There's still time to enter the iPad drawing!
Each tax-deductible $15 cash/check donation to the FGIS PTA earns the purchaser a chance to win a brand new iPad. So far, we have less than 100 entries so the chance to win is pretty high. Please turn $ and entries in to the front office by no later than 3:00pm on Thursday, 3/10. Additional entry forms are available at the front desk.
Dear Friends-
I apologize for this mass email.
As parents of children in San Mateo-Foster City School District (SMFCSD) you may know that our current Superintendent of Schools is retiring at the end of this year. The school district has hired an agency to lead the search for a new Superintendent.
This transition is critical. The new Superintendent has the ability to make broad changes in the school district (for better or worse). When San Francisco was searching for a new Superintendent, the agency listened to the input of parents and other stakeholders to find a good match for the district. Now is our chance. Thus, I am urging you to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities (see below) to communicate what you view as the important characteristics of our district - those that you would not like changed as well as what you view as important priorities so that your voice may be factored into this very important hiring decision.
For instance: do you feel that raising test scores must be accomplished at all costs (and would you be happy if teachers were pressured to only teach language arts and mathematics using a "drill and kill" style)? Do you want to see more science instruction in the elementary grades? Do you want SMFCSD students to learn how to think critically and creatively and learn how to be good problem-solvers? Do you value the professionalism of our hard-working teachers and their accumulated expertise about how to teach our students?
For those of you who are parents at Fiesta Gardens, I strongly encourage you to advocate for the integrity of our program and emphasize that the successful candidate must be more concerned with the long-term, longitudinal outcomes for our students, which are strong, than obsessed with short-term test score improvement that will compromise learning of our children in all areas. Those of you who are parents at other schools will likely have other important concerns to address as well, both academic and non-academic, such as the overcrowding in Foster City schools.
The search firm, Leadership Associates, is holding individual and small group appointments to solicit community input into the search during the day on Wednesday March 9th (the day after tomorrow) at the district offices (1170 Chess Drive). You may arrange for an appointment by calling (650) 312-7348. They are also holding open forums that evening between 6-7 pm, one at Bowditch MS, and the other at Borel. Finally, you may communicate your thoughts by email (leadershipassociates.upland@gmail.com) or by calling (909) 985-7814 to speak with either Peggy Lynch or Larry Aceves.
I apologize for the length of this email and for the salesperson-like tone. My experiences observing San Francisco go through four Superintendents has shown me that this is not a transition to leave to chance. If we want a Superintendent who will be well aligned with the educational values of our community, we must communicate what those values are, and now is the time to do it. Please feel free to share this email with other parents of children or future children in the San Mateo schools.
Best,
Rebecca Smith
p.s. please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want to talk about this further htims.acceber@gmail.com
In case you were going to help me today (Friday), 2nd grade lab has been canceled due to an assembly (West Bay Opera). I could definitely use your help next week, however!
Thank you,
Margaret
The 2nd graders are beginning research for their informational writing and, if Margaret has enough help, they will be able to search for information and/or pictures on the internet during lab time. The 2nd graders have lab on Wednesday and Friday from 10:25 to 11:35.
Margaret and our kids really need your help!!!!
If you can help, please contact Margaret (mbecker@smfc.k12.ca.us) or just come to the class meeting in the computer lab!
Thanks,
Melissa Perez
FGIS PTA President
FGIS READING BUDDIES NEEDED
Volunteers Needed to Support Students in Reading
We are looking for English & Spanish speaking people who can volunteer their time to help FGIS students improve their reading in both languages. Reading Buddies are a group of people (parents, grandparents, neighbors, college students, etc.) who support our students with their reading & vocabulary. The Reading Buddy meets individually with a student for 20 minutes, listening to the student read & supporting the student through encouragement & asking questions about the story.
Reading Buddies meet with students from 8:40 am – 10:00 am each Friday in the Art Room (located between Rooms 6 & 7). Please consider becoming a Reading Buddy, and let me know by sending me an email or phone call if you are interested in volunteering your time:
CONTACT: Cassandra Robinson, Reading Buddy Coordinator & FGIS Parent
Phone: (650) 515-9713
Email: cassandra.ccap@gmail.com
"This is the most rewarding volunteer work I have ever done. It is great to get to know a student, see them progress and watch them get excited about reading."
