Montera Middle School eBulletin
February 4, 2024
Important Dates
This Week's Block Schedule: AB - A - AB
IT'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPIRIT WEEK!
Monday February 5: Spirit Week - African Diaspora Day
Tuesday February 6: Spirit Week - Historical Figure Day
Wednesday, February 7:
- Spirit Week - Black Out Day
- Montera Jazz Band @ OUSD Jazz Festival, 6:30pm
Thursday February 8:
- Spirit Week - College Gear Day
- PTO Board Meeting (Board Only - Join Here) 6pm - 7pm
Friday February 9:
- Spirit Week - Musical Tribute Day
- Valentine's Dance (Volunteers Needed) 5pm - 7:30pm
Thursday February 15: End of 4th Marking Period
Friday February 16: NO SCHOOL
Monday February 19: Presidents Day - NO SCHOOL
Wednesday February 21: Dine and Donate - Round Table Pizza
Sunday, February 25th, 9:00am: Montera 5K Run for Education SIGN UP HERE
Action Items
- Buy Tickets to Warriors Game!
- Register
- Montera 5K Run for Education
- Ride for a Reason
- Afterschool Theatre (Spots Still Available!)
- Volunteer
- Contribute:
School Information
Montera Black History Month Spirit Week!
Monday, February 5: AFRICAN DIASPORA DAY
Wear red/black/green OR wear your cultural apparel to honor the African Diaspora
Tuesday, February 6: HISTORICAL FIGURE DAY
Dress up as OR wear apparel honoring a Black historical figure (historian, scientist, mathematician, inventor, writer, athlete, visual artist)
Wednesday, February 7: BLACK OUT DAY
Wear a black hoodie to honor the victims of police/gun violence
Thursday, February 8: COLLEGE GEAR DAY
Wear HBCU OR college/UC gear to honor higher education
Friday, February 9: MUSICAL TRIBUTE DAY
Dress up as OR wear apparel honoring a Black musical artist (any genre)
All students must follow the dress code. No face paint allowed.
Valentine's Dance
Date: THIS FRIDAY, February 9
Time: 5pm - 7:30pm
Location: Montera MUR
Entry: Advanced Purchase of $10 Ticket + Permission Slip
IMPORTANT: Tickets for the Valentine's Dance are $10 and are on sale during lunch. In order to purchase a ticket, permission slips must be turned in at the time of purchase. Permission slips are available at the window of the attendance office during lunch. Tickets are limited.
***Parents needed to chaperone, bring drinks and pick up pizza Sign up here.***
Candygrams!
Students can buy Candygrams for $2 each in the MUR Courtyard during lunch. Now through Feb 9. Benefits go toward 8th grade activities!
Lunar New Year Celebration - Friday, February 23rd - Your Support is Needed
The Asian Pacific Islander Club is hosting a Lunar New Year Celebration on Friday, February 23rd during 8th period from 2:45 - 3:30. We are planning to have food, music, and activities. In order to make it happen, we'll need your assistance.
Please see what is needed on the link below and sign up where you can. If you can help out in another way that is unlisted, please reach out to me via email (erica.saephan@ousd.org). Thank you so much for your support!
In addition, students were emailed a link to sign-up if they are interested in attending the celebration. The list will close once we reach our capacity.
Needed: Garden Lead
Do you love creating beautiful natural green spaces? Interested in making Montera’s garden areas more drought-tolerant, native, and inviting for students? We need you! As The PTO Garden Lead, you would:
- Work with our Garden Lead Teacher, Mr. Knudtson
- Help choose plants to put in this spring
- Help make our MUR garden space into an edible garden
- Organize community garden workdays
Contact: president@monterapto.com
Yearbook Announcements
Last call for 8th grade baby pictures: If you'd like to include your 8th grader's baby photo in the yearbook, please email a high-resolution (minimum 500kb) JPG to monterayearbookclub@gmail.com by 1/31/24.
We're looking for Fall Fest photos! Did you take some photos of the dunk tank, student performances, bouncy house, costumes or other fun Fall Fest details? Please share them with monterayearbookclub@gmail.com.
Custom pages: Your yearbook purchase includes 2 custom pages that will appear only in YOUR student's yearbook - use them to include personal photos and special moments unique to your student. Make sure to submit your custom pages via your Treering account before 3/29/24. Instructions here: https://vimeo.com/489930325
Still need to buy a yearbook? It's not too late! Order here by 4/15/24 to ensure your book is shipped to the school in May - orders placed after that date may ship directly to you later: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014897661773030
Upcoming Events
DINE & DONATE: Round Table Pizza Febuary 21
DINE & DONATE @ Round Table Pizza
DATE: February 21
TIME: 11:00am -9:00pm
LOCATION: Round Table Pizza, Oakland-Mountain Blvd.
