During our only Beautification Day of the school year, many hard working parents and students turned out to prune trees and shrubs, pick up trash, rake and sweep. Thanks to Gary Batroff and his dedicated crew, our school is now a much more beautiful place!


You can see some pictures of the event here.

Posted by Tim Schultz on September 26

The 5th graders gathered last Sunday for the first Garden Work Day of the new school year. Weeds were pulled, mulch was laid, compost was turned, some fruits and veggies were snacked on, and fun was had by all! Check the school calendar for your grade level work day and come out for your day of fun!

See some pictures of the event here.

Posted by Tim Schultz on September 20

Come lend a few hours of your time and a little elbow grease to help spruce up our school. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m on September 24, we'll be cleaning windows, power washing, weeding, painting and completing other chore as needed around campus. No experience required--just show up with a can-do attitude and your work gloves! Questions? Contact Gary Batroff at gbatroff@hotmail.com.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Dear Family,

I hope you enjoyed meeting with your child's teacher at Back to School Night! It's so great to get all our families together! I really enjoy seeing everyone.

I also love seeing the new dragon protecting our school! In case you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, it's on the wall of the first and second grade building. I want to extend a HUGE thank you to artist Zio Ziegler for this amazing mural, and for donating his time and talent to our school! You can read more about Zio in this issue of the Pony.

Another new addition to our school this year are the following members of our support staff. I'm excited to welcome them to the Edna community:

Megan Flom, School Psychologist. Megan's life began in the Oakland hills, and after living in Texas and Minnesota, she says moving back to the Bay Area feels like "coming home."

She earned her doctoral degree in School Psychology from Texas Woman's University. Megan is also a certified Montessori teacher with educational background in autism, play therapy, crisis prevention and intervention, positive behavior management, transdisciplinary assessment teams, staff training and parent support.

Kristin Kuykendall, Speech Pathologist. Kristin completed her undergraduate degree at Oklahoma State University and received her master's degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Oklahoma. Kristin has been working with school-age children in the Bay Area since 2006. She has experience in evaluating and treating a variety of speech and language disorders, including apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders, fluency, articulation and specific language delay.

When Kristin's not working she enjoys reading, yoga, hiking and traveling.

John Haskell, P.E. Teacher. John comes to us from Old Mill School where he taught P.E. instructor for four years. He hopes to help Edna Maguire students gain confidence and discipline in P.E. as they develop healthy living habits.

Originally from Fresno, John fell in love with the hills and greenery of Marin while attending college in the Bay Area. He now lives in Novato with his wife, Maria, and dog, Mocha .

Finally, I'd like to leave you with a friendly reminder to be courteous to our neighbors when you park to drop off or pick up your child. The Scott Valley area has been especially inundated with Edna folks parking during these times. Please, please use your best Edna Maguire manners when parking in our surrounding neighborhoods! And consider using car line instead--it's fast, easy and convenient!

Warm Regards,

Lisa Zimmer

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Stock up on fresh produce from the Children's Garden --and goodies made from that produce-- at the after school farmers' market. The market will be in the back parking lot and will be open on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm (depending on produce availability), so don't forget to bring your cash! Take home fresh flowers, tomatoes, herbs, squash, apples, pears and more. All purchases enable the Children's Garden to be self-supporting.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Our shoe drive for families in Haiti is in full swing. If you haven't had a chance to donate a pair or two of gently used kid or adult shoes, there's still time! Just drop them off in the marked bin in the front office by Wednesday, September 28. Any style of shoes is appreciated! Our local Arch Rival shoe store will then deliver the shoes to families in Haiti. Questions? Please contact Sasha Eakle (sasha_eakle@hotmail.com)

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

The grade-level picnic for second grade families is THIS Sunday, September 25. Our last picnic for the school year, for kindergarten and fifth grade families, will be on Sunday, October 2. Get to know your children's classmates and their parents! Chat with Principal Lisa Zimmer! The picnics will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the tables in front of the respective grade level wings. Please bring a food, plates and utensils for your family. Questions? Contact Jennifer Miller at jennimil@sbcglobal.net.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Take a few minutes out of your busy day and stop by the PTA's Coffee Cart. Enjoy a cup of fresh-brewed coffee while you catch up with old friends, meet some new ones and get the latest Edna scoop. The cart will be located in front of the school. See you there!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