Laura Peters
Reading Buddy since 2008 & FGIS Parent
"My students feel special when a Reading Buddy listens to them read."
–Maestra Carmen Ortiz
" I feel proud when a buddy tells me 'good job' when I read a hard word well."
-Student quote
"Many of my students who received Reading Buddy support last year gained so much from the experience. They were more engaged during instructional reading time in the classroom; their participation was more frequent, and their confidence was also evident. They seemed to be more prepared to talk about their experience as readers. They also had more ideas to write about. I really appreciate and value the parent support for Reading Buddies."
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SUPPORT YOUR KIDS MUSIC CLASSES AT FGIS. THIS IS A FOR KIDS! FUNDRAISER.
RESERVATIONS REQUIREDHOPE TO SEE YOU THERE,
FGIS PTA
**RESERVATIONS for this are REQUIRED – See below**
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Confidentiality notice: This message may contain confidential information. It is intended only for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not that person, you should not use this message. We request that you notify us by replying to this message, and then delete all copies including any contained in your reply. Thank you.
------ End of Forwarded Message
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Clip — Clip the BoxTop from hundreds of participating products and bring them to the classroom or school office. Each one is worth 10¢ when our school redeems them from Box Tops for Education.
Shop online — Shop at your favorite online stores through the Box Tops Marketplace® (boxtops4education.com/marketplace). Up to 15% of your purchase total is automatically donated to our school, at no additional cost to you. Plus, you'll get exclusive Box Tops deals and discounts!
Read — Buy books online through the Reading RoomSM, a partnership between Box Tops and Barnes and Noble. Our school receives up to 6% of qualifying purchases.
My Class Essentials™ –– This is a free online registry to help classrooms get the learning tools they need. Our school earns a 2% cash donation with every purchase.
Sign up –– It's easy and free. Sign up to support our school at boxtops4education.com, where you can:
You can also sign up for Box Tops email newsletters that will keep you updated on the program, and for Marketplace newsletters with Box Tops members-only deals and discounts.
To learn more, visit boxtops4education.com—and thanks for choosing to make a difference at Fiest Gardens International School with Box Tops!
Sincerely,
Fiesta Gardens PTA President
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE,
FGIS PTA
**RESERVATIONS for this are REQUIRED – See below**
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Confidentiality notice: This message may contain confidential information. It is intended only for the person to whom it is addressed. If you are not that person, you should not use this message. We request that you notify us by replying to this message, and then delete all copies including any contained in your reply. Thank you.
SUPPORT FIESTA GARDENS SCHOOL!
On Friday, October 8th, in front of the school, you can buy or order yourself a school t-shirt for only $10.00!
¡APOYA LA ESCUELA FIESTA GARDENS!
¡El viernes, 8 de octubre, en frente de la escuela puedes comprar o pedir tu camiseta de la escuela por solo $10!
Horario de venta será de 8 a 8:45 de la mañana y de 12:30 a 1:15 de la tarde.
Don't forget to hand in your Jog-A-Thon pledges!
Congratulations to all participants of the Jog-A-Thon. It was a wonderful, fun event and we hope to raise much needed Money for our school.
Please remember that all Jog-A-Thon pledges are due tomorrow, October 7th. Please return your pledge envelopes to your teachers, in your Wednesday folder or directly to the office.
With thanks to all participants, supporters, teachers and volunteers,
Jo Newman & Ramona Barcklay
¡No olviden entregar sus promesas monetarias de Jog-A-Thon!
Felicidades a todos los participantes de Jog-A-Thon. Fue un evento fabuloso y divertido y esperamos recaudar fondos muy necesarios para la escuela. Por favor recuerden entregar sus promesas monetarias mañana, 7 de octubre. Pueden entregar sus sobres en la carpeta de los miércoles o directamente a la oficina.
