Crocker Highlands Elementary School » Announcements

Living Museum

tmarshburn — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:59:08 +0000

Every year, our second and third graders participate in a project we call the Living Museum. Students learn about the lives of important people and share what they learn by writing a short report, creating a display, and dressing up as the person. We work on this project in the library, but much of the work needs to be completed at home with help from an adult. You can help your child by making sure they have time at home to work on the project. Ask questions, remind them of important steps, and provide explanation and advice when needed. It can be tricky, but do your best to let your child do the work.

You’ll find resources to help with this project here on our library website:h ttp://library.crockerschool.org/pathfinders/biographies/

Just in case they don’t make it home, here is a copy of the assignment, a sheet to help with note taking, and a sample paper.

Important Living Museum deadlines:

Report Due: see individual teacher
Display Due: Wednesday, February 22
Dress Up Day: Friday, February 24

Auction Hosted Parties – Update

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:02:58 +0000

“But I always say, one’s company, two’s a crowd, and three’s a party”
Andy Warhol

We bring you this famous quote – for two reasons:

We want you to host a party! You can host a party for any size gathering - most of our parties are for 20 or less people.
Party can be for any combination – Adult only, Kids only or Kids and Adults

For kids – the grade level specific party are always very popular. We already have a Third Grade Swim Party booked! We want to have at least one party per grade – so get together with some parents and plan something fun for our Crocker kids!

Some ideas:

Mani/pedi party

Miniature Golf/Bladium/Bowling/Pump it Up parties

Cooking Party

Arts/Crafts Party

Dance Party

Need more ideas? Contact your full-service party team at parties@crockerschool.org

Ready to host a party?? Enter it into our system here and you are all set!

https://crockerhs.ejoinme.org/?tabid=326620

Sincerely Social,

Cass Caulfield & Michelle Szylko

African American Read In: February 15

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:01:00 +0000

On Wednesday, February 15, Crocker Highlands will participate in the National African American Read-In Chain. The African American Read In Chain seeks to make reading a traditional part of Black History month celebrations throughout the country and help cultivate a greater appreciation of African American literature. The event is sponsored by the Black Caucus of National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and NCTE.

At Crocker, volunteer readers visit classrooms and read books by African American authors or illustrators, or featuring African American characters and stories. Crocker families and alumni are especially encouraged to participate. If you have a friend or neighbor who might be interested in participating, please ask them!

The schedule for readers on Wednesday, February 15:

8:30-9:00 Coffee in library. Readers assigned room and select books (or they can bring their own).

9:00-9:30: Readers go to classrooms, introduce themselves, read a story, and talk with students.

If you or someone you know might be interested in reading, please let me know by email lisa_a_hobbs@yahoo.com or stop by the library. If you have a preference for a particular grade or class, let me know.

Thank you,

Lisa Hobbs, Crocker Librarian

Annual Giving Fall Drive: You Did It, Thank You Crocker Families!

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:53:17 +0000

We made our goal of $100K in pledges. Our Community really stepped up to the challenge this year. On behalf of our kids, THANK YOU!! Please know that we are still counting on your recurring pledges through the end of the year to meet this goal. We are also still accepting additional contributions and company matching. The more we raise, the more funds we have next year to continue all the great programs the PTA funds!”

See you at the Auction!

Check our new page http://crockerschool.org/annualgiving_donations/ on the Crocker website to make sure we received your gift. Can be a 10 day lag between donation and seeing your name.

NEXT YEAR’S PTA BUDGET – Apply by Feb 29th

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:51:46 +0000

Are you interested in having your program covered by PTA funds next year? Attached here is a link to the PTA grant application for next year’s programs http://crockerschool.org/pta/forms/. Any program that will require more than $750 of PTA funds next year, needs to submit a completed grant application by February 29th. People interested in securing funds less than $750 still need to request funds in writing, but can do so without this grant application. The deadline to request funds for next year’s budget is February 29th whether it be a grant application or just an email is February 29th. If the grant application/request for funds involves “instructional minutes” the application should be emailed to ELIZABETH.RHINE@ousd.k12.ca.us. If the grant involves non-instructional minutes, it should be submitted to president@crockerschool.org. We should have a good idea by early April, what we can cover in next year’s budget. If you have any questions about filling out the form or about the process, please email us at president@crockerschool.org

Crocker Cougar Community Celebrates Acceptance!

