Montera Middle School eBulletin

This week's school schedule: AB -a- AB

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, April 14: Coffee with Doc (9:30-10:15am Room 303)

Wednesday, April 15: iReady Spring Reading Assessment

Wednesday, April 15: Round Table Fundraiser on Mountain Blvd (11am - 10pm)

Thursday, April 16: PTO Meeting (6:30-7:30 Zoom)

Tuesday, April 21: Last day to order a yearbook with free shipping!

Wednesday, April 22: Spring Wellness Day (Sign up to help!)

Wednesday, April 22: Spring Band Concert (6:00-7:00pm MUR)

Thursday, April 23: Spring Choir & Orchestra Concert (6:00-7:00pm MUR)

Friday, April 24: Pub Crawl benefitting Woodshop (7:00-10:30pm, More info here)

Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 8: Teacher Appreciation Week (Contribute Here)

Friday, May 15: Montera Talent Show

2025-26 BELL SCHEDULE | TORO TIPS | SUBSCRIBE TO CALENDAR | THE MATADOR |

OUSD ACADEMIC CALENDARS (2025-2028) | SHOP TORO GEAR | MONTERA HISTORY

Join us for April's Coffee with Dr. Williams on Tuesday, April 14, 9:30-10:15am in Room 303.

Connect with other parents and staff and hear from Dr. Williams. Your questions, comments, and feedback matter. All parents and caregivers welcome!

This Wednesday!

On Wednesday, April 15th, 11am-10pm Round Table Pizza on Mountain Blvd will donate 20% of every sale to Montera if you mention this fundraiser!

Excludes online orders and delivery apps.

Spring iReady testing will take place on Weds 4/15. Please make sure that students are present on 4/15 for their reading assessment (as much as possible).

Students will be provided with a personalized iReady reflection form (see example here). The iReady forms must be signed by a parent/guardian! Please ask your student for their form on Wednesday 4/15 and sign it to acknowledge receipt.

The iReady reflection form will include their previous reading scores and give them space to fill out their updated reading score as soon as they complete the test. You can use this placement table to see if your student is reading at grade level. If your student is struggling, please consider enrolling them in REACH for free of cost literacy tutoring.

A few reminders for a successful iReady test:

• Students should get a good night of sleep beforehand

• If possible, students should eat breakfast before coming to school. Though, grab and go breakfast will also be served. *Note: Students must arrive on campus by 9am for Grab and Go Breakfast.

• Bring refillable water bottle to minimize time outside of class

Testing will occur in advisory classes. Please see the testing schedule below.

If you have any questions about your student's iReady scores, please contact Montera's literacy coach at shaina.patel@ousd.org

Join us for our next PTO meeting this Thursday, April 16 at 6:30pm via Zoom, everyone is welcome! We’ll focus on end-of-year events and planning for next school year.

Montera is special because of our community, and a strong PTO keeps the magic going. With many of our 8th grade families heading off to high school adventures, we’ve got some open roles for the 2026-27 school year…and yes, we’re looking at YOU!

We promise it’s actually fun, and there are plenty of roles that are a light lift. Want something computer-based or BTS? We’ve got that. Prefer to plan one event and call it a day? Yep, that too. More of a team player? Join a committee and jump in where needed.

Take a peek at the open spots and sign up or *lovingly* nominate a friend HERE! If you see a position that’s already filled but you’re still interested, go ahead and sign up! Many roles can be co-chaired or shadowed.

Questions? Email president@monterapto.com, reaching out doesn’t commit you to anything!

Calling all performers! Come audition for the Montera Talent Show which takes place on Friday, May 15.

Auditions will be held during 6th grade lunch from 4/13-4/30. Sign ups in the Breezeway and P7.

If you have any questions, please see Mr D.

Wellness Day is on Wednesday, April 22nd! Students have been asked to complete a Google form to rank their activity choices in Advisory. If they have not, please do so by the end of day, Monday, April 13th. The linked form is in their OUSD emails sent by montera@ousd.org.

In addition, there will be a specialized schedule. There will be ONE lunch. For those who are able, we encourage you to bring your own lunch that day to reduce the lunch lines.

9:15-9:35 - Students report to Advisory for their schedules and to go over expectations for the day. (20 minutes)
9:35-9:45 - Grab n Go (10 minutes)
9:49-10:35 - Activity 1 (46 minutes)
10:39-11:25 - Activity 2 (46 minutes)
11:29-12:09 - ONE LUNCH (40 minutes)
12:13-12:59 - Activity 3 (46 minutes)
1:03-1:49 - Activity 4 (46 minutes)

We are also looking for additional adult volunteers to help out during lunch time. If you are available between 11:15 am - 12:15 pm, please email Ms. Saephan (erica.saephan@ousd.org) to sign up! Thank you!

