Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter

• Read-a-thon Update
• BIPOC Advisory Council General Meeting – Monday, February 3
• Dine Out for Thornhill at Itani Sushi!
• Green Team Student Heroes Help Streamline Our Food Recovery Process
• An Out-of-This-World Evening Awaits – Auction Tickets Available NOW!
• Hosted Parties: This Way to the FUN!
• "More Than Microaggressions" – A Groundbreaking Workshop at Thornhill Hosted by the BAC
• Celebrate Black History Month with a Special Read-In!
• Shop and Earn for Thornhill
• Community Information
• Calendar of Important Dates

Many thanks to so many from the Thornhill community who attended the Read & Feed on Wednesday! It was a wonderful time to be in community, share a meal, make art, and read together. Sending special thanks to Joe Frankel and the Taps and Takeout team for supporting the event with both pizza pick up and donation of delicious salad! And to the fabulous Thornhill teachers who helped to make it possible.

Our Thunderbirds have logged more than 51,000 minutes read and raised over $18,000 so far! We are moving ever closer to our goal of $25,000 and any support is truly appreciated. Your dedication and generosity is remarkable - keep up the amazing work! Students have been spotted reading at recess, before, and after school - it is exciting to see our school community continue to embrace their joy of reading.

We warmly invite all Thornhill families to the upcoming BIPOC Advisory Council General Meeting. Join us as we continue our journey toward creating a more inclusive and equitable school community. This meeting will be a valuable opportunity to delve deeper into our recent events such as the Black Dads Panel, discuss the future executive board, initiatives, and strengthen our collective efforts. Mark your calendars and click here to join us on Monday, February 3 at 6 PM!

Calling all Early Birds!

Early Bird Tickets go on sale on January 27 for the 39th Annual Thornhill Benefit Auction & Dinner, which will be taking place on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Can’t attend the live auction? Join Thornhill’s online silent auction from February 24-27, no ticket needed!

The online format, introduced during Covid, has been a great way to make the silent auction accessible to everyone. Family, friends, neighbors, and the entire Thornhill community can bid and win amazing items without attending the event.

The in-person live auction, on March 15, will have exclusive items not available to bid on during the silent auction. The live auction is a lively event, where bidding happens in a more traditional paddle-raised fashion. In this night of community-building, dancing and donating you’ll meet other families new to Thornhill and build connections with parents across many different grades.

We’ll come together to raise funds for the critical services and experiences that make the school experience special for our kids.This year’s theme is “Journey to the Stars” and I hope you’ll join us in our mission to Fund the Future.

Early Bird Tickets: $95 (January 27 – February 8)

Regular Tickets: $120 (February 9 – February 24)

Purchase tickets HERE

The live event on March 15 will be held at The Bridge Yard in Oakland and Off The Grid is providing the grub, and we will have a DJ and an open bar!! (Yes, you read that last part correctly) There will be games and a live auction.

If you have any questions, please email me at benefit@thornhillschool.org. And if you want to be a part of the auction committee, please feel free to join our meetings - info posted on the Konstella calendar.

I look forward to an unforgettable night with you,

Bart Lounsbury

2025 Auction Chair

The BIPOC Advisory Council is thrilled to invite you to a first-of-its-kind, in-person speaking event at Thornhill School, led by the dynamic and inspiring Dr. Akilah Cadet. This engaging workshop, "More Than Microaggressions," will take place on Thursday, February 27 from 6 - 7:30pm, and we’re calling on the entire Thornhill community to be part of this experience. RSVP by February 19, 2025, to secure your spot!

Why Attend?

Our goal is to recognize and reduce the number of microaggressions at Thornhill and beyond, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. This workshop is more than just a conversation—it's a commitment to actionable change. Attendees will walk away with practical tools and insights to:

• Identify and address microaggressions in everyday interactions.

• Understand power and privilege and how to use them for good.

• Recognize dominant culture and its impact on group dynamics.

• Move beyond allyship to become active accomplices in the fight against racism.

• Learn effective ways to apologize and correct harm when it occurs.

Workshop Agenda:

• Welcome/Intro

• Pair/Pod Activity: Explore the Cultural Iceberg—what’s visible and what’s beneath the surface.

