Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter
Volume 26, Issue 35, May 7, 2019
From the Principal
Dear Thornhill families,
It's hard to believe that we are just 16 days away from the end of the school year. What strikes me most about this year is the level of generosity our community has to offer. A few of our Thornhill families were impacted by situations beyond their control and our community (YOU!) rose up to support them. Our parents that have received your support tell me how heartened and supported they are by our caring Thornhill community. Thank you for taking care of each other!
Speaking of generosity, our student council raised over $1000 for Prescott Elementary. Their care for other schools in the city of Oakland is evident. The picture below is at the 150th anniversary of Prescott Elementary School with principal Enomwoyi Booker and two of our student council members Parker Bridgman and Zoe Psomas. What cool kids! Thank you for taking time out of your busy weekend schedules to deliver your donation.
We look forward to seeing you for your kids' performances tomorrow (TK-2nd) and next Thursday May 16 (3rd-5th), both at 9am in the multi-purpose room.
Have a wonderful week!
Mr. Daubenspeck
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Don’t Miss These Host-A-Parties, Going Fast!
Thunder-a-thon this Saturday, May 11 from 10am-2pm. Find a partner and sign up or sign up individually and get paired up. It will be a fun day of lawn game competition, eating/drinking and merriment. There are even prizes for the top teams.
Kindergarten Tea Party on Saturday, May 18 from 11am-2pm. Six spots remain for kindergartners only. Your kindergartener won't want to miss out on an Afternoon Tea with their friends before the year ends! In addition to "tea" treats, there are a host of fun activities planned.
Fourth Grade Welcome Back Pool Party! on Saturday, August 10 from 12-5pm. One spot left (price is per family for up to 5 members). Start the 2019-2020 school year right and reconnect with friends after the long summer. DJ Noah will be spinning the beats while you eat, drink and enjoy the pool.
Hygge Party the evening of Saturday, November 2. Only four spots left. This current cool weather should get you in the mood to sign up for this November event. You'll be ready to create that cozy yarn craft and sip mulled wine when the autumn chill hits us. Open to third graders and older, including adults.
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PFC Board Slate
Per our bylaws, we are publishing the PFC Board Slate for the 2019-20 school year. We will be voting on this slate during our May 13 PFC Board meeting from 6-7pm. Everyone is welcome to come to the meeting, where we will also be approving our budget for next year.
President: Rex Crum (needs co-chair)
Secretary: Rebecca Andersen
Treasurer: Derek McDonald
VP Communications: Erin Proudfoot
VP Community Support: Becky Urbano
VP Education Support: Adimika Arthur
Member-at-Large (TK-2): Tom Hackford
Member-at-Large (3-5): Mark Lecker
Teachers: Robert Wilkins & Richard Thompson
Auditor: Dave Anderson
Back to School Donation Drive (BSDD): Adrienne Selke, Rianna Stoll, Christine Pereira, Erin Fredrick
Diversity: Angela Engel
Enrichment: Teresa Contreras-Chavez
Merchant Partnerships: Erin Fredrick
Newsletter: Evie Nagy
Room Parents Chair: Terri O’Connor
Site/Safety: Darin Chin
Spirit Wear: Kay Chinn, Nisan Perera
Sustainability: Elyse Bart
Technology: Andrew Smith, Ken Olofsen
Traffic: Christa Pennacchio, Stephen Cole
TK/Kindergarten: Catrina Vrankovich (needs co-chair)
Webmaster: Ei-Lun Yokomizo______________________
PFC Board Open Positions
We have the following PFC positions open and we would absolutely LOVE to have you join our team. Have questions? Reach out to the current person holding the position or anyone on the executive committee. We'd really - truly - love to tell you all about it.
We have some super-key positions to fill on our Executive Committee:
President Co-Chair: Join our amazing leader, Rex Crum, at the helm next year. We are starting a "rotation" with the Presidency where there will always be one person who is returning along with one new person. You do NOT have had to serve any sort of role on the PFC this year to be President - sometimes it helps, but sometimes it helps to have a fresh perspective.
Fundraising Vice President: Offers assistance and guidance as needed to board members who oversee major fundraisers, such as the Back to School Donation Drive, Walkathon, Readathon, and Benefit Auction and reports information to the PFC.
Personnel Vice President: With help from the Ed Fund, coordinates in the hiring and support of all PFC employees.
We have some (also, super-key) positions to fill on our PFC Board:
- 5th Grade Chair: Organizes any 5th grade fundraisers and coordinates some 5th grade activities. Can be 2 co-chairs.
