Leadership Corner
The following announcements were made this week by Leadership to the students during homeroom. 
--Thank you for all of your contributions to the Coins for a Cure fundraiser for juvelile diabetes.  We were able to raise over $450 as a school.
--The first dance of the year is a neon dance this Friday October 16th for 7th and 8th graders only. Tickets will be on sale Thursday and Friday.  They are $5 and you must have a signed permission slip.  Please remember that the school dress code will be enforced at the dance.
--We will be participating in “The Great California Shake Out” on Thursday Oct. 15th at 10:15 am.  More than 5 1/2 million Californians are registered to participate. This event is to help raise awareness of earthquaqe preparedness.
--The Reflections program is here again at Los Cerros.  During the month of October anyone interested can submit an entry.  Dance Choreography, film production, writing, musical composition, photography or visual art are the areas you can include.  This year’s theme is “Beauty is...” The deadline for entries is Oct. 30. For information on the reflections program contackt Jane V. at jane.vanderwerf@sbcglobal.net.
--6th&7th graders, if you want a peer tutor please see Ms. schubb
--College night is at Monte Vista this Thursday from 6:30-8-30pm. See Ms. Schubb for more information.
--Did you know that there is a college bulletin board in the library? It’s right inside the door on the right and will have important information posted throughout the year. 
--Starting Wednesday during lunch, bring your lunch to the counseling office and prepare to relax! we will play stress bingo, learn visualization, and practice ways to deal with all kinds of stress from too much homework to annoying siblings. See ms. schubb for more information
--Leadership will be judging a Halloween door decorating contest on Thursday Oct 29th.  Decorate your door in Halloween style and leave it open Thursday morning for the judges to see it.  This competition is optional, however, the top three doors will earn points for their homeroom.
--Any 6th graders who are interested in running for 6th grade commissioner must come to a mandatory meeting next Wednesday at lunch in room 4.  Please see Mr. Briemle if you have any questions.  If you think you might be interested in running make sure that you attend this meeting.
 
FALL PHOTO RETAKE DAY
If your student missed the first photo day, didn't have a form or check, or would like a photo retake, please look for the Lifetouch form to come home Friday from school.  We will also have extra forms in the office.  If you are happy with the picture taken in August you don't need to do anything further. Picture day is Wednesday, October 21 and the photographers will be set up for photos in the gym all day.  If your student has independent PE (and wants a photo) make sure they know to get their photo before they leave campus.
Los Cerros Middle School Celebrates Red Ribbon Week – October 19 - 23
 
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated each year during the last full week of October in honor of U.S. D.E.A. agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Agent Camarena grew up in an impoverished neighborhood, but believed that one person could make a difference, a message needed this year. In 1985, while working undercover to fight a major drug cartel, he was kidnapped and murdered. Friends and neighbors began wearing red ribbons to honor his memory.
 
Los Cerros will celebrate Red Ribbon Week with a focus on: THE REAL DEAL:  Responsibility, Integrity, Drug Free, Smart Choices.
 
Mon 10/19–The REAL DEAL- Smart Choices.
@ STUDENTS will participate in an assembly focus on THE REAL DEAL with guest speaker George Papageorge
@ Students and staff will received ‘REAL DEAL’ bracelets to wear for the week.
@ Red ribbons around school, fences, and along the streets surrounding the school.
@ Families can put a R.R.W. message on their windshields with window markers.
 
Tue 10/20 - Responsibility
@ Guest Speaker George Papageorge at 7pm in MPR presenting 5 Ways Parents Disconnect From Kids – and what to do about it!  Tie in to your children who received the message during assembly with this informative and timely workshop.
@ Bracelets are numbered…  prizes will be awarded through the week for students wearing the bracelet if your number is called!
 
Wed 10/21 - Integrity – WEAR RED DAY.
@ More prizes!  This day wearing the bracelet AND a red shirt!
 
Thur 10/22 – Drug Free
@ More prizes!  This day wearing the bracelet with the words “I choose to be drug free” written on the inside of the bracelet.
 
Fri 10/22 – It’s a Life-long choice…
@ Students go home with the final prizes and a very special item to remind them of their commitment to be drug free and make smart choices.

DROP OFF ZONE: 
If you are bringing homework, clothing or books to school for your student, please come to the front office and place the labeled items in the grade level drawer.  Next, complete a notice that an aide will deliver to the student's classroom.  The student then picks up the item at their convenience. 
 
