Calendar
Feb. 16 President’s Day – no school or childcare
Feb. 17-Feb. 20 Winter Break – school closed, childcare by sign-up
Feb. 25 Core Group meeting 5 pm

WINTER BREAK – SCHOOL CLOSED
Please make a note on your calendars that next week GLM will be closed for President’s Day, Feb. 16, and for the Winter Break Feb. 17-20. There will be childcare during the break; these forms were due by Jan. 30.

LAKE PARK TRAFFIC FLOW
~The children ALWAYS have the right-of-way
~If you choose to leave your car, park in the designated parking spots
~If you use the drive-through, please remain in your car
~Drive-through cars must pull up as far as possible to the orange cones
~Allow yourself 10 minutes to safely drop off your child
~At 8:45 children will be escorted into the building via the 3rd floor steps, allowing the 2nd driveway to remain open.
~At 9:00 am promptly, for security and safety, the gate at the bottom of the drive will be closed, and the orange cones will be placed at the top of the drive
~Cars exiting the driveway generally should back up into the parking area when encountering vehicles entering; however, use judgement, courtesy and WATCH the fish-eye mirrors. If a vehicle has nearly reached the street, then vehicles attempting to enter must allow that vehicle to exit.
~Any disagreements MUST be handled tactfully, without horn honking, yelling or intimidating behavior
~Speed limit is 5 m.p.h.
Your patience and cooperation are appreciated.

SOUND OF THE WEEK Each Wednesday your child is encouraged, with your help, to find an object at home (preferably not a toy) that begins with the sound of the week. Put it in a labeled bag to share with your child’s class. Because of the Winter Break, Sound of the Week will resume the week of Feb. 23, with the sound being “V”, as in Viper, Vacuum, and Vanilla.

PARENT NETWORK PUBLICATION
Draft copies of the Parent Network Publication are attached to each of the sign-in/out clipboards/binders. Please initial your entry by 5 pm on Friday, February 13th. E-mail the full text of any edits to GLMparents@hotmail.com by Wednesday, Feb. 18th.

BRIAN SCOTT, MAGICIAN
This week, Brian Scott, a magician, came to GLM for an all-school assembly. Using the power of the children’s imaginations, he took a book full of blank pages and turned it into a book full of colored pictures. He made scarves, ribbons, and a glass bowl appear out of nowhere; and accidentally made the magical raccoon, Rocky, disappear while trying to turn him into an alligator! With help from children from the audience, Brian did tricks with eight metal rings, locking and intertwining them into a swing, a ball, a flower, and a butterfly. A special treat was when he actually showed the children how one trick is done! Ask your child to perform it for you! The most amazing thing he did, though, was making a child float in the air!
He performed a second show for the elementary class, during which he challenged the students to figure out how he did some of the tricks. As clever as they are, the children couldn’t figure them out! Brian did give away the secret to the “Torn Napkin” trick though. Brian enthralled the entire class for nearly an hour performing card and rope tricks. Everyone is still talking about the show! Thank you, Brian Scott, and we will see you again!
For more information about Brian Scott go to http://www.brianscottproductions.com.

NUT ALLERGY REMINDER
The children all love having Valentine celebrations at school; however, some treats passed out in the classrooms contained nut products. We have a number of children attending GLM who have SEVERE allergies to nuts and nut products. The school asks that ALL parents refrain from putting any item in lunch boxes that contain peanuts or other nut products. This may feel like an inconvenience; however, even a smudge of oil from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is enough to cause a life-threatening situation for one of these children. Any nut products will be replaced in the child’s lunchbox and returned home. If you have sibling children who attend GLM (attending different classes), this still applies – there have been instances where lunches get mixed up at home, and nut items have ended up in a classroom of a child with allergies. If you need suggestions for alternative lunch ideas, please check with your child’s teacher.

CODY’S SCHOOL DAZE FUND RAISER
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Cody’s Book School Daze fundraiser in November. The school received nearly $122.00 from this event!

PRESIDENT’S DAY CHILDCARE
Toddler teacher, Mary Aima, is offering childcare at her home in Alameda on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 16th. For $40 your child will have games, play outdoors, lunch at the park, a video, and a baking activity. Ms. Aima lives at 456-A Santa Clara Ave, Alameda. Look for the sign-up sheets on the clipboards.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!
Mr. Danny Tien, Juniper teacher, is offering his childcare services in your own home on Saturday nights, beginning this March. He will come to your home, provide dinner, and care for up to 3 children (at least 2.5 yrs of age) between 5 pm and 11 pm. First come, first served, but consider combining the evening with your child’s friends! Please call Mr. Tien 510-499-1279 for details and to reserve a date.

