The Walkie Talkie
Joaquin Miller Elementary Newsletter, April 2017
Principal's Message
Dear Joaquin Miller Families,
Happy Spring! It’s hard to believe that it’s April already and that summer is just around the corner. I feel so fortunate to get to watch your kiddos blossom and grow throughout their time at Joaquin Miller, developing into empathetic, collaborative, civic-minded individuals who seek to make their community stronger on a daily basis.
Over the spring break, nine of our fifth grade students painted an amazing mural of the Oakland skyline in the style of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night on our campus. Artists Charlotte Loretz, Erin Forristal, Hanalei Strub, Kennedy Runge, Kiana Diaz, Marina Nikolic, Meghan Murphy, Rowan Astorquia, and Sienna Contreras of Girl Scout Troop 32399, designed and painted this beautiful mural. If you have not yet had the chance to see it, I encourage you to check out the back of Portable 17. I'd also like to acknowledge that due to a misunderstanding, the new mural was painted over an earlier mural completed by various JM students during the last school year. We honor all of our student contributions at JM and are very sorry that the earlier mural (which was also beautiful!) was covered. We hope to give those student artists many other chances to contribute to school beautification in the future!
Milana Schwartz, a fourth grader in Ms. Palmer’s class, recently represented our school by speaking at the annual Berkeley Rotary Peace Grove Award ceremony in Tilden Regional Park. Each year a Giant Sequoia seedling is planted to honor an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to international peace and understanding. This year the recipient was Pope Francis. Way to go, Milana! We are so proud of you!
We have an exciting next couple of weeks with some schoolwide events you won’t want to miss! Our Science Fair Night is scheduled for April 26th from 5:30 – 7:00 in the Multi-Purpose Room and our Spirit Week will take place the week of May 8th, culminating in our Career Fair on May 12th. Also, Grandparents’ Day will be on May 16th so keep an eye out for more details from your child’s teacher. To keep up-to-date with all that’s happening at JM, check the calendar on Konstella often.
With appreciation,
Sara Green
Upcoming Dates to Know
April 13 - Joaq-a-thon Pledges DUE
April 14 - Spirit Day "Oldies Day" (dress in black & white like an old movie!)
April 17 - 5th Grade Info Night
April 26 - Science Fair
May 4 - PTA Meeting & Community Dinner
May 5 - Last Day to Order a Yearbook
May 8-12 - Spirit Week!
May 10 - Asian Pacific American Read-In
May 12 - JM Career Fair
ALL Joaq-a-Thon Donations are Due TODAY 4/13
All Joaq-a-thon pledges need to be collected and turned in by Thursday, April 13th. Your child's sponsors can pay by check or on your child's online fundraising page at http://joaquinmiller.dojiggy.com **All checks should be made out to JMPTA. NO CASH CAN BE ACCEPTED** If you receive cash, please write a check for that amount.
What needs to be turned in by APRIL 13th?
1) All collected checks made out to JMPTA
2) The half page t-shirt form with the total amount collected written in (please mark the correct t-shirt size if your child earned a t-shirt)
3) Your child's sponsor sheet with the "total amount" column completed for each sponsor. Mark online if collected online.
Please put your child's checks, sponsor sheet, and completed t-shirt form in the small manila envelope you received at checkout and return the envelope back to your Joaq-a-thon Rep Folder hanging in the classroom.
**IF ALL YOUR CHILD'S SPONSORS DONATED ONLINE, please still turn in the t-shirt form and mark online payment and complete the TOTAL PAYMENT line of the form, as well as what size t-shirt your child wants. Thank you!!
Annual JM Science Fair 4/26
Projects are encouraged to use the scientific method: 'question-research-hypothesis-test-gather data-communicate result'. A guide should have gone home in your child's backpack, but ask your child's teacher if you did not receive it.
JM Library Science Fair Resources
The JM Library home page has a number of useful links to science fair project ideas. Go to: joaquinmiller.org and scroll down the right-hand side to the library link. You'll find links to web sites with project ideas by topic and grade, plus an article that describes the best way parents can support their child. In addition to project books, the library has a binder of projects appropriate for elementary school, many with step-by-step instructions and materials lists (please photocopy or ask for help). Feel free to email school librarian Cindy Gullikson if you'd like help getting any library resources: cindy.gullikson@ousd.org
Sign the AC Transit Petition and Call the Board!
As some of you may have heard, AC Transit has stated they will no longer be providing bus service to Montera Middle School or Skyline High School beginning next year.
Whether families have children in Montera or Skyline, this would be an awful disservice to the children and families in our communities, for these kids to lose public transit allowing them to get to school. Additionally, it will impact every Joaquin Miller family because of the havoc this will wreak on the already crazy traffic situation, if all kids need to get individual rides to school. SIGN THE PETITION asking AC Transit to make sure kids can get to school: https://www.change.org/p/ac-transit-board-of-directors-make-sure-all-kids-get-to-school. Students can sign, too! Tell AC Transit what you think: Contact the board (http://www.actransit.org/about-us/board-of-directors/), especially Ortiz, Peeples and Harper, and let them know how the cancellations will impact you.
PTA Update
The next PTA meeting/board elections/community dinner is May 4th. Please join us for this important and fun event!
Volunteer Opportunities - Help Wanted!
Contact the JMPTA board (jmptaboard@gmail.com) if you'd like to help with the following:
- 2017 Auction Manager - The planning for our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year is already underway. While key leadership roles for the November 4, 2017 auction are filled, we are still in need of someone to steer the ship and keep everyone on task. If you have great organizational skills, the ability to look at the big picture and a positive attitude, this is the job for you. Co-managers would be fabulous too. Grab a friend and volunteer for this leadership role!
- Hospitality Committee Members - Traditionally JM has had a Hospitality Committee to provide refreshments at various PTA events and organize Teacher Appreciation Luncheons. If you'd like to lead or be a part of this committee, please let us know.
Order your 2016-17 JM Yearbook!
Yearbook price: $20. Ordering Deadline: May 5
Add memories and photos on your student's two free custom pages!
If you already have an account, go to www.treering.com to login.
To set up a new account, just go to www.TreeRing.com/validate.
Use our school’s passcode: 1012869977723486
We are still accepting your great photos for the yearbook. Please send those directly to jmyearbook2016@gmail.com. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed!
If you have any questions, please contact Helene Moore, helene.moore@ousd.org
Time for some warm(er) weather JM gear!
Stay Connected with JM
Email: info@joaquinmiller.org
Website: www.joaquinmiller.org/
Location: 5525 Ascot Drive, Oakland, CA
Phone: (510) 531-6688