HEALTH CHALLENGE EXAM
What is the Health challenge Test?  The Health Challenge Exam is a test which is available to 8th grade students only.  The Exam consists of 106 questions.  The Exam questions come directly from the New Glencoe Health textbook.  Those students who pass the Exam will automatically have their passing grade entered on their official high school transcript.  The students can then choose another elective in lieu of "Health," a mandatory class for freshman.  This Exam is offered only once.  The 8th grade students, who are interested in taking the Health Challenge Exam, can pick up the Petition in the Counseling office from Ms. Williamson - October 15th through December 4th.  The Exam will be Wednesday, December 9th, at 3:10 PM, at Dougherty Valley High School.


BASKET BRIGADE: 
We are approaching that special time of year once again, when students, staff, and parents of Los Cerros come together and volunteer their time, energy and resources to help families in need.  This is the 14th year for the Basket Brigade, a project where Los Cerros students fill 300 new laundry baskets with canned and box food items, fresh produce, home baked pumpkin bread, paper towels,  foil, dish towels, pot holders, cocoa, tea, and a Safeway gift card.   

A special Thanksgiving card created by our art students is also included with each basket.  These baskets are delivered to a dozen shelters or food banks in Contra Costa and Alameda counties the Friday before Thanksgiving.  Our monetary donations were down over 40% at registration this year, therefore we are in need of additional contributions.  If you would like to contribute, checks can be made  payable to Los Cerros PTA and dropped off in the school's office.   

Another way you may contribute is during the Basket Brigade Food Drive, which begins Monday, October 26th and runs for 2 weeks.  Items needed are:  canned corn, canned green beans, canned black olives, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, chicken broth, boxed stuffing mix, cornbread mix and $10 gift cards to Safeway.  Food Drive items will be collected as students arrive at school October 26th to November 6th.   

If you have any questions you can contact me at rgreenblatt@sbcglobal.net. Thank you so much for your help with this wonderful project!    Robin  Greenblatt

• Do you want to buy a directory and haven't ordered one yet?  Just drop a $10 check to LCMS PTA in the front office along with your name and student name. 
• Have you moved or changed phone numbers?  Please let directory chair Kari Doolittle know. 
• Would you like to advertise your business in the directory?  Contact Kari Doolittle.

Advertise in the Los Cerros Directory!
 
Take Advantage of 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 next couple of weeks.  Deadline for all completed artwork and checks is Wednesday, October 28.


Please make all checks payable to Los Cerros PTA ·     

• Business Card size:         $50    
• ½-page size:                  $100   
• Full-page size:                $150

 
Please send all camera-ready ads (.jpeg format preferred) to Kari Doolittle kdoolit@srvusd.net; drop your check in the Los Cerros office.   If you have a low-tech version of your ad (paper copy), please send it to the Los Cerros office with your check included.  Please be sure it is clearly marked for inclusion in the directory. We're looking forward to seeing you in the directory! 

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Calling All Middle School Filmmakers!
 Is your middle school child interested in videos, film making, digital media, or acting? Middle school students in the San Ramon Valley are encouraged to participate in the 4th Annual Street Smarts “Be Reel!” Video Contest this Fall.  For the valley-wide competition, students may work individually or in teams of up to four students to produce 60-second public service announcement (PSA) videos on the topic of dangerous distractions for bicyclists.
 Videos will be judged based on content, creativity and clarity.  Finalist videos from the contest will be screened at the Danville International Children’s Film Festival in May 2010. Videos will be accepted through November 2, 2009.

All student entrants and advisors will receive a prize.  Each member of the winning team will receive an iPod nano with digital docking station. 

 Complete rules and additional information about the contest is available online at www.streetsmarts-srv.com or by contacting Nat Rojanasathira at nrojanasathira@ci.danville.ca.us.  The Street Smarts program is sponsored in part by the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs. 

Los Cerros Intermural coaches and officials are funded in part by magazine sales and your donations to the ACA fund.  If you are participating in these activities we appreciate your donations. You can make donations on the webstore at lcms.srvusd.net  or by check to the front office.  

Cross Country make-up meet will be Tuesday, October 20th at Oak Hill Park.
The meet will follow the same process as the previous two meets.

Los Cerros Volleyball information has been given out at lunches all week and can still be picked up at lunch on Monday as well.  The first practice for all grade levels is Tuesday, October 20th in the gym.  The other two practices are October 26th and 27th.  All practices are from 2:30-3:30.

Los Cerros Ultimate Frisbee information was also passed out at lunch all week.  The two practices for Ultimate Frisbee are October 22nd and 29th from 2:30-3:30 on the field.  Please contact Mike Cannon at mcannon@srvusd.net or 552-3464 if you have any questions about either sport.

