This Week
Monday, January 25
Gold students on campus this week
Service Team - Cereal Drive, Just for fun, let's see if gold brings the most breakfast items! GOLD WEEK tally January 25 - January 29, bins near PAC
8th grade students - Scholastic Reading Inventory this week, info here
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Looking Ahead
Monday, February 1
Submit your photos for the yearbook, details in Hillview School News
Tuesday, February 2
Hillview Conversation Chat, "Living with Uncertainty: How Storytelling Connects Us During Uncertain Times," 6:30 pm, webinar, register here in advance
Friday, February 5
Deadline to order your yearbook
Deadline to buy your Student Congratulatory Ad
Submit your 8th grade student's baby picture for yearbook
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Quicklinks bottom of newsletter
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Dear Hillview Families,
January is wrapping up, and that means our mid-winter break, February 15 - 19, is around the corner. In normal years, breaks provide the Hillview staff with a much-needed opportunity for rejuvenation. This year, however, I think I speak for all of us when I say that we practically dread the weeks off because of what comes after: rafts of Independent Study Plans, learning lost, and heightened risk on campus because of travel. With three weeks remaining before mid-winter break, I implore you and your family to make the best decision for our Hillview community: stay home and stay safe during that week, observing the California Department of Health travel advisory here to stay within 120 miles of your homes.
In addition to staying local this February, we also need to do better with our everyday behaviors. COVID fatigue is real, and at Hillview, where students are more likely to have social media, we are seeing maskless indoor gatherings and birthday parties. These images are demoralizing to our community, which has worked so hard to make in-person learning happen, and where our heroic teachers have taken such great risks for the benefits of our students. I want to remind you about Hillview’s advice about social media: phones and social media accounts (all of which have an age requirement of 13) are privileges, and parents should have passwords and access to these accounts, and can and should periodically review them.
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We are still very much in the woods with regard to COVID. The month of January has seen the highest number of positive COVID cases here in MPCSD schools. New, more highly transmissible variants of the virus are emerging. Vaccinations provide hope, but the supply is limited at this time. We therefore must stay vigilant and redouble our efforts to follow the protocols that keep our community safe. Families who have signed on for in-person learning have entered into a social contract, and I ask that we all reflect on what our collective responsibility is. I ask you to engage your children in this reflection: What is our obligation to the community to preserve the precious in-person learning we have? How can we, with our actions and behaviors, uphold our social contract? Thank you.
All the best,
Willy
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Medications at School
If your student requires medication at school (prescribed or over-the-counter) you should have received an email from Nancy McMahon, Health Services Assistant, in November. Please search your email and act immediately. Completed forms and medications should be brought to the school office immediately.
Forms are located on the district website here and must be completed by a parent/guardian and your student's healthcare provider.
- Food Allergy: Complete both the Medication Authorization Form and the FARE form
- Insect sting/bite: Complete both the Medication Authorization Form and the Allergy Health Care Plan form
- Other: For other medication at school needs (e.g., asthma, headaches, ADHD), the Medication Authorization Form needs to be completed.
If your student no longer requires medication at school or if you have questions, email Nancy McMahon here.
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Submit Your Photos for the Yearbook!
To make this year’s yearbook “full of fun”, we want our students to share photos of themselves based on the topics listed in the flyer here.
Choose 2 to 3 topics (max) and submit your photos. The yearbook staff will include at least one image of every student who submits a photo. Have fun with it!
The first campaign photos are due Monday, February 1 and the second campaign photos are due Monday, March 15. Submit your photos here and use the code hillviewmiddle21.
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Yearbook Student Congratulatory Ads
Hillview is breaking with tradition and now all grade levels can purchase a congratulatory ad for their student. Design and submit your congratulatory ad by February 5.
1/8 Page Ad - 6, 7 and 8th grade families - $55.00
1/4 Page Ad - 8th grade families ONLY - $100.00
See our flyer here for additional information on uploading and designing your page.
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Yearbook 8th Grade Baby Pictures
8th graders ONLY. Send us your cute baby pictures for a special 8th grade tribute. Submit your 8th graders baby picture by going here. Use code hillviewmiddle21. For more information see our flyer here.
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Yearbook Orders
The yearbook deadline of February 5, is fast approaching. Get your yearbook order in today!
The cost is $45.00 per book. An additional $10.00 and you can have your book shipped directly to your home. Order a yearbook today here and use Hillview Number 10070.
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Service Team Cereal Drive for Families in our Community |
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Donate Cereal, oatmeal, granola, pancake and waffle mix, cocoa, instant coffee, and creamer.
Drop in blue bins near the PAC each weekday through Friday, January 29. Email here with questions. Just for fun, let’s see if Blue or Gold brings the most breakfast items!
GOLD Week Tally: January 25 - January 29 Blue Week Tally was last week
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Hillview Conversation Chat
An opportunity for parents AND students to engage in thoughtful discussions about issues affecting our middle school students today. These events are intended for parents and students of Hillview Middle School.
