It's All New

633666 It's All New The first day of school marks the beginning of The First Six Weeks, a carefully orchestrated plan, developed by Responsive Classroom, to create a loving classroom community. These early weeks are when teachers explain how to participate with kindness and respect in: <ul> <li> arrival</li> <li> transitions</li> <li> lining up and moving through the halls</li> <li> bathroom procedures</li> <li> recess</li> <li> activity/work times</li> <li> lunch</li> <li> signals</li> <li> whole-group meetings</li> <li> quiet time</li> <li> cleanup</li> <li> dismissal</li> </ul> Among the first activities in the Responsive Classroom approach is getting to know each other. I watched fifth graders filling out descriptive name tags that included their favorite places, subjects, and activities. In fourth grade, I saw students busily interviewing their classmates to find the answers for a getting-to-know-you scavenger hunt: they had to find "someone who is an only child," "someone who went swimming this summer," and "someone who had toast for breakfast." Miss Bindergarten Explains It All In first grade, I saw teachers reading aloud It's Okay to Be Different and a book about the many and various ways we get to school. In third grade, I sat with students as Spanish teacher Ms. Ugarte taught students Spanish words for calendar terms. I was delighted to see second graders learning how to choose one or two items from their lunch boxes to eat at snack time. In kindergarten, I had the great pleasure of reading aloud Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, as well as playing house and working with Play-Doh during activity "choice time." As part of these first six weeks, students soon will be identifying their hopes and dreams for the school year. This goal-setting means a lot to students. I look forward to getting to know your children, and you, as this year unfolds. We're off to a great start. Warmly, Tanveer Alibhai Director of Lower School <a target="_blank" href="mailto:talibhai@spes.org">talibhai@spes.org</a> Reminders: "No Sharing" policy for lunches "No flip-flops" policy for safety Please pack a large lunch. Consider packing six items, including water, so kids have enough to eat at snack and lunchtime.

633622 Scenes from Day One The weather was warm, and the excitement was high. Here's a peek at a few of the activities on this first day of school. Check the homepage of the website at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.spes.org">www.spes.org</a> for more photographs. Please know that our goal is to have a photograph of every child at St. Paul's on the website or in Friday Notes or another newsletter. If you haven't seen your child after some period of time, please let us know and we'll snap a photo. They're all terrifically cute. Contact Jane Adams at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jadams@spes.org">jadams@spes.org</a>. Thanks.

633235 A Map of the Campus: Where's the Casa? This handy map of the campus and the surrounding area will show you the locations of key St. Paul's buildings and destinations, including the Casa, the Veterans Green, and Kids' Kingdom Playground. Click <a target="_blank" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=116+Montecito+Ave,+Oakland,+Alameda,+California+94610&t=h&msa=0&msid=114877141578760292404.0004822f704d9856390ab&ll=37.812429,-122.264271&spn=0.015426,0.027595&z=15">here</a> to view the turf.

633226 An Insider's Guide to St. Paul's: The SPES Glossary of Terms Fear not the casual reference to the Green Monster or the Dots. The following glossary of St. Paul's lingo will keep you in the know. Admin office: 266 Grand Ave building, next door to the Middle School. Casa: The building right next to the Lower School Building. Dots: The area in front of the Lower School Building with circles marking the sidewalk. Green Monster: The sculpture next to Lake Merritt in Lakeside Park. Kindergarten students play here. Kindergarten courtyard: The outdoor area located right outside of the kindergarten classrooms. Kitchen: The common area located between the Mezzanine and the Parish Hall in 116 Montecito. This is where Pizza Day volunteers work. Mezz: The Mezzanine level, essentially, one level up from the kindergarten classrooms and music and third grade classroom. Parish Hall: The area behind the Mezzanine at the Lower School. Performing Arts room: The room located right next to the 3rd grade classroom as you enter the building. Playground: Located behind the Casa, right next to 116 Montecito. Roof: The play area on the top floor of the Lower School at 116 Montecito Ave. Veterans Green: The area across the street from the Lower School, on Harrison St., where students are picked up. This is also called "the Green." Special thanks to parent Marta Grajeda, who kept notes as a kindergarten parent. Did we forget anything? Email <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jadams@spes.org">jadams@spes.org</a> with your suggestions.

