Though some students did not take the placement exam. The eighth graders who did not take the test are planning to go to a public high school.

Some of the high schools they are going to are Bishop O’ Dowd, Holy Names, and St. Mary’s. Those high schools are the most popular with our eighth grade students at St. Leo the Great.

These are the schools that the class chose:

• St. Mary’s College High School: 45%
• Holy Names: 20%
• Bishop O’Dowd: 15%
• St. Joseph Notre Dame: 5%
• De La Salle: 5%
• Oakland Technical High School : 5%
• Berkeley High: 5%

(20 students total in 8th grade)
 
The reason why most people are planning to go to St. Mary’s College High School is because they think that it’s a really good school.

Harold Terrell says he wants to go to St. Mary’s because many of his friends and family go there. Simon Tesfaiohannes thinks that the academic resources and the athletics are “top notch.”

“The reason why I want to go to St. Mary’s is because it is a diverse school. My uncle and cousin went there and they tell me it’s a perfect school for me,” says Lauryn Randolph.

The eighth grade students are very excited to go to high school. Though they still have the rest of their eighth grade year to finish first.

by Hiwot D., 5th Grade
Editorial Assistant / THE LION LEDGER

The quake that struck Haiti wiped out more than half of its population. Like St. Leo’s, La Promesse is a church school. The children that were lost in the rubble were estimated to be about 100. That is half of the student body at St. Leo the Great.

The student council brainstormed ideas and the first they came up with is planning many $5 “Jeans Days” where students don’t have to wear their uniform to school if they make a donation. The first one will be on Wednesday, January 27th.

They are sending home a letter to families explaining that, “The money will go to the American Red Cross organization and other organizations that will make sure people receive the monetary donations.”

You don’t have to wait for a school fundraiser or be an adult to help the Haitian people. There are many ways kids can make an impact too! By having a simple fundraiser of your own, like a lemonade stand, you can make a huge change in a Haitian child’s life. You can also donate things other than money, like clothes and shoes. Bring old clothes to an organization like the Red Cross or, you could donate shoes that you may not use much anymore. Though this may seem like something small, it can really impact a child’s life.

If you go to Soles4Souls.org, you’ll find that donating your old shoes will mean the world to a kid who has no shoes right now. This will protect their feet from any sharp objects that may be on the ground from the earthquake.

So please take initiative and help the children in Haiti who have been affected by this devastating earthquake.

by Simone B., 8th Grade
Managing Editor / THE LION LEDGER

MCT is a joint venture of McClatchy and the Tribune Co.

The students in the choir, along with music teacher Mrs. Janice Reid, performed a variety of songs from traditional classics to modern hits, and of course, gospel tunes.

Shirley Ma, director of the center, said that they make a reservation with the choir every year and do it early to ensure their availability.

This is the sixth year that the group has been invited to perform at the center’s Christmas celebration. So, how did the school’s choir get the job?

Marie Martinez, activities coordinator for the center, told us that her grandson goes to church at St. Leo’s and heard about the choir and how great they were.

The Christmas caroling at the Alameda Care Center is just one of many places St. Leo’s choir goes to visit. According to Mrs. Reid, this is part of the choir’s music outreach program.

Later this year, they will make a stopover at Piedmont Gardens and Monarch Place, two senior centers in Oakland.

“They’re a real good example to the community,” Martinez said during the interview. After the choir’s performance, she told the center’s residents, “They get better and better every year!”

From Staff Reports
News Team / THE LION LEDGER

Last week was the beginning of the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.  Students from Pre-Kindergarten to Eight Grades have brought in a range of different non-perishable foods to donate to people in need.

Students and their families also contributed through monetary donation.

On November 18, there will be a “Faith-Family” activity where students from each grade will decorate a box to hold the food donations.  The food will then be delivered to the family in need by members of the student council accompanied by principal Mrs. Simril.

The food is distributed to many schools in the area, such as Prescott school and the East Bay Youth Center in East Oakland.