The excitement for Steeplechase, our annual fundraiser, is already building. To keep the momentum going, on Friday, September 30, we're holding a pep rally in the multi-purpose room. The fun starts at 8:35 a.m. sharp! Students will learn about the event, share their grade level cheers, and revel in the spirit of Edna Maguire. GO STEEPLECHASE!! WE ARE EDNA!!!! If you have any questions about the pep rally, please contact Janie Karp at jkarpj@comcast.net.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

That's right--the Fourth Grade Garden Work Day is Sunday, October 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. Come help the garden get ready for fall. No gardening experience needed. We promise it will be a fun morning working alongside your classmates, friends and teachers. Whole Foods will keep everyone happy with drinks and snacks.

Oh, and don't forget THE GARDEN CONTEST! The sponsoring grade with the biggest turnout of students for its Garden Work Day will win a party--pizza OR ice cream--at the end of the year! So tell your friends (especially your fellow fourth graders), bring your family and get ready for a great Sunday morning! As always, all other grades are welcome! Contact Saor Stetler (sstetler@earthlink.net) for more information.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Set your alarm clocks early on Wednesday, October 5! It's International Walk and Roll to School Day, and we hope you'll join the more than 40 Marin schools expected to help us reach "kidical mass" by biking, walking or rolling to school. Live too far from Edna to make it the whole way? Then consider driving to a spot from which you can realistically walk or pedal part of the way.

We are also seeking "Green Travel Captains" to lead groups of walkers or bikers from pre-arranged meeting sites in their neighborhoods. If you can lead a group in your neighborhood (possibly with a friend), please contact Anne Zarraonandia, annezarra@aol.com or 388-1908.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

It's hard to imagine Edna without the many events like Book Fair, the Art Show, Science Fair, Donuts for Dads, Muffins for Moms and more that make our school so special. We need YOUR help to ensure they continue. Click here to learn how to sign up to volunteer online. It only takes a minute! Make a commitment--even a small one--and have fun while helping our school.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

If you didn't get the chance to sign-up to volunteer for the Book Fair, you're not too late! This popular event will be happening November 14 -17 with set up the week before. We need your help to transform the MPR, unload books, set up the fair, and SELL! We'll hold just one meeting in October to go over the details. Please e-mail Mari Allen at allenmari@hotmail.com if you would like to join our amazing committee.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Please take a moment to complete and turn in your PTA permission slips. Doing so ensures that your child can join in all the fun, fantastic and fabulous events happening at Edna this year. Misplaced the form? You can download it here. EVERY student needs a signed permission slip to participate in ANY PTA activity, including Steeplechase, which is right around the corner!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Your contribution of $7 per child helps us provide emergency supplies for every Edna student. The money enables us to keep a well-stocked inventory of up-to-date medical supplies, blankets, snacks and other essential items. It also goes toward the expense of maintaining the emergency supplies container and water tank. And it helps us cover the costs for students requiring financial assistance. If you haven't yet done so, please help us meet our kids' safety needs by making your contribution today!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

You are welcome to attend our PTA Association meetings. Below are the dates for this school year's meetings. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings are held in the Teachers' Lounge at 8:40 a.m. We hope to see you there!

• October 5
• November 2 (6:30 p.m.; MPR)
• December 7
• February 1
• March 7
• April 4
• May 2
• June 6

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Attention Edna garden supporters: Sloat Garden Center is sponsoring Growing Up Green Week, now through September 26, 2011. Bring in this flyer: EMS Growing Up Green 11-12.pdf, and Sloat will donate 10 percent of your purchases to our Children's Garden. The more people who participate, the more we'll receive! So head to Sloat's to buy trees, shrubs or flowers to plant during the upcoming rainy season. Or pick up those garden tools or furniture you've been eyeing. Thanks for supporting the garden and for shopping locally at Sloat's! Also, be sure to mark your calendar for these future Growing Up Green Weeks:

• November 4 - 14
• December 5 - 12
• January 13 - 23
• February 17 - 27

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

You can now save 10 percent on all purchases from Sports Basement in the Presidio AND support our school at the same time! Five percent of your purchase will go back to our PTA. (So, if you spend $100, you pay $90 and our PTA gets $5). Now THAT'S a bargain!

