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2241 Russell St.Berkeley, CA 94705

www.leconteonline.org(510) 644-6290

February 5, 2010

Cheryl Wilson PrincipalJill Wang PTA President

Important dates

TheLamppost

DONT MISS OUR Annual African American Heritage Celebration

and Quilt Raffle: February 26

Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that wehave for sure is what is right here right now. Dont miss it. Leo Buscaglia

On Friday, February 26 th at 6:00PM, your taste buds will thank youfor indulging yourself because this evening will feature spectacularlyseasoned greens, scrumptious yams, buttery cornbread, and more deliciouspotluck delights. That is only the beginning! Around 6:45PM, our fourthand fifth grade students will inspire your hearts and minds with a surpriseperformance that includes dancing, singing, and oratorical presentations.This evening will close with a winner, a winner who could be you, providedyouve been buying and helping to sell the raffle tickets. Who will win theWe have a Dream quilt? Come and find out on February 26 th.--Principal Cheryl Wilson

In this issue find out about . Events, Leadership Committee Meetings, School-wide news, Special

Recognition, New Parent ADD Network Students of the Month

SAT., FEB. 6LeConte School Clean Up Day9:00AM-12 noon, Join us for cleaningand weeding, etc. RSVP to Jessica at

jfied@earthlink.net, 540-7818

MON., FEB. 8Dental Sealants, 2 nd & 5 th Grade Students, LeConte Auditorium

FRI., FEB. 12 SCHOOL CLOSEDMON. FEB 15 SCHOOL CLOSED

TUES., FEB. 16PTA Meeting , 5:45PM-dinner6:00PM-meeting, Cafeteria Free dinner & childcare provided

WED., FEB. 17School Governance Council (SGC)

Meeting, 6:30PM8:00PM, Library

THURS., FEB. 18English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) Meeting 5:00-6:15PM, Room 101Childcare & dinner provided

SAT., FEB. 20Latino Literacy Project, 9:00 12:00

SAT., FEB. 20Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) LeConte Parent Network 11:00 12:30PM, LeConte Library

FRI., FEB. 26I a Performer Concert with Berkeley Symphony 8:30 AM, AuditoriumAll families are welcome to attend

FRI., FEB. 26African American Heritage Celebration & Quilt Raffle Potluck6:00PM, Performance 6:45PM

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office (checks payable to LeConte PTA).

We are grateful to all the LeConte parents, guardians, grandparents, and friends who have made our annualfund campaign a priority this year! A warm thank you to our Annual Fund donors as of February 3,2010: Leah and Emanuel Alcala, Saeeda Bagum, Susanna Moore and Brian Bloom, Stacey Kaufman and IainBoltin, Jacqueline Bott, Carly Strouse and Ben Buettner, Jiyun Lee and Andrew Cameron, Virginia Ogle andWayne Christopher, Cal Collier and Perforce Software, Cynthia Dambach, Ila Casy Deiss, Heather Mackeyand Grant Faulkner, August and Peter Fern, Suzanne and Ian Fraser, Catarina Negrin and Noah Friedman,Penny Peak and Ronny Gaal, Susan and Orville Hall (grandparents), Jeanne Panek and Charlie Huizenga,Sarah Kayler, Sarah Lenoue, Sarah and Christopher Linvill, Patricia and John Martin, Susan Martin, Deniseand Peter Montgomery, Basia Lubicz and Tony Newton, Cathlene Richmond, Mia Klett and Roberto Riutort,Caroline Sanders, Jeanette and Jeffrey Wallin, James Weber and James Construction Services, Weingrod &Associates.

School Governance Council (SGC)The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 17, 6:30PM, LeConte library . Thanks to Denise Montgomery andJacqueline Bott, the 2009-2010 LeConte Survey will soon be available for distribution. The group reviewed last yearssurvey and recommended very few additions or changes. Parents and guardians will receive a paper copy of the surveyto fill out, or they can choose to complete it online once the final draft has been confirmed. Members also discussedsteps toward recruiting families for next years kindergarten classes, specifically Latino families for our Two WayImmersion program. With the support of teachers and parents, Principal Wilson provided an overview of ourkindergarten programs during three district-sponsored information sessions at the pre-schools. Additional outreach isrequired, so we may facilitate another information night before the end of this month.

SCHOOL -W IDE NEWS

Make a Valentine for your Child(ren)Its that time of year again, a time for you to make a creative card for your child to be displayed at school during themonth of February. Please use the blank card provided to write a loving message to your child and have her/him bringit to school. Your precious gift will be returned to your child by March 9. Please be sure to include your childs roomnumber so that the card can be promptly returned and kept as a memory of your bond and love.

