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Principal’s Notes
Dear Families,
I am excited to announce we are hosting our first Math and Literacy Mania Night December 8th from 5:30-7:00! Last spring we had close to 150 people join us for dinner and academic learning games. These games and activities are ones your children are using in school. Our intent is to have families learn more about how we teach and practice math and reading skills, as well as become more aware of what is expected at each grade level. We hope you will be able to join us!
This Friday, December 2nd, we will be traveling to the high school to attend the Aladdin production performed by our district’s middle school students. We will leave school around 11:30 and will return close to 2:00.
We will be hosting a holiday bazaar again this year on December 19th. This was a huge success last year, and children were so excited to have gifts to give their families for the holidays. If you would like to donate items or have any gently used objects around your home that you would like to donate to the bazaar, please send them in to school. Some ideas include: holiday coffee mugs and decorations, costume jewelry and pins, photo frames, stuffed animals, board games, hand lotion, holiday dishtowels, toy trucks, dolls, card games, and tool sets.
On December 21st at 2:15 we will have our annual holiday Sing Along. This will also be our monthly assembly. Mrs. Ellis’ and Mrs. Duquette’s afternoon PreK students will be presenting! Families are very welcome to join us!
Finally, this weekend is our annual craft fair at LER from 9:00-2:00. I hope you can come do some shopping to support our local crafters! This is another way we raise funds for our school, which help pay for classroom materials, enrichment programs, and special events for our school like our mini courses.
This month is very busy and will most certainly fly by! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and can enjoy spending time laughing, celebrating, and making lasting memories with your families and friends.
Yours in the service of children,
Karen Moody
Upcoming Events
December
2nd: End of First Trimester
3rd: Craft Fair & Book Fair at LER, 9:00 -2:00
8th: Winter Mania Night, 5:30 - 7:00
13th: GEPTA meeting at RV, 6:00
15th: (Please note the assembly that had been scheduled for the 15th has been rescheduled to Dec 21st.)
19th: Festival of the Trees
19th: GEPTA Holiday Bazaar
21st: Assembly & Sing-a-long, 2:15
22nd: No school - Holiday break
January
3rd: Welcome Back!
10th: GEPTA Meeting at LER, 6:00
13th: Early Release
16th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - no school
26th: Assembly, 8:45
February
14th: GEPTA meeting at RV, 6:00
16th: Assembly, 2:15
20th - 24th: Winter Break, no school
March
13th: GEPTA meeting at LER, 6:00
15th: End of second trimester
16th: No school - staff workshop day
29th: Assembly, 8:45
April
10th: GEPTA meeting at RV, 6:00
13th: No school - staff workshop day
May
3rd: Spring Concert, 10:00 & 2:00
For safety reasons, please do not drop your child off at school before 8:10. There is no supervision inside or on the playground until then.
Box Tops, Box Tops, Box Tops!
The Boxtops mailboxes are filling up! Thanks for your continued contributions. Many people still ask if you HAVE to paste the Boxtop?s on the sheet of paper sent home. You can send Boxtops in an envelope or baggie. Do what is easiest for your family.
If you are going to shop on-line this holiday season, consider shopping through the Boxtops Marketplace. Purchases through the marketplace earn points for LER. You will have to register on the Boxtops site, but it will only take a moment for a very worthwhile cause!
Notes from Mrs. Gorham,
Speech Therapist
A child with a receptive or expressive vocabulary delay needs exposure to words, lots of words! Repetition through flashcards, magazine pictures, books, signs and everyday conversation are just a few places to practice vocabulary building.
GRMS Drama Club presents
Aladdin
at the GAHS Little Theater
Thursday, Friday & Saturday, Dec 1st-3rd at 7:00 pm.
$5.00 for adults
$3.00 for students/seniors
Tickets sold at the door. starting at 6:15.
Doors open at 6:30
Ongoing Fundraisers
Remember to collect and send in your empty printer cartridges, Hannaford School Dollars, juice pouches, BoxTops for Education and Campbell’s Labels for Education points!
GEPTA News
The GEPTA is still participating in our on-going Clynk fundraiser through your local Hannaford. Green plastic bags coded with the GEPTA account number can be found in the LER and RVCS School offices and at each GEPTA event. Supporting our program is easy: Just fill our bags with your returnable-for-deposit cans and bottles and drop off at your local Hannaford. The bottles will be counted and the deposits credited to our account! It’s an easy way to help the GEPTA support our schools!
The GEPTA is still collecting Hannaford Helps School Dollars which will be issued through Saturday, December 3. Please consider purchasing 4 of the participating products (the list can be found on their website at www.hannaford.com/hhs) and bring the $3.00 School Dollar slips into your classroom teachers by this Monday, December 5. Even friends and family from away can earn them at their local Hannaford and send them to help our schools! Thank you!
