All posts by PTO Communications

Play Date for Incoming 2015-2016 Kindergartners

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Right before the new school year starts, join fellow incoming Kindergarten families for a play date on the Kindergarten playground at Clifford School. (In case you aren’t familiar with this playground, it is at the front of the school, adjacent to the school office.)

Meet your classmates and enjoy some playtime and snacks.

  • Saturday, August 22nd
  • 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
  • Kindergarten playground

Help spread the word and pass this along to new Kindergarten families.

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Calling all Art Class Volunteers: Ready for the New Year?

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4th Graders paint their own flower close-ups, inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Poppies.”

We are already dreaming up and planning fantastic parent-led art classes from Grades 1 through 5 for the upcoming year! Thanks to an amazing program funded by the PTO called Art in Action, our students have the opportunity to get creative with all kinds of artistic tools and techniques! Whether you’ve taught or helped out in an art class previously—or this is your family’s first year at Clifford—find tons of info and links to resources on the PTO website. No art experience–whatsoever–required!

If you’re interested in attending a free Art in Action training session (organized by grade level) in Menlo Park, sign up as soon as you can. These in-person training seminars run from August 31 through October 16, 2015. Free Webinars are also scheduled for September 2015 (no dates posted as of this writing; check  the Art in Action website soon.

Remember also that there’s an Art in Action parent team dedicated to helping and supporting you throughout the year. Whether you need more information about how to get started or want somebody to assemble all your art materials — or have ideas about how to display art around town — please contact us using this form.

 

Ya estamos soñando y planeando fantásticas clases de arte dirigida por los padres de los grados 1 a 5 para el próximo año! Gracias a un programa increíble financiado por la toma de fuerza llamado Arte en Acción, nuestros estudiantes tienen la oportunidad de ser creativo con todo tipo de herramientas y técnicas artísticas! Tanto si has enseñado o ayudaste en una clase de arte previamente o este es el primer año de su familia en Clifford-encontrar toneladas de información y enlaces a recursos en el sitio web de la TDF. Ningún arte-alguna-requiere experiencia!

Si estás interesado en asistir a un arte libre en la sesión de entrenamiento de Acción (organizadas por nivel de grado) en Menlo Park, crea tan pronto como sea posible. Estos seminarios de capacitación en persona correr a partir del 31 de agosto al 16 de octubre de 2015. Los Webinars gratuitos también están programadas para septiembre de 2015 (no hay fechas publicadas partir de este escrito; comprobar el Arte en el sitio web de Acción pronto.

 

Get Ready For Maze Day, August 17th!

Be sure to come on down for Clifford’s Maze Day on Monday, August 17th! There will be two time frames for families to drop by, one in the morning from 8:30-10:30am and the other from 5:30-7:30pm. There will be a PTO welcome and information station with cookies and friendly faces. Families will get their child’s classroom assignment and/or Middle School schedule at Maze day once they have verified their registration with the office staff.  If you are unable to make it to Maze Day, please contact the school office to find out your child’s class assignment.

Families will have a chance to find out about our PTO-sponsored programs and events, including: Art in Action, after school enrichment classes, Healthy Cities tutoring, Masquerade themed Fall auction at La Honda Winery, eScrip, Kindergarten Play Date, the Girls Scouts program on our campus and more!

Asegúrese de venir de abajo para el día de Clifford Maze en Lunes, 17 de agosto! Habrá dos marcos de tiempo para que las familias caen por, una por la mañana de 8: 30-10: 30 am y el otro de 5: 30-7: 30pm. Habrá una bienvenida toma de fuerza y información de la estación con las galletas y caras amables. Las familias recibirán asignación salón de sus hijos y / o programa de la escuela media en el día del laberinto una vez que han comprobado su registro ante el personal de la oficina.

Las familias tendrán la oportunidad de obtener información sobre nuestros programas y eventos patrocinados por la toma de fuerza, entre ellos: Arte en Acción, clases de enriquecimiento después de la escuela, Ciudades Saludables tutoría, Mascarada temática Otoño subasta en La Honda Bodega, eScrip, Kindergarten fecha del juego, las Niñas programa de Scouts en nuestro campus y mucho más!

Farewell for the Summer!

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Hello Clifford families!

We have a host of thank-you tidings to start Summer off:

Thank you to everybody who volunteered their time in class, outside of class (e.g. prepping for teachers), and at all Clifford events, including the Winter Event, Father-Daughter Dance, Lap-a-thon, Mother-Son Night, Multicultural Festival, and more.

