Weekly Update: 4/30 – 5/8
Hello TOW Families,
Friday night’s Family Art Night was an incredible success thanks to chair Christina Shook. The MPR was packed with families and Patty Klingenmeier taught us how to sculpt people of all ages and sizes (and pets too!). Look for more Art Nights to come next year!
Huge thanks to Sheri Morgan and all of the volunteers who helped out with the Book Swap–an impressive 3900 books were swapped! Plus, we donated over 800 books with about 75 going to the TOW teachers and library, 135 to the Bee-A-Love Book program, 150 to Assistance League, 255 to the OC Rescue Mission and 210 to Helping Hands Worldwide’s reading program at Camp Pendleton. We hope your kids are enjoying their new reads.
PRINCIPAL BLAST
MORNING TRAFFIC REMINDER
Traffic on Mountain View in the morning has gotten quite hectic once again. Please remember that Mountain View is not to be used as a drop-off area. Parents dropping off their students need to use the car drop off line. Also, be sure to make your turn in the cul-de-sac instead of making a K-turn in the driveways. We have had a few close calls with car accidents and pedestrian injuries. Thank you for your understanding with this.
ATTENTION MOUNTAIN VIEW NEIGHBORS
The school has received several calls about children playing on the hillside by the school damaging plants. In an attempt to save the vegetation, we ask if you could speak with your children about not playing on the hillside and avoiding damaging the plants. Thanks!
OPEN HOUSE DATE CORRECTION
TOW’S Open House will be on Thursday, May 28. The date was changed in early September after the PTA calendars were printed, so I apologize for the confusion.
TOW KINDERGARTEN AND NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION
- TOW Kindergarten and New Student Registration – Wed, May 13 from 9:00-12:00pm (TOW MPR)
- Parent Kindergarten Orientation – Wed, May 27 from 9:30-10:30am (TOW MPR)
To register for 2015-16 Kindergarten, students must be five years old on or before September 1, 2015. View details on required registration documents and online enrollment, as well as El Morro registration information.
Kindergarten placement in early or late start will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration packets will be time/date stamped with your early start/late start preference. If your work schedule requires your child to attend class at 8am, we encourage you enroll early, as space is limited.
TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
The purpose of the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program is to build a bridge between preschool or early learning and kindergarten.
- To be eligible for the TK program, students must turn five years old between September 2 and December 2, 2015.
- The LBUSD TK class is held on the El Morro Elementary School campus.
- The TK class schedule will be the same as the Early Start kindergarten schedule.
- Orientation Thursday, May 14 at 9:30 a.m. at El Morro Elementary School.
View the TK Information Sheet for more details on the TK program. As a TOW family, you may register for TK at TOW on May 13 (but the program is held at El Morro). View registration and orientation details.
NEW WEBSITES!!
Be sure to visit the new district and TOW websites that were launched last week. Special thanks to the IT department for their hard work, Kristi Matheson for all the hours of prep, and Mrs. Crane for the incredible photos. Be sure to check out more of Mrs. Crane’s beautiful photography at www.gilliancrane.com.
PARENT MENTOR REMINDER
LBUSD offers a free supportive service to families who have children with unique needs–it’s the Parent Mentor Program. There are five mentors who have children at each of the four school sites. The mentors are happy to offer help with locating resources, deciphering acronyms, homework suggestions and even assisting with IEP’s. Families are encouraged to reach out to the mentors at 497-7700 x5208.
CLARITY SURVEY
If you have not yet completed the Clarity questionnaire, please do so. It will help us understand technology use for learning in your students’ lives as we partner with Bright Bites.
5TH GRADE FOOD DRIVE
TOW 5th graders are holding a Food Drive this weekend, May 2nd and 3rd, from 10am – 4pm. Shop at Ralph’s, Pavilions, Whole Foods, or Haggen either day and pick up a few extra items to be donated to the Laguna Food Pantry. Email LBHS2022@gmail.com for more information.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Check the ALL NEW district website for flyers from the community. The Community Page is located under the Resources tab of the new website.
