PRINCIPAL GRAVEN’S UPDATES (MAY 12, 2011)
Greetings to our Hoover Ohana. Well, the end is in sight, we are in the final two weeks of the school year. It has been a true pleasure getting to know all of our 6th grade families and of course now we go through the bittersweet parting that is our 8th grade promotion.

Construction Update: I have been informed that the current phase of construction is on track, and that the crews are just waiting for us to leave on May 26th before removing our bungalows, (The X wing) and moving on to rebuild the main office, the counseling office and the classrooms on the first and second floors of the B wing. Once the bungalows are removed the crews can also move to construct the beautiful new Hoover Canopy that will shelter the walkway from the office to the auditorium. They will then also be grading and paving the playground as well as the plaza area in front of the B-Wing and Cafeteria.

Professional Development: Over the last two Wednesdays our Mathematics and Language Arts departments have each taken a day long retreat to plan for next year. The retreats were well received as they were run by teachers for teachers, and focused on practical aspects of how we can make sure that all students are getting a great education at Hoover. Teachers and administrators left the meetings with concrete steps forward in terms of getting ready for the fall. I can’t wait to see all the plans falling into place next school year.

PTA Update: We had our final PTA meeting of the year. In addition to funding our Hoover Clubs for next year and $100 supply budgets for teachers, the PTA approved $15000 in technology spending which will go to the Mac Multimedia Lab, (8K), classroom clicker systems, (4K) and tech supplies (3K.) About 25% of our families participated in the Hoover Annual fund drive and related activities. This is a great target for us to beat next year. Many thanks to our dynamic outgoing PTA president Leslie Kirk Campbell, and all the members of the PTA board who have laid a very strong foundation for family activism at Hoover in the years to come. We still need a PTA president and several other officers for next year, so if you would like to step forward please let me know.

Best wishes to all of our 8th grade families as they take the next steps on to high school. To our Hawks returning to us next year, please know that we are working hard to get our beautiful new school ready for you. Next year is going to be a great year at Hoover. Have a great summer and make sure you read a few good books to keep your mind active so that you will be ready to learn when you return.
Respectfully, Thomas Graven

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
This has been an incredible year at Hoover! The PTA raised almost $20,000 in our annual fund from generous families like yours. THANK YOU!! In addition, we raised a few thousand from selling Hoover sweatshirts, Rainbow scrip, and other activities. As a result, we were able to give stipends to 25 teachers who sponsored student lunch clubs, give $100 gift cards to each of our 70 teachers, and purchase a large & awesome digital billboard to communicate upcoming events and our school's achievements to our Hoover Ohana and to the wider West Portal community. 20% of our families donated, up from last year. Next year, make it 100%!! Perhaps most importantly, at least 36 parents (and one grandmother) volunteered dozens of hours so that the Meet & Greet, the Spring Fair, the Science Fair, and many others programs at Hoover could be a success. PTA volunteers worked tirelessly to make sure you were informed (website, Hoover Happenings, schoolloop). In addition, a couple dozen more parents helped out here and there whenever they could. Next year, I encourage the Ohana to double these numbers!! The school needs more parents to come and roll up their sleeves. URGENT: 6th and 7th grade parents: PLAN NOW TO GIVE A FEW OF YOUR HOURS AND PLENTY OF YOUR GREAT ENERGY TO THE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR!! We need you.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as the PTA President for this amazing school. You are so fortunate to have so many wonderful , devoted teachers, a terrific administration, a newly renovated building, top notch music and immersion programs, dozens of student clubs, a phenomenal counseling office, and so many well-equipped computer labs so that all children can improve and succeed academically. Please join the PTA next year and keep the momentum going. I will miss you.
Leslie Kirk Campbell, 8th grade parent

PTA SEEKING MORE LEADERS
A few parents have already volunteered to take some of our 36 possible positions. But we need more. The PTA still needs a: PRESIDENT, TREASURER. VP OF PROGRAMS, VP OF COMMUNICATIONS & HOOVER HAPPENINGS EDITOR. These jobs require about two hours/week plus coming to monthly evening PTA meeting. As long as there is good communication, it doesn't take as long as you think. Plus veterans will help and support you!! Please contact our current president: Leslie, leslie@ ripefruitwriting.com, or our current and next year's secretary, Tim, sflennon@gmail.com Mahalo nui loi (many thanks) in advance.

