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DATES TO REMEMBER

June 14th    Field Day and No Early Dismissal

June 15th    5th Grade Promotion at 8:30am

June 15th    Last Day of School, Students Dismissed at 10:30am

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PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER

Thank You

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people with whom I worked very closely this year.  It has been such a privilege to work with Alli Murdoff as my Parent Group President this year!  I can’t thank you enough for everything you did Alli! 

I would like to thank all of the dedicated Parent Group Executive Board members: Alli Murdoff, Kelly Scandalios, Ana Brubaker, Lisa Edwards, Liz Kahn, Christina Ip-Toma, and Shawna Droese.  I really enjoyed working with all of you! 

I would also like to thank the Committee Chairs: Naomi Cochran, Susan Woodhouse, Ann Green, Sherry Haber, Shaun McKall, Khristine Holterman, Claire Wolfenden, Bev Turnbaugh, Angelina Collins, Jackie Sage, Lisa Rubenstein, Dan Kates, Paula Giovara, Elaine Breeze, Julia Davidson, Mairin Macaluso, Davina Murphy, Shema Sherwin, Michael Rubenstein, Wendy Bolton, Denise Lundquist, Nicole Smith, Arlene Floresca, Jennifer Frolik, Karen Lang, Andrea O'Riordan, Amy Koch, Harriet Love, Kim Hooker, Arlene Rosenberg, Kathleen Boyse, Angelina Collins, Jane Donahue, Alicia Isero, Elaine Breeze, Kelly Scandalios, Kim Gelman, Roshanne Hemmat, Giselle Beucus, and Tammy Jong.  I know that each Committee Chair also had COUNTLESS volunteers who helped in so many ways.  Your work behind the scenes is fundamental to the success of all of our committees.  Thank you so much for helping at North!

I would like to thank my School Site Council chair, Anne Longworth, and Site Council members: Leilani Dowd, Roshanne Hemmat, Amy Koch, Erica Long, Tim Raffo, Christina Spicker, Rosemary Varlese, and Claire Wolfenden.  Your dedication to making our instructional program even stronger is inspiring!

Last but not least, I would like to thank my North School staff!  Each and every staff member helped in countless ways this year to make this another hugely successful year!  This has been a particularly challenging year with the uncertainty surrounding the departure of 12 staff members.  The entire staff handled every moment of uncertainty with professionalism and courage.  I am honored to lead such a group of dedicated professionals.  It has been a pleasure and a joy to work with all of you and I want to thank you all for your participation in making North such an amazing school for kids!

Yosemite

I am very excited to let everyone know that the 4th grade field trip to Yosemite was a huge success!  Everyone worked together to ensure a wonderful experience for our kids.  My thanks goes out to my teachers who attended the trip,  Bradley Chamblin, Gayle Collins, Tori Kaufman, Marsha Klippel, and the Yosemite co-chairs, Khristine Holterman, and Claire Wolfenden for their great organizational skills and to all of the parent chaperons for their time and hard work.  Thank you for your dedication to making this trip incredible for everyone.  This trip was particularly incredible this year with the amazing weather we had on the trip!  The children absolutely loved every minute of it and they were terrific.  They represented our school so well.  They came away with an enhanced appreciation for our National Parks and our environment.  They rose up to every challenge and I was so proud of everyone.  Way to go, North Stars! 

Zeroing Out Your Accounts

With the school year coming to a close, it is very important that your accounts are all paid up.  Yearbooks will not be handed to students who have not returned all library books (or paid any lost library book fines) AND any outstanding hot lunch accounts.  We have a lot of people who owe hot lunch money.

Field Day

North School will hold its annual field day on Thursday, June 14th from 1:00-2:30pm.  Our PE teacher, Ms. Devine, is working closely with the school staff to create a field day experience that is sure to be fun and memorable.  Please remember to send your child in appropriate PE clothing, hats, and sunscreen on that day.  Please note: All Kindergarten students are scheduled that day from 10:00am-2:45pm.

Summer Already

This year just flew by!  I would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing summer!  I hope you all get to spend quality family time together.  We are looking forward to seeing you all back on Tuesday, August 28th.