Spring After-School Enrichment ClassesIt's not too late to sign up for after-school classes! The following classes are still open and need more studentsenrolled: both capoeira classes, chess, and spanish classes, afro-peruvian dance, creative writing, theater, Kindergartencircus, Kindergarten flute, and art. Extra enrollment forms are located on the table around the corner from Donna'soffice. See the flyer attached for information about schedule changes.

Class NewsMs. Blanchard finally received a copy of the comprehensive guidebook of science curriculum that she helped authorthis past summer. It is titled Adventures in Aerospace and includes a DVD. The lessons are designed to helpelementary and middle school students answer the question, Why would a career in aerospace be cool? Ms.Blanchard taught one of her first lessons last week. The students had to evaluate various space exploration proposals,the cost, advantages, etc. Their comments, debates, and conclusions made the lesson very rewarding for Ms.

Blanchardthey had to think critically!

All second grade students are doing individual research projects about a country of their choice. This unit of studyintegrates multiple content areas: writing, reading, art, geography, and mathematics and requires use of the Internet.Their final project will include a display board of their findings and an oral presentation. What makes this projectoutstanding is that it is not only academically challenging, but the support and guidelines allow each student access tosuccessful completion.

LeConte Community Kidz and PTA Classes News:

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Congratulations to student performers, their instructors, Jessica Fiedler (coordinator of PTA after school classes),and Charity DaMarto (coordinator of our Community Kidz after school program) for two fantastic eventsshowcasing several after school classes. On January 27, audiences saw demonstrations of capoeira, guitar, flute,Spanish, circus, African drumming, and Visual Art & Architecture. On February 3, we enjoyed the theater studentsin the Wizard of Oz . The attached photos show the importance of the arts and the value and joy students experiencewhen they have multiple ways to develop their talents. The spring afterschool classes are just starting if your childis not yet enrolled, there are still openings for some classes.

Steps to Improve AchievementAs this report card period comes to an end, Principal Wilson will be working with teachers to examine studentoutcomes --reviewing student work to determine evidence of learning and helping teachers identify specificstandards and goals to target areas of concern. We will continue to prepare students for standardized tests, but it ismost important that students and families have samples of work that show progress over time. Therefore, your childsreport card should indicate growth and there should be work to substantiate that growth or lack of growth. Theemphasis is on what your child knows and is able to demonstrate.

If your child is struggling, s/he may be considered for retention. Some students benefit by having more time to learn,since a students ability to learn the standards is not always aligned with his or her age or grade level. If your child is apossible candidate for retention, you will be notified by telephone and in writing and you will be given a chance toprovide input about ways to help improve your childs academic success. Please note that tardiness, excess absences,and the inability to routinely complete homework are all barriers to success.

Grant Received for March Mathematics FestivalOn Tuesday, March 23 rd our students and families will have a chance to enjoy mathematics in a variety of ways. Ourschool was awarded $1,000 from the California Mathematics Council to help pay for this event (thank you to AugustFern for writing this grant). Students will participate in fun mathematics activities during the day and all families areinvited to come in the evening for math activities and ideas. This event ties in with our LeConte Math Challenge, ourMath Olympiad groups, and use of software like Compass Learning to make sure all LeConte students have theopportunity to succeed in mathematics.

LeConte Students Are Enhancing Learning With Free Educational SoftwareWe invite every LeConte student to take advantage of the Compass Learning educational software, provided free bythe District. It is easy to access from home or school. We are very pleased by the number of students who are alreadyutilizing this program to make themselves smarter, as Principal Wilson says. This software is aligned with state andnational standards and provides a stimulating (and fun!), customized learning environment for each child. CompassLearning is at www.childu.com . To get your child started, you will need your childs user name and password. Mostuser names and passwords follow the following standard format: User Name : LeCFirstNameLastInitial. Password :FirstInitialLastInitial School : BUSD For example, John Smith has a user name of LeCJohnS and a password of js.Contact August Fern at august.fern@gmail.com if you are having difficulties logging in or would like to set up aparent account to monitor your student's progress.