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:45:31 +0000

On Friday, January 6th, we held the third of our 8 assemblies celebrating the Crocker Cougar “word of the month.” The Cougar word for November and December was “Acceptance.” Ms. Fisher’s and Ms. Butler’s first grade and Ms. Ski’s 4th grade buddy classes were our “ Acceptance Cougars”. At the assembly, Nico, Mason and Renzo, and (as representatives from each buddy class) recited a poem called “I Like” trading lines, with the entire buddy classes chiming in. The poem was about accepting each other’s differences.

“i Like.” I like soda. I like milk. I like satin. I like silk. I like puppies. I like kittens. I like gloves. And I like mittens. I like apples. I like pears. I like tigers. I like bears. I like to slide. I like to swing. (all) We don’t agree on anything! I like butter. I like jam. I like turkey. I like ham. I like rivers. I like lakes. I like cookies. And I like cakes. I like yellow. I like blues. I like pizza. I like stew. I like summer. I like spring. (all) We don’t agree on anything! Does that matter? No! We accept each other’s differences!

The Cougar Celebration board near the office also has a photo display of the buddies spelling out ” CROCKER COUGARS SHOW ACCEPTANCE!” These pictures are also in the website Photo Gallery. Thanks also to all the other teachers and students who learned about Acceptance these last two months. Let’s keep that Acceptance coming: here at school, at home, in the community, in the environment. But don’t forget about Respect, our Cougar word for September and Cooperation, our Cougar word for October either!

And in case you missed it in last week’s bulletin, our Cougar word for January is Self-Discipline. The website http://crockerschool.org/ has more information about this important word!

Crocker Cougar Word of the Month for January: Self-Discipline.

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:38:05 +0000

Self-Discipline means self-control. Self-Discipline is thinking about your words and actions, and then making choices that are right for you and others. It can be forcing yourself to finish a job you begin. It can be resisting pressure to do things when “everyone is doing it”. It can be pushing yourself to do better. It can be keeping your mind focused. Talk to your kids about people you know or read about who have used self-discipline to get where they are like President Obama, the S.F. Giants, Lady Gaga, your pediatrician,YOU! Ask your child “How did you show self-control today?”

In Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Speech, he instructs us to be brilliant, successful, talented, and fabulous. . . .Here’s 3 ways to help your kids be the fabulous people they were meant to be through self-discipline.

Build Character with Chores

First, start giving your children age appropriate chores. Perhaps, . . . . they’ll start putting their toys away . . .. As they get older, teach them to set the table, sweep, dust, and help fix meals. . . . They can wash and dry clothes, take out the garbage, start dinner and much, much more. You are teaching them to take care of themselves, a valuable skill for life. You are teaching them self-discipline too.

Build Character with Earning Power

Second, teach your kids to earn what they want. If you smother your children with material things today, you’ll be creating the gripers, groaners, and grumblers of tomorrow. They’ll grow up thinking the world owes them. Do your kids a favor now. Let them earn what they want. Give them a feeling of accomplishment. You’ll be teaching self-discipline too.

Build Character with Goals

Third, teach them to create and achieve goals. Goals take consistent effort. Having a goal without effort is like having a front porch without steps. Coach your children to create and climb the stairs step by step. If your child wants to be the pitcher on the baseball team, encourage your child to practice. If your child wants to pass to the next level in gymnastics, encourage your child to practice. If your child wants to learn multiplication tables, encourage your child to practice. The steps to achieving goals takes practice, practice, practice. When you coach your children to achieve their goals, you help them make their dreams come true. You are teaching them self-discipline too.

