Montera Middle School eBulletin
November 22, 2021
Important Dates
(scroll down for more information)
Monday-Friday, November 22-26 - NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break
Friday, November 26 - Golden State Warriors vs Portland, Montera fundraiser night
Monday, November 29 6th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts 3:45 PM
Wednesday, December 1 PTO Board Meeting 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 2 - Winter Showcase, 4:30 PM
Friday, December 3 -6th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts 3:45 PM
Friday, December 3 - Winter Showcase, 4:30 PM
Friday, December 3 - Ride 4A Reason Annual Kick Off Party 5:00 - 6:30 PM
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Have A Wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
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Donate to the Montera Mini-Grant Program!
We need your help to raise $4,500 for the Montera Mini-Grant Program, which funds special projects for teachers and staff.
For example:
- The 6th-grade team purchased copies of March by John Lewis for each student.
- The Music Department bought ukuleles for Music Exploration class.
- Fashion Club purchased fabric and sewing machines tp support our future designers.
Make your tax-deductible gift here: Donate to Montera PTO
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Upcoming Montera School Events and Activities
In-person Campus Tours for Prospective Parents -- Volunteers Needed
School options season is almost upon us. Montera will host virtual information sessions and several in-person tours.
The following in-person tours all begin promptly at 9:30 AM:
- Wednesday, December 15
- Wednesday, December 17
- Friday, January 7
- Friday, January 21
Sign up to lead or attend tours:
Lunchtime Duty
You can now sign up for Lunchtime Duty via this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA4A729A1F5C52-lunchtime .
This new sign-up link allows for flexibility if your schedule is different each week.
Thank you to Paris Pryor for setting up the Signup Genius.
Girls Soccer Coach needed!
Montera Sports is looking for a girls' soccer coach. Please contact Kenya Latimore at kenya.latimore@ousd.org Mr. Latimore will coach the team if we are not able to find someone.
OUSD details are here https://www.oakmssports.org/youth-leagues/girls-soccer/
Winter Showcase is coming soon!
Sign-up genius for backstage help, set-up and clean-up, concession stand, and donations for pizza and water here.
Our Winter Showcase will take place on December 2nd (choir and strings) and 3rd (band and after school jazz) at 4:30pm. This is a required event and part of your child's grade. Food will be provided to performers for free and will be available for sale for the school community. Dress is all black. Please reach out if you need support with preparing that clothing for your child. I am attaching a flyer with more details. Thank you and I'm so excited about what our Montera musicians are preparing for you. - Ms. Shogbesan
Looking for concert attire
The Montera Music Program is excited to hold its first in-person concert on December 2nd and 3rd.
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Fundraising Events
Montera and Warriors Night!
Ticket purchase link will close on Monday, November 22nd
Students will get to participate in a pregame shootaround and can stay after the game to come on the court for a post-game free throw! Meet up at the Chase Center at 4:45PM. For pre-game show, go to Portal 22 at 5:30 PM.
Special reduced rates for tickets, plus Montera will receive $20 per ticket purchased. Purchase your tickets here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/warriors/promotional-page?filterType=Mjkz
For ticket holders: Instructions will be sent to you with more details.
Registration is now open as R4R continues to ride into 2022!
The Planning Team is back in full force and they’re doubling down on our commitment -- in person option, virtual option, riders, runners, walkers...oh my! We are all in when it comes to making sure all kids get what they need when it comes to education. We’ll be sharing more details soon!
Please plan to join us on Friday, December 3, 2021 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM for our annual Kick Off Party at Sports Basement (2727 Milvia St, Berkeley). RSVP here for this free event and save 20% off your purchase that night!
Pub Crawl!
Are you ready for some fun for a good cause? It's time for an annual Montera fundraising tradition: the pub crawl! Logistics have not been worked out yet, but we have picked a date: December 4th. Please save that date and be ready to party hard for a good cause!
If you're interested in participating, you can sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/du9otHrC2fsAGpNs7. Please feel free to pass along this link and invite others.
Montera Relief Fund is Back to Help Toro Families in Need
Last year the pandemic prompted the Montera community to create the Montera Relief Fund to help Toro families in need. Last year we were able to raise almost $20,000 for groceries, small cash grants distributed confidentially by administrators to families, and a holiday gift drive.
Once again, we have families of students who have been hit hard by COVID and need your help. Trusted Montera staff find out what the families need and personally deliver it. The Coordination of Services Team confidentially handles requests from families.
Can you donate now to help Montera families in need?
If you are a student or family in need of support, reach out to any teacher or staff, Ms. Harambe at tina.harambe@ousd.org, or Coach D or Mr. Latimore at sports@monterapto.com. All support is confidential.
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Montera Sports & After-School Activities Updates
Basketball Tryouts
When:
- November 29th and December 3rd 6th Grade Boys
Students will need to come to practice in gym clothes to try out and athletic shoes.
Email Coach Ligons whitney.ligons@ousd.org or Coach Smith daral.smithii@ousd.org with any questions.
