Although it is only February, we are already thinking about next year. With all the uncertainty our state budget brings, we begin our planning by looking at registration. An accurate count of incoming students helps us prepare. If you know you will not be attending McNear next year, please send in the enrollment questionnaire coming home in the Wednesday folder. A new Kindergarten law also affects enrollment this year. Students coming into Kindergarten in 2012-13 must be five years old by November 1, 2012. This is a one-month change that will continue to roll back one month each year until 2014. Please let your friends and neighbors who are looking for a school know what a great place McNear is. Nancy arranges tours on a regular basis if they would like to visit the school. We would love to have them join our community.

We recently held our school spelling bee. Mr. Norstad and Ms. Turko hosted 12 students in the challenge. We watched the field narrow until only two students remained. Tuptim Dhanasunthorn (4th grade) and Frances Goughnour (5th grade) emerged victorious and the supreme spellers of the day. They will continue their path to spelling greatness by competing in the Regional Spelling Bee coming Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at Corona Creek Elementary School. Congratulations girls!

As I led a tour of prospective parents this morning, smiling involved parents were all over the place. I was reflecting on the amount of parent involvement we have at McNear, and it made me glad to work here. I wanted to say thanks for all you do.

Onward,
Jason

2. January Falcon Feathers

Here are the Falcon Feather recipients for the month of January. Great job, McNear students!

Louie Alpert, Salim Arikat, Lexie Camacho, William Cook, Julian Cordeiro, Brent Dyson, Isabella Ilagan, Jesse Lopez, Henry Luce, Ayana Penders, Nicholas Podobnik, Aleydis Reyes Sainos, Aaron Routh, David Villalobos, Max Young, Courvois Zaragoza.

3. McNear Giving Tree

Just a reminder that the McNear Giving Tree program is still running and the board is out in the breezeway on a daily basis (thanks to Mr. Norstad’s students, who are doing a fantastic job of taking it out/brining it in each day!) for your perusal and (hopeful!) assistance. This program is a wonderful place to share special talents YOU have to give to McNear, or to find requests of time or materials by McNear staff. It’s a win-win program for all of us!

4. Poetry Writing Workshops – Assistance Needed

Do you have a passion for writing poetry and teaching kids? Or do you know someone in the community who does? The PTA would like to coordinate poetry writing workshops again this year, but we are in need of a poetry workshop leader/teacher. In the past, the workshops have been held during lunch recess. The time commitment is about an hour, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which covers both upper and lower grade recesses. Usually there are two or three workshops held during the same week, although this can be modified depending on the poetry leader’s availability.

Last year, over 70 children attended the poetry workshops and wrote over 100 original poems. It would be wonderful to continue cultivating this passion and interest at McNear! So please contact Lyn Van Tighem at 765-9394 orl.van.tighem@gmail.com if you or someone you know might be interested in leading one or more poetry writing workshops this year. Thank you!

5. Save the Date: Year Round School Q & A

When: Tuesday, March 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: McNear Multi-Purpose Room

What: Year-Round School Question and Answer Meeting

In response to parent interest, the McNear School Site Council has organized a follow-up meeting to answer questions regarding year-round school. The meeting will host a balanced panel which will respond to written parent questions. Look for more information about the event in the next few weeks.

6. Skate & Donate

Skate & Donate at Cal Skate of Rohnert Park on Thursday, 2/2/12, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Check your Wednes- day packet for flyers for this fun event!

7. Shining Stars Project Update

The first annual Shining Stars Community Service Night was a success by all measures. Despite the rain, over 125 McNear students, parents, and staff generously gave of their time in support of community. All totaled we gathered 440 lbs. of food for the Redwood Empire Food Bank, almost doubling our goal and providing 346 meals for the hungry; we created 91 beautiful and thoughtful Valentines to hand out to Windsor Care Center residents; we made a bundle of blankets for traumatized children through Project Linus; and amassed roughly 24,000 grains of rice by testing our knowledge. Wow!

Apart from the many “good deeds” everyone participated in during the evening, a select group of students presented their “wishes to make the world a better place” by reading aloud their Star. These student wishes were among all the students’ Stars hung within the multipurpose. Some students and families also chose to share individual efforts they’ve made in community service and support. In full, the evening was a feel-good affair and truly representative of what makes our school community unique.

A special thanks to the parents and 6th grade students volunteering their time that evening to ensure its success. And to Clover-Stornetta for donating milk to complement the yummy desserts. Congratulate yourselves on your efforts to help others!

Any family that chose to “adopt” a blanket that evening is encouraged to return the blanket by Friday, February 3rd or contact Brandi Gordon (bgordonleno@gmail.com). Any additional blankets wishing to be donated to Project Linus are welcome by this date.

Of note, we will be hand delivering Valentines to Windsor Care residents on Monday, Feb. 13, at 3:15pm. For those who would like to help deliver cards please contact Anne Digges (digges@comcast.net).

