I want to make sure your children's lunch needs will be taken care of this Monday. As a reminder, this Monday, Nov. 21st, there will be no a.m. Kindergarten classes; all the rest of the students will be dismissed at 11:15. Students should be arriving home on buses 3 hours earlier than their usual times. So, we’ll see students this Monday morning, and then back again on Monday, Nov. 28th.
Happy Thanksgiving
This is my favorite National Holiday. The best part of that holiday for me is the simple one of giving thanks for all the “riches” I receive each day. Seeing students and their families come to school each morning starts my days happily. I am thankful for a professional, energetic, hard-working staff; as I walk down the hall and go into the rooms, I see excited, happy children learning because of them. I thank all the parents who are generous with their time here at school and in other places, and who love of children. The children themselves give us all the gift (and good example) of their open, magical way of looking at the world. There are always too many people to thank individually, so I want to tell you all that I feel truly blessed to be here, and want to wish you a wonderful holiday.
A LETTER FROM OUR CARNIVAL COORDINATOR:
Dear Maplewood Community, I want to THANK YOU for your support of Carnival ’05. It was once again both successful and fun, and it couldn’t have been done without your help. We grossed $4438.85 and will net around $3000. That’s AWESOME!Thank you for your:
· Candy donations – plenty to even contribute to class Halloween parties
· Stuffed Animal donations – great prizes. Save again for next year!
· Raffle donations – Grand Prize printer donated by Jim Battan
· Canopy donations – many parents
· Prize Chair – Janet Metz and her committee
· Food Chair – Tom Sikora and his committee
· Signage Chair – Cindy Collins-Taylor and her committee (Teri Carlson)
· Treasurer – Amy McClusky
· Many supportive parents that participated in preparation Thursday/Friday
· 5th Grade parent helpers – you know who you are – what will I do next year without you?
· Teachers & Staff for their devotion and time
· Alumni students – please thank them for me!
Also thank you to:
· New Seasons for the hot dog donation
· Lamb’s Thriftway for baking 100 cakes
· Purato’s Bakery Supply for supplying enough ingredients and boxes to make 100 cakes
· Western Pet Supply for a great deal on 100 goldfish
· And NW Natural for lending us their canopies
Special thanks to:
· Smith School for gifting us their JAIL – a big hit by all!
It’s always a lot of blood, sweat, and cheers! But always worth it.
and to the Maplewood Teachers & Staff,
I want to THANK YOU for your support of Carnival ’05. It was once again both successful and fun, and it couldn’t have been done without your help. We grossed $4,438.85 and will net around $3,000. That’s AWESOME!
Thank you for your:
Time facilitating posters
Time collecting candy and stuffed animals
Time talking about the Carnival
Time listening about the Carnival
Time contributing your energy into the Carnival by working a booth, selling tickets, juggling, and supporting Carnival '05
Time seems to be a common theme here - but always worth it on the student’s faces!
Thank you, Suzanne Smith,Carnival '05 Chair
DO YOU EVER DROP OFF YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOL? - I need to thank all of you who drop them off in the pull-out area safely. I am concerned that there are many attempts to change the traffic pattern. The safest way for our students is for you to come northbound on 52nd, pull out by the backstop, and then continue northbound by turning right. Even if it means driving around the block, it will keep the roadway and drop-off area much safer for the children; trying to make a “u-turn” or cross lanes to get into it often creates a bottle-neck.
(Patience is April’s Lifeskill theme, and the patience shown by drivers is a wonderful example to the kids). Luckily we haven’t had the horn-blowing or road rage shown by drivers in Lake Oswego school area, as mentioned on the news last week!
WISH LIST – There are many items/services we are always needing, but two that come to my mind today are:
- Carpet and Installation for 108 – We have had some donations in the past for carpeting and the installation of the carpet for rooms, especially for younger children who sit on the carpet most often. The first graders in Ms. Hawes room could use a new one, that would total about an 8’x12’ area. Maybe some of you still have contacts in the construction business that could donate this for us? There are specifications on the carpet that must be met; contact Mr. Blanck if you have an idea or source!
- Pruning Help – The narrow area on the outside wall of the south side of the gym has several bamboo plants and pine tree branches that brush up against the building, and that also help box elder bugs find a way into the warmth of the building. Would someone help us out by cutting those back? Contact Mr. Blanck for more specifics!
Upcoming Events:
Nov 21 - ½ Day – Students dismissed at 11:15 a.m.
Nov 21 - NO ½ Day Kindergarten – Parent Teacher Conferences
Nov 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences – NO SCHOOL
Nov 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences – NO SCHOOL
Nov 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday – NO SCHOOL
Nov 25 - Down Day – NO SCHOOL
Nov 29 - Cookie Dough Fundraiser End
Nov 30 - TAG Nomination Deadline
Dec 1 - 1st Trimester Grading Period Ends
Dec 2 - Teacher Planning Day – NO SCHOOL (although the rest of the schools in the Wilson Cluster will be open)
Best Regards, and Happy Thanksgiving, John
