Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter
Volume 28, Issue 23, February 2, 2021
In This Issue (bolded items are new contributions for this week)
Note from our Principal
OUSD Reopening Info Session → TONIGHT for our school! (D4)
PFC Executive and Board Positions for 2021-2022
Take Out at Pattys & Buns Burgers → THURSDAY, Feb 4!
Auction Meeting - this Wednesday!
School Garden Winter Veggies this Friday!
News from the Library
Calling All Thornhill Alumni!
Oakland Schools Virtual Tours
2021-2022 School Year Registration
OUSD Announcements
Individual Class Packets
Calendar of Important Dates
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A Note from our Principal
I hope this message finds you well. As you know it's Black History Month and I just want to let you know that our teachers have been teaching about the many contributions from African Americans. Black History is something we all need to continue teaching and learning throughout the year. I am hoping you have had a chance to read Superintendent Kyla Johnson's message from a few days ago — you can read it here.
Reminders:
- Monday, February 15 is Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL
- Friday, February 19 is an OUSD Teacher Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL
Have a wonderful week!
Mr. Daubenspeck
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OUSD Reopening Info & Listening Sessions - TONIGHT!
OUSD invites you to join them for one of the upcoming Reopening Info & Listening Sessions. Our Listening Session for District 4 is TONIGHT, Tuesday, February 2 from 5:30-7pm.
Info and RSVP: https://www.ousd.org/reopening2021infosessions
Zoom Link: https://ousd.zoom.us/j/86256142451
Each session will cover the following topics:
State and County safety standards
OUSD safety plans
OUSD plans for in-person learning
Process for returning
Thornhill is in District 4. Although our session is tonight, you may choose to attend any/all sessions that you would like. Tonight would be the time for our Board Member, Gary Yee, to hear our thoughts and opinions.
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PFC Executive and Board Positions for 2021-2022
Aloha,
Did you see that? We have already gone through one month of 2021. If I am doing my math right, that means that...The end of the school year will be here before we know it.
Yes, there are still four months of this very unique school year ahead of us. And while that might seem like a long time away, it’s going to go by quickly. And with that, there will be some PFC executive and board members stepping down from their positions due to either fulfilling their two-year (or more!) term, or their kids moving on from Thornhill.
One of those who will be stepping aside is yours truly. Normally, the PFC presidency, like many other positions, is a two-year volunteer term. I stayed on this year due to the nature of the school year and to ensure we would have as much continuity as possible while we handle PFC business remotely. And, I have been fortunate in that for the first time in three years, I have had a co-president to help with overseeing the PFC’s responsibilities. Alicia Streight has been an incredible addition to our team here, and we are lucky that she will be continuing as co-president for a second year beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.
The PFC presidency has historically been a two-person job. And since I will be stepping aside in a few months, now is the time to find my replacement. This is an opportunity to assist Alicia with guiding the PFC’s direction during what will hopefully be a more traditional school year setting. There are a lot of good people in the Thornhill community, and I am sure some of you are interested in getting more involved with the school. This is an excellent opportunity to do that.
If you are interested, please contact us at president@thornhillschool.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Mahalo,
Rex Crum
PFC Co-President
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Take Out Event: This Thursday, Feb 4 @ Pattys & Buns
Enjoy Burgers, Fries, Shakes & more from Pattys & Buns Burgers and up to 20% comes back to Thornhill!
When: Thursday, February 4 from 11am - 7:00pm
Where: Pattys & Buns Burgers, 2852 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA
Please use one of the methods below to place orders in advance:
Order Online at www.pattysandbunsburgers.com, on the checkout screen, enter 'Thornhill' in the Extra Information field.
Call (510) 531-5000 or walk-in, mention you are supporting Thornhill
Note: Delivery does not count toward our event
For more info, check out the Konstella Event & our Dine Outs page for future events.
Christina Gibbons, Merchant Partnerships Chair
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Auction Meeting - this Wednesday!
Please join us every Wednesday at 7pm for an Auction planning meeting. See the event on Konstella for more details and the Zoom info. You do not have to have attended a previous meeting or even ever attend an auction. We need everyone!
Hope to see you there!
Maya Hiersoux, Benefit Auction Chair
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Come Get your School Garden Winter Veggies this Friday!
There is more broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, and bok choy ready to harvest and enjoy. You can pick up veggies by the TK gate and packet pick up location on Alhambra this Friday morning to enjoy with your family.
Enjoy!
