District News

THANK YOU

A huge THANK YOU to Sangini Bedner for her time and effort in putting together a fabulous Back to School Night video on behalf of the principals, superintendent, PV Schools Foundation, and the PTO! Her enthusiasm rubbed off on all of us to create this fun video full of important information.

Haven't seen it yet? Check it out here (password PVSD): https://vimeo.com/455535016

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER YOUR 2020/2021 DIRECTORY!

Order your directory and help support the PTO! Make a gift of $100 (or more!) and you will receive a FREE directory.

The cut-off for directory orders is THIS Wednesday, September 16TH!

*We prefer directory orders be made and purchased online this year if possible. If necessary to pay by cash or check, there is a cash/check option on Cheddar Up. Please select that option and follow the instructions for mailing your check to the school office.

PTO BOARD MEETING

A PTO Executive Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22 at 10:30am. Meeting link and agenda available upon request. Email [email protected] for inquiries.

PTO DISCOUNTS & PARTNERSHIPS

Please support the PTO through our partner programs!

Amazon Smile - earn $ for the PTO with each Amazon purchase!

Escrip - earn $ for the PTO with purchases at retailers such as Bianchini's and PV Garage.

Mabel's Labels - earn $ for the PTO with purchases of labels for all your kids' stuff!

ORMONDALE News

SUBMIT YOUR CHILD'S PICTURE

Please submit a photo of your child to your Home Room Parent ASAP.  These photos will be arranged into a placemat for your child to have at home. They can have it in their workspace to help to familiarize them with their classmates. The goal is to have these printed and sent home in the next material pick up. A BIG thank you for those that have already submitted.

Art in Action Volunteers Needed

Creativity is not cancelled!

Volunteers are needed to help lead art activities in most classes (K-3). Please consider volunteering to lead an art lesson for your child’s class.  During Distance Learning there are 1 or 2 lessons that can be done virtually.  Once students are back in school we can work to Zoom into the classrooms where they can access paints, pastels and other materials.  The Art in Action program provides the background, directions and talk points for each lesson.  It’s a fun way to interact with your child’s class!

If interested, please send a message to Kit [email protected] and include your child’s class/teacher.

Sign up to volunteer for PTO programs online! Visit pvpto.com/volunteer to sign up for volunteer roles.  We especially need Volunteers for Dirt Day on September 16th from 1-5pm. Even if you can only come for a short time we can still use you.  Please do not hesitate to contact Sara Atkins ([email protected]) with any questions or if you are available.

Next Wednesday is DIRT DAY at Ormondale

We have so many fun supplies for our wonderful year of gardening and growing together. Please mark your calendar so that you can plan on picking up everything your child needs for a season of FUN.

In order to keep everyone safe and socially distanced, please choose a specific time slot from the Sign Up Genius link below that works best for your family.  Our pick-up window will be between 3 pm and 6 pm and should only take about 5-10 minutes.  

Dirt Day Sign Up Genius:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084badaf2ca46-ormondale​

What should you bring with you?

• A 1/4 teaspoon to scoop seeds in a clean, safe manner.
• Your own shovel if you like but not absolutely necessary.
• An empty egg carton if you have not already given one to your teacher.
• A smile and a curious mind!

See you there!  Mrs. Coffee

corte madera news

CMS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

COMMON GROUND REP

As part of our membership with Common Ground, we are looking for 1-2 parent representatives from CMS who will work with the ORM parent representative and function as liaisons between PVSD and Common Ground. Shared responsibilities for this role include attending monthly Common Ground Board meetings (held over zoom this year), marketing parent education events to our schools, coordinating follow-up conversations among our school community, and and meeting annually with the school principals to collect suggestions and feedback on how Common Ground can best meet our schools’ specific needs

WHAT IS COMMON GROUND?

The Common Ground Speaker Series​ is a parent education consortium on the San Francisco Peninsula. Each year they present a slate of cutting-edge speakers, topics and special events designed to inform, engage and inspire school communities.  

WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS OF BEING A REP?

Being a rep allows for contact with world-class speakers and engagement with timely issues on the minds of parents. Being a rep arms you with a reason to get to know and interact with your school heads and other school administrators, as you are the liaison between Common Ground and your school. Finally, as a rep, you are serving your entire parent body and getting to know parents from all member schools, which allows for shared conversations and a myriad of networking opportunities.