When children take care of themselves through chores, they build character. When children earn the things they want, they build character. When children create and achieve goals, they build character. With character, they become brilliant, successful, talented and fabulous, all because you led the way.”*

*This article is by Jean Tracy, MSS and is posted in full at http://www.readytopublish.com/article.cfm?articleid=83508

OUSD Kindergarten Enrollment Begins 12/5

tmarshburn — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:50:59 +0000

Oakland Unified School District’s Options Enrollment Window for the 2012-13 School Year Begins Monday, December 5

If you have an incoming kindergarten, sixth grade, or ninth grade student, or any other child who needs a new school for the 2012-13 school year, you must submit an application between December 5 and January 20. Applications must be submitted in person to our Student Assignment Office at 2111 International Blvd, or to any OUSD school. Current fifth and eighth grade students should turn their applications into their current school.

Applying within the window increases your chances of getting your school of choice and keeping siblings at the same school. For more information call (510) 434-7752 ext. 224. You can also find information online, including Options Forms and Brochures, at www.ousd.k12.ca.us/enroll

If you are interested in visiting Crocker, sign up for a new parent school tour here

Holiday Giving – Piaz Family

tmarshburn — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:35:56 +0000

For the last few years during December, the Crocker PTA has helped raise funds to provide needed items for an OUSD family–items which include food, clothes, games, toys, etc. The Crocker Spirit continues! This year, our family is the Paiz family: a local Mom and four children (2 girls ages 12, 11 and 2 boys ages 7, 3).

Any money we can raise and gifts we can provide will be very helpful to get through these tough times. If you are in a position to donate, you may do so in the following ways:

1. Online via the Crocker Website Donation Form: enter “Paiz Family” in the “This donation is in tribute to” field. Complete your donation on the secure credit card processing page.

2. Via Check: you can drop off a check made payable to Crocker Highlands PTA (NO CASH PLEASE) in an envelope in the Green Box outside the Office. The check and the envelope should be labeled “Piaz Family.”

3. In person at the PTA meeting Thursday 12/8. You will be able to donate via CC or check at the meeting.

All of the money will go for the donations of food, clothes, toys, etc. We will be collecting donations until December 17. After that, we will purchase items that the family has requested. If you’d like to help us “shop,” please let us know.

Thank you for anything you can provide to the PiazFamily. I am sure that they will appreciate it! If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me.

Wendy Ghorai & Jessica Tagami
2011-2012 C0- Presidents, Crocker Highlands PTA
president@crockerschool.org

Book Fair: 2 Days, Online Shopping, Awesome Author!

tmarshburn — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:18:06 +0000

UPDATE 12/4: we want to thank the “village” that helped put together a fun and successful event. The total sales for the Book Fair was $11,517.88.

It’s time for the Crocker Book Fair! Here’s the essential information:

Two days to shop in the multipurpose room: Thursday and Friday, 12/1 and 12/2, 8:30am to 8:00pm. (More details)
You can shop online now through December 9. Send the link to friends and family!

As part of the book fair, author Mac Barnett will be visiting with students on Friday. Barnett is the author some of our favorite books like Guess Again!, Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem, Mustache, and the Brixton Brothers series. He’s also a co-author of The Clock Without a Face and contributor to Guys Read. Reviewers have described his books as weird, wacky, fun, especially fun, funny, and cool! He’ll be signing his books after school on Friday.

What should you buy? Ask the kids – yours and any others you might meet at the book fair. Our kids read a lot and can make fantastic recommendations. In addition, this time of year, there are lots of “Best of 2011” lists to help you with your shopping. Here are some you might be interested in:

Amazon Top 10 Middle Grade Books and Top 10 Picture Books

New York Times Special Section on Children’s Books

Publisher’s Weekly Top 10 Children’s Books

If shopping isn’t enough, you can still volunteer to help out at the book fair. Finally, a huge thanks to Liz Fitzgerald and Evelyn Hess for organizing what is going to be an amazing book fair. See you at there!