Sunday, April 26, 2015

The Week of April 27, 2015

Hello all,
Welcome back

Well...  
If April Showers bring May flowers....  There should be about 2 to 3 flowers out there... somewhere... 


"California's current drought is being billed as the driest period in the State's recorded rainfall history.  But scientists who study the West's long-term climate patterns say the state has been parched for much longer stretches before that 163 historical period began.
And they worry that the "mega-droughts" typical of California's earlier history could come again.Through studies of tree rings, sediment and other natural evidence, researchers have documented multiple droughts in California that lasted 10 or 20 years in a row during the past 1,000 years -- compared to the mere three-year duration of the current dry spell. The two most severe mega-droughts make the Dust Bowl of the 1930's look tame: a 240-year-long drought that started in 850 and, 50 years after the conclusion of that one, another that stretched at least 180 years.”  
California drought: Past dry periods have lasted more than 200 years, scientists say...  By Paul Rogers     progers@mercurynews.com

Needless to say, we need to keep our eyes open as Brownell Bruins and make sure we keep our drips to a min!   And yes, the garden is on drip irrigation thanks to many, but most definitely Perlene Lake and her husband Rick.--Thank you!


 

   8th Grade News
Jamba Juice will be on campus every Friday after school until May!!! Proceeds of the sales will go towards our 8th Grade Promotion Dance ---Please enjoy a drink or two, and support our Promoting Class of 2015!


8th Grade Promotion Dance - Tickets for Sale!
Promotion Dance tickets will be sold during 8th grade lunch on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

8th grade Class Picture --Friday --May 1st at 9:00 am

8th GRADE PROMOTION DANCE DONATIONS NEEDED
Brownell Families!
The following items listed below are what the Promoting Class of 2015 still in need:
CASES OF WATER BOTTLES: Small bottles are preferred – if possible.
WHITE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Will be happy to return them if you tag them with your name and phone number. We would like about 50-60 strands of these. Any kind is appreciated as long as they are white.
GIFT CARDS: Gift cards in $5 increments for any local shops that your kids love ie: Target, Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, Fro-Yo, Jamba Juice… you get the idea. These will be door prizes at the dance.
TABLECLOTHS: We need 9 Bright RED – Thick Tablecloths
Snacks: Assorted MINI cupcakes, fortune cookies.
EXTRAS – VERY IMPORTANT:  Painters tape, Extension cords, Chinese Lanterns, 3 - 4 WHITE PATIO AWNINGS that we can borrow!
ALL ITEMS CAN BE DROPPED OFF IN THE FRONT OFFICE OR LIBRARY!
Any further information please email Mrs. Yafai or Mrs. Mukai via schoolloop --- THANK YOU! J

The WoW Word of the Week!
Approach
ap·proach
əˈprōCH
verb
1      come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance.
"The train approached the main line."
Synonyms:      move toward, come/go toward, advance toward, inch toward, go/come/draw/move nearer, go/come/draw/move closer, near;
Antonyms:      leave
come near or nearer to (a future time or event).
"He was approaching retirement."

(of a future time) come nearer.
"The time is approaching when you will be destroyed."

come close to (a number, level, or standard) in quality or quantity.
"The population will approach 12 million by the end of the decade."
Synonyms:      border on, verge on, approximate, touch, nudge, near, come near to, come close to
"The trade deficit is approaching $20 million."

2    speak to (someone) for the first time about something, typically with a proposal or request.
"The department had been approached about funding."
Synonyms:      speak to, talk to;

3      start to deal with (something) in a certain way.
"One must approach the matter with caution."
Synonyms:      tackle, set about, address oneself to, undertake, get down to, launch into, embark on, go about, come to grips with
"He approached the problem in the best way."

noun
noun: approach; plural noun: approaches
1      a way of dealing with something.
"we need a whole new approach to the job"
Synonyms:      method, procedure, technique, modus operandi, MO, style, way, manner
2    an act of speaking to someone for the first time about something, typically a proposal or request.
"the landowner made an approach to the developer"

  

That is all for now!  Mr. CL

Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Week of April 20, 2015

Hello!

We have a few items this week to announce...
But first I need to let you all know that I will be out for a couple of weeks starting on April 27th.   As many of you have known and is fairly obvious to see I have been limping around for some time. 

Many of you have wondered if the origin of this pain are my hips that were replaced (almost four years ago now), but my hips are doing great actually.  The last week of school, two  years ago I was rear-ended at a stop light and ended up with some back problems. I have gone through a number of cortisone shots and other therapy, but it has only gotten worse... So...  I have a need now to have some surgery.  I will be having back surgery on April 27th.  It isn't the kind that leaves hardware in you (a fusion) but back surgery never-the-less.  It is called a Microdiscectomy (Microdecompresson). If you are so inclined... you can actually read about the surgery procedure and see a short animated clip here.  So, no problem and I'll be back soon. 

