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Juana Briones School BRIONES BANNER
Dear Briones Parents
We have passed the midpoint of the school year in January and we will hit the 100th day of school February 4. The 100th day is a milestone for our younger students, especially our kindergartners, who count to 100 and draw 100 items. Some of the 1st and 2nd grade students may take it up another level with counting with multiples, but you get the picture. Though we adults will not be counting to 100—10 usually suffice—it is a good time to reflect on the first 100 school days and look forward to the next 80.
Look for a feedback form from your child‘s teacher in their weekly folder and please take a minute to let us know your input regarding the school year. Parents and teachers at Juana Briones have a decades-old tradition of working together to provide an enriching educational experience for students, but sometimes a feedback form will alert us to new ideas for school improvement. While we are careful to not overload you with too many surveys (see below) and questionnaires, this annual practice of seeking parent feedback does help our continual efforts to improve so please return all surveys to your child‘s teacher or the office by February 28.
Our two-week trial of playing first and then eating during the lunch period ended January 28 and I am happy to report that all students seemed to adapt quickly, at least to the concept of playing first. I had several discussions with students, most initiated by them, regarding the merits of our new schedule and our old one. All students, parents, and staff were invited to send their feedback online to www.surveymonkey.com/s/KMSZ2WN, the results of which will be discussed at our next Site Council and PTA meetings.
Thank you to parent Heewon Park for rallying the Juana Briones community in the morning cold and afternoon rush to make a donation to PiE. Heewon
Principal’s Message By Matthew Nagle
Contents
Principal‘s Message 1
Message from PTA 2
Valentine day breakfast 3
Guess Who? 3
Green Tip 4
Science @ Briones 5
recruited other parents to join the effort and even brought along her adorable baby in her sling. PiE funds part of an instructional aide in all classrooms, a reading specialist, a Spectra Art teacher, and a science teacher and lab. Thank you to all parents who have donated this year, and if you have not, please make sure you join the PiE parents by donating what you can at www.papie.org/donate.
The Juana Run is March 12, but sign your son or daughter up now for the kids' races and the 1-mile run for only $15, which includes a t-shirt which they will wear until they outgrow it. Also, encourage your son or daughter to take a few laps in the running/walking club at lunchtime. Thank you teacher Mrs. Doi for gathering your teacher and parent volunteers to provide this opportunity to practice a healthy habit and prepare for the Juana Run. Surf to www.barron.pausd.org/juanarun/ or simply type in the search terms "Juana Run 2011" to sign up. Do not forget to sign yourself up to set that good example for your child. There are also other kid-friendly runs/walks on the Palo Alto Grand Prix web site, www.paloaltogp.org/. Make sure you write Juana Briones Elementary on the School /Team line of the application and $5 will be donated to the school.
Finally, let us not forget that February provides ample breaks for family and friend time, most notably the five-day weekend for students February 17-21. February 17 is a workday for teachers around the district. Juana Briones teachers will be in training on the use of SMART boards in the classroom, small group instruction in literacy, and our Second Step pilot program.
Thank you.
4100 Orme Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Telephone: 650.856.0877
Website: www.briones.pausd.org
Upcoming Events
Tues Feb 8 All School Assembly Black History Laser Show 9.00 AM & 10.30 AM Wed Feb 9 Restaurant Night @ Su Hong
Mon Feb 14 Valentine day b’fast PTA Meeting MP room 8.30AM
Thurs Mar 3 PTA Executive Board Meeting @ 7 PM
Fri Mar 4
Ice Skating Party – Winter Lodge Sat Mar 26
Intl Fair & Potluck 1.30 – 4.30 PM HOLIDAYS (Feb): Thur 17
TH -- Mon 21st
Feb 2011 - Volume 29, Issue 6 (2010-2011)
Next Copy Deadline: Jan 28, 2011
Dear Briones Families,
In his State of the Union Address, the President stressed that education is key to our success in the future. He stated that the responsibility for our children‘s success‘ start at home and in our community. He mentioned that in South Korea teachers are known as ―nation builders‖. We are truly grateful for our local nation builders, here at Briones, who work so hard to guide our children to fulfill their potential. As parents, we have an impact on what happens at school. By joining the PTA and volunteering at school, you show your children how much you care about the school and about their education. In the next few weeks our Nominating Committee will be looking for parents to fill positions for next year‘s PTA Executive Board, as well as other key positions. We hope you‘ll