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New This Week

Piedmont Makers Tech Social: Fri, Feb 6 from 6-9pm, @ Ellen Driscoll. This month’s theme is Robotics. Bring robot-themed activities; includes robot demonstrations. $5. Register here.

“Salmon Trip” Info Mtg for High-Schoolers: Wed, Feb 11 @ 7pm in PHS rm 27. Join 4th annual Service Learning adventure, doing salmon habitat restoration work and kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking in the Mattole watershed Apr 6-11. Cost: approx $650. This trip is supported but not sponsored by PUSD.

Education Speaker Series: Tue, Feb 24 – The Social and Emotional Lives of Boys and Girls @ 7:30 pm in Alan Harvey Theater. Rosalind Wiseman, NYT best-selling author of Queen Bees & Wannabes (2009), offers insights and advice about helping girls and boys navigate social realities. Learn more.

Tickets on Sale: CHIME Gala on Sun, Mar 1 Come support the performing arts in our schools! 3-5:30pm in an elegant, Albert Farr-designed Piedmont home. Enjoy live performances, drinks, appetizers, and good company. Buy tix online

Events & Happenings

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

Imagine your child’s elementary school class without an aide or math enrichment, a library with less library support, and a reduction in programs such as art and music. Or PMS and PHS with less technology, reduced AP offerings and no Wellness Center. Without Giving Campaign funds, we would not have these essential programs for our children. To provide a quality education for all our children, we all need to pitch in. It’s not too late, and no gift is too small. Call 653-1816 or visit www.Giving Campaign.org to give today!

Piedmont Makerspace Prototype a Project! Sat. Jan. 31 @ 1pm @ PMS Shop. Design thinking-prototyping to brainstorm project ideas for the upcoming Piedmont Mini Maker Faire / Science Fairs. Sponsored by Piedmont Makers. FREE tickets here.

Rec Dept’s 2nd Annual Preschl Open House Sat, Jan 31 from 10-11:30am @ 358 Hillside Ave and Community Hall (Lower Level Classrooms) at 711 Highland Ave. Parents/guardians can visit classroom spaces and meet preschool teachers. Adults only pls.

Spring Fling Comings + Goings Photos for K & 5th Grade – In Jan/Feb, photographer Jennifer Fox will be taking portrait-style black and white photos of all K and 5th Graders. You can own these wonderful keepsakes for a $65 donation per student to the Fundraising Office by Feb 15. Don’t miss out on this Piedmont tradition!

PHS Musical: Footloose – Thur-Sun, Feb 5-8 at the Alan Harvey Theater. Tix: $17/adults; $11/students & seniors 65+; reserved seats: $25. Purchase online.

Calling all Speed Racers! Girl Scouts join Piedmont’s Pinewood Derby on Feb 7 from 3-6pm at the Piedmont Community Church. Cars must be purchased from Troop #31021. To purchase or register, pls contact Jenna Caldwell @ or 415-845-1946. Registr deadline is 1/24/2015. Car Making Workshop is Sat, Jan 24 in PMS rm 125. Practice session is Sat, Jan 31, 10am-12pm at the PCC.

Pinewood Derby: Sat., Feb 7 – Boys 1st -5th grade, Cub Scouts + non-Scouts, invited to join this fun event from 9am-2pm at the Piedmont Community Church. Build, decorate and race your own car – Workshops will be held Jan 3 & 10. Scouts get kits from their Pack; non-Scouts can pick up a kit at the Piedmont Scout office (10 Highland Way). Info: (Rob Kobal). Scouting info: Jeff Lindenmuth, 547-4493.

Readmont 2015: Piedmont’s 5th Annual “One City, One Book” project – Feb 11 at 7:30 pm @ the Center for the Arts. Join parents, students and the broader community for a lively discussion of The Smartest Kids in the World: and How They Got That Way by Amanda Ripley. Books available for checkout at school libraries, and for sale at 20% off at A Great Good Place for Books in Montclair. Details: or click here.

Props Needed for the PHS Plays – Theater Dept is looking to borrow, rent or buy items for 2 plays in mid-March, including current, nice furniture for a living room that could be used in a contemporary Nantucket guest house. Also needed are medical supplies and equipment for a play set in Vietnam. Contact: PHS Acting teacher Kim Taylor, .

Stay Healthy this winter – get a flu shot at the following local pharmacies: CVS @ 175 41st St 658-4396, shot: $32 (insurance accepted and no appointments necessary); Walgreens @ 3250 Lakeshore Ave, 658-3496, shots: $32; mist: $40; Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (next to Trader Joe’s) @ 5729 College Ave, 740-1468, shots: $30; for age 65+: $45 (higher dosage).

ONGOING

SAVE THE DATE for Spring Fling – Fri April 24 Dinner, dancing and live auction highlight this beloved annual event raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for our schools. More info: 653-1816.