- Auction Co-Chairs: Organizes the school's main fundraiser with a team of volunteers.
- Grants & Solicitations: Seeks grants that will benefit the school and prepares the grant applications.
- Hospitality: Coordinates the Back-to-School Coffee and Teacher Appreciation Day Luncheon. Manages the Lost & Found.
- Konstella: Coordinates with school secretary and VP Communications on maintenance of Konstella. Helps with registration and training of parents/teachers.
- Parliamentarian: Gives instructions in parliamentary procedure when needed at meetings.
- Spring Carnival: Organizes and oversees the main Spring school community event.
- TK/Kindergarten Co-Chair with Catrina Vrankovich: Organizes playdates at the school for incoming TK/Kindergarten families over the summer. Promotes communication among new TK/Kindergarten parents. Best suited for a current TK/Kindergarten parent with an older sibling.
- Walkathon: Organizes the main fall fundraiser with a team of volunteers.
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Registration Packets for Next Year Available Online Now!
Some good news for all of you. Do you hate having to come in and fill out all the emergency forms at the beginning of the school year? Well, this year they can all be filled out online and you can take care of them now. No need to wait until August!
Sign into your SchoolMint account, confirm they are returning, and then “re-enroll.” Thornhill is continuously being informed about who has completed the registration packet. Once all is complete, you are done with all the forms for next school year.
When the office staff returns in the fall, your classroom assignments will be e-mailed to you. Please do not call the office for this information. Remember that no assignment will be given until all registration forms are filled out.
If your child is a current OUSD student, the district has already created an account for you! Your username is the email address or phone number that your child's school has on file. If you need help, please use the "Forgot username?" and "Forgot password?" Again the website is here.
Thanks,
Sherry Kaetzel, Secretary
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Big Thank You for Your Books
Thank you to everyone who donated books to Prescott Elementary. It filled my trunk and then some.
If you have more books, hold onto them for the fall. We host another book swap at the start of the 2019-20 school year. For now, re-read them over the summer and enjoy. See you then!
- Becky Urbano, VP Community Support
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Enrichment Wrap-Up Performance Schedule
Wednesday, May 8th (in the multipurpose room)
Martial Arts 3:45 - 4:00pm
Jazz Band 4:05 - 4:20pm
African Dance 4:25 - 4:55pm
3 O'Clock Rock 5:00 - 5:15pm
Doug's Drama (1st/2nd) 6:30 - 7:30pm
Thursday, May 9th
Movie, Music, Magic 3:05 - 4:00pm in P. 16
Monday, May 20th
PPAS Drama Performance 6:00pm in the Multipurpose Room
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Join Children’s Book Author Emily Jurs Sparks to Read and Raise Money for Thornhill
On Friday, May 10 at 8am, come to the kindergarten line-up area outside on the yard to visit with author Emily Jurs Sparks, who will read from her children’s book Kids on the Shortcut. Emily will have books for sale for $16 (a $1 discount from the Amazon price), and will donate 20% of all sales at the event to Thornhill, and the Goza family has generously offered to match!
The book is inspired by the author's many decades as a Village of Montclair resident, mother, and local activist. The awesome walking trails ("cut thru's") unique to our neighborhood are at the center of the book, where Emily highlights how the trails promote making new friends, good communication, and local neighborhood unity.
Emily Jurs Sparks is a native Oaklander. She has been creating art and writing since youth. She has art installations on hillsides in the Village of Montclair and has exhibited at DakotArt on Piedmont Avenue and Expressions Gallery in Oakland. She is also is a mother, grandmother, community activist, and a soprano with the Oakland Symphony Chorus.
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Calendar
The website always has the latest calendar information, and here's what's coming up!
Wednesday, May 8: Spring Performance (TK-2nd, 9am, multi-purpose room)
Friday, May 10: Last Day of Spring PFC Enrichment Classes (see schedule above for final performances)
Monday, May 13: PFC Meeting (6-7pm)
- Wednesday, May 15: Science Fair / Open House (6-7pm)
- Thursday, May 16: Volunteer Breakfast (8am)
Thursday, May 16: Spring Performance (3rd-5th, 9am, multi-purpose room)
Monday, May 27: Memorial Day Holiday (no school)
Tuesday - Thursday, May 28-30: Last Week of School (minimum days)
Thursday, May 30: Last Day of School!!!
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—fine to include text in the body of the email with links and no formatting, and attach 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