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

 
Beth Rhine, Principal

 Wendy Ghorai/Nicole Radlow,
PTA Co-Presidents
 
 
January 17th, 2011
In This Issue
President's Message
School Contact Info
Party Ideas
Donations Needed
Book Swap
Nutrition Update
Oratorical Fest
Calendar

 In January the Crocker Community Celebrates...

Acceptance!

 

Jan 18th -21st Book Swap Drop-off 8:30-8:45 on playground

 

School Site Council Meeting

4:15-5:15 - Art Room


What an amazing seaso Thank e you in the New

Message from your co-Presidents
 

 

Dear Crocker Families;
 
Just two weeks past our Winter Break and the holidays feel like quite a while ago, but not for the Tolento family.   We received two very sweet letters of appreciation from two of the Tolento children thanking the Crocker community for their generosity.  We greatly changed their Christmas experience.  Thank you to all of  you.  We'll work with Beth to see where we can post the letters for you all to see.  Our community raised $1,365 plus two gift certificates for the family this Christmas.
 
Speaking of generosity, it is time to be generous with our own kids.   We continue to be able to offer the quality programs to our children at school solely as a result of fund-raising success.  We've done a terrific job so far.  In less than 7 weeks from now, we will have our magnificent auction and we need everyone to step up with donations of all kinds.  We solicit outside our school community, but the items and hosted parties donated by our own families are the cornerstone of the auction.  We appreciate your participation.
 
If you are looking for a short-term job to help our school, consider serving on the nominating committee for next year's slate.  Contact Cindy Eckhart at cjeckart@comcast.net .  The committee requires no prior experience.  We love new parents to get involved in the committee as well as filling positions on the slate - and the slate positions also require no prior experience.  
 
It turns out our salad bar will be delayed until about a month from now.  It seems OUSD has some hurdles we need to jump first.  We'll keep you posted on the exact timing.
 
Don't forget this is the week of the book swap (bringing in your books Tuesday-Friday and taking different ones home on Friday).  Also, the Oratorical fest is Wednesday this week. Have a great short week!
 
Wendy Ghorai & Nicole Radlow
Co-Presidents, PTA 2010-11
president@crockerschool.org

School Contact Information


Most of you received a phone call from me last week reminding families about the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, as well as the Teacher Professional Development Day (no school for students) on Friday, January 28.  This message was sent via the School Messenger system.  It is only as effective as the information we have at the school site.  If you did not receive a message, it means the phone number we have for you in our system is not accurate.  Please stop by the office and update your information as soon as possible.  We also may be in touch requesting information.

 

One important use of the system is if there is an emergency at school and we need to contact families.  If you have moved or changed your phone number, please make sure we have the most up-to-date information in the office.

 

Beth Rhine

                          Party Like It's ....2011!

More hosted party ideas to get your creative juices going! First grade parent, Sharon Badillo, came up with a great list of party ideas for the upcoming auction (March 5) that we want to share with you. Thanks Sharon!

 

Tours:

 Oakland Bakery Tour - So many great bakeries, so little time.  Why not host an Oakland Bakery Tour every Saturday morning for a month or two and find out which bakery really has the best chocolate chip cookies
 

  Ice Cream Shop Tour of Oakland - Ici, Fenton's, Tara's, Scream, Dreyer's, Gelato Firenze, Ben & Jerry's, Montclair Malt Shop...A Sunday afternoon ice cream treat, every Sunday for a month or two. Sounds oh so good!

   
 

 University Tour - Are you a Cal (UCSF, Stanford...) Alum?  Miss your old stomping grounds?  Take a handful of kids on a tour of the campus with a stop at your favorite caf�. They don't have to be thinking about college in grade school, but why not?

 

Kids' Parties:

 1st Grade (2nd, 3rd, etc.) Mani Pedi Party: Take a bunch of kids to the Nail Shop for   pampering and sparkling lemonade!


 

  Pump it Up Party: Kid's jumping for hours on end? Nirvana!
 

   Movie Night: Put up a sheet in your backyard and have kids bring sleeping bags to watch a movie alfresco. Popcorn and fun included.
 

  Creative Writing Class: Get those kids writing...for fun!


 

 Fairies and Superheroes at Fairyland

 

Kid's Scavenger Hunt Around the Neighborhood

 

Go Fly a Kite Party: Fly kites at the Berkeley Marina

Night at the Museum - Academy of Sciences Nightlife
 

          Star Wars Theme Night - Dress up as your favorite Star Wars character and

          party down with other Jedis, Clone Troopers, Princess Leia, Chewie, Anakin, Yoda,
 

          and even Darth Vaders. 
 


