Montera Middle School eBulletin
March 24, 2024
Important Dates
This Week's Block Schedule: AB - A - A__
*Wed & Thurs Minimum Days -- No School Friday
**No eBulletin on March 31 - Next eBulletin April 7**
Monday March 25, 3:45-5:30pm: Track and Field Tryouts
Thursday March 28:
- Minimum Day
- 8th Grade Trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo
Friday March 29: Cesar Chavez Day (No School)
Monday April 1 - Friday April 5: Spring Break (No School)
Tuesday April 9, 6:00 - 7:00pm: SSC (School Site Council) Meeting
Thursday April 11, 6:00pm - 7:00pm: PTO Board Meeting (Board Only)
Friday April 12: End of Marking Period 5
Saturday April 13, 4:00 - 8:00pm: Hella 90s Party - Montera Benefit
Monday April 15:
- Final Deadline to order Yearbooks
- SBAC Testing Begins
Friday April 19, 5:30pm : Winter Sports Banquet, Montera MUR
Saturday April 20:
- Ride for a Reason
- Music in the Parks
Action Items
PTO UPDATE
POSITIONS STILL OPEN for 2024-25 PTO Board
On March 14 we voted for our 2024-25 PTO Board. We STILL have a number of board positions and Lead Roles open for next year. Please consider volunteering! Without a strong PTO Board and membership, we can't do the important work our Montera students, teachers and families need from us.
You can review next year's open roles and indicate interest in this form. We will get in touch with you to go through the job description and time commitment. Many of these roles can be shared.
Staff Appreciation Week in May: Volunteers Needed!
Every May, we celebrate our Montera teachers and staff with a week of appreciation activities and gifts. We need volunteers to plan and make it happen! If you can help, reach out to Candace Johnson at cjsings@berkeley.edu or text her at 510-529-6692.
Hella 90s Party!
Tickets Are On Sale & Online Auction is Live!
- Silent Auction is LIVE! It's Montera's biggest fundraiser of the year and features everything from groceries to getaways, classes to camps...toys, gifts and so much more! Get your bids in now and grab some great deals! bidding ends April 14th at 9pm Pacific. Please share the auction link with friends and family - anyone can purchase items and support Montera!
- Event Tickets on sale now! Choose your own Cover available until April 11 - Get your tickets now! Our Hella 90s Party is going to be jumpin'! Throwback jams by DJ Hector, taco bar, cocktails at the cash bar, live auction and good vibes.
- Host a Party! Help build Montera's parent community by HOSTING A PARTY!!! Hosted parties are a great way to meet people and build community! These parties are SO FUN - all funds raised benefit our Toros!
What is a hosted party/event?
A “party” can be as simple backyard sunset wine and hors d'oeuvres or inviting people to take a hike in the hills with a picnic lunch. Throw a dinner party showcasing a family recipe or favorite food, host a poker or game night, cook up a party plan with a cooking or cocktail making class, ladies margarita night, karaoke party, beer and billiards (have a pool table?!)
Tell us what kind of party or event you’d like to host and we will take care of advertising, selling spots, and sharing the guest list with you so you can take it from there. As a host you can schedule your party for any time throughout the remainder of the school year, summer, or early next fall. You don’t have to be present at the benefit on April 13th to host a party!
What should I do?
Have a small house? Host a small party! Have an idea but want a co-host? We can try to find a match! Interested in hosting a party, or have a great idea but not sure how to start? Please fill out this form: Party Donation Form. Questions? Contact Jen Schneider (parent of graduating 8th grader and incoming 5th graders). The deadline to submit a party is April 6, but the sooner the better.
Upcoming Events
Ride 4 a Reason Sign-Up and Events
WHAT: Bike ride to Sacramento (45, 68, 109 mile routes)
WHEN: Saturday April 20
WHY: Fun and Important fundraiser for Oakland Schools
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rideforareasonpublicschools/
Upcoming Ride 4 a Reason Events:
- April 18th: Bib Pick Up at Sports Basement
- April 20th: Ride for a Reason 2024
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Montera sponsors a rest stop. We need 6 volunteers. Please Contact: president@monterapto.com
School Information
Yearbook Announcements
Share your photos! Have photos from school events? 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
Montera Sports
WINTER SPORTS UPDATE
Girls Soccer: Woot! Toros beat rival Edna Brewer 4-1. The Montera girls varsity soccer team wins the Oakland Athletic League Middle School Championship! See photos of our amazing Toros below!
Winter Sports Banquet: April 19, 5:30pm Montera MUR
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SPRING SPORTS UPDATE
Track & Field Tryouts:
LOCATION: On the field
DATES*: Monday 3/25, 3:45-5:30pm
BRING: Students should bring comfortable athletic clothing and shoes (appropriate for running), water, and a good attitude. Students are encouraged to come to each session if they are able.
