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September 18, 2005
Sports & Pinnacles
The Sports section of the MS website now has the forms and schedule for the coed flag football team. We will be practicing at Marcus Foster School on West Street near Childrens Hospital, and our first practice is this Monday after school. We will need parents to help transport kids to practices and to games. If anyone would like to help coordinate drivers for the games, please contact Kenn Stansbury.
Also, don't forget the spring field trip to Pinnacles information night on October 5, at 7 pm. It should be very informative and answer a lot of your questions about the trip.
Finally, thanks to all who came to the Parents Mixer Thursday night - it was great to meet new folks and chat with old friends. And big thanks to Sally Petru for hosting it at her house!
Laura
Posted by LauraC at 02:02 PM
September 14, 2005
Middle School DISPATCH
Greetings!
Most of what follows was in the last email that went out, but I know we’re still missing several folks that way, so here’s a hard copy with a few new pieces of info. If you haven’t seen any emails, please email carlson03@sprynet.com with your correct address, and we’ll make sure you’re included on future emailings.
Pizza/snack info: Attached is the current listing of paid pizza orders. Please review for accuracy, and if your child’s name is in bold, then please contact Sally Petru with the correct number and type of slices. If you’ve missed the deadline of September 12th and still wish to sign your child up for Pizza Friday we will still accept forms and are willing to prorate the cost of pizza and drinks beginning with Friday, September 23rd. Instead of multiplying your weekly cost by 15, multiply by 14 for a total through January 20th. Make checks payable to “Hillcest PTA” and note “pizza” on the check. Submit your form and check to the envelopes located in the office or your child’s classroom. You may direct any questions to Sally Petru at 510.653.7727 or sal@hmnlaw.com.
Please note that the Middle School snack bar will be open beginning next week on Tuesday, September 20th. Snack bar is open every Tuesday and Thursday at lunch time for MS students only and offers snacks, ramen soup and drinks. Nothing costs more than a dollar apiece, so please bring small bills and change.
Also attached is information from the Middle School music teacher, with information about instrument rental.
The final attachment is the Middle School Financial Payment form, which was handed out at Back to School night. For some reason, we weren’t able to send it in the email, so here’s a hard copy. The idea was to make it easy to write one check for those who wanted to make a single payment per semester. The remaining amount of the spring field trip will depend on the fundraising efforts between now and then – the pizza sales, the See’s Candy Sale, etc. The check should be made out to “Hillcrest PTA” and deposited in the envelopes in both middle school classrooms, or the office.
The team building event at Lake Temescal last Friday went very well. The kids were split up from their friends and put onto teams and into various activities that made teamwork imperative. Thanks to Jan Leuin, Joseph Costarella, Rose Collins, Jesse Inclan, and Jim Gold for helping walk the kids over and back.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Middle School Parents Mixer: This Thursday night, September 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Petrus’ house – 6167 Buena Vista Avenue. Please bring a finger food and/or beverage to share. Parents only, please – no students or siblings.
Middle School Students Rock ‘n’ Bowl: Saturday, October 8, 7-9 pm at the Albany Bowl, 540 San Pablo Avenue. $20 includes 2 hours of bowling, the shoe rental and chips/candy. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Contact Liz Agnello if interested in chaperoning, or other questions.
Posted by LauraC at 10:47 PM
Letter from Sarah Rathke, MS music teacher
Dear Parents and Students:
I am very happy to be back for a second year at Hillcrest. Last year was a great success due to parental support, the renting of instruments, and the students' enthusiasm. I am excited to get things going again.
Instruments: Since the school does not have instruments, each student will need to rent an instrument and purchase a band book. I would prefer to stick with four instruments: flute, clarinet, trombone, and trumpet. Some exceptions will be made in situations where parents have contacted me about alternate instruments. We will be using the same band books from last year so the 7th and 8th band students should already have books.
Practicing: I am very aware of the demands of homework and time constraints placed on your students. Band should be an enjoyable outlet and a means of self-expression. However, the more effort put into practicing, the greater the reward. You will all be surprised at how ten minutes of practicing everyday will lead you down the fast-track to musical success!
Grading: I am aware that not all people are natural-bon musicians. I am most concerned with fostering a respect for music and providing a safe environment for self-expression through music. Grades are assigned based upon a number of expectations. All students are expected to bring their
music, instruments, and best attitudes to every rehearsal. Students are expected to show progress on their instruments. Band members will be graded on their ability to play alone as well as with the ensemble.
