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Kindergarten-1st Grade Play Structure Update!
Wednesday, December 12th is our second Donation Day for the new K-1 play structure. We'll be collecting donations at pickup from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. at tables near the first grade classrooms and in front of the school. Please consider making a donation and get one last tax deduction for 2007.
Q: We have a K-1 play structure that looks fine, why do we need a new one?
A: The MV School District has advised us that the structure will need to be removed within the next twelve months, as it will be too worn to meet current codes. We are working against the inevitable, and have proactively secured a 50-percent discount on new structure equipment.
Q: My children aren't in Kindergarten or 1st grade, why should I contribute?
A: The structure is a K-1 structure in name only! After school and on weekends, children of all ages play on it and will love the new, larger, and more challenging structure. The new structure will benefit the entire school community.
Q: I just donated to Steeplechase. Can't you use that for the K-1 structure?
A: Steeplechase money has already been earmarked for such things as classroom and teacher supplies, in addition to enhancing the educational experience that our children deserve.
Q: Why do I have to pay for this? Shouldn't the District cover the cost?
A: In spring 2007, the District notified the Edna PTA that our 2nd-5th grade structure was unsafe, and that our K-1 structure would need to be removed within 18 months due to similar safety issues. The majority of the $110,000 financial burden falls on the Edna community, on top of the nearly $80,000 that the PTA raises annually to fund an exceptional educational experience for all Edna children.
Q: I heard that 60 families have donated, so have you reached your goal?
A: Thanks to you, we have raised nearly $30,000 and we have ordered the equipment in time to receive the 50-percent discount! When it arrives, it will be stored in the District storage facility on site. Once we raise nearly $30,000 more, we'll immediately start with removal of the old structure, site work, and installment!
Q: How do I donate?
A: Drop your fully tax deductible donation in the envelope marked "New K-1 Play Structure" in the front office as soon as possible. Please make checks payable to "Edna Maguire PTA" with "New K-1 Play Structure" as the memo.
Contact: Katrina Kehl (378-9267) or Gary and Suzanne Alpert (388-3815). Make a gift to the K-1st play structure today!
Play Structure Fundraising Thank Yous
Muchos gracias to Stacey Ciauri for organizing a Margarita Mixer in her beautiful home for all the kindergarten moms. In addition to the opportunity for moms to have an evening out, relax, and get to know each other, this was also a fundraiser for the new K-1 play structure. Thank you to all the moms (and dads) who generously gave to help us on our way to making the play structure a reality. We raised $1,880 in just one evening! In addition, we'd like to give a big thank you to the following families and individuals for their donations:
Christopher and Susan Ames
Grant Barbour and Anne Jeffrey
Daniel and Michelle Barenbaum
John and Debra Carney
Alan Chai
Mark and Cheri Chamberlain
Chris and Stacey Ciauri
Michael and Anne Marie Coen
Bastiaan and Shalia De Leede
Rupen and Meera Dolasia
Alex and Linda Dunne
Michael and Christine Freda
Kelley Fullerton-Bloom
Richard and Ahtossa Fullerton
Jennifer Gillmer
Peter and Lisa Gilmore
Mark and Lucy Hampton
Stephan Herrera and Julie and McCrady
Cambria Hicks
Erika Honig
Deborah Huber
Seth and Merrie Jaffe
Thomas and Kira Keane
Jill Lebstock
Anne Lister
Calvin Morrell and Deborah Haas-Morrell
Lisa Nave
Seth and Bonnie Neulight
Timothy and Anne Peters
Barbara Polster
Craig and Cheryl Reiss
Daniel and Kristin Silmore
Sarah Suloff
Chukwuma and Shelia Umolu
Anne Zarranandia and Kimberly Jessup
Eric and Julie Zener
Barbara Zeyen
Republic ITS
"Look Great While You Donate" at MilVali Salon
Bring in the flyer from our website and MilVali salon will donate 10 percent of all services and product sales to the K-1 play structure during the month of December.
Lulu Blue's Edna Donation Event
Come to Lulu Blue on Miller Avenue on Wednesday, December 5th from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The store will donate 15 percent of all proceeds during this shopping period to Edna Maguire. Note: you can have your child start a wish list at Lulu Blue before December 5th and take the guesswork out of shopping!
Steeplechase, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!
The tallies are in and Steeplechase has raised $68,239 so far with 77 percent of Edna families participating. Thanks to your generosity and support, Edna Maguire can continue to offer an excellent academic experience to its children through additional funding for classrooms, school supplies, and special fieldtrips and events. The Steeplechase Awards Assembly will be held at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, December 6.
