Montera Middle School eBulletin
October 5, 2025
This week's school schedule: AB -b- AB
Upcoming Events:
Monday, October 6: Building a Health(ier) School Community Night (5:30-7:30pm in the MUR, RSVP here)
Monday, October 6 - Wednesday, October 8: Candy Gram Sales (during lunch, $2 each)
Monday, October 13: No School (Indigenous People's Day)
Tuesday, October 14: Coffee with Doc (9:30-10:15am, Room 303)
Tuesday, October 14 - Friday, October 17: SPIRIT WEEK!
Tuesday, October 14 - Tuesday, October 21: Halloween Dance Ticket Sales
Wednesday, October 15: Fall Wellness Day (11:00am-1:00pm, Parent Volunteers Needed)
Thursday, October 16: PTO Meeting (6:30-7:30pm via Zoom)
Monday, October 20 - Thursday, October 23: 7th Grade Field Trip to Rob Hill (Presidio SF)
Friday, October 24: Picture Day Retakes
Saturday, October 25: Montera's Fall Fest! (2:00-5:00pm)
Wednesday, October 29: Halloween Dance (5:00-7:30pm in the MUR)
Friday, October 31: Halloween Costume Contest
We’re Making Progress - Let’s Keep It Going!
We’ve already raised $33,000, which is 66% of our goal of $50,000 by October 15, and we are so grateful to the families who have contributed so far. 👏👏👏
Together, through both small and large contributions, we can make sure every student has access to the tools, opportunities, and experiences that make Montera such a special place. Let’s keep it going!
Our goal is to raise $450 per student. A gift - no matter the size - will make a difference. Consider a smaller monthly gift if $450 does not fit your budget. And if you can give more, we encourage your generosity. Give online today or return this form with a check.
Check with your employer to see if your contribution will be matched! It’s easy! Just submit your receipt through your employer’s matching gift portal or HR.
Montera PTO 501(c)3 Non Profit Tax ID#: 23-7266421
You are invited to join us for a Montera Community Restorative Night on Monday, October 6, 5:30 - 7:30pm. We will meet in the Montera MUR.
This adults-only gathering will focus on open conversation, partnership, and mutual support as we continue working toward a stronger school community. Dinner will be served.
This restorative night is a follow up to the Building a Healthy School Community presentation shared at the PTO meeting on September 18.
Please RSVP to let us know if you are able to join us.
In Community,
- Montera Administration
🎃Halloween Dance
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 5:00-7:30 pm
Get ready for a spooky good time at Montera’s Halloween Dance!
Ticket Sales:
Dance tickets will be sold during school, Tuesday, October 14 - Tuesday, October 21 ($10, cash only)
Students must have a signed permission slip in order to purchase a ticket
Permission slips will be handed out at school, and we will also link it in the eBulletin so families can print from home
Parent Volunteers Needed: Please check out the available slots here and sign up.
A huge shout-out to Georgia for designing this Halloween Dance flyer!
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:
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!
Students should not be picked up within 30 minutes of dismissal. Dismissal is 1:50 pm on Wednesdays and minimum days and 3:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
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.
Fall Wellness Day
When: Wednesday, October 15, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
We are seeking support from parent volunteers to lead/co-lead lunchtime booths. The time commitment would be ~11:00-1:00pm to allow time for set up and clean up. We are hoping to get 8-10 volunteers if possible.
Below are some booths/activities we have had in the past but we are open to more ideas/activities!
Wellness Wall
Puzzle station
Yoga/stretching: Peace Garden
Lawn Games
Music
Wellness Wheel
Affirmation Station
Blender Bike
Badminton in the Courtyard
Volleyball on the Blacktop
Please contact our counselors if you can volunteer:
Nico Ramos (nico.ramos@ousd.org)
Erica Saephan (erica.saephan@ousd.org)
The informational zoom meeting about the Summer 2027 Korea trip for current 6th graders is being rescheduled for another night soon. Stay tuned for updates about the rescheduled meeting. We can't wait to tell you more!