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FROM THE NPG PRESIDENT

"These are days to remember" was how we started the first day of school, with a slide show displaying happy faces around North.  I can't think of a better way to end the year than to reiterate what a special place North is.  These truly are days that we and our kids will remember.  I have so enjoyed my role and have had an absolute blast working with the board this year: Kelly, Ana, Liz, Shawna, Lisa, Christina and especially Angela.  They worked incredibly hard, alongside the countless parents who volunteered this year.  Click here for a personal thank you to all committee chairs.  We all came together to build a stronger community and I'm honored to be a part of it.  Our staff deserves a long and restful summer break for their dedication to our children.  We are so grateful to have them in our daily lives.

Happy, happy summer!! 

Alli
 

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THANK YOU

Yosemite 2012

On behalf of the 4th grade parents, we'd like to thank our wonderful Yosemite chairs, Claire Wolfenden and Khristine Holterman, for all their time, organization, and commitment to making Yosemite an unforgettable experience for the 4th grade class and chaperons!

5th Grade Promotion

Thank you to the 5th Grade Promotion Committee for all your time, effort, energy and enthusiasm in planning a very special day for the fifth graders! Kim Bagby, Denee Berliner, Tierney Biezer, Geetika Bobba, Christina Ching, Sarah Chung, Julia Davidson, Criss DeGuzman, Lily Enayati, Andrea Enright, Arlene Floresca, Sherry Haber, Roshanne Hemmat, Kim Hooker, Debbie Icardi, Christina Ip-Toma, Liz Kahn, Erica Long, Harriet Love, Mairin Macaluso, Karen Masterson, Tammi Michael, Erin Mooallem, Davina Murphy, Andrea O'Riordan, Karen Pratt, Lisa Rubenstein, Anna Salinger, Kelly Scandalios, Jenny Schaffer, Nicole Smith and Nora Yu

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NORTH NEWS

Field Day

It’s the end of the year and Field Day is here!  Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, June 14th from 1:00-2:30pm.   Early Bird Kindergartens are encouraged to come and participate in the Field Day festivities.  The students would stay with their class on this day until 2:30pm.  

Each grade level is encouraged to wear a team color to help identify the grade levels and promote a positive team atmosphere. 

TEAM COLORS

RED    KINDERGARTEN TEAM  YELLOW 1ST GRADE TEAM  PURPLE 2ND GRADE TEAM  ORANGE 3RD GRADE TEAM  GREEN 4TH GRADE TEAM  BLUE  5TH GRADE TEAM  

Kindergarten Buddies Needed!

Do you have an incoming Kindergartner and older children at North?  Please help us welcome our new Kindergarten families.  Sign up to be a Kindergarten Buddy and help these new families with their transition.  Contact Julie at jrledbetter@gmail.com for more information.
 

HTV:  (Hillsborough Education Television)

North HTV is proud to announce our new co-chair for next year, Andrea O'Riordan, who will be coordinating with current chair-extraordinaire, Karen Lang.  Also joining HTV will be the 5th Grade Newscast chairs, Roshanne Hemmat and Ashvini Bhave.  Join this great team next year to help capture great memories and to keep the HTV program alive.

A special thanks to all parent volunteers who filmed the musicals, fieldtrips and special events in and around North School.  Without you, your special Memory Video would not be possible!  PLEASE consider filming for HTV next year, and the years to come!

Did you catch the last LIVE North Newscast?  Check it out:  http://bit.ly/MASfg6

Community Outreach - Change for Change

The kids have really gotten behind this effort and have raised an outstanding sum of change totaling $607.06 in the second trimester.  Mrs.Burns' second grade class raised the highest amount which earned them the privilege to designate the recipient of this donation.  Due to a technical complication with their first choice, Healthy Families, the money will be going to the children's second choice, Cameron House, a 130 year old organization in San Francisco that assists immigrant families in the Bay Area.

We are looking forward to making Change for Change an annual competition at North School and eager to see who raises the most in the next competition!

