PIEDMONT MIDDLE SCHOOL Weekly Bulletin for September 14, 2009
PMS ANNOUNCEMENTS
30 Days at a Glance
September Event 16 Magazine Sale Begins 23 Collaboration Day, dismissal at 12:40pm 25 Welcome Back Dance – 7th/ 8th Graders 6:30pm 30 Site Council Meeting – 3:30pm October 2 Progress Reports Mailed 5-8 6th Grade Discovery Voyage 8 7th Grade Medieval Banquet 12-13 Staff Development Days – Non Student Days 14 Site Council Meeting – 3:30pm 15 Picture Make Up Day Submissions for the Weekly Bulletin should be sent to Ruth Sowell @ rsowell@piedmont.k12.ca.us by Wednesday @ 4:00pm. Film Club – The first meetings will be Monday, September 14 and Wednesday, September 16 in room 120 at 3:10pm. Come one or both days. Bring your ideas and get together with other students to plan, shoot, and edit a short film. Open to all 6th, 7th, 8th graders. Any questions see Mrs. Smith. Mathletes - If there are any parents interested in coaching the Mathletes team for the 2009-2010 year, please email Ms. Li at mli@piedmont.k12.ca.us Magazine Sale- The PMS Magazine Sale begins Wednesday, September 16th. The first turnin day for the Magazine Sale is Tuesday, September 22. You don’t have to wait to start ordering your subscriptions. Visit www.readingathome.com/service. The PMS school code is 134693. Remember, total sales of 35 subscriptions and above will pick prizes from the chart posted around school as well as the turn-in day awards listed on the green prize sheet. Magazines for Library - The Piedmont Middle School Library is happy to accept donations of magazine subscriptions from families supporting the Magazine Sale. To avoid duplication, please call Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Voorhies or Mrs. White (594-2670) in the library for a list of magazines the library would like to receive. School Site Council is a group of teachers, parents, classified employees, assistant principal, and students who work with the principal to develop, review, and evaluate the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The SPSa identifies and addresses the instructional needs of students and specifies how categorical funds will be used to accomplish the goals outlined in the plan. Curriculum is discussed at Site Council and areas of continuous growth are identified. Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 30. Attention All Parents – All adults coming onto campus must stop in the office to sign-in and receive a visitor’s pass. This includes food service volunteers, library volunteers, bulletin volunteers, parents coming to meetings or conferences, parents presenting in classrooms, parents coming to watch performances, parent group meetings, etc. If you need to get something to your student, please bring it to the main office and we will be sure your student gets it. Please do not go directly to a classroom. Calendar Date Change – Please note the attached PMS Calendar has a date change. The February 10, 2010 Collaboration Day has been moved to February 11, 2010. A copy of the up-to-date calendar has been attached to this bulletin. Piedmont Schools Tobacco-Free - All parents and students, as well as community members, are reminded that Piedmont Unified School District has been declared by board policy to be tobacco-free. This means that the use and sale of tobacco products is prohibited anywhere, anytime, on District property, including District vehicles and at school sponsored activities to include sporting events, and other student performances. Signage is in place to remind everyone that the schools are designated as tobacco-free. We appreciate the cooperation of students, staff, parents, and community members in this regard. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Brooke Zimmerman, Director of Student Support Services, at 594-2798. Witter Field Access is not for Student Drop Off/Pickup - The Piedmont Unified School District is committed to providing a safe environment for our students. The access road
