We've been in school about four weeks now and what a great start it has been! I hope your family has settled in well to the new year. You may have a morning routine or special pep talk you give your kids each day as they head out to school. When I do my daily drop off, I say "Be good. Be kind. Learn lots." Those words inspired my first blog post, which I invite you to read. I'll be sharing my perspective each month about different ideas, issues, or trends in education and parenting. I hope you find it informative and thought provoking. As always, I encourage your feedback as we join together in the community conversation about our kids, their future, and our schools' role in that journey.

Read Sup's On Blog here 

We are a community funded district because nearly 90% of our operating budget comes from local sources, and we are world class because the community chooses to consistently support the quality education we expect. The Annual Campaign is a vital part of our community funding, and the PTO membership drives are ending soon. If you have supported your school PTO already, thank you for making a difference! If you have not yet had the chance, please consider making a gift to our district by donating to your PTO.

Giving to Our Schools

The 2017-18 Online Directory is here.  We have moved to an all new, standalone version of the online directory this year,  available at the link below.  

To access the directory for the first time, please register from the sign-in page  using your email address that is registered with the District. A confirmation link will be sent to verify your email address and you'll be able to set a new password for your account. Your directory account is currently independent from the district login accounts and requires a separate login. Once signed in, you can search for student or parent/guardian names, and view class lists. The directory is also mobile-browser friendly. You can add its icon to your home screen on both iOS and Android devices.

If you have trouble accessing the directory, see information that needs to be corrected, or have suggestions and/or feedback, please email  directory@mpcsd.org

MPCSD Directory

As the first subject for this new feature of our monthly newsletter we are so proud to introduce our bus driver extraordinaire, Wilfin Morales. For years, Wilfin has been providing safe and reliable transportation for district kids with his smiling face and gentle manner. In 2011, Wilfin was recognized county-wide as an employee of the year, and has been a top bus driver for the county and state. This year he was promoted to Lead Transportation Officer for MPCSD in recognition of the hard work and coordination he has been providing the district over the years. Get to know Wilfin a little better in this staff spotlight. Have ideas on who else we should feature? Email info@mpcsd.org with your suggestions. 

  Wilfin Morales - the Man Behind the Wheel

Last night our speaker series began with a wonderful talk about commuting to school safely, and how we can all work together to get our kids from home to school and back with less traffic, less stress, and less chance for accidents. If you missed the talk, you may view the presentation at the link below. And we can all implement these 5 Safe Routes strategies right now:

• Sign up for our mailing list to receive important Calls to Action and info on key events and volunteer opportunities.
• Email elected officials. Info at "Engage" page. 
• Talk to your kids about pedestrian safety: look left, right and left, and to make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the streets. 
• Talk to your kids about bicycling safety: stop at stop signs, bike in a predictable manner (no swerving), wear helmets. 
• Set a good example. Practice the safety skills you want your kids to follow, and DON'T USE A PHONE WHILE DRIVING.

Link to slide presentation

Smarter Balanced Testing Student Score Reports were mailed home last week to families of 3rd-8th graders. These score reports provide information on how your child performed against the California Common Core State Standards. You can view examples and explanations of the score reports by clicking the links below.

Student Score Report Example

The Future of Education: Menlo Park and Beyond

A Panel Event with the Superintendent and Principals of MPCSD 

Tuesday, October 3, 6:30 p.m., Hillview PAC

Join MPCSD's new Superintendent, Erik Burmeister, and MPCSD Principals Willy Haug, Sharon Burns, Linda Creighton, and Kristen Gracia for an engaging and thoughtful conversation about the future of education both in our community and throughout our nation. Hear more about the visions for Encinal, Laurel, Oak Knoll, and Hillview, as well as Early Learning efforts, Personalized Learning, Project-Based Learning, Multi-Graded Classrooms, homework policies, grading reimagination, and more.  

  MPCSD Speaker Series