March 27, 2017 
 

District
Founders Day Celebration

Founder's Day is a biennial, PTO-sponsored award ceremony honoring those who have gone above and beyond in volunteering for the Portola Valley School District. This is a wonderful event to celebrate some of the parent volunteers that make our school district truly special.

This year the ceremony will be on Tuesday, April 18th, at the Portola Valley Town Center Community Room from 4-6pm. Please come as we honor and celebrate these wonderful community members:

Sherry Andrighetto
Heather Asborno
Renee Courington
Elise Gabrielson
Tricia Law
Ginger Pistilli
David Smernoff
Randy Von Feldt
Bill Youstra
Jennifer Youstra


Amici's Pizza Fundraiser

Ormondale and Corte Madera Families

Bring your family and friends and join us in a  Pizza and Pasta Fundraiser for the PVSD- PTO.

Amici's in Menlo Park
880 Santa Cruz Avenue
650-329-8888

On Monday, April 3rd 
5pm to 9pm
Dine In or Take Out (no deliveries)

Amici's will generously donate 25% of your food and beverage purchase to help support Ormondale and Corte Madera's PTO!

Raise $ for our Schools With Amazon Smile


Do you have any plans to shop on Amazon today?  

T hen click this PTO Amazon Smile link right now and automatically earn money for our schools when you submit your order.    

Then bookmark this  Amazon Smile link and use this link every time you shop at Amazon!

Your purchase will not be affected by using this link - you will still get the benefit of your Prime membership and your purchase information will not be shared. 

Use the AMAZON SMILE site every time
Earn $$$ for PV schools
Get more information about AMAZON SMILE  at www.pvpto.com
 
Directories for Sale

To all PVSD families and especially new families that have recently joined Ormondale or Corte Madera, 2016-2017 School Directories are for sale in the CMS and ORM front offices for $20.00.
Calling all Incoming Fourth Grade Parents

What goes on over there at CMS? What is the Gold Rush trip?  How about those Cocoa Breakfasts? Where do the kids sit at lunch?  

Incoming Fourth Grade Parents, please join us at CMS in room 303 for a coffee and chat on Wednesday, April 5th, from 8.30 -9.30am.  

Superintendent  Eric Hartwig,  CMS Principal  Cyndi Maijala, and  ORM Principal  Lynette Hovland will be in attendance as will "seasoned" parents of students who are currently at CMS.  Come and have a chat.  We will be there to answer your questions about all things big and small.  

Our aim is to make your child's transition from Ormondale to Corte Madera as smooth as possible. So, let's meet over a coffee and learn more about CMS at this relaxed and informal information session. See you there!
Ormondale Upcoming Events


March 31st - Viajando en Espanol

April 3rd - Pizza and Pasta Fundraiser at Amici's in Menlo Park

April 5th - Incoming 4th grade transition coffee

April 6th - Bingo Night 6pm (DATE CHANGE)

April 18th - Founders' Day - 4pm

April 20th - PTO Mtg. at ORM; 9am

April 22nd - FANfare Foundation Spring Benefit; 6pm

April 27th - ORM TK-3 tours

View the full PTO calendar  here
 
Ormondale Staff Appreciation Week 


What an amazing week at Ormondale celebrating and appreciating our awesome teachers and staff!! 
 
Sharon Shaffer, Julie Hsu and Sarah Dorahy are the amazing trio that coordinated the week's events in addition to each Home Room Parent.  Thank you for such an amazing team effort!!  Please thank these great volunteers when you see them!
 
The week began with a delicious coffee cart caffeine boost on Monday!
 
On Tuesday, all of our staff received a custom lunch delivery from each class.
 
Wednesday, the PTO hosted a French Bistro themed luncheon, Déjeuner à Ormondale . Thank you to our volunteers:  Brook Coffee, Julie Harding, Sara Donahue, Ali Cooper, Lorena Pineda, Eva Diez, Lalanie Robins, Bira Feldman, Ysabel Jou, Katrina Montinola, Tricia Christensen, Stefanie Trenchard, Melvishia Gaines and Leslie Skanberg.
 
Thursday, you might have noticed deliveries of gifts, flowers and various other treats to each of our valuable staff members.  Thanks again to this years' awesome HRP's.
 
