Principal Rhine

Dear Crocker Families,

Please find the 12-13 OFASS Summer application. All families can submit an application because this FREE program is open to all children who reside within the city of Oakland, whether they attend an OUSD school or not. OFASS capacity is approximately 275 students (no more than 300). This application is for the morning program only-8:30am-12:30pm (breakfast from 8:00am-8:30am) and includes a snack (lunch).

On the application there is information including contact information regarding the afternoon OFASS program. This is run by personnel with the Dept. of Parks and Recreation and will be operated at Burckhalter Elementary. There is a fee for this program – families will need to contact OPR to get payment, hours, due dates, etc. Burkhalter staff cannot answer questions regarding the afternoon program.

All applications can be dropped off at Burckhalter, please no mail or scanned copies.

Dear Crocker Community,

Many of you might have heard by now about the horrible tragedy in Connecticut in an elementary school.  Honestly, I want to get through the school day with our wonderful children before I find out the details.  (I need to be home to hear and handle it.)  But I am sure many of you are hearing the stories and it’s natural to make connections to our personal lives.

I will be meeting with the teachers and staff to find out what more we can do to make our school secure.  No one plans for something like this to happen but we need to make sure we are safe.  It makes everyone think a little more deeply about what we are doing here at Crocker.   I am glad that we have done a lockdown drill and we will certainly do more this school year.  I’m glad I’ve been nagging everyone to check in at the office and will continue to do so.  I am also asking that all drop-offs (lunches, backpacks, instruments, library books) come to the office and not to the classroom.  No more pop-ins to classrooms.  I was going to put something in the bulletin about this for next week anyway, but it’s appropriate to bring this up now.

It’s very important to not scare our children, so please use your best judgment if you have conversations with them.  Some families may choose to talk about it, and some may not.  Often the kids come to school and want to share.  If you do talk with your children about this, remind them that it may need to be a conversation that stays at home.

I want everyone to be careful not to overreact about Crocker’s security – it’s a balance of creating a welcoming but safe school.  There are things that we can do to be a little more secure.  I was already considering some changes (locking more doors, push gates on the playground) but now there is a stronger sense of urgency.

I’ll let you know if there are any updates or information to share with you all. If I hear of something we can do to help the families, I will let you know.

It’s that time of year – Report Cards! 

Hello Crocker Community,

OUSD has published their Staff Report and recommendation which was presented to the Board last week.  It’s my understanding that the Board heard the recommendation and will come back to make a final decision in January 2013.   If I hear any more, I’ll let you know.

Beth Rhine

School Tours for new parents with an incoming 2013/14 student have just been posted. Schedule and sign-ups are available here http://crockerschool.org/about/new-familiesenrollment/

I need to remind families about some of our safety/traffic concerns -

1) We want to teach our children good habits, so please use the crosswalks.  There is a lot of jaywalking occurring as families come to school.  Safety first!

2) Traffic goes in a clockwise direction around the school.  Our PTA is trying to coordinate drop off zones, on Hubert and Midcrest but we need help.  If you are willing to volunteer some time, please contact Simon Becerra, simonbecerra@gmail.com, or Eric Trawick, kid_knowledge2000@yahoo.com.

3) Do not park in the red (leaving your car unattended) or block driveways.  We need to be a good neighbor.  Also, the police make an occasional drive through the neighborhood and will ticket for parking violations.

4) We have begun to issue our own “Crocker Parking Tickets” for those forgetting the laws.  An infraction constitutes one hour of community service at school.

5) Most people love dogs, but not everyone.  If you bring Rover to school with you to pick up your child, please wait across the street with him/her.  Some kids are afraid of dogs, and some are allergic to them.  With the excitement of over 400 kids exiting the building, it may overwhelm Rover and bring out unexpected behavior.  We need to be considerate of everyone.

6) Designate a meeting spot with your child so you can easily find him/her.  Pick-up spots must be outside, not in the library or in the courtyard.

7) Supervision on the playground begins at 8:30 a.m.  There is NO supervision on the playground before that time.  Please do not drop off your child without adult supervision.

8) If your child is on the yard after school unsupervised when I do my “sweep” at 3:05 p.m., I will bring him/her into the office to wait or to call home. If you notice a child who has not been picked up, please let me know.  I’m still learning the parent/caregiver/child match.

These general guidelines serve to keep our children safe.  I appreciate everyone’s cooperation.

Beth Rhine

Meet our New Classroom Teachers

Anita Graffius is our new 3rd grade teacher. She is very excited to be joining the Crocker Highlands community and is looking forward to building relationships with the Crocker students and families. Ms. G has been employed as a full-time educator for three years, spending the last two years as a substitute teacher working for the Oakland and Orinda school districts. She also has worked extensively in environmental education and is looking forward to incorporating those experiences into the classroom. She attended UC Santa Cruz where she double majored in History and History of Art and Visual Culture. She is currently in the process of completing her multiple-subject credential with CalState TEACH.

Carla Gayden is joining the staff as our new kindergarten teacher. She looks forward to contributing her experience to such a dynamic and loving community. Carla is a Berkeley, California native. She graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Southern California in Cinema-Television Production. She returned to the Bay Area and became the owner of a licensed Child Care Facility. She currently attends Holy Names University as a Multiple Subjects Credential and Masters of Education candidate. She is no stranger to the field of Education. Her grandmother taught Kindergarten in Oakland for over twenty years, so she is following in her grandmother’s footsteps.

We want to welcome our new staff and wish them the best in the upcoming school year!

Social Emotional Learning & Anti-Bullying:

Building a Caring School Community

Presented by Sherri Patterson, M.F.C.C., P.P.S.

From Communication Works

May 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Childcare Provided: RSVP to: president@crockerschool.org

Parent Ed Night at Crocker Highlands

 Learn tools to promote social thinking, relationship skills, and anti-bullying strategies among our kids to help us build a school community that is safe and caring for everyone

Dear Crocker Community,

As many of you know, recently there have been many discussions regarding the expanded boundaries and the impact on enrollment at Crocker Highlands Elementary.  We were able to add an additional kindergarten class this year to accommodate all our neighborhood families but that is a short-term solution.

We are having a meeting with David Montes de Oca, Executive Director, Quality Community Schools Development of the Oakland Unified School District, to address the long-term enrollment capacity of the school  on Wednesday, June 6, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Crocker Highlands Library. Everyone is invited.

Beth Rhine