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The Pink PantherHenry J. Kaiser, Jr. Elementary School
25 South Hill Court Oakland, CA 94618 510.549.4900
The Pink Panther Newsletter
M E S S A G E F R O M P R I N C I P A L G U I K E M A
School & Community Newsletter
K A I S E R C A L E N D A R
Save the Dates!
December 5, 2017
Page 1 of 6
Hello Kaiser Families:
While the days are getting colder and shorter, the learning and celebration at Kaiser continues to burn bright. I recently did a cycle of math observations in most classrooms, and as I reflected, I was struck by how different math instruction is now compared to how math was taught “back in the day” when we were in elementary school.
Thursday, 12.7.176:30pm PTA Meeting
* All OUSD – Winter Break
explaining common core math instruction. This could be helpful in supporting your child’s math homework. https://tinyurl.com/KaiserCommonCore
In other news, we are excited about our upcoming 4th and 5th grade musical performance and play. I love hearing the sounds of singing and instruments wafting through the campus. Be sure to encourage your child to practice at home so they are ready and confident for the big night. Younger students will get to see the “dress rehearsal” as an assembly earlier that day. You’ll find more information about the performance in this issue of The Pink Panther.
Finally, one of our challenges at Kaiser is our limited parking. Even with the additional limitations caused by the kitchen construction project, we have been doing much better as a community. “No parking, school zone” signs on Hill and Hiller and the involvement of family volunteers make a big difference. Still, it is important that everyone review the safety guidelines periodically, so they are included again in this edition of The Pink Panther.
Happy Holidays!Dennis Guikema
Friday, 12.15.176:30pm
Winterball
Monday,12.25.17 –Friday, 01.05.17 NO SCHOOL*
Saturday, 03.24.17Annual Auction
(Lake Merritt Sailboat House)
Wednesday, 12.20.176:40pm
4th/5th Winter Music Program
The term “Common Core” is bandied about a lot, but we could do better explaining what this means and how it manifests at Kaiser. There are two big differences in the shift to common
core from traditional teaching methods: 1) Common Core is a continuum from grade to grade that is standards based; and 2) there is a focus on theory and thinking, not just a rote process.
Below is a link to a 9-minute video that does a good job of
School News
The Pink Panther Newsletter
K A I S E R 4 T H & 5 T H G R A D E W I N T E R P R O G R A M
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WEDNESDAY, December 20th, 20176:40 p.m.
Strings report for tuning at 6:20 p.m. / Band 6:30 p.m.
Concert attire: Something nice!
Dear Kaiser Families:
You are invited to join us for the opening instrumental event of the year. Come celebrate the winter season with the music of the Kaiser Band and Orchestra and hear the beginners perform for their very first time. You won’t want to miss it! The concert will be followed by Mr. Neat’s 5th grade play.
Parents, please keep encouraging your child to practice regularly: 10–20 minutes / 5 times a week is suggested (or 50-100 minutes per week). We want to sound great for our performance.
Concert participation is mandatory. Please let me know if your child won’t be there because of an early vacation or other circumstances.
Thanks for your support.
Claudia McCarthy & Candy SandersonInstrumental Music Teachers
T H E P I N K P A T H E R I S D I G I T A L …
The Pink PantherHenry J. Kaiser, Jr. Elementary School
Did you know you can download the any version of the Pink Panther from the Kaiser Elementary Website? If you missed a date, missed a form or need the latest edition, visit: http://www.kaiserelementary.org/pink-panther/
School News
The Pink Panther Newsletter
T R A F F I C G U I D E L I N E S F O R P I C K U P / D R O P O F F Z O N E S A T K A I S E R
Page 2 of 6
Pick-up and drop-off are challenging at Kaiser Elementary. To mitigate this families are encouraged to carpool. Parking on neighborhood streets and walking to campus helps to ease congestion and is encouraged. Kudos to the Kaiser families who commute to school via electric bike!
All Kaiser families are expected to honor the “No Parking Zones” during drop-off and pick-up hours. Any unattended car in these areas may be ticketed or towed. Areas include:
• Traffic circle.• Uphill direction on both Hiller Drive and South Hill Court.
Please be mindful of the following safety and courtesy expectations:• Unless you have a permit, parking in disabled zone is prohibited. • All parking spaces on campus are reserved for staff. Families and visitors should park on
neighborhood streets.• Always let your child out of the car in the drop off zone near the sidewalk.
• DO NOT let your child out of the car in the far lane of the circle.• DO NOT let your child out on the driver’s side of the vehicle without an adult escort
• You are encouraged to park on Hiller Drive or South Hill Ct. By parking on neighborhood streets, you reduce traffic congestion and can safely walk your child to campus.
• Be courteous to other drivers at all times.• Be courteous to Safety Patrol, volunteers, and staff. They are here to assist you with safely
arriving and leaving the school site.• Please do not make a U-turn on Hiller Dr. You may use the traffic circle in front of school or the
turnaround at the end of N Hill Ct. to safely and legally turn around. • Please do not queue for pick-up or drop-off in a traffic lane. Only queue at the curb.• Please do not park in red zones, and please do not block driveways.