Friday ended with a Soup and Salad lunch.  Many thanks to: Anngi Strick, Katy Barresi, Eva Diez, Emilia Schor, Laura Symon, Amy Okarma Arley Hutron, Heather Prelle, Camilla Lynch, Alana Achterkirchen, Amanda Smoot, Melvishia Gaines, Sarah Vincenzo, Christine Parker, Brook Coffee, Sangini Bedner, and Marjel Scheuer.
 
To all those involved, thank you for all the hard work and coordination of such an amazing week!

 

Corte Madera
CMS Upcoming Events


April 3rd - Pizza and Pasta Fundraiser at Amici's in Menlo Park

April 5th - Incoming 4th grade transition coffee

April 6th - Bingo Night 6pm (DATE CHANGE)

April 18th - Founders' Day - 4pm

April 20th - PTO Mtg. at ORM; 9am


April 22nd - FANfare Foundation Spring Benefit; 6pm

View the full PTO calendar  here .

CMS Track Registration


Track and Field is open to all 4th thru 8th grade boys and girls.  

TRACK WILL TAKE PLACE AT M-A HIGH SCHOOL FROM 6:00-7:30 
on the following dates:  April 17th-May 24th.

Mondays: April 17/24; May 1/8/15/22
Wednesdays: April 19/26/; May 3/10/17/24

The track program is developmental in nature and focuses on personal best, not competition with other athletes.  Athletes will have the opportunity to run sprints, distance, hurdles, throw shot put, discus and foam javelin, and do both high jump and long jump.  

The program is run as a collaborative with Woodside Elementary, La Entrada and Hillview.  

Please contact Kate Cox at  kcox@pvsd.net with any questions.


Thank You!

THANK YOU PTO for bringing The Signature Project to CMS! 

Last Friday, Patrick Dunning brought his Signature Project to Corte Madera for our second Cultural Arts assembly of the year. Through music, art, technology and storytelling, Patrick revealed the hidden secrets layered within his 76 ft x 36 ft mural. If you haven't already heard about the program from your kids, be sure to ask! Much thanks to PTO membership for funding this event through their membership dues.


Portola Valley Schools Foundation
Deadline for FANfare Sponsorships - Friday March 31


Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!!!

The deadline for sponsoring a table at the fabulous FANfare is fast approaching. Please purchase your table sponsorship by Friday, March 31st.

Pick from Gold, Silver, Bronze or Copper level of sponsorships that come with various levels of perks and recognition.  


2017 Foundation Spring Benefit - Buy Your Tickets!



The FANfare will focus specifically on raising money for the "Engagespace" Fund-a-Need (FAN), and our goal is to raise $350K for the amazing new playspaces envisioned by focus groups of teachers, administrators and kids at both schools!    

Please consider becoming a Gold, Silver or Bronze sponsor for special perks and recognition.  

Click the button below for a video about the Engagespace Fund-a-Need.


Thank You PTO Business Partners!

Portola Valley Schools Foundation Thanks
Ginny Kavanaugh, Realtor
For Being a 2nd Year Platinum Partner and
Donating $10,000 to Our Schools
2016-2017 School Year





Community News
 
Learn about "All Students Matter"  

Learn about All Students Matter on Wednesday, April 19 or April 26

Please join us to learn all about "All Students Matter" from current parent volunteers who work in the classrooms of K-5th grade students. You can make a true difference in the life of students in eastern Menlo Park and East Palo Alto by volunteering for an hour a week to tutor students in reading, writing or math. 

Join us at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 19 at a home in Palo Alto or Wednesday, April 26 at a home in Menlo Park. A light lunch will be served. 

RSVP to Jeanette Kennedy at jkc_kennedy@yahoo.com

Learn more at, www.allstudentsmatter.org.  
Kids Game Programming Camps in PV 

 
Programming Java with Minecraft - 6/19 - 6/23

Now in their sixth season, these camps are a great way for kids who love games to learn programming. 

We use real programming with a real programming language - Java - on a real world server that your child will setup and configure. Kids enjoy seeing the immediate results of their learnings and are highly motivated to understand the capabilities and techniques of Java.

The camp also draws on their imaginative abilities, creating new Minecraft mods that they've dreamed up but never thought they could actually build, like an arena generator or spawn an Ender Dragon or a TNT block that explodes when the timer reaches zero!