Let it Snow for Feb Break with winter apparel at Dress Best for Less, 3861 Piedmont Ave, Tue-Sat 11-6. DBFL marking room, 709 Magnolia Ave. Hours: Tues 9-1:30, Wed 9-4, and Sat 10-12. Lots of children’s snow pants, bibs, jackets, boots, hats, and gloves! Adult winter wear too – even sleds! Fill a bag for $10 on Sat, Nov 29 from 10-12 (excludes skiwear and holiday items).

To receive a 2014-15 PEF Student Directory, pls join your school Parent Club, if you haven’t already. Limited to parents and guardians, memberships includes access to the PEF Online Directory. To join a Parent Club, pls click here or call 653-1816.

Sign up today to receive local, organic produce to benefit tri-schools – A portion of every order goes to support Beach, Wildwood and Havens Schools, with delivery near each school site. For Beach, order from Full Belly Farm or Tara Firma Farm. For WW: pls email ; for Havens, Sally Guzdar: . Havens/WW produce from Albert & Eve’s w/ flexible orders customized for your favorite fruits and veggies.

Join Piedmont’s Advanced Learner Program Support (ALPS) – ALPS helped support innovative new programs for teachers and students across PUSD last year. Donations are tax deductible. Visit our web site & calendar or email to learn more.

Join Piedmont Parents Network! PPN is a volunteer organization that facilitates monthly grade level discussion groups for parents of PMS, PHS & MHS students (6-12th grade). PPN’smission is to foster community, communication, support and education. Meetings include relevant speakers and oppty to dialogue with school administration. Membership: $35. More info: please email Karen Franchino at .

Cleaning closets? Recycle and reuse with Dress Best for Less! DBFL Marking Room (709 Magnolia) open on Tues 9-1:30, Wed 9-4, Sat 10-12. Or use the donation bin for easy drop off. Proceeds go to the schools. Tax deduction form on our web site. Stock up on clothing for the whole family, toys, accessories, books, linens, home decor and more. We also have soccer and baseball shoes for only $5.00 each, and some pads and helmets too! Shop 10-noon the last Saturday of every month, and fill a bag for only $10!

Shop with SCRIP – Keep your credit and debit card information current by signing on to your escrip account. Check out the free app, AutoEarn. More info here.

Ann Martin Center offers parent ed workshops to help strengthen parent-child-family relationships while addressing parenting concerns about their child’s emotional, behavioral, and academic development. Learn more.

Educational Enrichment & Activities for Kids

Rec Dept’s New Afterschool Program for Middle Schoolers: “#801The Place” provides safe, supervised, fun place to be after school. Art, cooking, intramural sports, homework help, leadership training and JR CIT opportunities. Jan 26 – Jun 4. Tues/Thurs 3:15pm – 5:30pm @ $17/day; Wednesday 2:00pm- 5:30pm (includes field trip) @ $35/day. Use code 7201.801 & sign up online.

Piedmont Makerspace Prototype a Project! Sat. Jan. 31 @ 1pm @ PMS Shop. Design thinking-prototyping to brainstorm project ideas for the upcoming Piedmont Mini Maker Faire / Science Fairs. Sponsored by Piedmont Makers. FREE tickets here.

Girls Leadership Institute January 2015 Workshops for 4th or 5th grade girls. GLI is a national non-profit that helps girls to develop emotional intelligence, resilience and confidence. Each workshop is 90 minutes weekly for 4 weeks. Sponsored by Tri-School parent clubs and offered at elementary school sites. Learn more.

June High School Ecology Trip – PHS science teacher Andrew Willats leads June 15-23 trip to Belize with Ecology Project International. Students participate in dolphin research, coral reef, mangrove forest and dense rainforest investigation. (This trip is supported but not sponsored by PUSD) More info: .

6th, 7th & 8th graders – check out new Middle School Debate and Speech Club! Meets Mon 3:10-4:30pm in PMS rm 308 and Wed, 2:15-4pm at 19 Hardwick Ave. Students may attend either or both days. To learn more, click here or email Esther Rogers at .

Check out Tri-School after-school enrichment classes for opportunities at Wildwood, Beach and Havens.

Donations & Service Opportunities

DBFL seeks new Board member with marketing skills! Do you have a hankering for vintage clothing and decor AND one to volunteer in support of our schools? Join this dynamic non-profit organization which manages a thriving resale/thrift shop on Piedmont Ave and a marking room in central Piedmont. Work one 2-hour shift 1x/month on Sat, in the marking room, and 7-9pm Board meeting 1x/month. Pls email or learn more here.

PUSD Wellness Center seeks members for WC Support Committee – The Wellness Center Support Committee has openings for PMS, MHS and PHS parents who want to help with WC school events and the annual FallFest 5K run/walk/stroll. Come join us to have fun and make a difference! More info: Jean Jarvis at or Jodi Beasley at .

The Sole Objective Projective seeks gently used basketball shoes (any size) for Honduran kids in need. The Sole Objective is coordinated by PHS JV b’ball player Trevor Huffaker, for Eagle Scout Project. Bins located in PHS gym & rm 24. Or email Trevor at for a local pickup.