Ruby's Week for Del Cerro

Come dine at Ruby’s and 20% of all food and non-alcoholic beverage sales for Take out orders as well as Dine-in orders (When accompanied with this flyer) Will be donated to Del Cerro.

Del Cerro Holiday Boutique, 2010

Come Join the Fun at Del Cerro’s HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE November 29th –December 3rd, 2010.  The Holiday Boutique is held during school hours. Students will be able to do their own shopping from a variety of vendors. The merchandise will be screened for quality and value with a Maximum price of $7.00 per item. Parent volunteers are needed to assist children with shopping and free gift wrap. This service is sponsored by Del Cerro PTA. Monday, November 29th is Parent Preview from 5-7 pm. Children will shop with their class classroom and after school Tuesday, November 30th - Friday, December 3rd: 8:00am -3:00 pm.   Friday,  December 3rd will be a special night. The boutique will be reopening to friends and family of Del Cerro from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Vendors will bring out a greater selection of exciting items, and parents, siblings and the community will be invited to shop.

Ink Cartridge Recycling

A simple way to contribute to our school while being environmentally friendly is to bring in your old ink or toner cartridges. We have a container for them in the MPR near the door to the teacher's lounge. We take them to Staples for Staples reward money.
Last year we raised enough money to provide for all of the PTA paper supplies! Please consider if you know anybody who can get them from work as well. We are hoping to increase the number that we bring in due to Staples decreasing the amount rewarded for each cartridge. Thanks for your support!
Abby LeBoff
Recycling Co-Chair

December PTA Meeting

PTA General Meeting will be held Monday, November 15, 2010 Please join us for our PTA General Meeting at 7:00pm in the MPR or the Library. Thank you to all those who have submitted their membership dues and forms. If you just haven’t gotten around to it, it’s never too late to join and get involved.We’d love to have you!

Fall Book Fair

This fall The Book Fair is celebrating heroes, both real and imaginary. Come and find a book that inspires  you! Your student will have the  opportunity to attend the Book Fair during class time. He or she can purchase books for your family or to donate to your classroom and the library. Book Fair profits contribute to Del Cerro and help to fund the library. You can preview books at  http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/delcerro

  

Book Fair schedule:  Monday, Nov. 15th - Friday, Nov. 19th 8am - 3pm

Wednesday, Nov. 17th “Donuts for Dads and Granddads” Night 6:30pm-8pm.  Bring your dad and/or granddad to the Book Fair. Find something good to read and have something good to eat. 

Classroom and Library Wish lists are also available for you to choose a book to donate to your classroom and the library.
Thank you for encouraging your child to read. We look forward to seeing you at the Book Fair!

A Message from the PTA President - Julie Fretwell, November 2010

Well it’s November already and the holidays are coming up fast! We had a great PTA meeting in October with guest speakers from our Art Masters program. Parents got a little insight on what artists are studied and how the different grade levels get to use the styles of those artists to create their own masterpieces. It was very informative and fun! At our next meeting the topic will be the Del Cerro computer lab. You won’t want to miss it! Hopefully everyone will be taking advantage of your parent/teacher conferences. We will be sending your PTA receipts to your teachers to include with your child’s school work packet. Please keep these receipts handy. It will list all of the items that you have sent in money for that is sponsored by the PTA such as membership, science lab fees, yearbooks and spirit wear. Our annual Fall Book Fair will also be going on during conference week. Stop by and take a look at what’s new and pick up a few books. This is a great way for not only our students to purchase books, but it helps earn books for our school library in  addition to raising money to contribute to the many programs PTA sponsors. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at president@delcerro.org.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Julie Fretwell-President Del Cerro PTA

November PTA Meeting

Please join us for our second PTA General Meeting of the year on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7:00pm in the MPR or the Library.

Spirit Night at Fuddruckers

It's another fun Del Cerro Spirit Night! Join us on Thursday, Nov 4th, 2010 anytime between 1-9 pm 23621 El Toro Road Lake Forest 949-830-7210 Don't forget to bring in the Fuddruckers flyer so we can get credit.

Online Scheduling for Parent Teacher Conferences

      Parent Teacher Conferences will be the week of  Nov. 15-19.  This year parents will be able to schedule conferences with their child's teacher online.  Online scheduling will be available for parents Nov. 1-8.  Click Here for the online scheduler. Password = "dolphins".  Del Cerro welcomes parents who do not have internet access to com in and use one of the school's computers.  Please be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to efficiently schedule your parent/teacher conference.  Remember the appointments are available to be scheduled 24 hours a day and are on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Easy to follow instructions for scheduling are available via  Parent Instructions . Contact the School Office (949) 830-5430 for more assistance.. 

Red Ribbon Week

October 25-29, 2010
Be “cool in school”….just say NO!!!
Being cool is being able to resist drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

For Red Ribbon Week, we as a school will be participating in a different activity each day.
Monday: “Turn your back on drugs”….Wear your shirt or top backwards.
Tuesday: “Hats off to saying NO”….Wear your favorite hat.
Wednesday: “Sock it to drugs”….Wear a fun or silly pair of socks.
Thursday: “Team up against drugs”….Wear your favorite sport jersey.
Friday: Wear red!

Don’t forget the Red Ribbon Walk this Saturday, October 23 at 8:00 AM @ Mission Viejo High School.

For more info, go to www.cityofmissionviejo.org.

Spirit Wear Sale

Order this year's shirts & Sweatshirts before it's too late ! After seeing samples at the PTA meeting Monday night, many people changed the size on their order. To ensure that everyone orders the correct sized shirt or sweatshirt, samples will be on display in front of the office this Friday, Oct 22nd - during Fun Friday! We will extend the order deadline to next Friday, Oct. 29th!  Click Here for an Order Form

SIZE TIPS:
* order one size larger in shirts

• 2nd grade boy: Youth Short Sleeve LARGE 
• 2nd grade girl: Young Girls Short Sleeve MED 
• 5th grade girl: Womens Jr Style Tee SMALL

* order one size smaller in sweatshirts

• Small adult: Youth Zipped Hoodie XL
• 5th grade boy: Youth Zipped Hoodie MED 

View Samples

October 2010 PTA Meeting

Please join us for our second PTA General Meeting of the year on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 7:00pm in the MPR or the Library.

