CAPISTRANO UNIFIED RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR
INTERNET SAFETY PROGRAMS

The Capistrano Unified School District was ranked amongst the top 100 safest districts in the nation for student use of the Internet, according to the Educational Safe Search Index, administered by Thinkronize Inc. CUSD attributes this distinction to its implementation of the netTrekker educational search tool, and dedication to train staff members, parents and students in Internet safety including academic integrity, age appropriateness, and overall safe use of technology.

In its second year of the implementation, CUSD ranks 39th, with only 5 California school districts recognized in the overall index. The netTrekker search tool has enabled the district to transform digital content into safe, valuable, custom designed resources for teachers and students. “Teachers are now using technology as a means to an end. It’s become a valuable resource to differentiate instruction, hold student attention, and bring meaningful learning into the classroom,” said Dr. Susan Holliday, Director of Educational Technology for the Capistrano Unified School District.

Students, in preparation for today’s society, need to be 21st century literate. They need to be able to find information, validate it, synthesize it, leverage it, communicate it, collaborate and problem solve with it; netTrekker provides the opportunity to practice these skills. Teachers have connected their students to opportunities that fundamentally shifted their academic experience through the use of netTrekker; not only are students better prepared for college but for life. “We are honored to have achieved this status,” notes Holliday. “With technology funding in California ranking 49th out of all 50 states, this is quite an accomplishment.”

Marian Bergeson Elementary School

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(949) 643-1540

24 Hour Call-In Sick Line: (949) 643-9938

Bergeson Bulldog BARK

Friday’s Weekly Newsletter

December 12, 2008

We would like to welcome our first-time BARK subscribers!

We have added the email addresses that you gave us at the beginning of school to import another 250 friends and families to our Bergeson List-serve, the BARK. This newsletter is just one way that we can communicate and keep everyone informed about what’s going on at school.

We have such a great school community with amazing children, parents, teachers and staff who all help to support and build-up our young people. You are an important part of this community and we appreciate that you have given your time, talent and resources to help our Bergeson community grow and prosper for the benefit of our children.

Report Cards

Report cards were sent home with students yesterday. Remember that we are always looking for continuous growth and there is no perfect student. As long as we grow throughout the year and learn more today than we knew yesterday to keep building knowledge, we’re going places!

Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade

The Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade will be held TOMORROW, Saturday, December 13 starting at 10 AM. This year will be a little different than in years past. Bill Locke has donated a flat-bed truck and our 5th grade band will be riding on the truck and performing Jingle Bells. ANY other Bergeson students are encouraged to join with us by walking along side the truck and ringing Jingle Bells to accompany the 5th graders. Mrs. Awna Knowles will organize the students who would like to make jingle bells after school on Friday. You are even welcome to join us on Saturday morning as long as you bring your permission slip with you. Bergeson is number #74 in the parade which is somewhere close to the middle of the parade. The band students will meet AT school to carpool over to the parade and all other students will meet near the corner of Crown Valley and St. Timothy’s church (west of Moulton). 5th grade band students meet at Bergeson at 8:30 AM; if you’d like to help us decorate the truck, meet at Bergeson at 8:00 AM. ALL of the other Bergeson students meet at the parade. Please join us and show our Bergeson Bulldog spirit!

Laguna Niguel/Aliso Viejo Area Choral Concert

Our 5th grade choir will perform in the Laguna Niguel/Aliso Viejo Area Choral Concert at Aliso Niguel High School on Monday, December 15 at 7 PM in the gym. All 5th grade choir students are asked to be there by 6:30 PM for this performance. All guests are welcome to come and enjoy this performance of over 500 singers from the elementary, middle and high schools in the Laguna Niguel/Aliso Viejo area!

Imagination Machine

Thank you to our Bergeson PTA for sponsoring the Imagination Machine assembly at school which was held last Monday. Students wrote stories which were dramatized by actors on the stage for this program. This helps students to see their stories come to life.

Congratulations to these students who had their stories selected by the Imagination Machine.

Sarah Adams, Mrs. Wiseman’s class

Lily McCann, Mrs. Werner’s class

Noah Greco, Mr. Paine’s class

Ryan Brady, Mrs. Wendy Thomas’ class

Katie Lambert, Mrs. Meckel’s class

Nicole Pappas, Mrs. Duff’s class

James Zagorski, Mrs. Bell’s class

Parker Romo, Mrs. Forney and Mrs. Koopman’s class

Suzette Quinlan, Mrs. Buchner’s class

Gianna Cara, Mrs. Terheggen’s class

Roxanna Ardjmand, Mrs. Jones class

Thank you to Barnes and Noble and to our 5th grade choir for performing last Saturday. Your purchases helped our school to raise a few hundred dollars and we appreciate it!

Geography Bee

Mrs. Wendy Thomas will be leading our 4th and 5th grade students in the Geography Bee over the next two weeks with the help of parents, Mrs. Lombardo and Mrs. Bowen. The Geo Bee is a contest in which students from each class are asked Geography questions and a winner from each class is determined by the most questions correct. (The questions are difficult!) After the holidays, we’ll have the final competition where the class winners compete and we name the Bergeson Geography Bee winner. Study hard!

Adopt-A-Family

Every day we read about people all over the world that are in need and less fortunate than we are. Nobody is immune from the current economic crisis. Please realize that there are families right here in our Bergeson community that are also struggling. As you know, in years past, Bergeson has adopted families from Camp Pendleton during the holiday season. This year, we are taking another approach and adopting families right here at Bergeson Elementary School.