consider taking on a role next year. You don‘t have to be a long time Briones parent. On the contrary, if you are new to the school, taking on a role will help you to get more involved, meet new people in the community, and enjoy a feeling of great accomplishment. If you are too busy, and we understand that many of you are, you can show your support by becoming a PTA member. We thank all the families who have already joined the PTA. Family Math Night (Jan 26th), sponsored by the PTA, was a big success. Several families attended this fun and educational event. There were math challenges for all ages! Thank you to Heidi Emberling and Stacey Ashlund for organizing this event. We have some exciting events coming up. Join us on February 9th for Restaurant Night at the favorite Chinese restaurant ―Su Hong‖. On February 14th, we will have our General PTA Meeting at 8:30AM (see Banner article on page 3 for further details) and join us for coffee and treats. March 4th is our annual Ice Skating Party at The Winter Lodge which is reserved only for Briones families. This is a great chance for adults and kids alike to hang out with their Briones friends. The following weekend, on March 12th is the Juana Run. Encourage your kids to join the running club which takes place every lunch break, thanks to volunteer parents and teacher Suzanne Doi. We‘re still seeking volunteers. If you‘d like to help, please contact Inna Kaplan at [email protected]. When you register (whether it‘s online or with a form which you can drop off at the office), do remember to mention Juana Briones as your school. Part proceeds from your registration go to the school. Do watch your children‘s folders for flyers with more information. And last, Jessica Gillis our devoted librarian is looking for new volunteers. Many of the volunteers she had are currently not available to help. Their help made it possible for Jessica to open the library at lunch break help kids find appropriate books, and more. There‘s no need to commit to a permanent hour. Any help will be appreciated. Please contact [email protected]. Sincerely, Eynat Eliraz (PTA President), Dilshad Simons (Co Executive VP), Lisa Jiang (Co Executive VP)
Message from your PTA – Dec 2010
Eynat Eliraz (middle): PTA President
Dilshad Simons
Lisa Jiang ([email protected]):
PTA Co-Vice Presidents
Page 2 Briones Banner PTA NEWS
Meet your PTA Board! President
Eynat Eliraz
Executive Co-VPs
Dilshad Simons &
Lisa Jiang
VP Ways and Means
Jian Ma & Anna Ma
VP Community Activities
Debi Snipp
VP Communications
Aisha Zakariya
Amrita Bajaj
Secretary
Jen Schultz
Treasurers
Yvonne Li
Auditor
Heidi Axtell
Parliamentarian
Susan Gray
Council Chair #1 Esther Fan
Council Chair #2 Ginger Levy
Check www.briones.pausd.org
“PTA Tab” for all our
Committees & Volunteer
Members!
B
a
Feb 2011 - Volume 29, Issue 6 (2010-2011)
Next Copy Deadline: Jan 28, 2011
Mark Your
Calendars:
Next PTA Exec Board
and General Meetings: Meetings are open to all Juana
Briones families and staff.
Please come!
EXEC BOARD MEETINGS:
Thursday Mar 3rd
(7.00 PM)
Friday Apr 1st
(8.30 AM)
Please email
[email protected] for location
(evening meetings are typically
held in the Library)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEXT GENERAL PTA MTG:
Feb 14, 8.30 AM (Note:
time change). Join the PTA
for a special Valentine‟s
Day breakfast! [MP ROOM]
Upcoming SITE COUNCIL Mtgs:
(Mondays)
Feb. 7th (6.30 PM)
Mar 7th (6.30 PM)
@ Teachers Lounge
COME & JOIN US FOR A VALENTINE’S DAY BREAKFAST!!
Come to the next PTA General Meeting on Monday, February 14 and spend your Valentine's morning with us, while enjoying coffee and treats, courtesy of the Juana Briones PTA. We will raffle a few specially designed "I LOVE JUANA BRIONES”, (limted edition) T-Shirts, freshly pressed just in time for Valentine's Day. Be the lucky winners of these sought after shirts and show your school spirit while attending an informative PTA meeting. Speaking at the meeting will be Micaela Presti to discuss the 41 Developmental Assets, and
Susan Lovercheck, our school's Occupational Therapist. Special Promo: New members joining the PTA on Feb 14th get the T shirt free! Membership forms are available in the office or you can email Jennifer Sabolcik, Membership Chair, at [email protected], or call 650-948-1398. Join the PTA and show you care! Cost is $10 per member/year.
After February 14, the shirts will be sold for $8, while in stock. There is a limited supply!
Briones Banner AROUND BRIONES Page 3
We have so many wonderful teachers and staff at Juana Briones, so the Banner thought we can try to get to know them a little better! Test yourself and see if you can figure out whom we are describing below:
1. Was born and raised in Ohio
2. Loved playing in the wild spaces and admiring natural beauty
3. Has worked in clinical chemistry, human genetics and medical diagnostics.
4. Has been at Briones for over 19 years.
5. Has triplets and favorite bird is the great blue heron
See if you or your child can „Guess Who‟?
HINT: Go to www.briones.pausd.org
„Staff Bios‟!
[Answer: On Page 5].
