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IMPORTANT DATES

  • 12/18 Minimum Block Day (school out 1PM) 1st Semester FINALS – 0, 1, 2
  • 12/19 Minimum Block Day (school out 1PM) 1st Semester FINALS – 0, 3,4
  • 12/20 Minimum Block Day (school out 1PM) 1st Semester FINALS – 5, 6
  • 12/23 - 1/6 Winter Break
LOW-COST INTERNET FOR FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA (Laguna Beach too!)

Did you know that low-income families may be eligible for discount internet service at home for $10-$20 a month? Offers are available from Cox, AT&T, Spectrum, Comcast, and Frontier. Learn if your household qualifies by visiting: 

You can find printable flyers in English and Spanish and access detailed information at  http://www.internetforallnow.org/educators_toolkit

Thank you Ball Room Volunteers:
Katie Hanson, Elizabeth

And...

Thank you Lori Werstein for hosting the student Reflections pizza lunch!
Ball Room Sign Up


A parent volunteer is needed at lunch time each day to check out balls.

The job entails showing up at the specified time, going to the Ball Room, pulling out the sign-out sheet for the balls, monitoring that kids sign the balls out.

After 45 minutes and the end of lunch, the kids will return the balls, the parent volunteer puts the sign-out sheet away and the job is completed.

You can sign up for a weekly, monthly, or one time experience. It takes less than one hour of your time. Questions? Contact Ball Room Chair Leslie Heard HERE
December Super Hike Canceled

Thank you to everyone who signed up for the December Super Hikes. The P.E. teachers had to cancel the Super Hike this month, but will resume in January.
Thank you to the 59 out of 273 8th grade families that have made a donation to the 8th Grade Promotion. Donations are needed by December 20, 2019.

Click HERE to see how much has been raised so far or to make a donation.

If you didn't receive the 1st 8th Grade Promotion email last week, please contact PTA President Celine Macmillan at cmkllb@gmail.com
Meet the Thurston Team

This week we are pleased to highlight:

Maria Hoffman
Math Teacher

Birthday: March 19

Tell us about yourself.  I've been teaching math at Thurston for over 20 years! I grew up in Southern California and majored in math at UCLA, then worked in the business world for a few years before getting my teaching credential. I'm married to another now retired teacher who has his own little tour business. We have two children: Chris, 32, lives in LA and is in medical sales, and Marissa, 29, who is following the family tradition and is expected to complete her teaching credential this spring. 

The best advice for parents and students about my subject: 
Math is SO much more than numbers and timed tests! Encourage your children to play puzzles and logic games, look for patterns, and think creatively. My new favorite website for math is  youcubed.com  from Stanford University - there are a ton of great resources for students and parents here.

What would be your ideal way to spend the weekend?  
A good hike in nature with friends, a little down time with a good book and a nap in my backyard, and any opportunity to spend time with my family!

What’s the best single day on the calendar? 
January 1st! The craziness of the holidays is over and you get time to reflect on the past and set goals for the future. Plus, I love the Rose Parade (and have been able to see it in person quite a few times).

What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives? 
Zipline over a Costa Rican jungle.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been? 
This summer my husband and I went to The Alhambra in Granada, Spain. It was on my bucket list because of my love for both geometry and European history. It is breathtakingly beautiful: fascinating Moorish architecture designed around lovely fountains, beautiful gardens, and intricate tile work with all sorts of geometric patterns

What are some small things that make your day better?  
I can sometimes see a flash in a students eyes when they make a connection with a math concept - I love that moment, and any other positive feedback I get from my students.

What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?
Read the newspaper. I love weekend mornings with a big breakfast and the newspaper spread all over the kitchen table. My husband and I tried to cancel delivery and go online, but we only lasted a week or two.

Thank you Maria Hoffman for participating in our weekly teacher & staff interview!

Parent input Needed in Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey. 


The week of November 25, the district sent out information through ParentSquare asking for your participation in the annual Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey. 

This survey is an opportunity to provide feedback regarding district programs and services that address the needs of students, parents, and staff. Your feedback is essential and we encourage you to take 15 minutes to complete the survey. Click HERE to access the survey .
Thank you to our Kindness Challenge Sponsors!
Thurston School : (949) 497-7765
Durham Bus: (949) 376-0376
www.thurstonmiddleschoolpta.org