MCCV Newsletter August 17, 2018
Keeping Families Connected
August Events - Next Newsletter August 31
August 18
1:00-6:00pm, Friends of Cherry Valley Library Pool Party - Thank you Sheldon Family
*It's not too late! Email Jen Sheldon jaksheldon@aol.com if your would like to attend!*
August 20
11:30am, Cherry Jubilee Planning Meeting - Acre Cafe on Petaluma Blvd
August 24
5:30-7:30pm, PTA Skate Night - Cal Skate
August 28
5:30-6:30pm, Sixth Grade Parent Meeting for Point Bonitas
August 28 + 29
Sports Basement Back to School 20% off Shopping Days - 1970 Santa Rosa Avenue, SR
August 29
11:15-11:45am, Celebrate Reading Day - Quad
Future Events
September 3 - No School, Labor Day Holiday
September 5 - 1:00-3:00pm, Walk-a-Thon
September 10 - 1:00pm, Author Event - Mac Barnett (Grades 2-5)
September 13 - 5:30 PTA Meeting and 6:45pm - Ed Foundation Meeting
September 14 - PTA BBQ + Ice Cream Social
September 17-21 - Sixth Graders to Point Bonita
September 21 - Walk-a-Thon Money Due
September 21 - Last Day of First Quarter
September 24-October 12 - No School, Fall Break
October 15 - No School, Staff Development Day
SCHOOL NEWS
CAN YOU VOLUNTEER IN THE OFFICE?
Hello lovely Cherry Valley Family parents!
The office is in need of volunteers. One volunteer is needed in the morning to help answer phones while Cookie manages office traffic. A second volunteer is needed in the office at lunchtime to provide ice and bandaids to any children who get hurt on the playground. If you can help, please contact the office. Thank you!
GETTING YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL SAFELY
Please, please, please, be careful when dropping off and picking up your kids from school. Here are a few tips that will help to ensure everyone’s safety when dropping the kids off at school:
- Drive slowly and cautiously in school zones.
- Respect designated drop-off and pick-up areas.
- Drop the kids off on the side of the street where the school is located.
- Have the kids exit the vehicle on the side of the car closest to the sidewalk.
- Don’t double park even for just a minute as it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
- Expect the unexpected and don't drive distracted. Leave your coffee in the holder, your phone in your bag, and the radio station where it’s at.
- Don’t attempt dangerous maneuvers like a U-turn or three-point turn.
- Never overtake other vehicles within a school zone or within a half block of any crosswalk.
- If traffic is too heavy to safely drop your child at school, find a legal spot to park on a street away from the school, then walk to the school with your child.
- Carpool, if possible, with other parents to reduce congestion.
School zones are busy spots, but with extra care and caution, they don’t have to be dangerous too.
Please be aware that on the corner of Elm and Cherry there is a stop sign and a pedestrian cross walk. It has been reported to the school and the Petaluma Police Department (PPD) by a neighbor that often cars do not stop, making this a hazard for students who use the crosswalk to get to school. PPD is planning to monitor this intersection more closely throughout the school year.
Just a reminder that the staff parking is for staff parking only. The lot can be used in the morning as a student drop off zone. However, please keep the line moving. It truly is meant as a drop off area only. If you need to chat with your child, brush hair, finish breakfast, etc., please park on the street so that you are not holding up the line behind you. Also, unless you have the proper documentation to use the handicapped parking spaces, please do not pull into or block these important spaces for our school community. Thank you.
WALK-A-THON - SEPTEMBER 5
This year's Walk-A-Thon is Wednesday September 5th from 1:00-3:00pm. Look for pledge forms coming home soon. Come walk the new track and support our programs! The Education Foundation raises about half of its annual budget at this fun event. Please participate, donate and tell your family and friends!
Next Steps:
1) Click here for an extra pledge form. Extra pledge forms are also in the office.
2) Start collecting pledges! Reach out to your family, friends and community! Maybe even do a little math! (5 people x $1/lap x 30 laps = $150! 10 people x $2/lap x 40 laps = $800!!)
3) What's the $ for you ask? Remind your child to explain that the money raised helps pay for Art, Music, Environmental Education, Spanish, Advanced Math, and Physical Education.
4) We are aiming for 100% participation! It's a fun event and a great way to experience the joy of giving back! The class in each cluster that has the highest participation rate will get an ICE CREAM PARTY!!
