Welcome back!

Make sure to mark your calendars for the following events at Roosevelt this week:

Monday, April 25
Classes resume – normal schedule.

Tuesday, April 26
PTA Meeting at 6:00pm in the Faculty Lounge (Room 14).  All are welcome to attend and Spanish translation is available.  Free childcare is provided in the Champions room.

Thursday, April 28
Please turn in snack donations to the office.   STAR testing is beginning in the next week for 2nd – 5th graders and the school wants to provide a healthy snack for the test takers.  Donated snacks will be put into baggies for each student.  If you can donate a snack, please make sure there is enough for 30 students.  Items requested are: Cheerios, gold fish crackers, Chex or Life cereal, pretzels, popped popcorn, Pirate Booty, sandwich size ziplock bags.  If you can help put the snacks together, please come to the office on Friday, April 29 at 8:10am.

Fresh Choice restaruant fundraiser!  Please come and eat at Fresh Choice and they will donate 15% of sales back to Roosevelt.  Please present your flyer to the cashier so that Roosevelt can get the credit for your meal purchase.  Extra flyers are available in the office.

This week on the Parent Blog!
Unfortunately, there was an error with the blog’s server.  I’ve contacted the hosting site and they are working to resolve it.  I’m hoping that the site will be back up and running by Tuesday at the latest. I received pictures and videos from Ms. Mallari’s 1st grade class, Mrs Boone’s 3rd grade class and Ms. Tsuchiyama’s 4th grade class and Ms Bates class that I’m going to put up.  If you have pictures from the classroom or a school event that you would like to have posted, let me know. Also, if there’s ever anything you’d like to see on the blog, let me know and I’ll be happy to post it.

Expansion Committee Update…
Ms Girardi met with Mr. Parungao, the district’s Chief Business Officer, before Spring Break to go over our campus’ available space.  Superintendent Christensen is waiting for a report on space allocation for the entire district from Mr. Parungao and as soon as that is done, we hope to be added to a May board meeting agenda for a request to add 6th grade for the 2011/2012 school year.

PTA Pledges…
Many of you chose the option to pledge money every month to pay for our P.E. program. Unfortunately, sending out reminder bills has proven difficult. The PTA still needs your donations to support our P.E. program. Please stop by the office or send your pledge money in an envelope to school with your child. Thank you for supporting the extra curricular programs here at Roosevelt!

PTA Nominations…
Do you have great ideas for Roosevelt?  Do you want to get more involved? Do you want to meet more parents and feel part of something? The PTA needs you! They are actively seeking volunteers for next year’s PTA. If you’re interested, or want more information, please feel free to contact Aurora Gallardo or Bonnie Courtney-Rodriguez or attend the April 26 PTA meeting.

District Budget News…
Next year’s school budget is still unknown at this time. For those who would like to learn more about the effect of the state budget on the Redwood City School district, community budget forums have been scheduled:

Monday, May 2, Community Budget Forum, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: John Gill, 555 Avenue del Ora
Tuesday, May 10, Community Budget Forum, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Clifford School, 225 Clifford Ave

The budget update that was posted on the District website last month summarizes the three scenarios the district is considering. Plan A was dependent on a June election. Plans B and C provide a rough outline of what the district may have to cut if the governor now proposes closing the entire $24 billion deficit with spending cuts alone (e.g. an “all-cuts” budget).

Most of the cuts under plans B and C will be in the form of eliminating teacher work days (and corresponding pay) and reducing teacher salaries, based on the agreements that were reached with the union representing teachers last year. Under both plans, the school year would be reduced by 5 days for students. Additional budget cuts will also have to be made that have not yet been determined. The district issued 4 pink slips this year and notified 36 temporary teachers that their contracts would not be renewed next year due to the budget cuts.

The district would like to encourage you to attend one of the upcoming budget forums so that your questions can be answered. In addition, budget updates are given at each school board meeting.

Rally to Support Education Funding…
Educate Our State, a grassroots organization started here in Redwood City, will be hosting statewide rallies on May 24 to show that parents and citizens support quality education and to draw attention to the budget crisis affecting our schools.  More details will follow as I receive them, but please mark May 24 on your calendar so that you’re available to show your support.  For more information, go to the Educate Our State website www.educateourstate.org

Have a great week!