Shark Snips

Sherman PTA Weekly Update – March 9th, 2010

This Week’s Events

  • SSC Information Session, School Budget Priority Survey. Wednesday, March 10th 8 am in the Computer Lab
    • Take your survey online at school – the Computer lab will be open at 7:30AM on Thursday, Friday, and Monday mornings to complete the survey.
  • Teacher’s College Workshop, Thursday,March 11th, 6 pm – Staff Lounge
    • “How to Build Reading Comprehension with your K-5th grader”

Coming Up

  • PTA Meeting, Tuesday March 16th, 8-9 am. (NOTE TIME CHANGE). 
    • Agenda: Review immediate fundraising needs to save certified teacher positions
    • Review Nominations for PTA Board 2010-2011
    • Preview the amazing Auction Art created by the children
    • Bring wine for the auction! Nicer bottles to auction off needed!
  • School Site Council Meeting, Thursday, March 18th, 6:15-8pm
  • Sherman Community Auction, Saturday March 20th 6-10:30 pm
    • RSVP today at www.shermanschool.org, and bring a friend! Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, so save money and get your tickets in advance!
    • Free parking at Marina Middle School!
    • Please note: Any remaining donations must be received by Thursday, March 18th at 2pm to be listed in the addendum.

2nd Annual Fund

  • Sherman is running a second annual fund to address the significant funding gap that we face with the 2010-2011 academic year. Support Sherman by donating today at www.shermanschool.org. Continue to learn more about the budget situation at both the PTA and SSC meetings next week

 And don’t forget – just a few days left!!

Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels! www.sherman.mabel.ca – Go online now until March 15th.

Our Green Schoolyard was recently in the Examiner.  Here’s an excerpt:

“This is lettuce!” says Saul Jaugeri a kindergartner. With Ms. Dominguez’ class, he is standing by a planter box in the green schoolyard at Sherman Elementary School. Ten minutes later, his class mate Seth Adelman digs out an earth worm and shouts, “Ms Myers, can we make a worm farm and have it as a pet?” Meanwhile, Abigail Parker, same class, pulls on Ms. Myers’ sleeve and asks if she can take a few leaves home for her new guinea pig. Linda Myers is the garden educator at Sherman elementary school in the Marina. An hour earlier, she was addressing a class of 4th graders by the schoolyard’s water fountain. Read More…

Here’s another article from September in Edible San Francisco Magazine:

Edible gardens in San Francisco’s schools teach kids to embrace nature—and their leafy greens:  Dropped in the middle of this annual Country Fair, you’d probably think you were in the country. A few sheep stand about nakedly, their wool having just been shorn, gathered, and brought indoors to be washed and prepped. Some chickens are busily pecking in their nook of the garden. There’s a bustling bake sale over by the farm stand, which is stocked with berries, greens, bouquets of flowers, and homemade lemon marmalade. The barbecue is cranking out grass-fed burgers and sausages and wafting a delightful scent through the air. A lively bluegrass band plays loudly under a tent. Despite the gray, drizzly day, people keep pouring in.  Read More…

Sherman PTA Weekly Update – March 2nd, 2010

This Week’s Events

  • Green Schoolyard Meeting, Thursday March 4th, 8 am
  • March 4th , March to City Hall for Public Education Funding, 3 pm meet at Sherman for the march to City Hall
  • Read aloud / Pajama Day, Friday, March 5th
  • Spring Work Day, Saturday March 6th – 9 am to 3 pm. Details below! Email jrmahoney@earthlink.net if you can come help.

Coming Up

  • PTA Meeting, Tuesday March 16th, 8-9 am. (NOTE TIME CHANGE).  
    • Agenda: Review immediate fundraising needs to save certified teacher positions
    • Review Nominations for PTA Board 2010-2011
    • Preview the amazing Auction Art created by the children
    • Bring wine for the auction! Nicer bottles to auction off needed!
  • Community Auction. Deadline for auction donations to be included in the catalog is this Friday, March 5th ,2 pm. Lots of extra invitations are available in the main office – send one to your friends! Go to www.shermanschool.org to buy tickets online!