Pop Tabs Help Ronald McDonald House

What is a Pop Tab? A Pop Tab is the piece of metal that opens aluminum cans. Like the can, the pull-tab is recyclable and helps our environment while helping families in need.
Why Collect Pop Tabs? Money received from recycling pop tabs helps provide comfortable housing and emotional support to families of critically ill and injured children being treated at Orange County hospitals.
What YOU can do to help:Collect pop tabs, count them and store them in a zip lock bag. Ask your family and friends to collect too!
Turn in date is Friday, April 1st, 2011. Bring your filled zip lock bag in with your name, room number, and # of pop tabs collected. 4 Highest pop tab collectors will get 2 one-day passes< for Wild Rivers AND highest classrooms (one from K-3 and one from 4-6 grades) will get an ice cream party! Remember...recycling is great for our environment and doing a good deed to help those in need makes you a better person! Thanks for your help Mrs. Lewis, Pop Tab Program Coordinator and Mrs. Rodriguez & Mrs. Knoles, Parent Volunteers!

Fall Fundraiser Updates

Thank you for participating in our annual fall fundraiser. Your funds are paying for science and art this year for all the students at Del Cerro!

This is a reminder that this Friday, October 15, 2010 is the "Turn in Day". Please have your child bring his/her order to the teacher first thing in the morning. Please remember to:

• Make certain that all order forms have your child's name, phone #, teacher name and the room # filled in.
• Make sure the information has been carefully recorded on each order form (if you have more than one).
• Make sure all checks are payable to Del Cerro PTA.
• Return the white and yellow parts of the NCR-3 part order form. You should keep the pink copy for your records. The original copy will be returned with the order.

Delivery date will be Thursday, November 18th. Be sure to mark your calendars!

Please return your order form/s and money in the large white envelope that your brochure came in. Fill in all the information on the envelope. This will help our volunteers greatly.  Do not send large amounts of cash to your school with your child. If you have a lot of cash to turn in, please give your order directly to the teacher or turn it in to the front office first thing Friday morning.

Thanks so much for helping. We couldn't do it without you!

Sincerely,

Lesley Jackson

Del Cerro PTA fundraising chair 

Trick or Treat... So Kids can Eat

I have volunteered our school to participate in a Food Drive.  Oct 18- Oct 22, pick-up on Oct 22^nd.   Sponsored by MV High School Drama Dept..

Things to donate include:           
Peanut butter and Jelly..  (small and medium size)

Rice (10,20, & 50 lb bags)

Spaghetti & Pasta (1 lb packages)

Pasta Sauce (in cans)

Instant Potatoes

Hot and cold cereal

Canned Vegetables

Canned fruit

Juices

Macaroni and cheese

Refried Beans

Pork &  Beans

Canned meat

Tuna Fish

Chili & beans

Soup in cans & packages

Boxed cake and frosting

Hygiene items

Any donations will be sent to needy families.

Help if you can and support this effort.

Dr.  Larry M. Callison, Principal

School Assembly Canines Companions for Independence

On October 14, students and teachers will be invited to a presentation by volunteers from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). During this special assembly, adults and students alike will learn about the amazing things that assistance dogs can do in a unique human/canine partnership. The assembly is coordinated by our PTA Special Education Liaison.

CCI is a nonprofit organization whose motto is,"Exceptional Dogs for Exceptional People." These highly trained dogs are very special. Bonnie Mueller, Susan Byrd, and Mary Hill will show you some of the tasks these dogs perform every day. It has often been said, "These dogs are not circus dogs; they do not perform tricks. They are service dogs; they perform tasks." Puppy raiser Bonnie and her 11th puppy-in-training "Tiffi" will teach about the process of raising a puppy for CCI for approximately 16 months, beginning when the puppy is just 8 weeks old. Volunteer Susan will explain her experience with CCI as well as being a veterinary nurse. CCI Graduate Mary and her Service Dog "Indy" (Indira III) will explain the process called Team Training and will demonstrate the tasks that Indy accomplishes for Mary on a daily basis.

The students will learn that CCI trains four types of assistance dogs: service dogs, hearing dogs, facility dogs, and skilled companion dogs. CCI does not train seeingeye or guide dogs for the blind. If you would like to learn more about CCI before or after the assembly, please visit www.cci.org. In case all questions aren’t answered at the assembly, students can probably find the answers on that website. The CCI volunteers will also have brochures for the teachers and a surprise treat for each student. So, don’t be surprised when your children tell you they saw dogs at school! These are exceptional dogs that help exceptional people. We know your kids will give a warm welcome to our CCI presenters and dogs on October 14 – and parents are welcome to attend too!
The K - 3 Assembly will be from 11:10am-11:30am,
grades 4 - 6 at 11:40am-12:10pm.
Both assemblies will be in the MPR.
Thank you.

A Message from the PTA President - Julie Fretwell, October 2010

Fall is here, the weather has cooled down and it’s getting dark earlier! Well, the weather cooled down for a couple of days anyway. Hopefully everyone has gotten back into the school routine! We had a great time at the Welcome Back BBQ. Thanks go to Elizabeth Rodriguez for organizing this large event. Thank you to the PTA board for coming in to help setup, serve and clean up. It was a great success and I hope everyone enjoyed meeting new people and seeing old friends. Back to School night was Wednesday, September 29th. Hopefully you were able to visit your child’s classroom and meet their teachers. It’s a great way to find out how your child spends their day and what the expectations are for the school year. All your membership, yearbook, and other PTA forms are being collected and money counted. We are hoping to have your receipts sent home during conference week. Please keep these receipts available as things come up during the year and you want to know what you’ve already paid for. Thank you to all of the parents and teachers that were able to attend our first PTA meeting of the year. This is the longest and most business oriented meeting of the year. Please don’t let that deter you from coming to more meetings!! We cover most business in the first meeting so that we can have more information and guest speakers at all the other meetings. Plus, the rest of the meetings are much shorter because most items are covered at the first meeting. We will start having guest speakers at the next meeting, Monday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. See you there! Julie Fretwell PTA President President@delcerro.org

Fall Fundraiser Kids Are First

The kick off is Friday,October 1st and runs for two (2) weeks. There are great prizes and class rooms with higher class participations will get more playground balls. There will be daily prizes for those students who  turn in their coupons and students with the highest items sold will be invited to a special Game Truck video party! There’s something for everyone in the catalog:

• Gifts for Mom, Dad, Kids & Pets

• Home

• Gift Wrap

•  Holiday Items

There’s also online ordering available. Just go to: www.kidsarefirst.com where parents can register your child for a sellers code.

