Message to Open Plan Families from PAG Chair Lisa Crenshaw, Principal Jane Manley, and Head Teacher Jess Taylor:

A number of you have kept yourselves informed about the committee of parents who tried to convince the Modesto City Schools’ Board of Education that three of our teachers should not be included in lay-offs.  They worked tirelessly:  meeting, writing, talking, and meeting some more, to make sure they had all the background information needed to make a strong argument to the school board.

Unfortunately, on June 21st, the school board voted to lay off all the teachers on the list, including ours.  Thank you to the committee of parents and teachers who maintained their focus on this issue and were willing to put in hours of their time and enormous amounts of energy.  Many of you also attended school board meetings to support them.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Many of you will remember that Jane had conversations with district people about how many Primary classrooms we would have next year.  We orginally thought that we would have two classrooms of about 30 students each.  The district recently told us we could not go over the class size of 25 (less is ok) for first and second grades.  The end result is that we will have one Kindergarten classroom, three classrooms in the Primary department, two in Middle, and two in Upper.

There is strong assurance from the Human Resources department that one of our Middle Department teachers will be able to return.  For the other positions, we needed to advertise and interview.  The only people we could interview were teachers on the official “bring back” list from the district.

An interview team completed interviews over the last week. We have offered positions to two teachers, one for Primary and one for Middle, who have accepted the offers.  We do not have a third candidate at this time for the remaining Primary position.  We will continue to try to find the BEST of the “bring back” teachers who really want to teach in Open Plan.

Even though we must accept this blow to our program, we hope that everyone can band together to try to move forward and do what is best for our students and teachers.  They deserve our patience, care and attention.

5th graders report to classes as usual.

Talent show and light lunch to follow.

See you then!

Bring LOTS of warm clothes, and a lunch (no gum, electronics, candy or carbonated drinks)

Drivers:

Dill, Morton, Reeves, Roysdon E., Holcomb, Shelley, Uva, Watson, Brownell

The most important thing we have to communicate is a change of time:

Open House is this Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM

In the past, Open House has been held from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, so we wanted everyone to be aware of the change.  Come see all the wonderful learning your child has been doing, meander through the department, and visit other departments, too!  Please note that Thursday is a MINIMUM DAY in preparation for Open House.

If your child is moving on to the Middle Department next year, you may wish to attend the Parent Transition Tour on May 20, a week from this Thursday.  Parents from the Tour Committee will meet with you in the cafeteria at 9:00 and take you on the tour.  Whether you are able to participate in the tour or not, we hope you can attend the Parent Appreciation Tea that day in the cafeteria, starting about 10:15.  It is our opportunity as a staff to say THANK YOU for all that you do!

Love,

Laura, Cathie, and Jess

Calendar

• Thursday, May 13 – MINIMUM DAY; Student Transition Day; Open House from 6:00 to 7:00 PM
• Thursday, May 20, 9:00 – 11:00 AM – Parent Transition Tours and Parent Appreciation Tea
• Friday, May 28, 5:00 – 9:00 PM – End of Year BBQ and Retirement Party for Cathie and Jeanne, Graceada Park

FOP_PN100511 (pdf, 34Kb)

Dear Parents,                                                        April 27, 2010

          It’s hard to believe, but the end of the year is quickly approaching, and with it some special yearly activities. Get out your family calendars! Please say YES!

Before we get into the “GOOD” stuff here at the end of the year, we need to revisit your commitment to Open Plan. When you chose to put your child in this wonderful school, you realized there was an additional expense, both in time and money. In Upper Department, we use more than our “fair share” of the PAG budget. Just one trip, Ships, costs $70 per child for the payment to the Maritime Program. That does not cover the Tall Sailors (parents) at $35 each, supplies, food, parking, etc. Then there’s picture frames, photos, mini-course supplies, books, buses, other field trips, just to mention a few things. Upper Department’s payment of committed money to the budget is not at 100%. We need you to fulfill your promise. When you fill out your $100 check to PAG, please remember that it is a tax deduction with a tax number as well.  Tax ID# 77-0229663

•  Wednesday-Thursday, May 26-27: our class overnight dates at the Owen’s Ranch in Waterford. We will need drivers at school first thing in the morning and back around noon on Thursday, and hopefully, people to spend the night with us. (Your child will know about the details!) It’s a wonderful few days! Permission forms are attached.

• Traffic Patrol Trip on May 28 walking to the Theater and Graceada Park. 

•  May 28 – Open Plan’s End of the Year Picnic at GRACEADA Park  from 5 to ?? Watch for information coming home in your child’s Tuesday folders. (Shh – Retirement Party for Cathie and Jeanne.)