Consequences for Traffic Violations:Both neighbors and school administration have requested periodic visits by OPD Traffic Division. Citations will be given for illegal parking including school zones, red zones, disabled parking, reserved staff parking, blocking of driveways, and traffic violations.
******New for 2017-18*****• A “no parking school zone” has been approved for the uphill section of both Hiller Dr. and S.
Hill Ct. leading up to the school. Please note that cars parked in this zone during posted hours will be cited by OPD.
• The finishing kitchen construction project has reduced staff parking by over 50%, which will lead to additional traffic congestion during the start of the school year.
Safety of our students and community is our number one priority.
PTA NewsP T A P R E S I D E N T ’ S U P D A T E W I N T E R B A L L D A N C E
Page 4 of 6The Pink Panther Newsletter
Greetings Kaiser Family,
PTA Association Meeting to focus on Budget Cuts
I would like to remind all that our Association Meeting is set for this Thursday, December 7th, 6:30pm. The PTA Board, Mr. Guikema, The SSC, Kaiser Teachers, and all who have a stake in the success of Oakland schools at heart are welcome and urged to join us. We will serve dinner (please RSVP via Konstella) and provide childcare. Kasey Varga, one of our own Kaiser parents, has graciously agreed to postpone the parenting presentation she had planed in order to provide space for the discussion of recent pressing district budgetary issues. This meeting is designated for those who wish to gain information on our current budget predicament here in Oakland and what that predicament translates into for our Kaiser students. I cannot over emphasize the importance of this meeting. We need to hear your voices as parents, and we are seeking your input as we make decisions that are going to affect all of us as a school family.
- Linda Handy, PTA President
What: Kaiser Winterball
When: Friday December 15th from 6:30 -8:00pm.
Cost: $5:00 per person.
Dress Code: Don’t forget to add your favorite bit of Holiday Sparkle to your outfit for a photo booth memory with friends.
What We Need: We are seeking parents to help decorate, manage the door and chaperone. We have lots of fun planned. If you can help: Contact Linda Handy on Konstella or at [email protected]. You can also let any member of the PTA Board know or leave a message for us in the office with your name and contact info.
PTA NewsG A R D E N C L U B N E W S
The Pink Panther Newsletter Page 5 of 6
“There is pleasure in the pathless woods.” By Lord Byron
Ever wonder what a garden can teach our children? At Henry Kaiser the garden boxes are an added learning opportunity. Gardening promotes hands-on explora-tion and allows children to gain knowledge in areas such as responsibility, self-confidence, communication and the skills of observation.
When gardening, children explore how to use their hands to prepare the soil, apply fertilizer, sow seeds, remove competing weeds, water and harvest the crop. All processes necessary for a plant to grow to its full potential. They learn about tools and how to use and care for them.
When we engage our children to accept these tasks we help them become caring individuals. If a plant isn’t properly taken care of then it’s lost, along with all the other life the plant brings to the garden, because of neglect and they learn the tragedies of improper care for the plant. Or if the tools are left out in the elements they rust and are no longer useful or safe to use. These are real-life lessons which can help children develop an appreciation for the value of responsibility.
We hope you see the benefit of our schools garden boxes and help us to promote your child’s experience. Next time we’ll focus on how gardening can enhance self-confidence.
P.S. We have completed some garden boxes and took down the dead Passion Vine added some rock art, and awaiting the teacher survey on their desires for their garden box and for the Teacher’s Garden Retreat.
DONATIONS NEEDED:
DONATIONS MADE: soil from Chione Fiegel, rock art from Sylvia Rios-Abbott
Currently looking for anyone with landscape expertise to help us design and plan the appropriate methods to plant and build on the sloped area.
o organic if possible soil, compost, mulch,o Fish Emulsion, o Earthworm Castings, o Aluminum Sulfate,
o a pH test kit, o Osmocote, o garden gloves for children and adults, o and other tools
PTA NewsS A V E T H E D A T E ! K A I S E R 4 3 R D A N N U A L A U C T I O N !
The 43rd Annual Kaiser Elementary PTA Auction Saturday, March 24, 2018
at the Lake Merritt Sailboat House
Join us for an evening of food, fun, & friendly competitive bidding
More details to follow in the coming weeks!
***Wondering how you can help contribute to this important event?*** We are currently looking for someone(s) to manage the solicitation and receipt of wine for the Wine Vault auction item. Can you help? If so, or for any other auction donation question, please contact Jennie Redwitz at [email protected]. For any other auction-related questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected].
Thank you for all you do for Kaiser kids and see you March 24, 2018!
Auction co-chairs: Jennie Redwitz, Kristin Glass, Sandra [email protected]
O N E W A R M C O A T D R I V E , K A I S E R G I R L S C O U T S
The Kaiser Girl Scout Troops are collecting clean, reusable coasts that will be given to someone in need of warmth this winter. Coat collection bin is available in the hallway outside of the school office. The bin will be present:
December 4th – December 15th
The Pink Panther Newsletter Page 6 of 6
