The Malcolm X PTA 2016-17 School Year brochure - convenient information to have handy - click to download a copy today...
Malcolm X Elementary School 5th Annual T-shirt Design Contest
Calling all MX Parents and Teachers!
Be a part of Malcolm X history by designing our limited edition 2017 MX T-shirt.
Submission deadline is September 19th, 2016. Previous years’ winners are not eligible so everyone else...get inspired, and get your submissions in!
GUIDELINES
- Must include the words "Malcolm X Elementary School" in any form
- Must include the year "2017”
- Final T-shirt will be a maximum of three ink colors, including black
- T-shirt fabric can be almost any color so consider that in your design
- Design for front of t-shirt only
- If submitting a hand drawing, please submit no larger than 8.5 x 11 format
- Multiple designs may be submitted
- Submissions by adults only please
Submission Deadline: September 19th, 2016
- Drop off your entry at the Malcolm X office, 1731 Prince Street, in the “T-shirt Contest” box
- Mail your entry to: Malcolm X Elementary Design Contest, 1731 Prince St., Berkeley, CA 94703
- Or email your entry to: dangodan01@gmail.com
Questions? Please contact Dan Ross: dangodan01@gmail.com
"Fine Print" By submitting an entry, the artist consents that it is his/her own original work and that he/she has all necessary rights and permissions to use included elements. The t-shirt contest team reserves the right to make adjustments and alterations to the winning entry to ensure that the reproduction of the image is of best quality. The winning artist releases to MX the exclusive right to artwork to be used for school promotional material. The winner(s) will be rewarded with a MX shirt featuring his/her design. No submissions will be returned.
MX FUND is the PTA’s first fundraiser of the year. Donations help pay for Drama, Dance, Music, Gardening, Field Trips, Cultural Events, Community Building Events and more. We ask that every family give what they can. One useful guideline is one more month of what you budgeted for child care, preschool or summer camp for your child.
BSEP is funded by a renewable parcel tax measure, and provides 20 percent of our public school funding. It is up for renewal in 2016 and we really need your input. Come share your ideas for making BSEP the best it can be for all of Berkeley's kids!
You're invited to a Budget Workshop and Community Conversation about BSEP on Thursday, February 25, 2016 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the BUSD School Board Room, 1231 Addison Street:
- Learn more about how BSEP supports our students
- Consider class size options and other community priorities
- Share your ideas for how to make BSEP-funded programs even better
We’d like to know how many people are coming!
RSVP online at: http://tinyurl.com/RSVP4BSEP
Childcare and Spanish translation available.
You can choose instead to attend one of the shorter "Community Conversations," if you would like to join a table talk about priorities rather than spend a lot of time on budget details. You don't need to have a child at the schools listed below – we want to have people across Berkeley talking to each other about priorities for our schools!
- March 2, 2016 7:00-8:30 pm (Berkeley High School Library, 1980 Allston Way)
- March 10, 2016 7:00-8:30 pm (Rosa Parks Elementary School Multipurpose Room, 920 Allston Way)
- March 14, 2016 4:00-5:30 pm (Malcolm X Elementary School Library)
- March 15, 2016 7:00-8:30 pm (en español) (LeConte Elementary School en la biblioteca, 2241 Russell Street)
BUSD’s Digitech and Family Engagement teams have joined forces to bring free “Tech Talks” with information and tools to help parents navigate the world of technology. The next Tech Talk will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Malcolm X auditorium.
Topics will include:
- How to set limits for your child on the Internet and be aware of different social media sites and what they do.
- How to set up parental controls for your child and be aware of how they are using the Internet.
- How to use Common Sense Media for more information on this.
Many parents have come into the garden requesting the popular Massage Kale Salad recipe and sharing out how their child never like veggies before trying this in the garden classroom. So here it is! Those of you who want to know more about what we do in the garden feel free to check out my blog www.schoolgardenmx.wordpress.com or come by the garden after school and introduce yourself.
