• 4 December:  Panther Pride Meeting, Room 21 at 2:35pm
  
• 5 December:  CJSF field trip to San Francisco, 9am - 2:15pm
  
• 9 December:  CJSF Meeting, MPR at 2:35pm
  
• 10 December:  Geography Bee final round, 9:50 on LCNN
  
• 11 December:  Winter Instrumental Concert, MPR at 7pm
  
• 15 December:  Choral Concert, MPR at 7pm

This week Emily Labarthe has been caught being good. 
Please come by the office to pick up your prize! 

From the Principal:

I hope all of you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and family. Our Basket Brigade this year was a huge success with 300 baskets produced from the 3000 items you donated. The spirit of community service is strong at Los Cerros and it was a pleasure to watch our students, parents, and visitors work at the basket assembly afternoon. I hope you saw the pictures of our students in the local newspapers.  We're now in those weeks before Winter Break where there is much to do and often not enough time.

As you'll see in this newsletter there are currently several community service drives at Los Cerros; Adopt A Family, Warm Coat Drive, and Toy's for Tots. Our Leadership students, Booster parents, Panther Pride students and many staff members have already participated and are leading the collections. As always we thank you in advance for your care and support for families in need. The example we set by giving to others is invaluable in our student's development.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Phyllis Roach
 

LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Leadership Class is adding something new to the Panther Press!  Each week we will post the events happening at our school.  These are the same announcements that we tell the students in their homerooms, each Tuesday and Thursday.

• Pajama Day is December 19th.
• The CJSF field trip for 8th graders is this Friday.
  
• Panther Pride is sponsoring a family for the holidays.  This week they are collecting donations to purchase the family some gifts for the holidays.  Donation containers are in the office and library.  They will be collecting donations throughout the week. 
• If you have any new toys appropriate for a 7 or 1 year old that you would like to donate this week, please take them to Ms. Ross’s room (room 21).
• Warm, clean and gently used coats are needed for families at Martin Luther King Elementary in Richmond.  All sizes are accepted but no sweatshirts or red or royal blue coats.  Each coat is worth 10 homeroom points.

BRAINQUEST:
Over the break, what was the number 1 movie in America?
A. Four Christmases
B. Twilight
C. Bolt
D. Quantum of Solace
                                                                                                               Answer:  B:  Twilight

GEOGRAPHY BEE
Our annual Geography Bee is beginning.  Each History class will determine a finalist for the school wide competition.  These classroom finalists will report to the library on Tuesday December 9th during lunch to take an assessment to determine the top 10 finalists for our school.  The final round will be Wednesday morning to determine our school representative.  This round will be broadcast on LCNN at 9:50am.  Good luck Los Cerros!

YOU ARE INVITED: 
Los Cerros Instrumental Music Department Winter Concert
Thursday, December 11th at 7:00pm in the MPR

Attention Los Cerros parents, students, family and friends!  The holiday season is upon us and that means its time for some music.  Thursday evening, December 11th, is our winter concert and YOU are invited.  The concert will be held in the MPR, beginning at 7:00pm.  There will be something for everyone with musical selections from musicals to marches to medium swing...and of course we'll have some holiday favorites sprinkled in.  So bring the family and enjoy the show 'cause there's nothing better than a band concert on a Thursday night!

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN THE LIBRARY
We are looking for parents interested in a weekly visit to help keep the library ready for class lessons and student use.  From prepping new books, checking out books to students and some shelving - you won't be bored!  We especially need extra hands during our lunch periods (10:30-1:00pm) and also have another shift that begins when you drop your student off in the mornings (8:00-10:30) Monday through Friday.  Please email the librarian Donnine Davis at ddavis@srvusd.net if you are interested in joining us.

PANTHER PRIDE, the Los Cerros community service club,  is sponsoring a family for the holidays.  We are collecting donations to help purchase gifts the family has requested.  Donation canisters can be found in the office and library.  We will be accepting donations through Friday, December 5th.  Every bit helps, so please consider donating any spare change you might have! 

COAT DRIVE
Beginning on Monday December 8th, the leadership class will be starting a coat drive.  Please bring in any jackets or coats to your homeroom class that are in good condition to donate.  We will take coats of all sizes, and thank you in advance for your participation in this school-wide drive.  We will be donating these coats to our sister school, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary in Richmond.

ADOPT A FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
If your family, child's class or group of friends would like to Adopt-a-Family for the holidays, we have a number of families from our partner school, Martin Luther King Elementary, who are in desperate need this holiday season.  Please contact Diana James at jjames7000@comcast.net for more information.  This is a wonderful way for a family to give back during the holidays. 

HURRAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
PAW PRINTS, our Los Cerros Literary Magazine is sponsoring a Winter Holiday Story and Poem contest!  Want an idea?  Consider the following:  Hurray for the Holidays, Walk in a Winter Wonderland or A Frost Write!  Write about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or New Year's! 

Get your Winter Holiday stories or poems to your Core or English Teacher because they have the entry forms!  Or, you may bring your entries to Room 12!  Entries must be in by Wednesday, December 17th. 

