Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter
Volume 28, Issue 37, May 18, 2021
In This Issue (bolded items are new contributions for this week)
Note from our Principal and Schedule for Last Week of School
Important info about technology and devices
PFC Open Positions for 2021-2022
Adventure Time Enrollment for 2021-2022
- Three Class Parties still have space --> Wilkins, Calkins, 2nd grade
Calling all Library Books!
OUSD Announcements
Calendar of Important Dates
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From Our Principal
Dear Thunderbird families,
It’s hard to believe that we are just over a week away from the last day of school. While this may go down as the strangest school year in history, I would venture to say that we have learned a lot about our resiliency, our interdependency and about what a great community we have fostered.
I am incredibly grateful to work with such a caring, helpful and responsive group of teachers and parents. I want to give a huge shout out to my colleagues, the remarkable Thornhill staff! Without this phenomenal team, things could have looked much different. I also want to thank all of the parents and caregivers for their patience and flexibility the last fifteen months. I hope we can all have a restorative summer and take some time to unplug and recharge.
I look forward to seeing everyone on August 9, 2021 for the first day of our 2021-2022 school year. Until then, take care!
Thornhill proud!
Mr. Daubenspeck
SCHEDULE FOR LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL
The last day of school is Thursday, May 27 and we have minimum days scheduled for the last week. This is how it will look:
In-person instruction will remain the same in the afternoons.
Morning Zoom classes will be one hour of live instruction and the rest of the morning will be asynchronous work.
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From our Tech Lead: Sally Holland
Hello Thornhill families,
Here is some important info about returning Thornhill technology for the end of the year. Thanks in advance for your help!
If your child will not return to Thornhill next year, please return any loaned school devices (chromebooks, hotspots, headphones, etc.) during the last week of school. If you need a device at home, you can still fill out the Tech Check Survey to apply for a computer from Oakland Undivided, which would be for your child to keep permanently.
If your child is coming back to Thornhill next year, you are welcome to either return your devices, or keep them over summer so they can access i-Ready and other online learning resources. We will then collect all school chromebooks in August when we return to school.
If you have a damaged device, please return it so we can get it repaired. If you do bring back a damaged chromebook, it would be helpful if you attached a post-it or masking tape to make a quick note of what's wrong (broken screen, not connecting to internet, etc.), which will make it easier to plan for repairs.
If you received an #OaklandUndivided device specifically assigned to your child, it's theirs to keep permanently!
Here are the times to return:
Monday, May 24, Tuesday May 25, or Thursday, May 27 at pick-up or drop-off times (between 12:15-12:30 or 2:45-3:00). There will be collection bins at each entrance gate.
Friday, May 28 from 8:30-9 or 3-3:30 at the front Thornhill entrance.
Thanks again, and please let me know if you have any questions!
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PFC Open Positions for 2021-2022
We need you! (Yes, you!)
We have open PFC volunteer positions for next year, and one is perfect for you! They require no prior experience, the time commitment varies by position (and can work around your schedule), and they're a terrific way to get to know other families. Many of the roles are perfect to share with another person too!
Feel free to reach out to president@thornhillschool.org for more information, or contact the current board member in the role you're interested in. You can read more about the roles and responsibilities of each position here.
Here’s what is currently open:
Executive Board
VP of Community Support
Roles that Connect People and Improve Communication
Diversity Chair
Konstella Co-Chair
Recruitment & Membership
TK/Kindergarten Co-Chair
Roles that Plan Amazing Events & Raise Money
Auction Chair(s)
Walk-a-thon Chair(s)
Spring Carnival/Fall Festival Chair(s)
Grants & Solicitations Chair
Roles that Make our School Environment Better
- Enrichment Chair
- Parliamentarian
- Technology Chair
Thank you!
PFC Board
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Adventure Time Enrollment for 2021-2022
Registration for the Adventure Time after school program at Thornhill for the 2021-2022 school year will be no earlier than Monday, May 24 at 9:00am PT via email (i.e. the era of 3am line-ups outside the trailer is officially over).
Any applications received before Monday, May 24 at 9:00am will be considered as if they arrived at the end of that business day.
Due to Covid-19 and required safety precautions, Adventure Time Fall 2021 registration will be online. By going to the website, you will be able to access our application. Please download, complete the information on both pages, scan and email to enrollment.adventuretime@gmail.com.
In the subject line of your email, please put your child’s last name and the school your child attends. You may also fax the application to 510-658-9102. There is an $85 application fee. Checks should be mailed to Ρ.Ο. Box 5009, Berkeley, CA 94705. You may also pay by credit card. The credit card form is accessible on the website and may be emailed or faxed. If you want to pick up an application rather than enrolling online, please contact the Thornhill School office to arrange a pick-up time. If you enroll online but don't have access to a scanner, you may take a photo of it that clearly shows your information and email back to us on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 9:00 am.
Enrollment in the Thornhill Adventure Time program is contingent on guidance from the State of California, Alameda County, and OUSD restrictions and safeguards which will be put in place once school reopens. Our capacity for enrollment may be limited or reduced, and we may not be able to enroll every interested family. We will be working closely with the Thornhill School administration to determine priority. If we are able to accommodate the same number of children as in previous years, enrollment will be on a first come, first served basis.
Please check the Adventure Time website for all information and updates - Thornhill and the Thornhill PFC will not have more information than is available there.
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Three Class Parties still have space!
- Thursday, May 20 from 6:45-7:45pm --> Dance Party with Mr. Wilkins, Ms. Lani, and baby Kahleia! Only $25 to join the Zoom fun. Buy your spot here.
- Saturday, May 22 either 10am-12pm or 12-2pm --> Wedding Party with Ms. Calkins! Only $30 for the in-person party. Buy your spot here.
- Sunday, September 12 --> 2nd Grade Fairy Garden Party with Ms. Whalen, Ms. Formoso, and Ms. Drolen. Only $40 for this special in-person event. Buy your spot here (only 3 spots left).
Still looking for the items you've won? Please email benefit@thornhillschool.org.
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Keep Those Library Books Coming!
Notices went home with in-person students to remind them to look for missing books from last year - and many have started coming back! Thank you so much. Please continue to check at home for any stragglers. Your student can bring them back when they are here for in-person learning. If you are not opting in to in-person learning, please contact marie.fox@ousd.org and I will set up a way to collect them!
Many thanks to the Borrman Family for their new book contributions to the library!
Thanks for your help.
Ms. Fox
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Calendar
Monday, May 24: 2021-2022 Adventure Time applications can be sent at 9am - no earlier!
Monday, May 24 - Thursday May 27: Minimum days every day
Thursday, May 27: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Monday, August 9: First Day of School for the 2021-2022 Year
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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, Jill Evans, at newsletter@thornhillschool.org by 8 p.m. Thursday for approval—nothing sent after this will be included in the following week’s newsletter unless there are extremely compelling extenuating circumstances. It’s 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, as we need to keep the newsletter focused on need-to-know info for the community.
THANK YOU to everyone who submits articles and to PFC Board Members, Teachers, VPs of Communications Erin Proudfoot & Evie Nagy, PFC Presidents Rex Crum & Alicia Streight, 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