Shakespeare Performances are this Friday, Feb 10, in the auditorium.

8:20 MacBeth – 4th grade Students should come already in costume and go straight to the auditorium by 8 AM. Parents, please wait outside the auditorium until showtime.

9:30 The Tempest – 2nd/3rd grade Students should come to school already in costume and . . . → Read More: Shakespeare & Jogathon Friday]]> Shakespeare Performances are this Friday, Feb 10, in the auditorium.

8:20 MacBeth – 4th grade
Students should come already in costume and go straight to the auditorium by 8 AM. Parents, please wait outside the auditorium until showtime.

9:30 The Tempest – 2nd/3rd grade
Students should come to school already in costume and go to class first.

10:45 Julius Caesar – 5th grade – instructions will be given to students.

PTA Jogathon – Magnet classes run 1:40 PM
Students should bring running shoes, clothing, sun protection, and their Jogathon pledge form. Volunteers are needed to check off each lap students complete, and to help set up for the after-school Health Fair.

WREATHS and SPIRITWEAR FOR SALE
In keeping with the Shakespearean theme, we will be offering handmade head wreaths for $5 before and after the performances.  If you would normally get flowers for your thespian, why not choose a more historically accurate gift that will not wilt?  They are available in two styles – white flowers or green ivy – and tied with raffia or your choice of ribbon color (photos below). Proceeds go to the Laptop Fund. These are all handmade by Finn’s mom Brynn!  San Jose HGM spirit wear will also be sold. In addition to our cool new t-shirts ($12), polos ($14) and hoodie sweatshirts ($22), we still have some items with our former logo available for only $5 each.

We need 2 VOLUNTEERS to help sell wreaths and spiritwear 25 minutes before each show. We will save 2 FRONT ROW SEATS for each volunteer for their child’s show. Please RSVP right away if you can help. Thank you!

A huge thanks to everyone who participated in the See’s Computer Fundraiser — the results are in!

Your See’s sales raised $2,325 for new computers!  Combined with the proceeds from Ultrazone, we earned a total of $3654 toward our computer replacement program.  Yea!!!

Charlotte Krone was the top seller with $853.45 — go Charlotte!

Dear Magnet Parents,

We don’t usually do fundraisers. Your generous donations already support enrichment classes, field trips, teacher stipends, and essentials – thank you!  This year, however, we need to start a multi-year campaign to replace all classroom laptops, which have had 5 years of rough usage (just ask your kids).  How many grade . . . → Read More: Candy for Computers]]> Dear Magnet Parents,

We don’t usually do fundraisers. Your generous donations already support enrichment classes, field trips, teacher stipends, and essentials – thank you!  This year, however, we need to start a multi-year campaign to replace all classroom laptops, which have had 5 years of rough usage (just ask your kids).  How many grade schools have student laptops in each class, beyond a Computer Lab for the whole school?  How many teachers challenge students to do group publishing projects, and to write a research report every week?  How many of our kids can now Google and type faster than we can handwrite and find a dictionary?

Laser Tag with Teachers and Candy for Computers are the only 2 Magnet fundraisers we are doing this year, so let’s make them count!  Selling chocolates for school is a classic opportunity for children to practice persuasive speaking, telling their story of why technology is essential to their education. Take them around the neighborhood and help them grow their confidence.

FYI the Jogathon/Fitness Fundraiser that is coincidentally at the same time is a PTA fundraiser for schoolwide programs like Computer Lab, after-school library, and 5th grade culmination.

Magnet See’s Candy order forms and payment are due this Thursday, Jan 26th, in order to get the candy by Valentine’s Day.  All proceeds go to new laptops!  That makes chocolate taste even sweeter, doesn’t it? If you need another form, please download one here.

Also, we need 5-6 volunteers Friday at 8:15 AM to help tally the orders and count money. Heidi will bring bagels and coffee :p  Please RSVP if you can stay to help.

Thank you!
Magnet Booster Club and Teachers

Hi Magnet Parents,

Hope you had an excellent three week break!  Welcome back!

