From the Abernethy Office

Today we welcomed all our Kindergarten students to their first full day of school!

It felt so good to have our building complete today! I was able to be at the kindergarten classrooms this morning as all our students came in for their first full day. I was so happy to see that there were no tears... from the students and from the parents!! I know that with both of my kids, I was the one who needed the tissues when walking out of the classroom! My kids on the other hand... they could care less! They were so happy to be in Kindergarten!

I don't know if you all have this tradition but we always take a first day of school picture with our front door as a backdrop. Today, watching all the kindergarten students come in and how excited they were reminded me of just haw quickly time passes. My youngest is now in 8th grade, and it feels like just yesterday that I was one of the kindergarten parents saying good bye for her first full day. She might not be happy with me, but this is just how quickly time goes!

Morning drop has a different bell schedule this year. I am not sure if everyone knows, but the bell to line up rings at 8:37. Teachers will come out to greet their class, and then walk in by 8:45.

Here is our schedule for the day. It can also be found in our blue Family Calendar that was sent home within the first week of school.

Morning Drop Off/ Busses

8:35 - Busses dismissed and breakfast opens

• Breakfast from 8:35 - 8:45

8:37 - Bell to line up rings - teachers come out to greet students

8:45 - Bell to start school rings - classes inside ready to start the day

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Lunch and Recess

• 11:20 - 11:40 - Kindergarten and 1st grade lunch
• 11:40 - 11:45 - transition from lunch to recess
• 11:45 - 12:05 - Kindergarten and 1st Grade recess

2nd and 3rd Grade Lunch and Recess

• 11:45 - 2nd grade class can start to come to lunch
• 11:50 - 3rd grade classes can come to lunch
• 12:05 - 12:10 - 2nd and 3rd grade students transition from lunch to recess
• 12:10 - 12:30 - 2nd and 3rd grade recess

4th and 5th grade Recess and Lunch

11:50 - 4th and 5th grade students come out to recess

12:10 - 12:15 - 4th and 5th grade students transition from recess to lunch

12:15 - 12:35 - 4th and 5th grade lunch

Afternoon Pick Up/ Busses

3:00 - End of Day dismissal bell rings

With our reduction in enrichments, we have been looking for ways to bring more enrichments to our students at Abernethy. In doing do, we have created a schedule that is still in the making. We are starting it this week and will look for student feedback as to what is of interest and what works best. However, what we are starting now is some recess options for our 4th and 5th grade students. We are offering our 4th and 5th grade students the options of attending a recess choir club with Ms. Devicq, an organized recess game such as 4 square, soccer, basketball or kickball with Ms. Hartle, or the option for open library time with Ms. Nowak, our new school Librarian. As I said, this is all still in the making, as we want student feedback, but it is plans that are in the works for the 4th and 5th grade students. The current plan is to offer this to the 4th and 5th grade students this semester, and then to the 2nd and 3rd grade students next semester. These offerings will run simultaneously with the clubs that Ms. Morgan runs during recess and lunch, such as Student Council, Environmental Club, and the QSA.

Attached is the flyer for the choir club.

if your 4th or 5th grade student is interested, please fill out the flyer and turn it in to Ms. Devicq.

Do your students like to run?? Do they want to start their day off on the right foot with running?

Eagle Track Club is a before school activity that meets Monday, Tuesday, and

Thursday on the blacktop from 8:05 to 8:30. Participants celebrate the beginning of

the school day with 20 minutes of walking, jogging, or running over a 1⁄8 mile course.

Students track their laps/distance each day in a training log and record their cumulative

miles.

The club is open to all 4th and 5th graders. Kindergarten through 3rd grade students

can participate if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The club encourages consistent attendance and effort throughout the school year.

Acknowledgements occur at different benchmark distances completed:

5,000 meters(25 laps);

10,000 meters(50 laps);

1⁄2 marathon(105 laps);

full marathon(210 laps);

50 kilometers(250 laps);

100 kilometers(500 laps)

Contact Eric Hartmann with questions ehartmann@pps.net

Below is the link to registration

Eagle Track Registration

Every Wednesday the Abernethy Bike Bus provides a consistent, fun and safe way for kids and parents to bike together to school. We find that it builds student confidence, builds social skills, gets exercise and reduces traffic. For many families it transforms the trip to school into an event to anticipate and enjoy.