8. Medications at School

Please be advised that ALL medications brought to school (prescription medication, over-the-counter medica- tions, aspiring, Tylenol, cough drops, eye drops, vitamins, etc.) MUST be kept in the office and MUST (NO EXCEPTIONS!) have a doctor’s approval (forms are available in the office, and new forms must be com- pleted every year). This form must be completed by the physician, detailing the medication (time to take, amount, etc.) and signed by both the physician and the parent. This is a STATE LAW and we must abide by it. We appreciate your understanding and adhering to these very important requirements.

9. McNear Absence Line

The McNear Absence Line number is 778-4859. This is an answering machine and is set to record messages 24 hours a day. Please call this number if your child is absent, or if you know your child will be late to school due to an appointment. Thank you.

10. Garden Meeting

The Garden Committee is holding a meeting, Saturday, Feb 4th from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the McNear garden. They’ll be discussing upcoming plans for Earth Day and the spring curriculum program, which will require parent volunteers for all grade levels. Following the meeting, 4 to 6 people are needed to help weed, harvest, and organize the garden for an hour. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

11. McNear Elementary School Special Education Parent Support

McNear Elementary School will be offering the following meeting times for McNear parents whose children are currently receiving special education services from RSP, Special Day Class, Speech and Language, Behavioral Aides, or Full Inclusion. Time will be given to supportive conversation and shared experience.

All meetings will be from 5-6 pm in Room 1.

2012 Meetings

February 9
March 8
April 12
May 10

For more information contact Janice Eurgubian at 778-4752

12. Upcoming Dates

• Feb. 2, 6:00-8:00pm – Skate and Donate, Cal Skate of RP – Flyers in Wednesday Packet
• Feb. 4, 8:30-10:00am – Garden Meeting, McNear Garden
• Feb. 8, 2:30-3:30pm, TB Test, Redwood Room, District Office
• Feb. 9, 5:00-6:00pm – Special Ed Parent Support Meeting, Room 1
• Feb. 10, 2:30-3:30pm – TB Test Reading, Redwood Room, District Office
• Feb. 13, 3:15-5:00pm – SSC Meeting, Library
• Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day!
• Feb. 17 – Holiday – NO SCHOOL
• Feb. 20 – Washington’s Holiday – NO SCHOOL
• Feb.24-End of 2nd Trimester
• Feb. 27-March 2 – Conferences – Early Release (M,T,Th,F) -1st- 3rd Grades – 1:30pm; 4th- 6th Grades – 1:40pm; Regular Wed. Release Time – 1st-3rd – 12:35pm; 4th-6th – 12:40pm
• Mar. 2, 7:30-8:20am – Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast

We are back in the saddle again. I hope your vacation was filled with family and fun. Although vacation was excellent, it was great to see the students at McNear this week. As we roll into the New Year, here are some things you should know about and ways you can get involved in 2012.

Spelling Bee

The McNear Spelling Bee is coming up this month on January 25, 2012 at 8:45 am in the Multi Use room. This annual competition between fourth, fifth, and sixth graders will determine the top spelling champs at McNear Elementary. Each class will hold a competition and send their top spellers to the school spelling bee. The top two school-wide contestants will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee later in the year. Keep an eye out for spelling words coming home and help your child practice.

Art Committee

Some of our fundraising efforts last year focused on bringing more art to our students. This has been a long-standing important component to education at McNear. If you are interested in participating on the Art Committee, please join us for our meeting on January 24, 2012 at 3:15 pm in the library. This committee will decide how to spend this money to effectively bring art education into the classroom.

Laptops

Some students at McNear do not have access to a computer at home. To help our students, we are starting a home computer program. We need help from a few parents that know how to reformat computers and set up operating system software. If you fit this description, please contact us. You will feel great when you make someone’s day.

We have solidly embarked on 2012. I am looking forward to another great year working with you in the McNear community.

Onward,
Jason

December Falcon Feathers

Here are the Falcon Feather recipients for the month of December. Great job, McNear students!

Louie Alpert, Ramsey Arikat, Gabriel Baca, Brooke Bruhn, Robby Cuneo, Jake DeCarli, Lola Ewing, Lola Ferini, Emma Fisher, Finn Flannery, Henry Forsman, Cameron Ghaznavi, Aiden Griffen, Javier Gutierrez, Miles Herndon, Anja Hultquist, Quinn Hyland, Henry Luce, Arianna Maier, Jeremy Martin, Jacqueline Mattox, Owen McCaffrey, Bruno McDarrah, Adan Mendiola, Melody Noble, Jake Eddie Pauline, Haley Rodas-Torres, A.J. Shaheen, Mackenzie Soper, Ford Stolp, Tanner Torrens, Maya Tuchband, Luke Weitzenberg, Maegin Wilder, Lauren Wolff

Come Help the New Year Glow with the Shining Stars Project

The Community Committee is gearing up for McNear’s first annual Shining Stars Community Outreach Project on January 19. This will be a night for students to share some of the steps they’ve taken toward their “shining star” dream, as well as an opportunity to help those in need. In “barn building” fashion we will rally to the causes of various assistance organizations and spend the evening strengthening our community in both Petaluma and abroad. Join us from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Multi for a dessert night and hands-on activities in support of the Redwood Empire Food Bank, Windsor Care Center, the Linus Project, and Freerice . com. There will be plenty of opportunities to help make this a meaningful and memorable event. Some of the easy ways you can help are:

• Hanging flyers around school prior to events
• Helping to set up and break down the Multi
• Helping to hang stars/decorations in the Multi
• Baking yummy goodies for dessert
• Helping to staff the V alentine-card-making station
• Helping to staff the blanket-tying station

We need help on many fronts! Contact Anne Digges (digges@comcast.net) if you can volunteer your time or support. Any way you can contribute will help to make a special evening for McNear.

