Portola Valley School District
News & Views
Eric Hartwig, Superintendent
In This Issue
4575 Alpine Road
Portola Valley, CA  94028
(650) 851-1777
Eric Hartwig
Superintendent


GOVERNING BOARD:

Caitha Ambler   Trustee


Tim McAdam  President

Karen Tate  Trustee

Jennifer Youstra  Trustee


QUICK LINKS:



 

 


 

The
Portola Valley
Way

COLLABORATION
Working together to achieve common goals.

INTEGRITY
Being consistently honest and trustworthy.

RESPECT
Having regard and concern for yourself and others while accepting individual differences and the right of others to hold divergent views.






Friday, January 27, 2017
Dear Parents and Families,

We are already three weeks into the new year, yet it seems like eons ago since we were enjoying holidays, family, and travel. Still, this being my first newsletter of the year, I do want to wish you all a "Happy New Year."

This being my first newsletter since the Board of Trustees extended my contract (and removed the "interim" from my title), I want to thank the PVSD staff and community for their support and good will. I am enjoying immensely the work we're doing in the district and the opportunity to make an impact on our students' lives. 

Please read below for more updates about Summer School, next year's academic calendar, a parent education opportunity, and our spring Gala

-- Eric
Save the Date for FANfare!
Saturday, April 22, 2017
This spring's "FANfare" will mark the start of a new tradition as we're planning a fun, laid back event the whole community will enjoy right on the tented grounds of Corte Madera with beautiful Windy Hill as the backdrop.  

Highlights include: 
  • Farm-to-table themed, sit-down dinner
  • Open bar and craft cocktails (no drink tickets!) 
  • Live music and dancing
  • Sign-up parties for adults and kids
  • Exciting raffles
  • Live Auction culminating in the Fund-a-Need (FAN) paddle raise
Fund-a-Need:   EngageSpace  
This year, the school leadership chose "EngageSpace" as the Fund-a-Need (FAN) - the special, donation-only, paddle raise held during the Live Auction.  

Please join us to raise money for "Engagespaces" - natural, organic and modular upgrades to both Ormondale and Corte Madera's outdoor play facilities.  

The concept leverages local architects and past investments in the schools' infrastructure (such as MakerSpace) with envisioned child-led design. The concept was chosen in light of gaps at our schools' play facilities as well as research showing students don't just crave physical activity, they actually learn better when they're more engaged in the school's outdoor spaces.   

2017-18 School Year Calendar Set
Click, Copy, and Post!

Now that the new year is well under way, what is foremost on peoples' minds? Summer vacation, and the opening of school, of course!

So, if you're a total plan-aheader, click here to see the board-adopted school year calendar for next year. And then, scroll to the bottom of the page for a PDF version and download it and post it on your refrigerator, or glue into your Week-at-a-Glance. You'll be glad you did!
"Making Homework Work"
An Invitation...

Our partnership with Challenge Success continues next month with a parent workshop on the topic of "Making Homework Work." This promises to be a very interesting event, so save the date, February 13 at 6:00 p.m., at Ormondale. For more information, click here

Summer School Dates
Summer School

Once again, we will be offering Summer School for students who need a little extra help staying caught up in English Language Arts and in Mathematics. Like last year, the 4-week program will be divided into two 2-week segments, so families can have four weeks in July for a vacation.

To get the most out of the program, students should attend both sessions, and enrollment preference will be given to those who can. Teachers will be identifying students to invite to summer school during the month of February.

Dates for Summer School are:
  • Session 1: June 19 - 30
  • Session 2: July 31 - August 11
Hours: 9:00 - 12:30