20% of your Dine-In, Carry-Out, Delivery & Curbside Pickup order will be donated to MONTERA!
Note: Excludes all coupons &/or discounts & 3rd party delivery sites
IMPORTANT: In order for Montera to receive credit, you must show a paper/digital flyer or mention Montera the day of the event. If you forget to do one of these steps, the transaction will not get counted for.
*Flyers may not be passed out inside or around the restaurant on the day of the fundraising event.
Montera 5K / 1m Run for Education - REGISTER OR VOLUNTEER NOW!
What: 5k and 1 Mile fun run in nature
Date: Sunday, February 25th
Time: 9:00am
Location: Joaquin Miller Park
Become a Fundraiser: Sign up to run the race and become a fundraiser
- Create a unique donation link
- Send to family/friends
- Put on social media
- Set up
- Course Monitors
- Finish Line
- Clean Up
VOLUNTEER HERE ***** REGISTER HERE
Warriors v. Grizzlies March 20 - Buy Tix and Support Montera!
Montera families and friends can purchase tickets for the Warriors' game against the Memphis Grizzlies March 20th at a special $110 rate that also benefits Montera!
Montera earns money from every ticket sold though this link:
https://am.ticketmaster.com/warriors/quickbuy?id=MTMyOQ==
Anyone can use the link, so feel free to share it with your community.
The link expires 2/16/24, so don't delay!
Ride for a Reason
WHAT: Bike ride to Sacramento (45, 68, 109 mile routes)
WHEN: Saturday April 20
WHY: Fun and Important fundraiser for Oakland Schools
Last year the Montera PTO received $10,000 from Ride for a Reason. Let's make it happen again this year! How?
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Montera sponsors a rest stop. We need 6 volunteers. Please Contact: president@monterapto.com
Hella 90s Party!
Volunteer & Show Us Your Moves!
Since we will be seeing y’all at our Hella 90s Party on April 13th, it’s a Saturday by the way, you will be showing us your signature dance moves, right? So tease us! Or show your Toros and see what they make of it. Great way to get some laughs and a workout? Remember those impromptu dance parties when they thought we were “cool”. Good times!
But only a few brave souls out there will be eager to show us their moves *sigh*. So if for some reason you can’t be there (Boo!), there are other ways to stay FLY and support your Toros (Yay!).
Check out our Volunteer Form for ways that you can support. Here are some ideas:
Drop off donation request letters to local businesses
Pick up donated auction items from local businesses
Set Up
Registration
Clean Up (aka unofficial after party? *wink* wink*)
Bring a Dessert (Yummers!)
Be THAT person to deliver auction items to Winners!
All ideas welcome!
Now can you show us how to do your best Tootsee Roll?
Tootsee Roll Tutorial:
While on your toes, bend knees
Knees go in/out
Arms follow in the same motion as knees
Booyah! Can you get your Toros to do it? Show/tag us on Insta.”
Donor Spotlight
The Berkeley Symphony offers FREE TICKETS to concerts!
In addition to donating to Montera's Benefit & Auction, The Berkeley Symphony wants everyone to know about their Students at the Symphony program. This generous program entitles children K-12 to FREE tickets to Berkeley Symphony Symphonic Series concerts! Parents, staff, and faculty can obtain tickets for $15, well below their cheapest tickets. Visit this webpage to get more information and obtain student and adult vouchers for the concerts.
Thanks for showing your support to all the businesses and individuals donating to the 2024 Benefit: Hella 90s Party!
Montera Visual and Performing Arts
Montera Jazz Band @ OUSD Jazz Festival
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 7
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Skyline High School
The OUSD Jazz Festival will feature middle & high school jazz bands in OUSD, including the Montera Jazz Band! Come hear a night of great music by young musicians.
Afterschool Theatre - Spots Still Available!
All Levels Welcome! Theatre games, improvisation, scene study, and more! No experience necessary, just an open mind and a willingness to have fun! Register Now! Class Max: 20 students
Class: After School Theatre Club
Teachers: Teaching Artists Carla Gallardo & Adam Kuveniemann
Dates: Mondays January 22nd through April 29th
Time: 3:30 (meet in the MUR) - 5:15
Location: Meet in the MUR then proceed to classroom (TBD)
Payment: $265 for the semester
Montera Sports
SPORTS UPDATE:
- Varsity Boys Basketball beat Aurum Prep 61-28.
- Varsity Girls Soccer defeats EBIA 5-0.
- Check out photos from the games below!
NEEDED: Parent Coach for Practice Squads: We are still looking for a parent coach for the practice squads. Practice Squads (Girls and Boys Soccer) is on Friday’s 3:45-5:00pm. Please contact sports@monterapto.com.
Montera Spring Sports: Tryouts are held in March. Watch for updates on the website sports page and here in the eBulletin for Boys Baseball, Girls Softball, Coed Track & Field, Boys Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, Wrestling.