At the end of the camp, your child will have learned:
  • Programming basics
  • Java basics
  • How to setup and use their own Minecraft server 
  • How to install customized mods to their server using Spigot
  • How to setup a software development environment
  • How to build a mod using Java
All camps are run here in Portola Valley by the Youstra brothers, students at Woodside Priory and Corte Madera.  To learn more about the camps or to register, visit  http://bit.ly/mc71pto
Parent Support Group for Children with School Anxiety

Please come to the first meeting of the parent support group for children with school anxiety. At this first meeting we can decide how the group can best help us. Also, we can share our knowledge, experience, and resources. 

The first meeting is at the Schneiderman/Birkel household on Thur sday, March 30th at 8:15. PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE AND TIME. 

Please come over after drop off.  There will be coffee and pastries! 

Please RSVP to Mary Birkel at mbirkel@hotmail.com

Windmill Preschool Summer Programs

Windmill Preschool in Portola Valley has openings in 2 summer programs.  If you are interested in either of the below programs please email our director, Jodi Cocconi~ director@windmillschool.com or call us at 650-851-0771 ext. 2#.   Please visit our web site for more information: http://www.windmillschool.com.

Fun Summer Program for your Preschooler
Windmill Preschool in Portola Valley has openings available in their Summer School Program for 3 and 4 year olds.  The program runs for 6weeks June 12th- July 21st (a minimum of 2 weeks enrollment is required).  Program days are Monday-Thursday, 9:00am - 11:45am.   Curriculum is based our play-based philosophy, and the themes of water and summer. 

Wonderful Summer Camp for Your In-Coming Kindergartener
Windmill Day Camp is a great opportunity for children entering Kindergarten in the fall to meet other children who they may be in school with. The program meets Monday - Friday July 24th-28th from 9:00am-2:00pm. Our play-based activities will be planned around the theme of camping and summer fun.  Day camp is for children who are age eligible for Kindergarten in the fall.
Calling all Soccer Players

The Portola Valley Adult Coed Soccer League is looking for new players - both women and men. 

We're a small, recreational soccer league open to all skills levels. We play at the Portola Valley Town Center soccer field every Sunday at 10am and 11:45am, and th e Spring season starts on Sunday, March 5. 

If you're interested in playing, you can visit our web-site at www.portolavalleysoccer.com .  If you're not sure and want to learn more, please contact Jon Myers at myersjonathan@yahoo.com or 408-823-8188. 

It's a lot of fun, so come try it out.
Summer Tennis Camp at Alpine Hills


This summer, Alpine Hills is offering six weeks of Junior Tennis Camp. All ages and levels are welcome! We will have both a half day camp (for beginner and intermediate players) and a full day camp (for competitive and advanced players). 

Camps will be offered June 12-16, June 19-23, June 26-30, July 10-14, July 17-21 and July 24-28. 

Sign up before spaces are filled! Click here for more information and to register.
Panther's Camp 2017


We are excited to offer the 22nd year of Panthers "All Sports" Camp.  Located at Corte Madera School during the summer, Panthers Camp is directed by Dan Flahavan, CMS Athletic Director and physical education teacher.   Campers participate in a core group of physical activities which inspire self-confidence, cooperation, sportsmanship, lifelong fitness, and an appreciation for movement.

Registration for Panthers Camp 2017 will be available online on Monday, January 9th  - www.pantherscamppv.com.  

We are now offering  optional EXTENDED CARE and FUN FRIDAY for sessions 2 and 3.   Session 1 will continue with our traditional Monday - Thursday 8:45 - 3:00 format.  Session 4 will be Monday - Friday with no camp on Tuesday, July 4th.

2017 Panthers Camp:  
    • Session 1: June 12-15
    • Session 2: June 19-22
      • Optional Extended Care (M-Th) 3:00 - 5:30 & Fun Friday  (8:45 -3:00)
    • Session 3: June 26-29
      • Optional Extended Care (M-Th) 3:00 - 5:30 & Fun Friday  (8:45 -3:00)
    • Session 4: July 3-7 (Session 4 runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday)
       
      • Camp will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th
I am looking forward to another great summer working with your kids at Panthers Camp!