"Living with Uncertainty: How Storytelling Connects Us During Uncertain Times"
Tuesday, February 2, 6:30 pm, register here in advance for this webinar
Join Krista Rosa for an evening of storytelling and honest conversation as she shares her own stories and discusses strategies on how to connect to our families and friends during uncertain times. No stranger to quarantines and having a strong case of FOMO (fear of missing out), Krista has spent time quarantined in hospitals - Eight years ago, Krista survived a devastating cancer diagnosis while she was 21 weeks pregnant with her second daughter. Her steadfast healthcare team and chemotherapy treatment plan were a big part of her recovery and current cancer-free status. But there's more to it than just medicine...
Krista has always believed in the miraculous. Her profound journey of surviving these life-altering events gives her a genuine and direct approach to transcending life’s difficulties. By sharing her story she motivates change – in people, their families and their environments that nurture and inspire them. Incredibly, Krista views her life’s experiences as a tremendous gift, one that helped her find strength, resolve, and ultimately, her life’s work.
Krista's honest conversation on what inspired her positive attitude and how telling stories about her healthcare crisis has cracked the door open to feeling connected to others and maintaining hope in every realm. Bring your questions and curious open mind - Hillview parents and their children will do a deep dive on how living with uncertainty can change relationships and forge meaning.
Example questions parents and Hillview students may have for Krista:
- Have you ever felt differently about yourself when you've been vulnerable and honest about an event in your life?
- Are you afraid to tell your parents/friends about the real stories that happen in your life?
If you have a question for Krista that you would like addressed during or after the event please fill out this form. We will also allow time for an open Q&A at the end of Krista's presentation.
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Krista Rosa knows that a well told story has the power to transform lives. She is a regional speaker and Patient Advisor for Kaiser Permanente and uses her personal healthcare experience to connect with doctors and clinical staff to build a more connected, positive patient experience across all disease units. Krista has quickly become a leading educator - helping to alleviate stress, moral injury, and burnout, offering support for compassion fatigue, and providing a preeminent program on patient-centered care as it relates to health care reform. Her keynotes often provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Education Units (CEU). Krista invites you to connect with her here.
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Each week a staff member will be randomly selected to share a little bit more about themselves so the Hillview Community can get to know them better.
Astrid Rieber
Astrid is our district speech-language pathologist and has been in the district for 4 years. In her free time she likes hiking, reading and yoga.
Favorite Quote: “No one has ever become poor by giving.” - Anne Frank
Favorite Movie: The Hudsucker Proxy
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate
Favorite Subjects as a Middle School Student: Math
Words of Wisdom for Hillview students: Don't be afraid to try new things,
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even if you think you won't like something - be willing to at least try. I never thought I would like meditation because I thought it would be boring and slow but I LOVE it - it calms me and it's a great way to start my busy day. So be willing to try something you think you might not like and who knows - you might surprise yourself - and don't forget to have FUN! |
What you probably didn’t know about me: I am a yoga certified teacher.
One more thing: I am married and have three children ages 21, 19 and 15. I am also the youngest of 7 brothers and sisters and an aunt to 21 nieces and nephews and they are all very important in my life. Family is everything to me.
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Cultural Family Night
Latin Art Edition
with
MPCSD Spanish World Language Teachers
What 3rd Virtual Cultural Family Night: Latin Art Edition! (K-8)
When Participate anytime at your leisure
How Watch the pre-recorded link and do some fun "Latin Art Activities” with Señora Malone here
Materials needed A pencil, a piece of paper, any food you can find around the house
Why To learn about two famous Latin artists from around the world, create some art projects inspired by these two artists, and partake in a creative activity as a family!
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Information Sessions
Registration for all new students (grades K-8) entering MPCSD in Fall 2021 opens Monday, February 1. Parents who would like to learn more about our program, especially kindergarten, are welcome to attend one of the following sessions, each hosted by one of our elementary schools. All of this information is also available on the district website Enrollment page here.
Laurel Elementary School hosts Kindergarten Information Night
Monday, January 25, 6:30 pm, register in advance for this webinar here.
Encinal Elementary School hosts Kindergarten Information Night
Tuesday, January 26, 6:30 pm, register in advance for this webinar here.
Oak Knoll Elementary School hosts Kindergarten Information Night
Wednesday, January 27, 6:30 pm, register in advance for this webinar here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Spanish Immersion
Parents interested in spanish immersion for their kindergaren student must attend a mandatory Spanish Immersion information meeting (even if you already have an older child enrolled in spanish immersion). Attend one meeting held via Zoom:
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Thursday, February 4, 7:00 - 8:00 pm, register here.
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Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 - 8:00 pm, register here.
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Thursday, February 25, 9:00 - 10:00 am, register here.
Spanish Immersion Lottery will be held on Zoom. Notifications will be sent after the Lottery has been completed. Participation NOT required. Tuesday, March 16, 9:00 am, register here.
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School Board Update January 21 Special Meeting
Two important updates from Superintendent Burmeister: pandemic response and spending cuts.