Just ask for the "Edna Maguire School discount" at checkout. It's good for EVERYTHING, including rentals. So head to Sports Basement for sports equipment and clothing, camping gear, backpacks and more! Tell your friends and family to ask for the Edna Maguire discount, too! This offer is good ONLY at the Presidio Sports Basement.

We are also excited to introduce Pottery Barn's Gear Up to Give Back program. Now until December 31, Edna shoppers will qualify for up to 4 percent back on merchandise such as backpacks, lunch bags, and duffle bags purchased at Pottery Barn Kids or PBteen. To shop online go to: Pottery Barn Kids Gear Up to Give Back or PBteen Gear Up 2 Give Back. When you make a purchase online or in a store, please provide the following:

Edna Member ID: 411080139648
Edna Password: WS9141376

Note: You can get credit for purchases made as far back as July 1, 2011. Just leave a copy of the receipt with your name in Stirling Somer's mailbox in the school office or contact her at stirlings100@gmail.com.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Our fantastic local bookstore, Book Passage in Corte Madera, contributes 5 percent of all purchases to our library. Just mention Edna to the cashier when you're ready to pay. At the end of each fiscal year, the store sends a gift certificate to our librarian, Lisa Monge, to purchase books for the library. For more information, contact Mari Allen at allenmari@hotmail.com.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Edna Maguire collects box tops, and you can help! Each box top is worth 10 cents! The money adds up quickly when every family pitches in. Just look for the bright pink label on food items such as Gogurt, Bisquick, Gold Medal Flour, Cheerios, Pull-ups and a variety of other General Mills, Pillsbury, Old El Paso and Betty Crocker products. Clip the pink coupons from the boxes, turn them in at the office, and we'll send them in for cash. It's that easy!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

We need volunteers to help serve hot lunches to students on Mondays and Fridays. It's only a one-hour commitment, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you can help on either day, please contact Ashiya Yacoobali at ayacoobali@mvschools.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

Who could miss the incredible dragon mural gracing the walls of our school? The street art is the work of local artist, and Arte Sempre owner, Zio Ziegler. His unique, colorful designs also cover the walls of 142 Throckmorton Theatre and Tam Bikes on Miller Avenue. In addition to creating the mural for us, Zio generously offered to work with Edna's art teachers and teach our students about his artistic process. Zio was recently profiled in an article in the Mill Valley Patch. Contact him at ziocompany@gmail.com.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 19

After dropping students off in their new classrooms, hundreds of parents stopped by the multi-purpose room to greet each other and enjoy refreshments. A HUGE thank you to Peet's Coffee and Tea on Throckmorton Avenue for giving us an extremely generous discount on the coffee! We also appreciate the following parents for donating pastries to ease the first day jitters: Mari Allen, Michelle Barenbaum, Karen Carr, Kristin Evans, Karen Olson, Jessica Ryan, Kristin Silmore and Tina Taylor. Thanks also to Justine Whitehead and Cathy Wilmoth for supplying tea. And a big thank you to our set up and clean up crew: Beverly Allen, Mari Allen, Karen Olson, Ronnie Sharpe and Justine Whitehead. Let's hope the good cheer at the first-day coffee lasts throughout the entire school year!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 18

Many, many thanks to the volunteers who made our school photo days picture-perfect: Karen Carr, Nancy Ericsson, Tracy Ginther, Kit Harris, Julie Kennedy and Stephanie Philip. The Edna community appreciates your help!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 18

For the second year in a row, Randy's Artistry in Trees (artistryintrees.com) provided the garden with truckloads of wood chips. We'll use them for mulching and for pruning our fruit tree orchard to keep it healthy and productive. Please remember to think of Randy whenever you bite into a juicy garden apple or pear!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 18

