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There were dry ice experiments and create your own slime stations, to
name just a couple of the attractions. It was a fun-filled night for all
who attended!  View more pictures of the event here.
Posted by Kathy Bishop on December 12
Dear Families,
I wish you all Happy Holidays! Thank you for supporting our Food Drive-- it's been very successful. Your donations will help make the holidays a little happier for families in need in Marin. Enjoy the break with your children and families, and I'll see you in the New Year!
Warm Wishes,
Lisa Zimmer
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
We may not have snow. But we WILL have an avalanche of fun as we prepare for the holiday break with a Winter Wonderland Spirit Day. Put on a cozy cap, grab some mittens or bundle up in a festive scarf. And remember--school's out from Friday December 19 until Tuesday, January 3. Have a fantastic break!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Join us for an "assembly line party" in the multi-purpose room this Wednesday, right after school (1:45 p.m.), as we put together lunches for homeless children in Marin. Once a month, we create these lunches for Homeward Bound of Marin, the main provider of shelter and support services for homeless families and individuals in our county. Kids and parents are welcome to help. Please contact Sasha Eakle at sasha_eakle@hotmail.com if you'd like to pitch in.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Join us in the multi-purpose room for the perfect send-off to the Winter Break. Our kids will serenade us with songs guaranteed to put everyone in the mood for the holidays!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
If you've already contributed to our annual Holiday Food Drive, thank you! If you haven't had a chance to drop off a donation in the red bins in the office, there's still time. We'll be collecting non-perishable goods until December 16. In these tough economic times, food is the perfect gift for the growing number of Marin families that can't afford basic staples (think high-protein items and canned fruits and vegetables.) Thanks again for your support! And don't forget the Lindsay Olives challenge -- Edna has a chance to win $3,000 if we collect the most food items.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
We have so much to be thankful for. Please give children who aren't as fortunate something to get excited about during the holidays. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the front office now through December 16. The Mill Valley Fire Department will collect the toys and distribute them to needy children in Marin County. Contact Sasha Eakle with any questions: sasha_eakle@hotmail.com.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Only ONE book captures this year's incredible events and experiences: Your 2012 yearbook! Remember all the friends, fun, favorite teachers, classes, games, music, art and everything in-between. Yearbooks are on sale NOW! Purchase yours by filling out this form and writing a check to Edna PTA or going to www.jostens.com and ordering online.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Edna Spirit Wear makes great holiday gifts! Choose from fleece jackets, bags, hats or other items. You can add a logo to almost any Lands' End item that can be embroidered for an additional $5.50. Go old school with the original "Might Mustangs" logo or opt for the newer "Edna Maguire School" logo.
To place an order, click here. When ordering, enter the Edna Maguire school code number into the "preferred school code" field of the order form: 900129768. For questions about ordering, contact Lands' End directly at 1-800-963-4816.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Hey first graders--you're on deck for the first Garden Work Day of the New Year! Come help the garden get through winter--no gardening experience needed. Have fun working alongside your classmates, friends and teachers. Whole Foods will keep us energized with drinks and snacks.
And don't forget THE GARDEN CONTEST! The sponsoring grade with the biggest turnout of students for its Garden Work Day wins a party--pizza or ice cream - at the end of the year! So tell your friends (especially your fellow first graders), bring your family and spend a great afternoon outdoors. As always, all other grades are welcome! Contact Saor Stetler (sstetler@earthlink.net) for more information.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Come to the multi-purpose room from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to learn about Edna's new No Bully program. Already used within the Mill Valley School District and across the country, No Bully is designed to protect our children from bullying and aggressive social behavior. The presentation will outline the No Bully game plan and give examples of the success the Mill Valley No Bully Solutions Team has already experienced. Edna Maguire school counselor Jason Mountsier, Principal Lisa Zimmer and teachers will explain the program and talk about why they believe it is a powerful and effective method of controlling bullying. This is an ADULT ONLY event. Please leave your children at home!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
If you get that iPhone, camera or other electronic gadget on your holiday wish list this year, be sure to save your old devices for Edna's E-Waste Drive! You can recycle TVs, cell phones, computers, and other items for free while raising a few bucks for our school and helping the environment. Watch for more details in January. Happy Holidays!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
We want to offer prizes to the students who sell the most candy during next month's See's Candy Drive. Profits will support all Edna students, including our fourth graders' trip to Sutter's Fort and our fifth graders' visit to Walker Creek.
Following discussions with the Student Council, we would like to offer a Nook and a Razor scooter as prizes to our top sellers! If you have either of these, new in the box, that you can donate--or know an organization that might like to do so-- we would LOVE to hear from you! Please contact Lucy Hampton (mvlucy@gmail.com) if you have any leads.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Thank you, Edna students, for going above and beyond the call of duty on Somalia Dollar Donation Day. Your generosity helped us raise $628.42 for World Vision-- way more than our goal of $1 per student! And with the help of a matching donation from the federal government, World Vision will receive FIVE TIMES that amount--more than $6,000--to help save starving Somalian children! Be sure to check out your child's Somalia star on our Thankful Tree.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
2011 Annual Giving Campaign - A great gift for your kids!
Please make your donation today and help Kiddo! reach our $2.4 million fundraising goal with 100% family participation. You can give your child a lasting gift of the arts with your support of Kiddo! Every child benefits, so every family is asked to participate. The requested donation is $950 per student, but donations at all levels are greatly appreciated. With your help, we will continue to fund library and classroom aides as well as technology and the award-winning arts programs that our students enjoy! You can make your donation online at www.kiddo.org or send your check to Kiddo! at 409 Sycamore Avenue.
