The second of two public information and input sessions is upcoming on February 6, 2018, beginning at 6:00p.m. in the TERC at 181 Encinal Avenue. Please share your thoughts on what MPCSD should prioritize as economic times change. As a community-funded school district, MPCSD depends on a combination of property tax revenue, parcel tax revenue, and Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation gifts to provide the world-class education for which it is known. With a 40% student enrollment increase over the last twelve years and an uncertain future with new development in the area, as well as increasing staffing and program costs, MPCSD staff and Board members are dedicated to ensuring sound fiscal planning. Measure X combined with $2.2 million in cuts only mitigates increasing costs for about the next four years. Since Fall 2017, we have been engaged in a community-wide conversation regarding how we will prioritize the myriad of programs, staffing, and resources in the longer term. Read more about the Input Session.

For background on this initiative, please view the presentation by Mr. Burmeister to the school board from September 12.

For details from the first interim budget report, read the interim report presentation made to the school board on December 12.

MPCSD recognizes that there is tremendous demand in our area for high quality preschool programs, and is excited to open its Early Learning Center preschool, pending Board approval in February, for children ages 3-5 beginning in Fall 2018. The ELC will offer a developmental, play-based, multi-sensory learning environment, with kindergarten readiness and multi-age groupings for children, in full or part day programs. The ELC will help fill a need for more availability in preschool programs, and also seek to help more economically disadvantaged children be ready for kindergarten by making access to this program affordable on a sliding scale. Equity of education and opportunity is a top priority for MPCSD, and the addition of preschool seeks to raise all boats by preparing more children for success in school. If you are interested in making a contribution to the Scholarship Fund to help a low-income child paricipate, please contact Early Learning Center Director  Jessica Mihaly .

 

The Early Learning Center establishes the foundations for success by nurturing every child’s curiosity, sense of wonder and deep engagement with the world around them, and by fostering caring and meaningful relationships with the adults and children in their lives.

If this sounds like a good program for your child, visit www.district.mpcsd.org/earlylearning for information on enrollment. Other details such as tuition and tuition assistance, schedules, curriculum, and more will also be available soon on the website.

Continue reading, and see opportunities to help furnish the space, here.

EdTech Teacher Summit

Two of Hillview's long time and beloved math teachers,  Lynn Eisner and Lexy Keller , were selected to Present at EdTech Summit in Palm Springs this month. They will lead a workshop "Flipping without Flopping" on their very successful implementation of the "flipped classroom" for High School Algebra. What makes this dynamic duo's approach stand out is the personally created videos which not only bring the content to life, but do so with their own style, voices, classroom, and pace of material. At EdTech, the two hope to empower other teachers to try flipping, share fixes for the obstacles they have encountered in their years of honing the method, and show teachers the hidden benefits of flipping, like reducing stress for teachers and students, allowing better personalization, and increased mastery of the subject as students "talk math" with each other in the classroom.

EdTechTeacher Summit is a premier workshop for teachers wanting to apply the best of technology and innovative ideas in the classroom - in any subject area. Teachers from around the country gather to learn from experienced educators like Lynn and Lexy who have successfully pioneered a new approach and mentor others in implementing it in their classrooms. Congratulations Lynn and Lexy!

National Board Certification

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certifies educators who take the extra step to become certified in their profession and specialty area. According to the  NBPTS website , "National Board Certification was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. It is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education." Board certified teachers are leaders who demonstrate passion and exceptional skill in their field, and their presence in the classroom elevates the profession for all educators.

At MPCSD, we are fortunate to have many teachers who have achieved this remarkable certification. This fall, three more of our outstanding classroom educators earned their National Board Certification,  Marisyn Camper, Celeste Lopez, and Julia Williams . These professionals put in hundreds of additional hours over many years to complete their certification and join thousands of teachers around the country who have earned this top designation. We are proud to be home to these three wonderful teachers! They will be recognized at the June school board meeting along with other MPCSD honorees.

Next Generation Science Standards Adoption

In MPCSD, we use the model of TOSAs (Teacher on Special Assignment) to provide much of the ongoing professional development to our team. Our three TOSAs, Theresa Fox for Technology & Innovation, Alicia Payton for Science & Math, and Lela Ward for English Language Arts & Social Studies are experts in their fields and spend time training classroom teachers on best practices. This model allows MPCSD to keep current on research, curriculum, and practices throughout the disciplines, and is a cost effective way to provide our staff with high quality, in-house, up-to-date coaching and training. All of MPCSD's TOSAs contribute to the education profession beyond our district, too. Currently, Alicia Payton has been selected to serve on the curriculum adoption committee for California's transition to the Next Generation Science Standards. The panel will meet in Sacramento in April and June. We are proud to have one of our own science education experts so intimately engaged with this state-wide process.

MPCSD is community funded because nearly 90% of district revenue comes from local sources, including our crucial partner, the Menlo Park –Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF). One of the ways MPAEF raises money for our schools is through their annual auction, held this year on March 10 at Hiller Aviation Museum. Part of the auction is the popular Fund-A-Need program. Every year a particular subject is chosen to receive these funds, and anyone can make a contribution. As part of our community, you can make a meaningful impact on our schools with this easy donation.