Please contact Aimee Blum ([email protected]) if you are interested in this or any other PTO volunteer role. We know things look different this year, but we still have a lot of opportunities to volunteer!

PARENT EDUCATION

THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES UPCOMING EVENT 

Sponsored by the Sequoia Healthcare District & the Sequoia Union High School District

The Anti-Racist Parent: Engaging Youth Through an Equity and Justice Framework: Victor Rios, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 12:00-1:00pm

Registration: https://victorrios2020sequoia.eventbrite.com 

What does it mean to be an "Anti-Racist Parent"? Join Victor Rios, PhD, tenured professor at UC Santa Barbara, TED Talk speaker, author, sociologist, and national thought leader on at-opportunity youth.

Dr. Rios will provide parents with practical strategies for being reflexive about anti-racism, and for having courageous conversations with their children, friends, and family.

Parents, students, educators, clinicians, and community members welcome! Free admission. The Parent Education Series is sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District and Sequoia Union High School District.Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MA, Founder and Director, The Parent Education Series, at [email protected]

COMMON GROUND SPEAKER SERIES UPCOMING EVENTS

This year, the PTO has paid for PVSD membership in the Common Ground Speaker Series, which presents distinguished speakers in education, parenting and health at venues across the San Francisco Peninsula. Their 2020-2021 Series will take place live online. Parents, faculty, and staff of member schools attend Common Ground events free of charge.

To view the Common Ground Fall 2020 Slate click here. ​

JUST BREATHE: Peaceful Parents, Happy Kids​

Laura Markham, PhD In Conversation with Scott Erickson, ThD, HOS, Phillips Brooks School

Thurs Sept 17, 4:00-5:15pm

Select the “Member School*” option and register at no cost here: https://lu.ma/CommonGroundSpeakerSerieswithLauraMarkham 

Does the added stress of being at home bring added battles with your child? Do you wish you knew how to get cooperation without yelling and threats? Are you trying to find the sweet spot between spoiling and strict? No one is prepared to parent through a pandemic. As school starts, and we are all still at home, fostering cooperation and learning independence are more important than ever. Clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Markham helps parents shift away from control and manipulation to practical strategies for raising children who WANT to cooperate. She helps parents create a more peaceful home where affection, connection and humor help resolve conflict happily, and where kids WANT to follow our lead.​

For event details, visit the Common Ground website. https://www.commongroundspeakerseries.org/laura-markham-phd

PANDEMIC IMPACT:  College Admissions in the Time of COVID-19

A Panel Discussion with Angel B. Pérez, PhD, Lisa Przekop, Jeff Selingo, Rick Weissbourd, EdD, moderated by Kelly Sortino, Head of Crystal Springs Uplands School

Tues. Sept 22, 7pm - 8:30pm PDT

Online Zoom Webinar:  Register to Attend https://lu.ma/CommonGroundSpeakerSerieswithCollegeAdmissionsPanel

The pandemic has put college planning for families into free-fall as admissions undergo seismic change. Join our panel of experts as they explore the current admissions environment. Parents will learn what to expect from a modified admissions process and what our students will find at college once they get there.

For event details, visit the Common Ground website. https://www.commongroundspeakerseries.org/pandemic-impact-college-panel​

Foundation News

What is the Portola Valley Schools Foundation?

The state of California currently ranks 41st nationwide in per pupil spending, adjusted for cost of living. And the funding our district receives from local property taxes is far lower than other high-ranking districts across the country because California voters passed Proposition 13 in 1978, a measure that limits property tax increases for longtime homeowners. So while Portola Valley’s housing values are high, total taxes collected lag behind other states. As a result, public school districts across California are increasingly turning to private foundations for supplementary funding to ensure they can provide the education today’s children need to succeed in tomorrow’s workplace.

That’s where the Portola Valley Schools Foundation comes in.

The Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer organization made up of parents who raise funds for our District. The dollars we raise contribute toward additional teachers, specialists, counselors, programs and tools that make our schools extraordinary places for learning.

Our purpose is to close the gap between what public education funding pays for and the high-quality education we desire for our children.

Next week: Why Haven’t You Heard From Us yet?

community news

All community news is posted on its own page of our website. There is a link from each PTO Weekly to the page or you can navigate there directly.

This Week's highlights:

PV Theatre classes

Sangini's Dance Classes

Mr. Frederick's Classes

Volunteer virtually

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