Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter

Happy May!

What a way to kick off the month— with no strike and the announcement of our new Thornhill principal! And, there's more happening as we head into the final stretch of the school year: celebrations, meetings, promotions, hosted parties and more—you’ll find all the details in this newsletter.

But first, we’re kicking off the first full week of May by honoring the heart and soul of Thornhill—our incredible teachers and staff! Teachers deserve all the love—today and every day—but this week is especially for them and we’re celebrating everything they do to make Thornhill such an amazing place.

A big thank you to the families who have generously signed up to drop-off breakfast treats this week, yum! We are also excited to share that the PFC will also be hosting two special lunches— a catered meal on Wednesday by Joe Frankel of Taps and Takeout, accompanied with dessert made by the talented Laura Borrman, followed by a fun Pizza Party on Thursday!

Ever chaperoned a field trip and come home needing a nap, a coffee, and maybe a chiropractor? Yeah, same. Now imagine doing that level of organized chaos management every single day—with 20+ kids, lesson plans, glue sticks, and a smile. That’s what our teachers and staff do, and they somehow make it look easy (spoiler: it’s not).

So much happens in just one school day, and while it might not always be perfect, our Thornhill teachers and staff are a solid team that collaborate and work together because they genuinely care about our kids—even when the going gets tough. When you pick up your child after school, you might never know they were frustrated with a tough assignment or had a disagreement with a friend. Behind the scenes, our teachers and staff are right there—caring deeply, stepping in, and guiding our kids through it all.

So, a huge THANK YOU to our teachers and staff! We honestly don’t know how they do it—but we are so grateful they do. If you see a teacher or staff member this week, show them a little extra love with a hug, a high-five, their favorite snack, or a handmade card from the kids! Room parents will also be coordinating an end-of-year class gift, so keep an eye out for messages from them.

Lastly, We hope you’ll join us for our final PFC meeting of the school year on Tuesday, May 20 at 6 PM via Zoom! There's a lot to cover as we wrap up and say goodbye to 2024–25!

Warmly,

Catrina Vrankovich & Becky Gonzales

president@thornhillschool.org

Hello Thornhill families:

Please join me in the hunt for any and all library books!

This week is the last school library check out for the '24-'25 school year. I will be accepting book returns every day until the last day of school. We have a countdown in the hallway with suggestions of places to look - in your desk, in your car, on your kitchen counter, under the couch, etc!

Please help your student do a thorough search of all of the places books like to hide and return them to the Thornhill library for more students to enjoy next school year. I welcome any questions at marie.fox@ousd.org and sincerely appreciate your help!

Happy searching,

Ms. Fox

Thornhill community,

Come Celebrate Daubenspeck Day!
Monday, May 19 | 8:15–9:15am

After 12 amazing years leading Thornhill Elementary with heart, humor, and a whole lot of spirit, Principal Daubenspeck is heading off on a well-deserved sabbatical! Let’s show him just how much he means to all of us.

Join us for coffee, donuts, and lots of smiles at morning drop-off, and help us send Principal Daubenspeck off with love and appreciation.

Students can join the fun too — it’s Dress Like Daubenspeck Day!

Break out those glasses, your favorite band tee, Thornhill swag, or anything that shows off your love for music — and don’t forget those big smiles — as we celebrate the best principal around!

Thank you, Principal Daubenspeck, for everything you’ve done to make Thornhill such a special place!

Your PFC and BAC Leadership Team

Per our bylaws, we are sharing the proposed Parent Faculty Club (PFC) Board Slate for the 2025–26 school year. Voting on the slate will take place during our final PFC meeting of the year on May 20 at 6:00pm. All are welcome to attend! We’ll also be approving the 2025-26 PFC budget at this meeting.

Interested in joining the PFC board? We still have some open positions—email president@thornhillschool.org or fill out this form to get involved. Check out the board responsibilities here.

