IMPORTANT DATES
1/22-24: Minimum Days / Student Led Conferences
1/24: Final Friday Coffee, 8-9am in the garden
1/28: Spelling Bee, 3:30-5pm
1/30: MLK Oratorical, after school
1/30: Historical Literacy Knight, 5-7pm
1/31: Professional Development Day / No school for students
2/7: 6th Grade Ice Skating Field Trip
2/17: Presidents Day / No school
From the office
STUDENT LED CONFERENCES ARE AGAIN UPON US
We have organized a few meetings with families. For most families, we are giving you the tools to have the conversation at home. Through advisories, 6th and 7th students should receive a "take home" SLC. Please have the conversation at home and return it to your child's advisory teacher! If you don't think your child has received this, please check in with your child's advisory teacher or grade level dean.
HISTORICAL LITERACY KNIGHT
CMS Historical Literacy Knight will take place on Thursday, January 30, from 5-7 pm (after the Oratorical). There will be food, raffle prizes, workshop stations and live performances by our own MLK Oratorical Festival finalists. Come help us celebrate reading and writing at Claremont Middle School! We are accepting donations of gently used, high interest young adult novels and graphic novels in our main office for our book giveaway. For more info, go here. We need volunteers! Please contact Ms. Salzfass.
1ST SEMESTER ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE WINNERS
On 12/20 five students were the lucky winners of 42" SMART TV's (donated to Claremont by the Hidden Genius Project) for coming to school every day last semester. Way to go Santiago, Hawa, Tai'Ana, Alexandro, and Walter!!
...AND ON TO THE 2ND SEMESTER ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE
Attendance matters... every day and every period counts. This semester's attendance challenge will highlight students who have perfect attendance, meaning no absences or tardies from 1/22/2020 to 5/27/2020. The grand prize winner will receive a brand new scooter with a lock and a helmet! Students who improve their attendance, both absences and tardies, will be entered into weekly drawing for In-N-Out gift certificates, Zachary's gift certificates, and more. And finally, the grade level with the best overall attendance (including fewest number of tardies) will receive treats and prizes at the end of each marking period.
How can parents help? Encourage your child to come to each class on time every day. Schedule appointments before or after school, on minimum days, or school holidays. And, support healthy habits by encouraging your students to keep their hands clean, to drink plenty of water, eat a good meal, and get plenty of rest. Every day & every period counts! Contact Mrs. Anderson if you have any questions.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR PI NIGHT
Volunteers are needed for Pi/STEAM night on 3/12 (3.14 minus 2 this year). Help with serving pie, stamping passports, supporting the various stations, and more. Please email Ms. Lehman or your student's science teacher if you can help out.
From the PTA
IT'S PANCAKE BREAKFAST TIME
Begin Leap Day - Saturday Feb. 29 - at the Claremont Pancake Breakfast! This is a fun event for the school and a rare opportunity to be inside the Masonic Lodge at 5449 College Ave. The Masons do it all for us - cook, serve and clean. All we have to do, Claremont, is show up. There will be a raffle, and our great Claremont jazz band will be there too. Please go here to buy your tickets, which are $12 each. There are three seatings 8:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. OTHER WAYS TO PAY: Contact Kai Drekmeier to purchase advance tickets using cash or a personal check. See you there!
FREE COFFEE AND DONUTS ON FRIDAY
Please join us this Friday, January 24 from 8-9am in the CMS garden area for coffee, donated by Peet’s, donuts, tea, and other sweets. It is a great opportunity to touch base with CMS staff & teachers and connect with other parents in our community. See you there!
CLAREMONT NEEDS YOU!
Due to families graduating out or terms coming to an end, there are many key positions open for the 2020-2021 Executive Board. We are looking for...
• President - runs meetings, prepares agendas, works closely with the principal to support the school.
• Treasurer - oversees the management of PTA finances and acts as fiscal sponsor for Ride for A Reason.
• VP of Fundraising - leads the Claremont fund campaign, assists the auction leads, and recruits leaders for the pancake breakfast.
All positions provide great opportunities to get to know other parents at Claremont.
AUCTION PARTIES
THIS SATURDAY... WHISKEY HOLD 'EM!
A swanky night of tournament-style poker and classic old school cocktails. Your $40 sign-up gets you a seat at the table, drinks and food. Your chip buy-in of $20 the night of the game gets you a chance at the grand prize (a bottle of top-shelf whiskey) and half the pot (the remaining half will be donated back to Claremont).