Spring Work Day

Saturday March 6th. We welcome everyone for a day of gettin’ dirty. At this point most of the workday activities are outside and involve digging. There are a couple of items that are indoors and would really love your support.  Please email Regan Mahoney at jrmahoney@earthlink.net if you are interested in leading one of these activities. We need help!

Activities include:

  • General cleanup / weeding on Union & Green Street
  • Irrigation
  • Mulching
  • Painting
  • Other misc (paper restocking)

And Don’t Forget

Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels! www.sherman.mabel.ca – Go online now until March 15th.

This Week’s Events

  • Public Education: Funding Our Future San Francisco – Town Hall event, Thursday, Feb 25th 6:30-8:30 pm at Marina Middle School – www.fundingourfuturesf.com
    • Mayor Gavin Newsom will be participating in the panel discussion
    • Doors open at 5:30pm; please come early to get a seat – we are expecting overflow crowds.
    • Tickets not required and do not guarantee seating.
    • Childcare is full; if you have not already RSVP’d for childcare, there is no room available.
  • Principal’s Coffee, Friday Feb 26th, 8 am – Topic: Sherman BUDGET and SSC Survey
    • Come hear about our budget for 2010-11 and how we are prioritizing programs
    • Hosted by Kindergarten
  • Chinese New Year Friday Assembly, Friday Feb 26th 12 pm  - Come see our award-winning marchers preview this year’s performance, a circus theme!
  • Chinese New Year Parade, Saturday February 27th -  Come meet other Sherman families for the parade at 5 pm near Niketown just past Union Square.

Next Week’s Events

  • Greenschoolyard Meeting, Thursday March 4th, 8 am
  • March 4th March to City Hall for Public Education Funding, 3 pm
  • Read aloud / Pajama Day, Friday, March 5th
  • Spring Workday, Saturday March 6th – 9 am to 3 pm 

For your Calendar:

  • Sherman Auction, 6pm March 20th – Lots of extra invitations are available in the main office – send one to your friends! Go to www.shermanschool.org to buy tickets online!
    • We still need MORE donations – It’s NOT TOO LATE. Turn them in to the office today!

Teacher of the Month and Principal of the Year Award Program:

The Mayor is pleased to announce the continuation of the Teacher of the Month and Principal of the Year Award program in recognition of exemplary, dedicated and inspiring education professionals that serve the classroom AND the community, demonstrating the utmost civic responsibility!

There has been a slight change of plans: The nomination deadline for this year’s program has been extended from Feb 19th to Feb. 26th, 2010.

For more information, please visit www.sfmayor.org/education

Spring Workday

We have scheduled our spring workday for Saturday March 6th. We welcome everyone for a day of gettin’ dirty. At this point most of the workday activities are outside and involve digging. There are a couple of items that are indoors and would really love your support.  Please email Regan Mahoney at jrmahoney@earthlink.net if you are interested in leading one of these activities. We need help!

  • Activities include:
  • General cleanup / weeding on Union & Green Street
  • Irrigation
  • Mulching
  • Painting
  • Other misc (paper restocking)

And Don’t Forget

Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels! www.sherman.mabel.ca – Go online now until March 15th.

Sherman PTA Weekly Update – February 17th, 2010

This Week’s Events

  • School Site Council Meeting, Thursday, February 18th, 6:15 pm to 8 pm. Budget Budget Budget. Come learn what’s going on at Sherman and how we are working to prioritize programs to plan for next year’s cuts.

Next Week’s Events

  • Black History Choral Celebration, Tues February 23rd,  8 am parents auditorium
    • Come hear your children perform! Magical!
  • Public Education: Funding Our Future Town Hall, Marina Middle School 6:30-8:30 pm
    • HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended to arrive early (no later than 6pm) to get a seat – we are expecting to be totally full, and it’s first come first serve
    • You must have RSVP’d for childcare in advance, we cannot accept drop-ins. 
    • Go to www.fundingourfuturesf.com for more information
  • Principal’s Coffee, Friday, February 26th, 8 am-9am ** BUDGET DISCUSSION **
    • We’ll vote on budget priorities and our teachers and Principal Shenkan-Rich will share their budget priorities
  • Chinese New Year Parade Assembly, Friday February 26th 1 pm
    • Come see our amazing Chinese Circus theme! We placed 2nd in last years march, and are gunning for the gold this year!
  • Chinese New Year Parade, Saturday February 27th, Come meet other Sherman families for the parade at 5 pm near Niketown just past Union Square.

