NO SCHOOL THURSDAY AND FRIDAY – A reminder that children do not attend school anywhere in the District on these two days coming. We’ll see you Monday! To make sure you are prepared for another important date: on Friday, December 2nd, for Maplewood and other Trimester schools only, there will be NO SCHOOL as well. All the other schools in the Wilson Cluster will be open, but not Maplewood. We, like about one third of the schools in the District, are on a Trimester system, not a quarterly system.
PICTURE RE-TAKE ON MONDAY, NOV. 14TH – Our Picture re-takes will happen from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. that day. So if your child was absent on Picture Day, or needs portrait retaken, or just wants to order an additional package, please have them pick up a flyer at school for more information. The original package must be returned for a retake.
BUYING LUNCHES – The District Nutrition Services office wrote all schools, saying: “Since September, all elementary students have been receiving complete meals even if they do not have money on their account or an approved meal application. As of November 4th, the amount owed by families is over $12,500 so Nutrition Services will be mailing letters home to 385 students owing more than $10.00. This letter will provide families with 10 days notice that their child will be served a partial meal if the account is not paid.”
Maplewood always makes sure that no student goes without a lunch, but we really encourage you to keep current with the lunch fees. The School Lunch Calendar/Menu has "tips for keeping track of your child's meal account" which reminds families to pay for meals in advance. Sending $35.00 pays for 20 lunches or $8.00 pays for 20 lunches if students are eligible for reduced price meals.
CAMPAIGN UPDATE – The most recent Update from our Annual Campaign is that we have had donations/pledges from 43 of our families totaling $10,255, and need $29,745 to reach our goal. Their tip of the week: “Ask your employer to match your contribution.” Last year we received a great deal of funding this way!
GOOD NEWS FOR MR. KAPLAN! – Mr. Kaplan, one of our 5th grade teachers, is celebrating the birth of twins in his family! His wife, Penny, gave birth to twin boys on Nov. 2nd. The boys are doing fine, and they will all hopefully be back joining their daughter very soon!
EMAIL AND MESSAGES – As a reminder to you on best ways to use email, please know that any timely or important messages need to be given to us by phone or note; at times, people have sent emails, thinking they would be read immediately. But the reality is that emails are not constantly monitored, and there are times when the computer or the email provider for PPS might be “down”. So to be safe, make sure you get the message to us some other way. Also, please know that the afternoon can be very hectic, with last minute changes in plans for students, so please try to make the transportation or evening plans for the students made ahead of time.
FOX CHANNEL 12 – Good Day Oregon filmed some of our students (Mrs. Schaeffer’s class, and the 4th and 5th grade choir) wishing people a “Good Day!” recently. They notified me that “On Wednesday, November 16th and Wednesday, November 30th, the children will appear along with the rest of his/her class on one of the two days in a recorded “Good Day Oregon” spot on our four hour news morning program, 5-9 a.m.! The first class that was video-taped th day our photographer was there (Mrs. Schaeffer’s class) will be featured on the first date (Nov. 16), and the second class (choir?) will be featured on the second date (Nov. 30th).The spots will air at 6:14 a.m. and 7:52 a.m., so we hope that you can tune in, or perhaps record the spots for viewing later. You can set your VCR’s!
CONFERENCES COMING SOON – The only time that students will be attending school during the whole Conference week (Nov. 21 – 25th) is on Monday morning, Nov. 21st. We will provide lunches for students that day, unless you want them to wait and eat lunch when they get home or to daycare.
TEACHERS ACTIVE DURING NIKE PE2GO TRAINING LAST WEEK – Almost all of our teachers have now had at least one full day of PE training provided by our Nike PE2Go grant. They were active, and excited, about looking at new ways to keep our kids happy and active in their physical development. They reported that the days of training have been very valuable!
SITE COUNCIL FORMED! – Our Site Council announces that two parents were nominated for the two openings on our Site Council; David Garnand and Simone Frank are joining parent Matt Pigg on this council (which meets monthly with John and staff Sharon Gray, Renay Schaeffer, Karen Scherlie, Amanda Smith, and Donna Cynkar).