DONATE: Step up to the plate and help make Montera Sports a whopping success! DONATE NOW!
QUESTIONS: Any questions reach out by email to sports@monterapto.com.
Montera Annual Fund
Here are a few of the many programs that the Montera PTO supports.
- $500 per teacher to spend on classroom materials.
- Funding to purchase clay and maintain the kiln for the ceramics program.
- Stipends for teacher-led lunchtime activities, such as Climate Justice and Cooking Clubs.
Invest in Your Children — Invest in Montera
We are asking families to give what they can. Suggested donation is $450 per student. Donations range from $10-$2,000.
- Make a one-time or monthly donation online via PayPal
- To donate offline, download this form and submit to Montera by mail or drop it off in the school office.
Fundraiser RoundUp
EVENTS:
ITEMS TO PURCHASE:
- Candygram Sale - (at lunch): Benefits 8th Grade Activities Fund
MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS:
- ANNUAL GIVING FUND: Supports Montera PTO Annual Budget (suggested $450 per student)
- Donors Choose: Directly supports projects listed by our teachers
- 8th Grade Activities Fund: Supports 8th grade activities (Friendsgiving, Great Adventure, Picnic, Promotion Ceremony) Recommended $100 per 8th Grade Student
- Montera Relief Fund: Supports Montera Families in Need
- Sports Donations: Supports Montera Sports Program
- Music Donations: Supports Montera Music Program
8th Grade Activities and Information
- DONATION: Recommended 8th Grade Activity Donation $100 per 8th grade student: Contribute Here
- CANDYGRAMS: Buy Candygrams at lunch in the MUR Courtyard through February 9.
- QUESTIONS: Activities Questions? Contact Teena Bowie
______________________________________________________________
8th Grade DC Trip:
- DC Trip Questions: Montera8thgradetrip@gmail.com
7th Grade Activities and Information
2025 DC Trip - Meeting RECORDING and SLIDES
SIGN UP For those who could not attend, here is a recording of the meeting as well as the Presentation Slides.
6th Grade Activities and Information
6th Grade - June 2025 Italy Grand Tour
This year's 6th graders: there is still time to sign up for our June 2025 Italy Grand Tour. You can find out more at this link.
Those who have signed up for the trip, stay tuned! We will be having our first group get-together to get to know each other and discuss our trip soon!
These and many more opportunities are available to our Montera community, OUSD, and beyond. Items appear in the eBulletin for 2 weeks. Please click here for the full list of current programs.
High School Math Acceleration Options
Have questions or want to learn more about Math Acceleration Options in OUSD? Check out this FAQ with links to a webinar for more information!
Stanford Parenting Center Parenting Classes
We are the Stanford Parenting Center, an academic center seeking to empower parents with evidence-based strategies to help them foster healthy parent-child relationships and support their children’s mental health and well-being. The SPC works with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development at the Stanford University School of Medicine to connect parents with a team of world-class experts.
We offer webinars, parenting classes, free online video resources, and individual treatment options for a wide variety of parenting topics. We encourage you to visit our website for more information, and to check out our Instagram for bite-sized parenting research and event updates.
This winter, we are currently offering four online parenting classes:
Supportive Parenting for Little Ones with Big Feelings
Managing Challenging Behaviors
Mindful Parenting
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
The Stanford Parenting Center
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Stanford University School of Medicine
Website: https://med.stanford.edu/childpsychiatry/clinical/parenting.html
Email: parentingcenter@stanford.edu
Help is Available for OUSD Community: Care Solace
OUSD has partnered with Care Solace to support our community’s mental health. If you or a family member are looking for help with your mental health or substance use, you can use Care Solace to anonymously find community therapists or treatment programs matched to your needs regardless of circumstances. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential service provided to OUSD students, staff, and their families.
If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
Call 888-515-0595 available 24/7/365 in any language.
Visit www.caresolace.com/oakland and either search on your own , OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
How to Stay Informed
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Montera Middle School
eBulletin is produced on a weekly basis by the Montera Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) except on holidays. It sometimes contains ads from our sponsors and/or services from the community. These advertisements do not imply endorsement of any product or service by OUSD or Montera Middle School.
If you have news you'd like to include, please send it to communications@monterapto.com by 5pm on Friday. Submissions may be edited for spelling, grammar, brevity and clarity. In addition, while we strive for accuracy, being human sometimes gets in the way. If you spot something so off the mark we should hang our heads in embarrassment, please bring it to our attention. Thanks!
We Are Montera. We Are One.
Email: communications@monterapto.com
Website: https://www.ousd.org/montera
Location: 5555 Ascot Drive, Oakland, CA, USA
Phone: (510) 531-6070
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monterapto
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monteratoros/