January/February 2009 - English

Individual Highlights:

NCS Calendar 2

Family Spotlight 2

Artist Trading Cards 3

A Note from José 4

Help Wanted 4

NCS Student Page 5

Peace and Human Rights 6

NCS World Kitchen 6

Pine Ave Calendar 7

Don’t be Idle 7

Wishlist and Reminders 8

New City School

Celebrates Dr. Martin

Luther King

ON a hot January day, in a little school called New City, a hero was being celebrated. Rows of mats were covering nearly half of the grass. Children were acting out skits, and talking about a great man from the past. The great man I am speaking of is Martin Luther King, Jr., and the celebration is the New City School Martin Luther King Assembly.

The New City School is one of the only schools to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King in any way

The New City School Noticias

other than a day off from school. He certainly deserves more than that!

All the classes contributed to a show about Dr. King. Parents came to join the crowd, their cameras flashing. The kids who were not up on stage were watching intently, or talking about the show. It was truly entertaining for actors and viewers alike.

The plays, although short, were well-acted and well thought-out. Claudia’s class acted out a poem

and read some quotes by Martin Luther King himself.

Armando’s class did a few things including a skit, and said some things about the good deeds of Dr. King.

The kids from El Mar drew pictures about what they want to be when they grow up and sang the song “This Little Light of Mine.” The performances were all well done and strongly felt.

--More photos on page 5.

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Our Mission

We will provide a thoughtful, healthy, intimate environment in which community building is valued over competition.

Through a curriculum enriched by the arts, technology, and the natural environment, we will teach students to develop into independent critical thinkers who demonstrate expertise in reasoning and

problem solving, English and Spanish literacy, creative expression, and historical perspective.

Toward these goals, the families and staff of the New City School will work together as partners to understand the needs and interests of the students, to act in the service of justice, and to extend

learning opportunities into the home and community.

February 2009 Volume 2, Issue 5



February 9 School Closed – U.S. Presidents DayFebruary 16 School Closed – Abraham Lincoln BirthdayMarch 16 & 17 Student-led ConferencesMarch 18 – April 3 Spring vacation (students)May 25 No school - Labor DayJune 2 – 4 La Tierra Camp at De Benneville PinesJune 24 – 25 June Conferences

The New City School Noticias

NCS 2008-2009 Calendar!

Page 2 of 8

NCS Family SpotlightDon Hector

This month’s spotlight gives us all the information that enquiring minds want to know about our most important staff member, Hector Franco. We already know that Don Hector can fix just about everything and that he also keeps our children running hard on the soccer field at lunchtime. But did you know this…?

Tell us about the members of your family.

I have a wife and a son, and I come from seven brothers and sisters. Our family has four boys and three girls. I am the second to the last.

Where do you live now?I live here in Long beach and I have lived here for eight years.Where did you live before coming to

Long Beach?

I lived in Paramount for three years right next to the swap meet. That was my first “mall’ experience in the United States.

How did you come to work at NCS?

A star told me one night that there was good stuff here (smile). I walked by one day and saw that it was a good place and stayed here to work

What do you like best about working here at New City School?

My favorite part is the interactions with the people here, Relationships with the staff. I love looking at the faces of all the kids and the teachers that I see here and when I am not here I feel sad.

What's your favorite meal?

Carne asada. That is the reason that I could never be a vegetarian because I love carne asada too much. Maybe some day

when my body starts to shut down I can give it up and be a vegetarian like Jose.

What do you like to do when you are not working at the New City School?

I stay home. I like action movies, and I play football in a league in El Dorado Park. I only play defense now because I am out of shape.

Tell us something we don't know about you that might be interesting?

I used to be in a ballet of modern dance in Tepic, Nayarit. The dance group that I was in was called “The Boys.” I used to break dance and do moves like moon walking, and the robot. My nickname was Changito. We danced to music by M C Hammer and Vanilla Ice. Our dance group would travel around to different nightclubs and compete against other groups in tournaments.

********

NCS Multi-Cultural

Book ClubFebruary Selection

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Rain of GoldBy Victor Villaseñor

Next MeetingFebruary 26

6:30 pmAmbrosia Café

The New City School Noticias Page 3 of 8

Last month NCS Pine students commemorated the inauguration of President Barack Obama by making Artist Trading Cards.

The theme of this set of cards was “Send a Message to the New President.” Some students created art that gave consideration to what they wanted to see changed in the world; others considered their recent studies of Martin Luther King and decided to honor the past and the historical importance of this inauguration; still others just wished the new president good luck and congratulations.