TB Tests Needed

Just a reminder that if you are volunteering in a classroom you MUST have a current TB test on file with the District Office. TB tests are good for four years, and are offered free to parent volunteers once a month at the District Office. The TB test dates for the remainder of the school year are listed below. Testing is done on a Wednesday from 2:30-3:30p.m. and reading of the test is done that Friday, from 2:30-3:30. (If you do not return on Friday for the reading of the test, you will need to get tested again, at your own doctor and at your own expense.)

• January 18th & 20th, 2012
• February 8th & 10th, 2012
• March 7th & 9th, 2012
• April 11th & 13th, 2012
• May 9th & 11th, 2012

Webspiration Training

Reminder: There are still spaces available for the 1/30/12 training (5:00 p.m.) for 4th-6th grade parents.

Since it is a hands-on and interactive training, parents must RSVP to Nancy (nancyt@pet.k12.ca.us) to reserve a space in this class. Webspiration software will directly support the work your students are doing with book and research reports and easily applies to all writing forms that students must do.

eScrip Update

Sip to support your school! Get your Jamba School Appreciation Card keychain in the school office today! How it works: Just swipe your School appreciation Card at any Jamba store and 10% of proceeds will be donated to McNear Elementary School and 2% to National PTA. The more you’re sipping, the more they’re giving. Get your card today! It’s free and benefits our programs year-round.

A quick note about the Lucky Market SHARES cards that went home recently: If you already have a card in your wallet, they work just fine. Simply recycle any extras to the school office or Jennifer Mattox.
Thank you for supporting our school!

Mentor Me Petaluma

Help Mentor Me Petaluma celebrate national Mentoring Month in January! We have over 200 thriving mentorships in 16 Petaluma schools and also have 75 kids on our waiting list. Mentors and mentees spend time together each week working on school projects and study skills, playing sports, doing art projects, cooking together, hiking, reading, and much, much more. Mentoring is all about building long-term, consistent, supportive, trusting relationships.

You can help Mentor Me Petaluma provide more mentors to more kids: 1) Be a mentor and/or spread the word about our 75 waitlisted kids and help us recruit mentors. 2) Support us financially – we are not funded by the city, county, state or federal government, nor do we receive cash donations from school districts. We depend on the generosity of individuals, businesses, service clubs, PTAs, small foundations and our annual fundraising events.

To learn more about mentoring or to download an application, go to our website: www . MentorMePetaluma . org, call our office 778-4798 or attend a Q&A for prospective mentors. Viva Cocolat is hosting a Q&A on Thursday, January 12th from 7:00-8:00 p.m.; the address is 110 Petaluma Boulevard North in downtown Petaluma. Come if you can…or tell ten friends.

There are many ways to support our good work financially:

• Mail a check to 35 Maria Drive, #852, 94954
• Log onto the website and click the “donate” button
• Attend Band Night at the Burdell Building on January 14th, with a one-night-only reunion of the great dance band FunkSway
• Purchase “January Special” tickets for the Mad Hatter Ball, coming up on March 31st.

Each mentorship changes TWO lives simultaneously. Please join us!

McNear Giving Tree

Just a reminder that the McNear Giving Tree program is still running and the board is out in the breezeway on a daily basis (thanks to Mr. Norstad’s students, who are doing a fantastic job of taking it out/bringing it in each day!) for your perusal and (hopeful!) assistance. This program is a wonderful place to share special talents YOU have to give to McNear, or to find requests of time or materials by McNear staff. It’s a win-win program for all of us!

McNear Elementary School Special Education Parent Support

McNear Elementary School will be offering the following meeting times for McNear parents whose children are currently receiving special education services from RSP, Special Day Class, Speech and Language, Behavioral Aides, or Full Inclusion. Time will be given to supportive conversation and shared experience.

All meetings will be from 5-6 pm in Room 1.

2012 Meetings:

• January 12
• February 9
• March 8
• April 12
• May 10

For more information contact Janice Eurgubian at 778-4752

Upcoming Dates

• Jan. 12, 5:00-6:00pm – Special Ed Parent Support Meeting, Room 1
• Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – NO SCHOOL
• Jan. 18, 2:30-3:30pm, TB Test, Redwood Room, District Office
• Jan. 19, 8:30am – Whole School Assembly
• Jan. 20, 2:30-3:30pm – TB Test Reading, Redwood Room, District Office
• Jan. 23, 8:00-3:30 – K Registration Begins
• Jan. 23, 3:15-5:00pm – SSC Meeting, Library
• Jan. 23, 7:00pm – PTA Meeting (postponed from 1/9/12)
• Jan. 24 , 3:15-4:15pm, Art Committee Meeting, Library
• Jan. 25, 8:45am – McNear Spelling Bee, Multi
• Jan. 30, 5:00-6:00 – Webspiration Training
• Jan. 30, 6:30-8:00pm – ELAC Meeting