WEEDING PARTY – The Maplewood Garden Committee is having a weeding party on Thursday, November 17 from 12-2 pm. We will be weeding around the classroom boxes, Wildwood and the berm. Come for all or some of the time, but please come! Rain or shine, and bring your favorite weeding tool.
INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION – The season is upon us: It's time to gear up for storms that could disrupt school schedules, bus schedules, etc. In the event of hazardous weather or other emergencies, many radio and television stations carry school closure and schedule change information. If you have access to a computer, it will also be available through the PPS website and Portland Info Net: http://pdxinfo.net/ This website is the one used by the media, and is updated very frequently. I encourage you to bookmark this webpage!
LETTER TO US FROM A NEIGHBOR –
Hi John,
I know there are a lot more parents driving their kids to school this year. I think that everyone may need a reminder to drive slowly and carefully and Courteously down all the neighborhood streets, not just the one in front of the school. I have had a few problems just trying to get out of my own driveway. I have started backing in, so I can pull out in the morning. I was also challenged to a game of chicken when all I was trying to do was make sure that the children walking on my side of the road had plenty of room, it was obvious that there was only room for one car to pass at a time. I also asked a parent before they parked in front of my house if they could pull into the spot next door as I was trying to do a car shuffle, I was told that it is a city street and they can park where ever they @@##% feel like... Must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. I just parked in my neighbor’s driveway and did my thing. Needless to say, that parent still parks on my street, but won't look at me.
I am pleased to see more and more people walking in the morning and I enjoy getting to chat with the families. I am both a pedestrian, and a driver, and take driving through the neighborhood at a reasonably slow speed very seriously. Could you perhaps put something in the newsletter, just mentioning how important it is for parents to model courteous behavior and to keep their speed down? – A Neighbor
I appreciated this message from a neighbor (who volunteers at our school even though she does not have children here), as I really want to help make sure that we keep kids safe, and that we model for our children some of the Lifeskills we are teaching here this year (which include Cooperation, Patience, and Responsibility). I stand outside every morning, and know that there are many parents who patiently wait, follow traffic rules, etc. and appreciate it!
Best Regards, John
A Letter from our Character Education Specialist:
Dear Maplewood Families,
Our next Lifeskill is one that is constantly in demand both inside and outside of family life. We will focus on being accountable for words, actions, and deeds. We’ll examine which skills develop a greater sense of
Responsibility
Every day, in many ways, we expect children to be responsible for chores, schoolwork, manners, and attitudes. Responsibility is a true Lifeskill, one that strengthens family relationships, reinforces employment capabilities, and empowers friendships. Some of the classroom experiences that encourage accountability include:
- Learning to take charge of their own learning projects, e.g., gathering needed materials, seeking resources, raising relevant questions
- Making good choices about use of time
- Taking leadership roles
- Returning library books by the due date
- Speaking up when others have been treated unfairly or received a put-down
- Acknowledging one’s actions and words
Some examples of a child using the Lifeskill of Responsibility at home include:
- Waking and getting up when the alarm clock rings
- Choosing clothes suitable for the occasion and dressing with little or no assistance
- Packing his/her own book bag
- Arriving at school on time
- Doing chores in a timely fashion
- Learning to manage money
Sometimes children’s attempts to be responsible fail, but that doesn’t mean that we should give up. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
Sincerely,
Jenny Pitts, Character Education Specialist
Some Upcoming Events:
Nov 11 - Veterans’ Day – NO SCHOOL
Nov 14 - Picture Re-take Day @ 8:00 a.m.
Nov 17 - PTA Meeting
Nov 18 - Author for 4th/5th Grades – Heather Frederick
Nov 21 - ½ Day – Students dismissed at 11:15 a.m.
Nov 21 - ½ Day PM – Parent Teacher Conferences
Nov 22 - Parent Teacher Conferences – NO SCHOOL
Nov 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences – NO SCHOOL
Nov 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday – NO SCHOOL