Did we mention prizes?  Yes!  We have gift certificates and other prizes for winners!  And, of course, you will become a published author in our school magazine.

CJSF NEWS
7th and 8th Graders who are interested in membership in CJSF (California Junior Scholarship Federation) should attend the informational meeting on Tuesday, February 10,  2009 in the MPR at 2:35.  
 
Applications (with CJSF Purpose on the back) are due in Room 1 in the Green Box by 2:30 pm on or before Tuesday, February 17.            

Students must include:

• $5.00 membership fee to CJSF ($5.00 late fee if later than February 17th. )
•  Copy of 1st semester fall transcript of grades
  
•  Parent’s signature
  
• 10 points are required with Spanish or French  (3 points for an A, 1 point for a B)
   8 points are required without Spanish or French
   Points are earned for English, History, Science, Math and/or French/Spanish.

Monday, December 8th
6th Grade Volleyball  – AWAY at Stone Valley
7th Grade Volleyball  – Home vs Stone Valley

Tuesday, December 9th
6th Grade Volleyball – Home vs Gale Ranch
8th Grade Volleyball  – AWAY at Stone Valley

Thursday, December 11th
7th Grade Volleyball – AWAY at Gale Ranch
8th Grade Volleyball  – Bye

All games start around 3:20 and end around 4:15. 
Good luck to all of the Volleyball teams.

The following sports announcements come from district-approved flyers.

MVHS BASEBALL CAMP
Calling all baseball players, ages 9-13~  Join our Monte Vista 1st Annual Baseball Camp and learn from the best!  You will receive first class baseball instruction from Monte Vista head coaches, past players now playing in the Major Leagues, and several Division I college players.  Sunday, January 11, 11-4 at Monte Vista High School Varsity Field.  Please click on the link to sign up now! www.montevistabaseball.com

DANVILLE OAKS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
All interested parties, new recruits, returning players and their families are invited to a general information and sign-up session on Saturday, December 6th from 2-4pm at the Woodranch Pool Clubhouse (19 Woodranch Circle, Danville).    At this kickoff event, parents and players can meet their new teammates and coaches in a relaxed social atmosphere.  Also, any questions or concerns regarding the sport of rugby and the club may be answered.  Email any questions to danvillerugby@yahoo.com. 

GATE TESTING/RETESTING is Saturday, January 17th. Please contact Ms. Schubb for additional information. nschubb@srvusd.net

National School Counseling Week is coming  - February 2-6th. Why Middle School Counselors? Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Through a comprehensive developmental school counseling program, counselors work as a team member with school staff, parents and the community to create a caring, supportive climate and atmosphere whereby young adolescents can achieve academic success. Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic achievement. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set appropriate career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community. The professional middle school counselor holds a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes on-going professional development to stay current with education reform and challenges facing today’s students. Professional association membership is encouraged as it enhances the school counselor’s knowledge and effectiveness.

Our 8th grade parent night will be coming up in February 19th at 7pm.  You will be receiving a survey in advance.  The evening consists of some tips to prepare your 8th grader for high school, as well as an interactive panel of high school counselor, middle school counselor, high school teacher, middle school teacher and several current MV students. 

Academic
Please remind your student that when they miss class, it is their responsibility to ask the teacher what they miss.  If they are absent, the “3 day extension” is only for work assigned the day of absence, it is not for work that was due (or assigned previously) the day of absence.

On July 19, 2006 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law, Assembly Bill 1802.  The bill provides funding for additional counseling service to all students in grades 7-12.  These are services specific to progress towards promotion/graduation, passing the California High School Exit Examination, career technical education and educational options.  Immediately following winter break, Ms. White and Ms. Schubb will beginning the in classroom presentations and individual meetings with all 7th & 8th grade students. Counselors will also hold targeted conferences with parents and students in grade 7 & 8 who scored “Below Basic” or “Far Below Basic” on their 6th or 7th grade English and/or Math STAR assessments. These meetings will be the next 2 weeks prior to winter break. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Schubb nschubb@srvusd.net

Career
“Cool Nights” (College Opportunity; Opportunities for Life”) is coming soon.  The evening will give middle school students and their parents information about transition to high school and opportunities for college and careers.  Wednesday, March 4th 6:30-8:30pm, Alhambra High School, Martinez. For more information email Liz Rusk erusk@cccoe.k12.ca.us

Personal/social
Fifth annual She’s all That is coming. This special conference is sponsored by Soroptimist International of San Ramon Valley, on Saturday, February 7th from 9am-3pm at Gale Ranch Middle School. The day includes a  keynote presentation and workshops on topics such as:  Mean Girls, Yoga for Girls and Cyber Bullying.  For more information, please visit www.soroptimist-sr.org or 925-355-2442.

Did you know that we have several e-books that can help students with research at home 24/7? Just go the library page on our school web site at www.lcms.srvusd.k12.ca.us, then click on library. There is a link here to our e-books the password is panthers.

Also, please contact Mrs. Davis ddavis@srvusd.net if you are interested in volunteering in the library.