El Toro Weekly 1/24/2013

Get Your Tickets Now for Celebrate Portola
Seating is limited for the Celebrate Portola event on Sat. Feb, 2, which features a dinner, silent auction and entertainment from student musicians. Order tickets now for $20 per adult, $10 per student and $5 per performing band member by sending an e-mail to CelebratePortola@gmail.com Prices for tickets sold at the door will be $5 higher. Order forms are available in the school office. Tickets may also be ordered online at PortolaNews.com/auction.
*A number of desirable items have been donated for the silent auction, including Oakland A’s tickets, Disneyland tickets and a ukulele – check out portolanews.com/auction for a sampling

Help Keep the Board Game Club Going
Students are having a great time playing board games but the school library is no longer able to accommodate the activities of the Board Game Club. The club would like to relocate its gaming sessions to a new location and is desperately seeking a parent volunteer to moderate . If anybody is available during lunch periods on a weekday of their choice, please let school librarian Ms. Bogie know by contacting her at abogie@wccusd.net, or calling the school and asking for Ms. Bogie.

Update on Academics at Portola
Everyone is invited to attend the next meeting of the Parent Academic Rigor Committee (PARC) on Monday, Jan. 28, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 7
*Principal Burnham will fill us in on the latest academic trends at Portola. From there, he will lead a discussion to seek input from parents on strategies for continuing to improve academic success at Portola.
*PARC strives to improve academic rigor for all students. For more information, contact Sally Fraser, sally@frasermeacham.com, 510 295-8041
Seeking Writer Coaches
WriterCoach Connection is back at Portola. The program provides trained writing coaches to help students communicate their ideas with clarity, confidence, and pride.
*We need more coaches of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. Please get involved to truly make a difference in a student’s life. Free training is provided. Contact Mr. Burnham for more information.

Middle College High School to Visit Portola on Feb. 8th.
Middle College High School at Contra Costa College will be coming to Portola on February 8 to talk to 8th graders about the high school. Middle College High is a high school within Contra Costa College that provides an academically challenging environment for at risk youth.  For more information, visit their website at  http://www.contracosta.edu/mchs/about.html

More Important Dates
Jan. 24 –  ELAC Meeting 4:00 pm in Room 7
Jan. 30 – Lockdown Drill
Feb. 1
– Report cards sent home
Feb. 7 – Vision Screening
Feb. 8 – Teacher Treat Day
Feb. 12 – PTSA Meeting