Our recent series of warm weather days has made it difficult for me to feel like this is the time of year to send along holiday greetings to everyone. However, the calendar tells me that it really is December!

This past month has been a busy one here at CLC! And, EVERYONE has been busy. The 8th grade spaghetti dinner - WOW! What a lot of spaghetti! What a lot of work! Thank you 8th graders and families for bringing us together as a community. The Scholastic Book Fair raised over $900 for our school's library! A special thank you goes out to Diane Lehman and Michelle Rivera for organizing the event! Parents are joining us on a trek to Wilmington, Delaware to meet with colleagues from the Coalition of Essential Schools. Parents have also gotten involved working in the library, helping with repairs, fund raising, and other tasks. All of these efforts are helping to make the CLC a better place.

Other work has begun to happen here at school. Electrical upgrades, adding needed circuits and electrical outlets have begun. Improvements to lighting are also underway. In addition, a number of contractors will be sending in bids for rebuilding our computer network. Look for a call for a Technology Planning committee to help me review these plans.

There is a lot to do and a lot is happening! I guess we wouldn't have it any other way. I would encourage everyone, if you haven't already, to find a way to get involved. It's fun! It's rewarding! It's appreciated!

Happy Holidays, Glenn

Team News and Updates
8th Graders are working hard on many different fronts. In small groups, they are editing the rough drafts of their teammates' historical investigations in the Working in America project. Collaboration with Joe and Sara's team continues, with most students shooting footage to be used in their advertisement videos. And, they are also making their independent choices for literature circles which will begin again the following project cycle.

Team 6 will begin a Journeys Project with Joe and Sara starting on Monday. This will be the first time that Teams 5 and 6 will "switch" teachers during the Project Block.
During the non - project time of the day, Team 6 will be working on writing their autobiographies. In addition, we have begun our second round of Literature Circles. We are reading 21 Balloons, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Finally, our team will be working on a mini-project which explores the scientific method and basic scientific principles.
Joe and Donna feel there will be some wonderful "tie-ins" between the Autobiography & Principles of Science mini-projects and Joe's Journeys Project. Feel free to contact either of us if you would like to hear more about the projects or have any other questions.
Thank you to all of you who made donations to our classroom and school library. We appreciate your thoughtfulness.

First and foremost, we offer thanks to the friends of Team 5 who graciously donated Book Fair publications to enrich our library. Team 5 has been bringing its first project to a close with research and videos (i-movies) of the authentic 1800's tools (corn planter, carpet beater, spud, and many more) which the youngsters researched in September. This inventive project conclusion was made possible through the ingenuity of Mark and Denise and the enthusiasm of the eighth graders!
As a follow-up to their miniature raft construction in November, Team 5 used Biltmore sticks to estimate board feet available in a majestic evergreen growing nearby. We also took time to tackle a map challenge, searching for sources of raw materials used in the production of a famous PA candy bar. We watched the emergence of some interest-driven independent projects, and, for something novel, recorded observations and hunches inspired by a collection of antique postcards.
We look forward to a morning project switch with Team 6 beginning next week. As Donna and Jalynn focus on inventions, Joe and Sara will invite Team 6'ers to explore JOURNEYS through the design of personal time-lines, interviews of oldsters, and creative use of postcards and "track maps" of American history. Team 5 extends wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season!

Team 4 has begun a project on World History and World Culture. We will be looking at these issues through the lens of the current events going on in the world as a result of Sept. 11. We plan to create a multi media show titled Sept. 11: Up to and Beyond. We are pleased to announce the Production Team for this show: Director Afeique S., Producer Vanessa N., and Production Manager Walker Y. Thank you to all the students who volunteered for these jobs. Nearly everyone in the class was interested in being part of the Production Team, and we will need everyone's contributions to make this happen.
Currently, students are researching five areas to learn more facts about the situation. We are studying Afghanistan, the Middle East, terrorism, Osama bin Laden, and Islam. We are anxious to include as many perspectives as possible and learn from as many people as we can. If you or someone you know is available to come join us for conversation or a presentation, please contact Theresa or Andy.
We completed the first round of Independent Projects. Students seem eager to continue on with the second round. We have suggested that students choose something related to our morning studies to go deeper into world history and culture, as it is such a broad knowlecule. Students still have the option of doing an unrelated project; proposals are due next Wednesday. It's nice to be working with Team 4 all day. I hope you're hearing many reports at home!

