MONTEREY RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Message sent - 2/2/2009
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Teaching is the profession that teaches all other professions.
Simply put, teaching is at the core of social change!
THIS WEEK IS STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
I truly believe the work our teachers and staff perform each day is at the
core of social change. I am so thankful to be able to work with such a
talented staff of professionals who work each and every day to make all of
our children successful. I hope you will take a moment to honor your child’s
teacher as well as all of our staff this week.
KINDERGARTEN FOR THE 2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR
We are beginning to plan for next year and I wanted to provide as much
information as possible regarding Kindergarten for the 2009-10 school year.
The continuing budget crisis in our state and its impact on education and,
specifically our school district, means that there are still many
uncertainties. Even so, we are planning for as many scenarios as possible.
Next year we will be implementing the district’s goal of full day
kindergarten to the extent possible based on our space availability. Our
Kindergarten Round Up and registration dates will be announced in the near
future. I will share more information with you as details become available
and as our plans become clearer.
GREEN OK PACKETS START THIS WEEK
Beginning this week the OK Packet will become the E-Packet and will be
available electronically through our website www.powayusd.com/pusdmres and
the PTA website at www.mrespta.org/epackets. I will send you a ConnectEd
email this Wednesday with a link to our website where the packet will be
available in a PDF format. A HUGE thank you is owed to the PTA for all of
their hard work in helping make the transformation a reality.
DISTRICT POLICY CHANGE REGARDING FOOD & NUTRITION
The Poway Food & Nutrition (F&N) Department notified us last week that the
birthday cupcake trays will no longer be offered to sites based on the
regulations governing what food products the Poway Food & Nutrition
Department is allowed to serve in public schools in California. They are
currently looking for a replacement but we have been notified that as of now
they have no comparable product to offer other than trays of cookies (they
are peanut free). Following is the clarification I received from our F&N
Department: “To answer in a bit more detail a parent can send any food to
school (homemade, commercial, compliant, non-compliant) so long as it is for
their child’s individual lunch. However, to insure food safety, all food to
be shared with other students should be commercially (grocery store, pizza
restaurant etc.) prepared, prepackaged, unopened and wrapped. Yes, parents
can bring cupcakes on campus as long as they are store bought. The homemade
food question will soon be addressed in the following new Administration
Procedures: AP 5.35.4, School Wellness, AP 6.60.5, Use of F&N Facilities and
Equipment; and AP 6.64.1, Guidelines for Food Safety and Sanitation.”
STUDENT COUNCIL
Student Council will once again be selling Valentine Smencil-Grams this
week. The cost will be $1 per gram. They will be delivered the week before
vacation.
Dr. Rich Newman.