Mark Your Calendar:

  • Spring Workday, Saturday March 6th – Details below!
  • Sherman Auction, 6pm March 20thLots of extra invitations are available in the main office – send one to your friends!
  • Special thanks to Anita Walters and Mark Bunger for helping us coordinate an amazing Movie Night! Read more about the great event below!

Teacher of the Month and Principal of the Year Award Program:

  • The Mayor is pleased to announce the continuation of the Teacher of the Month and Principal of the Year Award program in recognition of exemplary, dedicated and inspiring education professionals that serve the classroom AND the community, demonstrating the utmost civic responsibility!
  • There has been a slight change of plans: The nomination deadline for this year’s program has been extended from Feb 19th to Feb. 26th, 2010.
  • For more information, please visit www.sfmayor.org/education

 Spring Workday

  • We have scheduled our spring workday for Saturday March 6th. We welcome everyone for a day of gettin’ dirty. At this point most of the workday activities are outside and involve digging. There are a couple of items that are indoors and would really love your support.  Please email Regan Mahoney at jrmahoney@earthlink.net if you are interested in leading one of these activities. We need help!
  • Activities include:
    • General cleanup / weeding on Union & Green Street
    • Irrigation
    • Mulching
    • Painting
    • Other misc (paper restocking)

And Don’t Forget

  • Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels!
  • www.sherman.mabel.ca  – Go online now until March 15th.

Special Thanks

Special Thanks to Anita Walters and Mark Bunger who made our 2nd Sherman Science/Movie night a smash hit!

  • We had a spectacular hour of science which included  pop-rocket experiments from Camp Edmo, exotic creatures brought in by Nancy Ellis of the Randall Museum, helium balloons and experiments with Sherman PTA parents, Animal conversation with Karen Berke, and Dan “the science man”Sudran exploring motors and circuits. A great big thank you goes to Mark Bunger for organizing all of this for the second time this year! 
  • The movie portion of the show couldn’t have happened so seamlessly if it weren’t for the technical expertise of John Watkins who helped provide and set up the many components needed to show a movie to 300 eager popcorn munching k-5th graders. Oh, and the popcorn! Though it seemed to just magically appear, there was a big team headed by Paul Manasian popping  the organic, fresh stuff  and bagging it for all to enjoy. Thanks to Wendy, Vanessa, Miriam, Mary and all the kids who helped bag and distribute the yummy stuff.

Sherman PTA Weekly Update – February 10th, 2010

This Week’s Events

  • SEPAC Meeting, Thursday February 11th, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
  • Flowergrams delivery, Friday February 12th

Next Week’s Events

  • NO SCHOOL, Monday February 15th President’s Day and Lunar New Year Observance
  • PTA Meeting, Tuesday, February 16th 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm
  • School Site Council Meeting, Thursday, February 18th, 6:15 pm to 8 pm

Public Education: Funding Our Future Town Hall

  • On February 25th (6:30-8:30pm) at Marina Middle School , join a coalition of parents from around San Francisco in a community discussion moderated by NPRs Michael Krasny, host of KQED’s award winning radio show forum. 
  • Come ask questions and hear ideas from our legislators, Presidents of the Board of Education and Board of Supervisors and the Mayor!
  • RSVP and more info at www.fundingourfuturesf.com.
  • We expect this event to be FULL, so RSVP and come early! 
  • We also need volunteers – contact Erica Hunt at ericahunt@sbcglobal.net for a slot with set-up, registration, ushers or clean-up

Examiner Reporter Needs Your Opinion on the Garden

From Laure Latham (journalist for the Examiner)

“Dear parents at Sherman Elementary,

I’m writing a piece on your school garden for the green parenting column of the San Francisco Examiner. I came to visit the garden yesterday (saw a K and a 4th grade class) and I would love to get your feedback on what you thing about the garden, whether or not it has made a difference for your child, and what you envision for the garden (or absence thereof, if you don’t approve of it). Honest feedback appreciated. Let me know if you don’t want me to use your name

Ideally I’d love to hear from a handful of parents by early next week. Once I gather all the info, the article should run within a matter of days.