The LER and RVCS Schools are, once again, holding their Holiday Bazaars in December to allow our students to purchase low-cost gifts for 2 members of their families. We need a lot of donations of gently used, giftable items for men and women - so if you are cleaning and de-cluttering, please save some items for the schools. We will be happy to start accepting donations today! The GEPTA coordinates the LER Bazaar and we need lots of tissue paper, small and medium gift bags, and gift ribbon for this year’s event. If your budget allows the donation of some of these items, we would appreciate it!
Our next GEPTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13 at RVCS at 6:00 p.m. in the STARS Room. All interested parents are welcome and on-site childcare will be provided. Being involved in your child’s education is one of the most important factors in their academic success. Please join us!
Please keep remember, even if you aren’t able to attend our monthly evening meeting, you are still welcome to join and volunteer with GEPTA! Perhaps you are interested in serving on one of our sub-committees? We have groups who work separately on our many different projects! Contact geptanews@gmail.com or Katherine at 582-8250 if you would like more information!
LER Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, December 3rd
9:00 am to 2:00 pm at LER
Crafts, concession, raffles, bake sale, Book Fair Proceeds benefit LER students.
Be sure to visit these craft fairs as well!
Pittston Elementary School
8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Gardiner Area High School
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Star Students
Each week we recognize our Star Students who have demonstrated the “4 Be’s” -- Be safe, be kind, be respectful, be responsible. Congratulations to our Star Students!
Principal's Notes
Dear Families,
Well Mother Nature sure has been playing tricks on us lately. The snow has now melted off our playground, so no snow pants and boots are needed at this time. Please know that our school rule is that children must have boots and snow pants to play in the field and snow. It really looks like we’ll be having an early winter this year…unfortunately! I am happy to say that the 50-degree weather has helped uncover the leaves that I haven’t even raked yet!
Our school will be holding Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, November 9th from 3:30-7:00. This is a great time of year to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss your child’s progress, as well as goals to work on for the rest of the school year. All Title 1 staff is available to be scheduled for conferences as well. If you aren’t able to come, please contact your child’s teacher to reschedule or to have a phone conference.
Please mark your calendars for December 8th! This year we will be hosting a Winter Mania Night, including both literacy and math games and activities for our K-2 families, from 5:30-7:00. We will be serving pizza again for supper! Teachers and staff are very excited to share with families the math and reading strategies and games that students are learning in their classrooms.
In honor of Veterans’ Day, our school has been invited to tour the Gardiner Armory next Thursday, November 10th. Because the armory is so close to our school, we will be walking. Parent chaperones are welcome to join us. The schedule for each grade level is printed on the permission slip that was sent home with students earlier this week. Please complete the permission slip and return it to your child’s teacher if you have not already done so!
I also want to take this moment to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you are able to enjoy spending quality time enjoying your friends and family. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to spend my days with your children and the wonderful staff at LER!
If you ever have a question or concern or just want to visit, please do not hesitate to call me or stop by my office.
Yours in the service of children,
Karen Moody,
Principal
Upcoming Events
November
8th: Voting Day!
8th: GEPTA Meeting at LER, 6:00
9th: Parent-Teacher Conferences
10th Walking Field Trip to Armory
11th: Veterans’ Day - No school
17th: Assembly, 8:45 - Mrs. Michaud & Mrs. Carey’s classes presenting
21st: Mayflower sails - kindergarten
23rd - 25th: No school - Happy Thanksgiving!
December
2nd: End of First Trimester
3rd: Craft Fair at LER, 9:00 -2:00
8th: Winter Mania Night, 5:30 - 7:00
13th: GEPTA Meeting at RV, 6:00
15th: Assembly, 2:15
19th: Festival of the Trees
19th: GEPTA Holiday Bazaar
21st: Sing-a-long, 2:15
22nd: No school - Holiday break
January
3rd: Welcome Back!
10th: GEPTA Meeting at LER, 6:00
13th: Early Release
16th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, no school
26th: Assembly, 8:45
February
14th: GEPTA at RV, 6:00
16th: Assembly, 2:15
20th - 24th: Winter Break, no school
May
3rd: Spring Concert, 10:00 & 2:00
LER Lions T-shirts
We still have LER T-shirts in youth sizes and a variety of great colors for sale in the office for $12.00 each.
Walking School Bus
The Walking School Bus has been postponed for the Winter. See you in the Spring!
Ongoing Fundraisers
Remember to collect and send in your empty printer cartridges, Hannaford School Dollars, juice pouches, BoxTops for Education and Campbell’s Labels for Education points!
