Principal Notes May 22, 2008

NO SCHOOL MONDAY! – Monday, May 26^th is Memorial Day – have a great 3 day weekend!

TEACHER APPRECIATION – Thanks to all of you who contributed (with kind words, time, treats, notes, flowers, or special thoughtfulness) to the week’s activities. We (staff and families) lead very busy lives when it comes to raising and nurturing children, and taking the time to express appreciation can be so encouraging. The community continues to be such a warm, generous one that all I can humbly offer is my deepest appreciation!

FIELD DAY RE-SCHEDULED??? - Last Tuesdays Field Event was cancelled due to weather, but aside from that, the parent volunteers almost had to cancel anyway due to barely enough volunteers. But they are considering re-scheduling this event to happen on Thursday, May 29^th.
This will happen ONLY IF 2 THINGS HAPPEN:

1) - If weather cooperates that day, and

2) - If they get the volunteers to sign up for it by 1:30 pm on Tuesday, May 27^th.

If these two things don't happen, they won't be able to host this event. I therefore caution us to not make a big deal about this with kids, but keep it in your planning and volunteer, if possible, as mentioned below.

VOLUNTEERING: By 1:30 pm on Tuesday, May 27^th, volunteers will need to email Kimmy at kimmy@easystreet.net and indicate when they can help as scheduled below:

1. We need 16 volunteers from 9-11 and 16 volunteers from 12-until the

games are done and their stations are put away (Probably 2:30ish).

2. We need 5 volunteers to help gather all of the items for the games on Wednesday at 2:15 until complete.

3. We need 4 volunteers to help with set up on Thursday, May 29^th at 8:00 am

4. We need all of these volunteers committed by Tuesday, May 27^th by 1:30 pm

PLEASE EMAIL KIMMY NADEAU AT KIMMY@EASYSTREET.NET .

YEAR END CAFETERIA ACCOUNT BALANCES -

· Any remaining account balances (positive or negative) on students’ meal accounts at the end of the year will be automatically held for students at their current school or transferred to students’ new schools within the district.

· If your student is leaving the district, then you may call Marci Jenkins, Cafeteria Lead at 503-916-5219 to arrange for a refund.

LIBRARY MATERIALS DUE BY MAY 30^TH – Please make sure that all books, magazines, or reference materials from the school library are returned by then. Fees for lost books should also be turned in by then as well. Thank you!

MEDICATION IN THE OFFICE – Medication left at school must be picked up by the parent or it will be destroyed at the end of the school year per district policy. If your child has any unused medication in the office please make arrangements for picking it up before the last day of school.

P.T.A. USED BOOK SALE - We had our best used book sale ever, thanks in part to being able to keep the books out for over a week after the sale. The final total was $886.40!! Thank you so much to all who helped, whether it be sorting, setting-up, cashiering, or clean-up: Kelley Callais, Teri Carlson, Renae Conkle, Cathie Dainton Piacente, Tawnia Emerson, Kris Franca, Melissa Gagliano, Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, Betty Girsch, Sandi Hildreth, Renee Lee, Jelena and Dan Mrdjan, Jolie Russo, Diane Smith, Joan Stein, Joan Wallace, Susan Wickstrom, and Evelyn Wilkins. As always, we were hugely supported by John Blanck, Kathy Shimizu, and Craig Gintz, our custodian, as well as P.T.A. treasurer, Lori Hesse. Finally, Bob and Shirley Gettel, grandparents extraordinaire, I could not do any of this without your constant willingness to look after "the boys." (Phew! I feel like I just won an Oscar.) Thanks! Mike Gettel-Gilmartin

REMEMBER “HILL STREET BLUES” T.V. SERIES? – Just before the Day Sergeant finished their daily meeting and sent out the officers for their duty, his last words were: “And Hey - let’s be careful out there.” I was thinking to myself that I’d like us all to “be careful out there” with ourselves, and with our children, at this stressful time of year.

This year as in all school years, during the last 3 weeks of school, we remember that: parents are stressed getting ready for summer; teachers are stressed trying to balance keeping the children engaged in learning and yet getting ready to say goodbye to their students (and trying to deal with the demands of their Principal and District); and the students themselves – well, that’s a longer story.

The best description for some of the emotions for the students is similar to that seen in teenagers getting ready to leave home: they are excited about going on (to summer, or to another teacher or another school in the fall), and yet they feel partly sad and afraid and also a little guilty. As one psychologist put it, the kids feel guilty that they are excited to move on, but also think: “Why would I be excited to move on from the people who have loved me and cared for me for the past (one, or several) years?” So some teens will actually “act out” and in a sense try to “pick a fight” or find flaws in their parents (teachers) to justify their guilt. I know that this doesn’t apply to all students, but I do believe that it makes sense that kids’ (and adults’) behaviors sometimes are actually more complicated than what shows on the surface.

Because emotions might be running high for people now, and because of the pressures to do so much at this time of year, I just want to advise students and parents and staff to “be patient with yourselves and others”; enjoy these last 11 days of school and appreciate each other; be kind when you see others feeling some stress and know that they might be doing the best they can with what they’ve got; and take care of yourselves and others (or….. “Hey, lets be careful out there”).

Upcoming Events:

May 26 - Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL

May 28 - 5^th Grade to visit Robert Gray Middle School

May 29 - Reading Friends Pizza Party – 11:15 am

May 30 - 2^nd grade Picnic at April Hill Park – 11:30 am

May 30 - Student Council Party – 11:15 am

June 2 - 5^th grade Jet Boats

June 3 - Staff vs 5^th grade Basketball Game – 12:45 pm

June 5 - PTA Meeting - 6:15 pm

June 6 - 4^th grade Play – 1:00 pm

June 9 - Year End All School Assembly – 12:30 pm

June 10 - 5^th grade Talent Show – 10:00 am

June 10 - Last Day of School!