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May 2008
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May Events

  • May 03
    Spring Fair and Fiesta, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • May 05
    STAR Testing, 2nd through 5th grades
  • May 06
    Trash-free Tuesday
  • May 06
    STAR Testing
  • May 07
    Walk-to-school Wednesday
  • May 07
    STAR Testing
  • May 08
    STAR Testing
  • May 09
    Kindergarten Spring Sing: AM K 10:30 PAC / PM K 2 p.m. PAC
  • May 09
    STAR Testing
  • May 09
    PTA Meeting, 8:20 a.m. cafeteria
  • May 10
    5th grade SBBEC Environmental Fair, 9 am. to 2 p.m., Redondo Beach
  • May 12
    STAR Testing
  • May 13
    Trash-free Tuesday
  • May 13
    STAR Testing
  • May 14
    Walk-to-school Wednesday
  • May 14
    STAR Testing
  • May 15
    STAR Testing
  • May 15
    Honor solo and ensemble recital, 6 p.m., Pacific School
  • May 16
    STAR Testing
  • May 18
    Fields of Green, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Metlox Plaza
  • May 19
    TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
  • May 19
    School Site Council meeting, 3:15 p.m., GV Library
  • May 20
    TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
  • May 20
    Trash-free Tuesday
  • May 21
    TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
  • May 21
    Walk-to-school Wednesday
  • May 21
    Special Education Task Force meeting, 9 a.m., District Offices
  • May 22
    TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
  • May 23
    TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
  • May 26
    No school, Memorial Day
  • May 27
    Trash-free Tuesday
  • May 28
    Walk-to-school Wednesday
  • May 28
    Lewis & Clark production, 10:45 a.m. and 7 p.m., PAC
  • May 29
    Lewis & Clark production, 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., PAC
  • May 30
    Blood Drive, 8:30 a.m. - 2;30 p.m., PAC

UPCOMING EVENTS

STATE ”STAR” TESTING

pencil-2.gifOur second through fifth grade students will be involved in our very important state testing during the next two weeks.  Our teachers will be administering California’s state testing for assessing student performance.  It is extremely important that all second through fifth grade students be in attendance and ON TIME from May 5th through May 16th unless they are ill.

We do not want to make our students anxious about taking a test.  We want them to feel confident and knowledgeable.  As parents, you can help us prepare your students by:

 

  • Encouraging your child to do his or her best without raising unnecessary anxiety

  • Making certain you child comes to school on time following a good night’s rest and a nutritious breakfast

  • Sending your child to school in a positive frame of mind

Test results are mailed home in August.  We truly appreciate your support.

Working together for student success!  –Rhonda Steinberg

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PTA VOTES ON NEXT YEAR’S OFFICERS

gator-watch-2.jpgPlease make time to attend the PTA meeting this Friday, May 9th at 8:20 a.m. (just after drop off) in the school cafeteria. We will be voting on next year’s officers. To see the proposed slate, click here. As always, we will have a raffle for those in attendance. See you there!

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CHECK OUT THE GATOR GAZETTE ONLINE

alligator-mailbox.jpg Look in your mailbox and read this week’s Gator Gazette to find out all about the State Testing, 5th grade Environmental Science Fair winners, School Site Council opening, basketball camp, Metlox Music and more.

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NEW GREEN STAR SCULPTURE

april2008-059.jpgThanks to Jon Grauman, who crafted more than 500 green aluminum cans into a star-shaped sculpture on the upper playground. Students will help come up with a name. More information when your child’s class visits the library this week.

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OCEAN ART CONTEST

coastal-art.gif Do you love the ocean? Are you artistic? Do you want to have your artwork displayed in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.? If you answered “yes,” then you need to enter the Coastal America Ocean Art Contest. The Aquarium of the Pacific is happy to announce the nationwide contest aimed at increasing ocean literacy and stewardship. Students from kindergarten to university are encouraged to enter. Deadline: May 30th, 2008. Click here for more information.

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IN THE SCIENCE LAB

diamond-green.jpg During Earth Week, Gator students collected $1,058.08 in spare change. This will protect 20 acres of rain forest in Costa Rica. Way to go!!!

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GET READY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

mbmslogo3b.jpgGot a 5th grader getting ready to go to MBMS? Mark your calenders for these informative events and activities to help them (and you) with the transition.

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MAY LUNCH MENU

swiss-cheese.jpgClick here for the May lunch menu.

So do your kids love the new, healthier menu? Do you have any suggestions for other tasty dishes? Food services director Lena Agee wants feedback on menu offerings. Contact her at lagee@manhattan.k12.ca.us.

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LIBRARY NEWS

picture-from-vacation.jpg Summer reading lists for Manhattan Beach Unified are posted! Click on Mrs. Snively’s Grand View Library webpage .