- Choose either the Clinton Greenway Route or the Lincoln-Harrison Greenway Route (see attached flyer map and times)

- We need adult volunteers to help organize & keep kids safe from cars. Join our Volunteer Bike Bus Leader WhatsApp Group. No previous group riding experience required.

Clinton Bike Bus Route schedule (join in at any point along the route):

• Gather on Clinton just west of Cesar Chavez at 8:10am
• Departs Cesar Chavez and Clinton at 8:15am, heading West.
• Departs Clinton St Plaza (26th) at 8:25am
• Ladd's Circle at 8:30am
• 1 lap around Ladd's circle to celebrate and cheer; cruise into school on Elliot to the gazebo at 8:35am to give kids time to lock bikes and line up.
• (Optional) Join the Clinton Route Parents: Abernethy Bike Bus WhatsApp Group for occasional important communications.

Lincoln-Harrison Bike Bus Route schedule (join in at any point along the route):

• Gather next to Joe Bike at 8:15am
• Departs Joe Bike at 8:20am, heading West.
• Departs St. David of Wales Church at 8:25am
• Ladd's Circle at 8:30am
• 1 lap around Ladd's circle to celebrate and cheer; cruise into school on Elliot to the gazebo at 8:35am to give kids time to lock bikes and line up.
• (Optional) Join the Lincoln Route Parents: Abernethy Bike Bus WhatsApp Group for occasional important communications.

SAFETY

• Helmets required!
• If your child does not already ride to school on their own, please plan on biking with us for the first rides to make sure they can bike safely in a group.
• At road crossings where we'll stop the group to gather, post up adult and make sure cars wait while we cross en masse.
• Please ride behind the Bike Bus Driver-- the one with the speaker playing the tunes.

No bike bus home-- you can team up with families on your block to get small groups of kids home. If you're interested in consistently organizing & leading a larger bike bus home, let us know.

Questions? Concerns? Let us know! -Aaron & Jake (Abernethy parents & kids-on-bikes enthusiasts)

Aaron: 650-390-3405

Jake: 503-489-9567

Thursday - September 7th - Abernethy Back to School Picnic

• 5:30pm - 6:30pm - Abernethy covered play area, blacktop and playground - Bring your family, a blanket and your dinner, along with some good summer stories!

Thursday - September 7th - Fire Drill in the AM

Friday September 15th - Rosh Hashanah begins

Friday September 15th - Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

Thursday and Friday - September 21 & 22 - School Photos - Times TBA

Thursday - September 21 - PTA Community Meeting - 6:30 - 8:00pm

Tuesday September 26 - Lock Down Drill Lock, Lights, Out Of Sight - (more information to come)

Thursday September 28 - Back To School Night - 5:30 - 7:00pm

The PTA hosts general community meetings throughout the school year in the Abernethy auditorium when possible. If meetings cannot take place in person, they will take place via Zoom. All families are invited to attend and childcare is available in the cafeteria for in-person meetings.

General community meetings will be held on the third Thursday of the month. Meetings will usually begin at 6:30pm, but please watch the Abernethy Announcements email for confirmed times. There are no general community meetings in the months of December and February. The March general community meeting may be moved to an alternate week, depending on Spring Break.

Agendas, meeting minutes and meeting materials will be posted here and available for download as they are prepared.

Please note; only PTA members may vote on motions. Community members must sign up for PTA membership at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date. Roll call is taken at each meeting. Members must be present to vote.

Becoming a PTA member is a great way to get involved with the school community and find out firsthand from the PTA board, committee members, and the school administration what is happening in our school and district. If you join the PTA you will have the opportunity to vote on measures regarding the PTA budget and important decisions at Abernethy.

Abernethy's Tour De Ladd will take place on October 11th! Mark your calendars!!

More information will come along with a schedule of grade level times!

Abernethy wants to ensure that all students feel included in all that we do. If ever you feel you need assistance for any reason, please fill out this confidential form or reach out to Jenny Morgan, our school Counselor.