Email News: Are you on LeContes Listservs?We encourage all LeConte families to join one of our school listservs in order to get the latest school news. We havetwo moderated listservs one for announcements only, and one for announcements plus discussion. To join eithergroup, please visit our website, www.leconteonline.org, and follow the links on the right side of the home page.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Mathematics AchievementCongratulations to: Kindergarte: Jevon Allen, Nautica Charles, Tanvi Chaubey, Eva Crump, Belinda Huerta-Garcia, Coby Huizenga, and Cyrus Soltani; Fourth Grade: Corey Allen-Calbert, Leonel Balbino, Dontae Dennis,

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Alexandra Leon Flores, Mayorie Ovalle-Rojas, Lorenzo Riutort, Brianna Rodriguez, Luis Rodriguez, Betty Taylor,and Taylor Weller for meeting the mathematics challenge. All of these students were recognized during our monthlyCelebrate LeConte assembly in January. Copies of their certificates were posted in our auditorium, thanks to parentAugust Fern. Please remind your child of this challenge and help your child meet the challenge by asking her/him tocount or recite facts according to the grade level:

Kindergarten--mastering counting and recognizing numbers up to 30First and Second Grade--mastering addition and subtraction facts to 20Third and Fourth Grade--mastering multiplication facts up to 12Fifth Grade--mastering multiplication of multiple digits

Reading Achievement Caught in the Act ReadingThe following students have learned the power within books; books can take you to places youve never been andteach you about the world through the eyes of others. These students enjoy and have been caught reading for leisureand some of them have even read to other classes.

Angel Brinston, David Copithorne, Lamont Neal, Aaron Trego, Onetu Roy, Tylin Robertson, and Yasser Zinabidine

Prudential California Realty Education Foundation - Outstanding Teacher AwardsDeadline for nominations: March 15, 2010. The Education Foundation of California Prudential Realty offers anannual award program to recognize outstanding teachers in the public schools. Several current and past LeConteteachers have been award winners in the past: Jeannie Gee (2008), Maria Carriedo (2006), Lynda Arnold (2003),Denise Brown & Jennifer Smallwood (1998). Anyone can submit a nomination. Please take advantage of thisopportunity to submit a nomination for the outstanding LeConte teacher(s) that you know best. To submit anomination, please use the attached nomination form or the online form at:http://www.prurealty.com/NominateTeacher.aspx.

More Thank YousThanks to the following teachers and families for supporting our Kindergarten Information Nights and recruitmentefforts: Ms. Gee, Ms. Bernal, Ms. Barer, Ms. Torres, Ms. Logan, Ms. Louie, Ms. Cross, Ms. Citrin, Ms. Woodard, Mr.Argueta, Ms. Blanchard, Ms. Venuto, Mr. Zuniga, and Mr. Gopez and our parents, Jocelyn Bale-Glickman, PazCanales, Catarina Negrin, Gazel Lechuga, Penny Peak, Carolyn Perez, and Jill Wang. Also, Principal Wilson is verythankful to the parents who volunteered to conduct the tours. This is a huge responsibility so thanks to you for your

commitment and enthusiasm: Jocelyn Bale-Glickman, Jacqueline Bott, Sharonda Easily, Jessica Fiedler, Chris Martin,and Karen Meckstroth, (Do you know someone who should be acknowledged? Please let us know! Send the info to Penny Peak at pennyalp@yahoo.com.)

March LamppostTo submit information for the March Lamppost, please email Principal Wilson at Cheryl_Wilson@berkeley.k12.ca.usor Penny Peak at pennyalp@yahoo.com. Deadline: Friday, January 29, 2010.

Flyers AttachedPlease review the following announcements and see attached flyers related for the events listed below:

African American Heritage Celebration Announcement SWE Science Saturdays for 4 th & 5 th graders

Growing Up Asian Contest Academic Talent Development Program Prudential Outstanding Teacher Awards African-American Baseball Experience

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LeCONTE CALENDARFEBRUARY 1 -27, 2010

Updated LeConte News & Calendar: www.leconteonline.orgSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday31 1 2 3 4 5 6

SCHOOLCLOSEDStaff Dev. Dayfor Teachers

After School Program Theater Performance of "The Wizard of Oz"

Cooking Classes for Parentscontinues, 5:30 7:30, CookingRoom

Lamppost (in English) sent home

LeConte School CleanUp Day, 9:00AM-12noon, Join us forcleaning and weeding,etc.Saturday School 9:30 12:30

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Dental Sealants2nd & 5 th Grade students

Auditorium

DeLAC Meeting Cooking Classes for Parentscontinues, 5:30 7:30, Cooking

Room (lastsession)

SCHOOLCLOSEDHoliday

No Saturday School POSTPONED to Feb. 20 due to holiday

14 15 16 17 18 19 20SCHOOLCLOSEDHoliday

PTA Meeting5:45 dinner6:00 7:30 Meeting,Cafeteria

School GovernanceCouncil Meeting6:30PM, Library

ELAC Meeting ,5:00-Room 101(childcare &dinner provided)

Saturday School 9:30 12:30

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Im a PerformerConcert with

BerkeleySymphony,8:30AM

African American HeritageCelebration &Quilt RafflePotluck: 6:00PMPerformance &Raffle: 6:45PM

End of ReportCard Period

Deadline for March Lamppost

28 March 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lamppost (in English) sent home

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LeConte felicita a sus ...ESTUDIANTES DEL MES

(determinado por los maestros del saln)Vea sus fotos y certificados en el tabln de Estudiantes del mes

LeConte congratulates its...

