March 8, 2010

Principal’s Message

Dear Simonds Parents and Friends,

Over the past five weeks, I’ve been conducting weekly tours of our fabulous Kindergarten program.  It’s one of many favorite things I love about being Principal of Simonds!  Our future parents are so eager to hear about all aspects of life at Simonds, and I love sharing, and most times bragging, about the great programs we offer.  Future parents are always impressed with the amount of parent involvement they see in action during the tour.  I’m happy to say I feel confident our parent involvement tradition will be renewed in the fall with our newcomers!

Speaking of fabulous parents, our Foundation parent leaders have done it again!!  They’ve organized a Spring Auction that is sure to be a winner!  A special thanks to Lisa King, Kim Bodemar, Stacy Houston and Beth Orth for getting things off the ground.  I would love to see a record amount of parents attend this year’s auction.  It’s close to home, at the Almaden Country Club, and much of the Simonds’ staff is planning to attend, so I hope to see you there.  Our students benefit greatly from our music and technology programs thanks to your generous support.  I’ll be looking for you at the Simonds Music & Technology Foundation - Spring Auction on Saturday, March 13!

Sincerely,

Principal

Please visit http://www.simondsschool.org to view and download fliers from the community.  Also, look for special announcements and additional information regarding all Simonds events.

Dates to Remember

Mar. 8 -      Second Grading Period Report Cards
Mar. 13 -    Simonds Music & Technology Foundation - Silent Auction - Almaden County Club 7-10 PM
Mar. 15-26 - Parent Climate Survey (Please return to School)
Mar. 15 -    Elementary Schools Inservice Day (No School)
Mar. 23-26 - 5th Grade Science Camp Campbell, Boulder Creek
Mar. 30 -    “Art From The Heart” Art Showcase and Classroom Projects Auction

April 1 -      Kindergarten Pre-Registration begins. Erikson Information & Enrollment Center, 535-6430 or Make Appt. 535-6436
April 12-16 - Spring Break (No School)
April 27-May 4 - California State Testing period

Other Important Information

Order your School Supplies Boxes – PTA sponsored event!!
Our school supply order forms are now available for the 2010 - 2011 school year. All our children benefit from this great fundraiser & what a huge convenience to all parents. Order forms went home on Monday, 3/1 & a reminder is on its way. The forms are also posted on our school website. All orders must be into the office no later then Friday, March 12. No late orders will be accepted. Once you’ve ordered you’ll simply pick up your child’s box of supplies on the first day of school before going to class.

Community Forum Sponsored by San Jose Unified and Leadership Associates
With the impending retirement of San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias on June 30, 2010, the District has contracted with Leadership
Associates to conduct the search for a new Superintendent. Leadership Associates will be hosting a community forum to gather input from the public as to the qualities and characteristics desired in a superintendent. The Community Forum will be held on Tuesday, March 9 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Board Room at San Jose Unified, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San Jose, 95126.  If you have any questions regarding the Public Forum, please contact Yolanda Beatty at 408‐535‐6069 or via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Castillero Middle School’s Advanced Drama students present Bye Bye Birdie
One of the most captivating musical shows of our time, this satire takes place in 1958 and centers around an Elvis Presley type rock and roll superstar (Conrad Birdie) and the complications that arise when his agent stages a publicity stunt on The Ed Sullivan Show in which he will kiss one lucky girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio before being drafted into the army.  The show runs March 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 20th at 7:30 pm.  All seats are reserved, $10 adults, $7 students.  Castillero’s Black Box Theatre is located at 6384 Leyland Park Drive, San Jose.  Visit the school’s website for ticket info at http://www.sjusd.org/sites/mid/Castillero or call (408) 535-6385 for more information.

Doodle 4 Google - http://www.google.com/doodle4google/
Doodle 4 Google, is competition where K-12 students are invited to work their artistic will upon Google’s homepage logo. Google- we believe in thinking big and dreaming big, so this year they’re inviting U.S. kids to exercise their creative imaginations around the theme, “If I Could Do Anything, I Would …”  They’re looking forward to the kids’ answers too. Gather those art supplies and some 8.5” x 11"paper and encourage your students to enrich us all with their creative visions for what they would do in the world, if they could do anything.

Pennies for Haiti
Still counting pennies, but we are up over $1500!!  A representative from the American Red Cross will be accepting our donation at the beginning of a school-wide assembly on April 1st!  Thanks again to the Simonds community for giving generously to this cause.

Geography Bee - Scavenger Hunt and Quiz Show
Calling all 3rd-5th graders, get ready for the 4th Annual Geography Bee! Participants sign up as a team of 3-4 students or as a pair or individual to be placed on a team.  Each student must turn in a registration form sent home in the white envelope or available in the office by Friday, April 9th.  Teams will compete in a Scavenger Hunt during the Multicultural Faire (Friday, April 23rd 5-7:30 P.M.) and again in a Quiz Show (Monday, April 26th 3:05-5:20 P.M.).  Teams will be awarded prizes for total points earned.  Come and have fun, work as a team, learn about the earth and win prizes and fame!!!

Questions?  Please contact:
Aswini Thirupathi (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or Kris Nakaji (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))

Simonds After School Programs
Mondays - Zumba
Tuesdays - Robots n Kids
Wednesdays - Hindi for US
Thursdays - Bollywood Dance
Fridays - Kids Club