Miss Alexis
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News from the Library
We have two exciting announcements to share from the library! The 2nd-5th grade classrooms will be hosting author and illustrator Judd Winick of the HiLo Series for a virtual visit on Monday, February 22 celebrating his newest title Gina, the Girl Who Broke the World. If you have kids in those grades, detailed information is in Konstella.
Any families who are interested in purchasing a book can have their books signed by Judd himself and support a local independent bookstore, Mrs. Dalloway's. If you do want to order books, here is important information to include (School Name, Student Name, and Teacher Name - on the comment section) on the order forms:
11am Thornhill HiLo Order Form (2nd & 4th grades)
1pm Thornhill HiLo Order Form (3rd & 5th grades)
AND we are thrilled to share information about Sora, an app through Overdrive that offers access to ebooks and audiobooks. Both the OUSD and Oakland Public Library (OPL) collections are available with one easy sign in through Clever, using their student username and password.
Once they are in the app, they can check out one item from the OUSD collection and additional items from the OPL collection. The entire OUSD library team is collaborating to purchase high-interest books our students are excited to read!
What to know more? Check out the Thornhill Library Website and the Sora Page for more information and instructional videos. As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions at marie.fox@ousd.org.
Thanks,
Marie Fox, Library Technician
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Calling All Thornhill Alumni!
Are you the parent of a current or former middle school student in the East Bay? Please share your experience with the Thornhill Class of 2021!
We've created a quick and easy survey about your family's time in middle school:
We'd absolutely love to hear from you and promise it will only take a few minutes of your time! (And please forward to any/all alumni that might have missed this newsletter!)
Thank you!
Kim Olofson, 5th Grade Representative
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Oakland Virtual Schools Tours
If you have an older Thunderbird and are looking to take a virtual tour of an Oakland middle or high school, OUSD is tracking virtual tours here. If you are a parent of a 5th grader, we have posted Oakland middle school virtual tours in the 5th Grade Families Konstella group.
Additionally, explore OUSD schools through their SchoolFinder. The application window for the 2021-22 school year closes THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5. Note this window is only if you are applying to a new school at any grade. Info will come in late spring about staying at Thornhill.
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2021-2022 School Year Registration
If you have a 5th grader OR you want to enroll your child at a different OUSD school, then you must submit an application via OUSD SchoolMint by this Friday, February 5.
For more information, please see OUSD's enrollment page or contact the Student Welcome Center (510-879-4600; enroll@ousd.org).
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OUSD Announcements
Please consider attending our District’s (District 4) Reopening Info Session TONIGHT, Tuesday, February 2 from 5:30-7pm. More information and RSVP here.
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Individual Class Printed Packets
If your teacher tells you that printed materials need to be picked up, they will continue to be in the same spot — on the fence near the TK trailer and the Alhambra entrance.
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Calendar
Tuesday, February 2: OUSD Reopening Info & Listening Session (5:30-7pm, Info here)
Wednesday, February 3: Benefit Auction Planning Meeting (7-8pm, see Konstella for info)
Monday, February 8: PFC Meeting (5:30-7pm, see Konstella for info)
Monday, February 15: NO SCHOOL for Presidents Day
Friday, February 19: NO SCHOOL for Professional Development for Teachers
Monday, March 8: PFC Meeting (5:30-7pm, see Konstella for info)
Be sure also to subscribe to the Thornhill Google Calendar here, and download the OUSD District calendar here.
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About the Thornhill Newsletter
The Thornhill Parent-Faculty Club (PFC) eNews team publishes this weekly newsletter each Tuesday in the school year to communicate school, PFC and OUSD news, events and information.
Email submissions to our Newsletter Chair, Jill Evans, at newsletter@thornhillschool.org by 8 p.m. Thursday for approval—nothing sent after this will be included in the following week’s newsletter unless there are extremely compelling extenuating circumstances. It’s fine to include text in the body of the email with links and no formatting, and attach photos preferably as 150 x 150, 72 dpi JPG or GIFs only (not embedded in email or Word file). Submissions may be edited for spelling, grammar, brevity and clarity. Advertising and items not related to Thornhill are not accepted, as we need to keep the newsletter focused on need-to-know info for the community.
THANK YOU to everyone who submits articles and to PFC Board Members, Teachers, VPs of Communications Erin Proudfoot & Evie Nagy, PFC Presidents Rex Crum & Alicia Streight, and Principal Steve Daubenspeck. Member of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).
Email: webmaster@thornhillschool.org
Website: thornhillschool.org
Location: 5880 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, CA, USA
Phone: 510-339-6800