from Witter Field to Piedmont High School and Piedmont Middle School is to be used only by Permit A parking holders (PUSD personnel) and Maintenance Department vehicles during the school day. Drivers of these authorized vehicles have been advised to use extreme caution on this road at all times since students use this road as a walkway. Please do not use this road for student drop-off or pick up. Parents to Accompany and Stay with Children at Athletic Events - Students below high school age who are attending PHS athletic events must be accompanied by an adult at the gate and should be under supervision during the entire event. Filming of Students - This is to notify you that KCOM, Piedmont’s local television station, will be filming student school events throughout the school year. Generally these are group performances, such as the holiday concerts or Birdcalling; however, in some cases, individual students are identified by name. These programs are aired on Channel 27, which only is available to cable subscribers within the City of Piedmont. School Trying to Notify Parents with Blocked Phone Systems - The school district phone system may show “blocked” by a recipient phone because the name of the caller is not available. Parents need to be informed so that the school number can be unblocked (594-2600 – main PUSD number).” Student Absences – Reimbursement – The District loses funds ($35.00 per day per student) when a student is absent for any reason. The District is still required to track reasons for student absences for the compulsory education laws. If parents wish, they can reimburse the District for school days missed by the student. Please make your check payable to PUSD and deliver it to the office. The PUSD Green Initiative Committee presents: A Green Forum on Synthetic Turf Thursday, September 24, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Piedmont Middle School Multipurpose Room (740 Magnolia Avenue) Later this fall, the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education will make a final decision on the field surface for the new Havens School playfield. While current plans call for synthetic turf, some have expressed concerns about health, safety, and environmental issues related to synthetic fields. The purpose of this forum is to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about what is known regarding the current design for the Havens playfield and the concerns that have been raised about synthetic turf. It is meant to inform the community about the key issues the Board will consider in preparation for its decision-making process at future public meetings. Everyone is invited. For more information, contact Michael Brady at mbrady@piedmont.k12.ca.us
PARENT CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Date MON – 9/14 Lunch Entrée(s) Children’s Choice Catering (Order Online) Children’s Choice Catering (Order Online) Children’s Choice Catering (Order Online) Holly’s Mandarin Noodles $3.00 Cybelle’s Pizza $3.00 Volunteers Amanda Doctor, Julie Reichle, Dana Low, Katherine O’Connor, Barb Singer (B) Christine Crowley, Sheila Addeigo, Terri Burge, Susan Adams Sarah Abel, Shirley Rexrode, Vickie Diaz, Jackie Mowat, Lena Yan (B) Carolyn Kenney, Cindy Penn Duecker, Anne Finkel Anne Marshall, Zoe Madvros, Robin Flagg, Cindy Hubert (B also)
TUES – 9/15 WED –9/16 THURS – 9/17 FRI – 9/18
*** Menu subject to change without notice *** *Daily Brunch items may include Biscuit, Bagel, Muffin, Pretzel and “Special” on Friday* **(B) Indicates Brunch Volunteer Food Service - Note that $1.00 and $5.00 bills are greatly appreciated and will ensure expedited service. The PMS Parents Club wants you! - Please join the PMS Parents Club! PMS Annual Memberships are $60.00 and provide you with a copy of the indispensable Annual
Student Telephone Directory which will be distributed later this month. To join the Parents Club, please contact Sarah Pearson, PMS Parents Club VP and Membership Chair (658-0888, srpear@gmail.com). Back to School = Time to Buy Scrip - Please remember that buying paper scrip / gift cards and signing up for eScrip earns about $100,000 combined for our Piedmont Schools each year! Please consider using scrip whenever possible. To purchase Scrip or to sign-up for eScrip please email Vicki Diaz at vickicdiaz@yahoo.com or call 594-9322. Visit www.ppcscrip.org for more information, forms, etc. Thank you for all your support!
