Author: PTSA

Last teacher luncheon of the school year

Tomorrow – Friday May 11th 2018

Let the teachers know how much we appreciate their work this year! This month’s theme is Cinco de Mayo! Bring your favorite Mexican dishes. Tamales, Floutas, burritos, salads, tacos, so much to choose from.T hanks for all the help during this school year. Questions email Astrid Broberg liissaUSA@aol.com

Sign Up

PROMOTION TO HIGH SCHOOL

Dear Korematsu Families,

Can you believe we only have 3 weeks until graduation? This year has zoomed by!

Graduation is a special time for 8th grade families. Many of them move on together to El Cerrito High, and some fly off to other schools, so for our 8th graders, the graduation commencement events are vastly important.

That being said, we can not pull off all the activities without your help!

There are 3 events that need 7th AND 8th grade families to help with. We have included a link to a google doc that you can sign up.

The events are as follows:

6/5
1. Promotion practice: Before the picnic, parents are needed to help organize and supervise the 8th graders as they practice for the promotion ceremony.

2. Help with the 8th grade picnic: This happens prior to the kids vs. teachers softball game. We have 3 point persons already and need people to sign ups for food, set-up, clean-up etc. BOTH 7th & 8th Grade families can help!

6/6
3. Graduation: This is a huge event where the kids cross the stage. Tradition has been 7th grade families sign up to help with some of the larger day of jobs so 8th grade families can watch their babies cross the stage! Then next year, we continue that tradition and you get to sit back and watch your babies cross the stage!

There are other day/night-of items for 8th grade families as well as a sign-up to help order, pick-up & deliver appetizers, drinks & desserts to the school.

Please note there are 3 tabs on the sign up sheet!

Please contact either Rula Craner at rula_craner@yahoo.com OR Negar Souza at thesouzafamily@comcast.net for more info, clarification or questions.

CLICK HERE TO HELP!

WE NEED YOU! We cannot do this without your help!

Thank you,
Rula & Negar

BRIGHTBYTES AND WCCUSD

Dear WCCUSD Parent/Guardian,

During the 2014-15 school year, our district started a partnership with BrightBytes, an educational software company in order to learn more about our technology use for student learning. Our goal is to gather data on a continuing basis regarding technology access and skills, and on our district’s technology environment, in order to understand the connection between technology use and student achievement.

To gain these insights, we provide BrightBytes with a complete picture of technology use at school and at home within our district. Students, teachers, and parents are asked to complete an online questionnaire twice a year to help us gather this data.

Your participation and support is important to us and will give us a more complete understanding of our district’s technology use. Our first step is to gather data from you, the members of our parent community. Below is a link to the parent survey, as well as a QR code which can be scanned with a mobile device running a QR code reader. This will allow you to access the survey on your smartphone or another mobile device (such as a tablet). Please note that the survey is short and should only take about 5 to 8 minutes of your time.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this valuable survey.

Sincerely,

Matt Burnham, Principal

Korematsu Middle School Parent Survey

Click on this link to take the survey

LIBRARY AFTER SCHOOL HOURS

Library after school hours will end on May 4th. After that, the library will only be open for 15-20 minutes after the end of the school day. We are moving into tablet and textbook collection time. Thanks.

KOREMATSU PRESENTS THE MUSICAL ANNIE

Over 50 Korematsu students have been working hard onstage and behind the scenes to put on our spring musical! Bring the whole family for a fun night of musical theatre.

Date: Wednesday, May 9th and Thursday, May 10th
Time: 7pm (House opens at 6:30pm, get there early to get a good seat! Snacks will be available for purchase.)
Place: Korematsu Multi-Purpose Room
Tickets: Available at the door, suggested donation of $4

VOLLEYBALL

Girls Volleyball is coming to Korematsu! Beginning Wednesday, April 25 from 1:30 – 4 pm in the Korematsu gym, there will be an open gym for girls in the 7th and 8th grade. They will continue on a weekly basis for the rest of the school year. The open gyms will be lead by Scott Bishop a local, veteran volleyball coach. He has been coaching volleyball at the High School, Club and Collegiate levels for over 20+ years. If you are interested please contact Scott at cantdigme@gmail.comfor more information.

