2241 Russell St.

The
Berkeley, CA 94705
www.leconteonline.org
(510) 644-6290 LamppostDON’T MISS our FAMILY MATH NIGHT and
October 4, 2010
DON’T MISS our HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL!!!
Cheryl Wilson– Principal
Jill Wang – PTA President Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. -G. Keillor
To those of you who had the time and availability, I sincerely appreciated
seeing you at last week’s committee meetings and our potluck this past
Important dates Saturday. Please note that the more we see you and the more you
MON. Oct. 4 participate, the more your child will feel like s/he belongs to our school
Picture Day community and that you care about her/his academic performance at school.
THURS. Oct. 7 So if you didn’t make it last week, I hope to see you on Thursday, October
Family Math Night 7th at our Family Math Night and our Annual Halloween Festival on
6:15 – 8:15, Auditorium Saturday, October 30th from 12:00 – 2:00PM.
MON., Oct. 11 Family Math Night, Thursday, October 7, 6:15PM – 8:15PM
SCHOOL CLOSED Our Family Math Night is designed to help our children and families
Professional Development Day experience the beauty of mathematics and understand how manipulatives
for Teachers and materials help increase one’s problem solving abilities and confidence.
WED., Oct. 13 We truly want our children to appreciate mathematics in a way that reduces
School Governance Council anxiety and helps them see themselves as capable mathematicians. You can
Meeting, 6:30PM, Library help with the effort by attending this event with your child.
THURS., Oct. 14 Halloween Parade, Fri., October 29th: Every year our students march
School Governance Council around the playground or community in costumes. This year’s parade will
Training, 7:00PM be Friday, October 29th at 12:45. PLEASE NOTE: students bring their
THURS., Oct. 14 & Oct. 28 costumes to school and change during lunch recess. STUDENTS DO NOT
Coalition of Families for African- WEAR THEIR COSTUMES TO SCHOOL!!! Adults are needed in the
American Students Meeting primary classrooms to help students get changed in time for the parade.
6:00PM, Library Kindergarten students will march parade around the playground and all
other grades parade around the block. Families are encouraged to attend.
TUES., Oct. 19
PTA Meeting, Cafeteria Parent/Guardian concerns, requests, etc.: If you have any questions or
5:45 – Dinner concerns about classroom practices or procedures, please always contact
6:00-7:30 – Meeting your child’s teacher first. I will gladly meet with you to help resolve your
THURS., Oct. 21 concerns after you have discussed the issue with the teacher. If you prefer to
English Language Advisory seek guidance from another parent, our School Governance Council (SGC)
Committee Meeting, can help. This committee will be organizing a “Parent Advisory/Outreach”
5:00PM, Room 106 forum to assist you. For now, please send me an email at
FRI., Oct. 29 Cheryl_Wilson@berkeley.k12.ca.us and I will forward your request to a
Celebrate LeConte Assembly, member of our SGC. I’m usually available to meet Thursday or Friday after
8:15AM 2:45PM; you can call me or send me an email to make an appointment.
FRI., Oct. 29 Safety Committee: We need support with implementing procedures and
Halloween Parade, 12:45PM practicing various emergency roles in accordance with our school safety
SAT., Oct. 30 plan. I would like to have a meeting with all interested families before the
Halloween Festival, 12:00-2PM end of October. If you live near the school, have experience with disaster
preparations, or would like to assist us with troubleshooting emergency
Please see the Calendar for the full list of procedures, please contact me ASAP via email or send me a note--Principal
LeConte events.
Wilson

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NOTICES: Family Math Night, Thurs., 10/7, School Closed, Mon., 10/11
Halloween Parade, Fri., 10/29 and Annual Halloween Festival, Sat., 10/30