Thank you to the students, families and friends who folded origami cranes for Students Rebuild. As you might recall from last spring, our initial Thousand Cranes project quickly multiplied and we sent almost FOUR thousand! The organization's most recent online newsletter gave an update about our cranes (in addition to the millions that were folded by others).  The effort was also highlighted in the August 21New York Times Sunday Magazine  with a photograph of the artwork created using the cranes. Arigatou, Edna Maguire, for helping students in the tsunami and earthquake ravaged areas of Japan rebuild their schools and their lives.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 18

Join us on Monday, September 26 at Strawberry Point School auditorium for a forum featuring three candidates running for Mill Valley School District's Board of Trustees. From 7 to 9 p.m., candidates Robert (Bob) Jacobs, Leslie Wachtel and Clifford Waldeck will introduce themselves and answer questions on various topics related to our school district. The Mill Valley Council of PTAs is hosting this event, with support from the Mill Valley Teachers Association (MVTA) and the California School Employees Association (CSEA).

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 18

Welcome back, and congratulations to everyone who participated in our fabulous Blast from the Past summer reading program! Five-hundred book-crazy kids logged over 13,000 hours of reading activity: reading aloud, being read to, silent sustained reading, and reading with someone. Keep up the good work, everyone!

September is New Library Card Sign-up Month. If you can write your own name, you can get your own card. Bring a parent or guardian to the library to get your first library card - we'll take your picture and give you a free book. If you can't make it in September, anytime is a good time to get a library card. We always reward you with a free book!

Our 9th Annual Bookmark Design Contest is underway! You still have time to submit your best ever design celebrating books, reading, and the Mill Valley Library. Entry forms are available at the library or on our website. All submissions are due on Friday, September 30 by 6:00 p.m.

Don't miss Picture Books & More, our after-school extravaganza for first and second graders every Wednesday in October. We'll read stories about Sharks, Mermaids, and High Seas Adventure, so fasten your seatbelts and get ready for art, action, and surprise snacks! Call to register for this four-part series.

Coming soon: Children's author and illustrator M. Sarah Klise (Regarding the Fountain, Dying to Meet You, and more) visits the library on Thursday, October 13 to read and draw from her Old Cemetery Road series. Make an appointment to read to a Marin Humane Society SHARE-a-Book dog on Friday, October 21, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Call to register.

Contact us: Mill Valley Public Library, 415-389-4292 x106, www.millvalleylibrary.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 18

Please join us this Saturday, September 17th from 10 am - 2 pm for the Tam High School Community Open House. Come see firsthand the outstanding Tam facilities, experience a variety of Tam classes, bring the kids to the "Funzone" with bounce houses, enjoy Open Swim, BBQ, and guided tours. We are proud to have one of the most beautiful and historically significant schools in the country, and are excited to show off the school.


Click here for a complete description of activities

Posted by Tim Schultz on September 16

On Saturday, September 24, millions of people in 188 countries will honor, "a day to move beyond fossil fuels" organized and inspired by 350.Org. In Mill Valley, Transition Mill Valley is inviting our community to jump on a bike, skateboard or walk about town. Plan a day that's different or stick to your routine but leave your car at home. Here are just a few fun ideas you may want to try:

• Walk or bike to the Mill Valley Art Festival

• Check what your community businesses have to offer

• Bring your music to the commons

• Picnic in the park

• Meet a friend along a trail or creek

Be part of the solution! To avert climate catastrophe, our challenge is to reduce CO2 levels to 350 ppm as soon as humanly possible. For more information, go to www.TranstionMillValley.org.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

The first few weeks of school are an especially busy time at Edna Maguire. To avoid overwhelming you with too much information to digest all at once, for this month only, the Pony will be published three weeks in a row. Today's special edition features community and school district news along with some important Edna announcements. It does not include information about Edna events. You'll find lots of information about upcoming and recent school events in next week's issue when we return to our regular format and bi-weekly distribution schedule.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

Dear Edna Maguire Families,

Millions of Americans are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Thousands of kids now have emergency doses of epinephrine in spring-located injectors (EpiPens), to be administered if they go into anaphylactic shock. This is a life-threatening allergic reaction characterized by a swelling of body tissues including the throat, difficulty in breathing, and a sudden fall in blood pressure. It can be brought on by a single exposure to peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil or peanut flour and many other nuts and nut-based products.