Child Safety Event - Free Fingerprinting Kits Available

Presented by Assemblyman
Jeff Miller.
Please join us at our Fingerprinting booth, where children will be fingerprinted and will be able to take the fingerprinting kits home. Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 from 10am-1pm at 555 The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA Near the children’s play area within the mall. For more info, please contact
Stefanie Benvenuto at
949-598-7171 or Stefanie.
benvenuto@as.ca.gov
This a free event, open to the public. Children of all ages are welcome.

Principal's Message - October 2010 by Dr. Callison

School is well underway as we move into our second month of instruction. There are lots of planned events in the weeks ahead. We hope all of our parents joined us at Back-To-School-Night. We want to encourage every parent to be an active participant in their child’s education. We want you to know about the events planned by your child’s teacher and the school, to include the activities and instruction that is planned for the school year. Staying informed of the procedures and routines being established will help parents be active partners in their children’s education. Parents are the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT teachers their children will have as they grow, learn, and mature. Del Cerro’s first PTA meeting of the year was very well attended. We had over 40 parents join us and we are hoping for more next month. Each month we will present information on a program being funded by parents and the PTA. In the next few months we will have a presentation by Art Masters, our Science Specialist, our Librarian, and a review of our Computer Lab and
it’s great software. Del Cerro is very fortunate to have parents who support our programs with their time and their resources and we are mindful of that trust as we work with their children. I am very pleased to report that Del Cerro has exceeded its State Annual Performance Index target for 2010. Our target was a score
of 874 and Del Cerro scored 876. The school is scoring in the upper 10% of all elementary schools across the State and we are very proud of the efforts of our students and staff, who have made this happen. It should also be noted that Del Cerro met it Adequate Yearly Progress expectations, which are established by the “No Child Left Behind” Federal program. Parents are welcome to go to www.cde.ca.gov to get information about Del Cerro and other public schools in the county and state. All performance information begins with STAR testing results from our 2nd through 6th graders, who tested in May of last year. Parents can join the school is celebrating our students’ successes. Del Cerro is a great school and test scores are just one measure of our success, but we don’t want to fail to recognize the achievements of our students.
Please continue to read our monthly newsletter, get answers to any questions by going on our Del Cerro website at www.delcerro.org which is a great resource for parents, or the family portal which gives parents
information on grades and homework assignments. It has been a very smooth beginning and we look forward to a great school year. Be a part of our success!
Larry Callison
Principal

Spirit Night at Chuck E. Cheese

Wednesday, Oct 6, 2010
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
26538-H Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills
Corner of La Paz & Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Hills.
Be sure to mention Del Cerro! 15% of your food,
drink and token purchase goes to Del Cerro’s
students!
Bring your friends and family!
Questions? Please contact Lesley

Back to School Night

Join us in visiting your child's classroom and meeting the teacher on Back to School Night Wednesday, September 29. Here's the schedule:

6:15 – 7:15 Upper grade presentation
7:15 – 7:30 PTA introductions and Teacher Introductions
7:30 – 8:15 Primary grade presentation

See you there!

Fall Fundraiser Kids R First

Get ready, get set, go! This year’s Fall
Fundraiser will be Kids R First. We will
have a table displaying their products at Back To
School Night so you can seen first hand what quality
items will be available. Funds will help pay for
Science and Art this year, as well as many other
wonderful programs the PTA coordinates for DC
students. Kick off will be Friday, October 1st! Please
don’t forget to stop by our display table!

Stay Cool With Jamba Juice

Wednesday, Sept 22, 2010 1:10pm
In front of Del Cerro School
$2.00 – 8 oz $4.00 – 16 oz Cash Only
Flavors: Caribbean Passion, Strawberries Wild,
Mango-A-Go-Go, Razzmatazz

A Message from the PTA President - Julie Fretwell, September 2010

Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! I can’t
believe the summer went by so quickly! My name is
Julie Fretwell and I will be serving as your PTA
President and Yearbook co-chair this year. My
husband John and I have two daughters. Kaela is a
sophomore in college and Stephanie is in 6th grade
here at Del Cerro. This is my fourth year serving on
the PTA.
I am looking forward to another successful year with
the PTA. We are looking to support many programs
this year that include Hands on Science, Art Masters
and Reading Counts in order to enhance our
student’s educational experience. We are also going
to continue our efforts in bringing everyone together
as a community with special Book Fair events, Family
Fun Nights and maybe another carnival since it was
such a huge success last year.
Please join us for our first meeting on Monday,
September 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library to find
out what’s in store for Del Cerro this year. If you
have any questions or concerns, please contact me at
president@delcerro.org.
If you would like to help out at the school, let me
know! Together we can find a place for you!
Julie Fretwell

Parking Lot Safety

As our school has grown this year; so has the parking
lot congestion. Please be courteous and patient and set
a good example for your children. Do not park in the
staff spaces and please drive slowly and WATCH out for
children. It is vital that students not be in the parking
lot unless accompanied by their parent.
Students must use the sidewalk at all
times. Parents please discuss this
with your student(s). Your child’s
safety is very important to us.  For more detailed information, check out our Parking Lot Safety page