And here’s the recipe:
MASSAGE KALE SALAD
Ingredients:
- One bunch of dino kale
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- One medium-sized clove garlic (optional)
- Squirt of lemon (1 tsp)
- Squirt of rice vinegar
- Soy sauce to taste
Instructions:
- De-stem the kale and chop (or have kids tear) greens thinly.
- Place in bowl and sprinkle olive over them generously.
- With clean hands, massage the kale super good for 1-2 minutes or until it has softened and shrunk in size.
- Add crushed garlic and splash of lemon, rice vinegar and soy sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
The robust dinosaur kale leaf is the second most popular green in the garden – beat out by the sour sorrel. Dark leafy greens have high levels of Vitamin C, an antioxidant that’s important for immune function, and as much or more calcium than dairy products.
As one student asked for seconds before he even finished his first bowlful, he said, “We should send this to Barack Obama and make it a national holiday recipe!”
Happy eating!
Ms. Rivka
The "Bourbon Street Bash” – Malcolm X Elementary's 2016 Auction and Dance Party – is coming up on February 20, 2016. This event is one of our biggest fundraisers, and a fantastic and fun community-building party.
This year will feature Phil’s Sliders, Easy Creole, Games, a photo booth, local beer and wine and great music!
Tickets are $15 until January 15th, $20 online after that, and $25 at the door. (Higher priced tickets are available for those who have the means and want to donate more to the school!) Buy discounted tickets for yourselves, your friends, family, and neighbors!
Buy tickets online at: https://events.readysetauction.com/malcolmx/2016/
Returning users must also create (“request") an account.
As always, everyone is welcome! If you want to be on the guest list, please email mxauction@gmail.com.
For more information:
http://www.malcolmxelementary.org/auction/
We need your help to make this happen!
SPONSOR…
We need to pay for the party! Sponsor the bar, the photo booth, or the stage (live music, anyone?) You get to advertise at the event!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2RH9PRo29HsYW1MQ3RHOGRJaDQ/view
DONATE…
Do you own a business (or know someone who does)? Donate an item or a gift certificate to our silent or live auction! It’s a great way to advertise and support the community.
Or you can offer homemade goods or services, such as:
- a home cooked meal
- monthly homemade ice cream
- a painting
- a consultation
- your family vacation rental or your home while you’re away (We LOVE these!)
The options are endless! What can YOU offer? Contact Meredith at mmilet@gmail.com or Louise at louiseceleste@hotmail.com to sign up or ask questions.
HOST…
Host a party or a playdate for kids or parents (or both)! Need ideas? Here you go:
- Kids’ movie night (parents’ night out)
- Kids’ craft party
- Wine tasting party
- House concert
- Cocktail party or dinner party (themed?)
- Murder Mystery party
- Bike ride
- Scavenger hunt
- Poker night
To host or ask questions about hosting, email Jenn at jenn.guitart@gmail.com or Jeannine at jeanninewisch@yahoo.com.
Come celebrate the diverse community of cultures at Malcolm X on Wednesday, January 20th. Bring a family or hometown favorite potluck dish and then stay to enjoy an exciting Japanese "taiko" drumming performance from Emeryville Taiko. The PTA will provide sushi trays from Musashi Restaurant in Berkeley. Potluck starts at 6:00pm and the performance begins at 7:00pm. Let's have some fun and share some delicious food!
Join the students, teachers, and families of the Malcolm X community for a fun and inspirational sing-along. If you have a few extra minutes at drop-off time, come and help create school spirit by sharing our voices and creating a culture of harmony and participation.
Grades TK, K, 2, 4: Second Friday of each month (subject to change)
Grades 1, 3, 5: Third Friday of each month (subject to change)
We’ll meet at the amphitheater at the 8:10 bell to sing some simple songs together. It’s fun, and kids love it when parents are there to sing along.