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH (Determined by the classroom teacher)See their pictures and certificates on the Student of the Month bulletin board

Teachers/ Maestros

Students/Estudiantes

Ms. Aguas SUMI CAMERON and ROAN LINVILLMr. Argueta EBONY COLEMAN, DIEGO DELA TORRES, SYDNEY LIPOW,

and ELIAS WEBERMs. Barer TAI DICKINSON, DAILEN JOHNSON, and OPHELIA JOHNSONMs. Bernal OMAR MENDOZA GARCIA, TALLULAH TEHRANI, and SOL

VALENCIA TOPETEMs. Blanchard LIZBETH BARAJAS, ELIAS HALPERN, and SUNG WOO CHOI

Ms. Citrin HELEN GEIDEMAN and BETTY TAYLORMs. Cross HENRI MARCHANT, XYRA MARTINEZ, and

YASSER ZINABIDINEMs. Gearring HEIBAH ADNANMs. Gee GAVIN CONWAY, RODERICK SMITH, and BROOKE WELLERMs. Katz PRIMO LUNA MUNOZ, KOLYA POPOVIC, SANDRO RIUTORT,

and ISABELLE WOLANSKYMs. Lewis &Mr. Scott

AIDAN ALCALA, ARELI JIMENEZ, and REEANA POLLARD

Ms. Logan To be determinedMs. Louie PABLO ESPINOSA and JAMIR THOMASMs. Roberts MADISON LUDWIG and JACOB ROYMs. Torres DANIEL FINIS, KEENAN McDONALD, and NALYIE WILSONMs. Woodard EMILY DIAZ, JOSIAH HORN, ALEXANDRA LEON FLORES, and

SEPIDEH KIUMARSI, and MALCOLM SOVIN SYKES

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Heres the latest!(on the pta after-school classes)

Were low on enrollment in several classes, so please note the following changes:

Firs t : Free t r ia l c l asses!

Tuesday 2/2: K Spanish 1:30-2:15 rm 1091st-3rd Spanish 2;30-3:15 rm 109Afro-peruvian dance 2:30-3:30 auditorium

Wednesday 2/3: creative writing 1:30-2:30 rm 205

Monday 2/8: k capoeira 1:30-2:30 auditorium1st-5th capoeira 2:30-3:30 auditorium

Second : shor t ened ses sion fo r t he fo l low ing c l a s ses :

Monday: both capoeira classes 2/15-4/5, 7 weeks $70

Tuesday: both Spanish classes begin 2/16, 17 weeks $170

Afro-Peruvian begins 2/16, 17 weeks $170

Wednesday: creative writing begins 2/17, 17 weeks $170

Friday: art class 2/19-4/16, 8 weeks $80

t h i rd : the n i t ty -g r i t t y if you need a refund for a canceled or shortened class, please submit a request after2/15 in writing to the front office or email jfied@earthlink.net. Checks will not be deposited until after 2/19. if youare owed a partial refund, you have three options: (1) have your check returned and write a replacement check forthe lower amount, (2) have your check deposited and have the ptA write you a check for the difference, or (3) ask tohave the difference applied to pta scholarships. Please let me know which of these three options you choose.

You will be notified if your students class is canceled. All students who registered for classes which are notcanceled are in the classes (there are no waiting lists).

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In honor of Black History Month the students of LeConte are

preparing a show that will not only entertain but also enlighten you about the heritage

of African American people:

FEBRUARY 26, 6:00PM 8:15PM

To help make this evening a success,WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

with food preparations, set up, and clean up.

Families, please provide the following POTLUCK itemsthe morning of the event, Friday, February 26

Kindergarten & first grade students bring: drinks and desserts

Second & third grade students bring: salads (mixed greens,macaroni, potato, etc.)

Fourth & fifth grade students bring: main entrees to includevegetarian choices (greens,

mashed potatoes, yams,macaroni & cheese, friedfish/chicken, green beans,black eyed peas, etc.)

10 20 VOLUNTEERS are needed as follows:4:30 - 6:00 set up food6:00 - 7:00 serve food

6:30 - 8:00 assist student performers 8:00 8:30 clean up

Contact Principal Wilson to volunteer, cheryl_wilson@berkeley.k12.ca.us

The evening will include our Annual Quilt Auction. Dont miss this opportunity to support our

students and our school.