During my absence, Mary Ann Boylan  will be substituting.  Ms Boylan is the former Principal of GECA (retired a year ago) and I worked with Mary Ann at GHS just after the turn of the century (sorry, I thought it sounded funny). Mary Ann is very experienced and is very supportive and helpful.  
Except for maybe the first couple of days, I will be in constant contact with both Assistant Principal Laboranti and Ms Boylan over the two weeks I'm gone.   In fact... the plan is for me to "maybe" stop in the school here and there the second week as I am not suppose to be sitting all the time but getting back into the swing of things...(slowly).  So, two weeks is the plan...


Monday is Spring Picture Day!
Spring Picture will be on Monday - April 20th  during PE classes. Also, you and your buddies will have a chance to take a picture during lunch and right after school until 3:00 pm. This is a freestyle PHOTO DAY, share your personality and smile, bring a friend or two, or show your hobby, dress casual but do not forget our DRESS CODE policy!  Spring pictures are $10 per sheet - if you buy 4 sheets, the 5th one is FREE!  Order forms will be send home on tomorrow – 4/16.


Thursday Special Assembly!
Coach Mendez
On Thursday the 23rd all of our students will be able to hear a talk from a former Brownell Bruin, Mr Robert Mendez.  Mr. Mendez is a football coach at Sobrato in Morgan Hill and has been going to many schools around the region giving inspirational talks.  We are honored to have Coach Rob at our school and have him present and talk with our students.    





WoW Word of the Week!
re·quire
rəˈkwī(ə)r/
verb
1.     need for a particular purpose.
"three patients required operations"
synonyms:
need, be in need of 
·        cause to be necessary.
"it would have required much research to produce a comprehensive list"
synonyms:
necessitatedemand, call for, involveentail
"a situation requiring patience"
·        specify as compulsory.
"the minimum car insurance required by law






That is all for now...  8th grade parents keep up with the website list of deadlines and events!

That is all for now, Mr. CL 

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Week of April 13, 2015

Welcome Back to School!

The Staff and I hope you all had a good week with family and friends and are ready to get back to the books!  Chrome books anyway!  The school received it's third Chrome book mobile computer lab and we now have three mobile labs and three traditional labs.  I think we are ready for the new State tests.


April is autism awareness month.
This week's fact about autism:
Autism is a developmental disorder that can affect a person’s communication skills, social skills, and behavior. 
Be kind, be compassionate—be a Bruin!

 
ALL STUDENTS!
Spring Picture will be on Thursday -April 23rd during PE classes. Also, you and your buddies will have a chance to take a picture during lunch and right after school UNTIL 3:00 pm.  This is a freestyle PHOTO DAY, share your personality and smile, bring a friend or two, or show your hobby, dress casual but do not forget our DRESS CODE policy!  Spring pictures are $10 per sheet - if you buy 4 sheets, the 5th one is FREE!  Order forms will be send home on Friday – 4/17. Please bring your envelope with money on Picture Day or you will be photographed!!!

Angeles Sin Fronteras - Conference
What is Angeles Sin Fronteras conference about?
The purpose of this conference is to inform, and prepare parents with children with special needs to become their advocates, learn about interesting topics, and extend our invitation to continue attending our monthly meetings.
When: Saturday - April 18, 2015 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: Eliot Elementary School - 475 Old Gilroy St.
Registration: 8:00 am - 8:30 am
 

   8th Grade News
Jamba Juice will be on campus every Friday after school until May!!! Proceeds of the sales will go towards our 8th Grade Promotion Dance ---Please enjoy a drink or two, and support our Promoting Class of 2015!

8th Grade Promotion Dance - Tickets for Sale!
Promotion Dance tickets will be sold during 8th grade lunch on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

ATTENTION 8th Grade Parents: On April 23rd - Thursday @ 7:00 PM - in the LIBRARY - You are invited to attend our final meeting to plan the upcoming PROMOTION DANCE!!! Your support is very important to us.
  
8th GRADE PROMOTION DANCE DONATIONS NEEDED
Brownell Families!
The following items listed below are what the Promoting Class of 2015 still in need:
CASES OF WATER BOTTLES: Small bottles are preferred – if possible.
WHITE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Will be happy to return them if you tag them with your name and phone number. We would like about 50-60 strands of these. Any kind is appreciated as long as they are white.
GIFT CARDS: Gift cards in $5 increments for any local shops that your kids love ie: Target, Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, Fro-Yo, Jamba Juice… you get the idea. These will be door prizes at the dance.
TABLECLOTHS: We need 9 Bright RED – Thick Tablecloths
Snacks: Assorted MINI cupcakes, fortune cookies.
EXTRAS – VERY IMPORTANT:  Painters tape, Extension cords, Chinese Lanterns, 3 - 4 WHITE PATIO AWNINGS that we can borrow!
ALL ITEMS CAN BE DROPPED OFF IN THE FRONT OFFICE OR LIBRARY!
Any further information please email Mrs. Yafai or Mrs. Mukai via schoolloop --- THANK YOU! J

 


 WORD OF THE WEEK

INVOLVE – include something as a necessary part or result; to participate in an activity.

Synonym: include; contain; require; contain

Antonym: uninvolved; indifferent; apathetic
GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY! 
That’s All for Now!
Mr CL