"Telepathic" Clinches Top Spot in John Muir Spelling Bee

Fifth-grader Cate McCormick won the school's annual spelling bee Friday by correctly spelling the word "telepathic." Last year's spelling bee winner, Olivia Plevin-Mackay, scored second place this time around, and fourth-grader Samuel Asmamaw came in third. In all, 16 John Muir fourth- and fifth-graders took part in the annual event, which was led by longtime spelling bee organizer, Mr. Stephen Rutherford.

Volunteers Needed for 100th Day of School Celebration

Just over the horizon, but coming up fast: John Muir’s annual 100th Day of School Celebration will be on Tuesday, February 14. This is a grand John Muir tradition in which kids celebrate the number 100 and practice their math skills doing all sorts of fun activities including counting goldfish crackers, making “100th Day Stew” (snack mix!), dribbling a basketball 100 times, coloring in as many shapes as possible in 100 seconds, and much more. We need volunteers to shop in advance at Costco (with PTA reimbursement, of course) for supplies and to prepare materials, as well as to help out during each grade’s timeslot (between 9 am and 2 pm) on the big day, as well as to set up the previous evening and clean up afterwards. Please contact Donna Suzuki to volunteer: 232-7355 or donnasuzuki@berkeley.net.

3rd Grade Staff Luncheon Thanks

Special recognition to all those 3rd Grade Families who contributed food items for last week’s outstanding staff appreciation lunch, including Michelle Cooper, Michelle Nguyen, Ana Maria Perez-Diaz, Heidi Barker, Katie Snyder, Janice Schelesny, Greg and Sarah, Cian and Kate Phillips, Sylvia Del Toro, Charlie Schmidt, Mary Kuehn, Laura Wildmann, and to the families of Yoseline Galicia, Bayle Boyd, and Abraham Humran. Extra thanks to Mary Kuehn for helping to serve and clean up, and to Michelle Cooper for cleaning up too. 2nd Grade Families, you’re on deck for the Wednesday, February 22nd Luncheon!

Announcing the First-Ever John Muir Karaoke Evening

Come be fabulous at our first-ever Karaoke Evening of Fun and Frivolity, Sunday January 29, 5:30-8:30 pm, at the Mel-O-Dee Lounge, located at 240 El Cerrito Plaza next to Trader Joe’s. You can sing if you want, or just cheer on your friends and fellow John Muir parents and staff while you step back in time and enjoy the retro vibe. Sip beverages at happy-hour prices, knowing that for every drink purchased, $1 will be donated to the
John Muir School PTA! So, come on out, and sing and drink with us. Do it for the children! Janice Schelesny (Hudson’s mom) will be selling tickets at afterschool pick up for the next two weeks, or email her at bootsaws@hotmail.com if you want to make other ticket purchase arrangements.

February 3 Enrollment Deadline for BUSD Middle Schools

Parents of all 5th graders should be aware that Friday, Feb 3 is the first enrollment deadline for BUSD students entering middle school next year. (It’s also the BUSD elementary school enrollment deadline, but hey, that’s not your worry!) For more information and enrollment forms you can download, go to the main BUSD website and click on enrolling-new-middleschool-students in the menu on the left of your screen.