Almost 20 Frequently Asked Questions ...

1.  Who is Claire Lilienthal?

Claire Lilienthal was born in San Francisco and as a child attended the Madison School, an elementary school that occupied the current Madison campus of Claire Lilienthal.  Claire Lilienthal was appointed to the school board in 1957, serving until 1979.  She was school board president twice (in 1961 and 1967).  While on the board, Claire Lilienthal drafted a schools plan that fostered parent participation, improved instructional programs, and racial integration.  After Claire Lilienthal retired from the board, the Madison school was named in honor of her.  For a portrait and more biographical information, please click here.

2.  Claire Lilienthal is a parent participation school.  What does this mean?  How do parents get involved?  

While all public schools encourage parents to be involved in the education of their children, the commitment to this philosophy at Claire Lilienthal is embedded in the educational approach of our teachers and administrators, and very actively embraced by parents at our school.  Parents are involved with the school in many different ways that enhance the academics, the social atmosphere and extra-curricular activities. Parents volunteer in the classroom, school library, computer lab, lunchroom, playground, and school office, serve as chaperones on field trips, coach sports teams and help out at special events at the school.  Many parents volunteer for fundraising activities that help support valuable programs.  (More about that later.)  Parent volunteers also run the PTA and participate in the SSC.

3.  What is the PTA?

The PTA is the Parent Teacher Association; a national non-profit organization (separate from the school district) dedicated to bringing parents and teachers together to support and improve local schools.  Our PTA is very active:  the PTA helps mobilize parent volunteers and it conducts a variety of fundraising activities on behalf of the school.  The officers of our school PTA work with the school administration (Principal and Vice Principal) and teaching staff to identify program needs and how the PTA can provide support.

At the beginning of each school year, every family receives a letter from the school PTA, asking you to join. The letter also asks you to consider a commitment of both time and money to the PTA and to the school, presenting a range of options, from heavy volunteer participation in lieu of a financial contribution, to less participation and a larger financial contribution.  Our goal is for every family to make a commitment to being involved in whatever way works best for them.

Our PTA holds open meetings every 3rd Thursday of the month at the Scott campus.  They are held in the early evening, and you can bring your children and let them relax or study in the school library during the meeting.  Reminders about meetings, including agendas and time, are listed in the Bulletin and on the PTA website (www.clairelilienthal.org).

4.  What is the SSC?

The SSC, or School Site Council is composed of teachers and parents and it works with the school principal to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs and school budgets.  Their peers elect site Council members. (e.g. parents elect parent representatives and teachers elect teachers)  Site Councils vary from school to school, but in general, they work with the principal to consider the goals of the school and district and work with the principal to evaluate the school's progress toward those goals.  The council is responsible for developing a site plan each year to help the school meet its academic goals. 

5.  Why does the school raise money?

The funding that the state provides to our school pays for the basic expenses of running a school: teacher and administrator salaries, staff salaries, books and supplies, building maintenance, etc.  However, per-child funding for schools in California is less than many other states.  This means that our budget generally isn't able to fund programs and expenses that enrich the curriculum beyond the basic budget.  The money that the PTA raises supplements many programs and also pays for enrichment that would otherwise not be covered.

6.  What does the fundraising buy?

 PTA contributions fund many activities including:  physical education, classroom supply budgets for every class, outdoor education, teacher continuing education, arts programming, the computer lab, computers in the classroom & library books.

7.What is the school day?

Our elementary school day starts at 7:45 am (sharp!)  At both campuses, children and their teachers start the day together in a short assembly (usually in the playground) where the principal greets the children and makes announcements.  Children and teachers then go together to their classrooms.  The specific schedule varies by grade, but includes instruction, a short snack recess, a second instruction period, lunch and recess, and a final instruction period before dismissal at 1:45.  In the lower grades, some teachers ask parents to share snack duty by providing a small snack for the class each morning for a week or two during the school year.  As the children get older, morning snack becomes an individual choice.  Your teacher will distribute an approved snack list.