Technology You Can Use

We are happy to announce a new step in transforming learning at McNear. Webspiration is a visual learning tool that supports the writing process by helping students organize their ideas. As they brainstorm, research, and prepare to write, Webspiration software guides students through the creation of visual maps and then transforms them into an outline form. This program is the cloud-based version of Inspiration, which has been used in some classrooms for years. “Cloud-based” means that all third through sixth grade students have access to the program and their files from Internet connected computers at home, school, or anywhere. This amazing software has already been used in a number of classes with outstanding results. Our teachers who use Webspiration are seeing children who are able to write more independently and at a higher level of quality because it helps them organize their ideas effectively. Now you have the opportunity to bring this effective tool into your home.

Many of our teachers are excited to begin using this amazing software, but you don’t need to wait. All students can log into their account at http ://www . webspirationclassroom . com. The org id is falcon. The username for every student is their first initial and last name. The password is mcnear. Students with double last names only use their first one. If they share a duplicate name with another student at the school, try the whole first name with the last name. The system will ask students to change their password once they log in. Don’t forget it.

There are many online resources to get you started.

Overview of Webspiration: http ://www . inspiration . com/videos/WebspirationClassroom
Webinars: http ://www . inspiration . com/wc-webinar-form
Training: http ://www . webspirationclassroom . com/classroom-gettingstarted/help/training-videos

I am inviting 4th-6th grade parents to a hands-on training to learn how you can use it with your child at home. In just one hour of practice you will be up and running with Webspiration. We will have two different sessions in the computer lab to accommodate your schedules. Our first workshop will be on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 1:30 pm and the second on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 5:00 pm. Webspiration software will directly support the work your students are doing with book and research reports and easily applies to all writing forms that students must do.

Webspiration software will be a huge benefit for all students. Since it is a hands-on and interactive training, parents must RSVP to Nancy (nancyt@pet.k12.ca.us). We have space for 28 parents in each session, so respond quickly to secure a seat for yourself.

Lunches

Have you ever opened your child’s lunch box and wondered why they brought their garbage home? This is not the newest attempt of public education to save money by cutting garbage costs. We noticed many students throwing out significant portions of the food sent from home and recognized that parents might want that information. Asking students to pack their trash lets you know what your children are or aren’t eating at school. We have received parent response that items like half-eaten yogurts are a bit too messy to send home, and we appreciate the sensible feedback. We hope knowing how much of the sandwich or fruit was eaten helps you keep your children healthy. These steps don’t make lunch supervision easier, but hopefully they give parents at McNear valuable information on student nutrition and eating habits. When students are well fed, they are ready to learn. Thanks for your support.

Dress for Success

This familiar phrase even rings true at the elementary school level. Proper dress at school supports a focused learning environment. Although McNear’s dress code is published in the calendar, we see that many students are wearing clothes which do not meet the expectation. Please review the dress code with your children. Students with skirts that are too short, pants that are too baggy, straps that are too thin, or undergarments that are showing are not dressed appropriately for school. Our school policy in cases of inappropriate dress is to ask parents to bring other clothes to school. Please avoid this situation by reviewing the school expectations with your child.

November Falcon Feathers

Here are the Falcon Feather recipients for the month of November. Great job, McNear students!

Ethan Asch, Aylin Ayala-Gallardo, Lizzie Bies, Paris Buchanan, Claire Citti, Hannah Cordeiro, Rowan Cronin, Patrice Destine, Hayden Fogleman, Jackson Garner, Talula Gueldner, Victor Membrila, Lauren Poehlmann, Penny Reynolds, Sophia Ryan, Marley Schrock, Isabella Villarreal

Garden Growth Updates

Hello McNear families. Even though we are fast approaching the winter season our garden does not rest! Thanks to our amazing work day and ongoing Garden Club, we have fava beans taking flight, spinach, various lettuces and kale attempting to growing tall and some yummy herbs staying strong. Everyone keep an eye on that Kiwi plant, who knows when we will see another wonderful fruit! Please take a stroll through our garden when you get a chance – having a garden year round is a wonderful treat!

During Garden Club ten first graders heard a story and helped plant salad greens; three 4th graders transplanted kale. We are looking for a few volunteers to help with the Garden Club on Fridays from 11:30-12:30. No garden experience needed. More parent volunteers will be needed in April to work with small groups of students during the garden curriculum program. Please contact Carlin Finke at cmfinke@yahoo.com for more information.

McNear Garden Committee

eScrip Update

New Lucky SHARES cards went home in a recent Wednesday packet. Thank you for simply scanning each time you check out! If you do not shop at Lucky market, you may recycle the card by returning it to the office or to Jennifer Mattox.

Have you checked out our newly revised school website lately? If you scroll down to the green area, you can click on eScrip to launch escrip . com! Check out the eScrip Online Mall during your holiday shopping. You can launch most popular stores from the Online Mall and earn up to 18% cash back for McNear Elementary School. While you are at the Online Mall, download “AutoEARN” to earn contributions every time you shop without having to visit the line Mall first!

