Montera Middle School eBulletin
October 15, 2023
Important Dates
This Week's Block Schedule: AB - B - AB
Thursday October 19, 6:00 - 7:00pm: PTO Community Meeting - All Are Invited! JOIN via Zoom
Friday October 20 - Monday October 23: Cazadero Jumpstart Weekend (Band)
Sunday October 22:
- 10am - 1:30pm: Montera Volunteer Workday
- 11am - 4pm: Oakland Museum Dia de los Muertos celebration
Monday October 23: OAL Golf Tournament Fundraiser
Tuesday October 24: Chipotle (Lakeshore) Dine Out Fundraiser
Thursday October 26: Picture Day
Friday October 27: Picture Day
Saturday October 28, 2-5pm: Fall Fest
Sunday October 29: 11am - 2pm: Zero Waste Party with PlanetMC
Friday November 3: End of 2nd Marking Period
Action Items
- 7th Grade Families Complete this survey
- Volunteer at Fall Fest
- Volunteer at Montera Volunteer Workday
- Order Your Yearbook
- Contribute to Montera Annual Fund 100% Participation Drive
- Donate to 8th Grade Trip Scholarship Fund
- Sign up for 8th grade DC Trip
Upcoming Events
Fall Fest - Volunteers Needed!
We need volunteers! Fall Fest is less than 2 weeks away and cannot happen without YOU! There are still several fun filled spots available to help. Sign up here to volunteer.
Fall Fest is on October 28 from 2-5 pm.
Questions or suggestions can be sent to fallfest@monterapto.com.
Montera Volunteer Work Day
Join us for community fun and service next Sunday at Montera! RSVP HERE
Montera families are invited to join us for a garden and campus clean-up day Sunday, October 22 from 10am-1:30 pm. Come meet other Toro families, contribute to your community and keep our campus beautiful!
Bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat. We'll have tools for you to use. Park in the back parking lot, and meet us in the garden area near the Woodshop room (400 building) and 6th Grade Alley.
Question? Write to us: gardens@monterapto.com
2023 Remaining Volunteer Work Days:
Sunday, October 22, 10 - 1:30 pm
Sunday, November 12, 10 - 1:30 pm
Montera Art at Oakland Museum Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Tickets for the Oakland Museum's Dia de los Muertos celebration are now open!
DATE: October 22nd 11am - 4pm.
Come see Montera student artworks, along with the Black Girls Brilliance / Bret Harte Middle School collaborative ofrenda. Children 12 and under are FREE with advance reservations: https://museumca.org/event/dia-de-los-muertos-2023/
Dine Out Fundraiser: Chipotle
Tuesday October 24
Zero Waste Party at Chabot Space and Science Center w/School of Rap
Join our very own Planet MC (aka Mr. D) at Chabot Science Center for the Zero Waste Party!
DATE: Sunday October 29
TIME: 11am - 2pm
LOCATION: Chabot Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
Montera Annual Fund
We've reached 35% of our goal! Thank you for helping us raise $35,000 so far. Let's keep it up!
Here are a few of the many programs that the Montera PTO supports.
- $500 per teacher to spend on classroom materials.
- Funding to purchase clay and maintain the kiln for the ceramics program.
- Stipends for teacher-led lunchtime activities, such as Climate Justice and Cooking Clubs.
Invest in Your Children — Invest in Montera
We are asking families to give what they can. Suggested donation is $450 per student. Donations range from $10-$2,000.
- Make a one-time or monthly donation online via PayPal
- To donate offline, download this form and submit to Montera by mail or drop it off in the school office.
DONORS CHOOSE - SUCCESS!
Thank you! On Wednesday we successfully funded all of our listed projects on Donor's Choose. A huge thanks to Mr. Worrall, Ms. Mabel, Mr. Ford, and Mr. Runge plus all the other teachers who post on Donor's Choose for dreaming up incredible opportunities for our kids and taking the time to bring them to fruition!
School Information
Yearbook Updates
ORDER: You have two more weeks to get the lowest price of the year on your Montera yearbook - save 10% when you order by October 31st!
- Order Here
- Not sure if you've ordered or have other questions? Email monterayearbookclub@gmail.com.
PHOTOS: We want your photos! If you have photos of school events or campus candids you think would be great for the yearbook, please email monterayearbookclub@gmail.com and we'll send you uploading instructions.
DESIGN CONTEST: Enter our cover design contest! All Montera students are encouraged to enter our contest to have your artwork featured on the yearbook cover. Get the rules and all the details here.