8.  What is May Dance? 

May Dance is a school-wide dance performance, held every May at the Scott Campus.  Our Physical Education program includes dance instruction.  In the spring, the children learn and practice a special May Dance for their grade.  May Dance has become a favorite event as parents, siblings and even friends and neighbors come to watch the children perform their dances.

9.  What is Songfest?

Songfest is a longtime Lilienthal tradition held every December.  Each grade has one or two songs that they sing, usually conducted by one of the teachers.   You'll see notices about the event beginning in November.  Be sure to mark the date because you will not want to miss this event.

10.  What is the Starlight Auction?

The Starlight Auction is an eagerly anticipated fundraising and social event, sponsored by the PTA every spring.  Attended by many Lilienthal families and  friends of the school, it is the source of about half of the PTA's annual fundraising budget.  The event features a silent auction and a live auction (more about those), a lovely buffet dinner, and musical entertainment.  In addition to being important to the PTA financially, it is a lot of fun.  If you're not familiar with silent auctions, here's how it works:

The PTA Auction committee starts planning the event every fall.  A committee solicits donations from local business and parents at the school and also asks school parents to try and get one or two donations.  Donations can be merchandise, gift certificates, and services - all kinds of things.  (The donations committee always has lots of suggestions and ideas for new families.)  During the auction, families bid on the items (in writing).  The family that wins the bid on an item gets that item, and the PTA gets the money!

The event also includes a live auction featuring quilts from each grade, designed and made by students and parents.  These quilts are unique and treasured by children and parents alike.  Bidding for these quilts at the live auction is always a very exciting part of the event.

11.  What is the Scholastic Book Fair?

The PTA sponsors Scholastic Book Fairs twice a year (at both campuses).  The Scholastic Company is a publisher of children's books.  At the book fairs, parents and children are able to buy books at a very low cost.  The PTA earns money on each book sold at the book fair.  In addition, the more books sold at the book fair, the more books our school is eligible to receive for free, for use in the classroom.  So supporting the book fair helps the school in two wonderful ways.

12.  What is Mayfair?

Mayfair is a school carnival that parents plan and run, for the enjoyment of our families, friends and neighbors.  Classrooms sponsor game booths, with games that are appropriate for all ages.  The event also features bounce houses, a very popular dunking booth, arts and crafts, and delicious grilled food, prepared by the parents.  Admission, game tickets and food are all affordably priced so that everyone can participate.  Mayfair is held the Saturday before Mother's Day, so save the date!

13.  What is Outdoor Education?

Outdoor education is part of the curriculum at Claire Lilienthal, crossing disciplines to teach children about science, ecology, California history, physical education and social studies.  The outdoor ed. curriculum begins in the classroom and  continues in the field.  Each year, children in every grade take trips to significant California sites.  The sites are as diverse as coastal tide pools, Yosemite in winter, the Marin Headlands, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Catalina Island. In Kindergarten, the trips are day trips.  As the children get older, the trips get longer and include overnight stays.

14.  Is Computer Technology utilized in the classrooms?

Yes.  Every classroom is equipped with computers.  The number and the role they play vary by grade and to some extent, by classroom.  A few years ago, the PTA partnered with school administration and staff to make a rigorous assessment of the school’s current technology resources and future needs.  As a result, the PTA began a program to update the school's technology resources.  The technology program is focused on keeping our technology resources up to date and in line with the curriculum.  After several years of significant investment, we have Apple computers in every classroom, as well as state of the art computer labs, one of which is laptop based.  Children visit the computer lab weekly and also use the classroom computers in their class work.  For additonal information, please click here.

15.  Is there a special procedure for dropping off and picking up my child?

Yes.  Children should arrive at school before the daily 7:45 am assembly.  (Middle school students start their day at 7:35 am).  Several school buses bring children to both campuses.  Those schedules are sent out to parents.  You may also view a copy in the school office. Parents who drive their child to school can park and walk their child in, or they can drop their child off in the designated drop-off zone.