Here’s the schedule for the coming year:
January 8 TK K 2 4
January 15 1 3 5
February 19 TK K 2 4
February 26 1 3 5
March 11 TK K 2 4
March 18 1 3 5
April 8 TK K 2 4
April 15 1 3 5
May 13 TK K 2 4
May 20 1 3 5
All the best in 2016!
Mr. Ryk
THANK YOU for making the Holiday Food Drive possible. Thanks to the families who contributed, and thanks to the families who volunteered to organize and pass out bags. Together we were able to serve 64 families. The collaborative effort was met with a sea of gratitude from needy families. We will be doing two more food drives: Spring Break and a Summer Send Off.
This past summer I applied for and received a grant through Alameda County's Food Bank for a School Pantry, to serve the needs of all district families. However, there is now the issue of space. Having this pantry is a vital piece to support the sustainability of many families within this district. This pantry would have the potential to be a hub to engage parents through targeted workshops in areas where access is a barrier. I envision workshops about learning languages, culture, technology, understanding Common Core, medical access (for those without insurance), in addition to information about ways to participate as a parent to affect change for children and families within this district. Together we can create ways to manage this space and serve families where they are, to produce equitable outcomes for all students.
Please stop by, let's talk! If you feel like finding a space for this pantry would be an important addition to our community, please make your voice heard! Organization is the key!
Together WE CAN!
Ms. Jocelyn
Jocelyn Foreman
Malcolm X/John Muir
Site Coordinator for Family Engagement and Equity
(510) 684-4100
We had another wonderful Walk & Roll celebration on Wednesday, December 2nd. We counted 123 students who stopped by the tables near the Ellis Street gate to document how they got to school (and pick up a sticker). Here's the results:
- 25% walked
- 31% rolled (including TWO bike trains!)
- 16% bussed
- 7% carpooled
- 21% drove
Join us again on WEDNESDAY January 6th! Visit www.malcolmxelementary.org/walknroll to learn more!
The First Annual MX Craft Fair was a huge success! Over 20 vendors -- including several Malcolm X parents, alumni, and even current students! -- sold beautiful handmade art, clothing and other sewn pieces, notecards, jewelry, delicious food, origami, and bath and beauty products. Thank you to all of our bakers and chefs who made delicious savory and sweet treats for the Bake Sale; and our many volunteers who welcomed families to the Craft Fair, sold raffle tickets, wrapped beautiful packages, hung up signs, and set up/cleaned up the event. We raised over $1200 for the PTA!
We hope that the Craft Fair becomes a sustainable, enjoyable event for many years to come! Together We Can!
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear MX Families,
As the winter sets in and students start to get the sniffles, I would like to review how to excuse an absence. You can call, email, or come in person to the office to excuse an absence for illness within 5 days. The contact for email is our school secretary, Erin Holland (erinholland@berkeley,net). Please contact the office directly, rather than leaving this information with the teacher. It creates an additional step for our busy teachers to remember, and we may end up with crossed signals.
- If your child is ill for more than 3 consecutive days, please provide the office with a doctor's note to excuse the absence.
- Please remember that family vacations and trips are not excused absences, and remember to schedule them during school breaks.
- If your child will be missing part of the day for an appointment, please still bring them to school for the remainder of the day, along with a note from the doctor or dentist.
Attend today, Achieve for a Lifetime!
Sincerely,
Alexander Marcos Hunt
Principal
The BUSD Gardening and Cooking Program engages all students in preschool through high school with hands-on instruction in science, language arts, environment, and nutrition education in 17 school gardens. As part of the 2020 Vision for Berkeley Children and Youth, the program is woven into student life to help close the achievement gap by ensuring their academic, physical, emotional, and social development. We're the only school district-wide garden-based learning program of this kind and we can only do it with community partnerships. Each year we face a gap in funding, where our estimates don't meet our actuals. This is mainly due to salary increases. This year we have a $10K gap that we need to fill through fundraising.
