May 22 Auction! “A Night in Venice” 6-10 pm
May 26 Toddler Transition Meeting 5 pm
May 27 Elementary class play 2:30
May 31 Memorial Day Holiday – No school or childcare
June 4 End of year picnic at Lake Temescal
June 11 Last day of School
June 14-18 Summer prep week – no school, camp, or childcare

SUMMER REGISTRATION
We have started planning for summer staffing, including staff vacations. If you have not yet turned in summer registrations, we cannot guarantee a space for your child during summer.

ELEMENTARY PERFORMANCE
The GLM elementary class is putting on a Spring Play next Thursday, May 27th at 2:30 pm, on the asphalt circle in front of the Brown Cottage. EVERYONE is welcome to attend!

AUCTION UPDATES
A NIGHT IN VENICE awaits you THIS SATURDAY, May 22nd. Donations have been a huge success. Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity to feast, socialize with the GLM community, and WIN FANTASTIC PRIZES from the class projects to items for the home, extravagant services and more!
**Raffle tickets**
Let’s see a big last minute push on those raffle tickets, folks! Sell them at work, in your neighborhood, etc. $3.00 each, two for $5.00, or $40.00 for the whole book. Please be sure to turn in your unsold tickets by Thursday, May 20th. We will continue to sell them on the night of the auction – you still have a chance to win!
**AUCTION TICKETS**
You can still purchase your “tickets” from the office, or buy them the night of the auction.
Enjoy a full week in Sunriver, Oregon! The latest auction item is seven days in a 2 BR/2 BA condo approximately 15 miles from Bend, OR! Sunriver offers swimming, biking, horseback riding, canoeing in the summer, and skiing in the winter! This condo sleeps 6 and has the following amenities: 2 hot tubs, 2 decks, bikes, gas BBQ, washer/dryer, 3 VCRs, DVD and much more! Close to the village for shopping and dining, and to the swimming pool! This item is valued at $1,000.
Another wonderful, recent auction item donated is 2 tickets to the S.F. Opera’s production of “Cunning Little Vixen”, valued at $270.00!
Or, take advantage of 1 1/2 hours of landscape consulting with GLM’s own Lawrence Fleury ($150.00 value).
The auction committee is in need of volunteers for the night of the auction, a volunteer to pick up wine and beer and a volunteer to make a Costco run. If you can help please contact Gigi Orta at gigiorta@yahoo.com.

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. The sound for next week is “GR” as in Grandma, Grease, and Grocery.

THANK YOU
A big THANK YOU to Jennifer Toney for all her work on the PARENT NETWORK RESOURCE! This informative, useful resource will be passed out to all GLM families today and Friday. If you don’t find one in your Parent Pocket/Cubbie/Yellow Folder please stop by the school office to pick up a copy.

POTTY TRAINING FOR BEGINNERS
Meg Zweiback, author of Keys to Toilet Training, returns to BANANAS for a workshop on “toilet training for the first time.” Meg will discuss the ins and outs of beginning toilet training for young children and some of the common problems that can happen. The workshop will be on Tuesday, May 25, 7-8:30 pm. Pre-registration is required. Call 658-7353 for more information.

MUSICAL NOTES
From Mr. Hoffman:
On Musical Enrichment Days, besides learning songs, we’ve been learning some musical terms and seeing a wide variety of instruments. I will be sharing with you some of these each week through the newsletter.
INSTRUMENTS
Digeridoo: An Australian Aboriginal instrument, traditionally made out of a eucalyptus limb. The limbs are cut and placed where termites find them, and eat the heart out of the limb, making them hollow. Then, they are painted with spiritual pictures and patterns. Digeridoo music is traditionally played to connect with the spirit of nature. It is played like a trumpet, or the lower tuba.
Good players can make all sorts of growling and screech sounds by adding vocalization while playing the instrument.
Mr. Hoffman teaches private lessons in his home, or for an extra fee in yours. You can get more information by visiting his web site www.erikhoffman.com, calling him at 510-444-4397, or e-mailing him at erik@erikhoffman.com.

WORK WANTED
Tom Payne, GLM carpenter extraordinaire, has time open for short-term jobs. He is skilled at general facility maintenance and is available up to 20 hours per week until the fall when he will be moving back into the professional world. Please contact him via e-mail at thomaspaynejr@yahoo.com, or by phone at 415-572-5064.

