School Bulletin
MAY 15, 2008
TONIGHT
7:00 p.m.
K-8 OPEN HOUSE
ART SHOW
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR
Visit classrooms, admire artwork and enjoy the inspiring Middle School Science Fair! Wander through the artwork displayed in the multipurpose room and peruse the Science Fair in the gym. The Art Show will remain open for parents, grandparents and friends to enjoy until noon on May 19.
=SCHOOL NEWS AND NOTICES=
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: The recent disasters in China and Myanmar have many of us thinking again about our emergency plans for home, school and workplace. Windrush School has been evaluated by Degenkolb Engineers who determined our buildings and site meet the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program life-safety standards. The Windrush staff and faculty are trained to follow a detailed emergency plan. The school maintains an Earthquake /Emergency Information File containing records for each student, including medical information, release for treatment and instructions for pick up and release during an emergency. Students are to be released only to individuals designated in the Earthquake/Emergency Information Files. Classroom backpacks contain emergency release forms and ID cards for each student to wear that indicate who is authorized to pick up the student. Staff will carry emergency backpacks during any evacuation. Please remember to notify the front office if your emergency contact information changes.
Meanwhile, if you want to help victims of the recent disasters, Unicef and Doctors Without Borders are among those on the ground in Myanmar and China. Wondering what charities are the most effective during a disaster? Go to Charity Navigator, an independent non-profit charity evaluator.
ACCOLADES FOR SEVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT LEADERS: Based on applications submitted by teacher Chris Harrison, we are delighted to announce that Sara Chung, Emma Dudley, Marco Gallardo, Ysabel King, Daniel Peterson, and Gabriel Reynoso-Palley have been invited to build their leadership skills with the People to People Leadership Program. People to People gives young leaders and achievers an opportunity to participate in programs that foster community and world citizenship. Congratulations Sara, Emma, Marco, Ysabel, Daniel, and Gabriel.
STAFF NEWS: Jen Daly will be attending Stanford University’s School of Education for a Master’s in International Comparative Education. Her goal is to re-enter the field of nonprofit international education development after the conclusion of the program. Mike and Morgan Costanzo are moving to Memphis Tennessee! Lausanne Collegiate School, a pre K-12, will be fortunate to employ Morgan, teaching 7th grade Math and Mike, who will be the head of the Physical Education Department, coaching Varsity Lacrosse and many other sports.
8th GRADE CAR WASH, A SQUEAKY CLEAN SUCCESS! Thank you to all who generously participated in and donated to the 8th grade car wash. By all accounts, this was the cleanest the cars have ever been! We raised $275 toward the 8th grade class gift, which will be added to monies raised earlier this year and funds raised by the previous two graduating classes to help finance painting a dragon logo on the gymnasium floor!
SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION: A production of Shakespeare's coming of age tale, Henry IV, Part I will be presented this week. On Friday, May 16, group 8A will perform at 7:00 p.m. and group 8B will perform on Sunday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m. Both shows will take place in the gym.
K-3 ELEMENTARY SPRING PERFORMANCE – Thursday, May 22, 7:00 p.m. The performance will take place in the gym. The performance for grades 4 and 5 will take place in the multipurpose room on the following Thursday, May 29. Contact David Bond with any questions.
LOST AND FOUND: Lost and Found items will be donated May 30.
FRIDAY LUNCH: Your child will need to bring lunch on Friday, June 6! The last Friday lunch of the school year will be provided on May 30.
5th GRADE GRADUATION – June 11: The special assembly marking the culmination of the elementary years for our wonderful Griffins class will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at 1:00 p.m. All 5th grade parents, guardians, relatives, and special friends are warmly invited!
=MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS AND NOTICES=
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS LEAGUE CELEBRATION – Monday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. Please join the coaches and players as we wrap up the year with stories and insights from the sports seasons. If you can help out by providing a beverage or dessert, please email Mike Costanzo (I assume his name will be a link?) or call ext. 227. Thanks, and Go Dragons! - Mike Costanzo, Athletic Director.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE, FRIDAY, MAY 30. The final Middle School Dance of the 2007/2008 school year will take place on Friday, May 30 from 7:00-9:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Students received permission slips in Advisory this morning and they are also available here (I assume this will be a link?). Please review the permission form and the “Rules of the Dance” with your student if s/he plans to attend.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELD DAY – June 3: PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon and takes place at the Cerrito Vista Field on Moeser Avenue. We are looking for two or three more parents to help with the cookout following the Field Day events. This will involve picking up food and supplies and serving lunch. We also need parents to help time events and record names. Also, if anyone has a big pickup truck we could use for the day to take mats, hurdles and equipment to the field and back, please let us know. Please contact Division Assistant Andrew Risinger at ext. 239. Thanks! Go Dragons!
Calling All 6th and 7th Grade Student Ambassadors! Middle School New Student Welcome Evening is Saturday, June 7. Students who will be new to Windrush Middle School in the fall, and 6th and 7th Grade Middle School Ambassadors are invited to enjoy pizza and make ice cream sundaes while getting to know one another. Please encourage your student ambassador to come to the Middle School Welcome-the new students they hosted will be looking for familiar faces. If your student ambassador plans to come to the Middle School Welcome Evening on June 7, RSVP by June 4 by contacting Aisha Bastiaans in the Admissions Office at ext. 244.
8th GRADE GRADUATION – June 12: The eighth grade graduation ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 12 at 10:00 a.m. in the Windrush gymnasium. All 8th grade parents, guardians, relatives, and special friends are warmly invited!
EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION: If your student is planning to go to El Cerrito High next year, it is advisable to register for classes now. The school determines the number of sections that will be available based on the numbers they amass at this point in the year. – Lisa Hensley, High School Advisor.
=FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL NEWS=
AND THE WINNERS ARE... Kaitana Hawkins and Patty Contaxis! Congratulations to these two Pick-A-Party hosts, who won our early sign-up prizes of gift certificates from Ajanta and Rick & Ann's respectively.
THERE'S STILL TIME to submit party ideas for the Fall Harvest Festival's Pick-A-Party fundraiser. Hosting a party gives you an opportunity to support Windrush, get together with friends-old and new-and earn some parent work hours, all while having a great time doing something you love to do! Just go to the Pick-a-Party web site to get started.
This week we highlight Parties in the Workplace. Think about whether your place of work or that of someone you know could provide an interesting venue for a Pick-a-Party.
Questions about how Pick-A-Parties work? Download the "How To Host" flyer, or contact Pick-A-Party coordinators Gay Pelletier or Brenda Dawson Dove.
