Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter
Volume 26, Issue 4, August 28, 2018
From the PFC President
Well, two weeks of school have already gone by. I hope you are handling it well and that things like getting your kids dressed, fed and presentable in the morning are filled with nothing but sunshine, butterflies and adorable kittens instead of having to tell your little ones 137 times to do these things...Only to have them look at you like you have never made such a request before in their lives.
Not that that happens to any of us, right?
Regardless of how your mornings go, it was great to see many of you at Back To School Night last Wednesday. The size of the crowd showed how much Thornhill parents care about and are interested in our school, and making it a better place every day that our kids are there. I hope to see many more of you around school, and at our slate of events through the year.
Speaking of events...The annual Thornhill Walk-A-Thon will take place on Saturday, November 3. A huge THANK YOU to Carmen Childs, who has stepped up to chair the event. This is always a favorite, and really important for the school’s fundraising (and exercising) efforts, so we’re very grateful. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.
Mahalo,
Rex Crum
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PFC Mixer for New Parents
Wednesday, Aug 29
7-8:30pm
Duvin Wine Bar (right next to Thornhill)
5736 Thornhill Drive
Light snacks provided
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The Back to School Donation Drive Needs Your Support!
Every year, the Thornhill PFC will spend an average of $1,000 per child to provide programs that are not covered by state or federal funding. The PFC budget funds teachers' aides, music teachers and instruments, the art teacher, the PE coach, the librarian and books, technology and classroom supplies, and more.
The Back to School Donation Drive (BSDD) is our first and most significant PFC fundraising effort of the year. Our goal this year is 100% participation across the entire Thornhill community. It takes all of us working together, giving whatever amount we are able, to be able to raise $1,000 per student across all the fundraising efforts. All of our kids benefit from this, and Thornhill is an even better school because of it. Every dollar gets us closer to our BSDD goal of $190,000. Thank you in advance for your generous support!
Easy Ways to Support Our School
Via Check - Please make checks payable to “Thornhill PFC.” (A stamped, self-addressed envelope was sent home this week in your child’s homework folder.)
Online - If you would like to pay via credit card/PayPal, please go to thornhillschool.org/donation-drive. Please note that we pay a fee on all PayPal donations! If at all possible, please instead pay by check so we get the full value of your donation.
Installments - To set up a recurring donation, please email us at bsdd@thornhillschool.org.
- Company Matching - Company matching doubles your donation! Matching gift form must accompany donation form (unless it is completed online via employer website). Thornhill PFC Non-Profit Tax ID #94-2529197.
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Say Thunderbirds! (a.k.a Picture Day)
Smile! Picture day is coming. We have a new photography company this year (woohoo!), MugsyClicks, who will be coming to capture your child(ren)’s unique personality and charm on Monday, September 10 for 3rd-5th grade and Tuesday, September 11 for TK-2nd grade. MugsyClicks recommends that kids wear a simple shirt without large patterns, words, or graphics. Click on the flyer for more tips and info.
Can't make it? We will have a make-up day... day to be announced! Please note that your kid(s) can only have their picture taken on the day assigned to their grade, not the other day. Thanks!
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Some Friendly Traffic Reminders
As we settle into the school routine this fall, please make sure these traffic patterns are NOT part of your routine!
1) NO U-turns in front of the school!
2) The white zone is not for parking—if you need to walk your child to class please park in the church lot. Your traffic team is working hard to get the drop zone ready by 8:15am and cars parked in the white zone make that job challenging.
3) When exiting the church lot at busy times of the day please turn right onto Thornhill and make a U-turn at Merriewood. Waiting to turn left causes back up into the parking lot and makes kids late for school. Also remember that Alhambra is a two-way street between Thornhill Dr. and the ramp out of the church lot.
4) Parking north of the school on Thornhill Dr. is not allowed during the school day and makes for a very dangerous situation for pedestrians. As an added incentive, we have seen OPD ticketing cars here once this year already.
For more driving/parking tips, please visit our website.
Parking and drop-off can be challenging, especially early in the school year, but let's keep up the safe and courteous driving!
Thanks from the Traffic Team!
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Calendar
The website always has the latest calendar information, and here's what's coming up!
Monday, September 3: No School (Labor Day)
Tuesday, September 4: PFC Enrichment Classes begin
Monday, September 10: Picture Day (3rd-5th grade) with new vendor MugsyClicks
Tuesday, September 11: Picture Day (TK-2nd grade) with new vendor MugsyClicks
Wednesday, September 12: Dine Out at The Star on Grand, 5-9pm (3425 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610)
- Monday, September 17: PFC Meeting (6-7pm) **date change**
- Friday, September 28: Staff Development Day (no school)
- Saturday, November 3: Annual Walk-A-Thon
Be sure also to download the OUSD District calendar here and subscribe to our Google 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, Evie Nagy, at newsletter@thornhillschool.org by 3 p.m. Thursday for approval, including Word or Text files, with links and no formatting, and 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.
THANK YOU to everyone who submits articles and to PFC Board Members, Teachers, VP of Communications Erin Proudfoot, PFC President Rex Crum, 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