ATTENTION 7th Grade Toro Families
Dear 7th Grade Toro Families,
Mr. Cooper, 8th Grade DC Trip Lead, will soon be meeting with EF Tours (DC Trip Host) to get an estimate for the 2025 8th Grade DC Trip. You can view the April 28- May 2, 2024 DC Trip here.
The trip price will most likely range between $2,200-$2,700 depending on the number of participants. EF Tours will offer scholarships ranging between $75-500. Additional scholarships between $75-500 may be available from the PTO.
It will be helpful to Mr. Cooper if you could fill out this survey. Then, he can communicate the number of likely travelers.
Right now, it is unclear if the 2025 DC trip will happen due to the cost. As a result, your help may be needed to find a less expensive trip.
Survey Due Date - November 1, 2023.
Thank you.
Montera PTO
PTO Community Meeting - Save the Date
All Montera community members are invited to the PTO Community Meeting hosted on Zoom.
DATE: Thursday October 19
TIME: 6-7pm
LOCATION: Zoom
Agenda items:
8th Grade Activities Kick-Off
Update from Dr. Williams
Q&A
Picture Day Info
Picture Days are Thursday October 26 & Friday October 27 during your student's PE Period. Pre-order photos at mylifetouch.com using your Student ID.
Report Cards Available on Aeries!
8th Grade Activities
8th Grade DC Trip Scholarship Fund
Help us meet our goal! We’re raising money for 8th grade student DC trip scholarships. We have a goal of $20,000 so that we can assist several students participate in this life changing opportunity.
Please help if you can. Every donation makes a difference! DONATE TODAY.
Montera Sports
TORO SPORTS NEWS:
Volleyball: Girls Volleyball won both their games on Saturday behind some strong serving to go to 6-0 on the season. Way to go Toros!
Come out and cheer on our Toro Athletes: OUSD MIDDLE SCHOOL GAME SCHEDULE
DONATE: Step up to the plate and help make Montera Sports a whopping success! DONATE NOW!
Meet Montera
Ms. Erica Saephan (she/her)
Position: School Counselor
What do the students call you?
Ms. Saephan
What do you like best about the Montera Community?
I really appreciate the diversity of the Montera community. We have people who come to Montera from all over Oakland (and some outside of Oakland) who have their own unique experiences to share.
What is one memory you have from when YOU were in middle school?
When I was a student at Montera, it was still a junior high. I started my time at Montera when I was in 7th grade and was only here for two years and was part of the first 8th grade promoting class. The 8th and 9th graders had separate dinner dances and separate promotion ceremonies.
What is something you do for fun outside of school?
When I'm not traveling or planning for my next trip, I like to watch Korean dramas and listen to Kpop, especially BTS. I also enjoy going to live concerts and musicals.
What are you looking forward to this school year?
I'm looking forward to getting to know more students around campus.
Toro Pics
Did you take photos at a Montera event or just when walking on campus? Are you a teacher who got some great shots of your students at work? Send them to ebulletin@monterapto.com and we'll feature them in the eBulletin and on the Montera website! Click here to see photos of our amazing Toros.
These and many more opportunities are available to our Montera community, OUSD, and beyond. Items appear in the eBulletin for 2 weeks. Please click here for the full list of current programs.
Let's Help Mr. Cooper Run a 250 Mile Footrace for BORP!
Help me in supporting Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) for the 2024 Cocodona 250!
Hey folks! Anyone who knows me knows what a huge role sports and fitness play in my life. Sports are a powerful way to connect with others, to challenge and learn about ourselves and to feel accomplished in addition to all the health benefits they provide. I’m a firm believer that everyone deserves the opportunity to access these pursuits!
Donating to BORP helps provides adaptive sports for “disabled” youth and veterans who may otherwise not have those same opportunities for self discovery.
Please consider donating because every little bit helps!
How to Stay Informed
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Thanks to Our Sponsors
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Montera Middle School
eBulletin is produced on a weekly basis by the Montera Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) except on holidays. It sometimes contains ads from our sponsors and/or services from the community. These advertisements do not imply endorsement of any product or service by OUSD or Montera Middle School.
If you have news you'd like to include, please send it to communications@monterapto.com by 5pm on Friday. Submissions may be edited for spelling, grammar, brevity and clarity. In addition, while we strive for accuracy, being human sometimes gets in the way. If you spot something so off the mark we should hang our heads in embarrassment, please bring it to our attention. Thanks!
We Are Montera. We Are One.
Email: communications@monterapto.com
Website: https://www.ousd.org/montera
Location: 5555 Ascot Drive, Oakland, CA, USA
Phone: (510) 531-6070
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monterapto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monteratoros/