Hello GB Community,

We have many exciting things happening over the final two weeks of school before the Winter Break.  First, our Winter Music Concert is on Tuesday the 11^th at 1:00 pm in the multi-room.  The students and music teachers have worked very hard since August to prepare for such a delightful event and we are already so proud of them.  This is one of those special moments when the support of the LAEF for such things as a music program shines and is much appreciated. 

Thursday the 13^th at 6:00 pm

Second, the Book Fair is here! Please join us for our “10-Year” celebration/birthday theme with Coco & Pajamas and an opportunity to help us organize Project Night Night bags.  As a reward for collecting so many new blankets and stuffed animals for this project, students will be able to wear PJs to school on Friday 21^st! The book fair is one of my favorite events of the year and Laura S and crew along with Mrs. DeRego have once again completely transformed our library into a magical place. 

Friday the 14^th and Friday the 21^st

Third, student leadership has declared this Friday the 14^th a spirit wear day. Students are encouraged to wear fun holiday wear: ugly sweaters, funny hats, crazy socks…and…because our community rocks, we all get to wear our PJs to school on Friday the 21^st. That is TWO spirit wear days in a row!  Oh boy… 

Monday the 17th 

And finally, the annual Holiday Boutique is on Monday the 17^th from 2:00-5:00 pm in the multi-room.  Please stop by and visit all of the wonderful tables and perhaps check off those last few people on your “list.” 

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the students who participated in Peter Pan!  The production was fantastic and GB students were amazing!

Mrs. De Rego's December Book Recommendation: Realistic Fiction

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Mia is a 5^th grader and a recent immigrant from China living in LA with her mom and dad. They are incredibly poor and at one point live out of their car. Her parents end up running a motel for the owner of the motel, a coldhearted miser who doesn't pay them much more than the opportunity to have a roof over their heads. Mia goes to a public school dressed in Goodwill clothes, gets free lunch and is teased. She does okay in math but her English is so bad, her mother tells her she will never speak or write like an American using proper American English. 

Of note, this novel contains some of the author’s personal experiences as a child!  Yang eventually left the motel situation, went to college at the age of 13, graduated from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) and Harvard Law School.  This is an uplifting story with much heartbreak as well.

Our Second Harvest barrels were picked up on Friday.  Thank you to all of the students and families who donated food. 

Stay warm and cozy,

Nadia Oskolkoff, Principal