November 16, 2007
Principal’s Notes
Dear Families,
I decided not to write a message today but to share a poem with you instead!
Thanksgiving
It's the time of year when we're reminded to give thanks.
Instead of waiting until next year to be reminded,
Let's make every day one of thanksgiving;
After all, each day is a unique gift.
So, give a hug for no reason;
Say I love you, just because;
Share a smile with a stranger;
Take the time to count your blessings;
Don't take anything or anyone for granted;
And end each day with no regrets.
Thank you, my friends and family,
For sharing, caring, laughing and crying with me.
I'm truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life
And I am thankful you have allowed me
To be a part of yours.
May you and yours have a safe and memorable Thanksgiving.
Author Unknown.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
Yours in the service of children,
Mrs. Karen Moody
Walking School Bus
Join us at the Common every Tuesday at 7:55, weather permitting, as we walk to school together! Parents are always welcome to join us.
Early Release Days
Our next Early Release Day will be Wednesday, December 19th. Elementary school students are dismissed
at 12:30.
School Store
The school store is open in the office on Monday and Wednesday mornings before school.
GEPTA News
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, December 4th at 6:00 pm at River View Community School.
Family Fun Night: Join us at RVCS for a game night on Friday, November 30th from 6:00 - 7:30! Bring your favorite game. Look for the sign up sheet in your child's bookbag!
Gift Basket Fundraiser: We are soliciting items from area businesses for gift baskets that we will be raffling off. If you would like to donate something, please send the item(s) to LER. We will have three theme baskets - Dad, Mom, and Family). Items need to be in by Monday, November 26th. For more information email GEPTAnews@gmail.com or call Helen at 582-6492
Scholastic Book Fair: LER is hosting their annual book fair on
Tuesday, 11/20 from 12 - 3:30,
Tuesday, 11/27 from 8:30 - 10:30 and 2:00 - 4:00,
Thursday 11/29 from 5:00 - 7:00, and
Monday 12/3 from 8:30 - 10:30 and 2:00 - 4:00.
We will also be open during the LER Craft fair on December 1 from 9 - 2. Books always make wonderful gifts! If you are able to sit at the booth for an hour or so please email geptanews@gmail.com or call Tiffany at
582-5222.
Thank you to everyone who sent food into the teachers during conferences! Everything was delicious and appreciated!
If you would like to get involved in upcoming events, email us at GEPTAnews@gmail.com. There are opportunities of all sizes!
No School
Please note that there is no school Wednesday, November 21st through Friday, November 23rd. Enjoy this special time with your family!
Picture Retake Day
LifeTouch will be at LER for picture retakes on Wednesday, November 28th. Here’s your chance if your child was absent, forgot portrait money, needs a retake, didn’t buy portraits or you want to buy more. For retakes - be sure to return the original portrait package! To purchase new portraits - pick up a flyer in advance from the LER office.
Gardiner Football Rally
There is a parade and rally planned in support of the Gardiner Football Team who will be playing in the Class B State Championship Saturday evening. The event will be held Friday starting at 6:00 pm. The parade will begin at Hannaford, go up Bridge Street by McDonald’s, down Water Street and end at the boat landing where there will be a bonfire and cookout. Tiger fans are encouraged to line the parade route and follow the team to the boat landing. These events are being sponsored by parents and friends of the football players. (This is not an M.S.A.D. #11 sponsored event)
LER Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, December 1st
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
at Laura Richards School
Proceeds benefit LER students
To rent a table, or for more information please contact Valerie Hanscom at 582-8182 or evakghanscom@msn.com
Gardiner Area Music Boosters
9th Annual Holiday Alumni Concert
Saturday, November 24, 2007, 6:00 pm
Gardiner Area High School Little Theater
Admission: Adults, $8.00
Seniors & students, $5.00
Family, $25.00
Tickets sold at the door.
Enjoy catching up with Alumni at intermission with complimentary coffee and desserts donated by area businesses.
Box Tops for Education
Have you filled the turkey sheet that came home with your student for this month’s contest? Each Box Top for Education symbol is worth 10 cents to our school. Students are encouraged to fill as many sheets as they can, and return completed sheets to the collection box in each classroom. Each grade level classroom collecting the most Box Tops each month will win a prize!
Children’s Discovery Museum
Start the Holiday season with us!