Please note that there is no school on Friday, November 11th in honor of Veterans’ Day. Have a safe and restful weekend!
Notes from Mrs. Gorham,
Speech Therapist
“Receptive vocabulary” refers to all the words a person understands. Children understand concepts receptively (know what they mean) before they start to use them expressively (when speaking). “Expressive vocabulary” refers to all the words a person uses when speaking.
?LER Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, December 3rd
9:00 am to 2:00 pm at LER
Crafts, concession, raffles, bake sale, Proceeds benefit LER staff & students. For more information or to volunteer, please contact the school at 582-3612.
Dismissal of Students
If you are picking your student up at the end of the day, please sign him/her out and wait on either side of the lobby or in the hallway near the office. The lobby often becomes congested with parents and children, making it difficult for teachers to lead their students to the busses.
GAHS Annual Food Drive
Gardiner Area High School will be preparing 125 Thanksgiving baskets for families in our community! If you would like to donate non-perishable food items, please leave them in the LER office by Wednesday, November 16th. To donate a turkey or to make a monetary donation, please contact Grace Walton at 582-3150.
Box Tops, Box Tops, Box Tops!
Congratulations to Mrs. Plummer's kindergarten class for collecting the most Box Tops for September and October. The class handed in an astounding 634 Box Tops! Thanks to EVERYONE who sent in Box Tops. All of those little coupons were mailed and LER will be receiving a check for $1,100 in December. Don't worry if you can't send in a full sheet. Any amount contributed helps! November's collection sheet was sent home last week. In addition to a collection sheet, information about "e-Box Tops" was sent home with students this week. If you shop on-line, you could earn Box Tops for LER by shopping through the Box Tops Marketplace. Take a look at the "e-Box Tops" information and consider doing your holiday shopping through the marketplace!
It’s Time for Parent-Teacher Conferences
If you have not already made your appointment, be sure to contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible! Classroom teachers are available on Wednesday, November 9th, 3:30 - 7:30. The following staff members will be at LER on conference night as well:
Mr. Blindow, Phys Ed - 3:30 to 5:30
Mrs. Marquis, Art - 3:30 to 7:30
Title 1 - 3:30 to 7:30 by appointment
Mr. Bourque, Guidance - 4:30 to 6:30 by appointment
Please note that Mrs. Carey’s conferences have been rescheduled to next Wednesday, November 16th.
Star Students
Each week we recognize Star Students. Teachers choose a student who has demonstrated the “4 Be’s” -- Be safe, be kind, be respectful, be responsible. Each Star Student receive a certificate, a special pencil, and has his or her picture taken! Congratulations to all of our Star Students!
Free Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by the Augusta Valley Scottish Rite Masons at Gardiner Area High School on Thanksgiving Day. Meals will be served between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. For those not having transportation or shut-ins preferring meals to be delivered to their home, please contact Joe Atkinson at 737-2021. If you can help make home deliveries, please call Joe to sign up. Anyone interested in helping with meal preparation should contact John Lord at 685-4266. If you would like to make pies, please call 724-7221. Please come and join us in celebration on this day, one of the most joyous and festive holidays of our American Heritage. (Not an MSAD 11 sponsored event)
GEPTA NEWS
The GEPTA is still collecting Hannaford Helps School Dollars, which will be issued through December 3rd. Please consider purchasing 4 of the participating products (the list can be found on their website at www.hannaford.com/hhs) and bringing the $3.00 School Dollar slips in to your classroom teachers. Even friends and family from away can earn them at their local Hannaford and send them to help our schools! Thank you!
The LER and RVCS Schools are, once again, holding their Holiday Bazaars in December to allow our students to purchase low-cost gifts for 2 members of their families. We need a lot of donations of gently used, giftable items for men and women - so if you are cleaning and de-cluttering, please save some items for the schools. We will be able to accept your donations at the schools in early December (no room to store them until then!).??The GEPTA coordinates the LER Bazaar and we need lots of tissue paper, small and medium gift bags, and gift ribbon for this year’s event. If your budget allows the donation of some of these items, we would appreciate your help! Thank you!
The GEPTA now has a Facebook Page! Please join us at Facebook (search “GEPTA”) and join our group for all the latest updates on our school community events and local free/low cost family events happening in our area throughout the year.
Our next GEPTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 8 at LER at 6:00 p.m. in the library. All interested parents are welcome and on-site childcare will be provided. We will have a special door prize drawing for people wearing their “I Voted” sticker to the meeting! Being involved in your child’s education is one of the most important factors in their academic success. Please join us!