At Edna Maguire, we hold EpiPens for many students. I am asking for your support and collaboration in protecting these children. I will be spending time in each classroom discussing peanut allergies and reading the book The Peanut Pickle by Jessica Ureel. It's about a 6-year-old boy with an allergy to peanuts and how he lives with it during school, playdates and family events.

Meeting with our students is important to help them develop a sense of compassion and to learn what a good friend does to help and understand classmates who have allergies. Although I can't mandate a "peanut free" school, I want to encourage you to join us in developing and maintaining a school-wide awareness that enables us to work together as a community to minimize the risk to these children. We are taking specific precautions for them in their classrooms, but there are some simple things we can ALL do:

• Watch for "Peanut Alert" signs posted in and outside classrooms with students who CANNOT come in contact with peanuts or peanut-based products.

• Contact the teachers in these classrooms BEFORE bringing food or snacks that will be distributed to students.

• Teach children to wash their hands before and after eating breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Consider alternatives to peanut products for lunches in classrooms where students have severe allergies to them.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Sincerely,

Lisa Zimmer

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

Regular attendance plays an important role in student achievement. If your child has an unexcused absence, he will be responsible for making up any work he missed. With enough notice, teachers will try to provide students with assignments and homework during an absence. However, many assignments can't be made up, which may negatively affect a student's grades.

Students who are out of school due to unexcused absences for more than 15 consecutive student school days will be removed from their school rolls. They must re-enroll with the district upon return. There's no guarantee that, upon re-enrolling, a student will return to the school and class that she left.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

California ranks among the lowest states in the nation when it comes to funding public education. And as a community- funded, or "basic aid" district, Mill Valley doesn't receive ANY general-purpose money from the state. Instead, our funds come from the local property tax. 

Edna Maguire and the other schools in the Mill Valley district rely on fundraising to provide the excellent education and enrichment programs our children enjoy. If you have questions about our primary Edna fundraiser, Steeplechase, district-wide fundraising organization, Kiddo!, or Measure C funds to modernize Edna, please check out our fundraising FAQ. 

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

Along with other Mill Valley schools, Edna Maguire is in the process of migrating to a new district-wide web platform called Schoolwires. The new platform will provide all district schools with a more consistent look and feel to their websites. It will also enable flexible and more efficient content management capabilities and make it easier for all members of our school community to connect and share information.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

Another school year has begun! Another year in which your children will experience art, music, dance, drama and poetry programs that are among the best in California--all thanks to our community's contributions to Kiddo!

Our schools are experiencing unprecedented budget cuts from the state, $1.5 million this year alone, along with reductions in property tax revenues, which provide most of the school's operating budget. To date, only 40% of our school families have made their contributions to Kiddo! We need the remaining 60% to contribute so that we can meet our program expenses for this school year. Your generous contributions help us to fund vital programs at Edna Maguire:

· Art with Jackie LaLanne, Amy Faulkner, and Katie Mostert
· K-3rd Grade Music with Nora Thomas
· 4th -5th Grade Music with Anna Stearns
· 3rd & 4th Grade Chorus with Nora Thomas
· 5th Grade Chorus with Jessica Stewart
· 5th Grade Band with Cayce Carnahan
· 4th & 5th Grade Orchestra with Phoebe Dong
· K, 4th & 5th Grade Dance with Alan Scofield
· Poetry Specialists in 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th grades
· Drama in 2nd & 5th grade
· School Technology Specialists
· Art and music supplies
· Teacher Grants
· Other district needs such as Classroom and Library Aides

The recommended contribution is $950 per student. Our schools benefit from contributions at every level--your participation makes a difference at whatever level you choose. Together we can continue to make a difference.