For the Madison Campus, the drop-off (and pick up) zone is on Clay Street, at the back entrance to the school.  Parents must drive east on Clay St.  There is usually a small queue.  Between 7:30 am and 7:50 am, and 1:45 pm and 2 pm, teachers and parent volunteers assist children in getting in and out of the car.  Your child's teacher will need information from you about whether you will pick them up at the school, or if they will attend the after school program.

For the Scott campus, drop-off/pick ups are on Divisadero Street, northbound.

In each case, it is very important for your child's safety for you to use only the designated drop-off and pick up zones.   Do not drop off your child in the school bus zone.  Also we ask you to take care not to block our neighbor's driveways.  With the high volume of cars that use the drop off/pick up zones every day, following these rules goes a long way towards preserving safety and good relations with our neighbors at both campuses. 

16.  How do I find out about things going on at school?

Every Wednesday, your child will bring home "The Wednesday Envelope" which has the weekly school newsletter, and other school and public announcements.  The Wednesday envelope may also have inserts from your child's teacher about classroom events or other items of interest.  You'll be asked to sign the front of the envelope, to acknowledge that you've received the information, and send it back with your child the following day.

The bulletin and many of the school and PTA announcements are also posted weekly on the PTA website (www.clairelilienthal.org)

17.  How will I know how my child is doing (academically)?

Report cards are sent home four times every year, and give you detailed information on how your child is doing in many different areas.  For children in grades K-5, those report cards are preceded in the fall and spring with a parent/teacher conference, where you and the teacher have a chance to talk one-on-one about your child's progress in school.  Many teachers also include the child in the conference, so that they can be involved in the discussion.  If your child's teacher has concerns at other times, s/he will contact you to arrange a time for additional discussion.  You should always feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have concerns about their progress.

18.  What is CST?

CST is the California Standards Test, a series of standardized tests administered in grades 2-11.  The California State Department of Education has developed standards about what California children are expected to know and do in each grade.  This test is aligned with the California standards-based curriculum that all teachers use.  The CST evaluates children's knowledge of these standards.  You will receive a copy of your child's score each year.  The scores are also used, in aggregate, to evaluate knowledge of the standards school-wide.  The school-wide scores are reported as the "API" or Academic Performance Index score.

19.  Does Lilienthal have sports and after-school programs?

Yes!  Our middle school sports program is fantastic:  Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Track and Soccer.   In fact, Claire Lilienthal has teams participating in every district middle school sport.  In K-5, we do not have a formal sports program, but many parents help organize and coach sports teams, usually organized by grade.  Often they are announced by classroom memo, or in the Wednesday bulletin, but don't be afraid to ask if you're interested in a sport for your child but haven't heard about any plans.  On the other hand...please also think about how you can help organize or coach a team.  Because we have lots of parent "veterans", you'll have lots of support and advice on league procedures and how to get things started.

We also have after-school programs at both campuses.  CLASP (Claire Lilienthal After School Program) operates at the Madison Campus, so children can go directly to CLASP at the end of the school day.  This non-profit program is run by Kindergarten teacher Frank Kanios and is open to children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade on a first-come, first serve basis.   There is a fee for the program.  The program offers recreation, homework help, crafts and story quiet time, and operates from 2 pm - 6 pm.

At the Scott Campus, CLLA (Claire Lilienthal Learning Academy) operates as a free program for children in grades 3 - 8, on a first-come, first-serve basis.  (Priority is given to children who will attend at least 3 days per week.)  PE instructor Linda Marcelo, under the auspices of the Presidio YMCA, runs the program.  The program offers a homework period, and a variety of enrichment activities (Lego club, biking club, cooking club, sports, etc.), and operates from 2 pm - 6 pm.


Have More Questions?
Do you have a question that isn’t answered here?  We invite you to join us at our PTA meetings (3rd Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm) to learn more and get involved.