Current Newsletter
February 1, 2012
Beechwood Weekly
Spotlight on the 5th Grade
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pdf 286kb
Past Newsletters
January 25, 2012
Beechwood Weekly
Mrs. Connolly's Award Acceptance Speech
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January 18, 2012
Beechwood Weekly
High School Information Session
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Principal’s Messages
Beechwood News & Events
Events
Gunderson-Dettmer Christmas Card Contest
Each year local law firm Gunderson-Dettmer sponsors a Christmas Card contest at Beechwood. The students create original holiday art with the best designs being selected to go on Gunderson-Dettmer's company Christmas Cards. In addition to having their art distributed world wide, the winning students receive a framed copy of their card and a gift certificate to a local bookstore. Scott Dettmer came to Beechwood to personally deliver the awards. We appreciate Mr. Dettmer and everyone Gunderson-Dettmer who has supported our school for these many years.
Tatty Bogle - It's Saturday!
Beechwood has an outstanding drama program lead by our Drama and Music teacher, Mrs. Emilee Getter. Recently, two productions were put on. First we had the 4th and 5th graders who performed "Tattybogle" and then later the 2nd and 3rd graders entertained us with "It's Saturday". The sense of pride that the students take in these performances is impressive. It takes a lot of time and effort but it is all worth it when you see what can be accomplished. We are proud of all of our students for being brave enough to get up on stage to sing, dance and act.
A Thanksgiving Feast
Visitors to Beechwood often comment that our school feels like a big family. Never is that more evident than during our yearly Thanksgiving celebration. 12 families are formed with at least one child from each grade level. The 8th graders serve as "grandparents", collecting the children, gathering them at the table and leading the group in an art project. It is heartwarming to watch the way the Middle School students care for the younger ones. Beechwood parents donate, prepare and serve a traditional Thanksgiving feast to all the students to end the day. This is a great tradition that embodies the true spirit of Beechwood.
Smoothie Day
Our Librarian, Eric Getter, has been encouraging all families to get library cards for the Menlo Park Public Library. After getting over 100 families to obtain them, the next step was to get them into the Library and start checking out books. Friday we celebrated all those who went to the Library and used their cards by making healthy smoothies for them. A delicious, nutritious reward!
See archive of previous Beechwood events >
Academic Calendar: 2010 >
News
January 2012
Kathy Connolly wins 2012 Dorothy Boyajin Honored Teacher Award
Kathy Connolly, Beechwood's Graduate Coordinator, has been chosen by the County of San Mateo as the recipient of the 2012 Dorothy Boyajin Honored Teacher Award. She received her award on January 16th, which was the Martin Luther King Holiday. Mrs. Connolly was selected because the nearly 20 years of work that she has done families of East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park, truly embodies the values exemplified by Dr. King. He believed that racial equality could only be achieved if children from all races had equal access to quality education. As a 6th grade teacher and now in her current position, Mrs. Connolly has been dedicated to this worthy cause. She has played a major part in countless positive outcomes for the students of Beechwood School.
The ceremony took place at the San Mateo Caltrain Station as part of the San Mateo County Martin Luther King Day celebration. Read Mrs. Connolly's speech >
June 22nd 2011
Beechwood Wrestling Featured in Menlo Almanac
Beechwood wrestlers continue to get noticed, along with their coach Nathan Pantoja. See the article in the Menlo Almanac >
February 15th 2011
Ms. Getter Honored as Arts Educator of the Year
Congratulations to Beechwood School Music and Drama teacher, Emilee Getter, selected by San Mateo County Board of Supervisors as "San Mateo County Arts Educator of the Year for Stage and Theater." She is being recognized for her outstanding work on our musical productions and class plays. Great work, Mrs. Getter! See article in the Menlo Almanac
September 28th 2010
Beechwood Students Meet Governor Schwarzenegger
Beechwood students heard Governor Schwarzenegger interviewed by Greg Dalton of Climate One at the Commonwealth Club. The Governor's friendly greeting was captured by a San Francisco Chronicle photographer. See image and article »
October 9th 2009
Nobel Prize Winner's Visit to Beechwood Featured in Palo Alto Weekly
Mario Cappecchi, a Nobel Prize-winning geneticist from the University of Utah, paid a visit to Beechwood and spoke with fifth- through eighth-graders. A story about the visit was published in the Palo Alto Weekly. Read more »
September 16th 2009
Beechwood art at Menlo Park Children's Library
Beechwood's entire Third Grade Class has their artwork on display at the Menlo Park Children's Library for the next two weeks. Please stop by to see it if you have a chance. The Library is located at 800 Alma in Menlo Park. Tim Goode of the Friends of the Menlo Park Library is the director of the Library's Annual Book Fair Youth Art Contest is very impressed with our students and with their teacher, as you will read in the letter which he delivered to the Prinicipal.
View letter pdf 928kb
February 20th 2008
Beechwood article in the Almanac
The unassuming entrance to Beechwood School is accessible only by turning right at the end of the Onetta Harris Community Center’s driveway. Outside of Menlo Park’s Belle Haven neighborhood, this small private school of fewer than 170 students isn’t well-known. Despite the lack of attention, it’s been quietly — and successfully — educating children from the community, and neighboring East Palo Alto, for 20 years.
Read more | Download pdf 580kb