Montera Travel Club
Place an order for your 2025-26 Montera yearbook before October 31st and save 10% off the regular price of $34.85 and cross a task off your back-to-school to-do list! Yearbooks will be delivered to the school in the middle of May. Scan this QR code or click HERE to order from Treering.
🚫 No Parking or Pick-Up in the Lower Parking Lots 🚫
Families, for the safety of our students, we need to remind everyone that there is no parking allowed on the blacktops (inside the fence where the basketball hoops are). Children are often walking, running, and playing in these areas, and even one moving car can put them at serious risk.
Coaches, parents, guardians, and visitors alike should use designated parking areas in the main upper lot for sports parking and pick-up.
We appreciate your cooperation in keeping all of our Toros safe. Thank you for modeling community care and making student safety our top priority.
Fall Sports Webinar Recap & Recording
Thank you to everyone who joined our webinar hosted by Dr. Williams (Principal), Martin Price (Athletic Director), Aquil Rasheed (PTO VP Athletics). We reviewed behavioral expectations for student-athletes and parents, highlighting respect, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Seasonal sports meetings will be held for families with winter and spring athletes.
For those who were not able to attend last week's meeting, here is the recording. ( Passcode: $65&!GWm )
Dr. Williams will be sharing the Montera Athletic Handbook soon. In the meantime, here is the link with all registration forms and instructions you need to complete in order for your student to participate in sports.
To help sustain the Montera sports program, we ask each athlete’s family to consider giving an amount that feels comfortable. The suggested contribution is $50 per season. Your contribution helps pay for uniforms, equipment, coach stipends, site upkeep and umpires/referees.
Essay Contest: Raise Awareness about E-Bike Safety!
Dear Montera Middle School Friends,
We are excited to invite students to participate in the Mineta Transportation Institute’s annual essay contest! This year’s theme, Ride On, Ride Safe—E-Bike Style!, encourages students to explore the growing popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes) among teens and the important safety questions that come with this trend.
In recent years, more tweens and teens are riding e-bikes, bringing both big benefits and serious safety concerns. E-bikes offer kids independence, exercise, and a more sustainable, cheaper alternative to traveling by car. But hospitals are seeing more and more kids injured while riding e-bikes, and communities are asking whether there should be more limits on how kids ride and whether schools should teach safe riding skills.
Contest Details:
Who: Students in grades 6–12 (public, private, or homeschool) across the U.S.
Theme: Ride On, Ride Safe—E-Bike Style!
Prizes: $2,250 in total awards, with $1,000 for the 10th–12th grade 1st place winner and $500 for the 6th–9th grade 1st place winner.
Publication: Winning essays will be published on MTI’s website and in our newsletter, shared with over 2,000 readers!
How to Participate:
Learn more about the contest, review the rules and essay prompts, and access resources here: MTI Essay Contest.
The deadline to submit entries is February 2, 2026, so encourage your students to join us in shaping the future of safe and sustainable transportation!
Reach out to alverina.weinardy@sjsu.edu if you have any questions, including about getting assistance with procuring supplies for participation or bringing in a guest speaker to get students excited about the theme.
We look forward to your students’ inspiring ideas!
Mineta Transportation Institute
210 North 4th Street, 4th Floor
San José, CA 95112
(408) 924-7560
San Jose State University
FREE Creative Arts After School Program on Wednesdays: Step It Up
Oakland School of the Arts (OSA) is launching the Step It Up program — offering FREE creative classes to BIPOC 5th–8th graders across Oakland, including Montera students.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!
Programs include:
Creative Writing
Dance
Filmmaking
Fashion Design
Instrumental Music
Media Arts
Theatre
Visual Art
Vocal Music
Questions? Email stepitup@oakarts.org or visit the website to learn more or apply: Step It Up.
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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