Please keep remember, even if you aren’t able to attend our monthly evening meeting, you are still welcome to join and volunteer with GEPTA! Perhaps you are interested in serving on one of our sub-committees? We have groups who work separately on our Family Fun Nights, Fundraising, Book Fairs/Reading Incentive, Scholarships, First Day of School Celebration, and more! Contact geptanews@gmail.com, Katherine at 582-8250 if you would like more information!
The LER Staff needs your help!
We are planning a very special “Career Aspirations” day for our students this coming spring. We would love to be able to represent as many different kinds of jobs, careers, and trades as possible to help show our young students some of the wonderful possibilities their futures hold! If you would like to be considered as a presenter, please print the area below, fill out your contact information, and send in with your child’s teacher. We will be making selections based on representing a wide variety of career/job/trade choices. If it helps in planning your participation, we are tentatively holding the event on May 11 at the LER School.
Thank you so much for your help!
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
______Yes, I (or someone in my family) would like to be considered for participation in LER’s upcoming spring “Career Aspirations Day”.
______No, thank you, but I know someone who might like to participate.
Name________________________________________ Occupation_________________________________
Daytime Phone #______________________________ Email address______________________________
Your Student’s Teacher________________________________________________
Principal’s Notes
Dear Families,
I was so pleased to see so many families join us for Octoberfest this past, rainy weekend! It is so much fun to see and talk with students and families while enjoying all the fall activities! Thank you to our GEPTA members and volunteers who organized this event and gave of their time to make this event such a success! Keep a lookout for more Family Fun Nights sponsored by our GEPTA group!
Parent Teacher conferences will be scheduled in mid-November this year. Your child’s teacher will be contacting you soon to schedule an appointment to discuss your child’s progress. Parents of first and second grade students, your child’s teacher will also be explaining and giving you a copy of your child’s NWEA scores. You may wish to bring a list of questions with you to parent-teacher conferences. Conferences are a great way to connect with your child’s teacher and to be informed about the learning happening in your child’s classroom. I encourage you to continue to stay in regular contact with your child’s teacher throughout the school year.
This week was Fire Safety week. On Tuesday, our students enjoyed a visit from Gardiner Firefighter, Patrick Saucier, who demonstrated his uniform and equipment and shared safety tips.
This weekend is a 4-day weekend for your children as Friday is a Workshop Day and Monday is Columbus Day. I hope you are able to get outside to enjoy our fall season this weekend as the weather is supposed to be beautiful, the leaves have peaked, and many orchards are open for apple picking!
Be on the lookout for information about our November Literacy and Math Mania night. We will be scheduling it soon! These nights were a huge success last year, and we look forward to doing them again this year.
If you ever have a question or concern or just want to visit, please do not hesitate to call me or stop by my office.
Yours in the service of children,
Karen Moody
The Laura E. Richards School community will nurture, guide, and encourage students. We will provide a safe environment, rich in learning experiences, to foster respectful, caring, independent learners.
Upcoming Events
October
7th: No school - staff workshop day
10th: Columbus Day - No school
11th: GEPTA meeting at RV, 6:00
17th: Walking School Bus
18th: K-2 Field trip to Merrill Auditorium, 8:30 - 12:30
24th: Walking School Bus
27th: Assembly, 2:15, Mrs. Malcolm & Miss Whitman’s class presenting
28th: Pre-K Family Fun Day, 9:00 - 11:00
28th: Miss Spider’s Tea Party for kindergarten, 1:45
31st: Walking School Bus
November
3rd: Picture retake day!
6th: Daylight Savings Time ends
7th: Walking School Bus
8th: GEPTA Meeting at LER, 6:00
11th: Veterans’ Day - No school
14th: Walking School Bus
17th: Assembly, 8:45
23rd - 25th: No school - Happy Thanksgiving!
December
2nd: End of First Trimester
13th: GEPTA Meeting at RV, 6:00
15th: Assembly, 2:15
22nd: Holiday break begins, see you again on January 3rd!
May
3rd: LER Spring Concert, 10:00 & 2:00
Please note that there is no school on Friday, October 7th because of a staff workshop day, and on Monday, October 10th in observance of Columbus Day. Have a safe and restful weekend!
Car Seat Safety Inspections
Gardiner Police Department Safety Officer (and our very own Crossing Guard) Jamie Dacyczyn has recently been certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician, which means she is able to offer car seat safety inspections. If you would like to schedule a car seat inspection, please contact Safety Officer Jamie Dacyczyn at 582-5150 ext. 344.
LER Lions T-shirts
We still have LER T-shirts in youth sizes and a variety of great colors for sale in the office for $12.00 each.