Most positions can be co-chaired, so if you’re interested in a role that’s already filled, consider teaming up! Shadowing a current volunteer is a great way to get involved and learn the ropes together. Thank you to those who have volunteered!

Proposed PFC Board Slate 2025-26

Executive Board

Presidents: Becky Gonzales, Selam Brown

Secretary: Morgan McDonell

Treasurers: Madeleine Buck, Tonya Young

VP, Communications: Catrina Vrankovich

VP, Community Support: Sophie Astier, Ian Storrar

VP, Fundraising: Tamara Chao

VP, Personnel: Pamela Schwartz

Member-at-Large (TK-2): OPEN!

Member-at-Large (3-5): Chelsea Boniak

Board Members

5th Grade Liaisons: Laura Borrman, Chelsea Boniak

Auction Chair: Madeleine Buck

Annual Fund: Stefani Miller, Catrina Vrankovich, +1 OPEN!

Dine-outs: OPEN!

Fall Festival ThornChill Chair: Malcolm Goodwin

Grants & Solicitations Chair: OPEN!

Hospitality Chair: Angela Fautt-Gatdula, Philip Gatdula

Inclusion & Belonging Chair: OPEN!

Merchant Partnerships: OPEN!

Newsletter Editor: Annie Sartor

Parliamentarian: OPEN!

Prospective Family Liaisons: Adrienne Selke, Katie Clark

Read-a-thon: Marie Fox, Jane Yi

Room Parent Coordinator: Kathryn Miggels

Site/Safety Chair: OPEN!

Spirit Wear Chair: Nisan Perera

Sustainability Chair: Deepa Lounsbury, Marine Thibault

Technology Chair: OPEN!

Traffic Safety Chair: OPEN!

Walk-a-thon: Alison Bunker, Brenna Gustafson

Webmaster: Sylvia Sudat

Interested in joining the BIPOC Advisory Council (BAC) board? Email bac@thornhillschool.org or fill out this form to get involved.

BAC Chairs: Malcolm Goodwin, Vanessa Avery

BAC Secretary/SSC Liaison: Erin Yeager

BAC VP Communications: OPEN!

Dear Thornhill community,

Thank you for entrusting us with the important responsibility of serving on the Principal Recommendation Committee (PRC). It was an honor to work alongside fellow parents and teachers in partnership with OUSD to thoughtfully evaluate and recommend leadership for our school.

The PRC worked diligently and was fortunate to interview four highly qualified candidates, each bringing a strong set of strengths and leadership qualities to support Thornhill.

We are excited to welcome Principal Scott to Thornhill! We believe she embodies the values and vision our community holds dear—from fostering a safe and inclusive environment, to supporting instructional excellence, embracing diversity, and leading with transparency, responsiveness, and heart. We look forward to the positive impact her leadership will bring to our students, staff, and families as she builds on the incredible work our teachers, families, and Principal Daubenspeck have accomplished together in making Thornhill such a special and supportive community.

With gratitude,

The Thornhill Principal Recommendation Committee

Danielle Clark, Anna Finnell, Marie Fox, Brenna Gustafson, Maureen Whalen, Becky Gonzales, Catrina Vrankovich, Ian Storrar, Katrina Moseley Journey and Selam Brown

Pedi Party - Tickets HERE

Thursday, May 8, 2025 · 6:30 PM
Isabella Nail Spa, Montclair Village
Hosted by: Tamara Chao, Katie Clark, Kate Kreps, Adrienne Selke & Bronwen Sterling

Treat yourself to a fun and relaxing evening at our exclusive Pedi-Party in support of Thornhill! Isabella Nail Spa will be closed to the public just for us—so come enjoy a pampering pedicure along with appetizers, dessert, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks. It’s the perfect way to unwind, connect with fellow Thornhill parents, and leave with fabulous toes—all while supporting our school!

Adults Only. Tip included in ticket price. Manicures available as an optional add-on (paid separately). Bring a friend—buy an extra ticket and share the fun!