6th grade flag football make-up game Tuesday, October 20th at Charlotte Wood.

2009 CROSS COUNTRY
The last cross-country meet was postponed due to rain and is now Tuesday, October 20th: meet Mr. Abers at 3:00 on the blacktop near the corner of the gym by the basketball courts.  We will walk over to the meet together.  The meet starts in Oak Hill Park near the volleyball court at about 3:45 and takes about one-half hour.  Parents need to pick up their son or daughter at the park ­ please arrive between 4 - 4:15.
 
VERY IMPORTANT: STUDENTS WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE GYM AFTER THE MEET.  ­ THE GYM WILL BE LOCKED.  Students need to bring their backpacks and all other belongings with them to the meet.  If they change clothes, they need to put them in a separate bag or in their backpack.

Did you know that more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined?  In a further effort to reach out a broader range of people, especially younger people, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.) recently arranged to establish sites within the MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube social networks where people can access information and help(www.myspace.com/800273TALK; www.facebook.com/pages/National-Suicide-Prevention-Lifeline-1-800-273-TALK/11261740684; www.youtube.com/800273TALK.) Additionally, users who mention “suicide” in their postings to Help.com receive an automatic response from Lifeline urging them to call 1-800-273-TALK.

Starting the week of 11/2/09 Ms. Schubb will be providing “A Friend for Life” curriculum.  The classroom presentations will be offered during 1 period of the core class and is an age appropriate, asset based curriculum that focuses on problem solving and sources of support during adolescence. If you would like more information or a copy of the curriculum, please contact Ms. Schubb at 552-5620 or nschubb@srvusd.net.  If you would like your child not to participate, please contact Ms. Schubb

 
Academic
Organization bootcamp will start 11/3. 6 1/2 hour after school sessions designed to improve organization, time management and breaking down large projects. Class size is limited to 6 students and will be determined by student need and teacher recommendation(s).  Parents must attend a mandatory evening introduction on Tuesday 10/26 7-8pm. email nschubb@srvusd.net to be placed on the list.

Students who were recommended at conferences for any of our after school interventions (i.e. math help, homework support) will be receiving “reminder notices” the next few weeks. If you do not want your child to participate, please let Ms. Schubb know.  nschubb@srvusd.net

The list of academic interventions is now posted on the counseling web page. All supports will start the week of 10/12/09.

Personal/Social
STRESSBUSTERS- As a support to our students, the counseling department is offering a group for 6th-8th on stress management. The group will last approximately 5 sessions and will run on WEDNESDAYS during sixth, seventh and eighth lunches.  They may bring their lunch with them. The groups will begin on Wednesday October 21, 2008.  This group will be focused on the use of music and visualization as a stress reducer, to improve social interactions, promote positive peer relationships, and enhance social understanding by others.  We will be using “Ready, Set, Relax, a research based program of relaxation, learning and self esteem for children” Your student will have the opportunity to increase self-understanding, as well as learn new skills and behaviors that may help her personal development.  If you think your student could benefit from this, please email Ms. Schubb at nschubb@srvusd.

Parent Project – a straightforward, step by step plan that allows you to take immediate action towards preventing or intervening in your adolescent’s negative choices. Classes are available through John Muir Health in Concord.  For more information visit johnmuirhealth.com/whcclasses.
 
Career
Parents - if you would like to volunteer to help with career day or have a career you would like to share with the students, please let us know. Career Day is April 23rd from 8-10am.  nschubb@srvusd.net

Parenting tip
Insufficient sleep in adolescents has been shown to cause difficulties in school, including disciplinary problems, sleepiness in class and poor concentration.  "What good does it do to try to educate teen-agers so early in the morning?" asks Maas. "You can be giving the most stimulating, interesting lectures to sleep-deprived kids early in the morning or right after lunch, when they're at their sleepiest, and the overwhelming drive to sleep replaces any chance of alertness, cognition, memory or understanding."  Starting around the beginning of puberty and continuing into their early 20s, Carskadon and colleagues have shown, adolescents need about 9.2 hours of sleep each night, compared with the 7.5 to 8 hours that adults need.

Book Fair was a smashing success! Thank you Michele Miller for all your work and our parent volunteers.

If you missed the Jazz Band performance check out the photos on our web site at http://www.lcms.schoolloop.com/News. The book fair did not meet the original goal of $8000 in sales, but we did very well, check out the scholastic web site for information @ http://www.lcms.schoolloop.com/BookFair