ELEMENTARY ACTIVITIES
The following is a partial list of activities the elementary students will be participating in:
~Continued library trips
~Spring dance performance
~A visit to Velocity
~End of year camping trip!
~Swimming at Lake Temescal

BABY-SITTER WANTED
Occasional weekday babysitter wanted, 9 am – 1 pm. Please call Caroline Paddock 510-444-2222.
HOUSE-SITTER NEEDED
House-sitter needed June12-July 13. Stay in a 3-bedroom Piedmont home with yard., water the plants, walk the dog. Contact Michelle Tellez at 510-654-7104.
PUPPY FOUND
Beanbag Dalmatian found on upper play area in front of Brown Cottage. Contact Joanna in the administrative office.
LOST COAT
Alexis Scalzo is missing a baby-blue hooded coat with red stripes on the sleeves.
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!

CLASS News

LIVE OAK – MS CHURCH
We have continued to work on our auction project with Ian’s mom, Marta. The children enjoy watching the project develop!
During Circle we have discussed how exercise is very good for us, but we need to rest our bodies when it is too hot. Sometimes we do movement games in the classroom before going outside, and exercising to music. We work out to slow and fast music which helps the children learn to control their bodies.
Our Second Step lesson was on empathy, and we talked about how to show someone you care by the things you say and do.
We have also been reading stories about different types of animals and the way they hide from their, some using camouflage.
Monday, May 17, was Norway’s Independence Day. Henry’s dad, Norman, came in to talk about how his grandparents came to California from Norway in a boat about 80 years ago! He also read a book called “The Trouble With Trolls”, and shared a snack of flatbread and brown goat cheese. Everyone got a Norwegian flag sticker, too! Ms. Wenstad is also from Norway, and she told the children about the huge celebration that happens, with parades, waving flags, and lots of delicious food, on this holiday.
“Hurray for 17th of May!”

GINKGO – MS. NITONDE
Last Thursday Chloe turned 4 years old and we celebrated her birthday. Through the photos her parents shared of Chloe from infant to current age, we got to know more about Chloe and her family. Thank you, Chloe, for the academic language and mathematic puzzles as gifts to the class. These two puzzles are the children’s favorite works during the day!
We also celebrated Tae Veon’s 5th birthday! His family brought cupcakes to share, and gave the class felt markers to use during art!
Happy birthday, Chloe and Tae Veon!
Last week, during the great Boxtales performance, the children learned to say hello in Swahili (jambo), and a new song called “Adunde”. We also listened to two stories, “The Hunter Man and Crocodile”, and “Lion’s Whiskers” while the performers acted them out. The stories were accompanied by African drums called jembe, junju, and kalima.
We would like to say thank you to all the parents who attended our Family Night! The children were so proud and happy to have you observe their work and their environment. We hope your all were pleased with what you saw!

MAGNOLIA – MS. OLIVARES
Our fish have arrived! We now have two goldfish, given to us by David and his family. They are as yet un-named, but the children will vote next week and choose names for our new classroom companions!
The school had a visit by a clown performer this week. He really wowed the children with his juggling skills. He even juggled knives and flaming torches! He had a funny little dog with him who did his own tricks!
Even though the weather has been fairly warm, we do get the fog and wind at times. Please make sure that your child brings a sweater or sweatshirt, or has an extra one available in their cubby for these days.

CAMELLIA – MS. ALLEN
In the past weeks some of the children have been taking turns visiting the primary classes during class and lunchtime. Next week, May 26th, parents will learn more about the toddler transitions to primary. If you received an invitation to this important meeting, be sure to RSVP to the school office.
In music with Mr. Hoffman, we sang a new song called “The Old Mule”, and ended the session with old favorites, “Sally Go ‘Round The Sunshine”, and “Little Teapot”.
The children really enjoyed the great clown performance we watched this week. The favorite acts expressed at group time were the knife juggling and the red ball the clown caught on his nose!
PARENTS: Please bring in broken or cracked ceramic you may have at home for a special class project.

MULBERRY - MS. AIMA
Some of the children have begun to visit their primary classes. If you have any questions regarding transitions, feel free to ask Ms. Aima. Parents of transitioning toddlers have been invited to a special meeting on Wednesday, May 26, at 5 pm. This is a chance to talk to other parents who have had their children transition, and an opportunity to meet the primary teachers. Be sure to RSVP to the school office!
We had a circus performer visit the school this week. He was quite entertaining, and his little dog even did some tricks. We had lots of laughs!
Our auction projects (placemats and trays) turned out great! You don’t want to miss the chance to bid on them at the auction! THANK YOU to the parents who helped with the projects! There are still spaces for childcare during the auction with Lydia Sears. Call the office for more information.
Song of the week:
All the little fish are swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water,
Swimming in the water.
All the little fish are swimming in the water,
Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, SPLASH!
(For additional verses use big fish, whales, children etc., instead of little fish).

