Celebrate Portola Recap
Thank you to everyone who supported the Celebrate Portola dinner and silent auction on Saturday, Feb. 2. The bands sounded good, the food and drink was delicious and the bidding action exciting. The event earned about $9,000 gross that will go towards school programs and band.
*Thank you to all the people who helped make the evening a success! If your name was missed, it was definitely unintentional and we sincerely apologize: Julie and George Yamashita, Faustine Malcampo and Jace Bartholoma, Frances and Miguel Chen, Marc Lajoie and Trish McDermott, Debbie Marshall, Leslie Reckler, Dennis Sakurai and Emily Moya, Sean and Felicia Robertson, Debbie Hayakawa-Wing, Manu Wong, Cass Duggan, Judy Chin and Jeff Walker, Cathy Chin, Natalie Page, Peter Degnan and Barbara McCormick, Andrea Dorn, Diana Yamauchi, Jenny Park, Craig and Tracey Kitaoka, Luisa Valiela, Julie Scully, Julie Brown, Damian Hayden, Emi Sherman, Jackie Lucas, Ying-Tsu Loh, Lori Klumb, Paulina Chotov, Tammy Garretson, Estella Sloan, Elaine Miyamori, Kim Saquing, Saidah Said, Chris Novak, Jensen Wong and Lianne Tsujimoto-Wong, Tre Curran, El Cerrito High School InterAct members, Leon Wong, Kevin Mahoney, Lucas Masch.
Other Fun Opportunities
A few more available spots in parties advertised at Celebrate Portola. Please email Evangeline at emireland@yahoo.com if interested in buying a spot in the game or any questions.
*Wine and Cheese party hosted by Go Portola parents is set for June 1, 4:00 pm-7:00 pm, $20/person.
Enjoy wines perfectly paired with cheese in a fabulous garden in Kensington. Don’t miss the social event of the season. Beer and cheddar will also be served.
*Bowling party for 8 students with Spanish teacher Ms. Baldwin and her husband, $15/student, time and date will be set by Ms. Baldwin. Limited number of slots left, so reply early if you want to go bowling.
Teacher’s Lunch
Show your appreciation for the wonderful teachers and staff at Portola by contributing to the monthly lunch set for Friday, Feb. 8. We’ll be celebrating Black History Month with a Soul Food extravaganza.
*Please drop prepared food in the teacher’s lounge, room 34, between 8 and 10:30 on the morning of Feb. 8. There is a fridge available but no oven. RSVP to Tre at trecurran88@gmail.com if you can contribute a dish or help out by setting up, refilling the table, or cleaning up. If you can spare an hour between 10:30 and 1:30, we sure can use your help!
Valentine’s Day Candygrams and Dance
Leadership students are selling candygrams to e delivered on Valentine’s Day for $1.50-$3.00.
*Valentine’s Day Dance is set for Feb. 14 from 2:30 pm-4:00 pm at the El Cerrito Community Center. Permission slips will be available at the office or from Ms. Renee and must be turned in before tickets can be purchased. Tickets are $2.50 in advance and $5 at the door. Chaperones are needed – to get involved, contact Ms. Renee at crenee@wccusd.net.
Promoting Gender Respect
Promoting Gender Respect (PGR) has been at Portola for more than two years. and is coordinated by the community organization STAND for Families Free of Violence. In this program, groups of 8-12 boys meet with a trained facilitator. In the weekly meetings, the students discuss gender, violence, respect, and other relevant issues. Some 7th graders who participate are invited to attend a summer institute. These students may then become peer facilitators during the following school year, working with the adult from PGR to co-facilitate groups. The program has helped many boys gain a deeper understanding of themselves, and of relevant community issues. We will be adding additional groups during the second half of the year because the program has had a positive impact.
Reminders
Please remember that Winter Break is scheduled for Feb. 18-Feb. 22 and school will be closed.
*The school district science fair is set for Feb 28. If your student’s project was selected for the science fair, be sure to return it to Mr. Kunz by Monday, Feb 25.
*Middle College High School at Contra Costa College will be coming to Portola on Friday, Feb. 8 to talk to 8th graders about the high school.
*Everyone is invited to attend the next PTSA meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 12, in room 7. We will be discussing the Spring Faire. 8th grade parents will meet at 8 p.m
*Transfer application are now being accepted at the district office. Last day to submit application is Feb. 15.