Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter

Hello Thunderbirds!

As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Thornhill is a safe, inclusive and joyful space for all our students and families, we are beginning a regular Inclusion FAQ section in the newsletter hoping to address some important questions parents have raised with us over the past months. We hope you find this section helpful and informative!

How to talk to your children about race–if you don’t, someone else will!

Question: What does BIPOC mean and why do we use it?

Answer: BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. It’s usually pronounced “by pock.” This term aims to bring to center stage the specific violence, cultural erasure, and discrimination experienced by all Persons of Color, emphasizing Black and Indigenous people due to the outsized nature and impact of racism on their lives. The phrase is intended to emphasize that:

• People of Color face varying types of discrimination and prejudice.

• Systemic racism continues to oppress, invalidate, and deeply affect the lives of Black and Indigenous people.

• Black and Indigenous individuals and communities still bear the impact of slavery and genocide from the founding of America over 500 years ago.

• People of Color often face multiple examples of othering including colorism, classism and discrimination based on immigration status.

Remember:

Terms like BIPOC can draw attention to the injustices faced by specific groups of people. But it’s important to remember they can also lump together different life experiences and erase uniqueness. The terms a person chooses to describe themselves and their culture carry a great deal of significance. Using these terms shows your respect for the individual and their culture; you might think another term describes a person better — but at the end of the day, that choice belongs to them alone.

Thornhill’s experience:

At Thornhill, we take pride in fostering a school community where every student and family feels seen, valued, and supported. But recently, we’ve noticed a decline in attendance and engagement with the BIPOC Advisory Council (BAC). If we dim the light of one community group, we dim them all—because when one part of our school family is affected, we all are.

Thornhill’s BAC was formed in response to a racist incident in the 2021-22 school year that targeted Black students. The term BIPOC was intentionally chosen to reflect the diversity of our student and caregiver community, while also recognizing the specific injustices faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color in our school. We are incredibly fortunate to have a strong and dedicated BAC—no other OUSD school has an advisory council like ours, and we are leading the way in this important work.

If you have questions about this or would like to discuss any issues surrounding it, please reach out to diversity@thornhillschool.org and we will be happy to have a conversation with you. Thornhill’s BIPOC Advisory Council’s (BAC) Allies Group also meets and discusses these issues on a regular basis, so please feel free to attend the next meeting if you would like to know more. Join us whenever you can:

2/21- 3:30pm, Thornhill Coffee Shop
3/19- 6:00pm, El Agavero Restaurant, Montclair Village
4/25- 3:30pm, Thornhill Coffee Shop
5/21- 6:00pm, 5 Spiced Kitchen, Montclair Village

We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable night of community, dancing, and giving back on March 15! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new Thornhill families, connect with parents across different grades, and come together in support of the programs that make Thornhill special. Buy tickets here.

This year’s theme is “Journey to the Stars,” and we invite you to be part of our mission to Fund the Future.

Here’s what you need to know about these important upcoming fundraising events:

Why Does Thornhill Have an Auction?

Thornhill’s annual auction is more than just a fun community event—it’s one of our biggest fundraisers! This event helps fund nearly half of the Thornhill Parent Faculty Club’s (PFC) operating budget, directly supporting essential programs and resources that state and district funding do not cover. The auction helps fund classroom support across all grade levels, including STIPs, teacher aides, PE, music, the library, teacher supplies, and much more. Your participation—whether through bidding, donating, or attending—makes a real impact on our school!

What’s the Difference Between the Silent Online Auction and the In-Person Live Auction?

In the past, both the silent and live auctions took place during the benefit dinner. However, the online auction allows everyone in the Thornhill community—including family, friends, and neighbors—to participate, even if they can’t attend the live event.

🔹 Silent Online Auction: February 24-27, 2025 – Open to all, no ticket needed, featuring a range of items available for bidding on this site.

🔹 In-Person Live Auction: March 15, 2025 – A lively evening event featuring exclusive items and traditional paddle-raise bidding. Auction tickets are on sale now until February 24 - buy tickets here.

