PIEDMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL
740 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont, CA 94611
(510) 594-2668
www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/pms
Weekly Bulletin for September 26, 2011
CALENDAR
September
26 - 29 Last days of magazine sale: Please support this important fundraiser
28 Common planning day; early release @12:45 p.m.
October
4 PMS Site Council meeting; all welcome; 3:30 p.m., room 201
10 Teacher Furlough Day; no school
12 Common planning day; early release @ 12:45 p.m.
Picture Make-up day
13, 18, 19 8th Grade Kayak Field Trip (Wisniewski)
17-21 Alameda County Food Drive
17 School Administrator Roundtable for 6th Grade Parents (PPN-sponsored)
18 PMS Site Council meeting; all welcome; 3:30 p.m. room 201
24 School Administrator Roundtable for 7th Grade Parents (PPN-sponsored)
26 Common planning day; early release @ 12:45 p.m.
Please send bulletin submissions to copyok@piedmont.k12.ca.us. by Monday noon for inclusion in next
week’s newsletter.
SCHOOL NEWS
Message from PMS Assistant Principal Eric Mapes
It is hard to believe that we are actually half way through the first quarter of the school year. As a teacher
and now an administrator, I like to think of the school year much like the mile run, it is four laps around the
track and we are now officially into our first lap. That said, progress reports are being mailed home on
Friday, September 23rd. As a reminder, progress reports are sent to parents/guardians of students who are
in danger of a D or F for the quarter. If you happen to receive a letter in the mail, please remember that
middle school is a time for students to make mistakes and learn from them. The dedicated staff at Piedmont
Middle more than prepares students for high school and at times, during the building of a student’s
educational foundation, we might find cracks that need to be filled and sections that must be reinforced
before they can begin to build their home in high school. We will work together as a team to make sure that
each and every student at Piedmont Middle is given the attention they need and deserve.
********
Important Reminders
Lost and Found Day--September 27
We will put all lost and found items out on the patio Tuesday, September 27 before school, at brunch and
both lunches. Please come by to look for lost items or make sure your child knows to do so.
The Magazine Fundraiser is into its final stretch!
Your students have been working hard to raise money for our valuable programs and resources. Our last
official turn-in date will be Tuesday, September 27th. We have decided to add one more turn-in date on
Thursday, September 29th. We are slightly ahead of last year’s total to this point, but these last couple of
turn-in days will be critical to our success. Please encourage your child (even the upper-classmen) to
support their school! Go Scots!
PMS library is accepting magazine subscription donations
Every year the PMS Library stocks its magazine section with generous donations from families supporting
the Magazine Sale. If your family would like to make a donation, please email Mrs. Gulassa
(mgulassa@piedmont.k12.ca.us) or Mrs. White (cwhite@piedmont.k12.ca.us) in the library for a list of
magazines the library would like to receive.
********
Picture Make-up Day October 12th
All students who did not have their picture taken during Walk Through Registration must have their picture
taken on this day for the yearbook and for their student ID. To order pictures from the photographer (Life
Touch) please visit their website: www.orderschoolportraits.com/PiedmontMiddleSchool
Peer Mediator applications available now. Due Friday, September 30
Seventh graders are welcome to pick up Peer Mediator applications in the office. Peer mediators are 7th
and 8th grade students who train with PHS student leaders to serve as mediators for any PMS students who
wish to resolve their own disputes. Applications are due in the office no later than Friday, September 30th
@ 3:30pm. Any questions, contact Mrs. Carera @kcarera@piedmont.k12.ca.us
Photography Club: Sign up now -- classes start in October
Learn basics of photography, take photos, and edit your photos for display. You will need to bring your
own digital camera to the meetings. See Mrs. Smith in room 120 to sign up. Semester One meetings will be
Mondays ( October 3, 17 , 24; November 7, 14, 28; December 5, 12; and January 9).
Film Club: Sign up now -- classes start in October
Plan, shoot, and edit video shorts. See Mrs. Smith in room 120 to sign up.
Semester One meetings will be Mondays (October 3, 17, 24; November 7, 14, 28; December 5, 12; and
January 9).
