Hillcrest Yellow Pages
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| Volume XV, No. 20 | January 31, 2012 |
PTA President's Message
News/Announcements
Events/Programs
Help Wanted
Thank you/Congrats
Calendar Highlights
A Note from the Principal
Dear Hillcrest Parents and Guardians:
A BIG HILLCREST THANK YOU to the following people who spent their Sunday afternoon installing lockers for the middle school: Andy Packer, Ken Osborn, Jimmy & Hayden Holliman, and Neal, Bobbi & Aaron Finkelstein and a huge thank you to Rob Russell for spearheading the project. The lockers look amazing and our students are super excited about locker distribution, which will take place tomorrow morning. THANK YOU AGAIN, HILLCREST! The students will be sure to enjoy these for years to come.
Last Wednesday’s Oratorical Festival was simply outstanding! Another BIG HILLCREST THANK YOU to Ms Buswell and Ms Nelson for orchestrating this fabulous event. I would also like to thank Ms Weinberg for lending her amazing voice and leading us through many of the inspirational spiritual pieces that are so important to our American Heritage and prevalent during Black History Month celebrations. Mr Shogren's artistic bent certainly came in handy, too! The decor was thoughtful and help set the tone in the MPR for such a special day. The winners for the Oratorical Festival were:
Ms. Wilson’s Fifth Grade
Arianna Raphael
Sage and Nico Plaisted
These groups will represent Hillcrest at the district level.
On another note, please be sure to include Physician's Orders with all medications left at school. We cannot, for example, administer an Epi-pen to a child without having a physician's form in the office. It is imperative for all children who keep medications at school, to check in with Joan Cannon or Avis Walker to make sure that a physician's form is on file. Thank you for your cooperation with this very important matter.
Have a great week!
Lissa Hines, Principal
PTA President's Message
How about a big shout-out to Jennifer Bjork, PTA Chair of Communications, for organizing and putting together the hard copy school directory distributed last week? Yay, Jennifer!! Lots of us find a hard copy of the directory very handy (I have heard from many of you-- parents and teachers). We tote them around with us in bags, cars, briefcases, and bulky purses. I must admit that I still have all of the old ones that I have received (going all the way back to 2005, my family’s first year in the school) and I do continue to use them to find old phone numbers or addresses. Due to budget constraints, however, we were unable to print a sufficient number of extra copies of this year’s directory. Thus, if you don’t need your hard copy directory and would rather not have one, please turn it back in to the office so that we can keep a small stockpile on hand for others. Remember, you can also access the on-line directory via the Hillcrest PTA website.
Take a look on the upper patio and you will see a brand-new, lovely Hillcrest cardinal red awning and - middle school lockers! Thank you to the Hillcrest community for all of your PTA donations and your support of the middle school fundraiser in order to make the lockers a reality. The whole school is excited to see the lockers in use. I heard two first graders say that they can’t wait to go to middle school now – just so they can use those lockers! A huge thank you to Rob Russell for spearheading the research into lockers and vendors and for overseeing their installation. A big thank you also to Donna Somerville for her leadership on this issue as well.
Speaking of the upper patio, due to the addition of the lockers, the lost and found rack will soon be moving elsewhere. The school seems to always overflow with lost and found items. Right now, the lost and found rack is so full that there truthfully is no room to hang up even one more lost sweater, sweatshirt, jacket, or shirt. PLEASE take a look through the pile and see if you recognize any of the items as your own.
As always, I thank you for your support!
Sharon Murphy
Hillcrest PTA President
News & Announcements
Spelling Bee
The annual Hillcrest spelling bee will be this Wednesday February 1st! If you are a 4-8th grader, come to the multipurpose room after recess to sign up. You do not need a permission slip. Get ready for some tough spelling competition!
Library News
Oakland Unified School District has purchased two online resources for our students to use when researching Encyclopedia Britannica & Encyclopedia Britannica e-books. Both resources are available to students online from home as well as from school.
Please take a moment to look at these resources with your child. I will pass out bookmarks with instructions on how to access the resources from home as well as passwords for each site.
California Young Reader Medal
During library class this month students will hear stories nominated for this years California Young Reader Medal.
The nominees for the Primary (Grades K-3) Category are:
On Meadowview Street written and illustrated by Henry Cole. Greenwillow Books, 2007.
Let's Do Nothing written and illustrated by Tony Fucile. Candlewick Press, 2009.
The Odd Egg written and illustrated by Emily Gravett. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009.
Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated by Florence Heide. Illustrated by Lane Smith. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009.
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll. Illustrated by Howard McWilliam. Flashlight Press, 2009.
The nominees for the Picture Books for Older Readers (Grades 4 and Up) are:
Goal! by Mina Javaherbin. Illustrated by A.G. Ford. Candlewick Press, 2010.
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Scholastic Press, 2007.
Wabi Sabi written by Mark Reibstein. Illustrated by Ed Young. Little, Brown & Co., 2008.
Contact: Debra Hughes
Email: hillcrest.library@gmail.com
Nature Area Volunteers Needed
The kids love playing in the nature area at lunch time recess (12:15-1pm). In order to open up the space, we need two parent volunteers on duty. It's a simple job - make sure no one gets hurt, respect the plants, and help kids who need assistance. I put together a calendar every month of volunteers who are available on Tuesdays and Fridays to do this job. I have some spots left in January that I'm looking to fill and I can also start to put together the February calendar. Do you have time to help out? Please send me an email and we'll work out the details together! Thank you!
Contact: Elizabeth Rynecki
Pizza Friday Starts February 3!
The Middle School invites students in grades 4 thru 8 to order pizza for lunch on Fridays for the spring semester. Proceeds from the sale of pizza help defray the cost of the annual Middle School overnight trip, plus you get a break from making lunches once a week!