Check out these upcoming events –
For more information, please visit www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.org
Make, Take & Bake a Holiday Pie
Nov. 21st, Wednesday before Thanksgiving
Help with the family preparation of the Thanksgiving dinner with a contribution of a pie!! Come between 12-3pm and make your very own Apple Pie! Must pre-register for this hands-on cooking lesson! No extra fee required but as always, donations are welcome.
Drop N Shop, It’s Pajama Day!!
Nov. 23rd, Friday after Thanksgiving
What better way to start your holiday shopping (without the kids). Leave them at CDM for half a day or a full day and get your shopping done!! Kids, you can come dressed in your comfy pj’s and spend a day at the museum instead of inside a store with your parents. Fun activities planned all day. All kids must be pre-registered. Hours are available in 4 hour increments, from 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm. Each 4 hour increment is $15 per child. Snacks will be provided but kids must bring their own bagged lunch.
Downtown Augusta Holiday Open House!
Nov. 24th, Saturday after Thanksgiving
Come celebrate the lighting of the Downtown Augusta Tree by stopping by the museum to enjoy some holiday cheer. Decorate cookies, make ornaments and drink hot cocoa. Open from 10 to 5pm. Half price admission for all!!!
The Whimsical Art Auction
November 29th, 6pm to 8pm at the Benjamin Wales Bed & Breakfast in Hallowell.
Come enjoy an elegant evening of silent bidding on fine, functional and wearable art and creative gifts. All art is donated by local Maine artists and businesses. Guests will be treated to wonderful food by White Flour Catering as well as entertainment and drinks!
Generously sponsored by area supporters:
Kennebec Savings Bank, The Cote Corporation,
Manchester Dentistry, Facial and Oral Surgery Associates, Dr. Robert Patenaude
For tickets and more information, please call the museum at 622-2209. Or e-mail us at info@childrensdiscoverymuseum.org
Turkey Facts
We will gobble you some of the interesting turkey facts that you may pass on to your friends on Thanksgiving Day:
* There are many reasons given being the name 'Turkey' for the particular bird. While some think it simply because it produces the sound of 'turk,
turk…', others trace it back to the Native American version of the name of the bird, which was 'Firkee'. Some others connect the origin of the word to Christopher Columbus, who mistook America for India and 'turkey' for a type of peacock. Thus, he tried to name the word based on the Tamil translation of peacock, which he knew was 'Tuka'. Though, it was discovered later that the bird actually belonged to the pheasant family, people kept using the name for the bird.
* While there was some conflict over 'turkey' and 'bald eagle' for being the National Bird of America. Benjamin Franklin voted out 'bald eagle' for being cowardly.
* Though people prefer the meat of older male turkeys for they find younger tom turkeys to be too stringy, they prefer younger female turkeys for older female ones have tougher meat.
* People do name turkeys according to their age - Turkeys less than sixteen weeks old are called 'fryers' while those between five to seven months of age are called 'young roasters'.
* Turkey is the only native poultry breed of the Western Hemisphere.
* Turkeys have great hearing skills but no ears.
* Turkeys can see in colors, have excellent visual acuity and their field of vision spans across about 270 degrees.
* Turkeys have poor sense of smell but great sense of taste.
* Wild turkeys can fly at a speed of as much as 55 miles per hour over short distances and are good runners with a speed of about 25 miles per hour.
* Turkeys are so sensitive that they can drown by looking up while it is raining and can have heart attacks due to sudden shocks.
* Next time on Thanksgiving Day, try the ballroom dance known as the 'Turkey Trot', which is based on the short, jerky steps of the turkeys.
November is Positive Attitude Month!
The following is taken from
Parenting Perspectives
by Virginia Harvey, PhD, NCSP
Positive attitudes - These attitudes include thinking positively, encouraging ourselves to try, being determined to to persist until we achieve success, and applying a problem-solving approach when we encounter difficult situations. Positive attitudes reflect a sense of power, promise, purpose, worth, and “self-efficacy.” Children and adolescents with positive attitudes are optimistic. They believe that when they try they can learn, achieve in school, and have successful careers. They also believe they are capable of making friends. Parents and other adults play a critical role in helping children and adolescents to develop these positive attitudes. Many successful persons remember specific adults who gave them words of encouragement when they were young, resulting in the development of positive attitudes.