• Understanding Power + Privilege: Discover how to leverage them positively.

• White Dominant Culture: Unpack its pillars and how they appear in group settings.

• Discussion on Microaggressions: Understand the nuances of being both a microaggressor and a microaggressee, and learn prevention strategies.

• Allyship vs. Accomplice: Learn why it’s essential to move past allyship and actively do the work.

• Breakout: Calling In: Practice role modeling and constructive dialogues.

• Ways to Apologize: Gain a practical apology tool.

• Call to Action and Close: Leave with a handout and actionable steps.

About Dr. Akilah Cadet

Dr. Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet, with over 20 years of experience in management and leadership across various sectors. A Forbes Next 1000 Honoree, her work has been featured in prominent publications like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. With deep roots in education and a commitment to dismantling white supremacy, Dr. Cadet brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique storytelling approach that is both insightful and engaging.

Additional Details:

• Childcare and light bites will be provided, making it easier for you to attend and focus on the workshop.

• Funded by our community: This event is made possible by the funds raised from last year’s Auction fundraiser for the BAC, underscoring the importance of community participation and support.

This event offers a space for learning, reflection, and connection, inviting everyone to be a part of this important conversation. RSVP now and work with Thornhill to build a more inclusive future.

Much love,
The BIPOC Advisory Council

We’re thrilled to invite you to a special event in celebration of Black History Month—our Read-In, happening on Monday, February 10, from 9:30-11 AM. We warmly welcome parent volunteers to participate in this enriching experience by reading to students in various classrooms. Choose a book from Thornhill’s diverse library collection or bring a cherished book from home that highlights Black history, culture, or authors.

Why Volunteer for the Read-In?
Foster a Love for Reading: Inspire students by sharing stories that celebrate Black history and culture.
Engage with Our Community: Connect with students, teachers and other parents in a meaningful and impactful way.
Bring Diversity to Life: Help us illustrate the importance of African American and Black voices in literature.

How to Get Involved:
Sign Up to Volunteer: Click here to sign up and choose your preferred time slot. Whether you're a seasoned storyteller or simply love reading to kids, your participation is invaluable!
Collaborate with Our School Librarian: This event is coordinated with the Oakland Education Fund and our librarian, Ms. Marie Fox, ensuring a wonderful selection of books and a smooth experience for all.

We look forward to sharing this special day with our community. For any questions or further details, please reach out to Ms. Fox, Sofie Lieven at diversity@thornhillschool.org, or the BIPOC Advisory Council at bac@thornhillschool.org.

Let’s make this Read-In a vibrant celebration of Black history and the power of storytelling!

Warmly,
The BIPOC Advisory Council

Support Thornhill Through Mabel's Labels

Good Eggs for Thornhill

Shop with Good Eggs to give back to our school. Good Eggs is a game-changing online market that delivers local produce, organic groceries, chef-prepared meals, and easy meal kits straight to your door. It’s all the quality and transparency of a farmer’s market, with the speed and convenience of online ordering.

Enter our school's GoodEggsForThornhill at checkout and 5% of your order's total will contribute to our school's fundraising!!

• Monday, January 27 - Saturday, February 8: Early Bird Auction Ticket Sales (Link to Auction Site)
• Monday, February 3: BIPOC Advisory Council Meeting 6:00-7:30pm (details in Konstella)
• Monday, February 10: Black History Month Read-In
• Tuesday, February 11: Auction Meeting 7:30-8:30pm (details in Konstella)
• Monday, February 17: NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)
• Monday February 24 - Thursday February 27: Thornhill’s ONLINE Silent Auction (Link to Auction Site)

• Wednesday, February 26: Auction Meeting 7:30-8:30pm (details in Konstella)
• Thursday, February 27: "More Than Microaggressions" event hosted by the BIPOC Advisory Council (details in Konstella)
• Monday, March 3 - Wednesday, March 5: 5th Grade two-night Field Trip to Marin Headlands
• Monday, March 10 - Friday, March 14: Spring Conference Week (minimum days)
• Saturday, March 15: Thornhill’s 39th Annual Benefit Auction & Dinner (details in Konstella)