In the month of December, Mrs. Costa’s 4th Grade students worked with wire and other materials to create miniature figures. Valerie Bioc was the Art in Action docent — the parent volunteer leading the class — and Valerie created an awesome table-top sized replica of the blacktop.
The students were tasked with manipulating the wire to create a miniature version of themselves to show what they might be doing on the blacktop, on any given day: shooting hoops, tether ball, playing tag, for instance. Students had to decide how best to represent themselves using wire as a medium. They also had to think about their physical attributes — hair length, color, and so on — along with the kinds of clothing and colors they wear!
This particular Art in Action unit is inspired by Dempsey and Firpo, a 1924 George Bellows painting. And Valerie reports that after the project was completed, the kids loved discussing with their friends what their own wire figures are doing on the blacktop.
Bravo, Room 29 Artists!
Know that we need more Art in Action volunteers — either to lead the class or to assist. Visit our Art in Action section to learn more, and to sign up. Meanwhile, check out some of the photos from Peet’s Coffee & Tea on Laurel Street in San Carlos, showing Clifford’s students’ masterpieces. (Visit this page, too, which shows more-recent artwork.)
I know most of us have a ton on our plates right now — with the holiday madness — but if you have a moment’s peace, visit our Enrichment page to check out the fantastic classes on offer starting January 13, 2014.
Welcome to Agrabah, City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! Enjoy the appearance of your fave characters in Aladdin Jr., this stage adaptation of the Disney hit film.
Our Clifford thespians will thrill you and spirit you away to another time and place — metaphorically, if not literally. The performance will be filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet antics…….
Friday night, February 7 at 7PM, is opening night for Disney’s Aladdin Jr.
As a reminder, here are details about the three performances:
7PM. Friday, February 7th
7PM. Saturday, February 8th
1PM. Sunday, February 9th
McKinley School Auditorium
400 Duane Street x James
Redwood City, CA 94062
Tickets
Advance $10
Reserved $15
At the door $12
BUYING YOUR TICKETS
Online To buy now, click here. Note:If you buy online, you will pay a “convenience fee” of over a dollar for every ticket purchased. (For example, you’ll pay an extra $1.24 for each $10 ticket.)
In the Office
You can buy in person at the Clifford school office during office hours.
On the Campus
Starting Tuesday morning, Feb 4, look for the PTO ticket table outside the school office where you can purchase tickets before and after drop-off––and after school–through Friday afternoon. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for some fun promotions around the school campus!
At the Door
You can buy at the venue, the nights of the performances, or on the Sunday, the day of the matinee. However, there is no guarantee that tickets will be available. We just about sold out last year for Willy Wonka, so buy your tickets ahead of time.
Come learn about the ICAP & IB Program at the 8th Grade IB Info Meeting on Tuesday, January 14th, 2014, 5:30PM, at Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City.
The Info Meeting will fall into two parts:
Part 1: IB Info Meeting 5:30 – 6:30PM in Carrington Hall. In English with Spanish translation. Come learn about Sequoia’s honors IB Program, how to access it and why it is important for college preparation.
Part 2: For Spanish-speaking families: Preparing Your 8th Grader for High School 6:30 – 7:30PM in the Library. In Spanish. Meet our Family Center staff and learn how your student can be successful in high school.
We have a bunch of fabulous parties that did not sell out at our recent Hollywood Auction.
Scroll down for a delux event at Salon Rouge in Redwood City — and check out the spots that are still available.
Use the links below to buy online (through PayPal).
Rock of Ages Party
Rise up, gather round and rock this place to the ground. It’s a flashback to the 80’s so look for your leg warmers and trim your mullet! Sliders will be served along with cheese logs, pretzels and more. Enjoy music from the 80’s and 90’s along with horseshoes, billiards, and corn hole. Rock On! Rock on!. What do you want? I want rock and roll!
Host: Julie Ulrich Date: May 17, 2014 Time: 7:30PM – 10:30PM Cost: $30/person. 23 spots available
Attendee name
Girls’ Night Out at Rouge
Six guests will be treated to an afternoon of pure relaxation with our in-salon Kerastase Ritual. Why not start here before a girls night out and then hit the town with your styled tresses?! You’ll start with a shampoo and condition, followed by a luxurious Kerastase Treatment customized for your hair type, and professional blow-dry. Then, take your Rouge goodie-bag and move the party next door to Donato Enoteca for a glass of wine and a few nibbles. Up after that? Only you and your girlfriends know for sure!
Host: N/A Date: Saturday February 23, 2014 Time: 3:30PM – 4:30PM Cost: $100/person Min: 6 Max: 6 5 spots available
With thanks to Rouge Salon and Donato Enoteca
Attendee name
A Special Pickled Shopping Event
Join other fashion-forward Clifford supporters for a shopping event at Pickled! Come together at Redwood City’s favorite boutique to enjoy a glass of wine and a nibble while trying out the season’s latest trends. Attendees will also receive a $20 Pickled gift card and 10 percent off of their purchases during this special event (to be used only during the event.) **Please note: this event will not go forward with fewer than 12 attendees.**
Host: Christen Dilg, Bo Kastelic and Heather Weber Date: Thursday, March 13, 2014 Time: 6:00PM – 8:00PM Cost: $45/person Min: 12 Max: 25 11 spots available
Attendee name
Back-to-School Back-Yard Ribs
Enjoy one of the last August evenings with other Clifford parents as your Midwestern neighbors serve up authentic Kansas City BBQ ribs with the help of our backyard smoker. We’ll have plenty of sides, cocktails, beer, and wine, and a pool, just in case you need a break from the heat!