Community Committee News

Opportunities Served Up…Get your slice of the pie! The Community Committee is currently looking for people with all kinds of appetites. If you’re starving for a healthy slice of volunteerism, then join the Community Committee, meet once a month and help coordinate schoolwide activities that bring people together. Perhaps if you’re feeling a bit puckish, a smaller task would be more inviting: Crafty? Help hang stars in your child’s classroom for the upcoming Star Project (see below). Nurturing? Help keep the McNear Giving Tree blossoming with its offerings. Fun-Loving? Run an activity at our upcoming Family Dinner & Game Night. We have the right opportunities to satisfy any size craving to volunteer. If your plate has room for a bit more, visit our Community Committee page on the McNear website for contact and other information.

Star Project

Our second annual Star Project will be kicking off next week. This schoolwide activity encourages students to think about a wish to make the world a better place, and then think about an action they can take to help make the wish come true. From a wish to help the homeless comes a blanket drive. A dream of reducing carbon emission could start with walking and biking more. Students are encouraged to not only think of a wish, but also find a way to act on it! Please look for this Homeside Activity to come home soon and plan to join us for a fun family event to culminate our Stars Project on Thursday, 1/19/12 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the McNear Multi.

Winter Music Share!

Fifth and Sixth Grade Band & Chorus

McNear fifth and sixth grade students will have an opportunity to perform this year in a band and chorus winter music celebration before a student audience. Parents and school community are invited to attend as well. Monday, December 19th, 10:50-11:40 a.m. in the Multi.

TB Tests Needed

Just a reminder that if you are volunteering in a classroom you MUST have a current TB test on file with the District Office. TB tests are good for four years, and are offered free to parent volunteers once a month at the District Office. The TB test dates for the remainder of the school year are listed below. Testing is done on a Wednesday from 2:30-3:30p.m. and reading of the test is done that Friday, from 2:30-3:30. (If you do not return on Friday for the reading of the test, you will need to get tested again, at your own doctor and at your expense.)

• December 7th & 9th, 2011
• January 18th & 20th, 2012
• February 8th & 10th, 2012
• March 7th & 9th, 2012
• April 11th & 13th, 2012
• May 9th & 11th, 2012

Special Education Parent Support

McNear Elementary School will be offering the following meeting times for McNear parents whose children are currently receiving special education services from RSP, Special Day Class, Speech and Language, Behavioral Aides, or Full Inclusion. Time will be given to supportive conversation and shared experience.

All meetings will be from 5-6 pm in Room 1.

For more information contact Janice Eurgubian at 778-4752

2011 – 2012 Meetings

• December 8
• January 12
• February 9
• March 8
• April 12
• May 10

Wizard of Oz DVDs

Purchase your DVD copies of McNear Elementary School’s production:

The Wizard of Oz

Ordering is easy! Just fill out the information below, include cash or check, and mail to:

Austin Smagalski
1668 Creekview Circle
Petaluma, CA. 94954

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at: (707) 477-0102 or smagalskiac@yahoo.com

PS: Don’t forget one for Grandma and Grandpa!

Parent name: ________________________ Parent phone # (___)___________

Student name: _______________________ Room #

Number of copies: ı 1 ı 2 ı More (specify) _____

Payment: ı Cash ı Check (Make checks payable to Austin Smagalski)

Total: Pre-order price! $15 per copy Total: $

Upcoming Dates

• TODAY! TB Test, Dec. 7, 2:30-3:30pm – Redwood Room, District Office
• Dec. 8, 5:00-6:00pm – Special Ed Parent Support Meeting, Room 1
• Dec. 9, 2:30-3:30pm – TB Test Reading, Redwood Room, District Office
• Dec. 19, 10:50am – Winter Music Share
• Dec. 19, 3:15-5:00pm – School Site Council Mtg.
• Dec. 21, 12:45-2:45pm – Performing Arts Auditions for 2nd and 3rd Grades
• Dec. 22, 8:00am – Jingle Bell Jog
• Jan. 9, 2012, 7:00pm – PTA Meeting
• Jan. 11, 2012 – Newsletter Distribution

Principal’s Message

Parent-Teacher conferences rapidly approach. Conferences are a special time to discuss the progress of your child and to plan the path for the rest of the year. This special opportunity should not be missed. Many of us are anxious to have a productive meeting with our classroom teacher. Below are some tips from the National PTA website to help out during the conference time <http://www.pta.org/2532.htm>.

Ask questions - Questions you ask during the conference can help you express your hopes for the student’s success in class and for the teacher. It’s a good idea to ask the important questions first, in case time runs out.

Addressing problems - When problems arise, parents will want to:

• Avoid angry or apologetic reactions. Instead, ask for examples.
• Ask what is being done about the problem and what strategies seem to help at school.
• Develop an action plan that may include steps that parents can take at home and steps the teacher will take when the problem comes up at school.
• Schedule a follow-up conference and decide on the best way to stay in touch (phone, e-mail, or letters sent to the home).