Thank you for all your work as room parents, Art in Action docents and assistants, party and field trip organizers––and thank you to those of you who provided classroom supplies and/or donated funds to teachers for materials. Thank you also to Clifford families and students who volunteered as Health Cities tutors.

Thank you to all of you who served on the PTO Executive Board and other committees and positions. And thank you to everybody who donated money to the PTO throughout the year.

Thank you to all our teachers, staff and administrators for their hard work to educate every child in our school and for making our school a fabulous place to learn.

We also want to extend a warm welcome to Josh Swerdlow, Clifford’s new Principal–and our new Assistant Principal will be announced soon! There will be lots of positive changes in our 2015-16 school year!

Reminder: First day back to school is Monday, August 24, 2015.

Lastly, view the Redwood City School District’s calendar for the 2015-2016 school year here.

Wishing you all a wonderful Summer!  See you in the Fall!

 

¡Despedida para el verano!

Familias Hola Clifford !

Tenemos una gran cantidad de agradecimiento noticia para empezar el verano fuera:

¡Gracias a todos los que donaron su tiempo en clase, fuera de clase (por ejemplo, preparar a los maestros ), y en todo caso Clifford, incluyendo el evento de invierno, Padre- Hija Danza, LAP un thon, Madre – Hijo Noche, Festival Multicultural, y más.

Gracias por todo su trabajo como padres de salón, Arte de docentes y asistentes de acción, organizadores del partido y viajes de campo, y las familias de Clifford y estudiantes que se ofrecieron como Healthy Cities tutores – y gracias a aquellos de ustedes que siempre útiles escolares y / o donado fondos a los maestros para materiales.

¡Gracias a todos vosotros, que sirvió en la Junta Ejecutiva la toma de fuerza y otros comités y posiciones. Y gracias a todos los que donaron dinero para la toma de fuerza a lo largo del año.

¡Gracias a todos nuestros maestros, personal y administradores por su ardua labor de educar a todos los niños de nuestra escuela y para hacer de nuestra escuela un lugar fabuloso para aprender.

También queremos dar una cálida bienvenida a Josh Swerdlow, nuevo director de Clifford, y nuestro nuevo Subdirector serán anunciados próximamente. ¡Habrá un montón de cambios positivos en nuestro año escolar 2015-16!

Recordatorio: Primer día de regreso a la escuela es Lunes, 24 de agosto 2015.

Por último, ver el calendario del Distrito Escolar de Redwood para el año escolar 2015-2016 aquí.

¡Les deseo a todos un verano maravilloso! ¡Nos vemos en el otoño!

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Healthy Cities Tutoring

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Healthy Cities Tutoring places volunteers with students who could benefit form a little extra one-on-one help.

This school year, 38 Clifford students have been matched with volunteer tutors. The volunteers include high school students, parents, retirees, and community members who want to support students at our school.

Health Cities Tutoring will need a number of new tutors this coming school year to serve all of the students in need and welcome your help! The commitment is only 45 minutes once a week, and the day and time can be arranged to match your schedule – before, during or after school. No prior tutoring experience needed.

If you think you can help out, please consider sending in your application now.

For more information or to sign up, visit the Healthy Cities Tutoring web site and click the Volunteer button.

eScrip and Lucky Shares News

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Do you need to find a gift for the special Dad or Grad in your life? Or what about all those times you buy stuff online — regardless of the season?

Well, do your online shopping through the eScrip online mall and raise money for Clifford School!

First, you need to sign up — unless you’ve already registered your card/s. Click the box below and enter the requested information. Clifford School’s eScrip ID is 118392687.

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Now, here’s how to shop:

Visit the eScrip’s main web page and then click on a link of your favorite merchant. Place your order — and you’re done!

Your order is processed through the merchant’s site, but by entering their site through eScrip’s shopping portal, the merchant promises to give a percentage of what you spend to Clifford School.

Here are some examples of how much we can get back:

  • Amazon 1.2%
  • Barnes and Noble 2.4%
  • Disney Store 1.8%
  • Apple Store 1.2%
  • ACE Hardware 3%

View this page to see the list of all participating stores.

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Lucky S.H.A.R.E.S.

If you shop at Lucky or SaveMart stores, stop by the PTO office to get a S.H.A.R.E.S. card and swipe it every time you shop. A portion (up to 3%) of the qualified purchases will automatically be donated to Clifford School.

