Calendar
April 16-May 4 : Star Testing Window for Gr 2-5
May 2 : Restaurant Night
May 5 : Palo Alto May Fete Parade
May 7 : 2012-13 PTA Board Election
May 7-11 : Teacher Appreication Week
May 9 : PTA Coffee
May 13 : Mother’s Day
May 15 : Bike Safety Community Meeting
May 17 : Eaglesburg, MP Room
May 22 : Open House 6-8 pm
May 28 : School Closed, Memorial Day
Palo Verde and PTA News
Open Seats on School Site Council
School Site Councils were set up as a result of a statewide program begun in 1990 called School-Based Program Coordination (SBPC). The goal was to enable those individuals closest to the students to be involved in making significant decisions affecting the school’s instructional programs, curriculum, and budget. It was a way for those in the school community to work together toward the common goal of improving the school for all students by coordinating and directing the use of supplemental funds.
The School Site Council (SSC) is composed of representatives from all segments of our school community: the principal, 4 staff members, and 4 parents. The SSC comes together to develop a comprehensive school plan to ensure that students of all ranges of ability are best served.
At Palo Verde, the SSC meets generally at 3:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the Staff Lounge. Meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Members serve for two years, with terms staggered so that about half of the council is re-elected each year to insure continuity. The Site Council is an important communications link between parents and teachers to ensure that we all work together to meet the needs of all students in the school. The Site Council also works closely with the PTA to set priorities and coordinate our expenditures to benefit the maximum number of students.
If you are interested in running for a seat on the council, please submit a letter of interest to Principal Brown with the following information: name, grade levels for your children, a brief statement for the reason you want to be a member of the School Site Council by Friday, May 11th. The election of new parent representatives to the SSC will be held at Open House on May 22nd, 2012
May Fete Parade
We are in the process of putting in the finishing touches to the school float. Thank you to everyone who gave us boxes. Please do not send any more boxes.
If you have some time, please come by to the MP room with your child on Sunday April 29 between 2 pm and 4 pm to help us put the finishing touches on the school float. Your child will contribute to the decorating of the float along with other kids under the supervision of one of our May Fete parent volunteers. Could there be a better way to have pride and ownership in creating our school float that will be paraded on University Avenue on May 5? Parents, please note, do not drop off your kids as we will be unable to provide supervision outside the MP room.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Anjani Sarma at anjani.sarma@gmail.com
No Regrets Parenting
Palo Verde PTA together with the PTAs of El Carmelo, Fairmeadow and JLS schools Presents an evening with Dr. Harley Rotbart Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 PM, Fairmeadow MP Room. Dr. Harley Rotbart has been a pediatric specialist for the past 28 years and is the professor and vice chairman of pediatrics at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Denver. He is a nationally recognized parenting expert, speaker, and educator and is the author of more than 175 medical and scientific publications.
Each exhausting day with young kids can feel like it will never end, yet the years streak by. No Regrets Parenting is about time with your kids: finding enough of it and making the most of it, from crib to college. It’s timeless advice for when time is in short supply.
Dr. Rotbart is an engaging speaker. Following his remarks, he will answer questions and sign his new book No Regrets Parenting: Turning Long Days and Short Years into Cherished Moments with Your Kids.
There will be a potluck supper at 6:30 PM. Childcare will be available by reservation. If you have any questions or would like to reserve childcare, please contact Sigrid Pinsky atSigridkp@yahoo.com
Restaurant Night
May 2nd is Palo Verde Night at Armadillo Willy’s
PTA General Meeting & 2012-2013 Board ElectionThe election of 2012-2013 PTA board members will take place during our next General Membership meeting on May 7, 8:20 am at the teachers’ lounge.
The candidates are:
President:Kim Amsbaugh
Treasurer:Emily Jaquette
Vice President – Communication:Lili Nova-Roessig
Vice President – Programs & Social Events:open
Vice President – Fundraising:Rebecca Thompson
Auditor:Susan Miley
Secretary:Maxine Warren
All PTA members are invited to attend and cast their vote. For more information contact Helena Vincent (helena@hbvarchitecture.com).
Technology & PE Summer Class @ Palo Verde!
A Mixture of Technology, P.E., & Fun
4 Weeks / 16 students / Current Grades 3rd, 4th, & 5th
The goal for this summer school class is to provide a fun, interactive learning experience that offers a small number of students the opportunity to increase, explore, and expand their technology skills while making time to exercise and have fun outside. The class will be limited to 16 students and will be held during the dates of traditional summer school: June 18th through July 13, with no class on July 4th. Each day this 3-hour class will include a blend of morning warmup activities, a technology session, a time for organized PE activities & games, then another technology session. There will not be a separate recess or snack time as the class is three hours. Snacks and drinks can be brought to class and consumed when needed.
In Palo Alto, families have numerous summer opportunities for kids, however this class is offered as a unique opportunity focusing on fun, technology, and exercise. Due to the limited number of students in this program, the class will be filled according to a first come, first serve basis. Thank you for considering this summer class for your child.
Math Camp Open House
The Open House Night is also the time, when we expect you to complete your enrollment process to secure your child’s space in the Summer Math Camp. Please be advised that we do not accept credit cards, only checks or cash.
Classic Math School
Family Portraits Fundraiser in Gamble Gardens May 19 & 27.
Students with a Camera (SWAC) will be offering 25 min Mini Sessions to capture family and individual portraits at Gamble Gardens. Sessions are $40 and include one 8×10 and an online viewing portfolio of your images. Visit our website to see samples and learn more about our organization. All photographs will be available for digital as well as print purchases and we have a great variety of custom unique gifts and items for your home. Book your session online A.S.A.P at www.gunnswac.org 100% of the profits go to benefit local students in their photography pursuits.
Our Children Our Future Education Initiative on November Ballot
The California State PTA supports the Our Children Our Future education initiative for the November ballot. If passed this measure will raise between $10-11 billion each year for 12 years to restore education programs and services our children need now. It devotes funds to state debt reduction.
More information on why California State PTA supports this initiative may be found at
For more information on the initiative itself, please visitwww.OurChildrenOurFuture2012.com
If you have any questions, please contact Louise Valentemoscato@pacbell.net or Sigrid PinskySigridkp@yahoo.com
Stay informed!
Dine Out & Earn More eScrip $$$ for Palo Verde
eScrip runs the eScrip Dining rewards program. When you dine at participating restaurants and use a credit card that is registered with eScrip, a percentage of your payment will be given to Palo Verde. Here is a sampling of participating restaurants in and around Palo Alto:
- Anatolian Kitchen
- Café Epi
- Illusions
- Janta
- Mantra
- Siam Orchid
- Sliderbar Café
To search for other participating restaurants, go to www.escrip.rewardsnetwork.com. Please just be sure the credit cards you use when you dine out are registered with eScrip. If you aren’t registered for eScrip yet, please go to www.escrip.comand complete the registration process; we are group number137331259. If you are registered for eScrip but need to add credit card numbers to your registration, go to www.escrip.com and click on “my eScrip”.