FINAL PTSA MEETING: TUES., MAY 8, MPR, 7 PM

WE NEED YOUR VOTE! NOTICE OF ELECTION AND MEETING

Tuesday, May 8, 2017
Fred T. Korematsu Middle School
7125 Donal Avenue
7:00 p.m.
MPR

NOTE: BAND PARENTS MEET at 6 PM in the band room.
Please join us as we elect the Executive Board for the 2018-2019 school year.
The term begins July 1, 2017 and runs through June 30, 2018.

Slate for Executive Board:
Manu Wong – President
Stacey Steele – Executive Vice President
Leslie Reckler – Treasurer
Evelyn Smith – Financial Secretary
Sherrod Blankner – Recording Secretary

OPEN
First Vice President Fundraising
Second Vice President Volunteer Coordinator
Historian

All who are members longer than 30 days are eligible to cast a vote.

PRESENTATION ON EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS BY CLASSROOM MATTERS.

Here’s the Agenda

Last teacher luncheon of the school year

May 11th 2018

Let the teachers know how much we appreciate their work this year! This month’s theme is Cinco de Mayo! Bring your favorite Mexican dishes. Tamales, Floutas, burritos, salads, tacos, so much to choose from. Thanks for all the help during this school year. Questions email Astrid Broberg liissaUSA@aol.com

Sign Up

THE PRACTICE SPACE

Embracing Discomfort: The Practice Space Celebrates Community Voices
Date: Sunday, May 20, 2018
Time: 6:30pm-9:00pm
Location: East Bay Center for the Performing Arts

Description: You are invited to a showcase of speeches and stories by students at The Practice Space, a non-profit helping people communicate and speak effectively.. Come celebrate our one-year anniversary with free dinner, drinks, music, and speeches by student and adult speakers! Learn more about our programs and show support for voices from our East Bay community.

This event is free to all and begins with a reception at 6:30pm with food, a photo booth, and community tables with local artists and youth programs. Student performances begin at 7:15pm with two acts and an intermission.

Tickets: Free to all, RSVP at embracingdiscomfort.eventbrite.com

Address: 339 11th St, Richmond, CA 94801

FIELD TRIP THANK YOU FROM MR. VEDDER

Dear Parents,

I want to thank you for all of the work, effort, materials, time, and energy you put in today.

At every turn – in the beginning, when sixty of our kids were without a bus, in the middle, attempting to feed 240 eager teenagers, or near the end, when we fit every one of them into one final photo – you were all ready, and willing to help. You were positive and engaged the entire day, and I couldn’t have asked for a better set of adults to be with.

Today was a real testament to how lucky we are, as a staff, to have such a generous, flexible, and thoughtful community of parents. Thank you for all that you did and put in – I know that the staff, the kids, and I all appreciate it immensely. It was such a fantastic day.

NEXT CHINA TRIP DEADLINE

Thank you to all that handed in applications to meet the Early Bird deadline.
There is still time to think about the China trip. The next deadline is Tuesday, May 15 ($800 rate).
Hand in paper applications to the Main Office.

HEADED TO EL CERRITO HIGH? – THE MOUNTAIN BIKING TEAM WANTS YOU!!

The Mountain Bike Team had their fourth league race at Granite Bay on April 15th, placing third just behind Berkeley, and retaining overall second place in league. El Cerrito is up against much bigger teams – we had 20 race while Berkeley had 62! The last league race is less than two weeks and the team will need to be strong to clinch the second place spot!

The course was 6 miles with over 500′ of climbing, and is considered the most technical NorCal (league) course. There was lots of winding single track and several rock obstacles to clear. Our riders did great! Freshman and Sophomore Girls did 2 laps; Sophomore Boys and JV raced for 3 laps, and Varsity Boys 4.

The team is looking for more riders next season and girls are highly encouraged to join. We have a strong group of girls and want to add several more. No experience is necessary – the team trains it’s athletes for fitness and bike handling. Please talk to anyone on the team or text coach John (510-967-1101) and check out the team’s website https://echsmtb.com/.

