LeCONTE ELEMENTARY School Newsletter

2241 Russell Street Berkeley, CA 94705 www.leconteonline.org (510)644-6290 Cheryl Wilson, Principal, cherylwilson@berkeley.net Cal Collier, PTA President, calcollier@yahoo.com

Begin with the End in Mind- October 3, 2011

We only get one chance to prepare our students for a future that none of us can possibly predict. What are we going to do with that one chance? S. Covey Do you ever find yourself wondering in the middle of the night how youre going to make sure your child reaches his/her full potential or what you should be doing differently to prepare your child? These are questions that I routinely ask myself when I reflect about our interactions with your children and our efforts to educate them for a fulfilling and productive future. While our ultimate goal is to help your child learn and apply the grade level standards to the best of her/his ability, I believe that if we did a better job at teaching them how the standards relate to their lives and teaching them how to plan and prepare for success at school, then they would all have a better chance at navigating a world where change happens within an instant. What I am proposing is that we all work toward teaching our children to be proactive and to begin with the end in mind. These are two of the 7 Habits discussed in Steven Coveys book, The Leader in Me: How Schools and ParentsAre Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. Though we do not have the funds to pay for the training to implement the program, we certainly have the skills and tools to teach children how to take initiative, how to plan ahead and set goals, make decisions, and self-assess their progress and skills. Just like we have to teach them how to get along with others, we have to teach them how to make choices that impact their ability to be successful in school and in life. I know that all students could benefit from learning the two habits mentioned; however, I am focusing on third through fifth grades this year. The goals are to raise students awareness of what it means to plan, increase their ownership of their progress in school, and provide more opportunities for them to demonstrate their talents and leadership. The attached forms are examples of checklists teachers will be using to help your child learn to plan and learn what it means to begin with the end in mind. Please try using the forms at home! Principal Wilson

Upcoming Events
Meetings: Tues., 10/5 School Governance
Council, 6:30PM Library

Wed., 10/6 English Learner

Advisory Committee, 6:00PM Room 106

Tues., 10/18, PTA, 5:45PM

Cafeteria

Thurs., 10/27, Coalition of

Families for African American Students, 6:00PM, Library

School Closed: Mon., 10/10 Dental Screening: Fri., 10/14,

2nd & 5th grade students only

Picture Days: Wed.-Thurs.

10/18 -10/20 See attached calendar for the full list of LeConte Events

Deadlines and Support Needed Now

Free/Reduced lunch: Applications are now past due. If you have not submitted one, your child will be charged $3.25 for the school lunch. The salad, fruit, soup, and milk free of charge. See Marie, our school secretary, for an application. Free Nutrition Cooking Classes: Families can take cooking classes at Willard Middle school beginning Tues., 10/4 or Wed., 10/5 from 5:30 -7:30PM. To register call (510)644-7722 or send an email to familynutrition@berkeley.net Supplemental Education Services: SES is an academic tutorial assistance program; students receive tutoring after school. The applications were sent home last week and they are due Monday, Oct. 17. If you would like another application, please see Marie. LeContes Annual Halloween Fest and Scholastic Book Fair: Join the fun on Sat., 10/29, 1:004:00PM. Volunteers are needed to help coordinate this event, please contact Catarina Negrin at canoa@sbcglobal.net (510)704-0442; to help with the book fair contact Basia_lu@yahoo.com (510)601-5014.

Contents

School-wide News & Appreciations Calendar Students of the Month Student Checklists Photos

Page 2 of 3

School-wide News

LeConte Newsletter

Teachers focus for the month of September

In addition to preparing for Back To School Night, teachers have not only been getting to know the students as individuals but also assessing their reading and mathematics skills. The results are used to determine what students have already learned, what they need to learn, and what areas they may need more support with to master the grade level standards. As required by the State, students who are English language learners also took the California English Language Development Test to determine their ability to speak, read, write, and understand English. This test varies per grade level and the results will be available for families by the end of October. Teachers also developed and signed up for 4-5 committees. The committees goals are to improve our school culture, student outcomes, and our intervention and discipline systems.

Principals focus for the month of September

Its not enough to be busy. The question is: What are we busy about?
H. Thoreau

Principals are required to meet and develop a professional development plan with all teachers who will be evaluated this year. Teachers are evaluated every other year based on the following six areas: Engaging & Supporting All Students,
Creating & Maintaining Effective Environments, Understanding & Organizing Subject Matter, Planning Instruction, Assessing Students for Learning, and Developing as a Professional Educator.

the required materials and that the school environment is safe are two additional priorities. FYI, principals are evaluated every year by the Assistant Superintendent, Neil Smith, based on these key areas: school vision, school
culture, instruction program, management, collaboration, ethics, responding to the larger political, social, legal, and cultural context.

We will be seeking parent volunteers to help implement our School Safety Plan.

Making sure teachers and students have

Parent/Guardian Committee Meetings

Our PTA meets every third Tuesday at 5:45PM. Dinner and child care are included. This years meetings will include workshops presented by teachers, watch for the dates. The School Governance Council (SGC) meets every first Wednesday at 6:30.This is a State required committee; members are responsible for allocating school funds and developing our School Site Plan for Achievement. The English Learner Advisory Committee meets every first Thursday. The purpose of this committee is to advise the principal and school staff on programs and services for English Language Learners. The Coalition of Families for African American Students meets the last Thursday. Their goal is to improve the achievement of African American students.