Our sincerest thanks to all of you who have already made your Kiddo! donation. For those of you who haven't, please show your support for our children and their schools by making your contribution to Kiddo! today at www.kiddo.org or mail your contribution to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley CA 94941. You can also call the Kiddo! office at 389-7789 to arrange an installment plan that meets your family's needs.

Thank you for helping Mill Valley kids to reach their full potential. Kids need Kiddo! Kiddo! Needs YOU!

Shop for Kiddo! at Whole Foods on Miller Avenue
Shop at Whole Foods Miller Avenue on September 14, and 5% of what you spend will be donated to Kiddo! programs. So make a BIG list and stock up. Now THAT' smart shopping!

Register for eScrip
Register or update your Safeway Club, credit and debit cards on eScrip (www.escrip.com). A percentage of your purchases automatically go to Kiddo! when you shop at participating merchants, including Safeway, Mollie Stones, Paradise Foods and many others.

There are many other shopping rebate programs that benefit Kiddo!, such as Mill Valley Market (just say Kiddo! at checkout) and Whole Foods Scrip Cards. Fill out the form in your first day packet or go to the Kiddo! website for more information.

Fall Arts Festival
Come to the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival in Old Mill Park, September 24 and 25 and stop by the Kiddo! Food Booth for fabulous La Coppa coffee, delicious baked goods from Noe Valley Bakery and great Stefano's pizza. If you'd like to volunteer to work at the booth you can sign-up online at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/kiddo, email Kiddo! volunteer coordinator Wendy Johnson wrjohnson67@gmail.com or call her at 531-5311.

Stay Current - Sign up for Kiddo! E-News
Kiddo! E-News connects you with the most current news, events, business promotions, and performance schedules at your child's school. Sign up at www.kiddo.org. Your news will arrive on the first of each month.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

If you're a parent of a child with a learning difference, ITAV, the Mill Valley School District's Special Education PTA, is here to provide you with support and resources. Membership is only $10 per year and includes speaker events, access to our online support forum, monthly Parent Coffees and much more. For more information, pick up a brochure at the front office. Or contact Edna's ITAV representative, Dorothy O'Donnell (dorothyodonnell@comcast.net).

We would also love to meet you at our first Parent Coffee of the year, happening this Friday, September 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. Hosted by Jade Schoenhoeft, this informal gathering will be held at 39 Mountain View Avenue.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

Coastal Clean-Up 2011
Saturday, September 17, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Join earth stewards around the world as we celebrate International Coastal Clean-Up Day at the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary with a beach trash clean-up and marine debris education. Help us reduce clean-up waste by bringing a bucket for collecting small trash items and work gloves. Bring your family and friends--all ages are encouraged to participate! Please bring a re-useable water bottle and be sure to wear appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 13

Our new Kindergartners came to school a couple days early to meet their new principal and friends and to see their new school. Some smiles and laughs were shared and some new friendships formed. A good time was had by all!

See some pictures of the event here.

Posted by Tim Schultz on September 8

Dear Families,

I hope you are starting to settle into your school-year routines. The staff and I are all very excited to have your children back at Edna Maguire and to welcome our new students.

This is our last year in our current building! Construction for interim housing begins next spring. We are committed to maintaining effective communication and building a strong community during this time of transition. To help us accomplish this, it's essential that you read ALL communication that comes through our website: ednamaguire.org, our bi-weekly newsletter, the Pony Express, and-- new this year--the Pony Scan and Plan (see the article below for more information). I urge you to bookmark www.ednamaguire.org and visit it frequently for important school news and information! Also, if you use Twitter, you can follow me at LisaZimmer1. I promise to post only Edna news and events!

With the large number of students we serve, we have created several initiatives to ensure a safe and cooperative environment. Please read all the information included in your first-day packet regarding parking, where to drop-off and pick-up students, carline and food guidelines to keep our students with allergies safe. You can also find this information on the website.

Speaking of food allergies, I would like to tell you about our Birthday Food/Treat Policy. If you wish to celebrate your child's birthday with his classmates, please bring FRUIT ONLY. Do not bring cookies, cupcakes or other baked goods! We will continue to celebrate with healthy food and limited sweet treats at our classroom parties for Halloween, Winter Holiday, Valentine's Day and end of the year. Thank you for your cooperation.