SCHOOL WIDE EVENTS

Walk to School Day, Wed., October 6th
Safe Routes to School is sponsoring this city wide event. We are encouraging all students and families, who
are able, to walk to school on Wednesday, October 6th.
Celebrate LeConte Assembly, Friday, October 29th, 8:15AM
In addition to recognizing students for individual growth and participation, during this month’s assembly our
Positive Behavior Support team will organize a skit or activity to help reinforce our school rules. The
assembly will begin at 8:15AM and last about 20 to 30 minutes. Thanks to our PTA, coffee and light
refreshments will be provided so that families can relax and enjoy seeing our children shine.
Annual Halloween Festival, Sat., October 30th, 12:00PM: A committee of families is helping organize and
coordinate this event and your help is invited! The next meeting is on October 8th at 8:15AM in the auditorium. The
group could use help with developing activities, working with the classrooms to organize and complete decorations,
and set up the Haunted House. Please try to attend this very important meeting because there’s a lot of work to do!
 If you would like to help with the haunted house please contact Ashley Kayler : squash@cal.berkeley.edu
 If you want to help with the book fair contact Basia Lubicz : basia_lu@yahoo.com
 For any other questions, or offers please contact Catarina Negrin: canoa@sbcglobal.net

LECONTE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES

School Governance Council (SGC): Tuesday, October 13, 6:30PM
During the September meeting, the former chairs and members of the committee explained the role of the SGC to new
prospective members, routine meeting dates and times were established, and the group made arrangements to have
ballots distributed to all LeConte families. On October 1st, the ballots will be tallied and new officers will be elected
during the October 13th meeting. If district and school wide data is available, the group will also discuss and analyze
our students’ academic performance based on the 2010 California Standards Test and the district benchmark
assessments.
PTA General Meeting, Tuesday, October 19, 5:45PM
Thanks to all who attended our first PTA meeting on September 21st! Representatives from Student Governance
Council (SGC), English Learner's Advisory Committee (ELAC), and Coalition of Families of African-American
Students (CFAA) presented their groups’ roles and encouraged new membership. Our first two fundraisers of the year
are the "One More Month" campaign and the Great American Fundraiser, please participate as your are able. For
complete minutes from the September meeting, please log on to the LeConte website at leconteonline.com, and join us
on Tuesday, October 19th at our next PTA meeting.

English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC), Thursday, October 21, 5:00PM

At our first ELAC meeting, members elected the following officers; DELAC representative Enedina Diaz; Treasurer
Yasmin Carretero; Secretary Paz Canales; Vice President Jose Topete; President Gazel Valdez. We also discussed
different and creative ways in which to celebrate the Latino Heritage celebration in a more cost effective way. Our
next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 21st at 5:00 in room 106.
Coalition of Families for African American Students, Thursday, October 14 and October 28, 6:PM
The following parents agreed to take on leadership roles for this committee: Memi Vaughn, one of our kindergarten
parents, will be the chair; Kiana Hollis, a parent of a third grade student in the TWI program agreed to be the
secretary, and Sharonda Easiley, a parent of a two LeConte students in first and third grade agreed help with
communication and reaching out to new families. The next meeting will be devoted to developing a mission statement
and discussing ways to involve more families. The regular meeting date will be the last Thursday of every month at
6:00PM, in our school library.

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 SCHOOL-WIDE & DISTRICT NEWS
BUSD – Inspire Parent Workshops – see flyers attached
The BUSD Office of Family and Community Partnerships will be facilitating a comprehensive series of classes that
offer elementary school parents effective ways to boost student success and strengthen family ties. The workshops will
be offered in English and Spanish. See the attached flyers for the dates, topics, and times. The first workshop is
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 6:00-8:00PM. Call 883-5222 Ramona McGary or Isabel Parra 883-5223 (Spanish) for
the location.

BUSD Lunch Menu

Just in case you did not receive a copy of the menu, a copy of the October lunch menu is attached. We do not have any
more color copies available.

Birthday procedures and Lunch items:

Please avoid putting the following items your child’s lunch or bringing them to school for parties or special
events: soda, hot chips, cupcakes, or candy. We are a district that promotes healthy eating habits! Our
farm/garden and cooking classes teach students how to grow and prepare food that provides the
nutrients and vitamins their bodies need and to decrease our students’ chances of becoming obese and
developing diabetes. Also, when inviting some of your child’s classmates to parties, please send invitations
to the students’ homes or give the invitations to the parent/guardian; it’s hard on students who are not invited
to see others getting invitations when the invitations are given out at school.

Discipline:
Several BUSD elementary schools have implemented the Positive Behavior Support program to actively create an
environment that recognizes and supports appropriate school behaviors. One of the goals is to teach our students the
social skills they need to maintain a safe environment. The three basic rules are be safe, be responsible, and be
respectful. We try to use logical consequences when students do not follow the rules and we try to avoid suspension as
a consequence unless the issue involves physical violence. We suspend for this type of action because we want the
parent/guardian to intervene immediately and help us help the student find alternative ways of dealing with anger or
disappointment. You will receive a revised overview of our discipline policy by November 1.