Host: Chris and Maria Polonchek Date: August 23, 2014 Time: 6PM – 10PM Cost: $35/person Min: none Max: 20 14 spots available
Attendee name
Moms and Margaritas
Come enjoy the company of fellow Clifford moms while sipping margaritas…while supporting your school at the same time! Light Mexican food will be served.
Host: Kimberly Squire Date: April or May 2014 Time: 5PM – 9PM Cost: $30/person Min: none Max: none 20 spots available
The Clifford 2013 Hollywood Auction was a blockbuster—glamorous, fast paced and spontaneous—from the opening curtain ‘til the final scene. And now…it’s a wrap!
I’m excited to report that the PTO Auction raised roughly $43,000 (net profit)—over twice the amount anticipated—all of which will go straight into programs and other resources that our children and teachers enjoy at Clifford. The dollars are still rolling in, so this figure is not final.
The event was held November 16th at La Honda Winery in Redwood City. A luxuriously appointed coach donated by Corinthian Ground Transportation chauffeured many of the guests from the Clifford campus to the winery in North Fair Oaks. Guests walked on an illuminated, red-carpet entryway and alighted onto the natural-stone floor of the tasting room.
Hosts greeted guests with a flawless check-in process. The staff of Crystal Springs Catering served sumptuous goat-cheese ravioli, ginger shrimp and stuffed mushrooms, among other appetizers. And—at the 19th-century, copper and Spanish-wood bar—guests delighted in small-lot, hand-crafted wines produced by grapes grown locally.
Over 145 Clifford parents, parent alumni and staff from all grade levels (K to 8) attended.
Whimsical Soirée Highlights
The innovative Wall of Wine: Participants bought a numbered cork then matched their number to a decorated bag disguising their surprise bottle. All bags were hand-illustrated by the popular local artist, Ed Berljafa. So not only was the wine a treasure—with all wines having a $25 value—so were les sacs, as the French say.
Heads or Tails? Participants stood and guessed heads or tails by placing their hands on their heads or, well, tails. The auctioneer flipped a coin. If players were holding what landed face up, they stayed standing. To remain in the game longer, players bought beads beforehand and cashed in a strand to stay past a losing round. The last one standing got 50 percent of all the money collected from bead sales; in this case—a cool, nine, purse-lipped Ben Franklins! (That’s $900 y’all.)
“Where’s Your Bling?” raffle: At the door, hosts sold raffle tickets good for a chance to win a $4,600 pavé-style diamond pendant from Geoffrey’s Diamonds & Goldsmith. At the end of the night, the lucky winner’s ticket was pulled. The excitement built all evening as each person who purchased a ticket wore a colorful, flashing, light-up, jelly ring. Seeing all those blinking rings twinkling like a thousand points of light in the crowd made others covet and buy tickets, too. But there was only one winner. And who was that, you ask? Yours truly, the author of this article!
Auction Action: The Live and Silent Shakeout
The Live Auction raised a whopping $17,000. Competition got markedly heated for “Principal for a Day”; the 5-night “Summer Tahoe Experience”; the “Bay Yacht Party” on a 47-foot Bayliner; and the “Golfer’s Dream Destination” package, 18-holes for four at Pebble Beach.
The Silent Auction brought in $23,000 with guests notably throwing down over American Girl doll “Rebecca” and a “Hero3+ Black Edition” GoPro helmet camera.
The evening wrapped with GigMaster Omar (Music Systems by Omar Rodriguez) creating a mix of Top 40, Hip Hop, Phunk and House music. Clifford party people filled the dance floor while the beats dropped till midnight. All that was needed was an inferno of laser lights and blizzardy, power-fog machines to turn La Honda Winery into an Ibiza-style night club.
Members of the Academy, I’d Like to Thank….
Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets to this standout, community event. Kudos, too, to the entire auction committee of 35 volunteers for giving their time to support our fabulous school. I’d also like to give massive thanks to all the parents who dug deep in their pockets to bid on items, purchase chances and sign up for special dinners and parties. Your generosity will have a real impact on our children’s education.
I’m saving the best ‘til last….
A special and expressly heartfelt thank-you goes to Clifford parents and auction co-chairs Susan Leathers and Julie Ulrich for their incredible creativity, diligence and attention to detail. This dynamic duo started researching and planning for this affair back in May 2013. Their dedication sure showed. Bravissimo, ladies!
I’m still dumbstruck at how they got Elvis and Marilyn at the same party.
––Tia Knuedler, PTO Vice President
––Photos by Corrie Penafort and Susan Leathers
MORE PHOTOS: To view over 180 photos of the Auction night, click through the image gallery here. And if you have photos you’d like to share, please upload them on the Clifford Auction Shutterfly page here. Thank you!
MORE AUCTION EVENTS: A number of events that were up for bids at the Auction did not sell out. You can still buy tickets! Check out the descriptions of these events and ticket prices here.