A special thanks to the team of people that made Steeplechase such a success. Steeplechase was spearheaded by the incredible Val Lindsay. She was supported by the amazing and talented crew of Mari Allen, Marie Cardinal, Bethany Conybeare, Shaila DeLeede, Nancy Felder, Janet Fox, Janie Karp, Katrina Kehl, Amy Lester, Deb Luster, Sean Norton, and Josie Viscardi. Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!
If you haven't turned in your pledge packets, there's still time! Drop off your packets and/or donations in the office as soon as you can to start making a difference at Edna!
Psychologically Speaking
District psychologist Claudia Trinklein-Engman's latest column is available. Read about helping your child deal with winning and losing.
Kiddo! Thank You
A huge, heartfelt thank you to director (and Mill Valley School District parent) Kevin Lima and to Walt Disney Pictures for donating a special screening of their hit movie “Enchanted" as a fundraiser for Kiddo! Thanks to their generosity and the hard work of our team of volunteers, Kiddo! raised approximately $15,000 from the screening to fund arts and technology programs in our schools. Thank you also to everyone who attended this "Enchanted" event!
It Takes a Village, Special Education PTA
YOU ARE INVITED!
Holiday Teacher Appreciation Party
Wednesday, December 19, 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Masonic Center, 19 Corte Madera Ave.
(across from Mill Valley City Hall)
The District's special education staff will be the guests of honor at a holiday appreciation party. Parents and children are invited to attend to support our teachers. We will have lots of food and beverages. Come and enjoy!
SOCIAL THINKING
Speaker Event
Thursday, January 17, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
District Office, 411 Sycamore Ave.
If you are concerned about your child's social skills, this is the workshop for you! Stephanie Madrigal from the Center for Social Thinking in San Jose will present social skills strategies that parents can implement at home. This event is a companion the Social Thinking training that the District's special education staff received last year. Parent training will allow students to apply their social skills training at home for a more integrated program.
SPEAKER NOTES
Many parents have asked for notes from our speaker events. Notes of the following events are now available:
Sept. 27: Dan Phillips (technology that can help your child read and write)
Oct. 18: Pauline Nacamuli, Erin Conklin, and Sarah Stoelting (reading strategies)
Nov. 1: Dr. Virginia Bassi, Janet Miller (support for families/siblings of children with learning differences)
Please contact your school representative, Lisa Santos
(388-1005, lsantos@rightnowconsulting.com), to get speaker notes or with any questions or comments you may have. Thank you!
News from the Mill Valley Public Library
It's not too late to sign up for after-school Holiday Crafts fun. Make Time Capsule Picture Frames on Wednesday, December 12 (Grade 3+) and Funky Folk Art Rag Gifts (Grade 4+) on Wednesday, December 19. Programs run from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Call 389-4292 x106 to register.
Free Movies, Popcorn, and a Pillow. Join us for our annual Children's Winter Film Series, Wednesdays through Fridays, December 26, 27, 28, and January 2, 3, and 4 at 3:30 pm. We'll be showing a brilliant selection of child-friendly cinema, including Ratatouille, Charlotte's Web, and Wallace & Gromit Meet the Were-Rabbit. For more information, call 415-389-4292 x106.
Got homework over the Winter Break? Got a library card? Try Live Homework Help, our free online tutoring service, available from 1:00 to 10:00 pm every day. (Closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.) Go to http://millvalleylibrary.org/homework.html for more information.
Girls' Softball Registration is Open!
The spring 2008 season is just around the corner. Registration forms are available at www.millvalleygirlssoftball.org or email marla@supportwareconsulting.com. Get ready to play Fastpitch Softball!
Kindergarten Registration for School Year 2008-09
DATES:
Monday, January 14, 1-7:30 PM
Thursday, January 17, 1-7:30 PM
Monday, February 4, 1-7:30 PM
Thursday, February 7, 1-7:30 PM
PLACE:
Mill Valley School District Office
411 Sycamore Avenue (to the left of the main Middle School entrance)
IMPORTANT:
The above dates are priority registration dates. It makes no difference which of these four dates you register. All registrations will be considered equally on these dates regardless of the day or time you register.
A child is eligible for public school Kindergarten if he or she will be 5 years old on or before December 2, 2008. To find out what documents are required for registration please visit our website at www.mvschools.org or call 389-7700.
Tours are available at each school. Please call the school directly to sign up for a tour.
Edna Maguire: 389-7733
Old Mill: 389-7727
Park: 389-7735
Strawberry Point: 380-2490
Tam Valley: 389-7731 | 