Free Cooking Classes:

Free, hands-on cooking classes are being offered at Willard Middle School beginning Tuesday, October 5th, from 5:30
to 7:00PM. There will be three series, see the flyer for the exact dates. Space is limited so call 644-6710 to sign up or
you can sign up here at school. The registration sheet is located on the Cooking display board near room 114.

Supplemental Educational Services (SES)

Supplemental Educational Services is an academic tutorial assistance program. SES services occur after school at the
student’s school site, home, or a mutually agreed upon location. Priority for acceptance to this program is given to the
lowest achieving students. If you would like to apply for SES in the 2010 school year, please contact the Office of
Curriculum and Instruction at (510)644-6500 ext. 6202. The completed applications are due no later than October
22, 2010.

Attendance—REMINDER!!!
As you may know, schools receive funding based on the number of students who attend each day. The amount per
child is between $32 and $35 dollars. Though the amount may appear small, it adds up when several students are
absent throughout the school. Within the guidelines of the State, students must arrive at school on time to be counted
as present. Therefore, it is not only important that your child come to school but also that your child be on time. When
you make doctor or dentist appointments for your child, please try to make the appointment after 9:30AM, so that your
child can be counted as attending school. Also, please write a note or contact your child’s teacher to explain all
absences. Our school secretary is required to maintain and turn in notices of all excused absences. Finally, please note

LeConte Lamppost 3
that you will automatically receive a “truancy” letter if your child is chronically 30 minutes late to school meaning
s/he arrived at 8:41AM or later. If the pattern continues, three letters will be sent home and then the parent or guardian
will be required to attend a Student Attendance Review Meeting at the site and then district level.

Communication
Our school bulletin, the Lamppost, will be sent home on or near the first Monday of every month along with other
school and classroom announcements. You can obtain weekly updates on email by going online,
www.leconteonline.org, and signing up. We have two moderated email groups – one for announcements only, and one
for “announcements plus discussion.” To join either group, please visit our website, www.leconteonline.org, and
follow the links on the right side of the home page. We also have an “all-call” system to notify you by telephone of
any emergencies, special requests, and reminders. You can reach your child’s teacher by telephone or email. Teachers
should be sending home written information at least once a month or contacting you by telephone.

Online Payments for School Meals

BUSD is pleased to announce “mySchoolBucks.com” a new online Payment Center for families. You can now make
payments to your child’s school lunch account any time of day throughout the year. You will be able to pay for meals,
view cafeteria purchases, track meal account balances, schedule recurring payments, etc. Visit
www.mySchoolBuck.com to create your account. You can call Marni Posey or Sara Leon at (510)644-6200 if you
have any questions.

LeConte Students Enhance Learning With Free Educational Software

Our district is going to continue funding our subscription to the Compass Learning educational software program. All
students enrolled in LeConte last year will have to have their records updated to reflect their current grade levels. All
new students will be able to access the program by the end of October. You can gain access to this program from home
or school. This software is aligned with state and national standards and provides a stimulating (and fun!), customized
learning environment for each child. Compass Learning is at www.childu.com. To get your child started, you will
need your child’s user name and password. Most user 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 a parent account to monitor your student's progress.

Next Lamppost: November 1, 2010

To submit information for the Lamppost, please email Principal Wilson at Cheryl_Wilson@berkeley.k12.ca.us or
Cathlene Richmond at cathlene.richmond@gmail.com>. The deadline Friday, October 22nd.