Join the PMS Debate Team
Do you think your child is ready for intellectual competition and skilled argument? PMS is joining the East
Bay Middle School Debate League. Public Speaking teacher John White has volunteered to coach the
nascent PMS Debate Team. All students are welcome to participate. Students should go to room 106 during
brunch or lunch or after school to talk to Mr. White and get more information. Preparation starts now and is
ongoing. The first practice debate (with workshops) is Saturday, September 17, 9 a.m. - noon, and the first
Debate Tournament is Saturday, October 22, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Both events take place at Joaquin Moraga
School in Moraga. Email jwhite@piedmont.k12.ca.us for more information.
Students: Send us your summer photos to include in the PMS Yearbook
The yearbook needs photos of you during summer. Pictures of sports, hobbies, camps, travels and other
activities are welcome! Please turn these photos in as soon as possible. The latest is Friday 10/7 to the
office or email them to Mrs. Roberts (pmsyearbook@piedmont.k12.ca.us). If you bring in a photo, we can’t
promise, but you just might be in the yearbook! Please be sure to include a note with your name, grade and
description of the activity.
Call Blocking
If you have call filtering or blocking on your phone, please unblock the main PUSD number 594-2600 so
that calls from the school get through to you.
PARENT CLUB NEWS
Sign up now for 7th Grade Social Dance Class
It’s time to register for the ever popular 7th grade social dance classes. The classes are taught by longtime
instructor Don O’Connell and are chaperoned by parent volunteers. All 7th grade residents of Piedmont are
welcome. Students will learn the basics of ballroom dancing including all the classics--the Foxtrot, Waltz,
Disco, Latin, Swing and more. Proposed dates are: October 13, November 17, December 8, January 19,
February 16, March 15, and April 26.
Dress Code: Attire should be tasteful. Boys MUST wear slacks, jackets, ties, and shoes with smooth soles
that slide. Girls MUST wear skirts and blouses or dresses and flat shoes with backs. No high heels,
platforms, flip-flops or sneakers. Shoulders and stomachs need to be covered. No strapless or spaghetti
strap tops, and skirts/dresses must be at least finger-tip length. Parents will be called immediately if the
students are not dressed appropriately.
Registration: Please return the attached form and $100 registration fee to Heather Price, 79 Fairview
Ave, Piedmont, 94610. Please make checks payable to the “PMS Parent Club”. Registration forms and
checks are due no later than Friday, October 7th. To request a scholarship, please contact Parents Club
President, Mary Kelly, at 510-594-8226.
You will be receiving more information from your room parent, but since there is a quick turnaround for
registration, we have also included the registration form here.
Questions: Please contact any of your 7th Grade Reps: Terri Burge – tsburge@yahoo.com, Kristi Mitchell
– kristiwm@gmail.com, Heather Price – k9ondty@comcast.net. Hosted by the 7th Grade Dance Class
Committee and the PMS Parent Club.
Hot Lunch Schedule Week of 9/26
Monday, 9/26 Choice lunch or Angela Lopez, Kim Heller, Susan
Stuffed Cheese Pretzel: $3.00 Lichens, Natalie Williamson
Chicken and Pasta Soup: $3.00
Tuesday, 9/27 Choice lunch or Barbara Eisenbach, Claudia Harrison,
Baked Penne Pasta w/sauce: $3.00 Kristi Stone, Diana Deutsche
Wednesday, 9/28 Common Planning Day: Brunch only
Thursday, 9/29 Holly’s Mandarin Noodles: $4.00 Helga Lenart-Chang, Sandra Gross,
or Pot Stickers: $4.00 Peggy Jara, Karen Engel
Friday, 9/30 Cybelle’s Pizza: $3.00 Kate Bostow Gaillard, Tali Pinkham,
Linda Chung, Kerianne Hohener, Julia
Anable
Volunteers: Please remember to arrive by 11:35 a.m. when it is your day to serve lunch
Please join Piedmont Parents Network (PPN)
PPN is a volunteer organization that facilitates individual grade-level discussion groups for parents of 6th –
12th graders. Groups are led by trained parent facilitators who are committed to our community and to
raising our teens in a healthy environment – together. Groups typically meet monthly during the school
year. The groups provide parent members with a supportive and confidential setting to discuss the range of
issues associated with raising middle and high school age children. Guest speakers (including school
administrators) are often invited to groups to share their insight and expertise. Members share helpful
articles, books, community resources and personal experiences. PPN also provides a forum to share
appropriate feedback to and from school administration. PPN is always open to new members – come join
us! For more information contact Kathy Wheadon, kathy.wheadon@gmail.com or Tami
Collins, collins.tami@comcast.net.
