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


Thursday, May 19
PBL Fair / Open House! Come and see the what the students have been working on! Each class/grade has been working on a final PBL project, so take a tour of the classrooms to see the work that they’ve done.

Classroom doors  will open at 5:30.  Kindergarten Open House will be from 5:30 – 6:15.  1st – 5th grade classrooms will be open from 5:30 – 7:30.  There will be an orientation in the cafeteria for new Kindergarten families from 6:30 – 7:30.

Students and parents are invited and encouraged to tour the other classrooms on campus as well as their next grade level. (5th graders may visit any grade)  As your child tours a classroom at the next grade level, your child will be asked to fill out a slip of paper and write three things they learned or noticed in the room.  Kinder students may have their parents fill out their slip.  A completed slip will earn them a blue ticket and they will also be entered into a raffle.

Friday, May 20
Pajama Day! Have your child come to school in pajamas! Remember that regular dress code rules apply – no strappy nightgowns or tops, and pajamas must be appropriate for regular school activities. Also, students must wear shoes.

Box Tops Contest!
Turn in those Box Tops! If the the students bring in 2000 Box Tops by May 31, EVERY student will win an ice cream party! There are so many products now that participate, so be on the lookout. Just some of the products I’ve found them on – Welch’s grape jelly, Juicy Juice boxes, Ziplock bags, Cheerios, Kix, etc. Box Tops can be turned in to the office.

Where is your child going to school next year?…
In last Thursday’s folder you should have received a form asking if your child will be returning to Roosevelt next year. The office needs those completed forms to help determine class sizes and how many teachers will be needed for each grade level next year. Please turn in your form as soon as possible.

Expansion Committee Update…
Last Wednesday, the school board approved our request for 6th grade for the 2011/2012 school year!

Dismissal Times…
Beginning Friday, June 3, all Kindergarten classes will start at 8:00 and end at 12:10. Monday, June 6 – Wednesday, June 8 will be Minimum Days for grades 1 – 5.

Thursday, June 9 will be a Super Minimum Day – all classes dismissed at 12:00!

What’s New on the Parent Blog…
I’ve added two new sections to the blog. The first is a Roosevelt FAQ. I’ve written and answered questions about Roosevelt that I’ve been asked over the past few years. If there’s a question and answer that you would like to see listed, let me know and I’ll be happy to add it. The second is an Events page. I hope this makes it easier for all of you to keep track of upcoming events at school and in Redwood City. If there’s an event that you think should be posted, let me know. Thanks to Shari Tsuchiyama and Mrs. Boone for providing pictures of events in their classrooms! Just looking at all of the pictures makes you realize that there are so many wonderful things happening every day in the classrooms! I’m hoping to get more information and pictures from the teachers this week as they prepare for Open House and the PBL Fair, so I’ll post whatever I get as I get it.

Upcoming Events…
There’s a lot coming up as the school year winds down:

May 24 – Rally to support education funding, Last PTA meeting of the year
May 26 – Field Day
May 27 – Backwards Day and Student of the Month Assemblies
May 28 – Groovin in the Grove at Woodside High School to raise money for music programs in our schools (sponsored by the RCEF)
May 30 – Memorial Day (No School)
June 1 – Much Ado About Nothing
June 3 – Hat Day, 5th Grade BBQ/Swim Field Trip, Kindergarten End of Year Celebration, Outdoor Movie Night
June 9 – Last Day of School!

I try to keep the calendar on the Yahoo group as up to date as possible, so if you need to take a look, go to the Yahoo calendar

PTA Pledges…
These are the last few weeks to turn in any pledge money to the PTA. 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!

Art in Action for next year…
Volunteers for Art in Action are needed for each grade level next year. You can sign up to be a teacher (docent) or assistant. If you are interested in being a docent, training is provided and you don’t need any previous art experience. Art is such a wonderful addition to our school’s curriculum and, like music instruction, develops areas in the brain that are responsible for creativity, critical thinking skills and language. The time commitment is about 1 hour per month. This is one of those volunteer opportunities that is a low commitment with big rewards!  If you are interested, or have questions, please contact kazberg66@yahoo.com

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. There will be a rally at the Redwood City Courthouse Square at 7:30am on the 24th. Please come and show your support. For more information, go to the Educate Our State website www.educateourstate.org

RCEF…
The RCEF is once again trying to raise money to keep music education in our schools. At Roosevelt, the RCEF has paid for the Music for Learners program in grades 3 -5 and with our 6th graders next year, they’re hoping to keep funding instrumental music. Music instruction has been proven to develop areas of the brain that increase a students ability to think creatively and solve advanced math problems. The RCEF will be hosting Grooving in the Grove on Saturday, May 28 at Woodside High School and the July 4 Fun Run in downtown Redwood City. For more information, or to make a donation, go to www.rcef.org

School Calendar for Next Year…
At the May 11 school board meeting, the board ratified the calendar proposed by the Redwood City Teacher’s Association for the 2011-12 school year. The number of days school will be in session for 2011-12 depends on the amount of funding provided by the State of California, which remains uncertain, so the board approved two possible calendars – one that assumes 180 days of instruction for students and one that assumes 175 days of instruction for students. Calendar A will be the school calendar if the budget Governor Jerry Brown proposed in January prevails; calendar B will be used if the Governor and Legislature pass an “all cuts” budget. On both calendars all students will start school on August 22 and their last day will be June 7, 2012. Winter and spring breaks align closely with the schools in the Sequoia Union High School District on both calendars.

Have a great week!