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 SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Talent Show Participants – Multicultural Potluck
Thank you to the following students who accepted the challenge and took a risk to perform during our annual potluck.
By getting up to perform, you inspire and bring joy to others. You made the audience smile and appreciate learning
something special about you! Principal Wilson is extremely proud of you for helping to make this event worthwhile
and very enjoyable.
1. First grade: Gwendolyn Dillon and Mikayla Shenkel,
2. Second grade: Ty’ler Banks, Beatrix Shelton, Lilly Schouten, and Cole Shumway
3. Third grade: Milagro Adom, Ikaika Gunderson, Carson Lamb, and Arasani Lechuga

Student achievement based on the 2010 California Standards Test

Every year all students in second through fifth grade are required to take the California Standards Tests (CST). The
CST is a multiple choice tests that examines students’ knowledge of English language arts and mathematics. The
students receive a ranking of far below basic, below basic, basic, proficient, or advanced. The goal for each student is
to score within the proficient or advanced range. The students on the attached lists are being recognized for showing
improvement and moving from one level to the next or achieving at the proficient or advanced level. They will all
receive certificates and some gifts of appreciation for making an effort to do their best on the test.
Students of the Month
Please see the attached list of our first group of Students of the Month. Students are selected by their teachers who
write comments about the students’ academic achievement, social development, or unique talent. Since all students
should show growth, all students are selected at some point within the year. Principal Wilson records the teacher’s
comment on a certificate and takes a photo of the students. The certificate and photo are placed on display in the main
hallway. Copies of photo and the certificate are given to each student to take home. Please be sure to ask your child for
those copies and, of course, congratulate your child based on the comments from her/his teacher.
Susan Katz’s Book: ABC Baby Me!
Susan is our school’s literacy coach and she has published her first book, ABC Baby Me! Her book is now available for
purchase at your local bookstore. For more information about her book visit the website at www.abcbabyme.com.

KIDS & FAMILY FUN TIPS

Kids Seasonal Cooking Class: Garden to Table
A new outdoor cooking and gardening class is being offered by the Sprouts Cooking Club. There are two upcoming
events, Saturday, October 9th and Sunday, October 10th. See flyer attached, for more information contact
Cassie@sproutscookingclub.org. The class fee is $30 per day. (The attached flyer features two LeConte students:
Sadie Abrous and Jonie Lee)
San Francisco Film Festival Audience Award: speaking in TONGUES
The film features “four kids, four languages, one city, one world.” There is a special screening on Wednesday,
October 13, 6:00PM to 9:00PM at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center Street. For more information visit
www.speakingintonguesfilm.info or call (510)812-4140. Principal Wilson saw the film last month and she highly
recommends it, especially to people who support and are interested in strategies to continue bilingual and dual
immersion education. UCB Professor of Education, Patricia Baquedano-Lopez will lead a discussion after the movie.
Flyers Attached
 Free Cooking Classes for Parents
 Family Math Night
 Kids Seasonal Cooking Class: Garden to Table
 Inspire Parent Workshops
 October Lunch Menu

LeConte Lamppost 5
 LeCONTE CALENDAR
October 1 – October 31
Updated LeConte News & Calendar: www.leconteonline.org
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
26 27 28 29 30 Oct. 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Picture Day Free Cooking Family Math Kids Seasonal
Classes begin Night Cooking Class
Willard 6:15 – 8:15PM 11:00AM
Middle School See flyer
5:30 – 7:00

10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Kids Seasonal No School School School
Cooking for Governance Governance
Class STUDENTS Council Chair Training
11:00AM Meeting Malcolm X
See flyer 6:30PM 7:00PM
Library
Coalition Families
AA Students
6:00PM Library
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Fifth Grade PTA Meeting Educational English
Mosaic – 5:45 – dinner Research Language
5 day 6:00 – meeting Symposium Advisory
Overnight Cafeteria 5:15 dinner Committee
Trip RSVP Meeting
883-5222 5:00PM
Room 106

BUSD Inspire
Parent
Workshops
6:00-8:00PM
See flyers
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Coalition – Celebrate Annual
Families AA LeConte Halloween
Students Assembly Festival
Meeting 8:15AM 12:00 – 2:00PM
6:00PM Library
Halloween
Parade, 12:45
31