Student News
One of the ways we recognize students individual talents and achievements is through the teacher selection of Students of the Month. Teachers submit reasons for their student selections to the principal who creates certificates and takes photos of the students. The certificates and photos are displayed in the main hallway throughout the month. A list of the students selected this month is attached. Since every child has talent and should demonstrate academic and social growth, all students are selected at least once during the year. Please applaud your child for cooperating, participating in class, and being a team player. This first month of school has been relatively calm. Students are making new friends and practicing
the three Bs: how to be respectful, responsible, and safe.

Page 3 of 3

School-wide News & Appreciations

LeConte Newsletter

Class Fund and Field Trips

To help pay for the cost of grade level field trips and student incentives, we are asking ALL families to donate $25 or more to their childs class fund. Please write a check to the LeConte PTA or send cash. Please give your donation to your childs teacher. Our fourth and fifth grade students have traditionally gone on overnight field trips. We would like to continue this trend but your help is needed. The fourth grade trip to Sierra Outdoor School costs $162 per student and the cost of the bus is an additional $45 per student. The trip is not until May 2012 so please make arrangements to pay all or at least half of the cost for your child to attend. The fifth grade field trip still needs to be confirmed; you will receive more information next month.

PTA Classes and LeConte Guidebook

Thank you Carol Perez and Karen Meckstroth, your hard work has paid off! Four PTA classes are starting this week: Cardio Dance Workout, Chess, Visual Arts, and Cooking. Remaining classes should start October 11th. Watch for updates. Thanks to Denise Montgomery, our 2011-2012 LeConte Guidebook has been printed and is being sent home. Please ask your child for your copy and please take a moment to read the contents. In this invaluable guide, youll find answers to questions about the services our school provides, what is taught at each grade level, our discipline policies and more. Read it
today!

Multicultural Potluck
Thanks so much to all of the families who attended the potluck last week. There was plenty of delicious food and the student entertainment was outstanding. Thank you to all the performers who sang, danced, performed martial arts and gymnastics, and told jokes! Congratulations to Quincy Martin, Gerald Smith, Teddy Tewodros, Gwendolyn Dillon and her little sister, Kira Linn and Amelia Martin, Ishmael Perry, Diego Canales, Cole and Miles Shumway, Camila Canales, Ophelia Johnson, Ikaika Gunderson and Marie Wilson, and all of the toddlers who came to sing on the microphone. See attached photos. Appreciate your students not just for what they do, but more importantly, appreciate them for who they are.
L. Colan

LeConte felicita a sus... (determinado por los maestros del saln) Vea sus fotos y certificados en el tabln de Estudiantes del mes LeConte congratulates its...
(Determined by the classroom teacher) See their pictures and certificates on the Student of the Month bulletin board

ESTUDIANTES DEL MES

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

Teachers/ Maestros Ms. Aguas Mr. Auletta Mr. Argueta Ms. Barer Ms. Bernal &Ms. DonaldsonFletcher Ms. Bull Ms. Cross Ms. Diebel Ms. Gearring Mr. Henderson & Ms. Rios-Duran Ms. Johnston Ms. Logan Ms. Louie Ms. Perez Ms. Torres Ms. Tyshler

Students/Estudiantes Belinda Huerta Garcia, Sol Valencia Topete, Cyrus Soltani, and Daniel Finis Perez LZ Carmichael and Pedro Munoz Alexandra Steverson and Alessandro Riutort Azavia Bardsky and Joaquin McCall Froylan Arroyo Bernal, Emily Burgos, and Aiden Canales-Melendez Jhanai Dell, Eli Moulton, and Malia Parks Arasani Lechuga, Khaleyma McCall, Desmond OShea, and Gregory Williams Teddy Berry, Kenvia Smith, and Anouk Sperske The entire class Jess Gonzlez, Itzel Salinas Hernndez , Lucy Montgomery, Mohammed Muthana , Biliam Thapa, and Josie Wallin Lillian Schouten Daniel Collier, Jazmine Daniels, and Gerardo Romero Camilo Gomez, Emma Rhode, and Isabel Wu Maggie Fern and Jean Harvey Simone Faulkner, Emilie Freilich, Angel Martinez Munoz, and Lizbeth Aguilar Ramos Alexis Robinson and Tai Dickinson

LeCONTE CALENDAR
October 1 October 31
Sun.
2 3

Mon.

Updated LeConte News & Calendar: www.leconteonline.org Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri.
4 Free Cooking Classes begin Willard Middle School 5:30 7:00 Tues. - 5 week session 5 School Governance Council Meeting 6:30PM Library Free Cooking Classes begin Willard Middle School 5:30 7:00 Wed. 5 week session 12 6 English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting 6:00PM, Room 106 7 8

Sat.

10

11

13

14

15

No School for STUDENTS

Dental Screening 2nd & 5th grade students

18 19 20 21 22

16

17

Picture Day PTA Meeting 5:45 dinner 6:00 meeting Cafeteria

23 24 25

Picture Day

Picture Day Community Kidz-Lights on After School 4:00-6:00

27 Coalition of Families for African American Students Meeting, 6:00 Library School Governance Chair Training Longfellow Middle School 5:30 dinner 6:30 workshops 3 28 Celebrate LeConte Assembly 8:15AM Auditorium Halloween Parade, 12:45 Dinner for BUILD students 6:00-7:30PM 4 Parent Conferences begin 5 29

26

Annual Halloween Festival 1:00 4:00PM

30

31

Nov. 1