We hope soon to create a commemorative poster of this artwork to sign and send to Washington, and also to sell as a fundraiser. We will also be starting an after school Artist Trading Card Club on Tuesdays, beginning February 10, from 3:30 - 4:30. These next cards will be focused on the meaning of love in honor of Valentines Day. If you would like to help out with this project, please contact Lisa Miller, Roberta Denis, or Amanda Trefethen.

Artist Trading Cards –Inauguration Day 2009

The New City School NoticiasPage 4 of 8

Ask José and FriendsCan You Tell Us About Who’s Who Here at NCS Pine?

Sure. You probably see these people regularly when you bring your children to school, but sometimes you may not be sure what role they have in our school. So, we will briefly tell you about the position and tasks they develop daily with your children

The first person you will meet at school is Daisy. She greets all who arrive and is regularly in the office assisting visitors, answering the phone, and keeping all our students’ paperwork in order. The next person that you will probably see will be Hector our custodian. He is always keeping the school in good working order. (For more on Hector see the Spotlight on p. 2)

When you walk out of the office, on the first floor you will find the four El Mar classes under the supervision of Alicia, Elizabeth, and Johanna. These teachers work with our young students in kindergarten, first and second grade.

The El Mar team also counts on the support of three teacher aids: Isabel, Maricela and Esther, who collaborate in different classes depending on the needs of teachers and students.

In order to keep organized, the teachers meet twice a week to work and plan for their classes. These meetings are on Wednesday morning, together with the teacher aids, and on Thursday afternoons. In our El Mar team we also count on Gabby, the music teacher. Gabby starts chorus with the children every morning Tuesday through Friday. The music room, where the children meet weekly, is on the 3rd floor. If you haven’t seen it yet, you are welcome to come and visit as soon as your schedule allows it!

Now it’s time to introduce the La Tierra team, working with grades 3, 4 and 5. La Tierra is on the second floor and also has four classes under the supervision of Samuel. Claudia, Armando and Debra. La Tierra has two teacher assistants: Fabiola and Jose [SeJo], who work in different classes, according to the teacher and students’ needs.

It is also important to mention Roberto, the music teacher, who collaborates with the team and brings the time to create and make music that our children so much need. You can find Roberto on Monday and Wednesday afternoons in the music room he shares with Gabby on the 3rd floor. Roberto is also part of the LBB and CNC staff as music teacher.

The La Tierra teachers also have two weekly planning meetings on Thursday morning together with the teacher assistants and on Wednesday afternoons. Last, but not the least, is Chris, who works in our 2nd floor library. Chris is in charge of taking small groups of our students to this wonderful space where they can read and have fun. Chris also leads the Crochet Club on Wednesday afternoons and organizes the students to help in the garden.. Our students love their time with Chris reading, making very interesting creations, and watching things grow!

A NOTE ABOUT THE BUNGALOW

All of the NCS Pine students can now be found together within the four walls of the school. The “bungalow” is going away soon and we are regaining our full garden! The bungalow has been on the site for more than two years now and, while we loved the extra classroom space, we are very happy to be able to reclaim our full outdoor space We have an opportunity for a KaBOOM! grant that would allow us to create an entirely new outdoor playing environment for the children as soon as May of this year. However, to receive this grant we will need to raise $7,500 on our own. If you have ideas on how this can be done please talk to Tami Bennett the chair of the Ways and Means committee.



Reminder: New City School Needs Your Help

Spring is Coming and Change is in the Air.

Have you been waiting for the right opportunity to get involved with a project at the New City School? Here are a few ways you can step in with little or no prep work:

Organize a Friday FiestaEvery first Friday of the month the school remains open for the evening to provide us with an opportunity to get together and enjoy each other’s company. So far this year, we have had a Potluck Dinner, a Movie Night, a Teacher Appreciation Night, and a Game Night. And this coming Friday, February 6, we will

be having a night of salsa dancing and salsa-recipe sharing. (see p. 8 for more details). Do you have an idea for a Fiesta at the school? Contact Pilar Wright to see if you can put your plan into action.

Come and Read a BookEvery student loves a good read-aloud and it’s a great way to get involved in your child’s classroom. The best time to come and read in El Mar classrooms is from 9:30-10:30, and from 9-10:00 in La Tierra.