633185 New Faces on Campus: Say Hi to New Faculty and Staff Say hi to new faculty and staff you see around campus. Here's a collection of photos so you'll know who's who. You'll see new faces at the Lower School, in Sixth Grade, and in the After School Program.

633225 Opening Chapel and Reception Opening Day Chapel is a glorious St. Paul's tradition. Parents are warmly encouraged to kick-off the school year at chapel at 8:40 a.m. tomorrow, the first day of school. Faculty will welcome students back to campus with a performance, under the direction of music director Mr. de Chalus. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow. A few notes and reminders: <ul> <li>The church has removed the pews from along the side walls of the church to make room for wheelchair access. Folding chairs will be set up along the side walls.</li> <li>No coffee or food are allowed in chapel.</li> <li>Quiet, please. Parents model the quiet behavior that students are asked to follow at chapel. Thank you.</li> </ul>

632031 New Teacher Institute Welcomes New Faculty and Staff Seven new members of the faculty and staff met for a day-long workshop last Friday to be introduced to life at St. Paul's School. Gathered in the faculty lounge at the Middle School were Ryan Faulkner, fifth grade teacher; Sarah Gerber, fourth grade teacher for Ms. Raj's maternity leave in the spring; Vicky Chen, admissions associate; Eleanor Martz-Gomez, first grade intern teacher in Ms. Aronson's classroom; Tim Simpson, third grade teacher; and Karen Compise, sixth grade teacher. Led by Director of Sixth Grade and Middle School Judy Stone and Director of Lower School Tanveer Alibhai, the workshop covered everything from the St. Paul's social curriculum and approach to discipline, to the ins and outs of recess and the After School Program. Welcome, new faculty and staff!

625884 We Need You! Parent Association Looks for 2010-2011 Volunteers Why not get involved in the St. Paul's community? The Parent Association is currently seeking parents interested in serving on one of the Parent Association committees and/or volunteering at any of our PA events. If you are interested, or would like more information, please email Parent Association President, Marlene Henderson (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:marlenehenderson@aol.com">marlenehenderson@aol.com</a>) or Parent Association Vice President, Samantha Sanderson (<a target="_blank" href="mailto:spamanthula@aol.com">spamanthula@aol.com</a>). Thanks!

604812 Parent Association Committees Infusion Committee Anna Edmondson, Chair; Dora Dome, Vice Chair Care Committee Ben Mapp and Kimberley Meier, Co-Chairs

631463 Back-to-School Forms are Due Now! Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. - William James Before the start of school on Sept. 1, it is imperative that parents complete emergency contact/medical information, field trip and photo permisson release, and immunization form (if applicable.) St. Paul's is required to have this information before your child comes to school. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spes.org/podium/default.aspx?t=136843&rc=1">Click here to go to the Parent Forms page on the website.</a> Here's why we need these forms no later than the first day of school.   Students on the first day will likely be walking to the park or the Veterans Green for lunch, and the School needs to have on file your permission for your child to walk across the street. You may grant permission by completing the Permission Release for Photographs and Field Trips form.   Similarly, the School is required on the first day of school to have your child's immunization record, doctor's name and phone number, and health insurance information, as well as information about whom to contact in the event of an emergency. Excluding immunization forms, which you'll find on the Parent Forms page, medical and emergency information forms may be completed by clicking on <a target="_blank" href="http://filemaker.spes.org/">Medical/Emergency Contact database</a>. This database was closed on June 30, but was opened again on August 9. Please note that you'll need your account name and password. These were emailed to you from "St. Paul's Website Help" on May 21 (for current families) and on approximately June 9 (for new families).   For assistance with the medical/emergency contact database, you may email <a target="_blank" href="mailto:website@spes.org">website@spes.org</a> and receive a reply within 72 hours. For questions about other forms, please contact Khadija Fredericks at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:kfredericks@spes.org">kfredericks@spes.org</a> or 510.285.9627.