Tiara Chinn, a 6th grade student who has accompanied Mrs. Simril twice already said, “Helping the kids in need made me proud to be part of St. Leo the Great.  We have about the same amount of food we had last year, which is quite a lot.”

The participation from all the families has been amazing, and the food donations will help a lot of families have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.

by E.R., 8th grade
Contributor / THE LION LEDGER

Some schools in the Oakland Diocese had Monday off, while others took the day off on the actual day itself. But no matter what day was chosen, the important thing to remember is it is a holiday in honor of those who served our country.

Veterans of past wars both living and who have passed away, and also in honor of people currently serving in the military.

(Last school year, back in April, the Class of 2009 took a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. to learn more about our nation’s history. One of their stops was the Marine Corps War Memorial where an 8th grader took the photo above).

from Staff Reports
News Team / THE LION LEDGER

Every student had a part in the play, whether it was acting as a main character or an extra in the background, or a crew member such as narrator or set design. Spanish teacher Ms. Antonia Hicks also included the second and third grade classes in the production by having them sing “De Colores.”

**NOTE: See “Videos & Multimedia” section for a short video clip from the play.

from Staff Reports
News Team / THE LION LEDGER

On Monday it was “Career Day” where students dressed up as what they want to be when they grow up.

Tuesday was Open House where parents came to see if they would like to send their kids to this school.

Wednesday was “Theme Day.” Pre-K to 4th grade students had to dress up in Disney costumes, and 5th to 8th dressed up in 70’s and 80’s style clothing.

On Thursday it was “Pajama Day” and also “Student Appreciation Day.”

On Friday it was “Teacher Appreciation Day” and the teachers and staff had a catered lunch. A couple of 8th graders helped serve the food.

It was also a spirit day for the students and there was a rally in the afternoon.

All the students and staff wore the school’s colors of blue and gold. The student council led the classes in shouting matches and after, everyone watched the cheerleaders perform some cheers.

by Sarahnee Tip, 5th grade
Writer / CONTRIBUTOR

The students went for the “Feel the Beat” concert. It was for their music classes to hear the percussion instruments in all their shining glory. With the help of the strings and other instruments, the orchestra performed several songs.

St. Leo’s students sat in the front row, very close to the instruments. There were at least 200 other students there, eager to hear the music of the Oakland Symphony, conducted by maestro Michael Morgan, a neighbor of our school.

The students were taken to the symphony by their parents driving them there. They got back to the school by taking a bus and then walking back. It was a wonderful field trip and learning experience for the fifth and sixth grades.

by Naomi Ashford, 6th grade
Staff Reporter / THE LION LEDGER

25 things that you can do over the Christmas break are: go skiing at Lake Tahoe, go to Reno and play different types of games, go to your friend’s house and play hide and go seek, play card games like speed, play board games like “Life,” paint a picture of your family, watch TV, like “Hannah Montana,” go to your best friend’s birthday party, take pictures at the birthday party, go to a hotel and have a sleepover, paint your nails red, you can knit a scarf for your grandmother, talk on the phone with your friend about school, play games on the computer like clubpenguin.com, braid your friends hair, do puzzles about animals, go to Six Flags with your family, go to Great America with your friends, practice your spelling at home, read the Bible by yourself, go to church with your family, spend special time with your family, and last read a good book.

If you don’t have anything to do just think of something to do. How about read all the stories here on The Lion Ledger? There you go! Merry Christmas.

by: Uriah Howard, 5th grade
Staff Writer / THE LION LEDGER

For Thanksgiving we get together at my Aunt Saba’s house. For the meal we eat a turkey, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, cornbread, and more. My aunt Saba makes all of the food. Sometimes my mom Helen helps.

My favorite is the mac and cheese because my aunt makes it real well.

We play games, watch movies, and tell stories. Sometimes we even go outside and play at the park. My family loves to play basketball, and I do too. We also play video games. Maybe this year we will play the Nintendo Wii.

I am thankful for my family because they are nice to me and I love them.

by Faven Amaha, 5th grade
Staff Writer / THE LION LEDGER