Shop, Eat, Live Local... Kiddo! Style
Supporting our schools is serious business but that doesn't mean we can't have fun while doing it! So, get in the spirit...Shop/Eat/Live Local... it's good for our schools, our community, our local economy and for you, because we've made the holidays a penny-pinching cinch! Many of our business partners are offering a flurry of discounts, events and other holiday promotions to benefit you and Kiddo!. Look for the Kiddo! Shop/Eat/Live Local poster in the windows of local businesses and be sure to go in and say hello. Please visit www.kiddo.org for a list of holiday promotions and events.
Shop Kiddo! at Mill Valley Market
Kiddo! is Mill Valley Market's non-profit of the month for December and will receive an additional one percent of sales (for a total of 3%) through the Shop and Give program. So as you shop for holiday gift baskets, wine, and the trimmings for holiday dinners, consider shopping at Mill Valley Market - because every time you say "Kiddo!" at that cash register, you'll not only become part of a legacy of civic support that stretches back eighty years, but you'll help make a very real gift to our schools and students a gift that keeps on giving!
Kiddo! December Newsletter
There are a myriad of Kiddo! music performances in December. Check out the December issue of the Kiddo! newsletter for a full performance schedule.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
As you probably know, our school district is in the midst of an unprecedented budget crisis:
• Enrollment has increased by more than 18% over the last three years.
• State and federal funding have been slashed to less than 5% of the total school budget
• Property tax revenues have been stagnant or declined in the past few years
This "perfect storm" has resulted in a multi-million dollar budget deficit for next year. To help overcome the challenges resulting from the budget crisis and to restore school funding, a group of parents, educators and community leaders have formed Mill Valley School Advocates. Please take a minute to visit our recently launched website, www.SchoolAdvocates.org, and show your support for Mill Valley public schools. Sign-up for regular e-mail updates and learn more about how YOU can help support Mill Valley schools. And be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@SchoolsMV)! You'll get constant updates on our efforts.
Thanks again for your support! We're just getting started, but with everyone's help, we CAN create change and make a HUGE difference for years to come.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Justin Gagnon, the CEO of Choicelunch (our lunch provider), recently received the "2011 Most Admired CEO Award" from the San Francisco Business Times. Prior to this, he was invited to Washington D.C. because of the great things he is doing at Choicelunch. While there, he met with congressmen about the epidemic of unhealthy school lunches. Click on this link to hear Justin receive his award and describe his D.C. experience.
As the holidays approach, and you have less time to shop for and prepare healthy school lunches yourself, consider putting lunch in the hands of Choicelunch. Our registration code is MVSD.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Come join us in Park School's auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m. as Melanie Johnson, Ph.D., explains when and why you might want your child to have a neuropsychological evaluation. Learn how to develop questions or goals for the evaluation and better understand the key differences between a neuropsychological evaluation and a school-based psychoeducational evaluation. Dr. Johnson will also discuss how neuropsychological reports can help guide the development of an IEP and demystify some of the terminology and concepts involved in the process. This event is a joint presentation of ITAV and the Edna Maguire PTA.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
Sandpipers Explore Camouflage
Thursday, December 15, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Children ages 2 - 4 can explore the sanctuary with their grown ups and our teacher naturalist. Animals have amazing adaptations and one of the most spectacular is camouflage. We'll be searching high and low for these sneaky creatures and perhaps try out a little camouflage ourselves! For more information, contact Kelsey Bechelli at (415) 388-2524 x103 or kbechelli@audubon.org. Space is limited to 12 children. Advanced registration is required to hold a spot. Cost is $20 per child.
Youth Winter Bird Count
Saturday, January 14, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Kids of all ages and their families are invited to join the Richardson Bay Audubon Center, WildCare and PRBO in an event that celebrates the spirit of Audubon's long standing Christmas Bird Count. Together, children, teens and their families will explore the marsh, bay and uplands near San Rafael's Pickleweed Community Center. Led by expert birders, many bilingual in English and Spanish, participants will learn how to identify and collect data on the birds visiting our area during winter. Fun for the whole family! This is a FREE program, but advanced registration is required. Please call 415-388-2524 for more information or visit our website for registration forms and more details.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
It's almost time to play softball! To register for a team, click here. If you have questions, please e-mail Lisa Scarsella (scarsella@comcast.net).
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 12
This holiday season, it's easier than ever to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list--and help Edna at the same time! Just shop at the following businesses:
Amazon.com- Use our Amazon link and 10% of ALL purchases will go to our school.
Sports Basement (Presidio location only) - Save 10% on gifts for all the active folks on your list AND get a 5% contribution for Edna.
Pottery Barn Teens and PB Kids - Use Edna Member ID 411080139648 and password WS9141376 on qualifed merchandise, and 4% of your purchase will go to our PTA.
Book Passage - Shop locally for the book lovers in your life! Mention "Edna Maguire" at the register, and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to our school.
Speaking of books, here are some great gift ideas for young readers from Edna librarian Lisa Monge:
Picture Books
Art & Max by David Weisner
Crows at Pearblossom by Aldous Huxley
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud
If You Give A Dog A Doughnut by Laura Numeroff
King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently
Oh No! by Mac Barnett
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman
Easy Readers
Big Fat Cow that Goes Kapow by Andy Griffiths
Cat on the Mat is Flat by Andy Griffiths
Fly Guy by Ted Arnold
Elephant and Piggie by Mo Willems
Henry & Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
Annie & Snowball by Cynthia Rylant
Beginning Chapter Books
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
Melvin Beederman Superhero by Greg Trine
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
Chapter Books
Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt
Brixton Brothers by Mac Barnett
Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
Girl who Could Fly by Victoria Forester
My Life as a Stuntboy by Janet and Jake Tashjian
Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
Pie by Sarah Weeks
Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizza
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Trouble Maker by Andrew Clements
View From Saturday by E.L. Konisburg
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on December 2
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