Rental Stores
Best Music
1716 Broadway, Oakland ..... 510-832-2024
1 month rental is $20 -- 9 month rental is $120
A&G Music (House of Woodwinds),564 14th St., Oakland ..... 510-832-2452
Starland Music Center, 2331 Lincoln Ave., Alameda ..... 510-523-2452
Piedmont Piano Company, 4382 Piedmont Ave., Oakland ..... 510-547-8188
Along with renting instruments, students will need to purchase the band book, Accent on Achievement, to go with their instruments. I would suggest Best Music as I have not worked with the other stores. If you prefer to use one of the other stores, please call ahead to insure book and instrument availability.
I am looking forward to working closely with all of you in the next year. For questions, call me at 415-425-5237 or email me at s_rathke@hotmail.com.
Please rent instruments by September 26, if possible.
Sincerely,
Sarah Rathke
Posted by mcstevem at 10:30 PM
September 08, 2005
New year update
Greetings!
Thanks to all who came to the Middle School back-to-school night last Thursday. In addition to the curriculum, we covered several things that are coordinated by the Middle School committee. I'll include all of those below, in addition to some new information. We'll try to get information out on a regular basis, once things settle down a bit!
Team Building - we will have our team building exercise this Friday, September 9. The students will walk from school to Lake Temescal for a 9:30 - 2:30 session led by Challenger Learning. They need to bring a sack lunch, and not wear skirts or sandals. It is very important that we get back two forms in order for your child to attend: the Walking Trip permission slip that was in your Hillcrest folder, and a Rights and Responsibilities form that is coming home today. With the building under construction, a new middle school teacher, and lots of kids in each class, this team building exercise is extra important this year, so please make sure your child's forms are signed and returned. We also need 2-4 chaperones just to walk the kids over and back - shouldn't take more than 20 minutes or so, so if you can walk in the morning or in the afternoon, please email carlson03@sprynet.com and let me know so that we have enough.
Pizza Fridays - On the attached worksheet, you will find an area for Pizza Fridays. This year, we are asking you to order and prepay for the entire semester. It makes it much easier to have a standing order at Cybelle's, and to not have to handle money in the classroom. There will not be refunds for absences. Any pizza left by an absence will be available for sale or may be given to the deserving Hillcrest staff.
Middle School Finances - We have tried to simplify the finances for the middle school, and offer you a way to write a single check for the first semester. The attached worksheet shows the different categories for the first semester: a deposit on the spring field trip, Pizza Fridays, the museum field trip, and a donation for the teachers' holiday gift. The spring field trip deposit is due soon as we need to make our down payment. The top half is an example of how to fill it out, and please fill out the bottom with your child's name on it along with a check to "Hillcrest PTA". Sally Petru is our MS Fundraising/Volunteer Coordinator, and Pam Litke is her co-coordinator for the Pizza and Snack Bar.
Social: Social events need to be self-supporting, and chaperoned by parents. If we don't have enough chaperones, we can't have the event. We usually have 2 dances with other schools, and a Hillcrest-only event. Our Hillcrest only event is the very fun "Rock and Bowl" at Albany Bowl on Saturday, October 8 from 7-9 pm. This is for middle school students only, although if parents want to chaperone and need to bring their younger children, they may play on other nearby lanes. Liz Agnello is our MS Social Chair.
Sports: Kenn Stansbury is returning again as our favorite Hillcrest "Athletic Director". He coordinates the teams, uniforms, coaching, fields/courts, and referees. We have 4 sports at Hillcrest currently -- coed flag football, boys basketball, girls basketball, and coed volleyball. We may be able to participate in a cross country league as well, so if your child is interested in that, please contact Kenn. We have the St. Augustine's gym rented again starting in late fall for basketball in the winter, and volleyball in the spring. Your child will need to pay a small amount to play on each team, as well as a refundable uniform deposit. Details about flag football will come soon.
EMAIL: In order for you to get these in a timely fashion, we need your email address! We will post these on the website as well, and will print the first few, but email is the fastest by far, and the best way to reach most parents (I know I have to dig to find anything in my kid's backpack!).
Parents' Mixer: Along those same lines, most of you should have received an "Evite" to the Middle School Parents Mixer on Thursday, September 15, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Petrus' house. If you have not, it is because A: I have the wrong/old email for you; B: Your spouse received the email; or C: I don't have your email address at all. We hope everyone can make it -- please plan on bringing something to share, as this is outside the budget!
MS Committee: The committee for this year is:
Liz Agnello - Social
Jennifer Chapman - 6th grade rep & PTA Board Liaison
Hwee Song - 8th grade rep
Aileen Dolby - Personnel
Sally Petru - Fundraising/Volunteer Coordinator
Laura Carlson - Communications & Committee Chair
Posted by LauraC at 11:37 PM