Many thanks to Mrs. Van Bebber for her leadership and a big thank you to the Character Team for presenting this idea to each classroom and for helping to count all of this change!
 
If you have any questions, please contact angelina@onebox.com.

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HILLSBOROUGH RECREATION

Children's Workshop

Here is a sneak preview of our exciting new academic enrichment units that teach your child 21st Century Learning Skills: the ability to create, persevere, and communicate successfully.

Our "I Love Dirt" unit is our response to the book Last Child in the Woods - Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.  Children will classify birds, excavate and analyze soil, and study seed dispersal while enjoying all the benefits of the great outdoors.

"Math Mastery" will cement a deeper understanding of critical mathematic concepts using manipulatives and team collaboration.  

During "Create Your Own World," students will create a culture from scratch: their own language, math symbols, currency, government, holidays, and foods. 

Stay tuned for all of the rich learning experiences available next year!

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COMMUNITY NEWS 

This is your chance to enhance our community and to help beautify Hillsborough City School District Office.  This is a new project entirely funded by donations to Hillsborough Beautification Foundation (HBF), a nonprofit foundation.  No school funds will be used for this beautification project at the District Office.

Purchase a Brick: Commemorate your family, or pay tribute to a graduate, friend, teacher or staff member.  You will see your bricks placed along the entrance to the beautified District Office courtyard.  Proceeds from this sales effort will be used to renovate and landscape the entrance and courtyard area.

To order and for more details please see the attached order form.  A copy of this order form was sent home last week with your student.

Any questions, please contact Erin Sinclair, hbfbricks@gmail.com . For more information on HBF, http://hillsboroughbeautificationfoundation.org

(HNN) Hillsborough Neighborhood Network -- Together we can be prepared!
 
Disaster Prep Day
The county-wide 8th Annual Disaster Prep Day will be held on Saturday, June 9th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center, 2495 S. Delaware Street, San Mateo. Arrive before 11 a.m. for free parking and free admission to the County Fair.
For the pdf flyer, http://www.hillsborough.net/documents/DisasterPrep2012_CMYK_Englishflyer_032712.pdf or contact the Office of Emergency Services at 650-363-4790 for more info.
 
Saturday, June 16, 2012 Pancake Breakfast
Central County Firefighters are holding their 8th annual pancake breakfast on Saturday, June 16th to benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, a non-profit organization which supports burn survivors and their families. Visit Station 34, 799 California Drive, Burlingame and watch our firefighters serve up yummy flapjacks while dining inside the firehouse. The cost is only $5.00 per person. Firefighter t-shirts and hats for sale. For more info, please contact Julie Parenti, Fire Inspector, Central County Fire Department, (650) 558-7648

HNN Block Parties
The summer months are a great time to host an HNN block party to get neighbors acquainted and organized around emergency prep. If your neighborhood has not yet held one, or you don't know who your Neighborhood Lead is, please send HNN an email: hnn@hillsborough.net and we will connect you.

Do you know a child who likes to sing?  St. Paul’s Choir School Fall Registration 2012: 
New enrollments accepted during June. 

The St. Paul’s Choir School includes choirs for boys and girls in grades K-8: St. Cecilia Choir, St. Nicolas Choir, and Choristers. The training in the St. Cecilia Choirs allows our youngest singers to find their natural singing voices and lays the groundwork for a lifelong appreciation of music. In the St. Nicolas Choir, singers are prepared for entry into the Choristers including further development of vocal skills, ear training and introduction to reading of musical notation.  Our most experienced boys and girls, the St. Paul Choristers, regularly join the soprano section of our Chancel Choir to sing the great sacred choral music of the ages and follow the acclaimed Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) chorister training program, Voice for Life.  Membership at St. Paul’s is not required to join with the choirs at St. Paul’s.
 
Please contact Dr Susan Jane Matthews at 650-348-4811x16 or smatthews@stpaulsburlingame.org for further information and to schedule a voice introduction for your child during June.  Weekday rehearsals for the 2012-13 season will begin the week of September 11th.  See www.stpaulsburlingame.org for additional information about the Choir School, including the weekly schedule for each of the choirs.