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Monday, January 18
No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 19
Blue students on campus
Hexmester 4 begins with new elective/PE classes
Service Team - Cereal Drive, Just for fun, let's see if blue brings the most breakfast items! BLUE WEEK tally January 19 - January 22, bins near PAC
"The Future of Educational Equity in the South Peninsula," MPCSD Speaker Series, 6:30 pm, Zoom register here
Thursday, January 21
MPCSD Special Board Meeting, 5:00 pm
(see School Board Update, in MPCSD News below)
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Monday, January 25
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
Monday, February 1
Submit Your Photos for the Yearbook see details in Hillview News below
Friday, February 5
Deadline to order your Yearbook
Deadline to buy your Yearbook Student Congratulatory Ad
Wednesday, March 10 - Tuesday, March 15
Save the Date MPAEF Online Auction
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Quicklinks bottom of newsletter
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Dear Hillview Families,
Tomorrow we all will have a day off from school in honor of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and I hope that our families will pause to explore his legacy, which is more relevant than ever at this time in our nation’s history. To quote a recent piece in the New York Times, “in a moment of national racial reckoning, the holiday offers a timely opportunity to help it onward, through action and contemplation.” The following resources may be helpful. Consider watching King’s “I Have a Dream” speech here, reading his Letter from Birmingham Jail here, and other speeches and resources here and discussing how relevant these words are more than 50 years later. You might also explore items from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture here or take a 360 Look of the National Civil Right Museum in Memphis here to bring Dr. King’s work and legacy to life. Finally, we can remember King by watching one of the many movies and documentaries devoted to his life and work. Try feature films like Ava DuVernay’s Selma here, with David Oyelowo as King, or Clark Johnson’s Boycott here. Some documentary takes include the new MLK/FBI here and John Lewis: Good Trouble here. These resources and others you find can help our children see this day as more than a day off from school. Try starting the conversation with your child and asking them what they know about Dr. King and what they would like to learn.
This coming week will also feature the inauguration of Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, on Wednesday. Given the events of January 6, we may anticipate that the inauguration could be similarly fraught with images of unrest and violence. Our teachers are taking a very cautious approach with the inauguration, and I have directed them to communicate to families in advance if they plan to show any coverage of the event and to allow families to opt their children out. While viewing the inauguration can help our students learn more about the democratic process, we also want to be certain that we do not air violent or upsetting footage that could be traumatizing, and we cannot predict in advance what will occur. A better approach will be to process the inauguration and other events surrounding it later in the week by reviewing follow-up articles or resources in the media that can be carefully vetted.
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 grade students ONLY. Send your cute baby pictures for our traditional "Guess the Graduate" section. Submit your 8th grade student's baby picture 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 or encourage students to ask friends and neighbors if they would like to contribute.
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!
BLUE Week Tally: January 19 - January 22 / GOLD Week Tally: January 25 - January 29
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Look in Community News for virtual events from Summit Prep Charter School and TIDE Academy.
High School Placement Assessments 8th grade students will take the SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) during the weeks of January 19 and January 26. More about the high school placement assessments 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.
Katrina Hagg
Katrina teaches Math 7 and Algebra and is Co-Director of ASB Student Activities with Brian Darmanin. She has been at Hillview for 7 years and today is her birthday! When not teaching Katrina trains at NCFit which is her favorite hobby. She has been training with them for 8 years and loves it. She says nothing compares to the coaches, community and programming. Her favorite movements are thrusters, rowing and double-unders.
Favorite Quote: “[Y]ou may live in the world as it is, but you can still work to create the world as it should be.” -Michelle Obama, Becoming
Favorite Movie: Adventures in Babysitting
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate Gelato
Favorite Subjects as a Middle School Student: Math, Science, PE and Home Ec.
Words of Wisdom for Hillview students: I always encourage my students to do their best. I reinforce that honesty is always the best policy. And I always try to tell them not to stress out.
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If they are applying themselves and doing their best, they might surprise themselves and they won’t be disappointed for putting forth effort. Mistakes will happen, but ownership is the best first step in learning from them and moving forward. Life is hard enough- so take some deep breaths, tell yourself that it will all be ok, and redirect that stressful energy.
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What you probably didn’t know about me: When I finished my Architectural Engineering degree from Cal Poly SLO, I went on a volunteering trip with one of my teachers from St. Francis and 3 other college-aged women. We worked in a school and an orphanage in Kimberley, South Africa. The experience there really made me want to become a teacher. I didn’t follow those ambitions right away and worked as a Structural Engineer for 7 years before switching careers to be in education. And now here I am 7 years into teaching and so happy that I changed careers.
One more thing: I might be a math teacher, but I can’t stress the importance of reading enough! Students: find books you enjoy, then read, read, READ!!
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MPCSD Parent Education Speaker Series |
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Race, Prejudice & Policy: A Conversation of Segregation and its Legacy on Education around Menlo Park
MPCSD special speaker series mini-series concludes this week with a culminating event jointly presented by MPCSD, Ravenswood City School District, and Menlo-Atherton High School. Join us on Tuesday, January 19, 6:30 pm for "The Future of Educational Equity in the South Peninsula: How'd We Get Here and Where Are We Going?"