Varsity: Matt Garrison, 4th (Podium); Evan Garrison, 9th

JV Girls: Madeline Hill, 1st (Podium, Category Leader)

JV Boys: Tal Zvik, 4th (Podium); George Smith, 20th; Rota Maynard, 32nd; Daniel Huebner, 35th; Sebastian Alvarez, 36th

Sophomore Girls: Maria Wallis, 2nd (Podium, Category Leader)

Sophomore Boys: Nitzan Gladstone, 4th (Podium); Keith Emory; 7th; Aiden Dey-Ward, 13th; Senan Hayden, 19th; Fabio Argueta, 26th

Freshman Girls: Elisabeth Cody, 8th; Helen Stephens, 14th

Freshman Boys: Enzo Nelligan, 6th; Simha Furaha, 17th; Eli Tipton, 20th

ALBANY MIDDLE SCHOOL INVITES YOU TO…. COBRA-CHELLA!

TONIGHT!!! Korematsu Orientation Night

CHINA TRIP APPLICATIONS DEADLINE EXTENDED!

YOU’VE GOT THE WEEKEND!

Early Bird ($650) Applications for the China Trip are now due in the Main Office End of Day Monday, April 30, 2018.
If you are expediting a passport, please hand in proof that you expedited (copy your payment receipt or other) with your application. If not, you’ve got the weekend to finish that essay or apply for a passport.

Please hand in:
Application for Participation Summer 2018 China
​​China Trip Health and Medical Form 2018.pdf
​
If you are applying for aid or scholarship, please include:
​China Trip Scholarship Application
​
Still time to decide if the trip is for you!

Read:
​Minutes China Trip Both Sessions 4:00 and 5:30
​​2018 Summer China Study Tour- Important Travel
​

Passport information and all the postings on the China trip are on the website:
www.korematsumiddleschool.org

PROMOTION CEREMONY

Dear Korematsu Families,

Can you believe we only have 7 weeks until graduation? This year has zoomed by!

Graduation is a special time for 8th grade families. Many of them move on together to El Cerrito High, and some fly off to other schools, so for our 8th graders, the graduation commencement events are vastly important.

That being said, we can not pull off all the activities without your help!

There are 3 events that need 7th AND 8th grade families to help with. We have included a link to a google doc that you can sign up.

The events are as follows:
6/5
1. Promotion practice: Before the picnic, parents are needed to help organize and supervise the 8th graders as they practice for the promotion ceremony.

2. Help with the 8th grade picnic: This happens prior to the kids vs. teachers softball game. We have 3 point persons already and need people to sign ups for food, set-up, clean-up etc. BOTH 7th & 8th Grade families can help!

6/6
3. Graduation: This is a huge event where the kids cross the stage. Tradition has been 7th grade families sign up to help with some of the larger day of jobs so 8th grade families can watch their babies cross the stage! Then next year, we continue that tradition and you get to sit back and watch your babies cross the stage!

There are other day/night-of items for 8th grade families as well as a sign-up to help order, pick-up & deliver appetizers, drinks & desserts to the school.

Please note there are 3 tabs on the sign up sheet!

Please contact either Rula Craner at rula_craner@yahoo.com OR Negar Souza at thesouzafamily@comcast.net for more info, clarification or questions.

CLICK HERE TO HELP!

WE NEED YOU! We cannot do this without your help!

Thank you,
Rula & Negar

WE NEED YOU

Korematsu PTSA has a number of openings for the next school year. PLEASE JOIN US! We are a great group!
You’ll meet people, share your skills, learn new ones and support our students, school and community.

WE CANNOT HAVE A PTA WITHOUT A PRESIDENT, TREASURER AND SECRETARY.
WE’VE GOT TWO OF THE THREE FILLED.
CONTACT US! We are fun!!!!
korematsuptsa@gmail.com

President: Manu Wong
Executive Vice President: Stacey Steele
Secretary:OPEN
Treasurer: Filled
Financial Secretary: Evelyn Smith
Vice President Fundraising: OPEN
Membership Chair: Anita Miller
Auditor: Jenny Jensen
Volunteer Chair: OPEN
Parliamentarian:OPEN
Historian: OPEN
Yard Sale Chair: Cindy Spade
Annual Giving Co-chairs: OPEN
Restaurant Fundraisers Coordinator: Tiffany Hill
Golden Gate Fields Coordinator: Jody Lengyel
Info Night Chair: OPEN
Teacher Luncheon Day Chair:OPEN
Yearbook Chair:Tim Warner
Parent Librarian: Kim Paige
Fright Write Chair: OPEN
Fright Fest Chair: OPEN
Science Fair Chair: OPEN
Math Club Co-Chairs: OPEN
Band Parents Association Chair: FILLED
Fairmont Elem Comm Liaison: Saidah Said
Harding Elem Comm Liaison: Beth Dawson
Kensington Elem Comm Liaison: Kim Paige
Madera Elem Comm Liaison: FILLED
Stege Elem Comm Liaison: OPEN
Washington Elem Comm Liaison: FILLED
ELAC Parent Liaison: OPEN
Website Maintenance/Development: Doug Diego

If you, or someone you know, would be able and willing to fill a vacancy, and for any corrections, suggestions and questions,
please reply to this email ASAP.
korematsuptsa@gmail.com

We will have Elections for the Board Members at our May meeting.