Walking School Bus
Students and parents are invited to join Mrs. Moody at the Gardiner Common at 7:50 each Monday morning, weather permitting, as we walk to school together!
Ongoing Fundraisers
Remember to collect and send in your empty printer cartridges, Hannaford School Dollars, juice pouches, BoxTops for Education and Campbell’s Labels for Education points!
Gardiner Adult Ed is now on Facebook!
Go to www.facebook.com, search for “Gardiner Adult Ed” and click “like” to become a fan!
Notes from the Cafeteria
Remember to visit http://www.nutrikids.com, where you can view your child’s lunch account activity, make payments online, and even sign up for an email reminder for when your student’s account gets low!
Remember that if your financial situation changes at any time during the school year, please let us know and we can send you a new application for free or reduced lunch.
Lunch Menu Correction
Please note that the lunch menu of Tuesday,
October 18th has been changed to a “Bag Lunch” --
Ham & cheese sandwich, apple, cheese stick,
carrot sticks, milk
We’re Going on a Field Trip!
WHO: LER K-2 students and staff
WHAT: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
WHERE: Merrill Auditorium, Portland
WHEN: Tuesday, October 18th, 8:30 - 12:30
Students will have a “bag lunch” at school upon our return.
Thank you to the GEPTA and to the Maine Arts Commission for so generously funding this enrichment opportunity for our students!
Because we were required to pre-order tickets for this production, we are unable to accommodate parent chaperones.
If you have not already done so, please complete the yellow permission form that was sent home with students last week, and return it to your child's teacher no later than Friday, October 14th.
Star Students
Each week we recognize Star Students. Teachers choose a student who has demonstrated the “4 Be’s” -- Be safe, be kind, be respectful, be responsible. Each Star Student receives a certificate, a special pencil, and has his or her picture taken! Congratulations to our Star Students!
Dismissal of Students
If you are picking your student up at the end of the day, please sign him/her out and wait on either side of the lobby or in the hallway near the office. The lobby often becomes congested with parents and children, making it difficult for teachers to lead their students to the busses.
GEPTA News
Thank you to everyone who made our Octoberfest another great Fall Family Fun Event! From our amazing volunteers to the families who braved the rainy day - we squeezed a lot of fun, food, and games into the LER School and played the day away!
Our major annual fundraiser, the Meadow Farms Catalog sale is finishing soon. All orders absolutely MUST be in by October 6. This fundraiser is where most of the GEPTA’s annual budget is earned. Please consider selling some items from the catalog or making a monetary donation so the GEPTA can continue to provide field trips, classroom support, Reading Incentive books, Family Fun Nights, scholarships, and more! Thank you for your support!
The GEPTA now has a Facebook Page! Please join us at Facebook (search “GEPTA” ) and join our group for all the latest updates on our school community events and local free/low cost family events happening in our area throughout the year.
Our next GEPTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 11 at RVCS at 6:00 p.m. in the STARS room. All interested parents are welcome and on-site childcare will be provided. We might even have a door prize! Being involved in your child’s education is one of the most important factors in their academic success. Please join us!
Please keep remember, even if you aren’t able to attend our monthly evening meeting, you are still welcome to join and volunteer with GEPTA! Perhaps you are interested in serving on one of our sub-committees? We have groups who work separately on our Family Fun Nights, Fundraising, Book Fairs/Reading Incentive, Scholarships, Octoberfest, and more! Contact Katherine at 582-8250 or geptanews@gmail.com if you would like more information!
Gardiner Fire Department
Annual Fire Prevention Week
Parade and Open House
Saturday, October 15th
The parade starts at 11:00 at the Gardiner Armory and will proceed down Brunswick Avenue to Water Street, ending at the Gardiner Fire Department. Following the parade, join us for hot dogs, refreshments, fire apparatus demonstrations, and other exciting activities.
This is not an MSAD #11 sponsored event.
Notes from Mrs. Gorham, Speech Therapist
Basic concepts, such as colors, numbers, location words, and descriptive words, are the building blocks that children need in order to follow direction, engage in classroom routines and provide descriptions. They are fundamental for performing every day tasks such as reading, writing, speaking and math. The knowledge of these concepts is directly related to early childhood academic achievement.
Maine’s Truancy Law
Students who are the ages of 7 through 17 must go to school. If your child is at least 7 years old, he/she is considered habitually truant if he/she misses 5 unexcused school days in a row or 7 unexcused school days in one school year. Excused absences include: personal illness; an appointment with a health professional that must be made during the regular school day; observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day; a family emergency; and, a planned absence for a personal or educational purpose that has been approved. Please note that missing the bus or oversleeping are not excused absences under this law. Schools must be notified when your child will be absent from school; otherwise, your child will be marked “unexcused”. Truancy violations carry a $250.00 fine for responsible adults.