Our staff and parent leadership team have been working incredibly hard to prepare for a wonderful year. We look forward to enjoying the rich traditions that make Edna Maguire such a special place--and sharing some exciting new initiatives--with you!

Warm Regards,

Lisa Zimmer

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 7

Please turn in your one-stop PTA shopping forms and volunteer forms ASAP. If you misplaced the copies included in your first-day packet, you can download the shopping form here. And for the first time, you can now sign up to volunteer online! Just open an account at Signup Genius. Then search for the Edna Volunteer sign-up list using this e-mail address: ednavolunteersignup@gmail.com. You'll see a complete list of the many events we rely on parents like you to make possible for our students. Please contact Daisy Scholz (daisyzoe@yahoo.com) if you have problems signing up online or have questions.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Get decked out in your favorite outfit, brush your hair and get ready to say "Edna!" for the camera. It's time for school pictures! We still need parent picture day helpers, so if you can lend a hand, please contact Stirling Somers at stirlings100@gmail.com. 

Please check the schedule below for your child's photo day:

Thursday, September 8: First, second and fourth grades
Friday, September 9: Kindergarten, third and fifth grades
Monday, September 12: Absentee make-up day (all grades)

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Edna's PTA, together with It Takes a Village (ITAV)--Mill Valley School District's special education PTA-- invite you to our first parent education event of the new school year. Marin therapist Anne Asch (MFT and former Edna parent) will discuss ways to strengthen your relationship and improve your co-parenting skills using tools developed by the Gottman Relationship Institute. This event will be held in the Park School Auditorium from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

If you have a first or fourth grade student, be sure to join us for first Grade Level Family Picnic of the school year. Back by popular demand, these picnics are a great way to get to know your children's classmates, their parents and Principal Lisa Zimmer. Each picnic will be held on a Sunday, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.,at the tables in front of the designated grade's wing. Please bring a picnic, plates and utensils for your family. Contact Jennifer Miller at jennimil@sbcglobal.net if you have questions. Here's the complete picnic schedule:

September 11: First and fourth grades
September 18: Third grade
September 25: Second grade
October 2: Kindergarten and fifth grade

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Come meet Superintendent Paul Johnson on September 13 in the Middle School library from 4 to 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Staff, parents, students and other community members are all welcome! The September School Board meeting will follow this event.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Please plan to be in your child's class at the appropriate time listed below. And be sure to join us in the multi-purpose room from 6:30 to 7 p.m. to meet our staff and learn more about our school.

Back to School Night Schedule
5:30-6:15: Third through fifth grade
6:30-7:00: All grades, MPR
7:15-8:00: K through second grade

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Calling all fifth graders! The garden needs YOUR help! That's right--the Fifth Grade Garden Work Day is Sunday, September 18, from 9 to 11 a.m. (please note the new time this year).

Come help the garden get ready for fall. No gardening experience needed. We promise it will be a fun morning working alongside your classmates, friends and teachers. Whole Foods will keep everyone happy with drinks and snacks.

Oh, and don't forget THE GARDEN CONTEST! The sponsoring grade with the biggest turnout of students for its Garden Work Day will win a party--pizza OR ice cream--at the end of the year! So tell your friends (especially your fellow fifth graders), bring your family and get ready for a great Sunday morning! As always, all other grades are welcome! Contact Saor Stetler (sstetler@earthlink.net) for more information.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Too many shoes cluttering your closets? Gather them up and donate them to our shoe drive for families in need in Haiti. From Monday, September 19 through Wednesday, September 28, you can drop off your gently used (no holes) kid and adult shoes in the marked bin in the front office. Any style of shoes will be accepted and greatly appreciated! Our local Arch Rival shoe store will then deliver the shoes to families in Haiti. Questions? Please contact Sasha Eakle (sasha_eakle@hotmail.com).

