A Note from the Principal

Hooray!  We are off and running!  Here’s just a peek at what’s coming.  Looks great!

Nurture Shock Book Study:  A series of chapter talks facilitated by Dr. Becki Branstetter, our school psychologist.  If you’d like to join the discussion, I have copies of the book for you to check out.  We’ll be discussing topics like:  The Sibling Effect, The Science of Teen Rebellion, and Why Kids Lie. 

Odd Girl Out Book Study:  Not just for girls, this book describes relational bullying and how it affect children.  Boys are equally affected.  Come join the discussion so that we can help our children.  Books are available in the office.

Hillcrest’s Green Team has been busy strategically placing attractive recycling and composting bins throughout our school.  With help from our ‘green’ parents helpers, we will teach our children how to save our planet by better managing our waste.

We’re continuing our highly recognized Community Service and Sister School programs.  Each grade level has a community service project tied to their curriculum. We’re also planning service events at our sister schools: Lockwood, Santa Fe, Sankofa and Allendale.

Emergency Preparedness:  We’re working on developing and practicing our student pick up process should we need to evacuate our school.  Please make sure your emergency information is correct.

New Faces:  Please help me welcome:

• Carolyn Holloway, our secretary, has served at many schools throughout the district.
• Gail Scruggs, middle school math teacher, brings 15 years of experience from Seattle, Washington.
• Jess Long, another Seattlite, is an experienced teacher who loves teaching middle school science. 
• Gabby Assayag and Ronnel Estrada are our new PTA aides.  They allow us to teach in small groups, pre-teach, and re-teach.
• Marti Viteri taught Spanish to our eighth graders when they were in Kindergarten.  We are so happy that she decided to return.
• Professor Pincel is our new Capoeira teacher.  He is a popular teacher at schools around the Bay Area.
• Mathilde Landberg is very excited about joining us to teach art.  She is looking forward to bringing new projects to our art curriculum.

Thank you PTA for generously supporting our students and teachers.  We couldn’t do it without you.

PTA President’s Message

I had a great time at the kindergarten ice cream social last Thursday night.  There are quite a few familiar faces in the parent ranks of kindergarten this year and it was great to say hello to so many friends.  I was also happy to meet many of the families for whom this will be their very first Hillcrest kindergarten experience.  I have to say that the new kindergartners already looked right at home on the Yard.  My fifth-grader and my second-grader kept busy spinning the SuperNova (completely packed with kindergartners) as fast as it would go, and not a single kindergartner was hollering to get off or to slow down –they wanted more!  Ms. Rochester and Ms. Henderson will have their hands full, as usual!

We have quite a few new PTA employees on staff this year, so please introduce yourselves to them and help them feel at home.  Your children will soon meet most of them once the curriculum enrichment programs begin.  We will be introducing them to you via the Yellow Pages as well.  They are a critical part of the school and are integral in supporting the teachers and the curriculum.  Thank you to the Hillcrest community for raising sufficient funds over the years via the PTA’s fall donation request, the Hillcrest Benefit, the Walkathon, and many other donations both big and small to allow the PTA to hire these talented people.  And thank you again to Joanne Karchmer for supervising both the hiring and retention of PTA staff over the summer.

Please remember that our very first volunteer event of the year is on Friday, September 3rd at 1pm:  the All School Clean Up.  Show up ready to work.  Many hands make short work.  And then those many deserving hands will be rewarded with ice cream.  The clean up begins at 1pm and ice cream will be served at around 4pm.  Clean up the school and then clean up your hands and join us for ice cream!

Happy first week of school!

Sharon Murphy, PTA President

News/Announcements

School Site Council Election

Hillcrest receives School Improvement money every year from the state, approximately $30,000, which is allocated to schools on a per student basis.  The elected School Site Council oversees our school plan, reviews our performance data, approves expenditures and helps guide our next steps.  School Site Council members also serve on our School Safety Committee and helped establish our Long Range Planning Committee for Student Enrollment.  We need to elect two members to be compliant with the state requirements.  If you would like to serve on this important committee, please email me a brief bio.  We will vote at the end of September.
Contact:  beverly.rothenberg@ousd.k12.ca.us

Green Corner
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot

Hillcrest is ready to recycle & compost with a green compost bin and blue recycle bin in every room and on the playground. Please take a moment to put your waste in the proper bin and help those who look confused or unsure.

Which bin do I use?

Green Compost Bin: all food,  paper coffee cups, paper towels, tissues, paper food containers/boxes, plant waste -No PLASTIC bags/wrappers!

Blue Recycle Bin: All paper (even with staples), plastic bottles, aluminum cans/foil, plastic food containers/lids, hard plastic yogurt containers, cardboard, glass bottles.

Brown Garbage/Landfill Bin: wrappers, plastic sandwich bags, plastic utensils, juice boxes, straws, soft plastic food/yogurt containers/bags.

Reduce/Reuse: Please reduce single use food items and choose reusable drink and food containers for your child's lunch.

If you would like to join the green team or have questions or feedback, please e-mail us at greenhillcrest@gmail.com.