This event features a frank and inspiring conversation among several panelists including Superintendents Gina Sudaria and Erik Burmeister of Ravenswood and Menlo Park City School Districts, Menlo Atherton High School Principal Simone Rick-Kennel, the immediate past mayors of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, Regina Wallace-Jones and Cecilia Taylor, and Ravenswood School Board Member Ana Maria Pulido, moderated by Community Equity Collaborative Leader Dayna Chung.
The esteemed panel will consider the historical influences that continue to impact our local school districts and how our community might organize to address the challenges and opportunities of our future. Register here in advance for this webinar.
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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.
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 7 meeting highlights:
Parcel Tax
The Board engaged in a discussion about the next parcel tax, which will be placed on the ballot in November 2021. This parcel tax is meant to replace Measure X, which was passed in 2017 to provide a four year runway of financial stability; that runway is ending this year and now the Board looks to use a replacement parcel tax, along with budget cuts, to provide greater long-term financial stability for the district. The Board will continue discussing the amount of the new parcel tax, and Superintendent Burmeister presented some options during the meeting. You can see a brief timeline of MPCSD’s parcel tax history on the meeting Agenda here and also link to Mr. Burmeister’s presentation slides from the Agenda.
Update on MPCSD’s Pandemic Response
Superintendent Burmeister also gave his regular update on MPCSD’s Pandemic Response. The Board discussed its trigger for closing in-person school, and decided to stay the course for now and continue to follow the county’s guideline of closing a school if 5% of the in-person students and staff test positive for COVID over a 14 day period. Mr. Burmeister shared some early data from the parent survey indicating that large percentages of parents continue to be comfortable with the 5% trigger, would even like a higher percentage trigger, or would not like in-person learning closed for any reason. However, the Board will continue monitoring the local COVID situation carefully, especially looking for any indication of spread within our schools sites, which we have not seen so far. The Board agreed that Superintendent Burmeister should make the call to close a campus as soon as any indication of spread within the campus is noticed. MPCSD will be flexible and responsive to COVID case data and do all it can to continue keeping our schools open safely. Mr. Burmeister also addressed the news about Curative and false negative tests. MPCSD’s testing team is working with Curative to understand their response and remains confident at this time in their testing as part of a broader strategy for mitigating risk. As always, anyone with symptoms or concerns should consult their physician. MPCSD recommends students attending in person be tested every two weeks, and families should use the test provider that they are most comfortable with. There are many options listed on MPCSD’s FAQ page here.
New Science Materials
In other business, the Board was presented with new science materials recommended for adoption for grades K-5. The materials will be on display at the District Office during the month of January for parents who would like to preview them. The Board also accepted the annual audit report here for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
Next Meeting
Stay involved with the Board’s ongoing parcel tax discussion. The next meeting is scheduled for January 21. (Agenda and Zoom details will be published on the district website by Monday, January 18.)
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MPAEF Auction Donations Deadline is next Friday, January 22!
Help make our auction a success by donating any desired items. You can also make a $ donation here towards an item that we would purchase and include in the auction. This year, we have compiled a “wish list” here with some creative ideas for donations of all sizes, many of which can be enjoyed at home. Check it out! If you plan to order one of these items, et us know here.
Ready to donate an item for the auction now?
Fill out the Auction Donation Google Form here.
Thank you for your generosity! Email us here if you have questions!
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MPAEF Auction Fund-A-Need Sneak Peek
We are excited to announce that this year’s Fund-A-Need theme is: Counseling, Mental Health, and Social Emotional Learning. There will be an opportunity to raise money for this important need at the upcoming online auction. More information to come...
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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 four (4) 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 four (4) Thursdays, starting 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 21
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
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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.
Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory
Stuck at home for the winter? Looking for a creative outlet to battle the short days and long nights? Look no further. Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory's theme this winter is Light Up Your Screen! Join us for a virtual theatre class that will keep you moving, creating, and connecting. Sign up with your friends to continue having a fun, safe, and creative outlet this winter! Register online here. Winter session begins the week of January 11 and ends the week of March 22. Questions? Email here.
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8th Grade Parent Information
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Summit Prep Charter School is hosting Virtual Shadow Days for students and Virtual tours for parents. During these virtual events, students and parents will be able to gain better knowledge of our school's community and culture. Current Families will be available to answer questions about our school community. Our staff will be able to answer questions about the application and lottery process. To join these virtual events, use the following links:
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Thursday, January 14, Shadowing for Students, 3:15 - 4:15 pm. Tours for parents, 5:15 - 6:15 pm here
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Thursday, February 25, Shadowing for Students, 3:15 - 4:15 pm Tours for parents, 5:15 - 6:15 pm here
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TIDE Academy - Virtual Parent Informational Night Presentation, Wednesday, January 20, 5:00 pm. They would like to invite all 8th-grade families to virtually join them that evening. See the attached flyers here and here and information for the Zoom link here.
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