Develop an action plan—If the student needs help with a behavioral or an academic issue, you and the teacher should agree on specific plans—that you both will work on—to help your child do better. Be sure you understand what the teacher suggests. If it’s not clear, ask him or her to explain. Set up a way to check on your child’s progress. You and the teacher can decide how best to stay in touch, such as through phone calls, notes, or additional meetings.

The rest of the article has additional ideas that are good to review. There are things you can do before, during, and after the conference to support your child. Consider ways you and the classroom teacher can work together to support your child this year. We need to work together for our students to succeed.

Report cards are also a new feature this year. Over the past two years, some teachers have piloted the new standards-based report card. This year all teachers will use this report card. This report card is designed to give you information about how your child is progressing towards meeting grade-level standards. The standards will be assessed with a 1, 2, 3, or –. A mark of 3 means the standard was met or the student is on track to meet the standard, a 2 means the student is behind in their progress, and a 1 indicates strong concern. Work habits are assessed as follows: O=Outstanding, S=Satisfactory, and N=Needs Improvement. Hopefully this report card will help parents understand where their children are and the direction they are headed.

Happy conferences,

Jason

On the evening of October 3, we held our first informational meeting on a year-round calendar. The multi-use room filled with parents wanting to hear and share viewpoints on this important issue. The School Site Council (SSC) sponsored this meeting in response to parent and teacher interest.

The panel of speakers for this meeting included Superintendent Steve Bolman, Principal Karen McGahey, Denise Toll, Jocelyn Guite, and Bart Williams. The evening turned out to be thought provoking and emotionally charged as the panel discussed experiences, listened to concerns, and answered questions. The meeting ended with discussion about what parents could expect from this process.

Exploring year-round options originated from requests to the School Site Council. The SSC wanted to determine interest levels for a new calendar from both parents and teachers but knew that we needed strong support from both teachers and families to justify switching calendars. If either group does not support a new calendar, we would not make a change. In order to see how our community feels, School Site Council has made the commitment to educate and poll teachers and families regarding this issue.

We recently polled the staff and found that support for adopting a year-round school was halfhearted. 41% of staff did not support changing calendars, 41% did support changing it, and 18% of our staff did not vote. Some of those not voting stated that they thought the parent community should make the decision and others needed more information.

After polling the staff, the SSC held a special meeting this Monday to determine next steps. The discussion centered on whether to poll parents after seeing the results from the staff. After weighing the options, the SSC voted to measure parent interest. It was clear from the informational meeting that we need to move slowly on making this decision. The SSC will sponsor a committee of interested parents to organize another parent information night and to provide resources representing both sides of the issue. This March the SSC will poll parents to determine what level of support our families have for adopting a year round calendar.

Our school will not adopt a new calendar without strong support of both staff and families. If we have strong parent support, the staff will need to have another conversation to see if their perspective has changed. If either families or teachers do not support a new calendar after the informational meetings are complete, we will not move forward. If strong support emerges from both groups, a new calendar would not be adopted until the 2013-2014 school year.

Those who attended the informational meeting know that emotions run high on this issue. This feeling is understandable since this is a big issue that affects children, families, and learning. Remember that working with a community rooted in democratic ideals can be messy and uncomfortable, but it is worth it. At the end of this process, we will know that we have been thorough, inclusive, and that we understand what our community wants. Whatever the decision turns out to be, we will know that we made it together.

Onward,
Jason

Bookfair – Huge Success!

The McNear fall Bookfair was a huge success! We raised over $1,750, which will directly benefit programs at our school and we were able to add another $750 in books to the classrooms. A big THANK YOU goes out to all of the volunteers who helped and families that shopped.

The Community Committee is Alive and Kickin’!

Kickin’ the year off right, that is. With a warm, congenial Welcome Back Coffee as its first event, the Community Committee continues its mission to bring our community together, create dialogue about important issues, and as a result, affect meaningful change. This fall the committee is planning initiatives focusing on McNear’s Caring School Communities program, launching phase two of creative community outreach begun with last spring’s star project, and continuing the vibrant conversations from last year’s Town Hall Meeting. Look for updates with each newsletter under this same “Community Committee Corner” headline. We will be highlighting events and activities, recapping progress and also showcasing individuals and families in our school community that are affecting change at McNear or within our larger community.

Also, don’t forget to stop by the McNear Giving Tree in the front of school. Planted in the spring last year, the Giving Tree bulletin board is a great place to share special talents you have to give to the school, or to find requests of time or materials by McNear staff.

The Community Committee posts agendas, minutes and notes to the McNear website when they become available. ( http ://www . mcnearelementary . org/community . html ) As always, questions and suggestions may be directed to the Community Committee at mcnearcommunity@gmail.com. Interested and committed parties are encouraged to attend our meetings. Please contact us for future inclusion!

HomeSpun Craft Fair

Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual McNear School HomeSpun Craft Fair. This will occur on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If you are interested in having a table at the fair, please fill out the entry form, located in the office, and submit it to April Citti at aprilcitti@yahoo.com. Space is limited, so please submit early. There is a $10 table fee and 20% of sales benefits the McNear PTA and After School Enrichment program.

