JOIN US!
It is recruiting time!
With more than half of our board members moving on to high school next year, we are actively recruiting our next generation of leaders. Please consider taking on a leadership position in the PTSA. Two of the positions still open for next year are president and treasurer; without these positions filled by mid-May, we will not have a PTSA next year.
It’s no secret that the administration is supportive, faculty appreciative, and the community amazingly generous. But the bottom line is, the school needs parents to step up into leadership positions.
At Korematsu, the PTSA does everything from organizing assemblies to Teacher Treat Days. We administer classroom grants, contract with a math tutor and an after school library supervisor, fund field trips and academic contests, and so much more.
We would like to see the work we’ve been doing continue and expand.
Support the school, lend your varied talents, meet fellow parents and guardians, and spend some time on campus with students, teachers and staff. It really is an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Take a look at the positions that we have to filled.
May is a pivotal month when we hold elections, so please get in touch with our Nominating Committee Head Eowyn Mader as soon as you can. Her email is eowyn.mader@gmail.com .
A FEW MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: GOLDEN GATE FIELDS ON MARCH 26
Thank you to those who have already signed up to volunteer on the Golden Gate Fields’ Dollar Day. We still need a handful of people to work on Sunday, March 26. Please consider volunteering at this fun-raiser! We serve hot dogs and beer, (and sneak off to place a few bets). Your PTSA AND the band program will earn $1,000 + tips.
SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 6:30 PM
See how much our students have achieved in the past months. Visit classrooms and watch performances.
KOREMATSU CLINCHES TOP SPOT IN DISTRICT SPELLING BEE
Korematsu won the District Spelling Bee once more! After going through 15 rounds, eighth grader Ghouran C. placed first, while Jacob K. came in third place. The second spot was taken by Pinole. The winning word — riotous. Kudos to all spelling bee participants! And go Korematsu!!!
PTSA MEETING THANKS
Thank you to El Cerrito High School Principal Mrs. McCormick, and Assistant Principals Mr. Eirvin and Ms. Betson for fielding questions from Korematsu parents at the last PTSA meeting on March 14. Thank you also to ECHS students Itzel D., Audrey D., Arlo V., Tenzing L., Tenzing C., and Surangana J. for sharing their Gaucho experiences with Korematsu students and parents. Finally, thanks to Ying-Tsu Loh for moderating the panel.
SAVE THE DATES: EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL INFO NIGHT AND TOURS
El Cerrito High School will host parent tours every third Thursday of the month the next two months. The tours will be from 9 to 11 AM. The tour will start with a question and answer period with Principal McCormick and end with classroom visits lead by Leadership students. Please check in at the main office. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the school at 510-231-1437.
The high school is also planning an info night at the ECHS theater on March 30 from 6 to 8 PM.
UC BERKELEY GIRLS IN ENGINEERING SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITY
All Bay Area girls who are currently in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade are invited to apply to the UC Berkeley Girls in Engineering Summer Camps. They’ve also extended the deadline for scholarship applicants (full scholarships!).
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.
In the summer of 2017 there will be four camp sessions:
- June 19–23
- June 26–30
- July 10–14
- July 17–21
Program schedule: 8:30am – 4:30pm daily
More information about the program, and a link to the online application, is available
KOREMATSU AT THE 52ND WCCUSD ART SHOW MARCH 21 TO APRIL 23 RICHMOND ART CENTER
Catch the works of student artists from Korematsu Middle School at the 52nd WCCUSD Art Show. The show will be taking place at Richmond Art Center, located at 2540 Barrett Ave, Richmond, CA, and is open from 11 AM to 5 PM from Tuesday to Saturday.
Congrats to the following students whose works will be in the exhibit:
- Emiko A.T. — Indonesian Inspired Mask (Paper Mache) and Grandpa (Charcoal)
- Honesty R. — Galaxy Dress (Watercolor)
- Cecelia M. — Loft Room (Acrylic Paint) and Star Girl (Charcoal)
- Valerie W. — Chester Mask (Paper Mache)
- Tristan M. — Northern Lights (Watercolor)
- Morgan L. — Summer Pod Migration (Soft Pastel) and Cratus Gorenius-Castello (Watercolor)
- Sara H. — Genevive (Charcoal)
ECHS SIXTH ANNUAL SWING DANCE SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 6:30 PM, EC COMMUNITY CENTER
Everyone’s welcome to participate in the Sixth Annual Swing Dance, which is a fundraiser for the band program. The evening includes great appetizers, a group dance lesson, and live swing-era music performed by ECHS Jazz Ensemble and Workshop.
Tickets are $25 and are available at http://echsbands.com/swing-dance/
Poster: 2017 Swing Dance Poster.pdf
KOREMATSU SUMMER BAND CAMP
June 19-23 & June 26-30
At this summer camp, Korematsu band director Tiffany Carrico offers young musicians the opportunity to develop their music skills while making new friends. For more information on times and prices, please click on the flyer below:
Korematsu summer band camp flyer 2017.pdf
If you would like to reserve a spot for your child, or have any questions about the camp, please contact Ms. Carrico at scrappyslap@hotmail.com or on 510-717-0718.
LUNAFEST EAST BAY
ECHS PERFORMING ARTS THEATER
SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 7:30 PM
It’s our 10th anniversary season of LUNAFEST East Bay and we hope you’ll join us for another inspiring evening featuring nine new short films by, for and about women! LUNAFEST comes to El Cerrito High’s Performing Arts Theater on Saturday, March 18th, 2017 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are available online or by cash/check now. Visit us at http://www.lunafest.org/elcerrito0318 for more information. $20 General ($25 at door), $10 Seniors 65+/Handicapped, $5 Teachers & Students w/ID, $60 VIP Reception + Films. 100% of net proceeds from the event benefit EC High’s IT Academy, the EC Community Foundation and the Breast Cancer Fund.
The evening will kick off with our signature Filmmaker Panel with local author Patty Enrado who will chat with two of this season’s talented filmmakers in a brief onstage interview before the films.
ECHS graduate and 2016 Lunafest filmmaker, Anna Schumacher, will be the evening’s MC.
Please note: While LUNAFEST films are not formally rated, we recommend that attendees be age 16+.