ELEMENTARY ACTIVITIES
The following is a partial list of activities the elementary students will be participating in:
~Baseball season begins!
~Continued library trips
~Cents For A Cure (Leukemia fundraiser) in February
~Spring dance performance
~Attend Theatre Works USA production of Ramona Quimby

LOST JACKET
During Silent Journey childcare. Red quilted, LL Bean jacket with blue corduroy collar. Labeled with child’s name, LUCY. Please contact Kate Faust or the school office.
MISSING COAT
Angela Harris is missing her Mickey Mouse jacket. It is black and gray. Please return it to the office or the Live Oak class if you find it. Thank you in advance!
HOUSE FOR RENT
Small 2 bdrm house for rent behind ours (shared yard) in Laurel District between 35th & High. Contact Alice Philips at 510-482-9704.
BABYSITTER AVAILABLE
One of our weekend babysitters, Ying Saechow, is looking for nanny work on Mondays and/or Thursdays. Ying is very responsible and CPR trained. You can contact her directly at 510-437-9750, or call Arlene Rosen or David Cohen at 510-465-7296.

CLASS News

LIVE OAK - MS. CHURCH
Tuesday we had a wonderful Valentine’s Day celebration! There were cards, and glitter, and sweets showered all! Everyone had a chance to share what they received, and offer hugs and thank yous all round. When we finished the celebration there were bits of sequins, heart shaped paper and cookie crumbs all over the big blue rug! A huge thank you to all who brought us candy, cards and flowers for Valentine’s! It was very sweet and thoughtful!
If your family will be traveling during the Winter Break (next week), please consider sharing your photos and souvenirs of your trip with the class. Check the class schedule for a day and time.
Don’t forget: Monday is a school holiday (Feb. 16) in honor of President’s Day.

GINKGO – MS. NITONDE
This week we listened to a story called “Me and My Amazing Body”, by Joan Sweeney. The children learned the important parts of their bodies, their functions, and why we need them in order to live, work and play. Two facts that amazed the children are that beneath our skin lies 206 bones, and 600 muscles are attached to these bones!
The children have been having a wonderful time working on Valentine projects and listening to stories in the classroom. We are all looking forward to our Valentine’s Day celebration on Thursday. If you are bringing sweets or treats to share with the class, please be sure there are NO NUT PRODUCTS included. Thank you!
Thank you to Eli’s family for shopping for our classroom finches and parakeets. The birds are enjoying their seeds and new toys!
Thank you, also, To Chloe’s mom for reading the great stories to the class. We heard “Baby Hunu Saves The Day”, “I Will Catch The Moon”, and “The Wild Mouthed Frog”. The children especially enjoyed the frog story!

MAGNOLIA – MS. OLIVARES
Happy Valentine’s Day! The children made a special project with Ms. Owens in honor of this day. We’ve been reading some Valentine-related books, including “The Story of Valentine’s Day”. The children have been learning a new song, “What a Wonderful World”, originally sung by Louis Armstrong. They practice with Mr. Hoffman during his visits on Thursdays.
We celebrated two more birthdays this week; Mia Horvath turned 3 and Raquel Butner became 4! Mia shared a snack of muffins with us and her family gave the class a Swiffer. Raquel brought yummy cupcake treats for us all. Thank you, both! During the celebrations we sang “Las Mananitas”, a traditional Mexican birthday song. This was the song’s debut, after some months of practice!

CAMELLIA – MS. ALLEN
During the past week the children have been busy making special Valentine cards and placemats. Some of the children helped pick flowers to adorn their cards. They also mixed up a tasty snack that they shaped into hearts to dine on during our celebration on Thursday.
Last week, for Sound of the Week, the children sampled Turnip slices. There were actually a few requests for more! In addition we had a Toothbrush, Tea bag, and Thomas Train.
On Monday, we all enjoyed a magic show. The children were amazed by the magician’s antics, delighted whenever he made a scarf appear in thin air, and surprised when the magic raccoon disappeared.
Thank you to Celeste Grinage for making the Camellia Volunteer calendar. Using the calendar, parents can easily sign-up for various volunteer activities, such as story reading, gardening, pet care/shopping, or class laundry. The calendar is located in the sign-in binder.
Be sure to donate your spare change for Pennies for Patients. There is a creatively decorated container on the kitchen counter for your pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
Please take a quick peek in your child’s extra clothing bag on the hooks in the hallway. Is there a complete change of clothing available in the correct size?
Thank you!

