Montera Middle School eBulletin
May 3, 2026
Important Dates
This week's school schedule: AB -b- AB
Upcoming Events:
Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 8: Teacher Appreciation Week
Saturday, May 9: 8th Grade Dinner Dance (5:30-8:30pm)
Monday, May 11: 8th Grade Picnic in the Park
Tuesday, May 12: Winter & Spring Sports Banquet (5:30-7:30pm in the MUR)
Thursday, May 14: Open House (5:30-7:30pm)
Thursday, May 14: PTO Meeting & Appreciation Party (6:30-7:45pm in the MUR)
Friday, May 15: Montera Talent Show
Friday, May 22: 8th Grade Trip to Six Flags
Monday, May 25: No School (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, May 26 - Thursday May 28 (Minimum Days)
Tuesday, May 26: 6th/7th Grade Field Day
Wednesday, May 27: 8th Grade Promotion (Skyline HS)
Thursday, May 28 - Last Day of School!
This Week
Teacher Appreciation Week: Thank You!
A BIG thank you to everyone who contributed to Teacher Appreciation Week, we met our goal!
Because of your generosity, we’re able to celebrate our amazing teachers and staff in a meaningful way. Every contribution, big or small, helped make this happen. Thank you for showing up for our teachers!
Coming Up
Montera After School Registration and Program Showcase
You are cordially invited to Montera's After School Program showcase on Wednesday, May 13, 5:30-6:30pm in the MUR. Participate in student-led workshops and performances! Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP with the QR code on the flyer below.
Registration for next year's After School Program is open. Please see the flyer below for details.
Montera PTO May Meeting
Our final PTO meeting of the school year will be in person on May 14 from 6:30–7:45pm in the Montera MUR, and we hope you can join us. During the first ~20 minutes, we will review and vote on the 2026–27 PTO board slate and budget. Then we will celebrate with a PTO appreciation party hosted by the Montera administration. Hope to see you there!
We still need to fill open roles for the 2026-27 school year…and yes, we’re looking at YOU!
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!
HOORAY FOR FIELD DAY!
Field Day for 6th and 7th graders is Tuesday, May 26! This FUN Montera tradition takes place during the last week of school while our 8th graders are busy rehearsing for their promotion ceremony.
Students will rotate through a variety of activity stations, and we need parent volunteers to help assist teachers run games or stations, plus donations of snacks and ice to keep everyone fueled and cool.
Field Day - Tuesday, May 26 - Click to Volunteer Below
A few quick notes:
- Grab-and-Go will be available BEFORE school
- It’s a minimum day, with dismissal at 1:50 pm
OUSD Summer School Opportunity
Looking for a summer learning opportunity for your student?
Montera students are eligible to join OUSD's Summer Learning program (Full day academic intervention and STEM enrichment) at Bret Harte Middle School from June 8th - July 10th, 2026 from 8:30am-12:30pm. Optional afterschool programming runs from 12:30pm-5:00pm.
Please reach out to Montera's Literacy Coach at shaina.patel@ousd.org by Thursday, May 7th if you are interested in enrolling your student or if you have any questions!
Upcoming 8th Grade Activities & Events
Calling all 8th grade families! Our Montera 8th graders have a fun lineup of events to wrap up the school year. More details are available here. Check out what's ahead:
DINNER DANCE
Saturday, May 9 | 5:30-8:30 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
Rawley (Farnsworth) Theater, Skyline High School
Promoting students must be at Skyline at 2:30pm
Skyline Auditorium seating: 3:00-3:25pm
Promotion event: 3:30pm
Questions? Reach out to 8th grade AP Anisa Rasheed at anisa.rasheed@ousd.org or Teena Bowie at 8thgradeactivities@monterapto.com.
Montera Sports
Spring Sports Updates
Golf Practices
Golf practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Montera. Saturday practices will be held at either Montclair Golf Course, Lake Chabot Golf Course, or Primetime Indoor Facility. The Saturday location will be announced each Thursday.
***
Oakland Strokes: Final Learn to Row Session
Oakland Strokes is hosting its final Learn to Row session of the semester on Saturday, May 9, from 10:30 AM–1:00 PM.
This session is open to all OUSD middle and high school students, regardless of experience or participation in the Erg Competition.
Details:
When: Saturday, May 9, 10:30 AM–1:00 PM
Where: Tidewater Boating Center
Who: All OUSD middle and high school students
Cost: FREE!
***
Ultimate Frisbee Team Recognition
Congratulations to our Ultimate Frisbee team for an incredible performance at the Spaghetti Western Tournament, finishing 3rd place! This is a huge jump from last year’s 11th place finish.