If a student makes the team they will need to have a physical before January1st. All tryouts will be 3:45-6:00pm. Please register and upload your forms here as soon as possible. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8wkN7zpV8GXdENeHLlBB4DrLLbM_DlmlF-K_JFQCBpniKyg/viewform).
Hip Hop Dance Class - Sign Up Now!
Montera Afterschool Program is pleased to offer a two-session Hip Hop Dance Class with Destiny Arts Center. Classes will be Tuesday, Dec 7th, and Dec 14th from 3:45-5:15. This will be a trial program and based on student interest we will consider adding this to our Winter/Spring classes.
- This class is limited to 25 students and will take place in the MUR
- There is no fee if you are enrolled in our after-school program. Otherwise, the fee is $20 for both classes.
- Please email afterschool@monterapto.com with any questions.
Payment link is https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=R9NULL2WCHCE4
Destiny teaching artists are supported to engage and partner with classroom teachers so that they can co-create a positive classroom culture and draw connections to classroom curriculum.
Montera ASP is Now Offering Subscription For Recurring Payments
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Other Announcements
Join the Oakland Devo Middle School Mountain Biking Club!
Scholarships Available
Trek NICA Pathfinder Scholarships provide students of color with the bikes, gear, and resources needed to overcome historical barriers to mountain biking. Recipients are given a Trek Marlin mountain bike, helmet, gear, and a stipend to cover NICA league membership and entry fees for a full season of racing. For more info email oaklanddevo@gmail.com.
COVID Testing Information
A friendly reminder to stay on top of Covid testing as the holidays and yet another potential surge descends upon us.
COVID TESTING: Covid testing is available at multiple OUSD sites throughout Oakland. Find locations and times here.
TESTING PRE-REGISTRATION: Before attending an OUSD Covid testing site for the first time, you must register here. This is a one time only registration and can be done at any time. Families are encouraged to pre-register so they are ready to go should they need to get tested.
Montera Safety Bargaining Team Survey
Ms. Ranahan (7th Grade Math) and Mr. Pettengill (6th Gr. Humanities) have joined the OEA Safety Bargaining Team and are seeking YOUR input into our upcoming negotiating sessions.
Fighting for safety in our schools is going to take all of us working together. Please ensure the bargaining team hears as many voices and perspectives as possible by completing this feedback form: https://tinyurl.com/SeptSafetySurvey
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Volunteering on Campus
Email president@monterapto.com once you are cleared.
Email volunteers@monterapto.com with any questions.
Supplies Request
First Aid
- Latex free band-aids (NOT with antibiotic medication in it) in assorted sizes. EVERY teacher needs at least one box and the front office and nurse's office also need a supply.
- Tweezers for splinters (not the plastic ones)
- Ice packs for PE and front office
- Vomit bucket for front office and pick up waiting area
Feminine supplies
- Cleansing wipes
- Assorted pads
- Tampons
- Assorted sizes back-up underwear (S/M/L/full-figured)
Add whatever you can think of... Thank you!
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Other Important Montera News and Information
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Support Montera All Year Round
Toro Store
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COVID
If your student is feeling ill
Returning to school:
- Get medically cleared (doctor's note or negative PCR test, AND symptoms have improved and student is fever-free for 24 hours - OR -
- 10 days have passed since onset of symptoms and student is no longer feeling ill
If your student tests positive for Covid-19
- Plan on staying home at least 10 days
- Notify the school of the results
- Work with the Contact Tracing Team
COVID Information from the District
- OUSD is required to report every single positive case to the ACPHD.
- A response team conducts contact tracing for each positive case and notifies families of students with prolonged close contact.
- If you are not notified, then your student was not determined to have prolonged close contact with the person who tested positive, so there is not a need to get tested unless your student develops symptoms.
- Vaccinated students do not need to quarantine as long as they are asymptomatic.
- Unvaccinated students who are asymptomatic can do a modified quarantine, continuing to attend school but testing twice a week for two weeks following exposure and not participating in any extracurricular activities.
- Exposed unvaccinated students may choose to stay home for 10 days with an excused absence. If so, they should contact their teachers for assignments during that time.
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Montera Middle School
This eBulletin is produced on a weekly basis by the Montera Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) except on holidays. It sometimes contains paid advertisements. These advertisements do not imply endorsement of any product or service by OUSD or Montera Middle School.
If you have news you'd like to include, please send it to eBulletin@monterapto.com by noon on Sundays. Submissions may be edited for spelling, grammar, brevity and clarity. In addition, while we strive for accuracy, being human sometimes gets in the way. If you spot something so off the mark we should hang our heads in embarrassment, please bring it to our attention. Thanks!
Be Safe. Be Kind. Be Responsible.
Email: eBulletin@monterapto.com
Website: https://www.ousd.org/montera
Location: 5555 Ascot Drive, Oakland, CA, USA
Phone: (510) 531-6070
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monterapto