Check with three PMS friends to see if they are receiving the PMS Bulletin
We’d like to ensure that at least one member of every PMS family receives the PMS Bulletin. To that end,
please check with a few of your PMS friends to ensure they are receiving the bulletin through email. PMS
families should have already received at least two bulletins. If you are not getting these emails, please
check your spam filter to see if the correspondence is getting caught there. The bulletin comes from one of
three email addresses, Pms.bulletin@gmail.com, Pms.bulletin2@gmail.com, or Pms.bulletin3@gmail.com,
Please send any questions to any of the three email addresses.
If you’ve never tried using SCRIP before…
There’s no time like the present. Start with a trip to the grocery store (Safeway, Whole Foods, Berkeley
Bowl, Market Hall, Mulberry’s and Piedmont Grocery) or buy your sports equipment at Sports Authority or
grab a cup of coffee at Peet’s or Starbucks. It’s easier than you think and the schools reap the rewards.
Need a tutorial or just need to stock up? Contact your SCRIP reps: Diana Gleghorn
at dgleghorn@gmail.com or Ellen Fraser at ellensfraser@yahoo.com..
DISTRICT NEWS
Click here for a recap of the 9-14-11 PUSD School Board meeting.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Weekly Sports Schedule
For game recaps, schedules, and more information please visit the PMS Boosters blog @
www.pmsboosters.blogspot.com
Date Event Location Time Carpool time
Mon, 9/26 8th Boys Flag Football Coaches Field 4 pm n/a
Highlanders vs Orinda
7th Girls Volleyball Willard 4 pm 3:15 pm
Highlanders @ Willard
XC Meet@ Lake Temescal Lake Temescal 4:15 pm 3:15 pm
8th Girls Volleyball Willard 5 pm 4 pm
Scots @ Willard
Wed, 9/28 8th Boys Flag Football Coaches Field 4 pm n/a
Highlanders vs Dorris Eaton
7th Girls Volleyball Martinez 4 pm 3:15 pm
Highlanders @ Martinez
7th Girls Volleyball Morrison 4 pm n/a
Scots @ Moraga
8th Girls Volleyball Morrison 4 pm n/a
Highlanders vs Moraga
8th Girls Volleyball Martinez 5 pm 4 pm
Scots @ Martinez
Thurs, 9/29 8th Boys Flag Football Willard 4 pm 3:15 pm
Highlanders @ Willard
PMS Cross Country Team to Host Meet on September 26
The PMS cross country team is off and running for its 6th season and the squad is even larger than last
year's 80 kids. The team is still accepting new runners, if interested just come down to the track right after
school and join us for a practice to see what we do. The cross country team will host a meet on Monday,
September 26 at Temescal Regional Park in Oakland. Come cheer on your classmates as they compete
against middle school'ers from other schools throughout the East Bay. The meet starts at 4:00 p.m. and
there will be separate races by grade and gender. The race distance is about 1 mile and Temescal Park
offers many view spots for the race. The team will continue to compete in meets the entire month of
October and the season culminates in the league championship meet.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHIME Honors Recital 7pm, Oct. 20th at the Piedmont Center for the Arts. Students of all
musical levels who wish to be considered for our CHIME HONORS RECITAL should send a recording of
the piece they wish to perform by Sept. 29, 2011. Guidelines are as follows:
● Email an audio with video recording to Tom Nemeth at TNemeth@PacUnion.com.
● The recording may be solo or accompanied; instrumental or vocal.
● Include the student’s name and age and the teacher’s name in the body of the email as well as the
name of the performance piece and composer. No performance should exceed 5 minutes in
length, as we expect up to 20 participants and program length must be kept to just over one
hour.
