Crocker Highlands Weekly BulletinEcometro
Crocker Highlands PTA Newsletter
525 Midcrest Road, Oakland, CA 94610
Phone: 510-451-5900
crockerschool.org
facebook.com/crockerschool
@crockerschool 
 
Beth Rhine, Principal

Jessica Tagami/Louise Bedsworth,
PTA Co-Presidents
   
November 5th 2012
Calendar
In November and December, Crocker Community Celebrates Self-Discipline!
In This Issue
Presidents Message
Word of the Month
Make-Up Photo Day
Mark your Calendar
Parent Education Night
Walk-a-thon
Math Night
          Message from your Presidents

Hi Crocker Families:

We hope you have recovered from the Halloween sugar rush, and are prepared for the upcoming Veteran's Day Holiday on Nov. 12 - there will be no school, so please plan accordingly.

Please remember that this Thursday, Nov. 8, the PTA and Equity Committee are hosting what is anticipated to be a very informative, enlightening talk from The Boys Project.  The discussion, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, will center around the emotional, social and intellectual well-being of our boys, and what we, as caretakers, can do to encourage and nurture them throughout their childhood. Please RSVP at president@crockerschool.org, and let us know if you need childcare for school-aged children.

Also, as the holiday season barrels toward us, we encourage everyone to please consider giving your children's school the gift of a little of your time. It really does take a village, especially when running a village-like setting of a school. Every child can benefit from your time, because if we all pitch in, we all help shape our children's futures. Volunteers are needed everywhere at Crocker - in the classroom, on the playground, in the library and front office, on field trips, during community and fundraising events like the book fair, craft fair and auction - everywhere. If you are uncertain about where you can help, please contact your room parent or event coordinator, or just shoot us an email at president@crockerschool.org, and we'll be happy to help you find a good fit for your schedule. Everyone could use a little help - teachers and students, alike. It really does make a difference, so please consider.

Have a great week,

Louise Bedsworth and Jessica Tagami
Crocker PTA Co-Presidents
November's and December's Crocker Cougar Word is "Self-Discipline." 


Please take the time to talk about this word with your child and what it means.  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 SF Giants, Lady Gaga, your pediatrician, YOU!  Ask your child, "How did you show self-control today?"

Here are three suggestions to help your kids be the fabulous people they were meant to be through self-discipline.  First, start giving your children age appropriate chores. You are teaching them to take care of themselves, a valuable skill for life.  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. Third, teach them to create and achieve goals. When you coach your children to achieve their goals, you help them make their dreams come true. You are teaching them self-discipline,  too.  For more, please see the website.
Make-up Photo Day

Shooting Stars will return to Crocker on Wednesday, November 14
to take make-up photos. Parents should receive their children's proofs from the September photo shoot this week, along with instructions on what to do if you would like to retake your child's photos. If your child was absent for Photo Day in September, please confirm your arrangements with Shooting Stars Photo at 800-311-7784, or at 
www.shootingstarsphoto.com


Upcoming Dates - Mark Your Calendar

Monday, November 12:  Veteran's Day Holiday (No school for students)
Wednesday, November 14:  Make-Up Picture Day


Additional Minimum Days:  
Thursday & Friday, December 13 - 14
Friday, December 21

 
Crocker Parent Education Night

Co-sponsored by the Crocker Highlands PTA and Equity/Caring Schools Committee


Next in our year-long series of learning opportunities for the adult community - family members and staff - to learn about how together, we can create a school community in which every student and family feels valued, feels respected, and thrives:

THE BOYS PROJECT
What:             An enlightening presentation on understanding the minds of boys
When:                Thursday, November 8   7-8:30 PM


Where:       Crocker Highlands Elementary School, Multipurpose Room
Who:          Parents, caregivers, teachers, and staff from Crocker
Cost:          Free


Other community members welcome!  Invite your friends/colleagues


Join us for an exciting evening with Dr. Jon Herzenberg and Andre Salvage, founders of The Boys Project (http://drjonherzenberg.homestead.com/The-Boys-Project.htm) The Boys Project is committed to helping boys of all ages be better understood by themselves and the ones that care for and teach them.
  • We help boys and the adults that care for them pay better attention to their emotional lives and true nature.
  • We help boys and their caring adults decode and translate boys and their behavior to enable closer connections.
  • We help boys and their caring adults understand what is hard about being a boy, the pressures and expectations.
Adults only, please.  Childcare available for Crocker Highlands students; contact president@crockerschool.org to reserve childcare.
Walkathon Pledge Money Collection 

Be sure to continue collecting your child's Walkathon sponsor pledge money DUE in a money envelope NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH. Checks should be made out to Crocker Highlands PTA and donations are tax deductible.  Our tax ID# is: 94-6171881. Include the white copy of your Sponsor Form in the envelope with your money. Make sure all of the following information is clearly written on the outside of the sealed envelope: Child's Name, Teacher's Name, Total Amount Enclosed and dropped off in the PTA Box outside the school's office entrance. Remember, the class with the most money envelopes turned in by the due date wins an ICE Cream Party!
Math Night at Crocker
 
Crocker Highlands is again teaming up with the Lawrence Hall of Science to host the Math Around the World Festival.  The event will take place on Thursday, November 15, in the multipurpose room from 6:00 to 7:50 p.m.  It is a free flowing program so you can visit anytime during that time.  This is an evening event for parents and school age children to attend a math night together so please do not send children to attend on their own.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Volunteers will be needed to run each of the 12 math stations.

 If you are interested in volunteering for this fun event, please contact Jan Butler at jan.butler@hotmail.com