  • Thank you to the Zellweger Family of Toy Jungle for sponsoring author Todd Parr’s visit to Grand View and for donating the proceeds of the sale of the pre-ordered books to the PTA.
  • Many thanks to the Cronin-Hurst Family for making a generous donation to the library program. We love our library supporters!

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DISNEY ENVIRONMENTALITY CHALLENGE RESULTS

yahoo1.jpgCongratulations to the fifth-grade Earth Club members who participated in the Disney Environmentality Challenge. They had to come up with an environmental project that would benefit the school and community. Grand View’s project was titled “Earth Club: Promoting the 3 R’s and Environmental Awareness” and it won a runner-up honor! This is a great accomplishment because there were only five finalists and one grand prize winner. A special thank you to Beth Kelleher and Karen Tominaga who helped support us.

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KEEP SCROLLING DOWN

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RECYCLE YOUR OLD CELL PHONE, EARN CASH FOR GV

step2.gifDonate your old cell phone or iPod for cash back to the Grand View PTA. Some phones are worth as much as $50! Just put it in the
drop box in the PTA workroom. Not on campus much? You can send your phone - no
charge for shipping! Check out the website for information:
http://www.gvcellphonedonations.com/

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AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

arts_art_supplies.gif The spring session began April 28th .

To parents and caregivers of Kindergarten students attending the 10:15 a.m. enrichment classes: PLEASE arrive as close to 10:15 as possible. Instructors set up from 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and will not open the doors until 10:15. Your cooperation is important to make sure the morning classes operate with the least amount of disruption to the regular instructional day.

The Enrichment Program is still looking for a few parents to be on an “on-call list” to help with supervision. The program is sufficiently staffed, but emergencies do arise and we need to fill in with a parent volunteer. Being on this list is not an obligation to participate, but a willingness to help if available. Please call Tracy Blender if you can lend a hand at (310) 259-3514.

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SCHOOL SPIRIT

WALK TO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY 

 walkstickerblu.jpg Remember to walk to school on Wednesday, if not every day. There are 6 new sticker designs to collect. You can also feel good about reducing traffic around Grand View and increasing your heart rate. Keep walking the walk, Green Gators!

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TRASH-FREE TUESDAY

laptoplunchsystem.jpg Trash-free Tuesdays have been very successful. Pack your child’s lunch with reusable containers instead of plastic bags and use a thermos instead of throw-away juice and water bottles. Planets Pals will be selling Laptop Lunch Kits at the Student Store on Fridays at 2:15, as well as water bottles and reusable canvas bags. Supplies are limited!

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Start planning your vacation for next year

gator-in-hammok.jpg  

Did you know the school loses $35 from the state for each day a child is absent?

Please try to plan your vacations to coincide with the school schedule.

Click here for the District’s 2008-2009 calendar.

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BE A VOLUNTEER 

signdocument1.jpgWant to volunteer in your child’s classroom?  Click here  to get the updated  Volunteer Assistance form,  Medical Release form, and  Code of Conduct form.

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CHARACTER COUNTS: “Caring”

 caring.gifA caring person is kind, compassionate and shows they care; they express gratitude, forgive others, and help those in need.

As you may know, Grand View uses a nationally recognized character education program called “Character Counts.” At the end of each trimester, two students from every classroom (2nd through 5th grades) will be honored as role models for that trimester’s character pillars. Please help reinforce this month’s character trait of “Caring” by praising your child when he is kind and helpful. For more information on the program, click on http://www.charactercounts.org 

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SCRIP is available 24/7 online. . .Click HERE

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DON’T FORGET TO BUY YOUR YEARBOOK!

yb-order-here1.jpg Just click on the arrow to your left, or on the big one on the right side of the page…..

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CONTRIBUTE YOUR PHOTOS TO THE YEARBOOK!

children.jpg The Yearbook staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook online! If you’ve got great school photographs, here’s how to submit them:

  • Log on to: http://images.jostens.com
  • Enter login ID: 1145798
  • Enter password: grandview
  • Browse to select photos for upload
  • Enter information about photos and provide contact information for Yearbook staff
  • Click “Save Details”
  • Any questions? Please email Kat@katmonk.com or drew@katmonk.com

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE . . .DO ONE NICE THING

one-nice-thing.jpgStart your week off right! Do one nice thing for someone else and see how it multiplies. Send sweaters to Baghdad, or pencils and erasers to a school in Kentucky. Check out http://www.doonenicething.com.

GV Gators are known for their generous nature. To find other volunteer and involvement opportunities, check out Gators Care and Share. ******************************************************************************

PUT DOWN THAT CELL PHONE AND DRIVE!

man-on-cell-phone.jpgPeople driving while talking on cell phones are as bad as drunks, a recent study found. Starting July 1st, California motorists will not be allowed to talk while driving unless they are using an approved hands-free device. Drivers 18 years of age and younger cannot talk and drive, period. Click here to check out the CHP’s FAQs about these new laws, designed to keep you and your children safe.

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