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Come lend a few hours of your time and a little elbow grease to help spruce up our school. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m on September 24, we'll be cleaning windows, power washing, weeding, painting and completing other chore as needed around campus. No experience required--just show up with a can-do attitude and your work gloves! Questions? Contact Gary Batroff at gbatroff@hotmail.com.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

We know staying on top of everything happening at Edna Maguire can be a challenge. So this year, in addition to our bi-weekly Pony Express newsletter, we're launching a new condensed version, the Pony Scan and Plan. Galloping to your inbox on weeks you don't receive the regular newsletter, Pony Plan and Scan will provide you with short, easy-to- scan reminders about key upcoming Edna events you won't want to miss!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

If you miss an issue of the Pony, lose a form or can't quite remember the date of a particular Edna event, don't worry. Just click on ednamaguire.org for instant access to the Pony (your main source of Edna news and upcoming events), class websites, our school calendar, forms and much more. Do yourself a favor and bookmark it now!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Be sure to follow Edna's chief tweeter, Lisa Zimmer, on Twitter
(http://twitter.com/#!/LisaZimmer1). She'll keep you up to date on Edna events, news and more throughout the school year.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Steeplechase, Edna's main fundraiser, is right around the corner. If you're a business owner or work for a local business, please consider sponsoring our Steeplechase t-shirts! Sponsorships are a great way to increase exposure for your company while helping our school. They're available for $200, $400 or $600. Just fill out this form and return it to the school office by September 26. If you have questions, call Cathy Wilmoth (786-6923). Thank you for your support!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Meals from our new vendor, the aptly-named Choice Lunch, are now available! Featuring local and organic ingredients, Choice Lunch will offer Edna students up to 17 different tempting entrees per day! Your child can even choose from a varied selection of side dishes.

To place lunch orders, go to choicelunch.com and follow the directions for creating your online account. Be sure to enter the registration code MVSD.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

This summer, Edna's garden took home two ribbons from the Marin County Fair's annual  competitions.

Our children won second place for their backyard compost (made in the garden compost piles) and first place for their worm compost (made by our very own Edna worms)! In addition to winning ribbons, our gardeners also won $35 in prize money! We used the money to buy new work gloves and hand tools for the garden. Way to go, kids!

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

A BIG thank you to the following individuals for helping our garden--and chickens-- thrive over the summer:

Jill DeMaio and Tracy Ginther for coordinating the care of our hens.

Ahtossa Fullerton, Janie Karp, Julie McGuinness, Leslie Myers, Stirling Somers for taking care of the chickens.

Leslie Myers for coordinating and implementing pathway sheet mulching, along with providing general greenhouse and garden care.

Randy Harris of Artistry In Trees for providing top-quality woodchips for the sheet-mulching project.

Laura Figueirinhas for coordinating and designing garden curricula and garden parent materials.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

The following folks, that's who! Thanks to all of you for stepping up to the plate over the summer to help us get ready for the 2011-12 school year:

Volunteer Signups: Daisy Scholz
Carline Signups: Julie Kennedy
Carline Cart: Ken Kennedy
Beautiful Painted Tree: Cambria Hicks
First Day Packet Photocopying: Leslie Fielder
First Day Packet Collators: Lyra Kelly, Chloe Lagier, Sunyoung Park, Maija Muncy, Samantha Fazio, Jeannine Berman, Mari Allen, Christine Freda, Stirling Somers, Julie Kennedy, Kit Harris, Simone Slattery, Janie Karp, Nancy Felder, Christine Brandt, Christine Cole and Caitlin Smith
Google Calendar: Linda Dunne
Pony Express: Dorothy O'Donnell and Tim Schultz
Pony Scan and Plan: Simone Slattery
Edna Website: Tim Schultz
Edna Database: Mike Bishop
Kindergarten Welcome Playdate: Kit Harris
First Day Coffee: Suzanne Alpert

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6

Along with other Mill Valley schools, Edna Maguire is in the process of migrating to a new district-wide web platform called Schoolwires. The new platform will provide all district schools with a more consistent look and feel to their websites. It will also enable flexible and more efficient content management capabilities and make it easier for all members of our school community to connect and share information.

Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on September 6