Principal's Message - September 2010 by Dr. Callison

Welcome to Del Cerro! It is going to
be a great year with lots of activities
and new experiences for our Del
Cerro Dolphins. Teachers are preparing classrooms and
materials for our first day, which is Monday, September
13th. We will have a modified day on September 13th
and a late start for our students:
Kindergarten 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
Grades 1-6 10:30 am – 2:45 pm
On Tuesday, September 14th, we will be on our regular
schedule. Please check the school calendar located at
www.delcerro.org for important dates and times for the
school year. All needed information is listed there for
parent convenience. We begin the year with 21 classes
and over 600 students, two new sixth grade teachers
and a very supportive and active PTA. Please join Julie
Fretwell, PTA President, and her working team for our
monthly meetings (also listed at www.delcerro.org) and
the many important events that make Del Cerro such a
special place for learning.
Parents and their active support are important keys to
making Del Cerro a lighthouse for educational
excellence. Our teachers appreciate the students you
send us and parents’ willingness to share their time and
treasure for the benefit of the school and its programs.
We expect the 2010-2011 school year to be productive
and positive for all of our students. We look forward to
recognizing their achievements, their successes in and
out of the classroom and to celebrate their ability to
challenge themselves, growing in maturity and stature
through out the year. It is going to be a great year for
all of us at Del Cerro and we are glad to have you and
your children helping us continue the legacy of
excellence and pride we share together.
Welcome Back!
Dr. Larry Callison
Del Cerro Principal
callison@svusd.org

Class Lists Posted on September 1st

Come find out who your child's teacher will be as the class lists for the school year 2010-2011 will be posted on September 1st at 3:00pm. Also, don't forget the check the School Supply List for all your required supplies. 

Welcome to the New PTA Board

We would like to welcome our new PTA Board. In July, the new term began for our officers . If you have questions or need information about our many events and programs for next year, please check the PTA Officers and Chairs link you will see the contact information for our officers and chairman. We would love to answer your questions, so feel free to contact our president, Julie Fretwell  and she can also help direct you to the right person. We know it will be a great year, full of fun programs and events. We look forward to seeing you there next year!

Late Start for the First Day of School

Hope you're having a great summer!
Our first day of school is Monday, September 13, and we will have a late start time and a minimum day schedule.   For grades 1-6, we will begin school at 10:30 - 2:45, Kindergarten starts at 11:00 - 2:30. So please mark your calendars! See you then!

Yearbooks & Spirit Wear Last chance sale!

Yearbooks and spirit wear will be for sale on Monday, June 21st. Sale will start at 2:45 p.m. Quantities are very limited! Yearbooks will be $25 each and spirit wear t-shirts will be $6 each, cash only. This is on a first come first served basis only and sales will not start before 2:45 p.m.!

Del Cerro Parent Survey 2009-2010 Results

Results are in for the 2009-2010 Parent Survey.  Click Here to view results.

Recycling News

As of mid May, we have about $640 in recycling. We did about $800 last year; we will have to pick it up to meet our numbers from last year. I will pick up recycling until the last week of school, maybe a couple days before.
Proceeds from your tax-deductible S.T.A.R.S. donation will come back directly to benefit OUR school! It’s a perfect gift for the upcoming staff and teacher appreciation weeks - or for any reason! Please stop by the front office or visit the foundation's website
Please remember, no milk containers, shampoo or sour cream, only CRV items, beverages that you pay a fee for when you buy them. Also, try to rinse them if you can, at least empty them, as it gets sticky and messy, especially as temps start to go up.
As always, you may leave items by the flag pole, or by the sign near the crosswalk. Do so in the morning if possible, as it makes it easier to transport them home to sort them.

Bill Michelle

A Message from the PTA President - Julie Fretwell, June 2010

I can hardly believe it's the end of the school year; it really flew by! First I want to thank the entire PTA board for serving this year. I am proud of the job that this PTA has done and I look forward to what we can accomplish next year. Thank you to all of the parents that volunteer at various PTA functions or in the classroom. You help make a difference. Thank you to all of the teachers, staff and of course, Dr. Callison for all of your help and support. We couldn’t do this without you. And last but definitely not least, I’d like to thank all of the students at Del Cerro. You are the reason that everyone works so hard hoping that in some way we have touched your hearts as much as you have touched ours.
I hope everyone has a great summer! See you next year!
Julie Fretwell
Del Cerro PTA President
president@delcerro.org

Principal’s Message By, Dr. Larry Callison

Dear Parents,
It is amazing how quickly the school year has flown by. We are a few weeks away from the beginning of summer vacation, which every student looks forward to for at least two weeks. I am sure that parents will provide many opportunities for their students to read, write, and do a little math. That summer trip will allow them to become more aware of history, science, and geography. Encourage them to get a map and trace the route you will travel, whether across town or across the country. Compute the cost of gas, the miles you expect to travel, the cost of lodging, the fees for a trip to Sea World, Disneyland, or other fun places you may plan to visit. This is a relaxing time to visit the local park, go for a walk, take a bike ride, or just have a swim in a local pool. Doing things together as a family generates memories that last the rest of your life. Summer is a great time for the whole family. Thanks for a great year.
Please accept my personal thanks to the parents and students of Del Cerro. It has been a wonderful year of learning and working together. Our PTA has done some incredible things for our students and our school community. A special thanks to Julie Fretwell, our PTA President and her very able Officers who have lead by example. The have worked hard all year long, starting in August and continuing till the last day of school. No task has been left undone, no detail not completed and every event was a success for everyone in attendance. Del Cerro could not have the success we enjoy without our incredible parents.
The teachers at Del Cerro are outstanding. They go the “extra-mile” consistently to ensure that students have the best opportunities to learn. They spend their time and their resources to provide learning experiences that students and parents never forget. It has been a great year and they are a primary reason that students achieve at such high levels across every grade level. They are going on a summer break and it is well-deserved. We expect to return next year recharged and ready for another great year.
Best wishes to our four retiring teachers, Mrs. Debbie Peasland, Mrs. Barbara Cunningham, Miss Sue Edelstein, and Mr. Bruce Teel, who have served our youth so well for so many years. They are a credit to their profession and some of Del Cerro and La Tierra’s finest. I am confident they will enjoy their retirement.
Happy Summer and see you next school year!!!
Dr. Larry M. Callison, Principal
Del Cerro Elementary School
Email: Callison@svusd.org

Del Cerro Parent Survey 2009-2010

Parents,
Please take a moment to complete the following SURVEY. Your feedback is important so we can continue to make Del Cerro the best school possible for your children. It must be completed by 3:00 PM on June 10, 2010.