Team 3 has begun a new project on historical movements. Some of the topics students have chosen to focus on are the Civil Rights Movement, The History of Children's Rights, How War Has Changed, and the Women's Rights Movement. We have also come to the end of our first round of independent projects. Students chose diverse range of subjects such as magic, house building, astrology, writing, and tornadoes. We will begin a new independent project next week. Have a wonderful holiday!

December Parent and Board Meetings - Thursday, Dec. 13, 7:00/8:00
This month, the plan for the parent meeting is to break up into smaller groups and have Team or Pod parent meetings. This will be an opportunity for teachers to share with their group of parents what's going on in their individual teams.

Scholastic Book Fair
It is quite obvious that books and reading are important to the families of CLC. Our final total was $1850 in sales, giving our school $925 in free books! Amazing!! A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the families who purchased books for their children, as holiday gifts, and for our classrooms and library. The response to the teacher and library wish lists was incredible - we are all so excited to have such fantastic resources for the school. And finally, a special thanks to those who helped staff the sale. Your willingness to give time from your busy schedules to support this effort is greatly appreciated - even more proof that volunteers and parent involvement play a crucial role in the success of our school.
Thank You, Diane L. (Hannah - Team 5, Adam - Team 8)

Spaghetti Dinner
A big "thank you" goes out to everyone who attended, helped at or donated items for the Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction. Congratulations to the eighth graders on a successful fundraiser. Expenses still need to be tallied, but it appears the students cleared well over $1,000. Fantastic!

A Book for Every Child
A reminder that we have a box in our foyer for book donations to this charity. The collection of new books for needy children in Centre County will continue through Fri., 12/14.

New Schedule for Specials
We have made a few changes in our "Specials" schedule starting this past week. Art will now take place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:30-2:00. P.E. and Language will run simultaneously from 12:30-1:30 and 1:30-2:30 on those days. Students who have Art on Tuesdays, will have PE and Language on Thursdays. Students who have Art on Thursdays, will have PE and Language on Tuesdays. In the 2:00-2:30 time slot after Art classes, students will participate in "community building" activities.
By the way, the FLEX language classes are studying the language (Farsi) and culture of Iran for the next six weeks.

Parent Board Elections
To date, Margaret H. has not received any nominations of parents for the position of parent representative on the CLC Board. We are extending the nomination period through December to January 11th. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Glenn. Once you have your nomination ready, send it to either Margaret H. (mhopkins@centredaily.com) or MJ here at school. Just a few words to let us know you are interested will do!

New CLC Students and Families
We have added 5 new students over the past month. With 125 students, we are currently at full enrollment! Eric R. from Penns Valley and Margery S., from Mt. Nittany Middle School have joined Team 6. Robert D., also from Mt. Nittany Middle School, is now in Team 4. And twins Beth and Andrea H., from Wisconsin, have been added to Team 3. We are really excited to have all of these students and their families in our community. Welcome everyone!

Recognizing the CLC Staff Appreciation Lunch "chefs"!
Thanks to the following parents who have provided fabulous food for the CLC Staff Appreciation Lunch in December: Iyun O.(Ebinose-Team 6, Osaze- Team 3), Kim B.(Salina -Team 3), Ingrid C. (Laura -Team 3), Karen B. (Lacey -Team 8), Ashear B. (Katie - team 8), Paula B.(Ryan -Team 3). Also, thanks to Kosta D. (Vittoria -Team 6) and Crystal F. (Chris - Team 8) for volunteering their time to help cover the classrooms during the meal. We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness.
If you want to volunteer to contribute a dish or to help cover the classrooms during the lunch, please call Annie L. (237-3672 or ajl@kirkof.meche.psu.edu) or Liz K. (231-4095 or exk13@psu.edu). Bon Appetit!

Calendar

Dec. 13	Parent Meeting 7:00 and Board Meeting 8:00
Dec. 24-Jan. 1	Winter Break. No School