No School: Monday, January 16 (MLK Day), and Friday, January 20.
SI 5th Grade Trip: Saturday, January 21-28.
Author Dan Gutman: Tuesday, January 24. Pre-sale flyer.
Ice Skating Party: Saturday, January 28, 7-9 PM, Winter Lodge. Volunteer.
Site Council Meeting: Tuesday, January 31.
Parent Education: Thursday, February 2, 7-8:30 PM.
School News
2012 Escondido Science Fair is here. Look for your child’s registration form in Friday folders January 13. For more information or to volunteer (many jobs available!), please e-mail sciencefair@escondidoschool.org.
Fantastic author Dan Gutman is coming to meet Escondido’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders on…
Tuesday, January 24! We’ve been previewing Dan’s very popular books in the library, but most of our students are already very familiar with his work. Dan’s baseball adventure series books have been flying off our shelves for years, and your students may be familiar with his “My Weird School Daze” series. Dan will be speaking about his new book, Genius Files #2: Never Say Genius (being released on January 24, so our students will be among the first to hear Dan speak about his new book!). Take a look at his website, www.dangutman.com, to see a video trailer of Genius Files #1: Mission Unstoppable, where you can also read excerpts from some of his (98 published!) books. We are very fortunate that Kepler’s Books is bringing Dan to us, as his normal speaking fee is… $2000! If you would like your child to purchase a book and have it signed by Dan, please fill out the pre-sale flyer and return it to the library by Monday, January 23. Questions? E-mail Kristen Lee, klee@pausd.org.
“You Make the Difference” PiE Challenge Grant (January 9-27): Last Chance to Give! This is your last chance to donate to the PiE Schools Campaign and we need your help! A generous donor offered a $50,000 Challenge Grant if we can get 300 families who have not yet donated to PiE to make their donation by January 27th. Help us secure this incredible offer by donating today at www.papie.org/donate, leave a check in your school office, or mail to: PiE, PO Box 1557, Palo Alto, CA 94302. Questions? Contact PiE Executive Director Kathy Schroeder at kschroeder@papie.org or 329-3990. Thank you for supporting our schools!
Escondido Family Ice Skating Party! Kids and parents: come join your friends, teachers and staff for a celebration of winter on Saturday, January 28, 5:30-7:30 PM. We will have all of Winter Lodge (including indoor and outdoor rinks) to ourselves! Tickets ($8/Children, $13/Adult) will be on sale before/after school from January 25-27. You can also buy tickets at the door. Volunteers are URGENTLY needed to help with tickets, set up/check in, clean up, and food service during the event. Please sign up on Jooner’s to help. Questions: contact Jill Olerich. Winter Lodge, 3009 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto.
Parent Education Series: Upcoming parent study group at Escondido on building our children’s developmental assets with Linda Silvius of Project Cornerstone. The six-session series will provide parent conversations about how we, as parents, can help ensure that our children thrive. First session starts Thursday, February 2, 7-8:30 PM. The other dates are February 9, February 23, March 1, March 8, and March 15. Each Thursday session is independent of each other, so attend any session you are free. No charge to Escondido parents; a one-time donation of $10 for workbook is requested. Scholarship for workbook is available; see Bella to request scholarship. Childcare will be provided. Have questions? Email Elizabeth Eastman
Cheer on Stanford Women’s Basketball vs. UCLA on Sunday, February 12, Noon, Maples Pavilion. 5th-ranked Stanford Women will be lead by All-American Nnemkadi Ogwumike. Tickets are $20/each. Please make checks out to Escondido PTA. Invite friends, the more the merrier, for these super-fun, family-friendly outings. Escondido PTA will receive a portion of each ticket sale. 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.
District News
PAUSD Board Meeting: Tuesday, January 17, 6:30 PM, 25 Churchill, Palo Alto. Agenda.