•  Tue., June 1 – Play Day  is our traditional communal activity and celebration day at Roosevelt Park. We need parents to lead or assist in an activity that repeats all morning. Potato races, cupcake frosting, face painting, bubbles, water balloons, parachutes, face painting, volleyball, chalk art, tennis, hula hoops… you name it! We return to school for lunch. Ice cream will be served.

• Wed.,  June 2 – Ice Skating. We will be going to Stockton to Oak Park to skate in their newly refurbished rink. There will be a $6.00 fee for non-driving adults. Drivers will be needed!

•  Class Memory Book is a history of the year • The Upper Department receives $2 per student for the Memory Book from PAG. Our cost is $17.00 per color book. So, the first copy is $15 and any additional copies are $17. If you cannot afford a Memory Book, please see Todd or Jeanne.  Please make your checks out to Valley Reprographics

•  Farewell Ceremony on June 3 needs people.

          Directly after the Farewell Ceremony is a quiet time for giving out of “diplomas” and a bit of sharing.

Next we need a group to coordinate the informal lunch. This consists of some sort of snack and drink, setting up and serving directly after the Talent Show. This is usually hosted by parents of the students who will be returning next year. We also have last years “experts” who can give advice.  The costs will be reimbursed for all expenses by your PAG donations.

Just a thought for graduating families: If you’re thinking about it, a really nice “Farewell” gift would be a hardbound book donated to the Kendall Sparkman/ Merlys Bosch bookshelf! The latest Newbery Award Winner book is always appreciated.

What a great school year! It’s been a wonderful group of students, and a supportive and involved group of parents! Thanks for making it all happen so well!

Two Dates for next year’s calendar:

First day of school is August 11.

Monterey trip will be on October 28-29.

Upper Department Notification Slip 

For EVERYONE!!  Please Return to Jeanne/Todd.

          ___  I have paid my $100 commitment to PAG.  OR

       ___  I will contact Andy Bowman, PAG Treasurer to make plans to complete my promise.

          ___  I can help with the Traffic Trip on May 28.

          ___  I will drive to Oak Park Ice Rink in Stockton on June 2.

          ___ I will lead an activity on June 1 for Open Plan Play Day.

          Here’s my idea:

          ___ I will assist on June 2 for Play Day. Put me where you need me.

___ Attached is a check made out to Valley Reprographics for $15 for one Memory Book and $17 for any additional ones.

  * I will help on June 3 for the Farewell Ceremony by:

                   ___ being on the Reception committee.

___ I can help in any way needed. Let me know where I’m needed.

         ___ I am unable to help at this time.

_________________  Parent Signature  ______________  Student Name

__________________________ Phone number

6^th Graders – Farewell Ceremony

Dress Notes to 6th graders and parents:

It’s hard to believe but we’re there already! It’s time to be thinking of what to wear for your final Farewell Ceremony as a student. You will be up on stage in front of roughly 250 people so we want you to look terrific!

Here are some guidelines:

          First thing to remember is that Fremont School has a dress code, so we’ll need to remember that. Straps need to be at least 2 inches wide, no shoes without backs, no undergarments showing.

          Now, here’s what we’ve seen most successful over the years: come dressed as a cleaned up version of YOU, the person we’ve come to love and care about over the years! Don’t go getting a fancy dress that looks like it could be worn in high school, but do wear a simple, pretty dress or skirt / blouse that you might wear to a special lunch with your family. We love your hair the way it is. (Hey, who would recognize you if you had it done up?) Flats, not heels. Please no suit and ties, just a nice shirt with a collar and buttons, and slacks, not shorts, tshirts or jeans.

Don’t forget to email a copy of your child’s baby photo to Todd. The face is the part that is used; much of the extraneous parts are cropped out. The larger the picture the better.

Any questions? Be sure to give us a call!

What a great school year! Thanks for everything!

Dear Primary Parents,

This week is the first week of testing for our second graders.  They will be taking the Language Arts test in three sections on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings this week, from 9:00 to no later than 10:30 a.m.  Next week they will take the Math test in three sections on the same three days.

Please note the reminders below:

Homework continues to be math and the 3-D Word Wall projects.  There is no Language Arts or testing practice homework because we want you to have time to work on the 3-D Word Wall project with your child.  The projects have begun to come in!  We are enjoying hearing each child share their work and their learning.

Love,

Laura,             Cathie, and Jess

Calendar

Tuesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m. – PAG Meeting, Cafeteria
Tuesday – Thursday, April 20 – 22 and April 27 – 29, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. – Second Grade CST Testing
Friday, May 7 – All School Mini-Courses

FOP_PN_042010 (pdf, 43Kb)

Luis Maravilla sent me his wonderful photos. I hope you enjoy them!