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready to bid for a great cause!

Check out these Auction FAQs for more in-depth details, and if you have further questions, feel free to email Bart Lounsbury at benefit@thornhillschool.org.

Who doesn’t like pizza! Join us for a delicious way to support Thornhill Elementary! We're excited to announce a "Dine & Donate" event at Round Table Pizza Wednesday February 19, from 11am to 9pm.

When you place your order, mention Thornhill Elementary and 20% of your total will be generously donated to our school. Please note that alcohol, lunch/dinner combos, and other promotional offers are excluded from the donation. Excludes online orders and 3rd party delivery sites.

Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy some delicious pizza while supporting our school community.

This week we are spotlighting a fun, healthy and pampering auction party that’s coming up soon! Get your zen on and join certified yoga instructor and Thornhill mom, Hillary Aiken, for some downward dogs and sun salutations on Saturday, March 1. Treat yourself to this 60-minute Vinyasa yoga class and then stick around to socialize and enjoy light refreshments.

All levels are welcome, whether you're a total beginner, haven't taken a yoga class in years, or you're an advanced yogi. It doesn’t matter where you are in your practice—just bring yourself, an open mind, and let’s have fun!

Click here to sign up - Only 7 spots left!

There are lots of other auction parties here. Sign up while there are still spaces available!

Please reach out if you’re interested in hosting a party or just fill out this google form. This is a great way to give back to the school and meet other families.

Thank you,

Jill Evans

hostaparty@thornhillschool.org

Auction Hosted Party Coordinator

We’re excited to announce that Thornhill Elementary is partnering with the Oakland Roots through their Champion Fundraising Program for the 2025 season at the iconic Oakland Coliseum! This initiative helps support local schools, nonprofits, and youth sports clubs while promoting the positive impact of professional sports in the East Bay.

With every ticket purchased using our special promo code, Thornhill earns 20% of the ticket sales revenue (excluding fees). Whether you're a passionate soccer fan or just looking for a fun family outing, this is a fantastic way to cheer on the Oakland Roots while giving back to our school!

The Oakland Roots' 2025 season kicks off on Saturday, March 8, 2025, with an away match against Orange County SC. Their first home game is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 7:00 PM, where they will host San Antonio FC at the historic Oakland Coliseum.

For a complete schedule of the 2025 season and to purchase tickets, visit Thornhill’s unique link: oaklandrootssc.com/fundraiser
Use promo code: THORNHILLROOTS (case-sensitive)

ShopRaise Partnership
We’re also excited to introduce our new partnership with ShopRaise this year! Whether you're buying daily essentials like groceries, shopping for home office furniture, or booking your next trip, the ShopRaise app allows you to raise funds for Thornhill Elementary while you shop online—all at no extra cost to you. Now, your everyday shopping can directly support our school. Click the link here to learn more and download the app.

The Thornhill Parent-Faculty Club (PFC) eNews team publishes this weekly newsletter each Tuesday in the school year to communicate school, PFC and OUSD news, events and information. We all have plenty of other things to do, but please try to read it weekly, as it will more than likely answer most questions you have about what’s up at school. Information about how to submit to the newsletter is below, but you can reach out to us at any time at newsletter@thornhillschool.org.

Email submissions to our Newsletter Chair, Annie Sartor, at newsletter@thornhillschool.org by 8 p.m. Thursday for approval—nothing sent after this will be included in the following week’s newsletter unless there are extenuating circumstances. It’s fine to include text in the body of the email with links and no formatting, and attach photos preferably as 150 x 150, 72 dpi JPG or GIFs only (not embedded in email or word file). Submissions may be edited for spelling, grammar, brevity and clarity. Advertising and items not related to Thornhill are not accepted, as we need to keep the newsletter focused on need-to-know info for the community.

THANK YOU to everyone who submits articles and to PFC Board Members, Teachers, PFC co-Presidents Becky Gonzales and Catrina Vrankovich, VP of Communications Jill Evans, and Principal Steve Daubenspeck, member of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).