Mr. Burmeister shared that the top five reasons parents would want all in-person learning to close for a period, based on final results from the recent parent survey, continue to be: keeping the current 5% positivity guidelines; evidence of school-based spread; not closing for any reason; only if the state or county require it; and at some positivity trigger greater than 5%. The district has seen an uptick in its reported cases, although all schools are still well below the 5% trigger. Vaccine rollout for educators is unpredictable and phase 1B which includes education workers has not opened yet. MPCSD will plan for fully open schools next fall, while remaining prepared for the possibility that we would need to continue the hybrid model.
District Plans for Long-term Financial Stability There will be a parcel tax on the ballot in November 2021. At Thursday's meeting, the Board began its discussion of the $1.5 million in cuts that will be made regardless of the parcel tax passage. The theory of action guiding those decisions is "student-centered stewardship that achieves efficiency without sacrificing quality." MPCSD staff prepared an initial list of potential cuts here, and Mr. Burmeister previewed long term costs savings strategy here. The Board voiced broad support for the superintendent's three immediate cost-saving recommendations: elimination of the Director of Finance position and creation of a new classified level position instead; elimination of the Directors of Technology and Human Resources positions and the creation of one new combined position, Assistant Superintendent of Talent & Technology; and the ability to implement “combo classes” when doing so would save the need to hire another full time teacher at certain schools/grade levels and still maintain class size goals. The potentially eliminated positions mentioned here all reflect retirements in those existing positions. These three measures alone could save over $450,000.
Stay tuned for opportunities for more engagement with Board members and district leadership around the budget cuts. There will be special meetings planned to hear from you about your priorities and thoughts as the district makes these tough yet necessary decisions.
Public Health Reminders
The Board and Superintendent implore MPCSD families to continue following public health guidance. For schools to stay open, we must do the following:
Stop all non-essential gatherings. Daily we hear stories of families gathering unnecessarily. Indoor sleepovers, birthday parties, playdates, etc. can all wait. We see your social media posts and it heightens everyone’s concern. None of it is worth sacrificing our in-person school experience.
Ensure facemask fit. Families have been great about sending kids to school with facemasks and kids have been really good about wearing them; however, in order for facemasks to work well, they must fit on the face without falling down. Please ensure your child’s mask fits their face.
Don’t travel. We know it’s ski season and you’re feeling shut in. However, those slopes can wait until we all have the vaccine. This season let’s stay home and stay safe.
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Support your school and beloved local institution - Jeffrey’s Hamburgers!
It’s not often as a parent you can experience the satisfaction of a win/win/win/win...but for the next three (3) Thursdays you can! No cooking for you (win), your kids thank you for their delicious burgers, shakes, and fries (win), you donate to our schools at no additional cost to you (win), and you support a local restaurant when they most need it (huge win). For the next three (3) Thursdays, which started January 21, order from Jeffrey’s Menlo Park and 10% of your entire order goes back to our schools!
Three easy ways to place your lunch or dinner order:
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Jeffrey’s website here for pick-up **preferred method**
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Delivery via DoorDash here
- Call 650-322-1959
Mark your calendars! 10% back to our schools for orders on these Thursdays:
January 28 February 4 February 11
For more information, visit here.
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For your support!
We want to take the opportunity to show our appreciation for our business and realtor partners in the community.
Silver
Nancy Goldcamp, Realtor here
Titanium
Colleen Foraker, Compass here
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YMSL Enjoy serving others? Looking for more ways to spend quality time with your teen son?
The Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) here offers moms service opportunities and time with her son to grow their relationship and to instill a heart of service to last a lifetime. As part of its four-year program, YMSL teaches leadership and life skills to develop our young men to become the capable and compassionate leaders of tomorrow. Interested in joining our chapter, contact Virginia Huffman here for the Prospective Members meeting Tuesday, February 23, 7:00 pm.
M-A Little League Spring Registration is now open. All interested players and families can go register and find more information here.
Object Presents: Join us for a virtual workshop with Holly Liu, Co-Founder of Kabam Gaming. Holly led design for Kabam’s award-winning “Kingdoms of Camelot” franchise, which grossed over $250 million in less than four years, and for "Kingdoms of Camelot: Battle for the North," which was the top-grossing app on iOS in 2012. Holly was named the Most Powerful Woman in Gaming by Fortune. She will talk with girls about the gaming industry, her career, and the role of confidence in her success.
January 30, 9:30 - 10:15 am, Zoom (Link sent after registration). Sign up here.
YouTube and Your Kids Our recent research here found that kids love to watch videos. It has a whole world of challenges here, subcultures, and celebrities here that can be confusing. In terms of little kids, parents might be surprised to know just how much advertising, and what kind, their kids see. Most aren’t moderated for age, as with kids' TV channels; little kids get exposed to mature stuff. And while things like unboxing seem harmless, there's a clear focus on consumerism that is worth talking about. Bigger kids and teens run even more risk of finding iffy stuff. It's such a mixed bag, parents should take a time out, talk to their kids, and use the settings here that are available to make YouTube as safe as possible.
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