Join us for the Annual Rockridge Pub Crawl on Friday, April 24 benefiting the Montera Woodshop! Kick things off at our first stop, where you’ll get your Pub Crawl Passport and choose how you want to contribute along the way. It’s a fun night out for a great cause, all in support of Mr. Runge and this incredible Montera program. PLEASE RSVP HERE. Cheers!

CRAWL STOPS:

• 7:00–8:00 → McNally's Irish Pub / 5352 College Ave

• 8:00–9:00 → George & Walt’s / 5445 College Ave

• 9:00-10:30 → RIC / 5515 College Ave

Teacher Appreciation Week runs Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8, and we’d love your help celebrating our incredible Montera teachers and staff. Our goal is $5,000 to provide gift cards for every teacher and staff member, along with breakfast and lunch celebrations throughout the week.

These small gestures go a long way in recognizing the hard work, care, and energy they bring to our students every single day. If you’re able, please consider contributing to help us make this week feel truly special for them!

Calling all 8th grade families! Our Montera 8th graders have a fun lineup of events to wrap up the school year. Here’s what’s ahead:

DINNER DANCE
Saturday, May 9 | 6:00–9:00 PM | Montera MUR
Formal attire encouraged, Permission slip required
Tickets: $20 (sold at school)
Chaperones and volunteers needed

PICNIC IN THE PARK
Monday, May 11 | 9:15 AM–3:00 PM | Roberts Regional Park, Oakland

Buses depart from and return to Montera
Permission slip required
Lunch provided; donations for drinks and snacks appreciated
Volunteers needed

SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM TRIP
Friday, May 22 | 10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Buses depart from and return to Montera (Scout Rd. parking lot)
Permission slip required
Food: bring money or a sack lunch
$50 per student (this helps offset the total trip cost covered by the PTO)

Pay here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=85M9PS9W6VWLN

8th Grade Promotion Rehearsal

Tuesday, May 26 (more details to follow)

8th Grade Promotion
Wednesday, May 27 | 3:00–6:00 PM
Rawley (Farnsworth) Theater, Skyline High School
Students must arrive by 2:00 PM

Questions? Reach out to 8th grade AP Anisa Rasheed at anisa.rasheed@ousd.org or Teena Bowie at 8thgradeactivities@monterapto.com.

Spring sports in the OAL began the weekend before spring break, and Montera is already off to a strong start. Wrestling has already competed in two meets, with our wrestlers representing Montera in the best possible way. We are also hopeful that Montera will be able to host a dual meet soon.

Our girls softball and boys baseball teams have both started strong in the East Bay Middle School League with impressive wins. The girls are currently in first place, and the boys are in a three-way tie for first. They begin OAL play this weekend.

Our Ultimate Frisbee team has already had a scrimmage and will host the first-ever Ultimate Frisbee game at Montera this Thursday, 4/16, at 4:00 PM.

If your student is still interested in playing girls or boys futsal, please have them come out to practice on Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

Boys volleyball and Montera track also begin this weekend, and golf returns this week.

Golf practices will take place at Montera on 4/14, and students will travel to Montclair Golf Course on 4/23 and 4/25 to prepare for upcoming competitions.

Good luck to all of our teams as they begin their quest to bring home more championships to Montera this spring. Go Toros!

All students who have not already done so this year must be registered with the After School Program and have a current physical on file in order to participate in sports. Please complete both steps as soon as possible to ensure your student is eligible for tryouts, practices, and games.

For registration details and required forms, please visit:

https://montera.ousd.org/students/athletics-sports/registration-and-requirements

Students will not be allowed to participate without completing these requirements.

Our Montera Yearbook Club students put in countless hours to create this special keepsake, thank you for supporting their work by purchasing a yearbook.

Interested in getting involved next year?
The Yearbook Club is looking for a parent lead coordinator for the 2026–27 school year. The parent lead coordinator plays a key part in supporting the Yearbook Club, offering guidance and serving as a liaison between students, teachers, and parents throughout the yearbook creation process.

Reach out to: MonteraYearbookClub@gmail.com

YEARBOOK IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

April 21, 2026

• Deadline to order for free delivery to school (arriving mid-May)

• CLICK HERE to order from Treering. The cost is $34.85 plus tax.

After April 21, 2026

• Orders will be shipped directly to your home

• Shipping fees will apply

FIRST-TIME ORDERING?

• Create a login and add your student(s) information

• When selecting a teacher, choose: “N/A (Not Listed/Applicable)”

• School passcode: 1014897661773030

California funds schools through Average Daily Attendance (ADA). This means that every day or period a student is absent or tardy, our school loses funding. Unexcused absences cost our school thousands of dollars each school year. Every minute counts!

Reminders:

• AVOID picking up students during lunch - loud speaker announcements during lunch disrupt classes in session.

