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Hello,
In this week's Friday Notes, don't miss St. Paul's faculty coach Amy Symons talking about differentiating instruction, reflections from a kindergarten dad, and a red-eared slider turtle looking for a home. Also, parents in grades three through eight: please remember to come to school early (or at least on-time) every day next week as ERB testing begins promptly first thing in the morning. Late-comers will not be allowed into classrooms. Have a great weekend. Pictured above are students baking a cake and cupcakes with Mr. Young during ASP on Thursday.
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Differentiated Instruction Night Presents Theory, Conversation, and that Famous Black Bean Soup
On Thursday, April 22, St. Paul's faculty and parents came together for an information-packed evening about teaching strategies to challenge and support students. Topics included brain development, technology, puppetry, group learning, and the theory of differentiated instruction. Sustenance for these heady, stimulating conversations was provided by Ms. Sorenson's vat of black bean soup, Mrs. Grossberg's green salad, and other dinner treats. Leading conversations at presentation booths were Ms. Dreyfus, Mrs. Grossberg, Mr. Rodman, Ms. Carmona, Mr. Powell, Mr. Kasling, Ms. Malabed, Ms. McGrath, and Ms. Symons, who is the faculty coach on differentiated instruction. Ms. Sorenson was also on hand to elucidate various topics. Support for enhancing differentiated instruction at St. Paul's this year has been made possible by a generous grant from an anonymous donor. You won't want to miss Ms. Symon's fascinating presentation. The video of Part 1 is published here, with further parts to come. Or click Read More to see the attached video.
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Calendar
April
30 1A Chapel Presentation: May Day, 8:40 - 9:15 am
30 6th Grade and MS Talent Show, Parish Hall, 1 - 2:30 pm
May
1 Parent Annual Fund Pledges Due
3 FACTS tuition payment re-enrollment forms due to Business Office
3-7 ERB testing week for grades 3 - 8
3 Ultimate Frisbee @ Tehiya, 4:15 pm
4 JV Volleyball @ Athenian, 4:30 pm
4 Varsity Volleyball @ Athenian, 4:30 pm
5 Ultimate Frisbee @ MLK Berkeley, 4:15 pm
6 6th Grade Moving Up Coffee, Middle School, 4th fl faculty lounge, 8 - 9 am
7 2A Chapel Presentation: Service 8:40 - 9:15 am
8 Board retreat
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Congratulations to New Trustees
Congratulations to St. Paul's parents Jim Dorskind, Shiree Teng, Jerome Buttrick, and Zain McKinney who were nominated and voted onto the St. Paul's Board of Trustees this month. They begin their three-year terms July 1. Please join the Board leadership in welcoming them onto the Board.
- Jim Dorskind, parent of Paul '13, has served on the Board for two years in his capacity as Vice President and President of the Parent Association. With his presidency expiring June 30, he will be a member of the board in his own right.
- Shiree Teng is a parent of Rumi '13 and Maceo '17.
- Jerome Buttrick is a parent of Eliza '13 and Charles "Carlos" '15.
- Zain McKinney is a parent of Dezia '17.
Completing their terms and leaving the Board on June 30 will be Board Co-Chair Carrie Avery, Vice Chair Regina Shields, Treasurer George Sauter, and Rick Benson. The other members of the Board are:
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Reflections from a Kindergarten Dad
By Nik Haas-Dehejia
I should have listened to those parents who told me the kindergarten year goes by quickly.
It’s almost May and my daughter, Maya, is on the verge of finishing her first year at St. Paul’s. She, like all the other kindergarten students, has learned so much. From learning letters to virtually reading, from counting numbers to solving math problems, from having stage fright to performing at Friday Chapel and to everything in between, including learning about animal habitats, outer space, recycling/composting, “sweet talk,” and so much more.
It’s hard to keep up. Thankfully the Friday folder and the all-important Friday letter have kept me up to speed; without that, I would have been lost and behind on how fast she’s growing up.
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Shelly, a Red-Eared Slider Turtle, Seeks New Home
A two-year-old red-eared slider turtle named Shelly is in need of a new home. The turtle comes with a 10-gallon tank and all of the accessories needed, including heat lamp, filter, water heater, and more. To find out more, go to the online Treasure Box, the St. Paul's listing for hand-me-downs, by clicking here. Log in, go to My Groups, and click on Treasure Box. If you don't see the Treasure Box listing, look on the My Groups page for the invitation to join the Treasure Box. For help, email Jane Adams at jadams@spes.org. Also in the Treasure Box this week are girls' soccer cleats size 12.5 and snow bib pants, size 5-6.
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Save the Date: Bike/Walk/Bus/BART-to-School Day is Thursday, May 13
Mr. Rodman, Mr. Powell, Mr. Kasling, Mr. Stern, Mr. Mackintosh, and Ms. Dreyfus ride their bikes to school: Why not the rest of us?
Now’s our chance. Building on Oakland’s 17th Annual Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 13, St. Paul’s is rallying to have all of us bike, walk, or take public transit to School.
Coordinated by kindergarten teacher Mr. Mackintosh, the event will feature “healthy treats” for all who bike, walk or take public transit, in addition to massive amounts of good karma.
Fourth grader Max, who rides bikes with his dad just about every day, last year described both monetary and aesthetic benefits. “Everyday we save $6 and we use the money we save to do fun things, like going to a movie or a museum,” he said. “It’s also fun, because you’re not cramped up in a car.”
Here’s how the city of Oakland describes the benefits:
* If every person living within 5 miles of their workplace pedaled to their job on Bike to Work Day, more than 60,000 vehicles would be off the road, reducing tailpipe emissions by more than 150,000 pounds.
* For short trips, bicycling is an important tool to combat global warming: up to 70% of emissions from a 10-mile trip occur within the first mile. In the Bay Area, 43% of trips are two miles or less.
Make a plan to use low-impact transportation on May 13. Aloha.
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3 Days Left! Shop Green and Support the 8th Grade
By Anna Edmondson
Monday is the last day to buy fabulous eco-products at www.Greenraising.com to support the eighth grade environmental trip to Catalina Island.
An incredible 40% of your purchase price goes back to the eighth grade students at St. Paul's for their trip! The quality of the products is excellent, they're made with eco-friendly materials, and Greenraising supports great organizations and companies.
Need help getting started?
1. To shop on-line at Greenraising:
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Community Food Event: Everyone Eats
Learn about food justice, sustainability, and how we can get involved at Everyone Eats, a community workshop with leaders from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, St. Paul's Towers, Senior Resources, and the Episcopal Diocese. The event will be held on Monday, May 10 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
Come get in on the ground floor of a brainstorming session about community gardens, our connection to the earth, collaborations, and other ideas about how to improve the food we eat and the food systems that feed us. The event is part of Cultivate:DioCal, the Episcopal Diocese of California’s new project to cultivate sustainable food systems, food justice, and spiritual community in the Bay Area.
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Health Watch
Week of April 26.
Stomach flu: Lower School and Middle School (several cases)
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your pediatrician.
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