School Resumes: Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
Principal’s Coffee: Friday, January 6, 8:15-9:30 AM, Staff Lounge.
SI Information Meeting: Thursday, January 12, 7-8:30 PM, Library/Room 5. Flyer
No School: Monday, January 16 (MLK Jr. Day), and Friday, January 20.
Family Ice Skating Party: Saturday, January 28, 7-9 PM, Winter Lodge.
School News
Come and share your views on homework! This week’s Principal’s Coffee is all about homework. The Palo Alto School District is currently revising its district-wide homework policy. A new draft policy is being written by an advisory committee of teachers, parents and administrators, including Escondido teacher Jenna Segall and parent Simon Firth. The committee is actively soliciting feedback from all stake-holders on the subject and Friday’s meeting offers one such opportunity. Please come and share your views on what makes homework work (or not) in our elementary schools. Friday, January 6, 8:15 AM, Staff Lounge.
“Junie B. in Jingle Bells Batman Smells” featuring Escondido students Shayan H. and Ryan W. has added the following Children’s Theatre encore performances:
Thursday, January 5 at 4:30 PM
Friday, January 6, 7 PM
Saturday January 7, 2 PM and 7 PM
We need kids to usher the shows and in turn they get to watch the show for free! Please contact the Children’s Theatre at 463-4930. Box Office: 463-4970. Flyer
Penny Power Proposals (due Friday, January 6): It is the season to not only enjoy your own family but also to think about what you can do for others. Penny Power is an opportunity for everyone at Escondido to help others in any small way they can. Escondido children collect loose change to benefit less fortunate children. The criteria for Penny Power recipients include:
Benefits children in need
Simple message that kids can understand (e.g. buying something tangible)
Age-appropriate issues
Local or international (rotating schedule)
Past recipients have included “Nothing by Nets” (mosquito nets to combat malaria in Africa) and “My New Red Shoes” (clothing to benefit needy Bay Area youth). Last year’s recipient was a local cause, “Ten Books a Home” (program to provide books and reading assistance to disadvantaged children locally). This year, we will focus on an INTERNATIONAL issue. We welcome everyone who would like to suggest a non-profit to be the beneficiary of Escondido’s annual Penny Power campaign to do so. Please send nominations to the Penny Power Co-Chairs: Lyn Swyryd-Smith and Pamela Hornik.
Winter 2012 Art Classes in Spanish (register by January 6): 10-week sessions.
Tuesday, January 10-March 27,1:45-2:45 Kindergarten / 2:50-3:50 (Gr. 1-5)
Wednesday, January 11-March 28, 1:30-2:30 (K-5)
Friday, January 13-March 30, 2:50-3:50 (Gr. 3-5)
No classes during February 14-22. Print, complete, and mail in registration form. For more information and registration, contact Alejandra Hermandinger at AleVisualArts@gmail.com
Spanish Immersion Information Meeting: An information meeting for families interested in finding out about Spanish Immersion, a K-8 choice program in which children learn both Spanish and English through regular PAUSD schoolwork. Come to the meeting to find out about the immersion educational model, the K-5 program at Escondido School and the lottery for fall 2012. All families interested in enrolling in Spanish Immersion in August 2012 MUST first attend this meeting. Any family eligible to enroll in the PAUSD may apply. Thursday, January 12, 7-8:30 PM, Escondido: an English meeting will be held in the library and a Spanish meeting in room 5. More information: www.escondidoschool.org or school office at 856-1337.
Cheer on Stanford Basketball & Support Escondido PTA. Invite friends, the more the merrier, for these super-fun, family-friendly outings. PTA will receive a portion of each ticket sale.
Men’s Basketball: Stanford vs. Colorado on Saturday, January 14, 1 PM.
Women’s Basketball: Stanford vs. UCLA on Sunday, February 12, Noon.
Stanford Women, ranked 5th, will be lead by All-American Nnemkadi Ogwumike.
Click HERE for an order form. Return order forms to office. (Tickets sold at the Night in Venice Community Party, can be picked-up in the office on the assigned dates, see reverse side.) Questions: Contact Christine Klenow, or Ruth Wu.
Community News
Child Safety Seats Law Effective January 1, 2012: Children *MUST* be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) IN THE BACK SEAT OF A VEHICLE until they are at least 8 YEARS OLD or 4’9″ in height. Thousands of children are injured or killed every year by safety seats that are improperly fastened by parents or caretakers. Remember, most collisions occur within a mile of the home – so buckle your child in a safety seat for every trip, no matter how short. If you’re not confident of how to properly secure your child in a safety seat, contact your local CHP Area Office and set up an appointment for a lesson. www.chp.ca.gov/community/safeseat.html.
Seeking Bone Marrow Donors: Do you know of anyone who is half-Chinese and half-Caucasian? If you do, please share this as a little boy’s life is on the line: Last week Kyle Crawford, a four year old boy at Serendipity Preschool in San Mateo, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. He is now hospitalized at Stanford’s Lucille Packard fighting for his life. This is happening so fast, but he and his family are desperate to find a bone marrow donor. If they don’t find a match in the near future, Kyle will die. The would-be-donor MUST be half-Chinese and half-Caucasian. Between the ages of 18-60 and in good health. Since time is of the essence, there are two organized bone marrow donor drives, and we would love your involvement. No appointment is necessary. The test is free, quick and easy. They just sample saliva from your cheek.
The first drive will be at Serendipity School, 3172 Clearview Way, San Mateo, CA 94402, on Saturday, January 7, 11-2 PM.
The second drive will be at Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, 558 Clayton Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, on Saturday, January 14, 12-3 PM.
As parents in our community, if there has ever been a time to come together and help save the life of a little boy, now is that time. With a heavy heart, please help spread the word to find a potential donor for Kyle. Questions are not listed there, kindly call Carol, (415) 515-5334 or e-mail Patrice Warto at patricewarto@gmail.com. Thank you for playing a role in helping save Kyle’s life. We believe in the power of community.