MULBERRY - MS. AIMA
The class has really been enjoying the sunny weather! This week, the children helped put new sand in the sandbox and have spent lots of time digging and making cakes in the sand.
A big thank you to Gigi Curry, who gave our class four new fish and two frogs for our tank, in honor of her birthday!
Monday, the Mulberry class, along with the rest of the school, attended a magic show. The toddlers were in awe of the performance, and quietly sat, mesmerized, for the entire performance. Everyone is still talking about the show!
REMINDER: If your child has worn “extra clothing” home please bring the items back. Our extra clothing supplies are dwindling. Check your child’s bag to make sure they have everything they need for an entire change of clothing.
On Friday we will celebrate Valentine’s Day. Be sure to sign the cards your child wants to pass out, but don’t put specific recipient names on the envelopes (it becomes difficult to sort out the cards intended for specific individuals).

JUNIPER - MS. KOERBER
We are learning about our Presidents whose birthdays we will celebrate on Monday, February 16th. Our class has two books the children are referencing, both by David Adler, “A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln”, and “A Picture Book of George Washington”.
February is Black History Month and we are discussing black writers, and leaders who have contributed so much to our culture, including Romare Beardon, whose work is currently in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Colleen, Xavier’s mom, brought in some prints by this well-known Bay Area artist. She talked about his artwork and how many of his collages are about life and music. She read a story called “Me and Uncle Romy”, by Claire Hartfield and pictures by Jerome La Garrique. Thank you Colleen! Xavier’s family went to the museum, as did Ms. Basom! Ms Basom didn’t see Xavier, but did see Sophia and her family there! Faith Ringold is another collage artist and writer we will talk about in our Circle. “Tar Baby” is a popular children’s book she wrote and illustrated.
We discovered some “twigs” near the trash by Ms. Campbell’s house while we were on our flower walk. We have put them in water to see if anything happens to them!

JACARANDA – MS. LECK
This Friday, February 13th, our class is having our Valentine’s Day Tea, serving tea, sandwiches, cookies and cider. The children will exchange Valentine cards at 8:45 am; please bring your cards by this time if your child chooses to participate in the card exchange. Thank you Zayda Thiel for all her hard work to ensure this event takes place!
Valentine’s Day-themed works are sprinkled throughout the classroom, from bag making for the card exchange to jewelry making. The books the Jacaranda class has been reading around this holiday emphasize the love, not the material things, that we share this time of year. While doing the addition strip board work, one child stated “Seven and seven equals Valentine’s”. And of course, she’s right; Valentine’s Day is on the 14th!
Another popular work on the shelves is Anne Wenstad (teacher in the Live Oak classroom) inspired lemon and clove work. The children poke holes into lemons (from Mr. Keating’s backyard) and insert cloves into them to make pomanders to brighten the winter months.
During the school-wide magic show Monday morning, the magician told everyone how impressed he was by the children’s listening skills and patience. Your investment of time and money is paying off in the form of practical life social skills and manners!
We wish everyone a great Winter Break, especially those lucky families who are off to warmer lands for the week!

REDWOOD – MS. RANKINS
Our class enjoyed a wonderful performance put on by Pacific Time! It was a play combining the 1st of the 5 Great Montessori Elementary lessons; God Who Has No Hands/Creation of The Universe, and Lunar New Year. It was fascinating to watch! Thank you Celeste Grinage, Don Ferguson, and Michael Roosevelt for driving. Some of the children had comments regarding the play:
“The dragon dance was real cool”. – Charlotte
“The play was the, what’s it called? Creation of the Universe.” – Brea
“And, um, the performance was a Chinese New Year. It was cool. It was long and dark.” – Eric
“It was cute, especially when the monkeys came out.” – Jessica
We are back to our P.E. routine, and enjoying it immensely! The 1st years are doing very well, and we are extremely proud of all the children!
We are working very hard to perfect our dance exhibition for the annual Spring Performance. The children certainly look like they’re having fun practicing it!
We are searching for parents who love to garden. We would like a volunteer to help the children plant seeds during the week of Feb. 23rd. Please let us know if you are interested and available.
Thank you to Susan Abrahamson for the donation of the children’s rocking horse. We plan to strip, sand and refinish it as one part of our class auction project!
We had a special assembly in our class to watch (and participate in) a magic show with Brian Scott. Mr. Scott’s performance was fantastic and puzzling! Some of the children thought they knew how he did the stunts, but were hard-pressed to explain them! Some comments from the children:
“The napkin trick he taught looked like he really put it back together.” – Charlotte
“He held up a coloring book with blank pages and he said close your eyes and think of a rainbow and then it had colors.” – Eric
“I liked when he made Michael go through the ropes.” – Brea
We all hope Mr. Scott will come back again for another assembly!
Have a great President’s Day and Winter Break, everyone!















































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