Thank you so much!

Del Cerro Campout June 11-12

What better way to celebrate the end of the year than a camp out at school!  Come and enjoy our last Family Fun Night. 
June 11-12, 2010 Friday-Saturday 6:00 pm - 9:00 am
$1 - per person - includes camping spot, breakfast (donuts and juice)and popcorn for the movie.
Dinner will be offered for $1 - per slice of Pizza (Costco)$.50 - per drink (soda or water)
All food must be pre-ordered. NO EXCEPTIONS.
All orders due by Thursday June 3, 2010.
Families bring your Tent, Sleeping Bags, Chairs & Flashlights.
Dinner will be served at 7pm. Movie and popcorn at 8pm.
Click here for flyer.
Questions? contact Melissa Kanawyer

A Huge Carnival Thank you!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make Del Cerro's carnival a success. Everyone from the set up crew, game booths, to our clean up crew - thank you!  
Special thanks to:

• Cindy Bach for a fun bake walk (your DJ skills rock!) 
• Stephanie Ming for an amazing prize booth (when are we starting our partying planning business?!) 
• Julie Fretwell, Melissa Kanawyer, Ann Shimizu & Joann Sims for running a very busy raffle and ticket booth (who knew it'd be so busy?!) 
• Dale and his boys for donating the SuperGameBus (wasn't that fun?!) 
• The Eulogy for playing some great tunes ♫♪♫♪ 
• The Crew from Lone Star for bringing and cooking yummy food. 
• Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley for the fun face painting, animal balloons & tattoos. 
• All the office ladies who juggled daily school life and helped me with ticket and food presales. 
• Rick & Steve for everything "technical" and for keeping me sane after being in the musty storage container for days. 

and of course.. Dr. Callison - for rarely saying NO & because deep down you knew I could pull it off!

5th Grade Fundraiser for Science Camp

Our 5th Graders need your help! They are trying to raise money for their science camp trip next year. Please consider purchasing one of these Community Discount Cards. They are $10 each and $5 goes back to the general fund to help lower the cost of busing for this trip. All the businesses listed on the card are local. This card doesn’t expire until June of 2011 and it pays for itself! Please have your order turned in before/by Friday, June 4th. Cash or checks made to “Del Cerro ASB”. Orders will be filled in within 2 days. Larger version of the card is viewable in front of the school office. Del Cerro 5th Graders Students Name:_________________________________________
Teacher:____________________
Number of cards:________________ x 10 $____________________
Cash ________ or Check # _____________
For a sample Community Card click here

Teacher Appreciation Week

Parents, Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up on May 10-14. Please help your student participate in this week-long celebration of our AMAZING teachers!
MONDAY: Bring a flower (Room Parents will arrange in a vase as students arrive)
TUESDAY: Donate a school supply item to your class (ask your Room Parent for a class "needs list")
WEDNESDAY: Various individual class celebrations
THURSDAY: Teacher Appreciation Staff Luncheon (each class will be donating an item)
FRIDAY: Various individual class celebrations
In addition, Mrs Tracy Johnson is our 2010 TEACHER OF THE YEAR. There will be a book that former students & parents of Mrs Johnson can sign. It will be available in the front office during May 3-7th.
Please contact Angel Honda (angelkimhonda@gmail.com) with any questions regarding Teacher Appreciation Week.

A Message from the PTA President - Julie Fretwell, May 2010

Just when you think things would start winding down, we’re still going! Many thanks go to Melissa Kanawyer, Myriam Lane, Carrie Vedder, Trish Wannamaker, Marissa Taylor, Lesley Jackson, Kelly Kroeger and the many more volunteers that helped organize and run this year’s jog a thon. Thanks to all that participated and helped collect donations. It’s your efforts that make the PTA successful in enhancing our children’s educational experience at Del Cerro.
Now for the fun stuff! We still have a carnival coming up on Friday, May 14th from 4p.m. to 8p.m. There will be games, food and fun! We are still in need of volunteers. If you have a junior high or high school student in need of community service hours, please contact Lesley Jackson
We are still in need of volunteers for next year’s PTA board. Welcome Back BBQ, Newsletter, Recycle Co-Chair, Upper Grade Planner Co-Chair and Health & Safety Chairperson and Co-Chair (Red Ribbon Week). Without volunteers, these programs won’t happen! Please consider volunteering.

Principal's Message - May 2010 by Dr. Callison

Dear Parents:
Del Cerro’s upcoming events are:
Teacher Appreciation Week
“I touch the future, I teach.” It is Teacher Appreciation Week at Del Cerro during the week of May 10th. This is a good opportunity to say “Thank You” to your child’s teacher for a year of growth and discovery. The PTA is organizing events each day and this is a great time to write a short note and have your child practice his/her writing skill too. A sincere “Thank You” means so much to our staff and energizes our efforts as we help our students reach for the future!
STAR Testing April 30 – May 26
Del Cerro will be doing California STAR testing from April 30 thru May 26. These tests tell us a great deal about our school and its programs. They provide individual results for each of our students and inform us and parents about their mastery of grade level standards. We want our students to demonstrate their considerable skills on these tests so please help by doing the following:

• Encourage your child to do his/her best
• Make sure they arrive on time each day
• Have them get a full nights rest
• Start each day with a healthy breakfast
• The tests are not timed so don’t rush

Encourage your child to relax and enjoy this opportunity to show what they know!
Sincerely,
Dr. Larry Callison