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 LeConte felicita a sus...
ESTUDIANTES DEL MES
(determinado por los maestros del salón)
Vea sus fotos y certificados en el tablón 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/ Students/Estudiantes
Maestros
Ms. Aguas Aidan Alcala and Beatrix Shelton
Mr. Argueta Howard Carmichael and Jazzmin Luna-Guerrero
Ms. Barer Brian Blair, Anabel Sanchez, Alenna Silva, Adiva Stewart,
and Jarel Stubbs
Ms. Bernal Jada Graham, Cynthia Alvarado Pantoja, and
Joaquin Sanchez
Ms. Blanchard Dontae Dennis, Tenzin Shekhang, and Taylor Weller
Ms. Citrin Ahmed Almohamadi, Kalijah Ball, Theo Fricke,
Miriam Gerhardus, and Ikaika Gunderson
Ms. Cross Selim Bourdoud, David Copithorne, Charlotte Shelton, and
Aaron Trego
Ms. Gearring The entire class
Mr. Henderson Pedro Muñoz and Alexandra Steverson
Ms. Horwitz Milagro Adom, Garbriel Fatacome, and Jairo Gomez
Ms. Lewis & Ivy Choy, Malcolm Mayfield, and Emma Walter
Ms. Easton
Ms. Logan Jesus Gonzalez and Itzel Salinas
Ms. Louie Chase Durkee, Dailen Johnson, Alexis Robinson, and
Achebe Thomas
Ms. Perez Saul Estrada and Lilly Schouten
Ms. Torres Eva Crump and Cyrus Soltani
Ms. Trinh Joaquin McCall and Charlie Samser
 THIRD GRADE STUDENTS
who scored Advanced or Proficient
on the 2010 California Standards Test
in English Language Arts, Mathematics, or both;
several students scored Proficient or Advanced in both subjects
Milagro Adom Carson Lamb
Ayanna Barham Kian Lenihan
Gus Buettner Isaiah Lenoue
Sumi Cameron Carlos Valentin Jakarri Lindsey

David Cano Vasquez Riya Malhotra

Baldoky Castro-Salgado Sebastian Martinez
Charlotte Dambach Lucy Mongtomery
Misako Dickinson Mohammed Muthana
Joey Fern Elliott Newton
Eva Fiedler Leah Paniagua
Adela Figueroa Jaila Rodgers
Lilah Fraser Jamir Thomas
Ayisha Friedman Delphine Varriale
Jules Faulkner Sophia Gaal Isabel Valezquez
Mateo Grau-Rodriguez Jacqueline Spikes
Matilda Hallowell Josephine Wallin
Mara Halpern Jameson Wang
Akira Ishizu Gregory Williams
Darshan Kamenetzsky
 
 FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS
who Improved their Scores
and students who scored at the Proficient or Advanced level on the
2010 California Standards Test
in English Language Arts, Mathematics, or both

Iyassu Allen Primitibro Luna

Sadie Abrous Amyah Molina

Sequoia Barnes Pedro Muñoz

LZ Carmichael Koyla Popovic

David Copithorne Alessandro Riutort

Elam Dang-Richardson Tylin Robertson

Eduardo Garcia Charlotte Shelton

Lucas Grandison Celia Sow

Jesus Guerrero Aaron Trego

Tyler Hendryx Nathan Wei

Christian Itzep Pastor Isabelle Wolansky

Joni Lee Yasser Zinabidine

Elijah Linares
 FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS
who Improved their Scores
and students who scored at the Proficient or Advanced level on the
2010 California Standards Test
in English Language Arts, Mathematics, or both

Leonel Balbino Mekhi McElroy

Terrell Collins Valeria Mendoza

Victoria Geter Luis Rodriguez Rigo Orozco

Helen Geideman Mayorie Ovalle Rojas

Teaira Hendrix Sage Perez

Josephine Jolivette Simelia Rogers

Delta Kayler Anai Sanchez

Julia Kim Betty Taylor

Sepideh Kiumarsi Issaac Torres

Pepe Kokou Atzin Trigueros

Brian Lopez Malcolm Sovin Sykes

Jazzman Luna-Guerrero Taylor Weller

Najee McDonald
 El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Berkeley, la
Oficina de Enlace entre las Familias y la
Comunidad y la Oficina de Educación del
Condado de Alameda

Presentan un Taller Educativo:

“INSPIRE”
La Participación y Envolvimiento de los
Padres de Familia
Ayudando a su Hijo/a a Lograr el
Éxito Académico
Aprenda la importancia del Envolvimiento de los Padres de
Familia en el Éxito de sus Hijos, conozca los diferentes
niveles de participación y cuales son las herramientas que le
ayudaran a crear un ambiente positivo de aprendizaje dentro
de su propio hogar.

Biblioteca de la Escuela Malcolm X

1731 Prince Street
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Se ofrecerá Cena y Cuidado para Niños

Para información comuníquese con Isabel Parra 883-5223