page background

Thornhill Elementary PFC Newsletter

Volume 32, Issue 20, January 14, 2025

Thornhill ElementaryPFC NewsletterVolume 32, Issue 20, January 14, 2025

In This Issue (bolded items are new for this week)

  • All the Important Read-a-thon Information is Here
  • Urgent: Volunteer Needed to Fill VP of Personnel Role
  • An Out-of-This-World Evening Awaits – Auction Tickets Available Soon!
  • Where’s the Party?
  • BIPOC Advisory Council General Meeting – Monday, February 3

  • Recap: Thornhill’s 2nd Black Dad’s Panel

  • Building Personal Responsibility, Hydrating and Labeling Belongings
  • Community Information
  • Shop and Earn for Thornhill
  • Calendar of Important Dates

______________________

All the Important Read-a-thon Information is Here:

Don’t forget to RSVP For the third annual Read & Feed - also affectionately known as the Feed-a-thon! Next Wednesday, January 22, from 5:30-7pm we will gather in the Multi-Purpose Room for a celebration of reading, eating, and community. There will be book-based art projects with Ms. Gelbron, delicious pizza dinner, and spaces to hang out and read together.


Please help us plan for food for the event by RSVPing on this google form asap!
If you are able to help with donating materials or cash for pizza for the event, here is a Sign-up form - thank you!


Emailed invitations to participate in tracking and/or fundraising will be sent out this week through 99 Pledges from Ms. Fox - Please keep an eye out!


All Thornhill students will be welcomed into the Read-a-thon with a hot cocoa packet and a custom Thornhill Read-a-thon bookmark to help them cozy up with a good book!

Additional prizes will be as follows:

  • Individuals who:

    • Record reading time on their Read-a-thon page will:

      • Be entered into a raffle for a book-themed stuffy or a gift card to a local bookstore (one per grade).

  • Whole Class with:

    • Most participation - highest percentage students recording reading time:

      • Donut party!

    • Most minutes read:

      • Donut party!

  • Whole School:

    • If we reach certain milestones in reading time and fundraising, teachers and staff will do wacky things…. Pies in the face! Ice buckets on heads! Silly string perhaps?! Stay tuned for updates.

If you have any questions, please reach out to marie.fox@ousd.org. Looking forward to celebrating our readers with you all!

With gratitude,
Ms. Fox
marie.fox@ousd.org

______________________

Urgent: Volunteer Needed to Fill VP of Personnel Role

We urgently need a volunteer to step into the role of VP of Personnel on the PFC! Our incredible current VP of Personnel, Evie Nagy—who has also served as VP of Communications and PFC President in previous years—is moving out of state, and we’re seeking someone to take on this important position.


The VP of Personnel role isn’t overly time-intensive but requires attention to detail and consistency to handle specific tasks that must be completed on time.


Evie and the PFC co-presidents will provide support during the transition to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the Thornhill community and make a meaningful impact!


Overview:
This position primarily involves email communication with the Education Fund (EdFund), aides, PFC, and Thornhill administrative staff. While much of the work happens behind the scenes, the responsibilities are essential to supporting the school.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for communication with the EdFund, aides, other PFC staff, and administrative staff.

  • Review and sign off on timesheets to ensure timely and accurate payment for aides and PFC staff.

  • Monitor hours worked to avoid overtime penalties and ensure compliance with labor regulations.

  • Facilitate onboarding for new hires, ensuring all necessary paperwork and processes are completed.

Please reach out to Evie Nagy at personnel@thornhillschool.org as soon as possible with any questions—this is urgent! We need someone to fill this position by January 31, 2025, and we need YOU!

______________________

An Out-of-This-World Evening Awaits – Auction Tickets Available Soon!

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


______________________

Where’s the Party?

Calling all party hosts! It’s time to put our Hosted Party offerings into high gear as we gear up for Thornhill’s auction, Journey to the Stars!


What are Hosted Parties?


Hosted Parties are organized by a Thornhill parent or family, a group of parents or by our teachers. Hosts share the cost of putting together their event and guests buy tickets to attend with all proceeds going to the Thornhill Parent Faculty Club (PFC) to support school programming.


Sound fun? Click here to start planning your hosted party or to get more info!


Feel free to reach out If you have an idea for a party or even just a few questions about hosting.


Thanks!

Jill Evans

Auction Hosted Party Coordinator

______________________

BIPOC Advisory Council General Meeting – Monday, February 3

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!