If you have questions or you're a parent interested in helping coach, please reach out to Mr. Cooper at samuel.cooper@ousd.org.
Stay tuned for Boys Volleyball, Wrestling, Ultimate Frisbee
How to find game schedules: Sync the Band team calendar with your iCal/Google calendar
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Any questions or requests please contact sports@monterapto.com.
Montera Annual Fund
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.
8th Grade Activities and Information
- 8TH GRADE SIX FLAGS TRIP: Thursday, March 28th @Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo
- 8TH GRADE DINNER DANCE Saturday May 11, 5pm - 8:30pm
- 8TH GRADE PICNIC May 17
- 8TH GRADE PROMOTION - Wednesday, May 22, 3pm @Skyline High School, Rawley Theater (Students need to arrive at 2pm)
- DONATION: Recommended 8th Grade Activity Donation $100 per 8th grade student: Contribute Here
- QUESTIONS: Activities Questions? Contact Teena Bowie
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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.
Toro Pics
Have some great Toro photos to share? Send them to eBulletin@monterapto.com Check past featured photos of our Toros here!
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.
Girls in Engineering - Free Tech Day
Tech Day is a day-long conference for middle school female and non-binary identifying students to gain more exposure to computer science and technology. Students are encouraged to submit a technology-related project and will have the opportunity to showcase it at Tech Day. The event will include hands-on workshops in both hardware and software, engaging STEM and career panels, as well as ample opportunities for students to bond with each other and get to know current UC Berkeley STEM students.
This year, Tech Day is hosted on Sunday, April 14th from 9am to 2:30pm on UC Berkeley campus. The application link is http://tinyurl.com/Sp24TechDayApplication. To receive more bi-weekly newsletters containing reminders and more information about Tech Day, subscribe to our newsletter here: http://tinyurl.com/Sp24TechDayNewsletter.
Spring Parenting Classes
The Stanford Parenting Center is offering webinars, parenting classes, free online video resources, and individual treatment options for a wide variety of parenting topics. Visit their website for more information, and to check out their Instagram for bite-sized parenting research and event updates.
Spring Online Parenting Classes:
Supportive Parenting for Little Ones with Big Feelings
Managing Challenging Behaviors
Mindful Parenting
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
Summer Math Options for Rising 9th Graders
Intensive Algebra 1 (sign up here)
For rising 9th graders who are interested in placing into Geometry in Fall 2024. Students will also need to pass our Algebra 1 Certification Exam (sign up here)
Monday, June 3 through Friday, July 5, 2024 (Holidays on June 19 & July 4)
9:00am-3:00pm | Location TBD
Algebra Boost (sign up here)
Math enrichment class for rising 9th graders who are interested in extra math support to ensure success in 9th grade Algebra 1
Monday, June 3 through Friday, July 5, 2024 (Holidays on June 19 & July 4)
9:00am-12:00pm | Location TBD
FREE EVENT: All Girls Hackathon for Middle School & High School Girls
Dear Parents and Students,
We're thrilled to invite you to our upcoming event - the All Girls Hackathon IN PERSON in Milpitas, CA - where creativity meets technology, and coding becomes an empowering skill!
Why Join? Code your own mobile app and website in one day and…
- Team Up: Sign up with friends, compete as a team, and make coding a shared experience.
- Guidance: Receive mentorship from industry professionals - no coding experience needed!
- Inspiring Talks: Hear from tech experts and get inspired by their journeys.
- Cash Prizes: Win exciting cash prizes for the most innovative projects!
Ready for a day of coding fun? SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/WDAllGirlsHack
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity. Join the All Girls Hackathon - where creativity meets code!
Thank You,
-Shooting Stars Foundation
FREE Summer Programs for Middle School and High School Students
Check out a variety of free summer programs here: Summer Programs for MS & HS Students
Support Mr. Cooper and BORP in the 2024 Cocodona 250
"I take great joy in being able to share and encourage that experience of self discovery in others, and I’m a firm believer that everyone deserves the opportunity to access these transformative pursuits and opportunities! In partnership with the Wander Project, I am raising money for BORP, a Bay Area organization which provides adaptive opportunities for sports and recreation for disabled youth and veterans.
Donating to BORP helps provide adaptive sports and recreation opportunities for those who may otherwise not have those same opportunities for self-discovery. Please consider donating because every little bit helps!"
Mr. Cooper is half way to his goal! DONATE HERE by April 19.
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Thank you to our 2024 Sponsors!
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/