Visit the Edna Maguire website

View the complete calendar for the 2008/2009 school year.

Edna Spirit Wear from Lands’ End
It’s back! Edna spirit wear is galloping back with our Mighty Mustangs mascot. Spirit wear is now available through Lands’ End school uniforms. Lands’ End features a huge selection of high quality clothing, backpacks, lunchboxes, and totes, and almost everything they carry can be embroidered with the Edna logo for an additional $5.50. Three percent of the sales from "school uniforms" will come back to Edna Maguire. You’ll find a catalogue and instructions for ordering in your Wednesday folders along with our preferred school number (#9001-2976-8). See samples in the windows of the front office or click here to view some photos.

Holiday Wreaths Silent Auction
The following class wreaths are available via silent auction: Rooms A, B, C, D, 1, 5, 7, 12, 14, 15, 18 and 20. Bidding will start at $50 and will conclude on Thursday, October 30 at 3 p.m. The wreaths and bid sheets are in the front office. Wreaths will be available to the winning bidder after 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 30. Support the Children's Garden and take home a beautiful Holiday Wreath.

Pumpkin Sale
There are 17 pumpkins for sale in the garden. All proceeds benefit the garden. Please contact Saor Stetler if you would like to buy a pumpkin (sstetler@earthlink.net or 415-699-3025).

Halloween Costume Parades this Friday
The Halloween costume parades at Edna Maguire are this Friday, October 31. The kindergarten parade begins at 12:45pm and the 1st-5th grade parade begins at 2:15pm. If your children would like to participate in the parade, please have them bring their costumes in a bag on Friday. Parent volunteers will be on hand to help the younger children change into their costumes before the parade. No scary masks or pretend weapons, please.

Halloween Candy Drive for Soldiers in Iraq
Bring your extra Halloween candy to school on Monday, November 3rd! All donated candy will be sent to the Army soldiers in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment stationed in northern Iraq near the city of Mosul. These soldiers are on their third year-long deployment and are currently focusing on rebuilding schools and hiring teachers for the Iraqi children. Your extra lollipops and chocolate bars will surely brighten the day for our brave troops and the Iraqi children! Look for the donation tables in the front and back of Edna on Monday before and after school. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! If you have any questions or would like to help collect donations, please contact Karen Olson at cokobo@comcast.net.

Hot Lunch Menu for December/January Available
The New PTA Hot Lunch menu will be posted on the Revolution Foods website on Nov. 3rd for the months of December and January. Check out the new lunch items including chicken noodle soup and chicken tortilla soup.

We Need Lunch Volunteers!
The Edna Maguire Hot Lunch Program needs your help. There are not enough volunteers to staff all days. The program needs volunteers on Wednesdays and Fridays.

This is a one-hour commitment from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every other week. You can buddy up with a friend while volunteering for a chance to visit and do a good deed. You’ll also have an opportunity to visit with your child. The lunch program provides a warm, healthy meal to Edna kids and is also one of our largest fundraisers.

Please consider being part of this great program by contacting Josie Viscardi at jv64@sbcglobal.net. We can’t do it without you!

Memorial Service for Shevaun Stapp
It is with great sadness that we remember Shevaun Rose Stapp, daughter of kindergarten teacher Lisa Stapp, who passed away last week of natural causes at the age of 21. A memorial service for Shevaun will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at 5:00 p.m. at The Playhouse in San Anselmo, which is located at 27 Kensington Road. If desired, donations in Shevaun's name may be made to the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation. If you would like to send Lisa and her family a card or letter, there are collection envelopes in the office and on the back door to Room B.

Library Resources Available Online
Did you know that the school library provides online resources you can use at home? You can find these databases and other kid friendly links on our library website: http://emlibrary.mvschools.org

World Book Encyclopedia Online:
Username: mvsdlib, password: homeref

EBSCO Databases:
Username: ednamag, password: library

Enchanted Learning:
Username: ednamag, password: library

Edna’s Garden in the Chronicle
Thanks to the help of parent Cheryl Reiss, last week’s San Francisco Chronicle ran a wonderful article called "School gardens have something for everybody" featuring Edna's very own Children's Garden!

Steeplechase Pledge Packets Due
Please remember to turn in your Steeplechase pledge packets. Your donations will make a difference this year! Thanks for making Steeplechase a success.

PTA Meeting Minutes Available
October’s PTA Executive Board minutes and agenda are available on the Edna website. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Katrina Kehl at kkehl@pacbell.net.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

News from the Mill Valley Public Library
Celebrate El Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead at the Library. Join us for two exciting after-school craft programs on Wednesday, November 5. Listen to a Day of the Dead story in English and Spanish and decorate your own colorful Calavera mask (2:30 to 3:30 p.m., all ages). From 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., kids in grade four and up can learn the traditional art of reverse glass painting. We’ll show you how to create a luminous Day of the Dead painting which you can display in a festive hand-decorated frame – it's perfect for your Day of the Dead altar. No sign-up needed; all programs are FREE and take place in the Creekside Room.

Coming in December – Winter Craft Drop-in programs and our popular Winter Break Film Series for kids. Save these dates: Wednesdays, December 3, 10, and 17 at 3:30 p.m. Create your own greeting cards, make fun gifts, and decorate seasonal cookies. During winter recess, enjoy new and classic kids’ movies (with free popcorn, of course!) on December 22, 23, 26, 29, 30 and January 2. Watch our calendar and this newsletter for further details.