And here’s a spreadsheet you can enter names into.
​
2018/19 Korematsu PTSA Slate

INFORMATION SESSION for the SUMMER STUDENT AMBASSADOR CHINA TRIP

​
Friday, April 20, 2018

KOREMATSU MIDDLE SCHOOL
LIBRARY
7125 Donal Avenue
El Cerrito, CA

Two Sessions:

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Students and families from these schools are welcome!

El Cerrito High
Kennedy High
De Anza High
Richmond High
Pinole Valley High
Hercules High
Middle College High
Helms Middle
Korematsu Middle

REMINDER, this trip is open only to WCCUSD students from the above listed schools.

Enter the school through the orange gates.
Follow the orange poles to the Library.

Preliminary trip information and the application can be found on our website

*VISITING REMINDER*
Please respect our neighborhood when coming to visit.
Please refrain from double-parking, blocking driveways and the like.
Consider parking a couple of blocks away from school and walking to ease some congestion.
Our neighbors thank you!

See you There!

WCCUSD 5th Annual BEST PRACTICES FAIR

CALIFORNIA HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY

Please take some time to take the California Healthy Kids Survey

bit.ly/koremastsuparent18

6th Grade Students and Families: KOREMATSU ORIENTATION NIGHT

El Cerrito Parks & Recreation Facilities Master Plan

To date, the community outreach process for the El Cerrito Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan has included an online survey and online mapping forum, two community workshops, and a series of stakeholder interviews.

Themes that have emerged as important to the community so far include:

Youth recreation – toddler amenities, teen programming, youth enrichment opportunities

To update and improve the City’s existing recreation facilities and programs

The Hillside Natural Area and Ohlone Greenway as valued recreation amenities that are unique to El Cerrito

Improved general maintenance in the City’s parks and recreation facilities

Pedestrian access throughout the City’s parks and recreation network – walking, hiking and biking

A Senior Center as an important recreation amenity

Don’t miss this opportunity to have your voice heard. There will be two more Public Meetings on Thursday, April 26th at the El Cerrito Community Center,7007 Moeser Lane and Wednesday, May 23rd at City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Ave. Both meetings will take place 6:30-8:30pm.

For more information, please visit www.el-cerrito.org/ParksMP

8th Grade Promotion Activities

Dear Korematsu Families,

Can you believe we only have 7 weeks until graduation? This year has zoomed by!

Graduation is a special time for 8th grade families. Many of them move on together to El Cerrito High, and some fly off to other schools, so for our 8th graders, the graduation commencement events are vastly important.

That being said, we can not pull off all the activities without your help!

There are 3 events that need 7th AND 8th grade families to help with. We have included a link to a google doc that you can sign up.

The events are as follows:
6/5
1. Promotion practice: Before the picnic, parents are needed to help organize and supervise the 8th graders as they practice for the promotion ceremony.

2. Help with the 8th grade picnic: This happens prior to the kids vs. teachers softball game. We have 3 point persons already and need people to sign ups for food, set-up, clean-up etc. BOTH 7th & 8th Grade families can help!

6/6
3. Graduation: This is a huge event where the kids cross the stage. Tradition has been 7th grade families sign up to help with some of the larger day of jobs so 8th grade families can watch their babies cross the stage! Then next year, we continue that tradition and you get to sit back and watch your babies cross the stage!

There are other day/night-of items for 8th grade families as well as a sign-up to help order, pick-up & deliver appetizers, drinks & desserts to the school.

Please note there are 3 tabs on the sign up sheet!

Please contact either Rula Craner at rula_craner@yahoo.com OR Negar Souza at thesouzafamily@comcast.net for more info, clarification or questions.

CLICK HERE TO HELP!

WE NEED YOU! We cannot do this without your help!

Thank you,
Rula & Negar