SEPTAR Event, Feb 27: Resilience In The Classroom

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Clifford families:

On Thursday evening, February 27, join us for a cup of coffee, some socializing, and an engaging talk by Lisa Medoff, PhD,  the author of Resilience In The Classroom: Helping Students with Special Needs.

Lisa has dedicated her career to helping a broad range of students with special needs, along with their families and teachers.  She is an Education Specialist for the Stanford Medical School, where she works with medical students who have LD/ADHD and/or emotional issues that affect learning.

Here are all the details:

Guest Speaker: Lisa Medoff, PhD
Presentation: Resilience in The Classroom: Helping Students with special Needs
Date & Time: Thursday 2/27 at 7pm
Place: Redwood City School District Office, 750 Bradford Street, Redwood City
Host: SEPTAR (Special Education PTA Redwood City)

Contact: Beth (bethandtheboys@comcast.net) or Kay (kaysuzu70@yahoo.com)

All members of the public are welcome. You do not need to have a child in the Redwood City School District.

Free childcare will be available!

See you there.

Update: For a follow-up post, which describes some of Dr. Medoff’s enlightening discussion points, check out this report.

Moms’ March Mingle: March 20

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Moms make Clifford the amazing place it is. We should get to know each other better!

Come raise a glass to the daily, weekly, monthly effort all of us put in. Whether you chaperone field trips, help in the classroom, have worked on a fundraiser, or simply get your child to school safe and ready to learn – we’re celebrating you, mama! We invite you to come to our Moms’ March Mingle. Think you won’t know anybody? Bring a friend or two…..

When: Thursday, March 20
Time: 6:30PM to 9:30PM
Where: 256 Timothy Drive, 1 block from school (the home of a Clifford family)
What: Tasty Appetizers & Choice Beverages

RSVP to carolkdonnelly@yahoo.com

We look forward to seeing you!

Huge thanks to PTO Hospitality Chair, Amy Stanbery, for welcoming us into her home!

Hosted by the Clifford School PTO.

A Camel Spotted On Campus!

Clifford's resident camel: Roaming on campus is a key character from Aladdin!
Clifford’s resident camel: Roaming on campus is a key character from Aladdin!

What, a camel at Clifford?!

Yes indeed. As momentum keeps building for Aladdin — opening night is tomorrow, February 7 — one of the furry stars of the show took a break from rehearsal to saunter around campus! Students, parents, teachers, and staff were delighted to meet such an exotic creature!

The camel was dreamed up and created by Clifford parent Sheila Bailey. Congratulations, Sheila.

Click here for details about the performances, and visit Eventbrite to buy tickets online.

You can still buy tickets in person at the school office — and at the PTO table outside the office at pick-up and drop-off for the rest of this week.

American Girl Dolls ‘R’ Us: Fun Auction Event!

On Saturday, January 25, 2014, seven Clifford students attended a wonderful American Girl Doll party. This event is one of many terrific PTO Hollywood Auction events that parents placed bids on, in November 2013.

The American Girl Doll event was hosted by Susan Leathers, Clifford parent, and Rachelle Analla, the owner of Rouge on Main Street in Redwood City. (A second event, Girls’ Night Out at Rouge, will happen at Rouge, February 23rd. More on how to sign up below.)

All the girls had their hair and nails done. They snacked on mini-sandwiches, brownies, and fruit kebabs. They even drank fancy sparking punch out of a glass punchbowl, belonging to the grandmother of one of the attendees!

Each American Girl Doll party goer received a gift bag, which included a cute American Girl Doll T-shirt––with Rouge’s logo on the front.

Thank you Rachelle and Susan. And thank you to the Clifford parents who put bids on this event––something for their daughters to enjoy!

Don’t forget! You’ll find a number of excellent events (post-Auction) that still have spots available. Sign up now!

Seven girls with their seven dolls: Clifford students soaked up the grooming and refreshments at January 2014's American Girl Doll event.
Seven girls with their seven dolls: Clifford students soaked up the grooming and refreshments at January 2014’s American Girl Doll event.

All-Parent Meeting this Thursday at 7PM

Hi Clifford families,

Come join fellow-parents in the library at 7PM, Thursday, January 16, 2014.

Enjoy a light meal and refreshments, and come hear what is going on at our great school. The PTO Board members and other volunteers will fill us in on the latest happenings and goals at Clifford––all for our students.

View Agenda here.

Kids are welcome.

See you there.

 

The View: New Display of Our Students’ Artwork at Peet’s

These days, especially when it’s a tad chilly, there’s nothing quite like a steaming cup of Joe or decadent hot chocolate to warm the paws. Plus, a lot of us enjoy beverages even more than normal, when we don’t have to make them ourselves, right?!

So head on over to Peet’s on Laurel Street in San Carlos for something warm (or otherwise). Then sit back and enjoy the masterpieces of Clifford’s artists on display around you––thanks to the PTO’s Art in Action program.

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Move over Van Gogh: Clifford’s 3rd Graders present their own version of Starry Night.

Bring your kids along, for instance. They may have fun spotting their class-mates’ paintings or their own. Or they might enjoy identifying artwork from students they know around the campus.

Oh, and don’t forget to thank your barista for supporting Clifford.

Art Class Report

In December 2013, thirty 1st Grade students got in the holiday spirit and created their own winter landscapes, inspired by Pieter Brueguel’s painting, “Winter Scene.” (See photo below.) Students used oil pastels, white paint––and sparkly sprinkles for the snow! Mikey, one of the 1st graders, recalls that  “putting snowflakes was the best part.”