Art Docents

Bring the gift of art to elementary school students! The Petaluma city Schools Art Docent Program offers an unique volunteer experience – teaching art lessons in elementary schools in Petaluma. No art experience is necessary and docents generally work in teams so you won’t be alone unless you feel comfortable.

Please contact Alyse Breece at abreece@pet.k12.ca.us or 778-4958 for more information.

September Falcon Feathers

Here are the Falcon Feather recipients for the month of September. Great job, McNear students!

Louie Alpert, Jacob Benito, Jacob Breeden, Dominic Butts, Lexie Camacho, David Cook, Austin Frank, Carson Gary, Garett Gehring, Ernie Gonzalez, Madalyn Hecker, Bradley Hogin, Madison Johnson, Shane Lowry, Ayana Penders, Morgan Piper-Cordova, Jacob Rollstin, Karen Rubio, Alex Sanchez, Ruby Selvig, Morgan Smith, Maya Tuchband, Aaron Van Tighem, Brady Wade, Max Young

McNear Poetry Slam

It’s time for the 4th, 5th and 6th grade Poetry Slam!!! Join us on November 4th for a night of poetry and snapping, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

eScrip Update!

Please watch for an entry slip being sent home for a drawing…just for participating in eScrip programs!

Do you shop at Lucky Market? Be sure to scan your SHARES card each time you check-out. If you need a card, stop by the office to get one today. Super fast, free, and easy fundraising.

Are you planning on purchasing something online? Check out the online mall at www . escrip . com first! If you launch your favorite retailer (think Amazon, Macy’s or Groupon, just to name a few) from this site, our school could earn up to 18% of your purchase to support our programs!

Friends of McNear Meeting – TONIGHT

The Friends of McNear (FOM) is having a committee meeting tonight, October 12, to discuss the Dinner Auction. The meeting will be held from 7:00-8:30 p.m. tonight at Liz Foote’s house, 120 Ravenswood Court (765-1382).

We will be discussing volunteer opportunities for the event. Even if you only have a couple hours to spare between now and April, we could use your help! Please get involved with this amazing event! We look forward to seeing you tonight.

Friends of McNear Meeting – October 17th

On October 17th, at 2:00 p.m. in the McNear Library, we will be discussing how to distribute the funds raised in the upcoming Friends of McNear Auction/Dinner. All are welcome – please come and share your ideas.

Parking/Driving Concerns

Please do not drive into the back parking lot before/after school to drop off/pick up your child. The back parking lot is for staff and volunteers (and for K pick-up at 11:45 a.m.). Driving into the back parking lot is a definite safety issue; many children are walking through the area to go out the G Street gate. Cones, and staff, are on G Street to ensure the safety of our children; please do your part also. Thank you.

Garden News – Fall, 2011

Hello McNear families! The garden is overflowing with sunflowers and has much to harvest. Stop by and enjoy.

There is much work to be done in the garden and we need YOUR help. Come to our Garden Party before the Harvest Carnival on October 15th from 8-11 am. We invite you to join us in the garden to help with the chores, make some discoveries, and make new friends. Yup! We’ve got some clean-up to do and we could sure use your help. Come for as long as you can, all helpers welcome, the tall and the small. Many hands make light work!

As you may know the teaching garden offers a rich McNear learning experience that integrates science, earth stewardship and health in a real-world, hands-on application. Our children learn natural science as they witness the growth of the seeds they plant. After maintaining garden beds and waiting for harvest they sample delicious fresh vegetables and often-times delight in discovering a new taste. While the garden committee is dedicated to maintaining this program, we are at risk of losing it. We need parents volunteers for specific tasks ranging from bringing in supplies on weekends to daily weeding & pruning to planning & cooking our harvest during the school day. If you have a desire to keep this program going strong please consider volunteering your time to the Garden Committee. Email mcneargardencommittee@qlubb.com to opt in to receive emails dedicated to bringing you garden news and requests for help.

Now, if you think the garden isn’t for you, please read on…

5 myths about the McNear garden:

1. Someone else planted it. I should look but don’t touch.
   Wrong! This is your school; this is your garden. By all means touch it, smell it, eat from it and help take care of the garden. It’s best if you can share your harvest with your child’s class, class buddies or just your family. And if you have ten minutes before or after pickup please check our To-Do list posted on the shed door to see what help is needed. Lend a hand and pitch in!
2. I don’t know what was planted and don’t want to inadvertently pull out edible plants by careless weeding.
   If you can read you’ll know what’s planted. We’ve got signposts on nearly everything that’s planted. Plus there’s a huge picture display of pesky weeds on the garden shed. Our biggest threat right now is crabgrass. If you see it, pull it up by following the roots down as far as you can and discard in the organic waste bin (not in the compost please!).
3. I don’t want to mess up the garden, I know they use it for teaching.
   While we do use the garden for teaching, right now we’re between cycles. Once the teaching garden is back in full swing we’ll alert you to the plants that we’re growing for the lessons and are “hands off”.
4. I don’t garden. I won’t be of any help.
   Not true! The garden committee needs volunteers with all skills and strengths. Help us tidy the tool shed, spread mulch, brainstorm events, organize parent volunteers, direct students, cook fresh veggies, pick up and deliver supplies, and so on. If you are reading this you are more than qualified to lend a hand.
5. I don’t visit the garden. I don’t need to help. 
   Aside from its beauty, its bounty, and the island of peace it offers, your child learns from the garden through curriculum. By helping in the garden you’ll learn first-hand what your child is studying. By knowing what she’s learning you’ll be able to ask questions and reinforce learning while showing her you’re interested. Get to know McNear’s garden. It’s a treasure to our school and will be a treasure to your child.