GUESS WHO? Can you identify this member of Juana Briones?
Juana Briones Elementary School
4100 Orme Street
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone:(650) 856-0877
Fax:(650) 856-3750
Feb 2011 - Volume 29, Issue 6 (2010-2011)
Next Copy Deadline: Jan 28, 2011
ABOUT THE BRIONES
BANNER…
The Briones Banner is a PTA
funded newsletter designed to
serve as an informational
resource to the Juana Briones
community. Information is
provided as a community
service and mention of any
service, business or
organization does not imply
endorsement by the Briones
PTA or the Palo Alto Unified
School district (PAUSD). The
Banner is published monthly
(except when holidays
interfere).
Submissions and contributions
are welcome from the
community and can be sent to
the Editor
by email. If the article cannot
be submitted electronically,
please contact the Editor for
instructions. Submissions may
be edited for spelling, grammar,
clarity and length. All
submissions must include name
and contact information.
Submission Deadline: The 28th
of every month.
Editor: Khurshid Gandhi
Principal: Matthew Nagle
PTA President: Eynat Eliraz
BRIONES GREEN TEAMS’S GREEN TIP FOR THE MONTH!
Throughout the rest of the school year, the Briones Green Team will invite you on a monthly basis to show that you care for the future of your children‘s home through simple actions that might help you save money and enhance the health of your family. We understand everyone is busy and it takes work and thinking to get those things right. We hope you‘ll find our green tips helpful. FEBRUARY BRIONES GREEN TIP Are you throwing dollar bills out the window?
It‘s wintertime. Is your house leaking? Would a thermo scan of your house reveal serious heat loss? How is your energy bill? The city of Palo Alto just made it easier for you to figure out how you‘re doing by providing a comparison of your energy consumption with that of your neighbors.
Pledge to:
- Give a serious look at your utility bill - If you‘re a model in your neighborhood, give yourself a pat on the
back - If you‘re not an energy savings champion, try this:
o Set your freezer to 0 degrees, it doesn‘t need to be any lower
o Lower the heat of your water heater just a notch if the water runs warm enough that you could burn yourself at the faucet that‘s located closest to your water heater
o Insulate your water heater if you can feel heat to the touch o Wash your cloth in cold water o Air dry your dishes once the washing machine is done with the washing cycle o Hang your laundry on dry days o Install a smart meter that helps you understand what are the energy devouring
machines in your home o Replace light bulbs with CFL‘s o Schedule a house call with ACTERRA, a nonprofit organization that will help you find
even more saving opportunities for free (650-962-9876, x380)
Your benefits:
- Money savings!
Briones Banner AROUND BRIONES Page 4
Feb 2011 - Volume 29, Issue 6 (2010-2011)
Next Copy Deadline: Jan 28, 2011
SCIENCE AT JUANA BRIONES: FROM THE DESK OF KAREN KESSLER… I have run the Interactive Science Program at Juana Briones Elementary School for the past 19 years!
Briones maintains a Science Lab, where classrooms come and spend time learning about PAUSD science curriculum, which
covers life, physical and earth sciences. Most of the curriculum is based on FOSS kits (Full Option Science System), developed by Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley.
Primary grade classrooms visit the lab once a week for 8 sessions per unit, and third, fourth, and fifth grade classes rotate monthly, for twice a week visits. Fourth and fifth graders spend up to 1.5
hours each visit to the lab.
The time spent in the science lab is hands-on learning. A topic is introduced, a laboratory experiment carried out, and results recorded in science lab notebooks. Discussion at the end of each lab lets students share and compare their results. Lab notebooks are shared at open houses, conferences, and end of year. Fifth graders use
their notebooks for STAR science test preparation review sessions in the spring.
Students always ask at the beginning of each school year if they are going to get to dissect anything! Third graders spend time taking owl pellets apart as part of their San Francisco Baylands unit; fourth graders study squid in their classrooms; and in science lab fifth graders study the human musculoskeletal systems with chicken legs, thighs, and feet; and the circulatory and respiratory systems with a sheep heart dissection.
The primary students also get involved in our organic gardens to learn about the cycle of seed to fruit and vegetable connection, mostly in the spring. We are looking forward to increasing our time spent in the garden, in the near future.
Visit the PAUSD kindergarten through sixth grade science curriculum at www.lucinda.net/k6science/ and the Briones Science Lab website at www.brionessciencelab.com
This year we have enjoyed lots of parent volunteers, and having this extra energy in the lab really helps keep all students up to speed, and on task. Thank you to all of you who help our children learn science. Thanks also to the PiE funding that makes this science program possible at Briones.
Briones Banner Page 5
ANSWER for Page 3: ‗GUESS WHO?‘
KAREN KESSLER Science Teacher, Room 19].