On the horizon are:

DonorsChoose and Starbucks – This Monday, January 23rd, some Starbucks locations will be giving out $10 DonorsChoose.org gift cards with purchase, while supplies last. These cards can be used to fund any of the projects our teachers . . . → Read More: Jan/Feb Newsletter]]>

Hi Magnet Parents,

Hope you had an excellent three week break!  Welcome back!

On the horizon are:

DonorsChoose and Starbucks – This Monday, January 23^rd, some Starbucks locations will be giving out $10 DonorsChoose.org gift cards with purchase, while supplies last. These cards can be used to fund any of the projects our teachers have listed on DonorsChoose.  Here is a list of locations.  If you’re near any of these next week, stop by and pick up a card to help your class.  Then, donate it to a project on San Jose’s page on DonorsChoose: bit.ly/DonorsChooseSanJose

Candy for Computers – We usually don’t do fundraising events, thanks to the generosity of parent donation drive, but in addition to all the enrichment programs, we need to replace the classroom laptops which our children use almost every day. In addition to the funfabulous Laser Tag night, we will be doing a See’s Candy Fundraiser.

Your child received the sales form last week. Each classroom with 100% participation gets a build-it-yourself sundae party. The top selling student in the school will receive an iPod!  The top 2 sellers from each class (excluding the iPod winner) will enjoy a catered lunch with their teacher. If you don’t want to sell but would like to make a donation, please do not hesitate (donations will count towards that 100% participation sundae party). Checks should be made out to San Jose Highly Gifted Center Booster Club. All See’s order forms and checks are due by the end of the school day on January 26, 2012.

Next Booster Club Meeting is Thursday, January 26, 6:30pm in the library.

Shakespeare – Our kids are working hard on their Shakespeare plays.  They clearly worked hard over break to learn their lines.  Please remind them to start gathering and preparing clothing for their costumes.  Also, mark your calendars – final performances will be on February 10 in the auditorium at the following times:

• 4^th grade (Macbeth) at 8:15am
• 2/3^rd grades (The Tempest) at 9:30am
• 5^th grade (Julius Caesar) at 10:45am

Library is reopening after school – Good news!  As of Monday, the library is re-opening for homework help.  Hours will be Mondays through Thursdays, after school through 4:30pm. This is funded by the schoolwide PTA.

Please check the calendar online for more information about upcoming field trips and events:  http://highlygiftedmagnet.com/site/calendar/

We appreciate your help!

Laser Tag was a big success!  Thank you to everyone who attended and for bringing your friends and buying pizza.  Everyone had a great time and we raised $1379 for classroom computers!  Thanks to Heidi Rummel for organizing and to Paula Quarles, Ericka Carter, and Quynh Nguyen for helping. Special thanks go to our wonderful teachers and coordinator – Mrs. Arnold, Ms. Garcia, Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Lyttle, for letting kids shoot at them during their Holiday and making the event really special!

Thanks to Shakespeare volunteers – Alora Herbst, Annemarie Levitt, Susanna Fukumoto, Susan Catt, Monika Jain, Nahid Tavakolian, Quynh Nguyen and Debbie Massey.

We are grateful to Alora Herbst, Annemarie Levitt, Kyong Kim, Quynh Nguyen, Mendandro Domingo, Griselda Hernandez, and Suiying Tu.  Thanks for your help with DonorsChoose – writing and submitting proposals, and entering gift card information.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me or your Room Parent if you have any questions.

From Heidi Rummel:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Arnold, Ms. Garcia, Mrs. Watson, and Mrs. Lyttle will be gearing up to challenge students in LASER TAG!   Get your game on and bring your friends for reinforcements!

Hello, literature fans!

The kids are starting Shakespeare next week and will take home their scripts to memorize over winter break.  We encourage all parents to work with their children to help them understand the language. You can also check modern translations of the full plays online, though our children’s scripts are much shorter.