Shoe Boxes of Support for Our Troops Del Cerro

Del Cerro has been asked to donate care packages for the Army Corp of Engineers Company 585, recently deployed and stationed in Afghanistan. This company has been sent to help build roads, bridges, waterways for irrigation, runways, barracks, and a micro-hydro power station. These infrastructure projects will not only help the Afghan people, but will support our troops entering and leaving Afghanistan.
Shoeboxes will be filled with the donated items. We are hoping to fill and send 150 boxes – one box for each member of Engineer Company 585.
Here is how Del Cerro Dolphins and their families can help:
• Each student is requested to bring in a shoebox
• Each grade level is requested to donate specific items
Please bring requested items to your child’s teacher by Friday, May 14th.
Each student should bring in the following items–
Kindergarten – A box of single serving cookies, crackers, or snack cakes, such as Little Debbie’s, or Rice Krispie Treats
1st Grade – A bag of “Funsize” M&M’s or Skittles, or a bag of wrapped hard candy, such as Jolly Ranchers, Atomic Fireballs, Tootsie Pops
2nd Grade – three (or more) travel size baby powder, or tubes of lip balm (SPF 15-30), such as Chapstick, Carmex or Blistex
3rd Grade – three (or more) travel size bottles of hand sanitizer or hand/baby wipes
4th Grade – three (or more) travel size sunscreen (SPF 15-30) or insect repellent
5th Grade – A box of presweetened, single serving powdered drink mixes, such as Crystal-Lite, Propel, Gatorade or Kool-Aid
6th Grade – A box of single serving/pocket-size Beef or Turkey Jerky (no MSG, please), or a box of single serving/pocket size trail mix, such as Kirkland or Planter’s
Optional requested items – Paperback books, travel games, recent sports or car magazines, playing cards, puzzle books, such as Sudoku, Crossword Puzzles, or Word Searches

Volunteers Needed for the Del Cerro Carnival

Carnival volunteers needed!
Service Hours Available!
Here's where we need help on Friday, May 14th:

• Set up 1-3 pm (booths & E-Z UPs)
• Running booths - during 3-8pm (service hours available for all junior & high school students)
• clean up and bring down 8-9 pm (DC dads, please!)
• lending E-Z UP shelter (please label yours w/ name & teacher, drop off by 9 AM that morning in the MPR)
• Cake, cookies, brownies donation for cake walk (drop off by 2:30 PM)

Please return the form ASAP if you can help!  If you have any questions , contact Lesley
Thanks in advance for making DC's carnival a success!

Del Cerro Carnival May 14, 2010

Mark your calendar!!
Del Cerro's Carnival is on Friday, May 14th 4-8 pm.
Featured is Amazing Party Fun provided by Super Game Bus the 1st and only School Bus in the world to be converted into a video gaming theater! Join us for many game booths & various entertainment!  Come join your friends and other Del Cerro families at this event.  This event is made possible by our fabulous Sponsors. Please support their business.
Booth tickets are available now at 5 for $1.00.  On the day of the event, tickets will be 4 for $1.00. 
Dinner will be provided by LoneStar Steakhouse and Saloon.  Presale price is $6, but on the day of the event, $8.  Make sure to turn in your Ticket Orders and Meal Orders by May 7th.
See you there!

Del Cerro Jog-a-Thon Update

April 2nd seems like a distant memory now, but what a beautiful day it was. Because of your contribution, our PTA will be able to continue to bring our students and families some amazing programs such as Science Lab, Art Masters, and some incredible assemblies as well as provide the funding to have our Library Media Clerk, Rebecca Rohde. Thank you to Carrie Vedder and Myriam Lane for co-chairing the jog-a-thon this year. A special thanks to Kelly Kroeger for being our DJ all day long. Thanks also to Marissa Taylor and Trish Wannamker for manning the tally station. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who came out to help. to find out the winners of each class, check out the April Newsletter.  We raised over $ 9200.00 this year. Again, thank you for your support, it means so much to our children and our school. WAY TO GO DEL CERRO !!
The students who brought in the most pledge money in the lower grades, Kindergarten through 3rd grade winning lunch with Dr. Callison are:
3rd Place, Madison Goetz in Mrs. Johnson’s class
2nd Place, Christina Ayala in Mrs. Leifer’s class
1st Place, Principal For A Day and Lunch with Dr. Callison Juliana Lane in Mrs. Haffey’s class
The students who brought in the most pledge money in the upper, 4th through 6th grades winning lunch with Dr. Callison are:
3rd Place, Gates Johnson in Mrs. Edelstien’s class
2nd Place, Jayce Baclawski in Mrs. Edelstien’s class
1st Place, Principal for a Day and Lunch with Dr. Callison McKenna Etheridge in Mrs. Hoefer’s class
There were 14 students who brought in more than $100 in pledges and were entered into the drawing for a new bike. The winners are:
Macy Miller in Miss. Anderson’s class for lower grade and Devin Costello in Mr. Teel’s class for upper grade.

Kindergarten Round-up

Del Cerro will be having Kindergarten registration for the 2010-2011 school year during the week of May 4th – May 6th.
At that time, parents with children who will be 5 years old on or before December 2, 2010, may come to the school office to complete registration forms.
The following is a schedule for registration week:
Tuesday, 5/4 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for last names beginning with A - H
Wednesday, 5/5 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for last names beginning with I - Q
Thursday, 5/6 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for last names beginning with R - Z
Please bring:
• Original Birth Certificate
• Proof of Residence - two forms ( 1 gas or electric bill and an escrow paper or rental agreement which shows your name and address)
• “Yellow Immunization Record” showing dates and doctor office stamp for each immunization.