● You may send YouTube links or other electronic recordings. A movie emailed from your iPhone
will be sufficient.
● All residents of Piedmont are eligible to perform, regardless of school affiliation. Duets or small
ensembles are especially encouraged to apply. Performance may be accompanied or not. Recital
will be held at The Piedmont Center for the Arts on October 20th at 7pm.
Flu Shot Clinics at Piedmont Schools
Following a recommendation from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that everyone
over the age of six months be vaccinated against the seasonal flu, the Piedmont Unified School District
(PUSD) and the Associated Parent Clubs of Piedmont (APCP) have partnered with Sutter VNA and
Hospice, a leading provider of on-site vaccinations, to provide a series of three Flu Shot Clinics for all
members of our community.
A series of Flu Shot Friday clinics will take place at Piedmont schools from 4-7 pm on successive
Fridays thisFall, beginning with Friday, September 30th at Piedmont High School’s Student Center. On
Friday, October 7th, a second clinic will be held in the Piedmont Middle Schoolmultipurpose room. On
Friday, October 14th, a third clinic will take place in the Havens Elementary School multipurpose
room. The flu shot is offered to ages 3 years old or up. FluMist is offered to ages 2-49 who do not have
asthma or other chronic health conditions.
How much are the shots?
The flu shot is $20, preservative free flu shot is $25(for those pregnant or allergic to thimerosal), FluMist is
$25 and the pneumonia shot is $55.
If you are covered by Medicare, is your shot free?
If you are covered by Medicare Part B, there is no cost to you for the shot. Sutter VNA & Hospice will bill
Medicare for payment. We will verify coverage by checking the red, white and blue Medicare Part B card
at the time of the shot.
Are Medicare HMOs the same as Medicare Part B?
No. If you are covered by a Medicare HMO, such as Pacificare, Medicare Advantage,
Kaiser, SecureHorizons, Healthnet Seniority Plus, CHAMPUS, etc., you need to pay for your shot at the
clinic or see your own health care provider for a shot.
Qualified health professionals will administer all vaccinations. There is no pre-sign up so just show up at
one of the clinics.
Consider walking to get your flu shots if at all possible to reduce traffic and parking congestion. For
additional questions contact Liz Tuan atTuanfamily@sbcglobal.net or Beatie Moe
at beatiemoe@comcast.net.
School fundraiser with Tara Firma Farms CSA
Tara Firma Farms of Petaluma, whose box drop features grass fed meat, chicken and pastured eggs, does a
Piedmont drop every Wednesday. You can customize a combination of meat, chicken, eggs and produce.
There are some other products available as well. Tara Firma has graciously offered to donate 10% of its
Piedmont sales back to the Tri-School fund. The delivery location is 101 Lake Avenue, right across the
street from Beach School; near the Lake and Linda school bus stop.
Interested? Please e-mail Julie Drassinower (juliedra@sbcglobal.net). We'll get in touch with more
information. Also, check out Tara Firma Farms at http://www.tarafirmafarms.com.
School fundraiser with Full Belly Farm CSA (Produce Box)
The Full Belly Farm CSA is still up and running with its Beach School delivery location. Don't miss the
great late summer produce. This community service is also a fundraiser, with a portion of sales going to
Beach Parents' Organization to support Beach School. The delivery location is at 101 Lake Avenue, right
across the street from Beach school; near the Lake and Linda school bus stop, on Wednesdays between 12
and 6. Produce boxes are $22/week.
Interested? Please e-mail Julie Drassinower (juliedra@sbcglobal.net ). We'll get in touch with more
information. Also, check out Fully Belly Farm: http://www.fullbellyfarm.com.
Invest in re-usable lunch containers. Pack zero-waste lunches in style!
This year One Small Step, a local company that offers a wide variety of re-usable lunch containers
(including cloth wraps and sandwich bags, stainless steel and safe plastic food containers, thermoses, and
water bottles) will continue to offer free weekly drop-off delivery to 2 Piedmont sites, plus to donate 10%
of each order from the Piedmont community back to our schools. The drop-off site for Central Piedmont is
the Fundraising Office on the lower level of the Piedmont Community Center. Because the Beach school
office is in Emeryville this year, the Lower Piedmont drop-off will be at a home (you will get directions
when you place your order). Orders over $75 will be delivered directly to your home.