Volunteer for an Art ProjectArt classes are scheduled in el mar Monday-Thursday from 12:30-1:10, and in La Tierra from 2:10-3:10. One project recommended at the last

Community Council meeting was a Green Art Project to decorate the lunch receptacles with art representing the different bins, i.e. Trash, Recycling, and Compost. This is a fun and necessary project that just needs a leader to get started.

Help in the GardenSpeaking of composting… There is always call for another green thumb in the New City Gardens. A round of applause is in order for Chris Phelps and the NCS roof-top gardeners. Much is growing and harvest time will be coming soon. But there is always need for helping hands and supplies. Contact Chris for ways to help us reap what we sow.

Page 5 of 8

The books of Junie B. Jones are really fun to read. It is about a girl that is in kindergarten. She has two friends Lucille and Grace. These books are great for everyone.

Book Review By Natalia

La Tierra Student

All kinds of people of all ages can read them. The books of Junie B. Jones are very interesting and every boy and girl can learn from these extraordinary books.

The author of the series is called Barbara Park. Barbara Park wants to make Junie B. Jones fun and educational. I recommend to parents to read these fantastic books with their children.

New City Student Page

Book Review By Teotl

El Mar Student


The book we are reading is called the Temple of the Ruby of Fire. The book is about adventures and mice.

The main character of the book is Geronimo Stilton. He is looking for the Temple of the Ruby of Fire.

His brother is named Trap and he likes to eat a lot. Geronimo Stilton is very adventurous.

I like this book because Geronimo always gets into trouble.


Martin Luther King, Jr.Assembly

January 16, 2009

The New City School NoticiasPage 6 of 8

In this month’s New City World Kitchen we get to share in a secret family recipe from Betty Ortiz, the mother of Valeria, a La Tierra student, and the sister of our favorite Office Coordinator, Daisy.

This is a perfect recipe for our February Noticias. Served it warm and it will brighten even the darkest winter’s day. It’s also another great recipe to make with the kids. Just watch out while stirring the hot-stuff on the stove and good luck waiting long enough for the pudding to cool before diggin’ in!!

Arroz con Leche

Ingredients: 1 cup of long grain white rice 2 cinnamon sticks 4 cups of water 3 cups of milk 1 can of sweetened condensed

milk (12oz) 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract ½ cup of raisins, optional

Directions:

1. Soak the rice and cinnamon stick in the water in a saucepan for about one hour. 2. After soaking, bring the rice and cinnamon sticks to a boil on high

heat.

3. When it starts to boil, lower the heat to medium and cook for 10 to 12 more minutes or until water is almost evaporated. 4. Add the milk, vanilla extract, and condensed milk to the rice. Stir well. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring carefully, for about 25-35 minutes, until thickened.

5. Serve while still warm. MMM……ENJOY!!!

Thank You for Making Peace & Human Rights Night Another Successful NCS Celebration

Thank you to all who participated in the fundraising portion of the school's event held on December 18th, 2008.

More than $2,500 was raised in one evening with a team effort from many parents who donated items for the silent auction ($1,475 raised) and the refreshments ‘cafe’ ($400 raised). Many event goers bought tickets for a chance to win the 50/50 raffle ($330 went to NCPS). Thank you Sweeney Family for donating most of your winnings back to the school!! There are still a few beautifully handcrafted wood pens and

pencils available for sale. These were donated by Antonio Ambriz whose beautiful craftsmanship helped us to raise $320 in one evening.

Because of everyone's involvement and participation New City School families had a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere to enjoy yummy refreshments and complete some holiday shopping at the silent auction. With all the hard work and generous donations this was a very successful fundraising event.

What’s to come?Scholastic Book Catalogs will go home with

each homeroom. However, the program can only work as a fundraiser with the help of parent volunteers. With each book ordered a free book goes to NCPS. Want to help? Contact your child’s homeroom teacher.

We also need new ideas for raising funds for La Tierra's De Benneville Pines Science and Math Camp slated for the first week of June.

If you have any ideas please contact Tami Bennett 562-682-8738 [email protected]




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Day EventFebruary 9 School Closed –

U.S. Presidents Day February 10 Academic Support Mtg. 3:45February 12 Picture Day!February 13 First Friday Fiesta 5:30 p.m.

(See p. 8 for details)February 16 School Closed –

Abraham Lincoln Birthday February 18 Community Council Mtg.

