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Windrush Weekly Newsletter

School News

September 30, 2010
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KICK OFF THE ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN FRIDAY MORNING! Help Windrush School launch the 2010-2011 Annual Giving Campaign. Grab a doughnut and juice at morning drop off and hand in your donation or pledge. Every class with 100% participation will generate a $5,000 match from the Challenge Fund, and every gift of $1,000 or more will also be matched dollar for dollar. OK, we’ll still give you a doughnut if you don’t have dough, but expect a call on Oct. 4 during Phone-a-thon night!
FACULTY MEMBERS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES FROM CHINA TRIP–Our eight Windrush teachers who traveled to China this summer have returned with exciting stories, wonderful images and footage, fresh teaching ideas, and deepened relationships. Come hear about their weeklong journey to cultural sites, their visit to a rural school, and their collaboration with Chinese educators. When and Where? 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 in the Library

CAMERAS FOR SERVICE LEARNING–The Service Learning program really needs your older digital cameras (especially those with video capacity) or video cameras as we are prioritizing documenting projects this year. If you are upgrading and looking for a good home for your old camera, Windrush would be happy to acknowledge you publicly for your gift. Please email Dana Rosenberg, Health and Human Development Educator, with questions.

THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY LUNCH–Pizza lunch. If you are not signed up and would like to, you may still sign up by contacting Teresa in the Front Office.

LOST & FOUND–During these days of cool mornings and warm afternoons, many jackets and sweaters find their way to the lost and found closet. Please check for lost clothing, lunchboxes and books in the lost and found closet located in the main building at the end of the hallway near the west door. On Oct. 15, all items will be laid out at lunchtime for students to claim. Remaining items without labels will be donated.
ELEMENTARY STUDENT COUNCIL BEGINS ON OCT. 6: Who? Grades 3-5 When? First and third Wednesdays every month during snack/recess (10-10:30 a.m.) Where? Library Why? To build leadership skills by making a positive difference in our Windrush community and beyond!

Upcoming Events

FIRST WINDRUSH PRESENTS IS NOV. 3! Parent educator and coach Amy McClain will speak about Raising Healthy Boys, Curbing Aggression, Cultivating Character from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3 in the Library. Limited childcare is available for $16. To reserve please email Marisa Palomares or call ext. 219. Soul Shoppe facilitator, trained parent educator and a mother, Amy has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and 12 years experience using and teaching the tools presented in her classes. In addition to teaching parenting, she teaches bully prevention and character development for K-8 students, parents and educators. For the last five years, Amy has facilitated assemblies and classes for hundreds of schools throughout California. She brings experience in everything from brain-based learning models to anti-bullying programs to Waldorf education to providing powerful parenting tools designed to take the struggle out of parenting.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TOUR FOR 5th GRADE FAMILIES OCT. 27–Come learn what lies ahead for your student in the Middle School! We will meet in the Library promptly after morning drop-off.

Harvest Fair News

VOLUNTEERS! Help at one of Windrush’s favorite family events, the Harvest Fair, which is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 24! Decorate pumpkins, oversee field games, prep food, and dress up like a princess or wizard for our Enchanted Kingdom. We also need someone to sell Windrush spirit wear. Sign up online or email Volunteer Chair Victoria Danby with questions. This is a fun way to earn work hours!

YEARNING FOR YARN! Do you have extra yarn that needs to be spun into something beautiful, useful, and fun? Donate yarn to the Jump Rope Booth. We also need helpers at the booth–you can earn work hours by learning how to operate the jump rope machine and volunteering. Email Elaine Miyamori for information.

DO YOU ROCK AND ROLL? Remember the awesome Wii rock party in the gym last year? Do you have technical abilities? Can you hang with middle schoolers who are fierce future rock stars? We have the Wii games and equipment, but need a tech-savvy person to set-up on Saturday and supervise Sunday. Email Victoria Danby for information.

JUNGLE JAMES ANIMAL ADVENTURES–Jungle James will perform two, 20-minute shows during the festival at noon and 1:30 p.m. There will also be booth featuring exotic insects, reptiles and amphibians! For a preview go to www.junglejames.com. Jungle James Animal Adventures is a proud fair sponsor.

GOT WINE? We need wine for our raffle! Bring a bottle of wine valued at $15 or more, and you will receive one free raffle ticket. Additional tickets are $5 each. Some excellent wine is being cellared in preparation for the event. Donations can be brought to the Front Office or the Development Office. Please email Jessie Simms to buy or sell tickets.

