Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter
Volume 24, Issue 11, November 4, 2016
Principal's Note...
Dear Thornhill Families:
I hope everyone has been having a great week. Thank you for all your donations to the Back to School Donation Drive. Your contributions are critical to our educational program.
Highlights...
This week's highlights were the amazingly creative costumes for the Halloween Parade. And, of course, the dance performance opening the parade was a great way for the parade to start.
November is Native American History Month and we honor indigenous peoples of the Americas. Last Friday, we were treated to Aztecan dancers thanks to the work of our parents.
Next week, Thornhill will be receiving the federal distinction of a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School. We are receiving this designation for our school's Exemplary High Performance. Mr. Wilkins, one of our 5th-grade teachers, and I are honored to accept the award at the NBRS award ceremony in Arlington, Virginia, on Nov. 7-8. I would like to give my appreciation to Shanyn Lloyd and Mavis Scanlon who were instrumental in supporting the application.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Mr. Daubenspeck.
Art News In Montclair Village
The artworks of the Mixed Media Enrichment class as inspired by our Thornhill mascot, the legendary Thunderbird, are now on display at Yogofina Frozen Yogurt. Indulge your budding artist with a frozen treat while enjoying student creativity and imagination!
Also, the Kindergarten Art Enrichment class has an exhibit featuring a montage of favorite creatures among fall leaves under Kandinsky skies at Farmstead Cheeses and Wine. Farmstead was the first Montclair business to offer exhibit space for student art. Many thanks to owner Jeff Diamond for his support of our students!
Please support the arts and the children of Thornhill by viewing these galleries.
Thank you,
Tricia Larsen
Art Teacher
Help Joaquin Miller Help Us!
Show some neighborly love and give two hours of your time to support our friends at Joaquin Miller Elementary. Sign up for a two-hour slot as a volunteer at their annual benefit auction THIS SATURDAY, November 5, at Sequoia Country Club.
No experience necessary!
Super fun!
Free snacks and wine!
In return, they send volunteers to work at our auction on March 11, 2017. It's a win-win for everyone! Be sure to note that you are from Thornhill on the signup.
Email becky.urbano@gmail.com with any questions.
Library News
Author Visit
I’m excited that Jon Agee will visit us at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 10. His latest book, Lion Lessons, will be available for $19.50. Jon will personalize all purchases after the event. There will also be a pajama party that same evening at A Great Good Place for Books. You won't want to miss it! More information can be found on this flyer.
Donation
Thank you to Edain Baus and her family for their donation from the library wishlist!
Hello, I’m Johnny Cash, by G. Neri
The Cat with the Yellow Star, Coming of Age in Terezin, by Susan Goldman Rubin
The Whale Who Won Hearts, by Brian Skerry
Check out the Amazon Wishlist to see which books the library would love to add to the collection. Feel free to support our local bookstores by making your purchases there. As always, thank you for supporting the library!
Happy Reading,
Maura Hennessy
Librarian
Dads Club
Dads Club is sponsoring a donation drive during the month of November working with national charity One Warm Coat. Please look for the collection bin in the school lobby and bring in clean, gently used coats of all types and sizes to donate.
All coats collected by the Thornhill community will directly benefit local needs when we deliver them to Alameda County Social Services and East Oakland Youth Development Center. Did you know that a warm winter coat is a budget “extra” for 1 in 5 children living in poverty in the U.S.? Thunderbirds, please help us make a difference this holiday season…one coat at a time!
Our next meeting will be on the third Thursday of November, the 17th, from 8-9:30 p.m. (Location TBD).
Thornhill Dine Out--Nov. 10
First Thornhill “Dine Out” on Thursday, Nov. 10!
We are partnering with BigPie and Camber on this fundraiser, our first Dine Out! Camber is a great local restaurant right in Montclair, owned by former Thornhill parents. Bring your families for dinner or have a date night. Camber will donate 10% of your bill back to Thornhill!
You need to register before the event (https://www.bigpie.com//nonprofits/thornhill-parent-faculty-club-ccc7/#join). Tell your server you are a Thornhill parent. You will write your email on the card they will give you, and your server will write the amount and put it in a box. At the end of the night, the purchases will get logged and 10% will be given back to our school.
Little League Sign Ups
The World Series just ended, but that only means that Opening Day is just a few months away.
And North Oakland Little League /South Oakland Little League (Noll/Soll) registration is now open for Spring 2017 baseball; Early Bird registration is $200. Thornhill had more than 50 players participate last year.
Your child must be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2016 and the league is open to both boys and girls.
Noll/Soll has three non-competitive divisions for players in TK – 2nd grade, and competitive divisions for players in the 3rd grade and above. The non-competitive teams are formed on a school basis.
If the school has enough players (around 10-12) at each level, it can have its own team. Last year, Thornhill had 20 T-ballers on two teams, the highest number of T-ballers from any one school in the entire league.
Can this year’s TK and K classes beat that?
Here is a general overview of the divisions:
Non-competitive
Tball: Grades TK-K / Ages 5-6
No score kept / No outs / everyone plays the field / two-thirds of players bat each inning.
Farm A: Mainly 1st graders / Ages 6-8
No score kept / coach pitch / outs are recorded
Farm B: Mainly 2nd graders / Ages 7-9
No score kept / kid pitch / outs are recorded
Competitive Divisions – kids must tryout and are drafted to teams
AA – Mainly 3rd and 4th graders / Ages 8-10
AAA - Mainly 4th and 5th graders / Ages 9-11
Majors – Mainly 5th and 6th graders / Ages 10-12
Click on the link below to register
http://sportability.com/spx/Leagues/Client.asp?ClientID=2
You can visit the Noll Soll website for more information
Coffee Education To Benefit Thornhill PFC
Learn about just how the bean is grown and processed, as well as different ways to prepare your morning java. We will taste a variety of beans, roasts, and brewing methods, and enjoy some tasty nibbles along the way. We have a limited number of spots still available.
Tickets are $30 and payable by check at the door. Please RSVP to becky.urbano@gmail.com to reserve your spot and get more information. This party is part of the 2015-16 auction offerings, and is open to all Thornhill family and friends. All proceeds go to the Thornhill PFC.
About the PFC Newsletter
Email submissions to our Newsletter Chair, Rex Crum, atnewsletter@thornhillschool.org by 3 P.M. Wednesday 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 is not accepted.
THANK YOU to everyone who submits articles and to PFC Board Members, Teachers, VP of Communications Mavis Scanlon, PFC Co-Presidents Shauna Fithian and Shanyn Lloyd-Gibson and Principal Steve Daubenspeck. Member of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).
Email: newsletter@thornhillschool.org
Website: http://www.thornhillschool.org/
Location: 5880 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, CA
Phone: (510) 339-6800