If you would like to support one of our less fortunate families this holiday season, we are requesting GIFT CARD DONATIONS (Ralphs, Vons, Target, Wal-Mart, etc). Please write the amount of donation on each gift card.

If you feel your family could benefit from the Adopt-A-Family program this year, please contact Barbara Scholl at bscholl@capousd.org or 949-643-1540. Your families request will be strictly confidential. Thank you for your support to the Adopt-A-Family program for our Bergeson families this holiday season. Joan Sprick, joansprick@cox.net, 949-235-0025

School Pictures were delivered this week. (check the backpack J)

BERGESON HOLIDAY GIFT CARDS

These gift cards are being sold by the Bergeson Foundation to raise funds for our school. Someone will be at school for the next few days selling the gift certificates at the beginning of the school day.

December Birthdays!

Gail Miller – December 13

Harmony Thomas, Holy Wiseman – December 24

Diane Herzbrun, Cathy Evans (nurse) – December 25

PUMPKIN PIE COUPON IS STILL GOOD: Not all the Cold Stone Pumpkin Pie coupons we sold before Thanksgiving have been “cashed in”. Although it says the coupon expired on 11/30, our Cold Stone Ice Cream Store will honor it through the end of December. I’ve had comments from a few parents who said the pies were GREAT! Thanks for supporting BESF.

The Marian Bergeson Elementary School staff and I look forward to working with you toward continuous academic and social growth of our amazing young people!

Barbara Scholl

Principal, Marian Bergeson Elementary School

25302 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel CA 92677

bscholl@capousd.org

949.643.1540

Celebration Book Club: Looking for a way to recognize your child’s birthday or other special event? Bergeson PTA Book Club is a great way to celebrate your student’s accomplishment while giving to the Bergeson library as well! Your child gets to choose a book from pre-selected “library bound” books. A personalized book label will be filled out with your child’s name and placed inside the front cover. The book is presented to your child at a Friday morning assembly after which they get to enjoy the book for a week. The book then goes into the library shelves to be benefit children for years to come! What a great way to celebrate your child and literacy at the same time! Forms may be picked up at the front office.

Golf Tournament

Save the date! Monday, March 9, 2009 at 9 AM at the El Niguel Country Club is our Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by the Bergeson Elementary School Foundation. Tori DeGroot is chairing the event which made $30,000 last year to support our school!

Ralph’s – Free Money for our School, Bergeson Elementary School Foundation Fundraiser

Register your Ralph’s card online at http://www.ralphs.com/ccprogram.htm and enter the NPO Number 83476 and our school will receive a percentage of the sales every time you shop. It’s easy and it’s free.

Bergeson Elementary School Foundation Fundraiser

ON-LINE SHOPPING AND SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL TOO: You and friends can shop on-line at over 500 stores and a portion of your purchases will be rebated to our Bergeson Elementary School Foundation. Visit http://www.goodshop.com and type in BESF in the box asking, “WHO DO YOU GOODSHOP FOR?”

YOUR NETTREKKER SUBSCRIPTION CONTINUES: Nettrekker is a wonderful resource for students of all ages; elementary, middle school and high school, and for their parents as well. This is a website which is similar to google.com but is screened to make sure that the content is kid-safe and educationally appropriate.

http://school.nettrekker.com/frontdoor/

username : capobergeson

password: bergeson

COMMENTS: bscholl@capousd.org

INTERNET LINKS:

MARIAN BERGESON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: http://bgnes.capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/

SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS: http://www.capousd.org/campus/

2008 – 09 SCHOOL CALENDAR: http://www.capousd.org/bgnes/08-09_calendar.htm

BERGESON PTA: http://www.bergesonpta.org

BERGESON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOUNDATION: http://www.friendsofbergie.org

YOUR ELECTED FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS: http://www.capousd.org/fiscal/LegislativeList2007.pdf

UPCOMING EVENTS:

December

5 End of the First Trimester

6 Barnes and Noble Read & Perform Day Fundraiser

11 Foundation meeting, Library, 6PM

11 Report Cards go home

13 Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade

15 5th Grade Choir sings at the Area Concert at Aliso Niguel High School

19 Coffee with the Principal

22 -JAN 2 NO SCHOOL / Winter Recess

CUSD SCHOOLS MAKE CALIFORNIA HONOR ROLL

After reviewing student achievement data for every public school in California, the following schools stood above the rest in getting students to grade level proficiency, earning the distinction of a California Honor Roll School for 2008:

Aliso Niguel High, Arroyo Vista Elementary, Bathgate Elementary, Chaparral Elementary, George White Elementary, Ladera Ranch Elementary, Laguna Niguel Elementary, Las Flores Middle, John Malcolm Elementary, Moulton Elementary, Tesoro High, Tijeras Creek Elementary, and Vista del Mar Elementary.

Honor Roll schools, sponsored by California Business for Education Excellence and Just for the Kids organizations, will be highlighted across the state, sharing success stories and best practices to provide hope and direction for public schools to reach grade level proficiency in reading and math. “These are the schools that hold the keys to raising student achievement and closing achievement gaps,” notes Greg Jones, Chairman of the California Business for Education Excellence Foundation.

At CUSD Honor Roll schools, high achievement is a standard across all ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and all subject areas. “The tremendous accomplishments of these schools continue to make CUSD the number one large school district in the state of California,” notes Superintendent A. Woodrow Carter. “We look forward to continuing to focus on our primary mission; to maintain and advance student learning at every school. I am proud of the success of our hard-working staff and students.”