So now you know why we need your help. Without parent volunteers our garden would not exist. The beauty, bounty, and opportunity for growing minds will diminish unless we aggressively push forward our teaching garden curriculum which by design is run by volunteers. If you have any desire to help or even learn more, please opt in to our email list serve by emailing mcneargardencommittee@qlubb.com.

When the garden grows so do our children!

Thanks,
The Garden Committtee

Special Thanks

Please join us in showing our gratitude to outgoing PTA co-presidents Christi Reynolds and Kendall Abramson. They worked tirelessly for our school community over the last two years and led us through everything from budgetary constraints to last minute classroom shuffles. Their creativity, vision and hard work have set us on the path for another great year here at McNear and we are looking forward with optimism and excitement thanks to them. We hope Kendall is thriving up there at the Junior High. Christi is still on campus so you can thank her in person!

From the 2011 PTA

From the Nurse

6th Grade Parents: A whooping cough booster will be due for entrance into 7th grade. If your child has already had this, please bring evidence of the booster to the office, for the nurse. If your child has not had this, please contact your medical provider and have this done sometime in 6th grade, if possible.

Thanks,
Darien Chandler FNP

Summer Reading Program & Summer “Marvelous Mathematician Club” Participants

Our Summer Reading Program and Summer “Marvelous Mathematician Club” participants are listed below. Most of the students who participated in the Marvelous Mathematician Club also participated in the Summer Reading Program. Way to go, McNear students!

Summer 2011 - Summer Reading Program Participants

Jessica Alcala, Samantha Andrews, Anna Arial, Sheriene Arikat, Ramsey Arikat, Marina Armstrong, Amy Ayala-Gallardo, Braden Baker, Justine Barnes, Elena Bermont, Vincent Bermont, Audrey Borloz, Zachary Borloz, Christopher Caballero, Ben Clemens, Robert Cuneo, Julia de Jong, Liam DeNardo, Tuptim Dhanasunthorn, Gianluca Di Stefano, Bailey Dyson, Savannah Engler, Zachary Engler, Alex Esteban Hernandez, Lea Fabian Davies, Madison Fisher, Hayden Fogleman, Daniel Forsman, Henry Forsman, Nicholas Frank, Audrey Fross, Bianca Furger, Boss Furger, Jackson Garner, Maya Greenberg, Carson Guite, Dylan Harris, Mia Harris, Grace Hegenbart, Miles Herndon, Gabriela Hudson, Dylan Johnson, Madison Johnson, Amelia Kreishok, Sofia Lee, Ella Leno, Zachary Leno, Olivia Lillig, Andre Louviere, Sophia Marziano, Jacqueline Mattox, Juliet Mattox, Thea McDarrah, Jacob McDonnell, Yadira Mejia Caballero, Audrey Morris, Patricia Morris, Gavin Newell, Kane Parsons, Caitlin Perez, Morgan Piper-Cordova, Emmit Podobnik, Emily Poehlmann, Lauren Poehlmann, Daisy Reynolds, Paola Salgado Bernal, Alina Salvato, Gina Salvato, Leo Salvato, Braeden Schilling-Smith, Carin Simontacchi, Max Smith, Sol Smith, Mackenzie Soper, Murphy Stearns, Wally Stearns, Claudia Stile, Clay Stolp, Ford Stolp, Lucca Stringer, Erik Toussaint, Lily Toussaint, Charlie Weitzenberg, Luke Weitzenberg, Reilly Williams, Tony Wilson, Kathryn Wood, Lucas Wuopio, Knoll Young, Courvois Zaragoza

Summer 2011 - Marvelous Mathematician Club Participants

Ramsey Arikat, Salim Arikat, Sheriene Arikat, Audrey Borloz, Zachary Borloz, Julia de Jong, Austin Frank, Madison Johnson, Jacqueline Mattox, Juliet Mattox, Emily Poehlmann, Lauren Poehlmann, Kapena Spring, Clay Stolp

Upcoming Dates

• Oct. 12, 7:00-8:30pm – TONIGHT! Friends of McNear Meeting – Liz Foote’s house, 120 Ravenswood Ct.
• Oct. 14, 2:30-3:30pm – TB Test Reading, Redwood Room, D.O.
• Oct. 15, 11:00-3:00 – Fall Carnival
• Oct. 17, 2:00-3:00pm – Friends of McNear Fundraising Mtg., Library
• Oct. 17, 3:15-5:00pm – SSC Meeting, Library
• Oct. 19 – Schoolwide Class Photos and Individual Photos for K, Ms. Turko and Ms. Joyner / Ms. Kelly
• Oct. 20-21 – Individual Photos
• Oct. 20 – Earthquake Drill