State law mandates school administrators to notify DHHS when a child is habitually truant. They will investigate to see if a child is in “jeopardy” and may bring a child protective proceeding.
Please be aware that Mrs. Moody will also follow up with parents when students have excessive tardiness and excessive excused absences due to illness. In these cases, a doctor’s note may be required to document student illnesses. If you have any questions, please notify Mrs. Moody at 582-3612.
Title I Notification
Your child is attending a school receiving Title I federal funds through the No Child Left Behind Act (referred to as NCLB). This Federal law requires that parents be notified of their right to know the professional qualifications of their child's teacher(s) in core academic subject areas, including the following:
1. The type of state credential or license that the teacher holds. Some teachers will have a credential in a particular subject area, such as English or mathematics, and others will have a multiple subject credential, which allows them to teach a variety of subjects, such as in elementary schools.
2. The education level and subject area of the teacher’s college degree(s). All teachers have a bachelor’s degree, and many teachers have graduate degrees beyond the bachelor’s, such as a masters or doctoral degree.
In addition to the qualifications of the teacher, if a paraprofessional (Educational Technician) provides your child services, you may also request information about his or her qualifications. Many paraprofessionals have two years of college, and others have passed a test that verifies their qualifications.
If you would like this information, please contact the school principal.
Knights of Columbus Council #1299
Annual Soccer Challenge
Gardiner Regional Middle School
Saturday, October 15th at 12:30.
All boys and girls ages 8 to 14 are welcome to participate. Contact Pat Berands at 446-4011 for more information.
(Not an MSAD #11 sponsored event)
Box Tops for Education
Great job LER families! Many Box Tops have been sent in so far this year! October collection sheets are being sent home this week. These Box Tops will be added to the September collection to determine the winner of the Sept/Oct classroom contest. Summer and fall Box Tops will be mailed to the company at the end of the month. Don't worry if you don't have a completed sheet. Any Box Tops you send will contribute to upcoming enrichment programs! Thank you for those little 10 cent coupons!
Campbell’s Labels for Education
Collect UPC codes and logos (instead of front labels) from Campbell's products as well as many other products with the "Labels for Education" logo. Please note that Campbell's is now accepting only the UPC code and logo for redemption, and no longer accepts the front label.
Points can be sent in on collection sheets, but can also be sent in envelopes or baggies. Please do what is easiest for your family.
Printer cartridges
We participate in a program in which we collect printer cartridges of all types and sizes, which are redeemed for cash. Please send your empty cartridges to school.
Hannaford Helps Schools
From now through December 3rd, shoppers will receive school dollar certificates at the register with the purchase of participating products, which Hannaford will redeem for cash for our school. Hannaford will also grant an additional $1,000 to the school that raises the most funds! Please be sure to send these valuable certificates to school.
Juice Pouches
We also collect empty juice pouches from Capri Sun and other similar beverages. Last year, these pouches were redeemed for cash, which our students voted to donate to charity! Help us recycle these juice pouches in a positive way!
Extra Clothing at School
Each student should have a complete change of clothing to be kept at school or in his/her backpack. Be sure to label all of your child’s belongings.
Principal’s Notes
Dear Families,
Welcome to the 2011-12 school year! I am very excited to begin my 5th year here as principal. For those of you who were able to join us for the First Day of School Celebration, I hope you enjoyed all of our guest resources and information…and the parfaits made by our new Food Director, Mike Flynn! Many, many thanks to Katherine Kollman who organized and prepared for this event! Celebrating the first day of school is an absolutely wonderful, positive way to begin our school year.
Well…the year is off and running for sure! Teachers are busy getting students into school routines, and I have seen many happy faces throughout the building, on the playground, and on the bus! Our entire school staff is committed to helping every child succeed while encouraging and fostering positive relationships with staff and other children. A positive school community is essential to supporting student achievement! Students are learning and practicing ways to “Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, and Be Kind” in all areas of our school environment. Again this year, students will be recognized as Star Students throughout the year using the “4 Be’s” expectations. These are attached in this newsletter.
Our district NWEA testing for Grades 1 and 2 will begin the week of September 19th. This is a computerized test for reading and math skills. Scores will be shared from last spring and this fall with all parents during our fall Parent-Teacher conferences.
We sincerely invite families to take an active role here at Laura Richards. This may include volunteerism or attendance at school activities like our monthly assemblies, Parent-Teacher conferences, Title 1 Parent Advisory group, and GEPTA events.
Again, I welcome you to a brand new school year! I look forward to a great year for us at Laura Richards! If you ever have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to call me or stop by my office.
