TB Testing 8:45 AM, MPR; reading Thurs, Sept 16, 8:45 AM

Back to School Night,

K-2nd 6:30-7:15, 3rd-5th 7:45-8:30, 7:15-7:45 Principal Get Together

PTA General Meeting, 6:30-8 pm, Exec Board, 8-8:45 PM

I look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday, September 15, at Back to School Night. Because it is an adult only event, childcare can be an issue. Reach out to someone in the school community and either share childcare or offer childcare if you already have some in place. Back to School Night is the time for parents/guardians to find out what is happening in the classroom and it's important for everyone to be there. You will hear about the classroom curriculum, projects, field trips, and the expectations for the year. You will also hear about ways to support your child at home. It's also a nice time to meet other families and to make those community connections.

I'm so excited to be starting our music classes this week. Last year, we learned American History through song and dance. This year, our focus will be US geography through song, dance and instruments. The students will be learning songs from and about different parts of the country (we'll move to something more global later in the year.) We'll be working on basic musical literacy as well in what I hope are fun and creative ways.

I'm looking for maps and puppets! Do you have any interesting US wall maps you'd like to lend? I'm collecting road maps of the US as well. Puppets: I'm looking for animal puppets to represent the notes on the musical staff, so any animals that begin with the letters A through G would be appreciated.

You are always welcome to sit in on a class. I don't need any advance notice - just come and join in. If you'd like to be more involved in our music program, please let me know. I can use assistance in a variety of ways.

I'm looking forward to a great year and thank you the many ways you support our program.

Jill Rose
Vocal Music

Last year, Crocker Highlands, along with several other OUSD elementary schools, adopted the Caring Schools Community (CSC) Curriculum. This curriculum is a research-based program developed to help schools build classroom community, school-wide community, and improve academic achievement. This year, we are tying "Crocker Cougar Community Celebrates" Program to the Caring Schools Community.

The Crocker Cougar Community celebrates 8 community words. For 2010-2011 the words are: Respect, Cooperation, Self Discipline, Acceptance, Compassion, Responsibility, Perseverance and Friendship. In each classroom, a community meeting will be centered around the word of the month, engaging students in what it means to show respect or be cooperative, etc. The teachers will ask students for examples that the children have witnessed of other children demonstrating the "community word of the month."

Part of the CSC program are cross-grade buddies. Each month, buddy classes will have an activity to do and will have their pictures taken. Pictures of the students will be posted on the bulletin board next to the office to "celebrate" the word .There will also be an assembly to celebrate the word and to introduce the next month's word. The Crocker Cougar will likely make appearances at each of these assemblies. By the end of the year, every child should have his or her picture up on the bulletin board and a "paw print" award.

September is "Respect" Month. Please take the time to talk about this word with your child and what it means. Ask your child, "How do you show respect-to yourself, to others at school, to the community, to the environment?" Examples are posted in each classroom. Some examples are, "I treat other people the way I want to be treated." "I follow my classroom's and school's rules." "I recycle and never litter." "I am quiet during work time so others can learn." "I shake the other team's hand when we lose." "When I win a game, I am a good winner and do not boast or taunt." "I raise my hand while I wait my turn to talk." "I say 'Please' and 'Thank you.'" "I take care of my body by eating healthy and exercising." "I work to solve problems without name calling or bullying."

If you have any questions, please contact Liz O'Brien at lizobrien@pacbell.net.

SAVE THE DATE! The Crocker Highlands Walkathon is coming up at the end of October on Saturday, October 30th. This is a fun and profitable fundraiser (where all the walking is done by the kids!) for Crocker and we need a few more volunteers in key positions:

* Volunteer Coordinator - to organize all the wonderful helpers on the day of the event
* Hard Walk Cafe - provides the food and drink for the walkers
* Course Coordinator - sets up course and oversees those volunteers
* Classroom Trackers for 2nd and 4th grade - collects forms from the kids and motivates them to win parties for the classes with highest participation

If you are moved to participate in this really fun event, it's a great opportunity to learn more about the school and work with other parents and the kids.

Please contact Kirsten Williams or Liz Borowiec, Walkathon Co-chairs at
walkathon@crockerschool.org

We are fortunate to have a wonderful library at Crocker with more than 10,000 books, as well as computers for students to use, and online research tools provided by OUSD and the Oakland Public Library. Many of you already know that Crocker classes visit the library once a week. During library visits, students check out one book at a time and must return their book in order to check out another. The library is also open to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders during lunch recess three days a week.

Students are welcome to stop by the library after school to return or check out books. I'll be open from 3:00 - 3:15-ish daily. Remember this time is for book exchange. If your child is waiting to be picked up, they need to wait outside on the yard or in the office.

If have questions or would like to help out in the library this year, contact me directly (lisa_a_hobbs@yahoo.com) or talk to your child's teacher. I'll be in the library Tuesdays through Fridays.

Thanks, Lisa Hobbs

Hi Crocker Parents,

Believe it or not, the Lost and Found is already piling up! Several items were left in classrooms after the last day of school in the spring; if you still can't find that sweatshirt that has been missing for 3 months, please take a look!

For those of you new to Crocker, welcome! The Lost and Found is located just inside the double doors to the right of the play yard water fountains (if you are facing the fountains). Please check the Lost and Found regularly. You will be amazed at what you can find!

Also, look for notices in the bulletin and yahoo groups as to when I will donate items - the Lost and Found fills up quickly and I clear it out about once a month. Last year we lost 16 lawn bags of clothing! The good news is that we were able to donate these clothes to OUSD schools in need and a few other charities dealing directly with children. Even though we love to give, lets try to get that lawn bag number down a bit this year.

PLEASE label your child's clothing and lunchbox TODAY - just take five minutes and go through the closet. Clothes that are labeled almost always find their way home. A sharpie pen works fine; first initial and last name is the best. There is also a small fundraiser for buying labels below and there are also many websites that sell iron-on labels if you really want to get fancy.

Thanks,

Deb Collard

Help support Crocker and keep track of your child's items at the same time! If you order labels from www.CHES.labeldaddy.com (school code:CHES), twenty percent will be given back to Crocker. We will use the proceeds to pay for playground equipment for all students.

Flyers were sent home with your child last week. Samples are available to view in Ms. Eng's room.