RECREATION DEPARTMENT SPORTS ANNOUNCEMENTS
DATE Tuesday, Sept. 15 Wednesday, Sept. 16 Thursday, Sept. 17 ACTIVITY 8th Grade Flag Football Scots 7th Grade Flag Football Scots 7th Grade Flag Football Scots 7th Grade Flag Football Highlanders 8th Grade Flag Football Scots 8th Grade Flag Football Highlanders LOCATION Foothill WCI Stanley Stanley Stanley Stanley TIME 4:00pm (carpool at 3:15) 4:00pm (carpool at 3:15) 4:00pm (carpool at 3:15) 4:00pm (carpool at 3:15) 4:00pm (carpool at 3:15) 4:00pm (carpool at 3:15)
We are still taking registrations for 7th Grade Girls Volleyball, 8th Grade Boys Flag Football, and PMS Evening Tennis. Contact the Piedmont Recreation Department if interested at 510.420.3070.. PMS Cross Country Team Starts 3rd Week of Practice - The cross country team completed its second week of practice and enrollment is now up to 40 runners. Practices are open to any student who wants to try cross country and see what it is like, before deciding if they want to signup. Practices are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. and meet at Witter Field. Also, there is a website with information about the program, it is: www.pmscc.com The PMS cross country program provides a number of unique features, not found in the other sports. First there is a "Mileage Incentive Program" with 5 easy to reach mileage benchmarks and the rewards will include a Jamba Juice and Fenton's gift card. Second, a PMS Cross country website to facilitate communications and provide one-stop source of information about the team. Third, a pizza party to kick off the season, and welcome new runners. It is scheduled for September 14. Fourth, a "Gold Medal Award" on a weekly basis for runners who have contributed in a positive manner at practices or meets. Fifth, healthy snacks after every practice. Finally, a run to Fenton's at the end of the season where the kids get to indulge in one of the ice cream specialties. The first meet of the season is scheduled for Monday, September 21 at Golden Gate Fields race track in Albany. This is a unique chance to run in a venue not usually open to runners. For more information, contact the Piedmont Recreation Department at 510420-3070.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Use of promotional materials or advertisements exhibited does not imply Piedmont Unified School District endorsement of any identified products or services.) PADC Walk and Talk at Witter Field on Sunday, September 13 - The Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee (PADC) invites you to join us at Witter Field on Sunday, September 13, from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. for our first monthly “Walk and Talk” – a way to meet other PADC members, talk about diversity issues in an informal setting, and get some exercise to boot. No need to RSVP. Kids are welcome to come run around and play on the field but no childcare is provided. We look forward to seeing you on the track! For more information, please contact Sue Lin (sueben@gmail.com). Piedmont Parents Network (PPN) –Piedmont Parents Network (PPN) -If you think you signed up for the new PPN 8th grade morning group when you did on line registration please take the time to contact Dara Birnbaum directly via email at birnbaum@berkeley.edu and let her know you are interested. We have just realized
that there were some problems with the system and that data was not collected. It is never too late to join PPN. We are just starting to get our groups going. There are 2 morning groups; Friday AM for 6th graders and Thursday AM for 8th graders. IF you have any questions, please send an email to anitabloch@earthlink.net or call 658-9710. Piedmont's 11th Annual Harvest Festival is Sunday, September 27, 11:30AM to 3:30PM. This fun event features food and growing contests, lunch, local music and art show, farmers market plus carnival games for kids. We need volunteers! We have many jobs available and can find a job to fit your schedule. We need adults and PMS students (some of our best volunteers in past years have been PMS students). Kids can be scheduled in groups, plus Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts can earn community hours. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Brooke Guiney at brookeguiney@mac.com or call 510-601-9153. PRAISE (Piedmonters for Resources, Advocacy and Information in Special Education) kicks off the 2009-10 school year with a Parent Social on Tuesday, September 15th starting at 6:30pm. All parents of special education students are invited to this informal gathering to meet other Piedmont parents, share experiences, and help shape how PRAISE can be a resource and support group for families of special needs children. Dr. David Roth, PUSD Assistant Superintendent of Education Services will provide an informative presentation on the K-12 Special Education programming and plans for 2009-2010. Dr. Roth will review the breadth of the PUSD Special Education program and address any questions or issues raised by new or continuing families of special needs students. Anyone involved with Special Education is welcomed to join PRAISE’s warm, supportive network of parents in this sharing of food, friends, and experiences. The Parent Potluck Social is being held at the home of Michael & Deidre Coen located at 107 Pacific Avenue, Piedmont. Please bring an appetizer to share. For more information, contact PRAISE President Deidre Coen (510-653-1997) or visit the PRAISE website at www.piedmontpraise.org HALLOWEEN COSTUMES - Dress Best For Less now has an amazing selection of costumes at both the retail store and marking room! Hurry in to find a great costume and support your schools this Halloween. Retail Store 3861 Piedmont Ave Marking Room 799 Magnolia