Muchas gracias a todos los participantes, los que nos apoyaron, los maestros y voluntarios,
Jo Newman y Ramona Barcklay
650 888 6300
Agenda:
1. Pledge of allegiance 2. Topics: · Helen Johnson will give an overview of the 2010-1011 PTA Budget. Learn how the PTA funds the activities!· Melissa Perez will summarize the upcoming PTA activities for the year. Find out what fun times are in store for Fiesta Garden's future!
· Directora Spieller will provide academic announcements.
Junta de PTA de Fiesta GardensAgenda: 1. Juramento a la bandera 2. Temas:· Helen Johnson, presentará un resumen del presupuesto. ¡Entérese cómo el PTA patrocina actividades!
· Melissa Perez, hará un resumen de las actividades que tendremos durante todo el año escolar. ¡Como nos vamos a divertir!
· Directora Spieller explicará un poco sobre lo que nos espera este año escolar.
Agenda:
1. Pledge of allegiance
2. Topics:
· Helen Johnson will give an overview of the 2010-1011 PTA Budget. Learn how the PTA funds the activities!
· Melissa Perez will summarize the upcoming PTA activities for the year. Find out what fun times are in store for Fiesta Garden's future!
· Directora Spieller will provide academic announcements.
Junta de PTA de Fiesta Gardens Agenda: 1. Juramento a la bandera2. Temas:
· Helen Johnson, presentará un resumen del presupuesto. ¡Entérese cómo el PTA patrocina actividades!
· Melissa Perez, hará un resumen de las actividades que tendremos durante todo el año escolar. ¡Como nos vamos a divertir!
· Directora Spieller explicará un poco sobre lo que nos espera este año escolar.
Directora sends this along:
By Jan Goben
San Francisco Chronicle August 24, 2010 04:00 AM Copyright San Francisco Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Tuesday, August 24, 2010
C.W. Nevius' columns about parents' distress over San Francisco schools rang a bell with me, and I was prompted to weigh in about my delight with the public schools my daughter has attended in San Francisco.
When my daughter was starting kindergarten, friends said: "You can't stay in San Francisco; you have to move!" I heard this often enough that I worried. Did my husband and I have to leave the city we loved?
Well, we did decide to stay, and we entered our daughter in our neighborhood school, Fairmount Elementary. "You can't send her there - she won't learn anything at a Spanish immersion school," friends protested. I worried anew.
We chose a school that still needed help, but a new principal was coming in, and over the years the school became one of the most desirable in the city, thanks to the work of a great principal and dedicated parents. I quickly became involved with the school, and started working with the principal to write a weekly letter to parents. I would write his words in English; he then would write the message in Spanish so that it could be read by all the school families, who were half native English speakers, and half native Spanish speakers.
I watched the school earn a better and better reputation. Applications for admission increased. The school is on the border of Noe Valley, the Mission District and Glen Park, and it became more desirable for families from all of those areas.
I realized that this school we had chosen for our daughter was really our community. As she learned Spanish, we learned (some) Spanish, and developed friendships.
Over time, I saw more and more that I loved about raising my daughter in San Francisco. San Francisco students are regularly taken to the opera, ballet, symphony and museums. One of her teachers in elementary school worked with San Francisco Opera performers, who came to the school and had the students do a performance with opera stars.
In third grade, she was one of seven kids in her class chosen for a yearlong scholarship with the San Francisco Ballet. She has a pair of ballet slippers given to her by a professional ballerina she met.
When she began kindergarten, she joined a soccer team, and now, eight years later, the girls still play together.
My daughter is on a softball team through San Francisco Little League. She is also on the track and softball teams at James Lick Middle School, which has an extension of the Spanish immersion program she began at Fairmount.
Her grades continue to be good, and I wonder if part of it is from learning Spanish, because I hear about how being bilingual helps kids with other studies.
She said that, from the students she knew when she entered kindergarten eight years ago, she can count at least nine who are attending the top high school in our city, Lowell High School, which counts among its alumni Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
I'm very glad we stayed in San Francisco. My daughter has a group of friends from all over the world, and she has had school experiences I never could have dreamed of.
Jan Goben is a San Francisco public school parent.
This article appeared on page A - 8 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
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