CENTER LINE

-Scott Loehr

‘Tis the season for giving from the heart. Even the smallest gesture of kindness and compassion for others can make a difference. I am proud of the tradition of giving that starts at our elementary schools and continues through high school. These efforts to make the holidays a little brighter for those in need, teach compassion while giving students the chance to experience the satisfaction of giving to others while expecting nothing in return.

Each year Center High School Student Government and Student Leadership classes balance three charitable activities during November and December; Canned Food Drive, Dear Santa and Operation Santa. The Annual Canned Food Drive brings in over 2,000 non-perishable food items each year. These donations are delivered to the families of CHS students who are in need. Through Dear Santa, student government and leadership students provide Christmas for families in need, including food and gifts. Through Operation Santa, Leadership and Student Government spend the afternoon with selected elementary students. Together they make crafts and the children leave with a wrapped gift.

McClellan High School maintains a food bank on site that will support the needs of MHS families throughout the year. Staff and students contribute to this food bank to support our families in need. Families can call our main office for access to the food bank. During the holiday season, the MHS Staff partners with the Antelope Lions Club to provide Thanksgiving meals for our families. Through the generosity of former MHS employee Roger Calhoun, the current MHS staff, and the Antelope Lions Club, Thanksgiving dinners were provided for 14 McClellan families this year. In December, MHS staff will partner again with the Antelope Lions to provide a special gift to two MHS students. Each of the selected students will receive a gift card from Walmart, generously donated by the Antelope Lions Club. The MHS staff will contribute toward gift cards for other MHS families at this time, also.

The staff at Wilson Riles will be spreading holiday cheer again this year. Utilizing the generous staff and community donations made year round to the Riles Food Closet, Riles provided Thanksgiving meals to 5 families and will provide Christmas meals as well. The Riles Food Closet serves families throughout the Center District. It is open year round for donations and to fill the needs of families in the Center community.

Dudley Elementary will show our spirit during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas by participating in two "Spirit of Giving" opportunities. During the week of November 27 to December 1, Dudley will be collecting canned goods to support the Emergency Food Closet at Wilson C. Riles. During the week of December 4-8, Dudley will be collecting hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and socks to support the WellSpace Health Center and their outreach programs.

Each year students and staff at Oak Hill Elementary and North Country Elementary generously donate canned goods and non-perishable food items to the Kids Can Food Drive, benefitting families throughout the Sacramento area. This effort teaches even our youngest students the value of helping others less fortunate.

December is a busy time for families. Mark your calendar for these special events throughout the district:

Dec. 1st & 2nd Fall Play, Center High

Dec. 2nd PTA Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Oak Hill, 9am-11am

Dec. 6th: Craft & Vendor Fair, Spinelli Elementary, 3-6pm

Dec. 5th Band Concert, Center High, 7pm

Dec. 7th Winter Concert, Wilson Riles, 6:30pm

Dec. 8th Panda Express Fundraiser for Spinelli Elemenary

Dec, 8th & 9th Fall Play, Center High

Dec. 9th Santa Breakfast, North Country Elementary, 8:30-10:30am

Dec 12th: Holiday Social, Spinelli, 3:30-4:30pm

Dec. 14th Drama Production, Wilson Riles, 7:00pm

Dec. 14th: Kindergarten Winter Program, Oak Hill, 5-6pm

Dec. 15th: Kindergarten Performance, North Country Elementary, 10am-11am

Dec. 12th- 15th Final Exams, Center High

Center JUSD schools will be closed December 18th through January 1st. School will resume on Tuesday, January 2nd.

I wish all of the families of Antelope a safe and happy holiday and best wishes for a prosperous new year.

"At Dudley Elementary we are working together as a team to support our students academically, behaviorally, and socially/emotionally. We use our resources and team with families to create a well-rounded learning environment for students and their families. This year, we are proud to be continuing with our PBIS program, as well as to introduce two different restorative practices, Safe School Ambassadors and Restorative Circles. We will also be launching a new partnership with the WellSpace Health Center to bring opportunities to our campus for parents and children. This is another amazing year to be a Dudley Dragon!"

STEVE JACKSON, Principal at Dudley Elementary

Cougar Football made it to the Section Championship game, meeting rival Placer High School for a second time this season. Although the final score was not in their favor, the athletes played their hearts out and the coaching staff was proud of the efforts the players put forth throughout the season.

Cougar Football has made it to playoffs the last 7 seasons, but the last time the program made it to Sections was in 1987.

The KCRA 3 Kids Can Food Drive has been helping to feed hungry families in our community for more than 25 years.
North Country Elementary has participated in the KCRA KIDS CAN food drive for several years. Students help to make Thanksgiving a special occasion in many households with their donations of nonperishable food items. Canned tuna, peanut butter, baby food, cereal and pasta are especially needed, but all contributions are appreciated. Our Student Lighthouse Team is in charge of this community effort. They count flyers, display posters around the school, build boxes to collect food items and deliver them to each class. They promote the competition for each class with the winner being the top collector of cans with the grand prize of being the lucky recipients of a pizza party. This community service project is a worthwhile event to help others in need.

Over 1,500 cans were collected last year with the goal of 2,000 cans this year! The drive ends on November 15th.

http://www.kcra.com/article/kids-can-food-drive-2017/6407158

Dudley Elementary students and families graciously donated 1,618 canned and boxed goods to the Wilson C. Riles Community Food Pantry which serves families in need all year round.
"Once again I am humbled and filled with pride by the out-pouring of love and compassion from the Dudley Dragon families," Steve Jackson, Principal.

On Thursday, November 9th Roseville's Roller King was rocking and rolling with Wilson C. Riles students and their guests. The WC Riles PTA hosted its annual Skate Night where students skated for FREE! Over 300 skaters had a "royal" time at Roller King for two hours of safe, healthy, FUN! A huge THANK YOU to our WCR PTA supporters and Roller King for making this possible!!

Have you seen it? The district website has a fresh, new look and each of the school sites will follow suit. Look at us shine: www.centerusd.org. Are you on social media? CJUSD is too. Use the links below to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Email: superintendent@centerusd.org
Website: www.centerusd.org
Location: 8408 Watt Avenue, Antelope, CA, United States
Phone: (916) 338-6400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerusd
Twitter: @centerusd