Thanks a lot,

Laure, laure.latham@gmail.com

Blog: A Frog Mom in California (www.frogmom.com)

329 Beaumont blvd

Pacifica CA 94044

USA Cell: 1.415.902.8390

Freelance writer: Environment, Family, Travel

Green Parenting expert for the San Francisco Examiner (http://www.examiner.com/x-31027-SF-Green-Parenting-Examiner); Writer for SFKids (www.sfkids.org), Greenmoms (www.greenmoms.com), GGMG Newsletter (www.ggmg.org) ; Children’s book reviewer for GGMG Newsletter

Around Town

  • Need a night out? Our neighboring elementary school, Yick Wo is holding their Art Show and Silent Auction
    • Live Worms Gallery | Thursday, March 11 | 4 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
    • Thursday, March 11 | 4 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
    • Free admission, live jazz music
    • No-host beer and wine bar
    • Bidding closes at 8:30 p.m. Winners not present at closing will be notified by phone.
    • http://www.yickwo.org/ywes/events

And Don’t Forget

  • Town Hall — Public Education: Funding our Future. February 25th 6:30 pm
    • Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels!
  • Sherman Community Auction – Saturday, March 20th 2010, 6pm-10pm
    • Tickets available online on our website here, invite your friends and family!
    • Donation forms for items available in the front office – drop one by your favorite business today or offer up one of your great hidden talents!
    • Need wine donations for auction, drop off a bottle today in the main office

Sherman PTA Weekly Update – February 4th, 2010

This Week’s Events

  • Family Science and Movie Night, featuring the movie “Up” and Science fun!
    • Science Fun from 5-6 pm in the Cafeteria with real-life scientist explorers, amazing living creatures from the rainforest and fun with Helium
    • Movie “Up” from 6-8 pm
    • Bring a blanket, a pillow, a picnic dinner! PJ’s optional!
    • Science Night will feature:
      • Movie theme: Real life visiting volunteer
      • Rainforest life: Randall Museum (bugs and snakes) http://www.randallmuseum.org/
      • Flying house: A party company doing helium balloons and experiments
      • Visiting/exploring the rainforest:  ekoVenture http://www.ekoventure.com/
      • Talking dogs: Animal Conversation (yes really!) http://animalconversation.net/AnimalConversation.html
      • General cool stuff:  Dan the Science Man

Next Week’s Events

  • NO SCHOOL, Monday February 15th President’s Day and Lunar New Year Observance
  • PTA Meeting, Tuesday, February 16th 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm
  • School Site Council Meeting, Thursday, February 18th, 6:15 pm to 8 p

Let’s Play In Spanish at Sherman!

  • We need more kids enrolled in afterschool Spanish to be able to offer it afterschool – Only need a few more kids to enroll to be able to offer this great class at Sherman. This is truly one of the best providers in San Francisco! (We need 10 kids per class.)
  • Kinder-1st grade: Fridays, February 12-May 28th, 1:50 pm – 3 pm
  • 2-5th Grade: Wednesdays, February 10-May26th , 1:50 pm – 3 pm
  • Cost: $250 for GLO families/ $260 Non-GLO families
  • Need a minimum of 10 kids in each class to offer
  • Note that both classes run through MAY
  • For more information on Let’s Play in Spanish, go to www.letsplayinspanish.com
  • Please contact Beth Guy today to let her know you plan to enroll.  (Beth Guy, GLO at Sherman Site Director at shermand@gloinc.org)

Don’t Get Lost, Get Mabels Labels!

  • Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels!
  • www.sherman.mabel.ca – Go online now until March 15th.
  • All kinds of labels to support your organizing and keep-from-getting-lost needs! (sticky, iron-on, metal, you name it!)
  • All proceeds benefit 4/5 field trip funds.  Our 5th grade is still significantly short for buses for the end-of-year trip and yearbook funds; 4th grade needs support for its Sacramento field trip. 

