June 12, 2008

IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES

If you have items to add to the calendar, please e-mail the date and time along with a description to calendar@pacificaschool.org

ELECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

Please watch your family mailbox for a memo regarding our upcoming, annual elections! We’re looking for nominees for various Organization Council positions, and will be presenting some changes to the structure of the Council on this year’s election ballot. If you’re interested in running for a Council seat, please watch for the sign-up sheet that will soon be posted in the entrance hallway!

ANNUAL GIVING

Dear Pacificans:

We will be calling you at home about making an annual donation to Pacifica.  We realize it is late in the year to be making this request.  In the past few months, it has become clear that the State will be cutting the education budget, affecting all public schools.  We have very little time left in the school year to raise at least $1,000 per student. We need your donation to maintain the student to teacher ratios we have now. 85% of Pacifica's budget is for staff salaries.

Grants and corporate donations are not as readily available as many believe. They also will not cover operating costs such as teacher salaries. That's why our Annual Family Giving Campaign is at the center of our fundraising efforts. Events and other fundraisers cannot raise enough to meet our needs.

Please consider that a $1,000 donation is only $100 per month for the ten month school year. If you can donate more, we ask that you step up for those who can't, since 1/3 of our families are living close enough to the poverty line to qualify for free school lunch programs. If you cannot donate in this range, please donate what you can.  Every amount helps.

Thank you so much for considering what your family can contribute toward this community-wide effort.

Cheryl Ward

Fundraising Committee/Annual Giving Subcommittee

CALL FOR DIFFENDORFER PHOTOS

Darby is closing up a major grant for the back gated yard and her camera died at the play so she was unable to take any photos of the FANTASTIC play. She is hoping to show photos of the play to the grantor so they can see what fabulous things we have done with their money (and a lot of volunteer help!). Please send Darby your photos as soon as possible! darby@pacificaschool.org 

THANK YOU, PARENT VOLUNTEERS!!!

Dear Pacifica families,

As the 2007-2008 school year draws to a close your Parent Participation Committee thanks each of you for your volunteer effort this year.

We are a school whose unique philosophy and practice depends upon parent involvement. Despite the force of our remarkable staff, at every level our school flourishes thanks to the commitment of our parent volunteers.

We recognize how difficult it can be to add volunteering to an already stressed schedule, yet our families manage to make supporting Pacifica a priority.

We can not begin to list all the ways that parents volunteer, but no matter how, or how much, every ounce of your effort affects our community in a positive way, and for that we are so grateful.

We wish you all a lovely and restful summer.

With much appreciation,

Parent Participation Committee

LAST CHANCE FOR LOST AND FOUND

Next Wednesday and Thursday are your last chances to claim items from the Lost and Found. Wednesday the items will be spread out on the yard after school to claim then Thursday the items will be up for grabs. After that remaining items will go to the Goodwill.

COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION

Hello Everyone!

Our school year is drawing to a close and with that come our end of year events! All School Commencement and 8th Grade Graduation!

On Thursday June 19th we have our All School Commencement and Pot Luck celebration. The schedule for the day is below. All family and friends are welcome!

After the ceremony we will be having a Pot Luck celebration. Please bring a dish or two to share!

We are also in need of SHADE! We don't want to send the kids off on their last day with sunburns! If you have any pop up shade structures that you are willing to loan us for the day, please let us know as soon as possible.

Later in the evening (same day, Thursday June 19th) will be our 8th grade Graduation at 6pm in the Church garden. More info to follow on that. For now here is the schedule. Please let us know if you have any questions or can help in any way. Thank you!

_______________________________________________

Commencement Schedule:

1:30 – Guests/Families arrive, All Groups come out to event area, K/1/2, 2/3 bring chairs to fill in at front.

1:45 - 1:55 – Opening Ceremonies

            Mary Sue to address all School

1:55 – 2:35 – Class presentations

K/1 Group teachers come up, present students with certificates

1/2 Group teachers come up, present students with certificates

2/3 Group teachers come up, present students with certificates

4/5 Group teachers come up, present students with certificates

6/7 Group teachers come up, present students with certificates

7/8 Group teachers come up, present students with certificates

2:35 – 2:50 - Board Presentations

Teacher Acknowledgement

Board Acknowledgement

2:50  Closing Ceremonies & Goodbyes

            Mary Sue to close out the program

2:55 All Community Pot luck Celebration (Food will be in the 4/5 group classroom)
 

Help Needed: (Set up to begin at 1:00pm)

• Helpers to set up

• We need MANY Pop Up Shade structures!

• Tables & chairs set up

• Helpers to clean up

• It never hurts to bring umbrellas for shade as well!

Please see Lisa or Carmen to volunteer. Remember we need YOU to help make this a beautiful day!