Ruby's Fundraiser April 19-25

Show your support and earn valuable $$ for Del Cerro. During the week of April 19-25 between 7am - 9pm, bring the Ruby's flyer to the Ruby's in Laguna Hills Mall and 20% of all food sales will go to Del Cerro.
Click here for Ruby's Flyer.
Ruby's Laguna Hills
21455 Laguna Hills Mall
Laguna Hills, Ca 92653
(949) 588-7829

Recycling Update by Bill Michelle

Thanks so much for supporting the plastic, glass and aluminum recycling at Del Cerro. We have made just over $500 so far, so keep it up. Just a quick reminder, do not include plastic from around the house, like milk containers, mouthwash and shampoo, coffee creamer, and so on. Only beverage containers that list a CRV on the side should be included. Wine bottles are not accepted any longer either.
Please do your best to make the items as clean as possible, which makes it easier for me to get the items turned in as fast and simply as I can. Also, please remind your kids to not throw papers and trash into the black bins in their classrooms or in the MPR. If you see a classmate throwing pencil shavings and trash in one, remind them that only recycling items go into the bins and get turned in for cash that the school can use.

A Message from the PTA President - Julie Fretwell, April 2010

Well it’s hard to believe that school is out in less than three short months! So much has been going on at school lately. We’ve had Parent/Teacher conferences along with the Spring Book Fair. Thanks go to Simone Booth (chairperson), Mindy Larson (co-chair) and all of the volunteers for another successful book fair. The Papa’s and Pie’s night was quite a hit and many families came by to have some pie and shop the book fair. The PTA held their annual Board election in March. A list of next year’s board is available on the Del Cerro website. There are still several spots that need to be filled otherwise that event or function won’t be able to happen if there aren’t any volunteers to run them.
Here are the openings that we need filled:
• Special Ed Liason
• Health & Safety (Chairperson and Co-Chair, including Red Ribbon Week)
• Newsletter (Collecting articles from various board members, Dr. Callison. Type, arrange and distribute, mostly via email)
• Recycling (Co-Chair)
• Spirit Wear (Design, get bids, make flyer for orders, collect orders and distribute items)
• Welcome Back BBQ (Chairperson and Co-Chair. Coordinate with entire PTA board, organize menu, distribute flyers, organize volunteers. Typically second Friday after school starts)
These are just short descriptions of each position. If you are interested in any of them, please let me know! I will get more information to you. Thank you!
Happy Spring!
Julie Fretwell
PTA President

Principal's Message - April 2010 by Dr. Callison

“How To Raise Happy Kids” . . . Ideas to Ponder!
In his book, The Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children, John Rosewald makes some interesting observations. He refers to his observations as myths that actually delay the development of children. Here are four of the myths he refers to – and the explanation that might make raising your children easier and more rewarding. Food for thought? Thought provoking?? It’s worth contemplating!!!
•
Myth #1: Children should always come first. The more child-centered the family has become, the more self-centered children have become. Except for the first few years of life, children do not require constant attention – anymore than they require unlimited food. Too much attention is every bit as damaging, making it difficult for the child to outgrow his infantile self-centeredness.
•
Myth #2: A family is a democracy. Parents often ask, “How can we get children to obey?” The answer is simple and direct: “If you expect your children to obey, they will.” When parents plead, bargain, bribe, threaten, give second chances or “reason” with children, they are wishing for – not expecting – obedience. The fact is, a family is not a democracy. Eventually someone has to have the final say, and that someone better be an adult, or everyone is in trouble.
•
Myth #3: Housework is for parents only. The ultimate purpose of raising children is to help them out of our lives and into successful lives of their own. Chores provide a sense of accomplishment, enlarging a child’s feelings of worth. You should begin assigning chores when your child is three. At this age, kids are eager to please and want to get involved in whatever their parents are doing. By age 18, children should know how to wash and iron clothes, prepare basic meals, clean bathrooms, mow grass, etc. All this training not only helps prepare children for adulthood but also develops an appreciation for the effort parents put into maintaining a household.

Myth #4: Frustration is bad for children. Believing the fairytale that frustration causes stress and poor self-esteem, parents work hard to “protect” their children from this terrible scourge. But the truth is, life involves many frustrations, and it’s only through experience with frustration that we develop a tolerance for it. This enables us to turn adversity into challenge and persevere in the face of it. Perseverance, that all-important “if at first you don’t succeed” attitude, is the primary quality in every success story.

PTA Officers for 2010-2011 School Year

Congratulations to the newly elected PTA officers for the 2010-2011 school year!


President :Julie Fretwell
1st VP (Programs): Cindy Back

2nd VP (Membership): Mindy Larson

3rd VP (Ways and Means): Lesley Jackson
Secretary: Amy Cortez

Treasurer: Janet Dietsch
Financial: Secretary Myriam Lane

Historian: Maria Alarcon
Auditor: Kristine Mudrinich

Parliamentarian: Abby LeBoff
Legislative Liaison: Trish Wanamaker

PTA Members are STILL NEEDED!
There are still open committee chair positions. If there are any that you are at all interested in PLEASE e-mail us to get more information. We really need more help. Thanks!
Newsletter – gathering submissions and creating the newsletter
Recycle Fundraiser- need a co- chair to help take in bottles and cans
Spirit Wear – help design school pride t- shirts and sweatshirts, organize the sales and distribute them
Talent Show- hold auditions and plans and organizes Spring Talent Show
Welcome Back BBQ- coordinate volunteers and delegate duties for the Back to School Barbeque
Special Education Liaison- a PTA representative for the Special Education Program
Upper Grade Planners- ordering the Planners for the Upper Grades and distributing them

Fourth District PTA Advocacy Roundtable

SAVE THE DATE FOR A VERY EXCITING EVENT!
Fourth District PTA Advocacy Roundtable

Friday, April 16, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Orange County Dept of Ed: Building D-1003
200 Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa. 92626
(Map)

Featuring Special Guest Speaker:
Mr. Ron Bennett
President and CEO,
School Services of California


SSC is one of the premier business, financial, management, and advocacy resources
for educational agencies in California.

• Mr. Bennett will shed light on the state's economic forecast and what it means to local school districts as they continue to develop budget assumptions for 2010-11.
• He’ll share the latest inside scoop from Sacramento as it impacts schools and children across the state.

All PTA Members are welcome!

If you have questions, please contact 4th District PTA Advocacy Roundtable Chair
Kim Anderson at roundtables@fourthdistrictpta.org

DEL CERRO’S JOG-A-THON
April 2, 2010


Del Cerro’s PTA invites all families to participate in the Del Cerro Jog-a-thon on Friday, April 2, 2010. The money raised by this fundraiser directly benefits the students of Del Cerro Elementary School.