5) MONDAY AUGUST 27th - PLEDGE FORMS ARE DUE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM. (Although a form brought to the event will be accepted).
6) PLEDGE PAYMENTS WILL BE COLLECTED AFTER THE EVENT AND ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 21st! Payment can be cash or check. Checks can be made out to MCS@CV with your child's name on the memo line. No online payments at this time!
7) What to expect on September 5th:
- Adults should be at event to watch child.
- Class parents distribute lap cards at 12:45pm in classroom.
- Volunteers mark lap Cards.
- CHECK OUT: Remind your child they MUST come back to class station to check out when they finish walking - this is critical to collect full amount. Form will be returned to child next day to start collecting pledge money.
PTA SKATE NIGHT - CAL SKATE
August 24, 5:30-7:30pm
Click here for flyer
School Skate Night” payback based on $6.00 admission: 200+ skaters = $3.25 per skater
150 -199 skaters = $2.75 per skater
100 -149 skaters = $2.25 per skater
50 - 99 skaters = $1.75 per skater
Under 50 skaters = no payback
CELEBRATE READING DAY - QUAD
Parents: Please read with us on Wednesday, August 29. Our entire school is going to be reading together in the quad. It's okay to bring blankets and books from home.
Please join us!
AUTHOR MAC BARNETT COMING TO MCCV
Grades 2-5
Click here for order form if you wish to purchase an autographed copy.
NEWS FROM THE GARDEN
Come one come all! Salad Bar is back as Taste of the Garden/Farm. The program will begin on Wednesday, August 22. The next will be Wednesday, August 29, and then will continue as an every-other-week routine through the end of the academic year. Please reach out to your student's classroom teacher to volunteer.
The program will maintain the original intent but will appear a little different at first. The classroom hosts will perform much of the preparation in their classroom. We are still working with the district regarding cooking surfaces and ovens; until then the menu items will consist of mostly fresh, vegetarian options from the garden and Open Field Farm. Kindergarten service will begin at 12:00 noon (K students must be supervised by an adult) and Grades 1-8 service begins at 12:30pm and continues after dismissal at 12:45pm. Please come out and support the program! Bring your reusable plates, utensils, and napkins. Thank you!
Over the last two weeks in the garden the students learned some garden tool safety and helped refill a rebuilt raised garden bed with soil (K/1); learned about tide wrack at Beach Day and helped clear human-generated litter from Dillon Beach (K-8); experimented with rooting potatoes segments around the 'eyes' (2/3); explored a variety of seed structures and dispersal methods, collected, and processed the seeds for storage (2/3); planted lettuce starts and fall/winter veggies for the Taste of the Garden/Farm program (2-5); learned the benefits of various mulching materials and applied rice straw to maintain soil moisture in the raised beds with new plant starts (2-5).
(See the picture above of new veggie starts planted and the rice straw mulch applied this week)
The Monarch caterpillars in the classrooms are getting large (probably 4th instar). Ask your student what they observed at their rearing station this week and last.
See you in the garden!
Best,
Bryce Nahas, Garden Coordinator/Teacher
(provided for by generous donations to the Mary Collins Educational Foundation)
Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley, Petaluma City Schools
GREEN TEAM
Congratulations Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley! Our school was selected as a recipient of the Ocean Guardian School grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Thanks to Mr. Wicks and Ms. Eichert our school will be undertaking a year-long project to conserve water use in the garden by installing a rain catchment system on the existing and a new garden shed. The project will also include student-generated outreach events and a hands-on install workshop hosted by Daily Acts and Blue Barrel. If you would like to get involved with this and other sustainability-related projects, please contact me at bnahas@petk12.org. Thanks!
Best,
Bryce Nahas, Green Team Staff Liaison
WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL PROGRAMS
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL
JOIN PTA
Did you know...the PTA funds seminars and professional development for Cherry Valley teachers and staff?
Helping our first-rate teachers and staff continue to grow is one way the PTA works to positively impact the lives of our children and build the community that drew us all to Cherry Valley.
Want to help? Start by becoming a member! It's one click away: https://www.cherryvalleypta.org/family-membership-form.html
JOIN MCEF
The programs that set us apart from other schools are simply not funded by the district and are possible only through funding by the Mary Collins Education Foundation (MCEF). These programs include Art, Music, Environmental Education, Spanish, Advanced Math, Physical Education, teacher symposiums and professional development. We do not consider these programs "extras;" they are core parts of our curriculum and essential to our charter's mission. To pay for these critical positions, we must raise $100,000 in the 2018-19 school year.
