September 3, 2019
THE MONTAIR MINUTE
Stay up to date on the latest news happening around Montair by reading our weekly newsletter!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept 3-13  PENNY WARS- collecting coins to fight Type 1 Diabetes
Sept 4 1:10PM Inclusion and Diversity Club Room 417
Sept 11 8:30AM Common Ground Coffee in Staff Lounge
Sept 11 6PM MPR Information Night for Elementary Science Olympiad (4th and 5th only)
Sept 13  7-10PM Family Movie Night on the blacktop (movie starts at 7:40) 
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
This month begins our focus on attendance throughout the district as September is Attendance Awareness Month. Here at Montair, our attendance rate is fairly strong. We have an almost 97% attendance rate, meaning that on any given day, most of our kids are here. That is awesome because being at school, in class, is the best way to access all that is being offered to your kids by our experienced, highly trained staff. If a child misses just one day, every two weeks, he or she will miss 4 weeks of school each year, which is missing 1.5 years of school by the end of high school. 

While in-class attendance is strong at MT, tardies are a real problem. Last year, we had over 2000 unexcused tardies, 460 excused tardies and 95 very tardies. Very tardies mean a child was more than 30 minutes late for class. We need to do better. If a student misses just 10 minutes a day, that is equal to missing 1.5 weeks per year. Additionally, tardies take away from the learning of others as the child comes in after the class has started. Let’s commit to being on time and avoiding unnecessary absences. If a child is sick, please keep them home. Otherwise, WE WANT THEM HERE! 


Here’s to a great week of being on time and learning together!

Ondi Tricaso
Principal
MONTAIR'S INCLUSION CLUB IS STARTING OFF WITH DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH!

Did you know . . .
Exposing children to the diversity the world has to offer builds confidence, promotes empathy, and enriches our school and greater community?    

Montair's PTA hosts a monthly Inclusion Club open to all Montair students (TK-5th grade and their grownups).  These meetings typically involve a speaker, video, or book reading related to the topic of the month, followed by Q&A with the kids and then something fun- a craft, game or dance.  When we teach our kids to hear and include more voices, we broaden their world!

When: Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 1:10 - 2:10 pm
Where: tbd
Who: All interested TK - 5th graders
What:  Dyslexia Awareness Month

We'll have kids sign in at the start of the meeting and check out with their parents at the end, so please come in to sign them out.

Click Below to Sign Up and Join Us- parents always welcome! 


COMMON GROUNDS COFFEE
When: Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Time: 8:20 am - 10:00 am

Coffee, Breakfast Goodies and Conversation: All are welcome and encouraged to attend this informal breakfast gathering where Monica Sanchez, our SDC representative, joins Mrs. Tricaso in fostering a conversation regarding the ways that Montair can seamlessly and successfully integrate our SDC kids into the school community.  

We have invited the SDC Program Supervisor to attend the discussion, as well as the District's Director of Special Education.  

During the gathering, we will share information on upcoming school events and programs, and discuss modifications that help our SDC kids have better access to these events.  Please join us!

Questions, please contact: 

Monica Sanchez mnsanchez28@gmail.com  
Jeannine Carlberg jeannine.carlberg@gmail.com
JOIN PTA!

Don’t forget to join the PTA! Your membership funds teachers grants, Back to School Social, Movie Night, the Fall Carnival AND your PTA membership gets you the Montair eDirectory!

Go to the Montair Store to purchase your membership. Contact Stacey Miller if you have any questions.
PENNY WARS

We are collecting money to fight Type 1 Diabetes. Students can bring in coins to contribute to their team’s total. Students can also bring in bills to subtract from other team’s totals. Winning teams will get an extra recess/dance party. Team collections jugs will be in the office hallway. Check out a corny video for more information on how this works. 

ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING TRADITIONS IN THE SAN RAMON VALLEY IS ALL NEW IN 2019


The 36th Annual Run for Education takes place on Sunday, October 13th! The 10K run starts at Charlotte Wood Middle School at 8am and the 5K starts at 8:30am on Camino Ramon, near BR 2700, adjacent to City Center. Both courses are all new and both finish at BR 2700, next to City Center!  

The Run for Education now includes events for the youngest runners ages 2-6, The Mini-Run! And our newest event is the Friendship Run, for students with special needs and their supporters. These events take place on Saturday, October 12th during our Health & Wellness Expo at BR 2700, adjacent to City Center. The Run for Education, as part of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, supports the education of all students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.  

Don’t wait to sign up - prices go up September 1! Don’t want to run? Become a Virtual Runner and still support your school! Get more information and sign up at www.srvef.org/the-run
GET INSPIRED BY THE REFLECTIONS ART PROGRAM
Gather up some art supplies, writing paper or an old camera and tell your kids that the 2019-20 Reflections Art Program theme is "Look Within" .  Let their imaginations take them on an art adventure! 

Students nationwide will reflect on the theme and create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. Use some of those lazy days of summer to create something spectacular!

For more information about the Reflections Art Program or to find the rules and guidelines go to:

PTA's Reflections program encourages students of all ages to:
Unleash creative talents and be inspired
Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
Experience the fun and joy of making art
Tap into critical-thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
Receive positive recognition for their original works of art.

Students may submit original creations in one or more of these six categories:
Visual Arts
Literature
Photography
Dance Choreography
Film Production
Music Composition

The deadline for submission is October 11, 2019.  For questions, please contact Laura Lescure laura.lescure@yahoo.com.

FOLLOW MONTAIR ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know that Montair is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter? Keep up with all the events and great things that are happening at Montair!

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Follow us on Instagram : @montairelementary

Follow us on Twitter:
Montair Elementary @Montair_School !
Montair Elementary School | Phone: (925) 855-5100 | Fax: (925) 820-6713 | Email: eschultz@srvusd.net