JUNIPER - MS. KOERBER
The children have a been doing a great job understanding the traffic signal foods and their lunches have been great! Thank you to all of our parents!
We talked about what counts as a serving. Did you know in the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group that the following measurements equal one serving:
1 slice of bread
1/2 cup rice or pasta
1/2 bagel or hamburger roll
1 four-inch pancake
You may have 6 – 11 servings per day of items from this food group.
Our chrysanthemums and snapdragons from last year are blooming, and the gladiolas are getting tall! Ms. Owens and Ms. Basom planted the Bio-Mat that Ms.Owens donated to the class. We hope to have morning glories climbing up the fence soon.
We were surprised on Monday to learn we had a clown show! We were entertained by a very funny fellow who juggled, rode a uni-cycle, and had a little black and white dog who did some tricks. Ahmad volunteered to be levitated!
Thank you to Kemberley, Derek and Tyler’s care-giver, for teaching our class Spanish. Here is a partial list of what the children have been learning:
Perro – Dog Delfin - Dolphin
Gato – Cat Caballo - Horse
Pez – Fish Zabatos - Shoes
Pajara – Bird Rojo – red
Verde – Green Rosa – Pink
Blanco – White Naranja – Orange

JACARANDA – MS. LECK
Welcome back to Malcolm, fresh from his tonsil removal recovery! Malcolm has an attentive audience as he tells of eating ice cream, jello , and mashed potatoes for main food!
The Jacaranda class had front row seats for the clown show on Monday, when the entire school watched juggling, uni-cycling, and other amazing tricks performed for us!
Thank you to those dedicated volunteers who are working on our auction project, the Jacaranda class quilt. We understand that there is only another several hundred hours of work to be done…
Welcome to the visiting toddlers: Ben, Caleb, Sadie, Laura, and Kellen! These new friends (and siblings, in two cases) are enjoying lunch with Jacaranda on alternating days, and are adjusting to the new and more stimulating lunch conversation.
Overheard in class as a Western Jay is seen in the tree outside: “Look, it’s a PJ”. Another child: “What’s a TJ?”.
Thank you to Isabel for the ladybugs for our garden, and to Megan’s mom, Susan, for baking muffins and reading to the class.
Ms. Leck is away to an East Coast wedding next Monday and Tuesday. In the classroom will be Mr. Keating, Ms. Saleem, and Ms. Mezzio (former GLM teacher, and current regular substitute).

REDWOOD – MS RANKINS
Our class had a wonderful time at the S.F. Giants’ game! Thank you to Caroline Paddock, Howard Godfrey, Beverly Lewis, Mario Hammonds, Jim Strandberg, Scott Gamble, Lynn Cadwalader, and Damani Gilliam for attending the game with us!
We took A.C. Transit to BART, then rode Muni to the stadium. The children were terrific on all the public transit vehicles.
Each child received $20 to purchase their own lunches. No one lost their money or went hungry!
At the game we were sitting diagonally from a group of Philly fans. The elementary kids are die-hard Giants fans, or they at least were for the game. We cheered the team throughout the game, and the girls all had orange pom-poms. Every time the Philly fans cheered their team, the GLM girls would get even louder! We were the loudest group there! By the 7th inning the Philly fans gave up the competition and moved their seats away from us! The girls couldn’t be prouder that they scared them away! And what were the boys doing through all this? Well, they decided by the 3rd inning that they didn’t like the fact that the Giants were losing; they wanted to root for a winning team. So, Zachary, Eric and Michael became Philly fans. Ali, Kennedy and Evan remained loyal Giant fans, but stayed somber and allowed the girls to do all the cheering. Even though the Giants lost, our girls rode home on BART still cheering “Let’s go Giants! Let’s go!”. Ms. Mack-Keeles and Ms. Rankins had the chant embedded in their brains the rest of the day!
REMINDERS:
¯ Library trip on Friday
¯ We need the following props for our play
1. A Cat In The Hat hat
2. A white dress
3. Man’s hat
4. Walking cane
5. Eye glasses
The play is next Thursday at 2:30. Everyone is welcome to attend!













































  ¶ 3:40 PM