Yours in the service of children,
Karen Moody
Upcoming Events
September
9th: GEPTA Ice Cream Social at LER for LER and River View families, 6:00
13th: GEPTA Fall Fundraiser begins
13th: GEPTA meeting at LER, 6:00
14th: Grade 2 to Bugmania
19th: Walking School Bus, meet at 7:50 at the Common
19th: NWEA Testing begins
26th: Walking School Bus
29th: Assembly, 8:45
October
1st: GEPTA Octoberfest
3rd: Walking School Bus
3rd: Picture Day!
7th: Staff Workshop Day - No school
10th: Columbus Day - No school
11th: GEPTA meeting at RV, 6:00
17th: Walking School Bus
18th: K-2 Field trip to Merrill Auditorium
24th: Walking School Bus
27th: Assembly, 2:15
31st: Walking School Bus
November
6th: Daylight Savings Time ends
7th: Walking School Bus
8th: GEPTA Meeting at LER, 6:00
11th: Veterans’ Day - No school
14th: Walking School Bus
17th: Assembly, 8:45
23rd - 25th: No school - Happy Thanksgiving!
December
2nd: End of First Trimester
13th: GEPTA Meeting at RV, 6:00
15th: Assembly, 2:15
22nd: Holiday break begins, see you again on January 3rd!
The Laura E. Richards School community will nurture, guide, and encourage students. We will provide a safe environment, rich in learning experiences, to foster respectful, caring, independent learners.
LER Lions T-shirts
We have LER T-shirts in youth sizes and a variety of great colors for sale in the office for $12.00 each.
Walking School Bus
Students and parents are invited to join Mrs. Moody at the Gardiner Common at 7:50 each Monday morning, weather permitting, as we walk to school together! (Please note the new day.)
Ongoing Fundraisers
Remember to collect and send in your empty printer cartridges, Hannaford School Dollars, juice pouches, BoxTops for Education and
Campbell’s Labels for Education points --
Box Tops News!
LER had a very successful collection last spring. The school will be receiving a check for over $600.00 in December. Congratulations to everyone who helped make the collection a success!
September collection sheets will be going home with students this week. Box Tops can be sent in on the collection sheets or in baggies. ?Do what is easiest for your family. As in years past, classes will be competing to collect the most Box Tops to win a class reward. Good luck!
Labels for Education
We will also continue to collect Labels for Education UPC’s. These UPC codes can be found on many products, not just Campbell’s soup. Visit www.labelsforeducation.com for a complete list. Remember that Campbell’s no longer wants the entire wrapper…just the UPC & logo. Collection sheets for these labels will be sent home as well. Thank you for all of your help!
Printer cartridges
We participate in a program in which we collect printer cartridges of all types and sizes, which are redeemed for cash. Please send your empty cartridges to school.
Hannaford Helps Schools
From now through December 3rd, shoppers will receive school dollar certificates at the register with the purchase of participating products, which Hannaford will redeem for cash for our school. Hannaford will also grant an additional $1,000 to the school that raises the most funds! Please be sure to send these valuable certificates to school.
Picture Day
Mark your calendar! Picture Day is coming Monday, October 3rd. More information will be coming home soon. Please note that LifeTouch is no longer able to provide a complimentary class picture to each student. Be sure to look closely at the order form if you would like your student to receive a class picture!
Star Students Coming Soon!
Again this school year, we will recognize Star Students. Teachers will choose a student who has demonstrated the “4 Be’s” -- Be safe, be kind, be respectful, be responsible. Each Star Student will receive a certificate, a special pencil, and will have his or her picture taken!
Extra Clothing at School
Each student should have a complete change of clothing to be kept at school or in his/her backpack. Be sure to label all of your child’s belongings.
New Phone Numbers?
Please be sure that we have up-to-date contact information at all times in case we need to reach you during the school day.
Notes from Mrs. Gorham,
Speech Therapist
Basic concepts such as colors, numbers, location words, and descriptive words are the building blocks that children need in order to follow direction, engage in classroom routines and provide descriptions. They are fundamental for performing every day tasks such as reading, writing, speaking and math. The knowledge of these concepts is directly related to early childhood academic achievement.
GEPTA News?
Octoberfest, our annual Family Fun Day on the Common, is scheduled for October 1st. Information will soon be coming home in your child's folder, but please consider saving the date and volunteering a little of your time to help make this day a success!
Our annual major fundraiser through the Meadow Farms catalog will kick-off on September 13th. Please consider purchasing something from the catalog and also sharing it with family and friends. This is the fundraiser that pays for most of our yearly events: Octoberfest, Family Fun Nights, Free Reading Incentive Books, Scholarships, Field Trips and more. Please help us support the wonderful students, staff, and families of LER and RVCS!