This year's Fund-A-Need is STEM Labs! Help fund the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Labs at Encinal, Laurel, Oak Knoll, and Hillview by donating to our Fund-A-Need through the Spring Auction! Why STEM? Here  is great article that explains why STEM is so important to education. Click  here  for more information on the various levels of Fund-A-Need and what your donation means to our STEM Labs.

MPCSD is affected by many factors. You may have heard or read about some issues in the recent news and various local government council and committee meetings. Here's our take on current topics.

As part of the vibrant Menlo Park/Atherton community, we seek to make partnerships with local businesses as we all serve the same families. Two standout examples of businesses that embrace our MPCSD families and core values are Cafe Zoe in the Willows neighborhood, and Cheeky Monkey Toys on Santa Cruz Avenue.

Cheeky Monkey Toys has long been a destination shop for young families. Their incredible toy selection, friendly layout, and welcoming space that invites play make Cheeky Monkey Toys a favorite! Many of their customers are also our students and parents, making Cheeky Monkey Toys an ideal partner to embrace our district values of engagement, innovation, leadership, partnership, and perseverance, and encourage community support of our schools. Business owner Anna Chow, also a district parent, takes her role in the community seriously. "Whether that means supporting strong schools or local measures, we have a responsibility to lead in our community." Recalling Hillview Principal Willy Haug's welcome speech at the beginning of the school year, Ms. Chow says "when everyone does a little, it's not a huge lift. We appreciate the community that supports us and we feel the need to give back."

Now through March, the front display windows of Cheeky Monkey Toys have transformed into a celebration of Lunar New Year featuring art from every school in our district. Thank you Cheeky Monkey Toys for this fun way to give our students a place to show their talents!

Across town in the Willows neighborhood, Cafe Zoe takes community to extraordinary heights. Opened ten years ago, it was never meant to be "just a place to get coffee," according to owner Kathleen Daly. "I wanted to do something bigger. Watching the neighborhood kids grow up over the years is the best part of being here." When the new Laurel School Upper Campus opened last fall just a few blocks away, Kathleen and the Cafe embraced it wholeheartedly. "Having the school here adds to the sense of community. The activity it brings is a joy," says Ms. Daly. Feeling that Laurel's kids are "her kids" is why she hosts events like their Author Celebration, hangs their art on her walls, and hosts field trips. She watches them cross the street every afternoon and even enlists some students' help in counting cars, very concerned about the traffic, especially since the City of Menlo Park installed turn restrictions onto Willow Road which pushed volumes of traffic towards the path of the crosswalk. She urges the right turn restriction to begin at 4:00p.m. to allow for safe walking of biking of the children after school.

Every community needs its Ms. Dalys and Ms. Chows who look out for them, get to know families, and become active in city wide issues that affect us all.

When our schools and students have a chance to give back to the community, they relish the opportunity to do so! You may have seen our students' artwork on display at the library or the animal shelter. You may have heard our talented young musicians perform at Filoli. You may have watched the Halloween parade through your neighborhood for the first time. Here are some examples of our students taking their spirit and talents into the community. We hope to bring you a smile when you see us!

When the North Bay Fires struck, every family in our district felt compassion for our neighbors, and wanted to do something to help. Each campus responded in its own way, raising money and collecting supplies to donate. At Encinal, what had started as an art unit learning about the murals of JGoldcrown became a beautiful calendar, produced by volunteers and sold as a fundraiser for fire relief. This quail created by a second grader is the January page of the calendar.

In November, Laurel School Chorus took its beautiful music and uplifting spirit on the road with a charming performance at Oakwood Retirement Home, a community for retired nuns in Atherton. The Oakwood residents appreciated hearing the children sing. It was also a wonderful opportunity for the students to serve their community and learn about the gift of sharing.

For the first year, the long standing tradition of Oak Knoll's Halloween parade left campus and wound its way through the neighborhood streets. The hundreds of adorably costumed children and their spirited teachers brightened Halloween morning and gave neighbors an up close view of this beloved tradition.

The arts are alive and well at Hillview with its orchestra playing a holiday concert in the lovely and historic rotunda of San Francisco's City Hall. They continue a long tradition of taking their music to The City. They also played for Filoli's holiday open houses. Art students participated in a collaboration with the Humane Society to observe and then draw animals in action. The amazing final pieces now hang in the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority in Santa Clara.

We value our partnership with our community and teach our students to be respectful and appreciative of their role in our greater society. When you see MPCSD students representing their schools out and about, we hope it gives you pride!

Have more questions about MPCSD and its financial stewardship? Check out our Media Literacy & FAQ. It is the place for real facts about the district's finances.

We are a community-funded district, which makes our relationship with you a true partnership. We invite you to connect with MPCSD in person at School Board input sessions, our Speaker Series, Farmers Market, student art shows at the Menlo Park Burgess Library, and online via our Facebook and Twitter pages: @goMPCSD.

Read more.

Erik Burmeister, Superintendent

Jammie Behrendt, Assistant Superintendent

Board of Trustees

Terry Thygesen , President

David Ackerman , Vice President

Stacey Jones

Joan Lambert

Caroline Lucas