To place an order, go to www.onesmallstep.com. When you check-out, indicate which Piedmont drop-off
site is best for you. You will receive an e-mail from One Small Step letting you know when your order is
ready for pick-up at that site. Please note that any questions about your order should be directed to One
Small Step, not to people at the drop-off sites – i.e., they can show you where the drop off box is, but please
don’t ask them questions about your order. Before picking up an order at the Fundraising Office, we
suggest calling to make sure they are open or not in a meeting: 653-1816).
The 10% donation to Piedmont schools will be made automatically for all Piedmont addresses and/or
orders requesting one of the Piedmont drop-off sites. (If you have friends and family out of the area who’d
like to order from One Small Step and have 10% go to the Piedmont schools, they can enter “Piedmont
schools” in their fundraising preference when they register. They can have their order shipped using the
normal shipping procedure.) For more information: Margaret Ovenden movenden@sbcglobal.net
Serve your PHS Volleyball team with an “Ace” Car Wash
Sunday, October 2, 2011 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. $10 / car * $15 / van, truck, or SUV (cash or payable to
PHS) Piedmont Valero Station 340 Highland Avenue. Proceeds support PHS volleyball. For info call 510
710 0755
Basketball Clinic sponsored by PHS boys and girls basketball teams October 23
The PHS boys and girls basketball programs are pleased to announce the return of the Global Shot Doctor
to PHS to help us help you become a better shooter!
Chris Lavdiotis and Bryan Gardere—PHS boys and girls head coaches respectively--along with their
coaching staffs will conduct two shooting clinics on Sunday, October 23, 2011.
Clinic #1 is from 12:00-3:00
Clinic #2 is from 3:00-6:00
Both clinics will be held in the PHS William "Binks" Rawlings Gym, 800 Magnolia Ave. The clinics are
open to all boys and girls ages 7-18. The cost is $60.
This clinic has sold out for nine years! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from our coaching staff and
the Shot Doctor ways to improve your shooting skills. We will teach you: proper shot form and release;
balance; accuracy; consistency; footwork; creating your own shot; shooting off the dribble; increasing your
shooting range; shooting drills; finishing your shot; free-throw techniques and form; and other proper
mechanics of shooting. Each camper will receive a written evaluation.
To register, please contact Melody Chee, coordinator, at 510-808-4041.
Each camper should bring his or her own basketball with his/her name on it, as well as water and a snack.
Questions? Please contact Coach Lavdiotis. 510-433-2600. cpl@llcllp.com.
(Registration form below)
PIEDMONT MEN’S BASKETBALL
209 PALM DRIVE
PIEDMONT, CA 94610
cpl@llcllp.com 510-655-2624
Dear Basketball Players & Parents:
We are pleased to announce that the Global Shot Doctor is returning
to Piedmont High School for the 10thyear to help us help you become a better
shooter!
The PHS Men’s and Women’s basketball coaching staffs will conduct two
basketball shooting clinics on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011.
WHO: boys and girls ages 7-18 COST: $60
LOCATION: Piedmont High School, 800 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont 94611
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration Form
Clinic #1 12:00-3:00 ___
Clinic #2 3:00-6:00 ___
(please check which clinic you will attend)
NAME_______________________________ E MAIL______________________
ADDRESS____________________________ CITY____________________
ZIP_______ PHONE______________________________
Gender M F Grade___
School__________________________________________
Fee: $60 Paid in Full_____
Checks payable to “PHS Basketball”
Release & Waiver: I hereby authorize the Camp Directors and members of the
Global Shot Doctor staff to act for me according to their best judgment in any
emergency requiring medical attention and hereby waive and release the Shooting
Session, Directors and Staff from all illnesses and injuries incurred by the above
named participant while at the Shooting Session.
______________________________
Parent or Guardian Signature
Please complete/mail this form with your check to:
Melody Chee
349 Scenic Ave
Piedmont, CA 94611
*****EACH CAMPER SHOULD BRING HIS/HER OWN BASKETBALL*****
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------