S.H.A.R.E.S. is a fund-raising program offered free to more than 8,500 schools, groups and organizations by Save Mart and its affiliated stores (Lucky Supermarkets, FoodMaxx and S-Mart Foods). Each year, they set aside a reserve of $4.5 million specifically to benefit organizations like Clifford School who have enrolled in S.H.A.R.E.S.

S.H.A.R.E.S. is an acronym for Supporting Humanities, Arts, Recreation, Education and Sports, and it is Save Mart’s way of giving back to their communities.

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Posts

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Dear Clifford families,

A huge thank-you to all the parents in our community who wrote great articles and took great photos for this web site!

It’s a baker’s dozen: Here are our top 12 posts from this past school year!

Save the Date for a Masquerade

Play Date for Incoming 2015-2016 Kindergartners

Happy Chinese New Year

Library Art Exhibit

Dolphin Splash Student Publication

It’s Show Time: The Little Mermaid

Clifford Artists’ Masterpieces on Display at Peet’s

A Grand Night Out in the MUB

Kindergarten Memories: Halloween Report

Kindergarten Corner: Gardening Times

Clifford Frog Pond is a Certified Wildlife Habitat

School Garden: Fruits of our Harvest

Multicultural Festival 5/29: See You There

Multicultural2015Come on down to the Clifford Campus on Friday, May 29, from 4PM to 8PM for Clifford’s Multicultural Festival. This is a come-one come-all event, with lots of activities for everybody:

  • Watch your favorite teacher get dunked in the dunk tank
  • Soak up the entertainment–Folklórico Dancers and Clifford Students’ Talent Show
  • Cool new rides this year, including the Amazing ZORB Riders, where you can race your friends, and Surf Rider Challenge, where you ride the waves of fun!
  • Enjoy delicious foods

THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS:  WATER, SODA, NAPKINS, PLATES, MUSTARD, AND KETCHUP.

ANY FOOD OR DESSERT ITEMS ARE WELCOME — OR CASH DONATIONS ACCEPTED.

To donate food or drinks, you can hand over your item/s in the pick-up/drop-off circle before and after school this week. You can donate cash this way, too. On Friday morning, you can also deliver your item/s to the PTO office, where they will be stored.

We will have a BRACELET PRE-SALE ($6.00) Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school. Regular price is $8 the day of the event. The bracelets allow you to enjoy all the rides & games!

ALL proceeds go to Clifford School.

May 26: Clifford Town Hall Meeting

Please join Superintendent elect, Dr. John Baker, Trustee Dennis McBride and new principal, Joshua Swerdlow, for a Clifford Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 PM in the MUB.

The Clifford community will get a chance to meet our new principal, and Dr. Baker will address concerns that parents had earlier this year and address plans for next year.

Reunión Clifford Ayuntamiento Martes, 26 de mayo 7:00 PM en el MUB

Por favor únase con superentendente Dr. John Baker, Dennis McBride del RCSD Mesa Directiva y nuevo director, Joshua Swerdlow, para una reunión Clifford, el martes 26 de mayo a las 7:00 PM.

La comunidad de Clifford tendrá la oportunidad de conocer a nuestro nuevo director , el Dr. Baker discutira las preocupaciones que los padres tenían a principios de este año y discustrá planes para el próximo año .

 

Final Meeting of the School Year: Thurs, May 21

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You are all invited to join us for the last PTO meeting of the 2014-2015 school year.

  • Thursday, 5/21
  • 7PM
  • Library
  • Light meal served

Your kids are welcome to join you and hang out quietly in the Library.

We will be voting on the following items:

  • Bylaw changes. The changes include: approving a budget in May instead of September, contracts for budgeted expenses can be approved by the President or VP and Treasurer, and the responsibilities of the President include preparing a budget to be approved by Exec Board.
  • Unbudgeted expense for this year. Principal Dees has requested that the PTO make a one-time donation of $1,500 to the school to help with costs of the multicultural festival this year. This proposal is supported by the Exec Board.
  • Officers & Standing Committee Chairs for next year. We will also be voting on the people who have been nominated for the various positions
  • PTO Budget for 2015/16. The Exec Board approved a budget that forecasts revenue of $113,300 versus $90,400 estimated for this year. Expenses will rise to $109,000 versus $93,900 forecasted for this year. Net Income will be $4,300 resulting in an ending reserve of $158,000.

Information on the bylaw changes and the budget will be available to review in a binder in the school office.

See you there.