Coming Up

  • Town Hall — Public Education: Funding our Future. February 25th 6:30 pm. RSVP today at www.fundingourfuturesf.com. We need your help to show the strength of parent voices! Join our Sherman parent organizers for this city-wide event!
  • Sherman Community Auction – Save the Date, Spread the Word, and Help us get MORE donations!
    • Donation forms for items available in the front office – drop one by your favorite business today or offer up one of your great hidden talents! We need help from the whole community to donate!  Donations must be received by March 1st to ensure catalog inclusion.
    • Tickets available online at www.shermanschool.org

Five Teachers and a Fund for Teachers Grant Fuel School-Wide Reading Revival

The Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, Horton and the National Education Association celebrate Dr. Seuss’ 106th birthday on March 2 with the NEA’s “Read Across America Day.” For a team of teachers from San Francisco’s Sherman Elementary, however, the celebration lasts all year long. A Fund for Teachers grant sent five Sherman teachers to the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University last summer and the Power Readers teamreturned to engineer a reading revolution at their school.

“I’ve taught for more than 12 years and have attended many literacy workshops, but never has a workshop inspired or transformed my thinking or teaching more than this institute,”said Jennie Chen, Sherman’s fourth grade teacher.  “It introduced me to a new way of teaching reading that is balanced and produces well-rounded readers who decode words proficiently, comprehend texts deeply, and pursue reading joyfully in their lives inside and outside of the classroom. The enthusiasm brought back from New York has been contagious and the entire school community has gotten on board.”

Jennie’s principal shares her enthusiasm. “The grant that my teachers received from Fund for Teachers created a reading revolution at our school,” said Sara Shenkan-Rich, principal. “We are now all focused on building life-long readers and making sure that students are thinking as they read. And the kids can’t stop reading. They keep asking for more and more books. What more could a principal ask for — energized and excited literacy teachers and students who love to read!”

The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project’s weeklong Summer Institutes serve as annual clarion calls to more than 3,500 teachers, coaches, and administrators dedicated to creating a school community of life-long reading and writing enthusiasts. Each day delivers a new keynote address, followed by small and large group sessions that provide opportunities to practice the Reading Workshop structure and learn the theories behind the balanced literacy framework. Collaborating with staff developers and fellow teachers also inspires ideas for implementation.

That collaboration continued in December and January, when a staff developer from Columbia’s Teachers College came to Sherman for on-site teacher training. “It’s not an off-the-shelf, scripted program requiring little thought on the part on the teacher,” explained Teacher Librarian Clare Watsky, member of the Power Readers team. “Implementing this new approach requires an intense, ongoing commitment from teachers to keep learning. We have that commitment from teachers at every grade level. Seeing our workshop method implemented in our classrooms has been an exhausting, exciting experience.”

Introducing the balanced literacy framework taught at the Institute is already producing positive outcomes. “I see students becoming more excited about reading,” explained Winnie Leung, member of the team that also included colleagues Clarissa Chiu and Michelle Kishimoto. “Students are more willing to read because they have access to books at their independent reading levels. Low readers and high readers are challenged and given appropriate guidance to move their reading along. We are helping students read, think, and talk–things that proficient readers do throughout their lives.”

“The most powerful idea I took away from Columbia is that young students have the same drive as adults to find meaning in stories and talk with others about what matters to them,” said Watsky. “I feel empowered to share my deepest self as a reader to inspire my students.”

Fund for Teachers is a national, donor-supported organization celebrating its tenth year of awarding fellowships for self-designed professional growth to teachers who recognize the value of inquiry, the power of knowledge and their ability to make a difference. For more information about Fund for Teachers, visit www.fundforteachers.org.

Jennie Chen implementing the new techniques at Sherman Elementary.