Kay Rim is a parent volunteer and took on the role as docent for this particular art lesson. “I was very lucky to be able to see the magical moment of snowflakes and snowmen bringing smiles to every student’s face,” says Kay. “I truly feel fortunate that our students get the opportunity to learn art through the PTO’s support.”

Special thanks to Clifford’s Art in Action coordinator, Jennifer Fernandez, who does such a wonderful job coordinating all the Art in Action programs and organizing all the art materials behind the scenes. Additional thanks to the parent volunteers who hang up and maintain the students’ artwork on the walls of Peet’s.

Note: Art in Action volunteers for all classes are still needed. If you are interested helping out–we’ll be thrilled with whatever time you can offer–contact Jennifer Fernandez at thefernandifamily@gmail.com.

Like the visuals? Check out our photos from previous Peet’s art shows.

Brrrrr. 1st Grade artists depict snowy scenes, inspired by Pieter Bruegel’s Winter Scene.

The Wire Workers: Art in Action Showpiece!

It's Clifford's blacktop in miniature, populated with wire stick-like figures.
It’s Clifford’s blacktop in miniature, populated with 4th graders as stick-like figures made of wire.

In the month of December, Mrs. Costa’s 4th Grade students worked with wire and other materials to create miniature figures. Valerie Bioc was the Art in Action docent — the parent volunteer leading the class — and Valerie created an awesome table-top sized replica of the blacktop.

Strike a pose: Each 4th grader had to create a version of themselves with wire!
Strike a pose: Each 4th grader had to create a version of themselves with wire!

The students were tasked with manipulating the wire to create a miniature version of themselves to show what they might be doing on the blacktop, on any given day: shooting hoops, tether ball, playing tag, for instance. Students had to decide how best to represent themselves using wire as a medium. They also had to think about their physical attributes — hair length, color, and so on — along with the kinds of clothing and colors they wear!

This particular Art in Action unit is inspired by Dempsey and Firpo, a 1924 George Bellows painting. And Valerie reports that after the project was completed, the kids loved discussing with their friends what their own wire figures are doing on the blacktop.

Bravo, Room 29 Artists!

Know that we need more Art in Action volunteers — either to lead the class or to assist. Visit our Art in Action section to learn more, and to sign up. Meanwhile, check out some of the photos from Peet’s Coffee & Tea on Laurel Street in San Carlos, showing Clifford’s students’ masterpieces. (Visit this page, too, which shows more-recent artwork.)

These 4th grade wire-oriented students sure wear colorful clothing!
These 4th grade wire-oriented students sure wear colorful clothing!

 

 

After-School Classes: New Winter 2014 Schedule Available

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Happy Holidays, Clifford families,

I know most of us have a ton on our plates right now — with the holiday madness — but if you have a moment’s peace, visit our Enrichment page to check out the fantastic classes on offer starting January 13, 2014.

Here’s a summary of all scheduled classes (click here for the Spanish version).

Happy New Year, too.

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Arabian Adventure: Aladdin’s Opening Night is This Friday!

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Welcome to Agrabah, City of Enchantment, where every beggar has a story and every camel has a tail! Enjoy the appearance of your fave characters in Aladdin Jr., this stage adaptation of the Disney hit film.

Our Clifford thespians will thrill you and spirit you away to another time and place — metaphorically, if not literally. The performance will be filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet antics…….

Clifford theater patrons, it’s (almost) show-time!

Friday night, February 7 at 7PM, is opening night for Disney’s Aladdin Jr.

As a reminder, here are details about the three performances:

7PM. Friday, February 7th

7PM. Saturday, February 8th

1PM. Sunday, February 9th

McKinley School Auditorium
400 Duane Street x James
Redwood City, CA 94062

Tickets
Advance $10
Reserved $15
At the door $12

BUYING YOUR TICKETS

Online
To buy now, click here.
Note: If you buy online, you will pay a “convenience fee” of over a dollar for every ticket purchased. (For example, you’ll pay an extra $1.24 for each $10 ticket.)

In the Office
You can buy in person at the Clifford school office during office hours.

On the Campus
Starting Tuesday morning, Feb 4, look for the PTO ticket table outside the school office where you can purchase tickets before and after drop-off––and after school–through Friday afternoon. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for some fun promotions around the school campus!

At the Door
You can buy at the venue, the nights of the performances, or on the Sunday, the day of the matinee. However, there is no guarantee that tickets will be available. We just about sold out last year for Willy Wonka, so buy your tickets ahead of time.

This is a joint production: Clifford PTO and the San Carlos Children’s Theater. Do. Not. Miss.

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8th Graders: Sequoia High School Info Night

SequoiaHighSchoolWill your student be attending Sequoia High School next year?

Come learn about the ICAP & IB Program at the 8th Grade IB Info Meeting on Tuesday, January 14th, 2014, 5:30PM, at Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City.

The Info Meeting will fall into two parts:

Part 1: IB Info Meeting 5:30 – 6:30PM in Carrington Hall. In English with Spanish translation. Come learn about Sequoia’s honors IB Program, how to access it and why it is important for college preparation.

Part 2: For Spanish-speaking families: Preparing Your 8th Grader for High School 6:30 – 7:30PM in the Library. In Spanish. Meet our Family Center staff and learn how your student can be successful in high school.

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View the flyers (English version here and Spanish version here) and check out Sequoia High School’s web site for additional details.

Questions? Contact Lisa McCahon, IB Coordinator, 369-1411 ext 63103 or Sequoia’s Parent Center, 369-1411 ext 63105.

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