Hillcrest Green Team
Katie Binder, Wendy Wheeler, Diane Diamond

Contact: Katie Binder
Email: greenhillcrest@gmail.com

2010 Hillcrest Benefit Auction!

Welcome back!

The annual Hillcrest Benefit Auction will be held Saturday, November 6.  The theme this year is Peace, Love, and Green for Hillcrest.  The event is always a lot of fun, and raises funds to support an array of essential programs and services for Hillcrest.

The Benefit committee is seeking volunteers, as well as fun donations for the auction.

Please email Kelli Brown or Erika Lonergan at 2010benefit@hillcrest.org if you would like to help.  We also invite you to take a few moments to read the Benefit newsletter that will be attached to the Yellow Pages each week for updates and information about the event and opportunities to get involved.  Thank you!
Contact: Kelli Brown
Email: 2010benefit@hillcrest.org

EVENTS

Green Team Wine Tasting Fundraiser

Come show support for the Hillcrest Green Team, enjoy 6 wines poured by the Wine Mine and be served tasty appetizers by your very own Middle School Green Team.

All proceeds will go to PTA general fund to
help offset the cost of our new recycle bins.

When: Thursday, September 23rd, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Wine Mine - 5427 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
Cost: $25 per person (paid at the door)
RSVP: greenhillcrest@gmail.com (first 40 to sign up)

Thanks to our sponsor, The Wine Mine!
Contact: Wendy Wheeler
Email: Wendy Wheeler

 

2010 - 2011 Calendar Highlights

Dates change so check this list often for updates.
September 6:  Labor Day Holiday
September 8:  8:30 Garbage Assembly
September 8: 7-8 Puberty Parent Ed Night
September 16:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg.
September 21 - 22:  Dave Nettle
September 22: Fire/Eq Drill
September 23:  7 pm Dave Nettle Parent Meeting
Sept 29: 6:30 or 7 Town Hall w/T Smith@Piedmont Av
September 30 – October 1:  Picture Day
October 4:  Picture Make Up Day
October 4:  The Best Me Assembly Gr 1-5 only
October 5:  Cow daytime assembly
October 8:  Staff Development – NO STUDENTS
October 14:  7:30 a.m. SSC
October 14: 7pm  Our Family Coalition
October 14:   6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg.
October 19: Fire/Eq Drill
October 20 - 21:  Dave Nettle
October 28:  Ofcr DeWarns Internet Safety 1&7 pm
October 29:  1 pm Halloween Parade
November 2:  Election Day
November 6:  Hillcrest Benefit!!!!!
November 11:  Veterans Day Holiday
November 12:  2pm Fire/Eq with Pick Up Drill
November 15 – 19:  Early Dismissal Parent Conf
November 18: 7:30 a.m. SSC
November 18:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
November 20 – 28:  Thanksgiving Break
November 29:  Lice check
December 7-10:  Book Fair
December 6:  8:30 Fire EQ Drill
December 6:  Submit Report Cards for Review
December 7 - 8:  Dave Nettle
December 9:  7:30 a.m. SSC
December 9:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg (Nurture Shock 4 – The Lost Hour
December 10:  K-5 Report Cards go home
December 18 – January 2:  Winter Break
January 3:  Lice check
January 13:  7:30 a.m. SSC
January 13:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
January 13:  2 pm Fire/EQ Drill
January 17:  Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
January 19:  Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical
January 26 – 27:  Spelling Bee
January 28:  Staff Development – NO STUDENTS
February 7 – 9:  5th @ Marin Headlands
February 10:  7:30 a.m. SSC
February 10:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
February 16 – 17:  Dave Nettle
February 18:  10 am Fire/EQ Drill
February 21:  Presidents Holiday
March 1 – 2:  STAR Writing Test – Grade 7
March 7: 10:35 am Fire EQ Drill
March 10:  7:30 a.m. SSC
March 10:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
March 14 Submit Report Cards for Review
March 18:  K-5 Report Cards go home
March 30:  8 amVolunteer Appreciation Breakfast
March 31:  Cesar Chavez Holiday
April 9:  Walkathon
April 14:  7:30 a.m. SSC
April 14:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
April 16 – April 24:  Spring Break
April 25:  Lice check
April 25 – May 19:  STAR Testing
May 12:  7:30 a.m. SSC
May 12:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
May 17 – May 20:  MS @ Santa Cruz
May 23:  Science Fair Projects due
May 24:  10 am Fire/EQ Drill
May 26:  7 pm Science Fair
May 27 – May 30:  Memorial Day Holiday
June 1:  7 pm Open House
June 9:  6 pm PTA Bd/ 7 pm PTA Mtg
June 13:  All School Picnic
June 13:  Submit Report Cards for Review
June 14 – 16:  Early dismissal
June 15:  4 pm 8th Grade Promotion
June 16:  Last Day – Distribute Report Cards
June 17:  Teacher Work Day
June 20:  Incoming K Assessments

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Yellow Pages compiled by Kirsten Hosemann