Meeting attendance is important, but not mandatory. Decisions regarding the GEPTA are made at our meetings but volunteers at our events are ALWAYS welcome! Please contact us if you would like to help us make our schools even better places to learn! (katherine@gepta.org or phone 582-8250)
And please join us on Facebook to be the first to know about school events, GEPTA news, and free/low cost family events happening in our community. Search “GEPTA” on facebook and join us!
Our sincere thanks to those businesses whose generous donations made our First Day of School event possible:
Texas Roadhouse
Children’s Discovery Museum
Kennebec Savings Bank
Blue Sky Bakery
Ainslie’s Market
Gerard’s Pizza
Dunkin’ Donuts
Wickedlicious
Subway of Gardiner
River Road Variety
Out of My Head Designs
Let’s Get Barefoot
Reny’s Department Store
Jim Mitchell and Jed Davis, PA
Upcycle Arts
Ampersand Academy of Dance & Performing Arts
Maine’s Truancy Law
Students who are the ages of 7 through 17 must go to school. If your child is at least 7 years old, he/she is considered habitually truant if he/she misses 5 unexcused school days in a row or 7 unexcused school days in one school year. Excused absences include: personal illness; an appointment with a health professional that must be made during the regular school day; observance of a recognized religious holiday when the observance is required during the regular school day; a family emergency; and, a planned absence for a personal or educational purpose that has been approved. Please note that missing the bus or oversleeping are not excused absences under this law. Schools must be notified when your child will be absent from school; otherwise, your child will be marked “unexcused”. Truancy violations carry a $250.00 fine for responsible adults.
State law mandates school administrators to notify DHHS when a child is habitually truant. They will investigate to see if a child is in “jeopardy” and may bring a child protective proceeding.
Please be aware that Mrs. Moody will also follow up with parents when students have excessive tardiness and excessive excused absences due to illness. In these cases, a doctor’s note may be required to document student illnesses.
If you have any questions, please notify Mrs. Moody at 582-3612.
Gardiner Youth Hockey
Lawn Sale
Saturday, September 10th
7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Daniel’s Auto Body, located on Route 201 near the I295 Gardiner north & south bound access ramps. (This is not an MSAD #11 sponsored event.)
Safe Footwear at School
Please be sure that your children have safe footwear at school. Flip-flops, crocks, and sandals are cool, but they can be difficult to run in, especially if they don’t have back ankle straps. Also, many children tend to break the thong part of their flip flops. Sneakers should be worn for recess and gym class!
Bus Safety Reminder
We love our kids and want them to be safe at all times! When dropping off and picking up your child, be sure to walk him or her to the sidewalk closest to the school. Our bus drivers are not able to see small children crossing between the busses! Please do not park in the lane closest to the school at any time. This lane is reserved for busses and emergency vehicles.
When dropping your child off during morning recess, please bring him or her to the front of the school. For safety reasons, please do not drive through the parking lot to drop your child off at the back playground.
Please do not drop your child off at school before 8:10 as there is no supervision inside or on the playgournd until that time.
Forms for the New School Year
Please be sure to complete all of the forms that were sent home with your student, and return them to school if you have not already done so. This information will help us to provide a safe and positive school year for your child.
Please be certain to return all free & reduced meal applications to school as soon as possible. If your financial situation changes at any time during the school year and you feel you may qualify, please let us know and we will send you a new application.
Families should also review the school calendar and make a note of important dates such as Early Release Days, workshop days, holidays and school vacations.
Notes from the Office
If your child will be absent or tardy, please call the office to let us know. If your child arrives to school late, be sure to sign him/her in at the office so that they are not marked absent for the day.
Please remember that you must stop at the office to sign your child out if you are picking him/her up from school at dismissal time and at any other time during the day. If your child will be leaving school at the end of the day other than in their usual manner, please send in a note or call the office as early in the day as possible. Remember that we can only release students to the people you have listed on the emergency contact form.
Please note that if your child arrives after
8:25 he or she is considered tardy. If your child is signed out before 2:55 it is considered a dismissal. All tardiness and dismissals are part of your child’s permanent attendance records.
Thank you for respecting our learning time by making sure your child arrives on time each day, and by not dismissing your child early unless it is an emergency!
New Security System
A new security system has been installed on our building’s front doors. Visitors should enter through the first set of doors and press the button on the wall to the left, which will sound a tone in the office. Our office staff will then release the lock on the inner door to allow entry. Upon entering, visitors must still stop at the office window. If no one is available to unlock the door immediately, please be patient as our staff may be with a student.