Special Needs Resource Fair hosted by MVW Special Education PTA and SELPA1-CAC: With an emphasis on summer programs that are inclusive of kids with special needs, this fair will include therapists, tutoring services, legal and financial consultants, art and music programs, sports, horseback riding and more. Come and find out more about opportunities for your kids. This parent education event is free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit. No registration is necessary. Friday, January 27, 6-9 PM; MP Room, Crittenden Middle School, 1701 Rock Street, Mountain View. Info: mountainvwsepta@gmail.com
Family Support Resource Fair by Parent Network of Students of Color and Hispanic Community, co-sponsored by PTA Council, and PAUSD: Does your child struggle academically, not fit in, need college counseling? Still not found his or her passion? Incredible local organizations support area families with free and affordable tutoring, after-school activities, community service opportunities, college counseling, mentors. Light dinner and childcare provided. Thursday, January 26, 6-7:45 PM, Cesar Chavez Academy, 2450 Ralmar Avenue East Palo Alto. Info: Kim Bomar, 868-2349 or www.bigtent.com/groups/parentnet
Recursos de Apoyo Para Familias Red de Padres para Estudiantes de Color y La Comunidad Hispana. Este evento es co-patrocinado por PAUSD y aprobado por PTAC. Su hijo tiene dificultades académicas, no apto, necesidad de orientación universitaria? Si sigue sin encontrar su pasión? Increíble organizaciones locales, que apoyen a las familias de la area con tutoría gratuita y accesible, después de la escuela, oportunidades de servicio comunitario, orientación universitaria, y mentores. Habrá una cena ligera, cuidado de niños y traducción al español. Feria el jueves 26 de enero, 6-7:45 PM. Cesar Chavez Academy, 2450 Ralmar Avenue East Palo Alto. Mas informacion: Sue Diaz 281-8897 (Español)
Community News
Your voice is valuable! The City of Palo Alto is currently working on a Needs Assessment for a $1.2 million grant program that supports a variety of local non-profit organizations. Help us better understand your needs and those of others in the Community! Click to complete a short survey that will influence how this money will be allocated to meet crucial human needs.
Martin Luther King Family Service Day: Celebrate the legacy of MLK Jr and his teachings of community service, Youth Community Service along with City of Palo Alto, The Y, Canopy, Break Through The Static, and other partners, will be hosting a MLK Family Service Day in Lytton Plaza, Emerson St. at University Ave., on Monday, January 16, 11-3 PM. There will be various service project activity tables, live music, and an open mic featuring community artists. You can also sign-up to serve with your family at the Jewish Community Center’s Mitzvah Day! Info: www.paloaltojcc.org/mitzvah. E-mail Alicia Gregory: Alicia@youthcommunityservice.org
Break Through the Static’s 2nd Bonfire hosted by Break Through the Static’s Teen Advisory Board. If this bonfire is anything like the last one — 150 teens high-energy teens dancing to original live music by their peers, and an appearance by the mayor of Palo Alto! — it will be an experience you won’t want to miss. January 28, 8-10 PM, Boy Scouts’ firepit, Lucie Stern Community Center, Palo Alto. Facebook event page.
PACT’s “Go, Dog, Go!” Big dogs, little dogs, yellow dogs, blue dogs. Dogs at work, dogs at play, dogs in hats, dogs in cars! It’s an all out dog party in this colorful hilarious adaption of P.D. Eastman’s beloved book. “Go, Dog, Go!” promises to thrill audiences with a chaotic carnival of music and physical comedy that celebrates the many joys and challenges of life and friendship. Come unleash your inner dog. Recommended for ages 3 and older. Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, California 94301, 650-463-4930.
Palo Alto Art Center New Logo Contest: The Palo Alto Art Center announces a New Logo Contest, open to everyone of all ages! Submissions will be judged by a panel of design experts from 1185 Design, IDEO and Lunar, and will be exhibited as part of the grand reopening of the Art Center in October 2012. Deadline for submissions is March 5, 2012.