9:00 & 6:00Ways & Means Mtg. 3:45

February 24 Communications Mtg. 3:45February 26 Multicultural Book Club 6:30

The New City School Noticias Page 7 of 8

Pine Avenue Monthly Community Calendar

Children are one third of our population and

all of our future.

~Select Panel for the Promotion of

Child Health

By Kim Lachance Shandrow

An average of 600 trucks pass within 100 yards of downtown Long Beach schools each hour. No, I'm not kidding. Our city has some of the worst air quality in the country; 15 percent of kids here have asthma. It’s easier to point the finger at the freeways and 18-wheelers hemorrhaging in and out of our backyard—the second busiest port in the U.S.—than at my own eco-idleness. But I’d be lying if I said I’m not guilty of adding to the fumes our kids breathe near school.

Where am I going with this?

Straight to the carbon monoxide confessional apparently. My crime? Double-parking outside school at pick-up and drop-off times, my minivan engine idling all the while. That's 20-something wasteful minutes spewing exhaust fumes close to a lot of young,

School Zone Air Quality: Curb Those Idle Waysdeveloping lungs—twice each day. I might as well drive one of those port porkers I loathe.

Wouldn’t I be just as eco-guilty if I circled the block a few times for the perfect parking spot? Sure, Al Gore will get right back to you on that. While you're waiting, consider these low-effort, low- to no-cost ways corner-cutting mamas like me can reduce the impact of our idle ways on our children and the earth:

1. Kill the engine. Obviously. Shutting it off cuts down on global warming, wasted gasoline and potential damage to your engine. Leaving your vehicle on in park actually guzzles more gas than shutting it off and turning it back on.

2. Hoof it. If you live close enough, walk or ride a bike to your child’s school. Invest in a cool-looking

tandem family bike with the green you'll save on gas, and don’t forget the helmets. Teachers dig helmets. So do brains.

3. Hitch a ride or give one. Carpooling is my favorite (and easiest) form of mom-bartering. If you’re like me, you owe more than a few moms a favor or five. Pay them back by schlepping theirs, and maybe they’ll schlep yours. You’ll both get a break at the pump, and from those time-chewing pick-up/drop-off waiting lines.

4. Spread the word, not smog. Tell the whole minivan mafia about the hazards of idling in school zones. I hear the school newsletter is a good start. Wait. This IS the school newsletter. That's one less thing on your to do list! :-)



Did you know? Humans blink over

10,000,000 times a year!

It is not possible to tickle yourself.

That lemons contain more sugar than

http://www.pediatricasthma.org/community_coalitions/long_beach_ca

1230 Pine Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813

Phone:562-436-0689

Fax:562-436-0898

E-Mail:[email protected]

Do you have suggestions or comments regarding the NCS Noticias? Do you have a recipe to donate or a family that you think should be spotlighted? Email or drop us a note in the Newsletter Suggestion envelope in the binder in the front office.

Wish Lists!Alicia: Bird Books in English and Spanish, Yarn for crochet elective.

Debra: for class pet: romaine lettuce, carrots, pine beddingalso: VolleyballsPumpsCurtains for the class

ClaudiaWriting paperChapter books in English and SpanishAnything you think the class can use.

Gabby12 or more hard cardboard tubes (mailing type or bigger)Old or defective keys (you can ask at ACE hardware)BIG Rigid Plastic containers we can use as chambers for drums

Metal cookware we can use as chambers for drumsOld metal silverware (spoons or other, to make instruments)Metal and pvc tubesMetal cans-clean please!- (tomato, tuna, etc).

José:Soccer ballsPrimary journalRomaine lettuceRechargeable batteriesFlash drives

February FiestaSalsa/Salsa

February 13th @ 6:00

Come and join us for a fun night of salsa

dancing and bring a dish or drinks and your

own salsa to share.

Tamales and chips will be available.

**Don’t know how to salsa? Come for a

lesson at 5:30.

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became President of the United States of America. His family is really happy. Good Luck President Obama! --Teotl

We saw the inauguration. Barack Obama had a speech. It was about things of the country.

-Ben

Barack Obama became president. He is the first black President of the United States

–Sophia

Join us in supporting NEW CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS at the Box Tops forEducation website. Our school has earned $165.00 so far this year, and youcan help earn even more to reach our goal of $500.00.

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Sign up to support our school online at btfe.com

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Bonus Box Tops:Each month, check out the Bonus Box Tops section for sweepstakes, contestsand chances to earn Bonus Box Tops for your school.

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Documents

January/February 2009 - English