Buy a ticket here. This Saturday, January 25, 7-12pm
SEMIFREDDI BAKERY TOUR
Come and tour the Semifreddi factory hosted by one of Semifreddi's owners. Children 7 years and older are welcome to attend with an adult and each visitor will receive a free goodie bag at the end of the tour. Please note that a strict dress code policy will be enforced on this tour. Buy a ticket
here.
Friday January 31 (no school for students that day), 10-11:00am
THANK YOU CLAREMONT - THE CLAREMONT FUND KEEPS GOING UP
Wow. The Claremont Fund has raised more than $84,000 thanks to families, community members and matching employers. We are well on our way to reaching our 2019-20 goal of $110,000 by the end of the school year. There's still time - Please give to the Claremont Fund. Go
here to learn more about how to give - via PayPal, check or credit. You can give monthly or a one time gift. The PTA spends about $600 per student - field trips, technology, supplies, the library and much more.
Sports
CLAREMONT GIRLS SOCCER
The Claremont Girls Soccer Team Beat Lionel Wilson School last Saturday 5-0 with three goals from Olivia Pernice - a hat trick - and two from Natalia Levy. Tara Henry was the goalie. The girls team plays Roosevelt this Saturday. Way to go, Knights!
6TH & 7TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL
7th grade boys basketball team had a win against EBIA, 38-17.
The 6th grade boys played Edna Brewer, the final score was 29-22 resulting in a loss for the Knights. They started our the first two quarters a bit slow and won the third and fourth quarters but not enough to get the W.
Both teams are looking forward to next week where the 6th grade Knights play the 7th grade Knights on January 25 at 12noon, at Oakland Tech!
If coaches or parents of other sports teams have info on games, etc. please email to news@claremontms.org to be included in future Knightline editions. We would especially love team photos for the Knightline and website.
Community
HELP CALIFORNIA SECURE $4 BILLION A YEAR IN EDUCATION FUNDING
Wednesday, February 5, 6:30-7:30pm, at Oakland Tech’s Auditorium, Ben Grieff, Campaign Director for Evolve California, will host a detailed presentation followed by a Q&A. Sponsored by the Oakland Tech High School PTSA. Join us to learn more. This event is open to ALL OUSD families and Oakland residents, so please spread the word. Need Child Care? Email Jessica. Questions? Email Star.
ZUMBA
Don't forget, Zumba Fridays at 6pm. Join us in the gym. Everyone welcome. Questions: Contact
Sara.
FREE MUSICAL THEATER CLASS
Check out our weekly Musical Theater Class for FREE for new students for your first class. Wednesday 5:30-7 pm just a few blocks from Claremont at 6013 Lawton. Musically Minded at St. Peter's Church. Grades 2-8 are welcome to join. Normal class rate is $70 per month for actors and $50 per month for tech. Adult and teen volunteers are welcome to help with costumes, sets facepainting, etc. Crafters come one, come all. Also, need summer activities? Become a CIT for our SUMMER CAMPS! For more info go here or call 510 601 5700.
WANT YOUR KNIGHT TO LEARN CODING FOR FREE?
Kids learn coding FOR kids FROM kids for FREE!
Kids Teach Tech (KTT) is a team of kids who create and teach coding classes. Founded by a 5th grader, KTT has taught 450+ students in Oakland, San Francisco, Palo Alto and San Jose. This Saturday, KTT will be at Rockridge Library.
KTT is excited to announce a new partnership with the City of Oakland! Starting in the summer of 2020, KTT will provide computer instruction in Oakland Town Camp, the City of Oakland’s summer camp program operated by the Parks, Recreation and Youth Development Department. KTT is recruiting local youth to train as instructors for this summer. Come meet us on Saturday, January 25th to find out more!
1:30 p.m. Introduction to Scratch Programming
2:45 p.m. Advanced Scratch Programming
Visit https://kidsteachtech.com/classes for more information and to register.
Do you have an item for the Knightline?
Email your submission to news@claremontms.org. Submissions should be brief (100 to 200 words is best) and thoughtfully written, with essential times, dates and contact info included. Please remember that the Knightline is published by volunteers; extra care in preparing your item for publication will help us get your message out to the Claremont community.