Arts & Crafts

Graffiti Painting Workshop: Learn how to do graffiti legally!


 

Watercolors at Lake Temescal: Bring our your inner Monet.
 

Jewelry Making Party
 

First Fridays  Art Murmur Party: Have a pre-murmur cocktail party before heading out to the local galleries for some art displays the first Friday of the month.

 

Design a video game workshop: How hard can it be?

 

To sign up for a hosted party, please visit the website at:

http://auction.crockerschool.org/hosted-parties/. If you need help with your idea, contact Wendy or Nicole at president@crockerschool.org.

 

Thanks for your participation and time!

 

                  

Auction Donations Needed! Anything and Everything! Desserts, too....


The Auction is less than 2 months away, and it is our biggest opportunity to fund those amazing programs that all of our children love so much. Our kids need us to think big to make this happen! We would like to ask every parent to send out an email to your friends, family, neighbors, and others to ask for auction donations. Maybe someone belongs to a wine club, or manages a restaurant or a neighborhood store and can offer a gift certificate ---any of these would be great auction items! But, we're also looking for anything--Safeway or Target gift cards, pottery, unused toys or clothes are also great items to auction off.

Another fun idea is to join with a friend or two and offer a "dessert of the month" auction item. Each family makes dessert 3-4 times a year, and the winning family gets a new dessert each month. There are lots of fun ideas to use your talents to help fund our children's education!
 
Visit our website at www.auction.crockerschool.org to make donations and read about what's happening with the auction.

Email us at auction@crockerschool.org with questions, ideas or opportunities to volunteer. 
 
Plan to attend our next planning meeting on Wednesday, January 19 at 7:00pm (1012 Ashmount Ave).  Hope to see you there.
 
Thank you,
Melissa Heller and Tamara Zirkle
                         Book Swap This Friday

Drop off books at the table on the playground before school on Tuesday, 1/18 - Friday, 1/21. In the event of rain, book drop will be in the library.  Bring gently used books for kids (any age) and adults. Please no coloring or sticker books. Adults are welcome to participate.  

Everyone should stop by the swap on Friday, 1/21 from 3 - 4 pm. The books will be on tables in the multipurpose room for everyone to see. Supply permitting, all Crocker kids can select a book. Students who contribute books to the swap can select more.  Stay until the end of the swap and you can take some extra books home.
 
Questions? Available to help? Contact Lisa Hobbs at lisa_a_hobbs@yahoo.com
                           Nutrition Update

First, I would like to wish everyone and healthy and happy new year!  There are 4 main goals for Health and Nutrition at Crocker for the rest of the school year:  

1. The primary goal is to help our kids develop healthy eating behaviors.
2. The second goal would be linking nutrition and physical activity. 
3.  Family and community involvement is goal three. 
4.  Lastly, school nutrition policy.

Read more about Health and Nutrition Goals at Crocker

Congratulations to Lily O'Hare 2nd Grade and Adenike Ajike 2nd Grade December's winners to the trivia question "Which contains more water per serving?" The two possible answers were Watermelon or Iceberg lettuce and the correct answer was iceberg lettuce. 

P.E. Update - Basketball is in full swing at Crocker. We have two basketball teams 2nd and 3rd grade combined and a 4th and 5th grade combined.  There first game is Jan 22nd!

For the month of January, 1st thru 5th grade will be playing and learning about hockey.  Kindergartners will be continuing to learn about the value of physical activity while learning new movements and working on developing key social skills, including good sportsmanship. They will also continue to develop their large motor skills and improve their balance and coordination.   

5th graders are starting to prepare for the Fitness Test they will be taking in the spring.  Coach B wanted me to remind parents to remind their kids to where proper footwear and to please use deodorant boys and girls.  The kids are out their running around and they start to sweat and well you know :)
 
Be Healthy!
Donna Ricketts-Ajike
Health/Nutrition

Oratorical Fest this Wednesday


Please join us for the Oratorical Fest this Wednesday, January 19.  The fourth and fifth grade assembly will be from 9 - 10:15 am. K-3 assembly will be from 10:35 - 11:30 am.  Winners of the Crocker Highlands competition will participate/compete in the district-wide event on March 19, 2011.  For more information, see the website:http://tapestryleps.com/registration/rules.html