Whiskey & Poker Night - Tickets HERE

Saturday, May 17, 2025 · 7:00 PM
The Better Ventures Office – 470 25th St, Oakland
Hosted by: Wes Selke & David White

Join us for an unforgettable evening of whiskey tasting and poker—all in the name of fundraising! Sample premium whiskeys from around the world—Scotland, Ireland, Japan, and the U.S.—and then stick around for a no-limit Texas Hold ’em poker tournament. Adults Only.

♠️ $50 optional buy-in for the tournament, with all proceeds going to Thornhill. Expect great company, great drinks, and plenty of snacks (plus a high chance of late-night pizza).

Whether you’re a whiskey connoisseur, a card shark, or just in it for the vibes—we’d love to see you there!

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 Thursday, May 15, 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!

Join the entire Bay Area in celebrating Bike Month this May — with the biggest celebration happening on Bike (and Walk) to School Day on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Because of our geographic location, we are focusing on walking to school (but feel free to grab a friend and bike!). Join us before school starts at one of four “walking school bus” groups.

Here is a list meeting points (including parking areas) and departure times:

• Broadway Terrace & Merriwood intersection: Departs at 7.50am

• Yarrow Nursery on Pinehaven & Thornhill [PARK on Pinehaven]: Departs at 8.00am

• Fernwood & Mountain intersection [PARK on Fernwood]: Departs at 8.00am

• Montclair Recreation Center, Montclair Park [PARK on Moraga]: Departs at 7.55am

You can find a map of the meeting locations and routes here.

At Thornhill, we understand that more than 30% of our families live outside the immediate neighborhood, making it difficult to leave the car at home. We recognize that for many, walking or biking may not be feasible. If you live outside the immediate neighborhood and would like to participate, we are offering the option to park and join a group of other students and families.

Remember before you ride, do the helmet safety fit check and check out Bike East Bay’s tips for new riders.

Hey fifth grade families!

Can you believe our kids are almost middle schoolers? With the final month of school packed full of exciting events and happy tears, we want to make sure that fifth grade families stay in the loop for every special moment as we celebrate this huge milestone.

Check out all the upcoming happenings here:

Yearbooks: Every fifth grade student will receive a yearbook at no cost. Yearbooks will be distributed by Friday, May 23.

The Legendary Fifth Grade Lock-in: Mark your calendars for Friday, May 23 from 6:00–8:00pm at Thornhill. Our awesome 5th graders will celebrate with a night packed full of activities — think backyard-style fun and outdoor games — pizza, ice cream, a movie in the MPR, and maybe even a surprise dance-off (we’ll curate a 5th grade appropriate playlist that’s so sigma). There will be time for yearbook signing too! The evening will be hosted by Mr. Wilkins, Mrs. Bernard, and a few parent chaperones to keep the fun rolling. Plus, Ms. Gelbron’s House of Art will be open for creative magic. No decorations, no fuss — just one unforgettable night of fun! This is a drop-off event for 5th graders only and free to attend - RSVP HERE.

Fifth Grade Graduation Ceremony: Wednesday, May 28 at 9:00am on the Thornhill upper playground (near the back green wall). Families are welcome and invited to support your graduating kiddo!

Fifth Grade Family Picnic: A Thornhill tradition! This happens Wednesday, May 28 immediately after school, at 1:35pm, at Lake Temescal Park, South Entrance. The event is organized by families, for families, and is NOT an official school outing or a dropoff party. Kids must be accompanied by an adult; if you're unable to attend, please make arrangements for your child to attend with another adult. Please sign up to contribute food, supplies, grilling skills and fun HERE.

Class of 2025 Legacy Gift to Thornhill: Each year, Thornhill’s graduating class of fifth graders “gives back” to their school with a special legacy gift. Past gifts have included decorative tiles in the front yard, the “little library” in the garden, special benches, game equipment… even the school’s signature mural that adorns the portable classrooms! Work is underway to determine the best legacy gift for this year’s class.

Questions? Reach out to 5thgrade@thornhillschool.org

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).