We are planning a big fundraiser called Dine Out on Thursday, February 18, 2016. Dine Out is when we partner with local businesses and restaurants in support of our schools, particularly the Gardening and Cooking Program. We do a big push inviting folks to come and dine out with us that whole day and night, and a percentage of sales from each participating restaurant goes to supporting the BUSD Gardening and Cooking Program, which we really need!
Dine Out is a win-win for local restaurants, the community, and the schools. This year, we are seeking ambassadors for each restaurant corner or location to help welcome folks; hand out postcards out about our program and the district (particularly BSEP); and sell raffle tickets to big prizes. Please contact Jezra Thompson at jezrathompson@berkeley.net or Mia Villenueva at miavillenueva@berkeley.net for more information.
"Dreaming Big: Public Education in Berkeley," sponsored by the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, will be held on Thursday, December 10th, from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Berkeley Technology Academy multipurpose room, 2701 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Pizza will be served starting at 5:30, and at 6:00 we'll begin with a panel discussion framed around two big questions:
- What is working in public education today?
- In thinking about how to improve public education, what should we strive for?
The panel will include BUSD Board President Judy Appel, both student BUSD School Board Directors, a LeConte parent, a Longfellow teacher, and education scholar Peter Ross, Chief of Staff at the Learning Policy Institute at Stanford University.
After the panel, there will be significant time for table discussions about the same questions. We expect a great turnout of teachers, staff, parents, students, and elected officials. There's a lot to talk about in BUSD this year, with BSEP renewal, Local Control Funding, and other important ballot measures coming up! Our goal is to spark robust discussion in the community about the kinds of schools our children deserve.
Please direct any questions to BFT Vice President John Becker at johnbecker@berkeley.net.
Ordering holiday cards and gifts online this year? Support Malcolm X and use coupon code TPPH66C9A7 on Tiny Prints to receive 40% off! (The code expires on December 31, 2015.) Simply log on to http://malcolmxelementary.shutterflystorefront.com, and choose Tiny Prints from the storefront, and you can apply the 40%-off code at checkout. The best part: Malcolm X gets a portion of the sale price! MX earned over $500 last year using this storefront.
Come to the MX Craft Fair to do some winter holiday shopping and connect with our communities within Malcolm X as well as our larger Berkeley/East Bay neighborhoods! Bring your friends, family, and neighbors. In addition to shopping for locally handmade goods and services, we're planning crafts for the kids, a raffle of goods donated by the vendors, a bake sale, and a gift wrap table.
Date: Saturday, December 12, 2015
Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: the MX Auditorium
Want to help or get involved? We'll need a hand with set up, break down, gift-wrapping – and at the bake sale and kids' craft activities tables. We can also use some help with organizing donations of home baked goodies! If you're interested in volunteering, please email Erin Jurnove at mx@jurnove.com.
All proceeds from vendor table fees, the bake sale table, volunteer gift wrap services, raffle ticket sales, sales of any donated student artwork, etc. will go directly to the MX PTA to support the students and teachers at Malcolm X.
Come and hear from parents and students from Longfellow, Williard, OSA, King, and REALM! The event will be held on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:00pm in the MX Auditorium.
Open to all families who are interested in learning more about public school options for their students! Childcare will be available; no dinner, but a few snacks will be provided if you are coming from work.
Know a current middle school parent or student who might want to be on the panel? If you know any former MX students and/or their parents who would like to be on the panel, they can provide their info in this spreadsheet and they will be contacted: http://tinyurl.com/o72wtsv
General Items
- Backpacks which are new and gently used
- Socks: Sizes 4-10
- Shoes: Sizes 7 children to size 7 for men/women
- Rain Coats
- Shoe Laces
- Sweaters
- Coats
- Underwear
- Belts
Toiletries
- Toothpaste
- Face Towels
- Bar Soap/Body Wash
- Deodorant
Snacks
- Cheese crackers
- Canned soup
- Raisins/ Trail mix
- Top Ramen
- Bottle Water
- Oatmeal Packs