From the office of the Principal

We’ve had an exciting week at Los Cerros with the kick-off of our annual Magazine Drive. I’m sure you’ve seen your student come home with the large red and yellow envelopes containing order forms and information. Today we had our first prize giveaway and Arianna Cruz, 6th grade, was the winner of a wonderful cash prize.

There will opportunities for magazine order turn-in’s the next two Wednesdays, 8:15 – 9:00am in the Multi-Purpose Room. This drive supports all of our extra curricular activities such as dances, assemblies, and sports. Your support is appreciated. Time to renew on all of the magazines you’ve been waiting on.

Thursday evening is our Back to School Night, which provides an excellent opportunity for you to meet your student’s teachers and visit their classrooms. The evening begins at 7:00pm in your student’s homeroom. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

Phyllis Roach

PTA MESSAGE
As students gathered back on campus, the PTA also kicked off the new school year. The first PTA meeting will be held later this month and we hope to see many new faces as well as old friends. It is really the best way to connect with Los Cerros and get insight on what’s going on from Ms. Roach, our teacher reps and Mrs. Schubb. Ms. Roach will be speaking at each PTA meeting this year, and we always have a chance for “field trips” into the classrooms, as well as interesting speakers. Please remember, the PTA meetings are open to all and are informal gatherings where you can be with other parents while hearing what is going on at Los Cerros. The next meeting is September 25 at 9:00 in the teacher’s lounge.

We thank you all for your support of PTA during registration. Your membership dues allow us to continue to provide important support on campus. Among many other things, we help to replace aging computers each year.

September is the fundraising month for PTA. The magazine drive is the only fundraiser that we do at middle school. You will not be asked for auction donations, or be sold candy or cookie dough, so rest assured! Money we earn, along with membership dues, allows us to continue providing an exceptional level of support to Los Cerros, so renew those magazines! Once again, we thank you for your support and hope to see you at a PTA meeting soon!

Jennifer Walsh, PTA President

YEARBOOK AD DEADLINE

Attention 8th Grade Parents: Please remember to turn in your 8th Grade Dedications for the yearbook! Original deadline was September 4, 2008. However, we will be accepting them through the end of next week. September 12th. Please make your $30 checks out to Los Cerros Yearbook. Robin Bovberg

LOS CERROS DIRECTORY
Don't miss this great opportunity to advertise your business to the Los Cerros community. If you would like to advertise your business in the Los Cerros directory, we will be taking camera-ready ads for the few weeks week. Deadline for all completed artwork and checks is Friday, September 12th at noon.

Business card sized ad: $50

1/2 -page sized ad: $75

Full page ad: $150

Please send all camera-ready ads (.jpeg preferred) to stevie@sturladesign.com. If you have a low-tech version of your ad (paper copy), please send it to the office with your check. Make sure it is clearly marked for inclusion in the directory.

Please send all checks to the office, payable to Los Cerros PTA

Los Cerros Flag Football and CrossCounty

Information for flag football and cross country at Los Cerros will be given out during the lunch periods on Thursday, September 4th and Friday, September 5th. Students should see Mr. Cannon at lunch if they are interested and would like information. Practices will begin the week of September 8th and games begin the week of September 22nd. Please contact Mike Cannon at mcannon@srvusd.net or 552-3464 if you have any questions about cross county or flag football

San Ramon Valley Girls Softball League (SRVGAL) is a softball league for girls aged 5 to 18 who would like to play recreational or competitive softball. SRVGAL is the largest girls’ softball league in our area. Registration for teams is now open. Please visit www.srvgal.org for more information.

Schedules – please note that at this time ALL electives are full. No students will be allowed to change their electives.

Ms. Schubb will be visiting all core classes in the next two weeks to remind students of the services available through the counseling department. 6th grade students will be bringing home a purple brochure describing how teachers, parents and counselors can work together to make a successful school year.

9/17/08 National Backpack Awareness Day- National School Backpack Awareness Day is September 17, and occupational therapy practitioners across the United States are gearing up to help students “Pack It Light, Wear It Right!” Be sure and set aside a special time each week to go through your student’s backpack with her or him. Graded papers and projects should be filed in a separate location at home. For more information http://www.aota.org/News/Consumer/Backpack08.aspx

Academic interventions

Starting October 13th, we will begin our homework club, math help and peer tutoring. A complete list is available in the counseling office. If you would like a peer tutor for your student, please email Ms. Schubb nschubb@srvusd.net

Organization Bootcamp will be offered beginning 10/21/08. Class size is limited and students will be placed based on teacher recommendation. If you would like to submit your student’s name, please email Ms. Schubb, being sure to indicate “bootcamp” in the subject heading. nschubb@srvusd.net

8th grade parents: If you would like a “parent mentor” to support you and your student’s transition from 8th to 9th grade, please email Ms. Schubb nschubb@srvusd.net. Mentors are last year’s 8th grade parents who are willing to offer words of wisdom and support as your student moves from middle school to high school. If your 8th grade student would like to be a peer tutor, please have him/her come in the counseling office and pick up an application.

Helpful Information

John Muir Women’s HealthCenter “Raising Teen Series”-

Raising Adolescents and Avoiding Conflict Wednesday 9/17/08

Learning to live with your Teen Wednesday 10/1/08

What Teens Secretly want from Parents Wednesday 11/19/08

Understanding your teens peer pressure Wednesday 12/10/08

For more information 925-941-7900 www.johnmuirhealth.com/whcclasses

AD/HD Awareness Week (September 14- September 20) “From First Years to Golden Years: AD/HD and Life's Relationships.” www.add.org/awareness for more information

Personal/Social-

Creating Lasting Family Connections- The Discovery Center will be starting an after school discussion group on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. The group runs from 2:30-4:30pm until December 17th, 2008 and there is also a parent component. This is particularly helpful for your student to improve communication skills, learn stress management and assist in the overall positive transition in to middle school. For more information, please contact Michelle Cummings at the DiscoveryCenter. 925-837-0505 x. 305

SafeSchool Ambassadors

Los Cerros will be beginning our 4th year of the Safe School Ambassadors (SSA) program. Approximately 6-8 students are selected from each grade level to receive intensive training on conflict resolution skills. The SSA Program model allows Ambassadors to be safe, cool, and effective. Ambassadors first intervene with their close friends and others they know well; this familiarity increases their effectiveness and reduces the risk of retaliation. Ambassadors also act in the moment, as cruelty is happening, so their impact is immediate; they don't need to wait for an appointment with a counselor or mediator. The selection process will begin in September. Students are selected through a combination of peer recommendation; teacher recommendation; and self selection. Please watch for more details and dates. For more information on this program, please see www.safeschoolambassadors.org.

Career

Our 4th annual Career Day will be Friday, November 7th, 2008 from 10:35a-12:50pm in the multi-purpose room. If you would like to share your career with our students and/or volunteer your time, please contact Jean Lindberg j.lindberg@sbcglobal.net