From the Teachers:

Here is a list of all the exciting activities and events we have planned:

Giving Circle

Students will be participating in the San Fernando Giving Circle by donating and wrapping gifts for local needy LAUSD families.  During the week of December 5, students should bring an unwrapped toy or book . . . → Read More: Holiday Performance, Parties, Presents]]>

From the Teachers:

Here is a list of all the exciting activities and events we have planned:

Giving Circle

Students will be participating in the San Fernando Giving Circle by donating and wrapping gifts for local needy LAUSD families.  During the week of December 5, students should bring an unwrapped toy or book and wrapping paper to class.  On December 9, Parent Volunteers are needed to help at the Gift-Wrapping Party.  Please contact your Room Parent if you can help.  Students and their families are also invited to help deliver the gifts on a weekend.  For more info, please contact ERICKA CARTER (4th grade roster).

Secret Santa Mystery

Next week, Magnet students will draw names for Secret Santa Pals (gift recipients).  They will leave notes and clues for their Pal to guess the Secret Santa’s identity.  Please have your child bring the Secret Santa gift on Dec 13. Please make sure the gift is WRAPPED and has the RECIPIENT’s name on it but NOT your child’s name.  At the Dec 15 Magnet Holiday Party, students will guess their Secret Santa’s identity and open presents.  Students should not expect a gift over $10.

Winter Holiday Concert

Wednesday, December 14: Magnet families will receive Priority Seating Tickets for the 9:15 AM performance.  You may attend performances at other times but will not be admitted until after the other Priority Ticket-holders.  Students should wear jeans or dark pants and winter attire on top, such as jackets, scarves, beanies, hats, mittens etc.

Magnet Holiday Party

Thursday, December 15, 12:30 PM in the Auditorium. Parents are invited!

• Potluck – Please let your Room Parent know what you’re bringing
• Read-Aloud – students should bring a winter holiday story, book, or poem to read in groups. Their own compositions are welcome.
• Secret Santa Gifts – students have been getting clues all week and will guess the identity of their Secret Santa, then open gifts.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Meetup invitation from Quynh, Tai, and Ella:

This Holiday Season, get your Elf on!

Adult and kid volunteers are needed to sort and box thousands of gifts for recently homeless families.  After we finish, there will an optional tour of LA Family Housing. This is a great way for our children to . . . → Read More: Volunteer Meetup: LA Family Housing]]> Meetup invitation from Quynh, Tai, and Ella:

This Holiday Season, get your Elf on!

Adult and kid volunteers are needed to sort and box thousands of gifts for recently homeless families.  After we finish, there will an optional tour of LA Family Housing. This is a great way for our children to work together to help our communities and learn to appreciate their blessings.

Please RSVP HERE by Dec. 9, including:
* Your arrival time and how long you can help (at least 2 hours please)
* If you plan to join the tour of LAFH at the end of the day
* If you can bring paper plates, utensils, napkins, or water bottles.

Pizza lunch at 12 PM. We will work until we’re done, approximately 2 PM.

Thank you!

[Meetups are informal invitations not affiliated with school or Booster Club]

It’s Magnet applications season and Ms. Lyttle is doing TOURS for prospective parents and students.  Please forward the following email to any friends you think may be eligible and/or interested.  Please feel free to personalize and share your child’s experience at San Jose HGM.  Thank you!

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Hello,

Have you heard about . . . → Read More: Spread the word about San Jose!]]>
It’s Magnet applications season and Ms. Lyttle is doing TOURS for prospective parents and students.  Please forward the following email to any friends you think may be eligible and/or interested.  Please feel free to personalize and share your child’s experience at San Jose HGM.  Thank you!

*******************************************

Hello,

Have you heard about [YOUR CHILD'S NAME]‘s school?  I just want to share some information about San Jose HG Magnet because it has been a great experience for us and may be appropriate for your child as well.  This unique program is designed to provide extra challenge and support for highly gifted students in grades 2-5.  The classes are really engaging and teachers are amazing!

If you’re interested, please see the school website at highlygiftedmagnet.com.  Here is a recent article about San Jose HGM and information on eligibility.  We have tours for prospective parents and students on Wednesdays from now through December.  Call the school if you would like to visit.

Very few people know about this little program but almost everyone who comes to visit ends up applying.  We love it here!  Please feel free to forward this email to other families you think may be interested.

Thank you