WHAT TO DO FOR THE JOG-A-THON

1. PERMISSION SLIPS: In order to participate in the Jog-a-thon, it is mandatory that each student returns a signed “Parent’s Approval and Student Waiver” (attached) to their teacher by Monday, March 29.

2. OBTAIN SPONSORS: Students are responsible for finding sponsors who will pledge to donate a specific amount of money for each lap that the student runs or a one-time donation.
Students should talk with their parents before soliciting sponsors. We suggest students obtain sponsors from family, friends and close neighbors. Students should not solicit strangers or canvas entire neighborhoods. Please tell your sponsors that this donation is tax deductible.

3. DAY OF THE JOG-A-THON: Students should come prepared to jog or walk for 20 minutes on April 2. They should wear appropriate shoes. For extra fun, students and parents should wear the color of their classes’ station! There will be a DJ, music, balloons, parents cheering, and teachers jogging/walking.

4. COLLECT PLEDGES: After completing their 20-minute run, each student’s “Official Lap Card” is tallied. Students should show the lap card to their sponsors when they return to collect their pledges, and thank them for their support.
Put all money and checks in the attached envelope and return it to your teacher no later than Friday, April 16, 2010. Only students who turn in their pledge money by April 16th will qualify for the prizes for “most pledges.”

5. PARENTS: Any parent planning to walk/run in the Jog-a-thon must first sign a “waiver” form, which will be available at Jog-a-thon tables. Please come and cheer your child on! (See attached schedule.) If you are able to help with the Jog-a-thon, please return the volunteer form on the back of this flyer by Friday, March 26th. We need parent helpers for each class and throughout the day.

All students who turn in $25.00 or more will receive a special Del Cerro Jog-A-Thon T-shirt! Lots of the great prizes will also be given to out for “most pledges” turned in and most laps run (See attachment.) All prizes will be announced at an assembly in May.

Jog-a-Thon Prizes!
All participants in the Jog-A-Thon, held April 2nd, will receive a free water bottle when they finish their laps. There will be a DJ, music, balloons, parents cheering, and teachers walking. Wear your classroom’s station color. It promises to be a fun day!

Individual Prizes

All students who turn in $25.00 or more by Friday, April 16th will receive a limited edition Del Cerro Jog-A-Thon T-shirt!
All students who turn in $100.00 or more by Friday, April 16th will go into a drawing for a bike. (one winner for lower grade and one winner or upper grade)

Most Pledges – Individual

The six students (3 upper graders and 3 primary graders) who turn in the most pledge money by Friday, April 16th, will be eligible for the following prizes:

First Place - Principle For A Day and an invitation to the “Winners Circle” Lunch in the MPR as well as an assorted prize pack.

Second Place: An invitation to the “Winners Circle” Lunch in the MPR and an assorted prize pack.

Third Place: An invitation to the “Winners Circle” Lunch in the MPR and an assorted prize pack.

Most Laps

Ribbons will be awarded to the students (one boy and one girl) who run the most laps in each classroom.
* Lunch will be provided by the PTA in accordance with parent’s approval and SVUSD Guidelines.

Spring Book Fair Needs Volunteers

The Spring Book Fair is fast approaching (March 12-19)and we still need more volunteers. For those of you who have signed up, thanks for your help. Please contact Simone Boothe to sign up.

There are big holes to fill, especially in the 8 am to 11 am slots. If you volunteer for this slot, you can bring your kids with you until they go to class. Please sign up for as many time slots as you can! We really need your help.

If we have a lot of trouble staffing the Spring Book Fair, we may be forced to just have the Fall Book Fair next year. This would be a real shame as we get a big boost in free books with the Spring Book Fair that we don't get for the Fall. Because we do two Fairs, we get an additional 10% of sales in the Spring.

The Fall Book Fair was so successful, that we are doing a program this Spring called "Caught You Reading" where a winner is chosen from each class to get a free book from the Book Fair. The flyer which went to teachers yesterday in case you are interested. I hope we can keep the momentum going.

Stand UP for Schools Stand UP for Children

The Saddleback Valley Education Coalition will be holding a rally on March 4th to "Stand Up for Schools and Stand Up for Children!" The intent is to make it a large and successful rally so that the media covers it and which puts pressure on our state lawmakers to protect education. SVEC March Thursday, Mar. 4 4:00-5:30pm. Click here for more information

Read Across America Comes to Del Cerro


Tuesday, March 2nd is Read Across America Day! It is a day to celebrate the birthday of Theodore S. Geisel, his pen name that is familiar to children and parents all over the world is “Dr. Seuss.” He is an incredible author, the master of rhyme and rhythm; a writer who encourages children to read and have fun with wonderful illustrations and profound meanings. Some of his very popular books are: The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh, The Places You’ll Go! , just to name a few. He wrote and illustrated 44 books, with 30 adapted for video and television.

Del Cerro will be celebrating this annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. In cities and towns across the nation, teachers, teenagers, librarians, actors, athletes, parents, grandparents and others will bring reading excitement to children of all ages. It is a great time to celebrate and Del Cerro will be having two afternoon assemblies for our students and we will have four previous Del Cerro principals and our current PTA President share their favorite books and short readings. Parents are encouraged to read with students too. The poem below captures the spirit of Read Across America and invites anyone and everyone to enjoy “Read to Kids Day.”

Please join us at home on March 2nd and read! Interested parents can find great information on the internet at: www.nea.org/readacross/
You will be glad you did…

Read Across America Poem

You're never too old, too wacky, too wild,
To pick up a book and read with a child.
You're never too busy, too cool, or too hot,
To pick up a book and share what you've got.

In schools and communities,
Let's gather around,
Let's pick up a book,
Let's pass it around.

There are kids all around you,
Kids who will need
Someone to hug,
Someone to read.

Come join us March 2nd
Your own special way
And make this America's
Read to Kids Day.