El Toro Weekly 2/14/2013

How to Have Fun and Help Portola

Here are a few exciting opportunities to have fun or take care of basic needs, all while helping Portola. If you’d like to participate in any of the following, please contact Evangeline at emireland@yahoo.com

*Wine and Cheese party on June 1, 4:00 pm-7:00 pm, $20/person.
Enjoy wines perfectly paired with cheese in a fabulous garden. Beer and cheddar will also be served.

*Bowling party for students with Spanish teacher Ms. Baldwin and her husband, $15/student, time and date will be set by Ms. Baldwin.

*Dance at the Arlington on April 6, 7pm-9:30pm, $20/person – for current students only, dancing, drinks, food and dessert included

*Fine Dining at the Arlington Cafe in Kensington on March 23, 7:00-11:30pm, $40/person- drinks, 5 course meal, music

*Chiropractic Evaluation by Portola parent at Albany Hill Health Center -valued at $150, on sale for $75

*4 guest vouchers for the Tech Museum and IMAX theater – valued at $80, on sale for $40

*Thomas Fallon Portrait Session and a 12″ print – valued at $495, on sale for $50

*2 Season tickets to the spring 2013 performance series at the JazzSchool – valued at $950, on sale for $150

*1 month unlimited yoga at the Funky Door Yoga in Berkeley – valued at $29, on sale for $15 (20 available)

*3 month membership to California Recreational Sports –  valued at $250, on sale for $125

District Science Fair
The school district science fair is set for Thursday, 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.Note that district project winners will only be announced on Thursday morning, with awards presented on Thursday night.  Please keep the night free just in case your student’s project wins an award and is expected to be present at the ceremony.
*The projects chosen to move on to the Bay Area science fair will also be announced Thursday, with information given that night. The Bay Area science fair is open to the public on March 19-21.

Congratulations
Congratulations to 7th grader Raqeeb Chang for winning the school Spelling Bee.  He will move on to represent our school at the district and county Spelling Bee.

Thank You
School librarian Ms. Bogie would like to thank the PTSA for the generous contribution of eight new computers for the Portola Library. The students are already using them and we all appreciate the donation. The computers are used by an average of 70 kids daily and the donation truly supports student learning. Thank you, PTSA, for making the school library a priority!

Reminders

Please remember that Winter Break is scheduled for Feb. 18-Feb. 22 and school will be closed.
*Transfer applications are now being accepted at the district office.  The last day to submit an application is Feb. 15.
*Keep an eye out for progress reports, which are scheduled to be issued onMonday, Feb. 25
*Everyone is invited to the next ELAC meeting, which will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. in room 8
*STAR writing tests are set to be given on March 5
*The Portola Battle of the Books will take place on March 11. The winning team will go on to compete at the district Battle of the Books, which will be held after school on March 28 at Pinole Middle School. The books for this year’s competition:
The Skin I’m In by Sharon Draper; The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time by Mark Haddon; Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain; Hatchet by Gary Paulsen