To participate, download the order form on the home page of the Hillcrest website at http://hillcrestpta.org/. Return the completed form with a check to the “Pizza Fridays” slot in the office by 8:30 am on Wednesday, February 1.
If you ordered pizza for the fall semester, please submit a new form and payment for the spring semester so your child will continue to get pizza. January 20 is the last day pizza will be served to fall semester participants.
Contact: Linda Sawyer
Guitar Instruction at Hillcrest
Mr. Jesse Hix is offering guitar classes for Hillcrest students this session on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Visit the PTA web site (Enrichment/Afterschool in the left sidebar) for more info. Rock on!
Contact: Andrea Booth
Eco Corner
The Hillcrest Eco Team has many projects planned for 2012; Worm bins in the Kindergarten (February), monthly Ecoliteracy classes, An Earth Day Project
(March/April), Produce boxes (hoping to get off the ground), continued awareness of the 4 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot). In addition, many classes
are going on field trips that are continuing the conversation on how our actions (good & bad) impact the plants, animals and environment around us. Thank you to our teacher & parent drivers!
We will need volunteers to make everything happen. This is how you can keep updated!
Meetings: We will be having monthly meeting. Our first will be on Tuesday, Feb 7th at 8:30am -9:00ish at school.
Calendar: A calendar will be posted on the Eco Board in the hallway showing Ecoliteracy class times, as well as, other Eco events.
YP: Check the Eco-Corner in the Yellow pages to find out what is happening in the Ecoliteracy classes as well as upcoming events and volunteer requests.
Google Group: For those who would like to get more involved, keep updated on various project or discuss future Eco projects at Hillcrest, please email
greenhillcrest@gmail.com and I will add you to our new Google group.
Eco Fundraiser Reminder: Wine Mine Tasting
Thursday, Feb 2nd 6:30-8:00 pm $25 per person (check made out to Hillcrest PTA, wine mine in memo)
All Funds raised will support our gardens & Ecoliteracy program. Questions? Contact Diane Diamond at 510.601.1481 (see Events and Programs section below!)
Contact: Katie Binder
Email: greenhillcrest@gmail.com
Events/Programs
Second Annual Wine Mine Ecoteam Fundraiser
What's your favorite color eco-friends? If green is your answer, then we are hoping for your support on Thursday, February 2nd at the Wine Mine in Oakland.
We are having our 2nd annual fundraiser to support the Ecoteam at Hillcrest. Dave of the Wine Mine will be pouring some yummy tastings; there will be light appetizers and plenty of fun mixing with fellow Hillcrest parents. The proceeds of the evening will benefit all K-5 students who are currently exploring the world around them in a hands on learning environment during Mondays Ecoliteracy classes. Each year the ecoteam works together to expand our gardens, courtyards and ecology projects. But in order to do this,
we need some of your 'green' to help support our green. Sounds silly but soil, mulch, plants, seeds and other projects (have you seen the awesome new planter box on the hillside) all cost money.
Please help keep our programs alive and growing. We know the kids love it. And remember when you get your first wine tasting for the evening the mantra is "it's all for the kids”. We look forward to seeing you there!
When: Thursday February 2nd from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Where: The Wine Mine, 5427 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
How Much: $25.00 per person.
Make your checks out to Hillcrest PTA with Wine Mine in the memo section. There will be an envelope in the office for checks.
Contact: Diane Diamond
Help Wanted
Calendar Donations
As we embark into the year 2012, we leave behind our old calendars. As an art teacher, I love to collect those calendars and put them to use in my class. I cut and laminate the images from calendars. They will be organized by category, and then made available to students. We use these images as inspiration for our artwork, especially in the coming two months as we make our Art Show submissions. We love to see calendars full of landscapes, animals, vehicles, and fine artwork.
I am also looking for volunteers to help laminate calendars, organize student artwork into their portfolios, and in a few months I will need help setting up
the student Art Show. If you would like to volunteer your valuable time and energy, please email me.
Thank you so much,
Ms.L
When: During the school day, all week.
Where: Multi-Purpose Room
Contact: Mathilde Landberg
Contact email: tildaface@gmail.com
Parents with Cameras Needed
We want to memorialize our children and Hillcrest's many varied events. If you are going to be at an event, think about bringing your camera and take some photos! E-mail them to me and they will be uploaded to our school's photo website!
When: All School Events
Where: All School Events
Contact: Bradley Mart
Bring in Your BART Tickets
Donate your unused BART tickets and raise hundreds of dollars for Hillcrest. Tiny Tickets are BART tickets which have tiny bits of value left on them, a nickel, a dime and more in some cases that can be turned into cash for our school. Drop off your BART tickets in the collection basket labeled BART Tiny Tickets at the school office.
Contact: Yanira Wong
Box Tops / Labels for Education
Did you know that we raise hundreds of dollars every year for our school by collecting box tops? And we can get items for our school by collecting labels? Look for the "Box Tops for Education" logo on General Mills cereals, Ziploc bags, Yo-plait kids yogurt, and many other products. "Labels for Education" logos can be found on Campbell's Soup and other products. Submit your Box Tops and Labels for Education by dropping them in the metal bucket just inside the school front doors. Thank you!
Contact: Katrina Saba
2011-2012 Calendar Highlights
Feb 20: President's Day - NO SCHOOL
Mar 22: Music Night
Mar 30: Cesar Chavez Day - NO SCHOOL
April 9 – 13: Spring Break
April 19: Art Night
April 28: Walkathon
May 25 – 28: NO SCHOOL
June 12: All School Picnic
Yellow Pages compiled by Barbara Gross