Despite challenging windy conditions that turned every game into an upwind/downwind battle, the team showed resilience and composure. Three crucial upwind scores helped secure both the quarterfinal victory and the win for 3rd place. A truly hard-fought and impressive accomplishment!
Winter and Spring Sports Banquet
Our Winter and Spring Sports Banquet will take place on Tuesday, May 12, from 5:30–7:30 PM in the MUR. Come join the fun as we celebrate all of our winter and spring student-athletes!
Please make sure to reserve your space here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4CACAD28A5FD0-63767373-winter#/
If you have any questions, please email AD Price at martin.price@ousd.org.
Spring Athletes: Suggested Sports Donation
Support Montera Athletics
Please remember to donate to the Montera Sports Program. Our athletics budget is significant, and your support helps us continue providing these amazing opportunities for all of our students. Every contribution makes a difference.
Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CQBJ6PJ49ZTE2
Go Toros!
Attendance Reminders
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.
Other Ways to Support Montera
Oakland Roots Season Long Fundraiser
Grab your tickets to an upcoming Oakland Roots SC match and give back to Montera at the same time! When you purchase using our special link/code, a portion of every ticket goes directly to the Montera PTO.
USE CODE: MONTERA (all CAPS)
It’s an easy (and fun) way to contribute, enjoy a great night out with family and friends, and show some Oakland pride.
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.
Nurture Nature (Paid!) Workshop
If you are ages 13 - 21, join the New Voices Rising Program for their Nurture Nature Workshop on Saturday, May 16, from 10am to 1pm. This is a chance to share your ideas and vision for what you want to learn, change, and see prioritized at the Port of Oakland. There is free transportation from the West Oakland BART, free snacks, and a $25 stipend!
Through the Clean Ports program, the Rose Foundation/New Voices Are Rising is working alongside local youth and community members to advocate for a transition to zero-emission port operations. A critical part of this initiative is gathering direct input from the communities most affected by port pollution.
Summer Art Camps with Graphic Novelist Dean Stuart
Comics and Animation Camp
What: Dual camp with both Comics and Stop Motion Animation and it's taught by me, Dean Stuart, and animator Annie Wong. 2 camps offered, each a week long.
Where: Colorspace Arts, El Cerrito
When: (2 one week camps) Weeks of June 29 and July 6th
Sign up here:
https://www.hisawyer.com/colorspace-arts/schedules/activity-set/1880372?source=all-activities
Comics Camp
Taught by me, Dean Stuart. Camp will be an intensive comics learning course. Covers character design, composition, storyboarding, writing, laying out a comic page, This is a one week course.
Where: Berkeley Painter's Club, Strawberry Creek Park, Berkeley
When: July 20-24
Sign up:
https://www.hisawyer.com/berkeley-painting-club/schedules/activity-set/1778786
Strength Training for Young Athletes this Summer
Strength Training for Middle and High School Aged Athletes
Focus on functional and core strength to improve power, speed, agility, and overall strength.
Mixed Gender Class Thursdays 5:45-6:45p
June: 5, 12, 26 / July: 10, 17, 24
All Girls Strength Training Tuesdays 4:30-5:30p
June: 9, 16, 23 / July: 7, 14, 21
Price: $200 (use code: Toros26 for $50 off)
https://www.oaklandcubs.com/program/strength-training/17185
Andrea Johnson, M.S.
ACSM-HFS & NASM-CPT
510-725-9970
Toro Pride Pics
Click here to see more Toro Pride Pics
Montera students and staff celebrated Day of Restorative Justice last week.
And Montera celebrated our FIFA soccer field ribbon-cutting!
Montera Band, Orchestra, and Choir Spring Concerts
Beautiful work, Toro musicians!
Here are more pictures from the April Concert nights.
Here is the link to the Youtube Concert Video.
Bravo and thank you to our music teachers, Mr. Anzaldo and Ms. Shogbesan.
Thank You to our Sponsors!
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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Montera Middle School
eBulletin is produced throughout the school year on a weekly basis by the Montera Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) except on holidays. It sometimes contains ads from our sponsors and/or services from the community. These advertisements do not imply endorsement of any product or service by OUSD, Montera Middle School, or the Montera PTO.
If you have news you'd like to include, please send it to eBulletin@monterapto.com by 5pm on Friday. Submissions may be edited for spelling, grammar, brevity and clarity. In addition, while we strive for accuracy, being human sometimes gets in the way. If you spot an important error, please bring it to our attention. Thanks!
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