- Don’t miss Laguna Tots, a zany swipe at school, siblings, and pop culture, a junior version of the annual hit LAGUNATICS © – featuring local talent from grades 1 – 8! More info. Buy tickets now.
- Donate used sports equipment to Score 4 the Poor. Collection box will be at TOW in May. Learn more.
- Recycling and Document Shredding, hosted by Surterre Properties along with ALLGREEN, on Saturday, May 9 at the LB District parking lot.
PRESS RELEASES
TOW and TMS students participate in Destination Imagination
TOW PTA NEWS
IT’S YEARBOOK TIME!
- There is only 1 week left to order your 2014-2015 yearbook!! The deadline is Friday, May 8. Order now.
- Fifth grade parents, yearbook ads for your 5th grader are due May 1st! Email questions to tow2015grad@gmail.com.
- Please send pictures of your child and their class to the TOW Yearbook Editor at towyearbook@gmail.com.
TOW PARENT SURVEY
As a part of the process of planning for next year, we would love to get your feedback on the PTA’s programs, fundraisers, and more. Please take a few minutes to fill out our TOW Parent Survey.
ARTS WINNERS
Congratulations to Ayla Keller, Alice Mitsuka, Annika Vellekoop, Isabel McDermott, Katie Baker, Lauren Kimball, Sophia Naderi, Ziggy Molteni, Mallory Keller, Jordan Zinser-Katz, Riley Belden, Brooklyn Yelland, Merrick Vellmure and Christina Veski who will all have artwork on exhibit at the 2015 Imagination Celebration at South Coast Plaza from April 30-May 10! And Brooklyn Conlon will have a sculpture on exhibit at the Irvine Fine Arts Center 3D exhibit from May 1 – 30.
Brooklyn Conlon, Katie Baker, Jordan Zinser-Katz, and Alice Mitsuka’s pieces will then travel to the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Junior Art Exhibit, where they will be on display this summer.
Congratulations! We are so proud of our talented students!
PTA PARK MEET UP
Join us at Alta Laguna Park on Friday, May 15 for an informal after-school park meet up. We’ll be there from 3:30 to 5:30 or so. It’s a chance to hang with TOW friends, plus learn about volunteer opportunities and open positions for next year. Incoming families welcome! Contact Sarah Durand for more info.
GET YOUR ANGELS TICKETS
Our Angels Baseball family night fundraiser is on Saturday, May 30 at 7:05pm. Tickets are $15 with $7.50 going to our school. Buy tickets now.
THE WEEK AHEAD
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Honors Chorus performance at Laguna Beach Museum of Art – call time 11:15am, performance approx. 11:30
5th Grade Food Drive from 10:00am-4:00pm at all 4 downtown grocery stores (Ralphs, Pavillions, Whole Foods & Haggen)
SUNDAY, MAY 3
5th grade Food Drive continues
MONDAY, MAY 4
CAASPP testing continues
Kindergarten Graduation photos
After-school programs (2:20-3:20)
GATE after-school class today
TUESDAY, MAY 5
Kindergarten “Trash Truck” presentation – 10:30
After-school programs (2:20-3:20)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
2nd grade “Dr. Sue the Bug Lady” – 9:15-2:00pm
Modified day dismissal – 1:17 (2:20 for after-school programs)
THURSDAY, MAY 7
5th grade photo -1:30
After-school programs (2:20-3:20)
FRIDAY, MAY 8
All Kindergarteners arrive 7:55; dismissed at 11:25
Kindergarten “Mother’s Day Tea Performance” -10:00-10:30am
CLC Field Trip – Environmental Nature Center – 10:15-1:45
4th grade Gold Dust Performance – 12:40 – 2:17
Yearbook – final day to order is today!
If you would like to submit an announcement for the weekly update, please email contact@towpta.org by noon on Tuesday the week(s) prior to your event.
