Bobcat Tracks Monthly Newsletter
February 2020
President's Update
Happy belated Valentines Day Bobcats! This month I'd like to highlight some near-term and long-term volunteers needs as we work through the next 4 months of school as well as start thinking about next year! Please reach out to me, Mrs. Dunn, or any Board member to raise/lend a hand!
Near-term Volunteer Needs:
- 2/24 - help set up February staff appreciation lunch (we all ready have lead planner)
- Week of 2/22 - Help stuff goody bags for each student as we launch our month long reading challenge for March. Return to school 3/1 so they can be distributed!
- end of March - organize March staff appreciation lunch
- May 3-7 - organize 1 of the 5 days of staff appreciation week (i.e dessert drop-offs, breakfast drops-offs, catered lunch, other ideas)
Long-term Volunteer Needs:
- Help set PFC Budget for next year. Meeting will be held in March - reach out to Ben Nie.
- Volunteer for a Board positions! The nomination committee will be formed at our March PFC meeting. Volunteer for the committee and/or volunteer for one of the positions.
- Volunteer for any other PFC positions. After presenting a slate of candidates for the Board and voting in April, we will immediately move to fill all of the other spots. Great news - all currently volunteering parents will still be at Bancroft next year to help guide/assist you as you take over the role they are holding now!!
- Do you have an idea you want to run with for next year, but you aren't sure it fits an existing listed position?? Well bring your idea to our meeting and let us help you develop the idea!
- All info on PFC volunteers roles can be found on our website here, including a PDF near the bottom of the page with some more detailed information: http://www.bancroftpfc.org/about-us.html
I also encourage each of you to stay up to date on the latest MDUSD Covid-19 Response status through their webpage: https://www.mdusd.org/2020-21. There has been a lot posted over the past week. "The Board unanimously approved a reopening plan entitled, "Reconnect Safely, Reopen Strong," and a draft agreement for parents, staff, and students. In so doing, complete alignment with county and state public health guidance for procedures, metrics, and conditions of reopening was solidified. The Board and Superintendent emphasized that, at the negotiating table, any proposals from unions containing metrics that supersede public health guidance should not be accepted. The negotiations table should be reserved only for other important items. At the meeting, Superintendent Clark acknowledged the tremendous difficulty and stress that distance learning has had on families, and expressed appreciation for district staff. "We are aiming to reopen in some form when we get to the Red Tier," said Superintendent Clark, who noted as well that Contra Costa's COVID-19 metrics continue to improve."
As always, Mrs. Dunn will be the first to know the specifics for Bancroft as she works with MDUSD Admin and our school site council and will share them out with our community when appropriate.
Please contact me as soon as possible if you are able to fulfill a Near-term Volunteer Need.
Go Bobcats!
Sarah Rhodes
Mom of 4th and 1st graders and Dianne Adair pre-K.
Mark Your Calendars!
February 2021
- 2/17/21 - Story Night with Mrs. Dunn (more details coming soon)
- 2/24/21 - Dine to Donate at Round Table Pizza
March 2021
- 3/2/21 - Read Across America Day
- This fun reading challenge will go throughout the month of March! A specific announcement with all of the fun program details will be out by the end of February.
- 3/9/21 - March PFC Meeting, 7PM
Fundraising Update
Thank you to all who have donated to the Dollar-A-Day (DAD) Campaign and the Move-a-thon!
Have you asked your employer yet if they will match your donation?? Bancroft PFC is a 501c3 non-profit. Here is the information you may need for that paperwork:
- Bancroft PFC Tax-ID#: #68-0014955
- MDUSD’s NCES District ID#: 0626370
- Bancroft’s NCES School ID#: 062637003935
Art Appreciation Update from Alisa Kutsel, Art Appreciation Lead
After a few months of provisional Art Appreciation to 2-5th grades, Art Appreciation has been extended to include Kindergarten and 1st grades. Here are some of the projects we have worked on over the last month and some things we have in store:
- Kindergarten - We learned about Claude Monet and were inspired by his work Waterlily pond. We created watercolor backgrounds (using wet on wet technique) and used Model Magic clay to create waterlilies and any additional things that one may find at a pond.
- 1st Grade - We learned about how to draw and color symmetrical beetles.
- 2nd Grade- We worked on Model Magic clay animals (students learned how to color white clay and shape it into the animals they wanted), we then created 3D habitat for the animal using paper. 2nd graders are also starting to learn about the artist named Alma Thomas and her amazing and colorful artworks.
- 3rd Grade- Similar to 2nd grade we made habitats out of paper and animals out of Model Magic clay. Some of our 3rd graders are learning about Helen Frankenthaler and some about Alma Thomas.
- 4th Grade- We have been creating Cityscape inspired by Jacob Lawrence, made anamorphic art using curved mirrors, done tessellation and Notan art.
- 5th Grade- Students have been busy learning about Navajo weaving and making a weaving sample, making Notan art and MC Escher inspired tessellations. We have also started learning about Calder and the origins of mobiles and drew patterned rhino based off Durer’s Rhino print.
Over the next month we have plans for the following:
- Kindergarten- Paul Klee’s crayon cat drawings
- 1st grade- Rousseau tiger in a jungle collage
- 2nd grade- Salvador Dali’s marker painting animals and Picasso collage portraits
- 3rd grade- Paul Cezanne watercolor still life , Alma Thomas inspired marker linear/radial art. Mixed 2/3 class is starting on a stop motion animation project.
- 4th grade- Wayne Thiebauld’s symmetrical and proportional cake
- 5th grade- Continue with Durer’s rhino and Calder’s mobile+stabile paper sculptures
Dine to Donate
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How Does Our Garden Grow? - February Edition
Fondly, the garden and Mrs. Burns
Click here for more information on the little things you can do that add up for our school! Download these Apps today to generate easy money for the school at not additional cost to you!
DROP OFF YOUR BOXTOPS! Please drop off any clipped boxtops your have that have not yet expired to the office by the end of February. We will be mailing them in!
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