______________________

Recap: Thornhill’s 2nd Black Dad’s Panel

Before Winter Break, on December 18, 2024, Thornhill hosted its 2nd Black Dad’s Panel for all 3rd-5th graders. Building on the success of last year’s pilot panel for 4th graders, which addressed the impact of racist words on students, this year’s event reached a broader audience. Moderated by Community School Manager Mrs. Crum, the panel featured Black fathers sharing personal stories of discrimination and exclusion, emphasizing the importance of allyship and fostering an inclusive community.


  • Students actively engaged in the discussion, posing thoughtful questions and sharing their own experiences.

  • The panelists encouraged students to:

    • Disrupt the cycle of discrimination.

    • Be mindful of their words.

    • Show courage in challenging situations.

  • They emphasized the lasting impact of words and actions, even when unintentional, and reminded everyone of their power to create meaningful memories through kindness, respect, and advocacy.

  • The dads expressed their commitment to fostering a more accepting environment for today’s students, ensuring that history does not repeat itself.

During the upcoming BAC general meeting, we will reflect on the questions asked by students, the atmosphere during the panel, and the key topics discussed. We will also take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Black Dads who participated in the panel for their invaluable contributions.


Thank you,
Katrina Moseley Journey
BAC Chair

______________________

Building Personal Responsibility, Hydrating and Labeling Belongings

At Thornhill, we are dedicated to cultivating a community where students learn personal responsibility and care for their spaces and environment. This includes developing life skills and reinforcing behaviors that promote safety, mindfulness, and accountability. One current focus is ensuring students bring a water bottle to school daily and labeling their school items —two small but vital habits that significantly impact your child’s well-being and our community's flow.

Why Hydration Matters
Staying hydrated is essential for children’s health and education. It supports physical health and enhances mood, memory, and attention—key factors in your child’s learning experience.

The Challenge
Many students rely on teachers and the kitchen team for cups at water stations, leading to spills, waste, and missed hydration opportunities.

A Gentle Plea from Thornhill Teachers: Label Your Child’s Belongings!
In the spirit of partnership, we kindly ask for your support in helping students keep track of their belongings. Teachers have noticed an abundance of jackets, layers, backpacks, lunch boxes, containers (and their lids!), and water bottles being left behind or misplaced. Let’s work together to minimize the Lost and Found in 2025 by ensuring all items are clearly labeled.

Here’s how you can support in three easy steps:

  1. Ensure a Daily Habit: Remind your child to pack and bring home their water bottle and other personal items each day.
  2. Label Everything: Clearly label your child’s water bottle, clothing layers, backpacks, lunch boxes, Tupperware, and more to avoid loss, waste, and confusion.
  3. Reinforce Responsibility: Discuss the importance of caring for their belongings and staying hydrated to support their health and learning.



Support Thornhill Through Mabel's Labels
For a simple and effective solution, consider using Mabel’s Labels. By clicking “Support a Fundraiser” and searching for Thornhill, you can shop through our donation page and help the school receive a portion of the proceeds.

By reinforcing these simple habits at home and school, we can foster students' personal responsibility and care for their environment. Together, let’s build a community where every student feels supported and empowered to thrive.


Thank you!

Thornhill teachers

______________________

Community Information

Cole Arts Camp

Registration for all of our upcoming camps is now open at www.coleartscamp.com
These include:

  • Jan 20-MLK Day

  • Feb 17- Presidents Day

  • March 28- April 4 Caesar Chavez Day/ Spring Break

  • June 2- Aug 1- Summer Break

______________________

Shop and Earn for Thornhill!

Minted Fundraising Program
We're excited to announce that our Minted Fundraising Program is continuing this year! We’re thrilled to partner with Minted again to raise funds for Thornhill throughout the year, simply by shopping for stationery and custom gifts. Use the unique code below to receive 20% off at Minted when you check out. You can also share this code with your supporters—15% of the net sales from each purchase will be donated back to Thornhill. Our code is: FUNDRAISETHORNHILLELEM

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.


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!!

______________________

Calendar

  • Monday, January 20: NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)
  • Tuesday, January 21: PFC Meeting 6:00-7:00pm via Zoom (details in Konstella)
  • Tuesday, January 21 - Friday, January 31: Read-a-thon!
  • Wednesday, January 22: Read & Feed in the Multi-Purpose Room (details in Konstella )
  • 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 17: NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)
  • Monday February 24 - Thursday February 27: Thornhill’s ONLINE Silent Auction (Link to Auction Site)
  • 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)


Be sure also to subscribe to the Thornhill Google Calendar here, and download the OUSD District calendar here.

______________________

About the Thornhill Newsletter

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).

______________________

Thornhill Elementary
Thornhill is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters