THE TEACHER LUNCHEON IS THIS FRIDAY MARCH 9TH
LET’S SHOW THEM HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEM
SIGN UP TO CONTRIBUTE!
The theme this month is Salad Bar.
Bring your favorite salad to share with the teachers.
THANK YOU TO THE FAMILIES WHO ALREADY HAVE!!!
The Hidden Genius Project Seeks Applicants!
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
APPLY ONLINE by MARCH 10th
The Hidden Genius Project trains and mentors black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.
The Hidden Genius Project was founded in 2012 by five black entrepreneurs/technologists who seek to close the gap between high unemployment rates of black male youth and a plethora of career opportunities within the local technology sector. To address this challenge, the founders established a program to connect young black males with the skills, mentors and experiences that they need to become high-performing entrepreneurs and technologists in the global 21st century economy.
They are currently seeking applicants for their Immersion Program. This program is open to incoming 9th-11th grade black male youth. It is a highly rigorous program and requires a commitment of at least 15 months. A typical cohort cycle begins with a seven-week summer (40 hours per week), continues with weekly after-school programming at least one weekend day throughout the school year, and culminates in one more full seven-week summer session. After that period, students may opt to continue programming to further their skills and/or projects.
The cost of the program is free for accepted applicants. This includes computers if kids do not have their own.
Learnings await!
UC Berkeley’s Girls in Engineering program is actively recruiting applicants who are eligible for our need-based scholarships. If you work with girls in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade, I hope you will share this opportunity with them! Applications are due TODAY March 1st.
Families are automatically awarded full scholarships if they demonstrate financial need (by qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal). All girls need to complete the normal camp application, but no additional scholarship application is required.
Information about our program, and a link to the online application, is available on our website: http://girlsinengineering.berkeley.edu/
MARCH 9TH IS COMING UP SOON!
SIGN UP TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEACHER LUNCHEON!
The theme this month is Salad Bar. Bring your favorite salad to share with the teachers.
Mr Vedder has been busy organizing the 8th Grade end-of-the-year field trip, to celebrate the students’ success in achieving their reading goals this year.
The field trip will be to Kennedy Grove Park. It will be on Wednesday, May 2nd, from 9:30-1:00.
They will be going by bus.
As you can see, he has firmed up most of the details for the field trip,
and he needs help with the most important part of it – CHAPERONES!
He needs 15-16 parent chaperones, without whom this field trip cannot happen.
If you can chaperone, please click HERE TO SIGN UP!
Contact Mr Vedder for all the details.
FEATURING SPECIAL SESSION
“LOOKING AHEAD: WHAT TO EXPECT AT El Cerrito High School” AND BAND PARENTS MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 13
The PTSA will meet at 7 PM in the Multipurpose Room.
Here is the Agenda
After covering PTSA business, we will hold a session on ECHS, along the lines of “what to expect,” which is specially designed to help 8th graders and their families navigate their way through the first few months of high school. This year, ECHS Principal Edith Jordan-McCormick and Assistant Principals Charlotte Betson and Jay Eirvin will be on hand to talk about academic and administrative matters, as well as extra curricular programs at the high school.
Learn also about what it’s like to be a Gaucho from our panel of student speakers.
So come with questions and get your answers.
Preceding the PTSA meeting is the Band Parents meeting in the band room, starting at 6 PM.
See you there!
The African American Committee will be hosting our
Black History Movie Night on
Thursday, March 15, 2018 @ 6:15pm in the
Multipurpose Room (*This is a FREE Event*).
We will watch
MARSHALL – (pg-13) – About a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.
Food from Southern Café and drinks will be provided.
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and pillows.*
ID and PERMISSION SLIP REQUIRED*
Tuesday March 20th 2018
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Harding Elementary School Auditorium
We are proud to present with our neighboring PTAs…..
Join us for a Conversation with our School Superintendent Matthew Duffy.
‘On March 14, California State PTA is asking for your help to “call out” our federal legislators and demand stronger gun-violence prevention legislation.
Stand together with the voices of students and call your federal legislators on March 14 to demand stronger gun-violence prevention legislation including:
* Prohibiting the sale and possession of assault weapons including automatic and semi-automatic weapons
* Mandatory background checks
* Waiting periods for all firearm purchases.
https://www.votervoice.net/CAPTA/campaigns/57206/respond
Once you enter your name and address, the site automatically generates the names and numbers of your legislators and a script that you can use when you call.
PLEASE RESERVE A FEW MINUTES ON MARCH 14th and make calls to your legislators. Calling can be a very effective way to bring about change. Legislation offices do note the number of calls, the areas from which the calls originate and the caller’s positions – for/against.
California State PTA has a number of resources on its website.
Additional Resources:
* California State PTA Position * Statement “Firearms and Assault Weapons”
* California State PTA Position Statement “Student Participation in Public Demonstrations”
* National PTA Position Statement “Gun Safety and Violence Prevention”
* Checklist to Prevent Violence in Schools
* National PTA FAQs on Gun Violence
* National PTA Press Statement
* Talking Points for PTAs – Gun Violence and Student Voice
* Proposition 63 “The Safety for All Act of 2016” Support Full Analysis
El Cerrito High School/Korematsu Middle School Ultimate Frisbee Club presents its
Third Annual Ultimate Crab Feed!!
WHEN? Saturday February 24th, 5:30-9:30 pm
WHERE? El Cerrito Community Center.
Come stuff your face with crab and support the EC High and Korematsu Ultimate Frisbee teams all in the same night!!! This is not your typical fundraiser of burritos and pizza. The “Ultimate Crab Feed” will be a night of delicious all you can eat crab, pasta, salad and bread. Yuuuuuummmy!
There will be fantastic raffle prizes, including authentic signed Golden State Warriors jerseys by “Splash Brother” Steph Curry and the best basketball player on the planet, Kevin Durant. The tickets are going fast so be sure to get your tickets today before they sell out.
$50/person.
For tickets: eccrabfeed2018.eventbrite.com
For information: eccrabfeed2018@gmail.com
THERE’S STILL TIME BEFORE YEARBOOK PRICE GOES UP, SO BUY TODAY!
You have a couple more days to buy your 2017-2018 Yearbook for the lower price of $30.
So ORDER TODAY!
The price goes up to $40 between Feb 26, 2018
and mid-April, when sales end.
Reserve your 64 page, full-color memory book now
and save $10.
Click on “2018 Yearbook”
Many customizations are available for additional fees, including your student’s name.
Paper order forms are also available. Just drop into the school office.
The African American Committee will be hosting our
Black History Movie Night on
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 @ 6:15pm in the
Multipurpose Room.
We will watch
MARSHALL – (pg-13) – About a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American
Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.
Southern Café Soul Food and drinks will be provided!
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and pillows.
* ID and PERMISSION SLIP REQUIRED*
The bugs have been fixed and online registration is now available in PowerSchool for incoming 9th grade students. Once you’ve logged on to PowerSchool, on the left hand side there is a tab for Class Registration. Click that and follow the directions on the screen. Be sure to hit submit when you have finished. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Eirvin at jeirvin2@wccusd.net.
Tuesday March 20th 2018
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Harding Elementary School Auditorium
We are proud to present with our neighboring PTAs…..
Join us for a Conversation with our School Superintendent Matthew Duffy.
School is closed February 19 to February 23, 2018. Classes will resume on Monday, February 26.
Enjoy the break!
El Cerrito High School/Korematsu Middle School Ultimate Frisbee Club presents its
Third Annual Ultimate Crab Feed!!
WHEN? Saturday February 24th, 5:30-9:30 pm
WHERE? El Cerrito Community Center.
Unlimited crab with salad, pasta and bread, and fantastic raffle prizes!
$50/person.
For tickets: eccrabfeed2018.eventbrite.com.
For information: eccrabfeed2018@gmail.com.
The African American Committee will be hosting our Black History Movie Night on
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 @ 6:15pm in the
Multipurpose Room.
We will watch
MARSHALL – (pg-13) – About a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.
Southern Café Soul Food and drinks will be provided!
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and pillows.
* ID and PERMISSION SLIP REQUIRED*
A great big thank you to all who have helped or contributed to the Teachers’ Luncheon, Science Fair, the Valentine’s Day Dance, sports events and everything else that’s going on in our Korematsu community.
It was great to see so many families at Science Fair Night! Congratulations to our Korematsu students on their scientific explorations and good luck to those whose projects are moving on to the WCCUSD Science Fair!
Attached is a list of projects and placements from the Korematsu fair.
First, second, and third place winners will move on to the district fair. The district fair’s awards ceremony and viewing night will be on Thursday, March 1 at El Cerrito High School.
Chair, Jeff Walker
A big thank you goes to the Science Fair judges for the many hours they spent evaluating projects: Melissa Ehman, Ricardo Gonzalez, Gary Hlady, Jon Lebeck, Kazue Nakahara, Crystal Nie, Jeff Norman, and Marit Oieroset.
Many thanks also go to Susan Gonzalez for helping set up the fair and to Judy Chin for providing refreshments for the judges on judging day.
We owe a special thank you to Mr. Kunz for running the fair every year, for providing his room and for much sound advice.
Finally, thank you to Mr. Burnham for his support of the Science Fair, including the logistics of Science Fair Night.
Overall First Place – Kai Sokolowski (8th Grade)
Overall 2nd Place – Dominic Harrington
1st Place 7th grade – Julia Schweitzer
2nd Place 7th grade – Amalia Clark
Tuesday March 20th 2018
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Harding Elementary School Auditorium
We are proud to present with our neighboring PTAs…..
Join us for a Conversation with our School Superintendent Matthew Duffy.
Thursday February 8th 6:30 – 8pm
Parents and guardians are invited to come and get some tips and tools for supporting your students.
Childcare will be provided!
You have just a few more days to buy your 2017-2018 Yearbook for the lower price of $30. So ORDER TODAY!
The price goes up to $40 between Feb 10, 2018 and mid-April, when sales end. Reserve your 64 page, full-color memory book now and save $10.
Order online now at http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1003883/Fred-T.-Korematsu-Middle-School/ then click on “2018 Yearbook”. Many customizations are available for additional fees, including your student’s name.
Paper order forms are also available. Just drop into the school office.
In keeping with the theme of February we will treat the teachers to a Valentines’ Brunch.
If it’s waffles or pancakes, sausages or brunch casseroles ,vegan dishes or meat anything is welcome!.
Bring your favorite brunch dishes to share for the teachers.
Here is the link to sign up to help out
Monday February 12th during lunch students need to attend an informational meeting.
The softball meeting will be in Room A217 and the baseball meeting will be in room A219.
Baseball tryouts will be Wednesday 2/14 from 2:45 – 4:45
Softball tryouts will be Monday 2/26 and Wednesday 2/28 after school.
2/13 – Lunchtime Spelling Bee for top English class spellers.
DON’T MISS KOREMATSU SCIENCE FAIR NIGHT 2018!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 6:30 TO 8:00 PM
KOREMATSU MULTIPURPOSE ROOM
Come see the projects that made the final round of the Korematsu Science Fair at Science Fair Night next week! The first, second, and third place winners will proceed to the WCCUSD Science Fair next month.
Congratulations to our students who worked so hard on their projects!
We still have a need for a few more parents to help at the Valentines’ Day Dance
It’s on Wednesday February 14th 2018 in the MPR 1:30 – 3.00pm
Click on the links to sign up to help create a fun event for the students:
Valentine’s Day Dance Volunteers
The African American Committee will be hosting our
Black History Month Movie Night
on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 @ 6:15 pm in the Multipurpose Room
We will watch: MARSHALL (PG 13) About a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice,
as he battle through one of his career-defining cases.
There will be food, and drinks will be provided.
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and pillows.
*ID and PERMISSION SLIP REQUIRED
See the NBA champion Warriors live at West Contra Costa Public Education Fund Night on February 22 when Golden State hosts the Los Angeles Clippers. Discounted tickets are available for the WCCUSD community with a portion of the ticket sales benefiting the Ed Fund and the District. Get your tickets here and use the promo code WCCUSD. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, February 2.
The Ed Fund is also offering up to a $1,000 prize to spend on the arts to the top school within each of our six family of schools that sells or buys the most tickets. More details about the Ed Fund’s announcement is here.
Saturday 2/3/2018 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Pinole Middle School Cafeteria 15775 Mann Dr., Pinole, CA 94564
WCCUSD welcomes students, families, staff, and community members to attend our
Community Town Hall Meetings!
Attending a town hall meeting is a great opportunity for parents, teachers, and community members to engage in the decisions that impact their children and schools.
District staff will listen to the concerns and suggestions of all stakeholders regarding the development of the LCAP.
17-18 Town Hall Flyer (Sp).pdf
17-18 Town Hall Flyer (Eng).pdf
Join us at Panda Express El Cerrito Plaza, next Tuesday February 6, 2018, from 3:00 – 9:00 pm for take-away or eat in. We receive 20% of the proceeds, which we spend on improving classroom, student and teacher experience.
Click HERE for the flyer. You can show paper or digital version of it.
THANK YOU!!! for your support.
Now is the time to order your 2017-2018 Yearbook! 64+ colored pages!
The basic book is $30 until Feb. 9, 2018. Order today!
The price goes up to $40 between Feb 10, 2018 and mid-April, when sales end.
We are currently accepting online orders only. Please go to http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1003883/Fred-T.-Korematsu-Middle-School/ then click on “2018 Yearbook”. Many customizations are available for additional fees, including your student’s name.
Orders can be placed via cash/check and order form in the school office after January 16th, 2018.
In keeping with the theme of February we will treat the teachers to a Valentines’ Brunch.
If it’s waffles or pancakes, sausages or brunch casseroles ,vegan dishes or meat anything is welcome!.
Bring your favorite brunch dishes to share for the teachers.
Here is the link to sign up to help out
The Rho Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is pleased to announce their 28th Annual Black College Awareness Fair. This signature event will be held at Stanford University’s Tresidder Memorial Union on Saturday, February 10, 2018. Registration begins at 9:30 AM (continental breakfast will be served), and the fair program begins promptly at 10:00 AM.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM IN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM
Don’t forget to mark your calendars! Science Fair Night will be on Tuesday, February 13. This is the only opportunity for families to view the 70 projects that made the final round of the Korematsu Science Fair. Our students have put together some great experiments! First, second, and third place winners will be advancing to the WCCUSD Science Fair in early March.
Wednesday February 14th 2018 in the MPR 1:30 – 3.00pm
Click on the links to sign up to help create a fun event for the students and for the cool flyer from Ms. Alcocer
Valentine’s Day Dance Volunteers
Valentine’s Day Dance2.pdf
The Lawrence Hall of Science is currently recruiting youth for our Engineering Lab, and Floor and Special Events programs. We would greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word and promoting these opportunities for young people throughout the Bay Area.
We’re looking for more applicants that will become part of our internship program. Our youths have the option to join a year-round science education and youth development program that helps support STEM exploration and the college admissions process.
Through joining our program, teens have the opportunity to:
Ideal candidates are must be entering 9th grade or above and be
able to attend the Mandatory Teen Orientation on Saturday, April 7, 2018 from 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Youth who demonstrate a passion for science, technology, engineering, math, or education and/or are interested in working with the public are particularly well suited for the program. We hope to serve as the critical difference in our youth’s choice or opportunity to pursue a STEM career and/or education.
Youth can apply HERE; the application deadline is March 24.
Do you have any photos from any school events you have attended, this school year?
Cross country meets? Band Concerts? Performances? Basketball games?
And any other memorable school events.
The Yearbook Committee is still gathering photos for the yearbook, and would appreciate your help, to get more.
If you have any questions and/or photos that you would like to submit for inclusion in the yearbook, you can email them to timwarner@fairmontschool.org or tiffany.jamison@wccusd.net
Tips on proper photo submission:
On behalf of the Korematsu PTSA board, congratulations and thank you so much to the Korematsu community that came together on January 27th for Celebrate Korematsu!
It was an amazing evening and it was so successful because of the meticulous advanced planning of the Celebrate Korematsu Team led by Judy Chin and Joanne Okano. We deeply appreciate your time, effort and dedication.
A huge thank you also to the Auction Coordinators Negar Souza and Rula Craner. The Silent Auction was great! The Live Auction was awesome!
And of course to all the parents that pitched in, in any way, in all the different aspects, to make the event as successful as it was, from transporting and setting up chairs and music stands to feeding the musicians, to cooking and serving the food to guests. Months of meeting and planning culminated in an evening enjoyed by all.
And last but not least, thank you so much to Ms. Carrico and Mr Burnham, for your continued work and support of our Korematsu community.
Thank you all,
Manu Wong
The Celebrate Korematsu Team would like to acknowledge and thank all you helped and here’s the link to their message.
Japanese American Portraits from the El Cerrito Historical Society Archives
To commemorate Rights & Respect Week this year, the school and PTSA are collaborating with the El Cerrito Historical Society to exhibit photographs from the society’s Japanese American collections.
The photographs are portraits of Japanese American families who owned flower nurseries in El Cerrito and Richmond before World War II. Two years after the photographs were taken, these families were removed from their homes and sent to Internment camps. Their portraits are a moving document of the tremendous impact the war had on more than 110,000 Japanese Americans living in the United States.
The exhibition will be on display starting Friday, January 26th during regular school hours. For non-students who are interested in seeing the exhibit, please go to the school’s main office (7125 Donal Ave.) to sign in and get a Visitor’s Pass.
We will be honoring Fred Korematsu in the library this coming week in several ways.
1) There will be an announcement about Korematsu in the front office on Tuesday for the students to read.
2) There will be a book display about Fred Korematsu and the Japanese incarceration during WWII in the library.
3) There will be a trivia competition during 7th and 8th grade lunch on Tuesday.
4) There will be a bulletin board where kids can put their ideas of how they currently do, or how they would, stand up for what they believe in.
TICK TOCK…TIME TO SHOP!! The Celebrate Korematsu Online Auction closes in 2 days!!! Hurry and place your bids!
So MANY items are up for sale and have NO BIDS!! What a steal!
Help the local middle school bands & educational programs and get some awesome items!
A wonderful way for family & friends to support your children. Spread the word!
Here are some of the items that have no home!
Now is the time to order your 2017-2018 Yearbook! 64+ colored pages! The basic book is $30 until Feb. 9, 2018. Order today! The price goes up to $40 between Feb 10, 2018 and mid-April, when sales end.
We are currently accepting online orders only. Please go to http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1003883/Fred-T.-Korematsu-Middle-School/ then click on “2018 Yearbook”. Many customizations are available for additional fees, including your student’s name.
Orders can be placed via cash/check and order form in the school office after January 16th.
Do you have any photos from any school events you have attended, this school year?
Cross country meets? Band Concerts? Performances? Basketball games?
And any other memorable school events.
The Yearbook Committee is still gathering photos for the yearbook, and would appreciate your help, to get more.
If you have any questions and/or photos that you would like to submit for inclusion in the yearbook, you can email them to timwarner@fairmontschool.org or tiffany.jamison@wccusd.net
Tips on proper photo submission:
Ms. La Due is looking for parents who are willing to help with costumes and sets for the spring musical, Annie Jr.! She is especially looking for people who are handy with tools and have a little bit of basic construction experience to help with a few more difficult-to-make set pieces. If you are able to help, please fill out this form and Ms. La Due will be in contact with you! You can find more information about the musical at Ms. La Due’s drama website.
The new Korematsu Dance Committee, made up of a few staff members, are putting together a Valentine’s Day Dance for the students on Wednesday February 14th from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, at Korematsu.
They are looking for parent volunteers to chaperone, set up, and clean up. They would also like donations of cookies for about 40 students, Valentine’s Day Decorations and two $5 Starbucks gift cards, which will be the prizes for a couple of fun competitions they will have at the dance.
If you’re able to help out, here’s the link for the Sign up. If you have any questions contact malcocerruiz@gmail.com
The Celebrate Korematsu online auction is NOW OPEN!
This is the very first EVER online auction and we were so excited,
we opened it even earlier than anticipated! Remember this closes 12:00 AM, January 27th (the night before the event)
so make sure you start bidding NOW before it’s too late!
To begin bidding click here: https://charityauction.bid/CelebrateKorematsu2018
If you’ve already purchased your Celebrate Korematsu tickets, log in to your account, click catalog and then begin bidding!
If you have not bought tickets, please register, (of course buy tickets if you plan to come to the event) and then click catalog
and begin bidding!
If you don’t plan to join us at the event but don’t want to miss these fabulous items, just scroll to the bottom of the page and register as a bidder!
Go to the catalog and begin bidding!
We are looking for a few more desserts for our auction item “Desserts for a Year.”
If you are interested, please email Tammy Garretson tammylou@sbcglobal.net to sign up.
UC Berkeley’s Girls in Engineering program is actively recruiting applicants who are eligible for our need-based scholarships. If you work with girls in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade, I hope you will share this opportunity with them!
Families are automatically awarded full scholarships if they demonstrate financial need (by qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal). All girls need to complete the normal camp application, but no additional scholarship application is required.
Information about our program, and a link to the online application, is available on our website: http://girlsinengineering.berkeley.edu/
To secure your student’s spot for the Spring Session, submit $150 payment (total payment for all of the 16 class) soonest OR let us know your student will be on scholarship (or payment plan). For more information, contact korematsusings@gmail.com
Make plans now for the best summer of your life at CCCT’s Drama Camp. No matter if you’re a budding young actor or a seasoned performer, CCCT has something for you.
Whether you’re meeting new friends, learning theatre skills like improv, makeup, acting, and stage combat, or performing an original play on CCCT’s Main Stage, the fun is guaranteed, and you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime.
This great new program will take place on Wednesday April 18th and is a unique learning experience for students K-8.
The A’s are teaming up with Chevron and will have a STEM program presentation followed by an A’s game. Tickets are heavily discounted for this event and are going fast!
Korematsu Panda Express Restaurant Night is on February 6th 2018 3-9pm
West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) In collaboration with Contra Costa County Office of Education Invite you to attend a series of workshops developed to help you navigate the Special Education Process.