MCEF relies on donations from you and others from our community to fund these programs in their entirety. Please do what you can to help us reach our goal of at least $250 per child per year - or about $20 per month. Any amount is helpful, so if $20 per month is too much, please consider $10 or $5 per month.
JOIN FCVL
It's Not Too Late!
Add Your Name To The List!!
Thank you to all of the families who have already joined FCVL. Click here to see our current members. Haven't joined Friends of Cherry Valley Library yet? It's not too late to add your name to the list! Our membership drive is what determines our book budget for the school year, so join today!
PS - This is a wonderful way for grandparents and other friends and family to help support your children and their school. :)
- The Educational Foundation (can pay salaries + more) Co-Chairs Amy Cohen (amycohen339@gmail.com) and Megan Malone (meg@maloneweb.com). Think: Environmental education, music program, Spanish and middle school electives.
- The PTA (supports non-salary needs on campus) President Jen Stoneman,(jenstoneman@juno.com). Think: Classroom Supplies, Mentor Reading, Field Trips.
- Friends of Cherry Valley Library (supports the library) President Sonia Pai, (spai3@yahoo.com). Think: Librarian's Salary, Library Books, Technology.
These three groups hold community events, coordinate fundraisers, write grants and work tirelessly, all for the benefit of our children. Click here for a one page description of these three organizations.
It would be so wonderful to see some new faces working with each of these organizations. Don't be shy! You don't have to jump in as President! We are looking for brainstormers, worker bees, and helping us plan for the future. Email one of the presidents above and get involved today!
CHERRY JUBILEE 2019
Sports Basement Shopping Party
Sports Basement is a great place to shop for the items you need for 6th Grade camp, the walk-a-thon and much more! If you become a basementeer before the end of September, the membership is free ($25 value) and a percentage of what you spend goes back to Cherry Valley at the end of the year. The more you shop, the more CV receives!
Wednesday morning is Celebrate Reading Day, then head on over to Sports Basement Santa Rosa, or shop Thursday and at the social hour 5-7pm.
SCOE Student Events & Academic Competitions
Learn about the five events SCOE will sponsor for K-12 students this school year and get the dates, deadlines, and contacts for each one.
These events give students and school teams the chance to come together outside of the classroom to demonstrate their learning. For teachers and administrators, the events are a resource to encourage and motivate student learning and spotlight student achievements.
SOCK DRIVE UPDATE
UPCOMING DISTRICT EVENTS
-
Innovations Showcase - February 28, 2019
- PCS Five Minute Film Festival - April 20, 2019
- Butter and Egg Days Parade - April 27, 2019
Click here for more Information
UPCOMING PEF EVENTS
Exciting Things Are Happening at PEF!
Click here to follow us on Facebook
Get Your 2018 PEF BASH Event Tickets TODAY!
PEF's Bourbon Street BASH is on Saturday, September 8th. Join us for a night of dinner, dancing to Pride & Joy, Super Silent & Live Auctions plus our Fund the Future paddle raise supporting all 13,000 K-12 students through the PEF Impact Grant Program!
Click Here for a link to our dedicated event website
Pre-Event PEF BASH Online Auction!
Our 2018 BASH Online Auction kicks off on August 16 -30 featuring amazing items for dining, shopping, and services all supporting local students & schools through PEF.Preview some of the items now on our event ticket website listed above.
Bid HIGH! Bid OFTEN! Bid from ANYWHERE!
PEF's ALPHABET SOUP BENEFIT THRIFT STORES
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - DELIVERY & PICK UP SERVICES AVAILABLE!
Support all local K-12 public, private & charter schools in the Petaluma area when you
SHOP - DONATE - VOLUNTEER at our Alphabet Soup Stores in downtown Petaluma.
Visit our Alphabet Soup Clothing Boutique and Alphabet Soup @ Home Stores where your purchases are truly making a difference in our community through the mission of PEF.
Alphabet Soup Clothing Boutique - 217 Western Avenue
Alphabet Soup @ Home Store - 203 Western Avenue
707.778.4818
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley
Email: aderby@petk12.org
Website: http://www.cherryvalleyschool.org/
Location: 1001 Cherry Street, Petaluma, CA, USA
Phone: (707)778-4740
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/176049169161240/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @MCCherryValley