Dear Families,
As we end the year, we are planning for the next with more excitement than ever as we transition to our interim school for 2012-2013. I urge you to pay close attention to your classroom news, e-mails, our website and the Pony for important updates.
This is also the time when some parents start to worry about their child's classroom placement for next year. Please see the important letter in this issue of the Pony regarding Mill Valley School District's class placement policy. And be assured that our staff takes great care in determining the following year's classes. Class placements will be mailed in September.
In addition to our new interim school, other exciting changes are happening at Edna. Next year, we will have an extra first grade section while second grade will go down to two sections. We will miss first grade teacher Jenny Leogrande who is taking a year's leave of absence. But we are excited that second-grade teacher Julie Bremer will return to teaching first grade, team-teaching with new hire Tara Sprague-Ordonez. And that second-grade teacher Anna Isler will re-join the kindergarten staff.
Meet Our New Teachers!
Tara Sprague-Ordonez (Team-teaching first grade with Julie Bremer)
Tara has been teaching in the Mill Valley School District for the past eight years. She currently teaches first grade at Strawberry Point and also taught kindergarten there for five years. Tara was a long-term substitute in Julie Bremer's first-grade class in the 2009-2010 school year and is very excited to be back at Edna. She has a passion for teaching and working with kids that began when she was a teenager working at summer camps and giving swimming lessons. She believes in creating a warm, loving, fun, content-based learning environment where children feel comfortable taking risks.
Tara lives in Mill Valley with her husband, 2- year- old son Santiago and her newborn daughter, Petra. She loves yoga, running, reading, cooking, camping and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
Anna Curtis (Returning to second grade)
Anna is thrilled to be returning to Edna Maguire! After a wonderful year of teaching fourth grade at Strawberry Point, she couldn't be happier about getting back to what she loves most- second grade! She has, however, in her more than 20 years as a teacher, taught every grade from kindergarten through fifth.
When she's not teaching, Anna enjoys her "other life" as a wife and mother of three extremely busy kids. She lives in Novato where she can be found in the stands cheering on her two boys at a lacrosse game, or sitting in a theater watching her daughter sing, dance and act. On the rare occasions she finds time for herself, she likes reading, hiking with her dog, cooking or just having fun with her family and friends.
Meagan Druding (kindergarten)
Meagan has taught elementary school in Marin for four years, three of them in the Mill Valley School District. She's excited to be teaching kindergarten again. In addition to kindergarten, Meagan has also taught first and second grades. She's gained a great perspective on primary school- aged children and a strong understanding of the K-second curriculum. She looks forward to the adventures ahead while teaching at Edna Maguire!
When she's not teaching, Meagan stays busy outdoors and enjoys hiking, running and doing yoga. She also loves spending time with her sister's family, including her niece and nephew, in Walnut Creek. She lives in San Francisco and enjoys trying new restaurants and the many other things the city offers-- especially Giants games!
Jennifer Foskett (first grade)
Jennifer started teaching third grade in Los Angeles while completing her master's degree in education. She then moved to the Bay Area and started teaching at Edna Maguire in 1999. At Edna, she has taught both second and fourth grade and is currently the kindergarten RAMP teacher. When she's not teaching, she enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, yoga and spending time with her family.
Finally, I want to remind you to please remember to register to vote! California voter registration forms are in the office. And with sincere gratitude, I thank you all for your support of Kiddo on our recent Donation Day!
Best Regards,
Lisa Zimmer
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
The results of the Marin Municipal Water District's (MMWD) Cultural Studies investigation for the mainline replacement project on Lomita Avenue showed that further careful excavation is needed. MMWD will excavate a 30-foot trench at the Lomita /Lomita intersection in front of our school. It expects to start the archaeological work on May 28 and complete it on June 1. Traffic controls will be in place during the excavation.
The full mainline project will begin at Shell Road on June 18. If you have questions or concerns about this project, please contact Kevin McDonnell, Senior Engineer, Marin Municipal Water District at 945-1576.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
The School Board voted unanimously to place a $196.00 parcel tax on the November, 2012 ballot. The parcel tax will bring in approximately 1.9 million dollars per year for the next eight years. Faced with over three million dollars of state budget cuts in the last three years, the District has employed a "Shared Sacrifices, Shared Solutions" model this year and has been successful in trimming costs and increasing revenue. The parcel tax is one piece of the solution that also includes increased contributions from Kiddo! and PTAs; negotiations with teachers; and budget cuts at the district level.
We are lucky to live in a town where education is valued and where administration, teachers, parents and Kiddo! are working together to keep Mill Valley schools exceptional. See the Mill Valley Patch article for more information about the upcoming parcel tax.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
Take a minute to acknowledge our incredible Edna Maguire teachers this week! To honor them, we're asking each student to bring a single flower to school for his or teacher this Wednesday, May 16. Our teachers give so much to our students--this week is our chance to let them know how much we appreciate it!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
The end of the year is coming and that means one class is just about to win a pizza or ice cream party for best attendance at the garden work days! Right now, the second and fourth grades are tied with 33 participants each. But the other grades are in hot pursuit, so don't give up yet!
Join us this Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. for the LAST Garden Work Day of the year--and your final chance to increase your grade's numbers and win that party! EVERYONE IS INVITED! We promise it will be a fun afternoon working alongside your classmates, friends and teachers as we get the garden ready for summer! Whole Foods will keep everyone happy with drinks and snacks. Contact Saor Stetler (sstetler@earthlink.net) for more information.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
Our school--and our kids--depend on our many classified employees: P.E. and RAMP teachers; aides; and maintenance, custodial and hot lunch staff. Please make a point of thanking them for their service during Classified Employee Appreciation Week!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
All library books are due by Friday, May 25. Thank you for returning your books on time!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
Visit your child's class and find out more about what he or she's been learning this year. Take advantage of this opportunity to check out some of the exciting projects our students have been working on and to chat with their teachers.
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
Beginning this June, our beloved school will get a much-needed facelift! Edna Maguire has been operating since 1956 and the wear-and-tear of the thousands of students who have learned in her rooms has taken its toll. Thanks to the voters of Mill Valley, the old school will be demolished and rebuilt over the next 18 months. Please join us on campus on June 3, from 3-6 p.m., as we celebrate the past 56 years at Edna and get ready for our school's exciting new future! There will be live music, food to purchase and plenty of photo opportunities!
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
As we look ahead to next year's classroom placements, we realize some parents may have a particular teacher in mind for their child or want him to be in the same class as a friend. All of our teachers are wonderful. And part of what makes them that way is their wide variety of teaching styles. We believe your child will benefit most by working with all kinds of "mentors" during her years at Edna.
Our staff spends many hours working in teams to create balanced classes comprised of students with varying interests, needs, strengths and cultural backgrounds. We also take a team approach to placing children with special needs (such as physical, emotional or learning differences) in classes that will best accommodate them.
Once classes are set, we will NOT MAKE CHANGES unless there is a truly unusual situation that has been thoroughly discussed with the parents, teacher, principal and superintendent. Even then, no changes will be made during the first two weeks of school. Generally, we find that once students settle into their new class, they acclimate quickly and make new friends. They can always see their other friends during recesses, field trips or other school activities.
Please do not put your child's teacher in an awkward position by making special placement requests. They cannot promise matches with personnel or other students.
We ask for your trust and thank you for respecting our professional judgment.
Lisa Zimmer
Mill Valley School District Principals
Posted by Dorothy Odonnell on May 15