FOODIES AND GRILLING HONCHOS–Thanks for making the commitment! Know anyone you’d like to work with to keep the food line flowing?  We have two line coordinator shifts: 10:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and 12:45-3 p.m.  Learn the drill from 8th grade parent Karen Shebek who is passing on the baton. Please email or call Karen at 541-7456.

Middle School News

SERVICE LEARNING–This Friday is the Middle School’s first off-campus Service Learning. Advisories are going to some really amazing organizations around the East Bay. Students will engage in such activities as volunteering, conducting interviews, collecting data and observing. These visits will help students deepen their ideas around topics they are interested in for projects. Here are the locations:

Grade 6: Hopalong & Second Chance Animal Rescue–http://www.hopalong.org/
Telegraph Community Center–http://www.calpatientcare.org/node/7681
Windrush Campus–students will interview El Cerrito Green Team, and do research about cleaning Baxter Creek and building a greenhouse on campus

Grade 7: Cycles of Change–http://www.cyclesofchange.org/about/
Children’s Hospital and Research Oakland–http://www.childrenshospitaloakland.org/
GRIP (Greater Richmond Interfaith Program)–http://www.gripcommunity.org/media/video/index.html

Grade 8: Fairmont Elementary–http://sites.google.com/site/fairmontschool/
Albany Beach–http://www.well.com/user/pk/waterfront/EastshoreStatePark/photos/AlbanyBeach/index.html
Clinica Alta Vista–http://www.alamedahealthconsortium.org/MemberHealthCenters/LaClinicadeLaRaza/tabid/145/Default.aspx
REMINDER FOR THOSE ARRIVING TO SCHOOL BEFORE 8 A.M.–Because we don’t unlock the new building until 8 a.m., if your student arrives before please remember: Arrivals between 7:45-8 a.m. should sit at the picnic benches at the top of the traffic circle, and those who arrive before 7:45 a.m. must sign into the before school program, supervised by Josh Schmidt in the Elementary Afterschool room.  We want to ensure students are safe and supervised. Thank you!

6TH GRADE OVERNIGHT TRIP–Students received forms and permission slips for the Pt. Bonita trip last week. Please return completed forms to the Division Office or to Lisa Hayle. The trip requires special equipment and packing, so please ensure your child has all necessary items.  We still need drivers–email Rebecca or Lisa if you can drive students to or from Pt. Bonita and it would be of great help if you let us know how much gear you can carry.

SERVICE LEARNING DRIVERS NEEDED–Students are ready to get out and help our community, but they need your help to get there!  Drivers are needed from 9:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1. We also need drivers on Nov. 12. Please email Rebecca or Dana if you can drive.        

MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCES–The permission slip for dances is now available. Please return completed forms to the Division Office. The first EBISC dance is Friday, Oct. 1 at Prospect Sierra for students in Grades 7-8.  Please email Rebecca in the Division Office with questions.

ANNUAL POCIS CONFERENCE OCT. 2– Middle School students and families are invited to attend the annual People of Color in Independent Schools Conference at International High School in San Francisco. Click here for details and registration information.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL INFORMATION FAIR–The Information Fair for East Bay Independent Schools will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7 at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Temple. Click here for more information.
 

IMPORTANT HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION–Permission slips for the St. Mary’s High School visit on Oct. 25 are available outside the Division Office and can also be obtained from Lisa Hensley. The trip is open to 8th grade students planning to apply for Fall 2011.  Permission slips are due to Lisa by Oct. 11. Reminder: It is the student’s responsibility to get assignments from teachers when missing class for school visits. Thanks!

Admissions Office Visits to Windrush
Marin Academy–Oct. 14 (lunch)
College Preparatory School–Oct. 27 (lunch)
*Meet in M.S. Science room by 12:40 p.m.

HSPT Dates (register with schools)
St. Mary’s, Salesian and Bishop O’Dowd–Jan. 8
 
EBISA High School Fair
7-9 p.m. on Oct. 7 at the Oakland Scottish Rite Temple

ISEE Dates (register online)
Redwood Day School–Dec. 4 & 11
Ecole Bilingue–Dec. 11
College Prep–Jan 15 & 16
Head Royce–Dec. 11 & Jan. 8
Prospect Sierra–Jan. 15

Windrush Visits St. Mary’s (optional)
10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 25
*Permission slips due to Lisa Hensley on Oct. 11


Windrush Wire Editor/Community News Coordinator: Samantha Worthington

School News Content Editor: Teresa Henry

Deadline for Submissions: 2 p.m., Weds.