.
Our Halloween parties and all-school parade are fast approaching! I would like to thank Margaret Schultz, mom to first grader Maury and third grader Eddie, for heading up the school's Nutrition and Wellness Committee. One of the committee's goals is to promote healthy snack ideas for classroom parties. They share some great ideas for healthier, eco-friendly treats (pdf).
Our Staff Development Day on October 10th was busy and exciting! The staff worked together building team norms, much like we do with the students. We spent the day planning lessons with our Investigation Math curriculum, mapping our year-long curriculum, and building our classroom websites! Not a minute to spare, but it is always good to work with our entire staff to reach our curriculum and team building goals.
Best Wishes,
Lisa Zimmer
The Mustangs Were On the Move for Steeplechase!
It was a glorious day for a Steeplechase! Under sunny, blue skies, the students of Edna Maguire walked, ran, skipped, and galloped their way around the school, with parents and friends cheering them on. The kids stopped for academic questions and water breaks before continuing around the course again and again. The Steeplechase photos captured the smiles and laughter found at each turn. What a great effort was made by the children, teachers, and parent volunteers. Many thanks to Janie Karp, mom to kindergartner Mari and fifth grader Kimo, for organizing the Steeplechase Event along with many other parent volunteers.
Please remember to collect your pledges and turn in your pledge packet as soon as possible. The students have done their part; now let's do ours.
Walk and Roll to School Day
International Walk and Roll 2008 was a huge success. Edna Maguire was one of 45 schools in Marin participating in this year's event to promote a healthy lifestyle, a cleaner environment, and reduced traffic. Approximately 215 students came from all directions by foot, bike, and scooter. Thank you to Ms. Zimmer for walking with many families from the Community Center and to the girls from Brownie Troup 453 who greeted the participants with smiles and healthy treats. Take a look at some great photos from the event.
Farmer’s Markets and Fall Garden Festival
We have held our final Farmer's Market featuring summer produce. Thanks to last week's harvesters, cooks, and booth staffers, including Catherine Cadloni, Karen Olson, Lisa Santos, and Audrey Bowen's class. In its six-week run, the market made more than $1400! The market will return once the winter crops are ready for harvest. This has been an incredible teaching experience, demonstrating the cycle of food from planting seeds and nurturing the plants to harvesting and selling the produce. See pictures at: http://www.ednamaguire.org/garden/
Two reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle visited our garden last week. Lisa Zimmer and Saor Stetler talked to them about the origins of the garden, plantings, how the classes work in the garden and manage their beds, the farmer's market, the composting program, the Fall Festival, and our parent volunteers and community support. We will let you know when an article is published. Thank you to Cheryl Reiss for organizing the meeting.
The Fall Garden Festival is this Sunday, October 26th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Come see the garden, buy some homemade treats, and bid on and the beautiful wreaths from each class. To make this event a success we still need parent volunteers. Please email Saor Stetler at sstetler@earthlink.net if you can help.
Book Fair News: Make a Globe!
Are you and your children interested in helping with decoration preparations for the Book Fair? We are looking for people to make papier mache "globes" at home over the next few weeks. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact Mari Allen at allenmari@hotmail.com.
Terrific Tuesday October 21 at Pizza Antica
Want a night off from cooking and doing the dishes? Meet your friends for a delicious dinner and support Edna Maguire.
On Tuesday, October 21st, Pizza Antica in Strawberry Village will donate 20 percent of your dining bill to our school. Just tell your waiter you are with our school and be sure to write Edna Maguire on your restaurant bill. It's that simple! The more you eat, the more we make!
Mill Valley School Board Study Session On Student Learning
October 22, 6-8pm, Mill Valley Middle School Library
The Board will conduct its first study session of the year, focused on student learning. Study sessions are for the sole purpose of more deeply studying one particular component of the District's operations and educational programs. Agendas do not generally contain action items. This study session will include a presentation and exercise by Matt Huxley, Middle School Principal, related to the District's use of DataDirector, a student achievement data management system adopted by all school districts in Marin County. Strawberry Point Principal Leslie Thornton will discuss District Collective Commitments and how they were used at the most recent Staff Development Day. Park Principal Peg Katz will provide an update on how the Mill Valley Teaching and Learning Collaborative (MVTLC) serves as a district-wide collaborative team for the purpose of improved student learning. Superintendent Ken Benny will create the context for the District's core strategies as a Professional Learning Community as well as budget decision packages aligned to the strategic plan. We hope you can join us for this evening.
KIDDO!
It’s Not Too Late! eScrip Amnesty!
If you have never registered with eScrip you can sign up today on line at www.eScrip.com or pick up a Shop-4-Kids form in the front office, fill it out, and fax it to Kiddo! at (415) 389-7766.
If you are registered with eScrip but have not yet updated your information for the 2008-2009 school year, it's never too late! The sooner you do, the sooner your shopping will generate dollars for the important programs that Kiddo! supports.
Go to www.eScrip.com and click on “Yes! Renew” to renew your Safeway Club Card and go to “Sign in to my eScrip” to update your credit and debit cards. Questions??? Call Kiddo! at 389-7789, ext. 3
Last Call for Golfers at Kiddo! Fourth Annual Golf Tournament
Get your clubs ready for Kiddo!'s Fourth Annual Golf Tournament which will be held on Friday, October 24 at the San Geronimo Golf Course. The $300 cost per player includes:
- Barbeque lunch and golf cart
- Prizes and contests on all par 3s and longest drive
- Prizes for overall team scores
- Dinner and Awards Banquet with live music and a hosted bar at the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club.
- Additional banquet tickets can be purchased for $125.
Sponsorships are available for $2,000 including four players' registration and banquet) or $1,000 without golfers and party. Please email Louis Stervinou, Tournament Chair, at lstervinou@eastdilsecured.com for registration forms and sponsorship information. Registration forms are also available at the office. Space is limited, so sign up today!
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Social Skills Panel
Thursday November 6th 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the District Office
Please join district counselors Dr. Claudia Trinklein-Engman and Jason Mountsier, speech and language specialist Corynn Tamman, and psychologist Sheri Yoon for a panel discussion on the District's social skills programs. Learn how your child's constantly evolving social skills require various strategies and interventions, and how the District can create a safe environment that allows the students to try out and navigate new skills and interactive concepts.
Parent Coffee, It Takes a Village,
Special Education PTA
Friday, October 17th • 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. • 405 Wendy Way
Parents of children with learning differences face many challenges. It Takes a Village's parent coffees provide a chance for parents to share information and support one another. Please join us this month at the home of Caron Stapleton. If you have questions, please contact Caron at 383-1192, caronstapleton@comcast.net. |