• AVOID picking up students 20-30 minutes before the dismissal bell. This allows students to finish their school day without disruption.

• Dismissal is at 1:50 pm on Wednesdays and 3:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

• Remember, school starts at 9:15! Please help your student arrive on time each day and reinforce the importance of showing up to 3rd & 7th period after lunch!

• Any absence not verified by phone or email is marked “Unverified” and is considered unexcused.

• If you know that your student is going to be absent, please call the main office at 510-879-3211 x1.

• If your family is experiencing challenges with daily attendance, we are here to support you. Contact your grade-level principal or Ms. Ida at the number above for assistance.

There are so many ways that you can support Montera throughout the year! Learn more about volunteering, raising money while you shop, making teachers' wish lists come true, financial donations, the Toro Store, and so much more!

Starting Monday, April 13, enjoy 20% off all graduation orders from Minted, from announcements to gifts, Minted has everything the Class of 2026 needs to celebrate. Plus, Montera will earn an extra $10 for every order placed with code FUNDRAISEMONTERA

Promotion valid 4/13 at 12:00 a.m. PT through 4/26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Many 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.

Hello! The University of California, Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) honors society, Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), wants to extend an invitation to you and your students to connect with current Berkeley students and learn more about the program, as well as other STEM programs, at our annual Jr EECS Day!

Jr EECS Day is a free-of-charge, all-day experience at UC Berkeley for middle school students interested in STEM, especially in computer science and electrical/computer engineering. This year, Jr EECS Day will be held in-person on Sunday, April 26, 2025 from 11 AM - 4:30 PM.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in events including:

• A tour of the EECS Department and UC Berkeley campus
• A pair of exciting computer science and electrical engineering labs (no experience necessary!)
• Q&A with a panel of current Berkeley students
• Lunch will be provided!!

Students can sign up now at http://hkn.mu/sp26-jr-eecs-day

We hope to see you and your students at these events!

Regards,
Aarav Singh

On behalf of Service Committee, Eta Kappa Nu, Mu Chapter

Mycelium Youth Network, a local Oakland nonprofit that empowers youth through climate justice education and resilience skill building, is offering a paid opportunity for students called Leadership in Storytelling. Students will learn storytelling and leadership skills, environmental justice basics, and do hands-on restoration in the wetlands around the Bay Area to connect and build relationship with the land. For more information about what this program looks like in action, and to see what past participants have said about the program, please check out our website: https://www.myceliumyouthnetwork.org/lisjourney.

This year, the program will run from about mid-May to mid-October, and meet weekly on Saturdays. Applications can be found here (bit.ly/LiS_2026); the form will close on April 15th, 2026.

If you have any questions, please let me know; I'd love to tell you more about it and Mycelium Youth Network in general.

Marcy Brown

Shoreline Programs Coordinator & Lead Storyteller
Mycelium Youth Network (MYN)

(Office) 510 842-6793

pronouns: she / her / hers

www.myceliumyouthnetwork.org

Have you heard about Ride 4A Reason? It's a fully supported bike ride from Oakland Tech High School to Sacramento that's equal parts adventure, community, and impact!

You can participate in this fundraiser that brings more than $10k to our school in 3 ways:

1. You can RIDE
2. You can VOLUNTEER on the Big Day
3. You can DONATE to your classes fundraising team

It happens SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH

Interested in RIDING? Choose your challenge:

• 45 miles
• 68 miles
• 110 miles

What you'll get:

• Saturday training ride invitations - organized rides to help you prepare!
• 5 rest stops on the big day = snacks & hydration & upbeat vibes to keep you rolling
• Sag wagons for support along the way
• On-site mechanics to troubleshoot any issues you might have
• Lunch-on-the-lawn in Sacramento
• Complimentary bus shuttle home (or stay and join the after party at the pub and take the train to Jack London Square with your bike!)
• An uplifting, life-affirming day with fellow riders who care about our schools

REGISTER TO RIDE NOW

Not a rider? You can VOLUNTEER.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE We need 8 volunteers from MONTERA. You can sign up for any open need, but our primary responsibility is 3-6pm on April 27th at Life Academy. We need 4 people to help receive, organize and put into storage all of R4R's gear.

DONATE! Even small amounts add up, and our school benefits!

https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/CA/Oakland/R4RWalkRunRide

Questions? Contact Luther Kopf, email: luther_kopf@hotmail.com

Let's make a difference. See you on April 25th!

There's still time for your business to become a sponsor and get months of advertising in the eBulletin, on the Montera website, and at the Benefit! Want to become a sponsor? Please contact president@monterapto.com

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We Are Montera. We Are One.

Email: communications@monterapto.com | Website: https://montera.ousd.org/

Location: 5555 Ascot Drive, Oakland, CA, USA | Phone: (510) 531-6070

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