Left to Right: Clare Watsky, Clarissa Chiu, Winnie Leung, Jennie Chen and Michelle Kishimoto

This Week’s Events

  • NO SCHOOL Friday, Jan 29th Professional Development Day
Next Week’s Events
  • Green schoolyard meeting, Thurs Feb 4th, 8 am
  • Town Hall Information and Volunteer Meeting, McKinley Elementary School, Thurs Feb 4th 6:30pm (1025 14th Street at Castro). Info and RSVP at www.fundingourfuturesf.com. Join schools across the city in solving the educational funding crisis.
  • Family Science and Movie Night, Friday February 5th featuring the movie “Up” and Science fun!
    • Science Fun from 5-6 pm in the Cafeteria with real-life scientist explorers, amazing living creatures from the rainforest and fun with Helium
    • Movie “Up” from 6-8 pm
    • Bring a blanket, a pillow, a picnic dinner! PJ’s optional!
    • Looking for tech assistance in getting the movie set up, contact Anita at amwsanfran@yahoo.com
Don’t Get Lost
  •  Get organized and support the 4th/5th grade field trips with a purchase from Mabels Labels!
  • www.sherman.mabel.ca – Go online now until March 15th
  • Labels to support your organizing and keeping-from-getting-lost needs! (sticky, iron-on, metal, you name it!)
  • All proceeds benefit 4/5 field trip funds – Our 5th grade is still significantly short for buses for the end-of-year trip and yearbook funds; 4th grade needs support for its Sacramento field trip. 

Nominate a Teacher for CASH

Nominate a teacher today for the Teacher Appreciate Event, sponsored by Prudential California Realty and Pulte Homes. From Prudential:

  • “WE WANT TO GIVE THE BEST SCHOOL TEACHERS CASH! For the past 18 years, Prudential California Realty’s Education Foundation has been recognizing deserving teachers in Northern California by awarding them unrestricted cash grants. To date, we’ve given over $700,000 to more than 1200 special teachers. It’s our way of giving back to the communities in which we do business.
  • NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING TEACHER TODAY! We are accepting nominations of outstanding teachers for our 2010 grant program. In May, we will host award ceremonies throughout Northern California to give acknowledgement to the teachers chosen for these grants.
  • MORE INFORMATION. For more information and to see our brochure please visit our website, www.prurealty.com/educationfoundation to fill out the electronic form or contact me by email. Please note that the deadline for nominations is March 15.”

Coming Up

 Town Hall — Public Education: Funding our Future. February 25th 6:30 pm

  • RSVP today at www.fundingourfuturesf.com. We need your help to show the strength of parent voices! Join our Sherman parent organizers for this city-wide event!
  • Volunteer and Information Session on Thursday, February 3rd at 6:30 pm at Mckinley Elementary School. RSVP here.
  • Details:
    • On February 25th, join a coalition of parents and city organizations in a community discussion moderated by Michael Krasny, host of KQED’s award-winning Forum.
    • Panel and special guests include: Mark Leno, California State Senator; Fiona Ma, California State Assembly;Tom Ammiano, California State Assembly; Carlos Garcia, SFUSD Superintendent of Schools; David Chiu, President of the SF Board of Supervisors, Debbie Look, California PTA; Jim Lazarus, SF Chamber of Commerce; Leaders from business and education non-profits
Sherman Community Auction – Save the Date, Spread the Word, and Help us get MORE donations!
  •  Saturday, March 20th 2010, 6pm-10pm
  • Tickets available online  on our website, invite your friends and family!
  • Check our website here  to see donated items, updated weekly!
  • Donation forms for items available in the front office – drop one by your favorite business today or offer up one of your great hidden talents!

 

We are excited to announce that we will be offering Spanish classes after school at Sherman! Enrollment forms will be coming home in mailfolders and available in the main office starting tomorrow Tuesday, January 26th.

“Let’s Play in Spanish”

  • Kinder-1st grade: Fridays, February 12-May 28th
    • No classes March 26 and April 2
  • 2-5th Grade: Wednesdays, February 10-May26th
    • No classes March 24 and March 31
  • Cost: $250 for GLO families/ $260 Non-GLO families
  • Need a minimum of 10 kids in each class to offer
  • Note that both classes run through MAY

For more information on Let’s Play in Spanish, go to www.letsplayinspanish.com. For enrollment or other information, contact Beth Guy, GLO at Sherman Site Director at shermand@gloinc.org.

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