PROMOTION CEREMONY
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony is May 26th 9am-11am at Lincoln High School. Students will be taking finals during our ceremony. Please be mindful of this as you enter the building and while in the hallways.

GET YOUR BOOSTER SHOTS
ALL students entering 7th through 12th grades for 2011-2012 must show proof of a whooping cough (pertussis) booster shot, called Tdap, before entering school next year.

HOOVER TALENT SHOW TONIGHT, MAY 18
Don’t miss this show! Day performances during 6th and 7th periods. Evening performance 6:30pm-8pm in the auditorium.

HOOVER SYMPHONIC BAND PLAYS FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
The Hoover Symphonic Band will play the Star Spangled Banner on May 24th for the World Series Champions Giants just before the 7:05pm game. Thank you for support throughout the year.

CHANGE WILL DO YOU GOOD
At this time of year, there is no avoiding the sense of change that permeates the school. All of the classes will be moving up and saying farewell to their teachers, and some of the fellow students that they will not be seeing until next year, if at all. Most especially, the graduating eighth graders are finishing their last year at Hoover, where they have spent the last three years becoming familiar with the halls, rooms, and rythym of the school. They will be embarking on their last summer before high school, where they will continue to evolve into who they will be, and where they have to figure out a direction to take and what it will take to get there.

Due to the geography, resources, and opportunities of San Francisco, the high school selection process will also be splitting up many previously tight groups of friends, some who have been together since Kindergarden or earlier, sending them in different directions depending on the results spelled out in the fateful placement letter each received. Some will easily find their new niche in school society, and some will find that more of a challenge, but it is guaranteed that all will have the chance for a new beginning that will be their first step into the unknown. As they will find out, there is nothing there in the dark that wasn’t there in the light, and when change is happening, it is up to them to take advantage of it and use it for their own purpose.
To those who are moving on, have a wonderful new journey; to those who are continuing to grow at the school, have a great summer and we will be glad to have you back next year; and to those who are yet to arrive, we bid you welcome to the home of Ohana, Herbert Hoover Middle School.

Congratulations Class of 2011!!

May 18, 2011

SCHOOL CONTACTS
The only way to leave a message for an administrator or a counselor is to call the Main Office from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 759-2783 and if we are
not available a message will be taken.

MAIN OFFICE

• Mr. Thomas Graven, Principal
  gravent@sfusd.edu
• Ms. Eberhard, Asst. Principal
  eberhardn@sfusd.edu

COUNSELING OFFICE

• Ms. Andres-Newman, Asst.
  Principal: andresnewmang@
  sfusd.edu
• Ms. Joanna Wardell, Grade 6:
  wardellj@sfusd.edu
• Ms. Castillo, Grade 7: Schuran -
  CastilloR@sfusd.edu
• Ms. Kim Warman, Grade 8:
  warmank@sfusd.edu
• Mr. Pete Babnis, Head Counselor:
  babnisp@sfusd.edu

WELLNESS PROGRAM STAFF

• Leslie Jenkins Wax, Learning
  Support Professional
  759-2783 M-F
• Nick Przybyla, Learning Support
  Professional , 759-2783, M-F
• Valerie Satow, School Nurse
  759-2783, PT
• Linda Renteria, Parent
  Liaison/Family and Community
  Health Outreach Worker
  759-2783, PT

PTA CONTACTS

• Leslie Kirk Campbell, President
  leslie@ripefruitwriting.com
• Louise Whitlock, Finance
  lwhitlock@firstrepublic.com
• Tim Lennon, Secretary:
  sflennon@gmail.com
• Rachel Rodriguez, VP Programs:
  lillypadsf@yahoo.com
• Joann Rawson, Membership:
  joann-r@comcast.net
• Rose Lacy, Legislative Chair:
  webrose@rosedesign.com:

HOOVER HAPPENINGS:
Phyllis Moir: PDMOIR@aol.com