Excerpts from The Hall Weekly Bulletin - April 16, 2007 : Volume 12:30
Calendar		Principal's Message
This Week Tuesday, April 17 • 1:15pm | PTA General Meeting Thursday April 19 • 8:30am | Auction Prep Meeting | Jody Coker’s House • 9am | Woodshop Student’s Outing • 3:30-5pm | School Site Council • 7-8:30pm | The Price of Privilege | Kreps Conference Center Friday, April 20 •6th Grade Field Trip to King Mountain Sunday, April 22 •7:30am | Bridging Communities | Crissy Field, San Francisco Upcoming Monday, April 23 • 8:30am | Auction Prep Meeting | Lisa Poole’s House Tuesday, April 24 • 10am | Graduation Planning Meeting Wednesday, April 25 •6pm | School Board Meeting | Hall Lib. Friday, April 27 •8:30-10am | Parent Ed. | Hall Library •7pm | Jungle Fantasy Play | Hall Gym Saturday, April 28 •7pm | Jungle Fantasy Play | Hall Gym April 30 – May 11 • STAR Testing Period Wednesday, May 23 •7:15pm | Third Annual SF Giants Night		Proposed Bell Schedule : 2007 – 2008 In order to maximize collaborative meeting time and foster greater articulation with Neil Cummins, we are considering modifying our bell schedule next year to allow for an early release on Wednesdays. Increasingly, the Hall staff has felt that the morning meetings limit the effectiveness of the meetings and artificially cut them short.  Grade level teams that are collaborating on unit plans or discussing interventions for students have had to stop their progress when the first period bell rang.  Also, having our meetings in the mornings while Neil Cummins meets in the afternoons has made district-wide collaboration more difficult.  This gap was especially problematic last year when we wanted the fifth grade teachers at Neil Cummins to attend Hall planning meetings.  The result was that thoseteachers had to miss teaching to attend our meetings. The staff discussed a variety of options and wanted our new bell schedule to enhance district, department and grade level meeting time, maintain instructional minutes, not negatively impact instructional programs, and consider traffic issues related to starting and ending times.  As a result of those discussions we have reached consensus on the following plan for next year: School will start at 8:25 every day. This is five minutes earlier than this year. There will no longer be a late start on Wednesdays.  On Wednesdays the day will end at 1:50pm.  Every other day will end at 3:05, which is five minutes later than this year.  Recess on Wednesdays will be reduced to 10 minutes.  We will work with Larkspur Park and Recreation to organize activities for early release Wednesdays.  This spring the physical education department and music program will plan for how their programs may change, as well. Please share your feedback on this plan. It will be discussed at the next PTA meeting on April 17 at 1:15pm.  It will also be discussed at the monthly Site Council meeting on April 19 at 3:30pm in room 404.  We invite your input and participation.  It is our hope that with this schedule we will be better able to serve and support our students. Track and Field We are happy to announce that Hall will continue participation in the Marin County Middle School Track and Field league.  Students interested in joining the track team should consider participating in the following events: 100m dash, 200m dash, 600m run, 1200m run, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump, 400m relay, mile relay and the co-ed mile relay.  Students should fill out the sign-up sheet located in the main office. Hall's very own Florencia Gascon (Spanish teacher and competitive ultra marathoner) will co-coach our runners along with Hall parent, Tony Nogureas (ex-Kentucky Wildcat collegiate runner).  Tony will co-coach runners and oversee field event participation.  We are excited about this opportunity for our students. - Daniel Norbutas & Andy Boone - Hall Principal & Assistant Principal