LER Newsletter for January
Principal’s Notes
Dear Families,
Happy 2009!!! I hope you were all able to enjoy the holiday break! At this time every year many people commit to making self-improvement goals for the new year. Research does show that people who have goals, achieve more. I encourage you to help your child set goals at home as well. Your child might want to set a goal to read more often or expand reading experiences to include different kinds of texts, like poetry, non-fiction, or mysteries. Maybe he/she wants to be able to learn to tell time or count and make change independently. I’d like to share some tips from Monicka Gregory and Cassie Martin from an article they wrote in a parent newsletter on their website, www.kidsgoals.com.
Here they are:
1. Be careful when suggesting deadlines or time limits. When we get to the age where the months seem to fly by, it's easy to forget what time feels like to a child. Remember when two weeks seemed like an impossibly long time? Be sensitive to the age of your child when talking with him about time frames.
2. Have your children write their goals down — or help them with that if they are too young. Write down not only the goal itself, but also WHY it's important and what it will LOOK LIKE when it's achieved.
3. As much as possible, let your children be the ones to come up with the ideas for their own goals. If you need to make suggestions, be as sensitive as you can to their age and interests. Be especially sensitive about the "size of the goal". Children need to have big goals broken down into mini-goals so that they can see progress quickly, preferably on a daily basis. A goal to learn to spell five new words a week is better to focus on than winning the national Spelling Bee!
4. Work on the goal with your child — but don't take over! Make sure that your child can sense your interest and support, but be careful she doesn't think that you want to do it for her.
5. Set a good example by having written goals of your own and let your children see you working towards them regularly.
The authors also suggest setting monthly goals. “That way you and your children can have all the excitement, anticipation and motivation that comes with the New Year twelve times… rather than just once!” Personally, I would like to add that it is really important to celebrate when your child has reached his/her goal! Praising your child, planning a special dinner, having a “game night” or “craft night”, inviting a friend to come over, or going to the city library to check out new books are great ways to celebrate the hard work and dedication it takes to achieve a goal.
I look forward to all the new adventures that come our way in 2009 and wish you and your families a very healthy and happy New Year!
Yours in the service of children,
Karen Moody
Upcoming Events
January
19th: No school - Martin Luther King Jr. Day observed
February
3rd: GEPTA meeting, 6:00 at LER
16th-20th: Winter vacation
Walking School Bus Postponed
The Walking School Bus has been postponed for the winter. We look forward to starting again as soon as the weather and sidewalk conditions allow!
Healthy Snack Help
Donations of healthy snacks for our classrooms are always welcome.
LER School Store
Our school store is open before school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the office. Students can buy water bottles, pencils, erasers, and other small school supplies.
Pre-School & Kindergarten Registration
The Four Year Old Program is currently accepting applications for the 2009 - 2010 school year. Children must be four years of age on or before October 15, 2009. If you are interested, please call 582-5346 for more information and for an application. Space is limited.
It’s kindergarten registration time! If you have a child who will be five years of age on or before October 15, 2009, or if you know of one, please contact the school.
Parking in Front of School
When arriving at LER to pick up or drop off students, please be sure to pull completely into the parking spaces provided. Double parking or parking in the bus lane can cause traffic and safety issues for others.
For Your child’s safety…
Please check in with the office if you are picking your child up at the end of the day. Dismissal time is very hectic in the classroom. Out of consideration for our teachers and for your child’s classmates, please wait in the lobby for your child to be dismissed.
If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher, please call ahead to set up a time.
Early Release Days
Our next Early Release day will be Wednesday, March 18th. Elementary school students are dismissed at 12:30. There is no Pre-K on Early Release days. If there is an Early Release day on Wednesday, Pre-K students attend school on Friday instead. Please note the following Early Release days for the 2008-2009 school year:
March 18th
May 20th
Star Students
Every week, we recognize a Star Student from each classroom. Teachers choose a student who has demonstrated the character skill of the month. Each Star Student receives a certificate, a special pencil, and has his or her picture taken! December’s character skill was caring, and January’s is teamwork. Congratulations to our Star Students!
Clothing Bank
LER neighbor, Barbara Veregge, is organizing a clothing bank, and is welcoming donations of clothing of all sizes. If you have items to donate or if your family is in need of clothing, please call Barbara Veregge at 582-3085 or 242-0602. Clothing donations can also be dropped off at school.
(This is not an MSAD#11 sponsored activity)
GEPTA News
Our next GEPTA meeting will be held Tuesday, February 3rd, at 6:00 pm in the LER library. Childcare is provided, free of charge, for school age children.
Do you have a special talent that would benefit one of our committees? Please let us know. The committees meet outside the regular meeting time and the chair gives their report at the GEPTA meeting.
Reading Incentive: Paula Bourque
Family Fun Nights: Katherine Kollman
Book Fairs: Liz Brodie
Playground: Helen Wright
Fundraising: Karen Montell
Volunteer : Jill Jamison and Helen Wright
First day celebration: Katherine Kollman
Octoberfest: Ellen McGuire & Veronica Babcock
The GEPTA is planning an indoor Winter Carnival in early March as part of our monthly Family Fun series and as a special follow-up celebration to our annual Read-A-Thon. But we need your help! We need 10+ parents to help us supervise carnival games and activities that night...the date will be set pending enough volunteer commitment so PLEASE contact us at 582-8250 or geptanews@gmail.com if you would like to be involved. This will be a great cabin-fever reliever for us all but cannot be done without the help of our wonderful parent volunteers! Thank you and we look forward to working with you on this fun event!
Helping Children Cope in the Economic Crisis
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has developed an outstanding resource for parents and teachers. Helping Children Cope in Unsettling Times: The Economic Crisis. The document consists of practical suggestions that may help vulnerable or sensitive children cope. The material is available free of charge at www.nasponline.org.
Go to “Search NASP,” type in “Helping Children Cope in Unsettling Times,” and click on “Go.”
Gardiner Elks Hoop Shoot
Sunday, January 11th
at 10:00 at Gardiner Area High School -
For boys & girls age 8-13
(Participants must be age 8-13 by April 1st)
For more information, contact Dick Leighton at 458-6128
(This is not an MSAD 11 sponsored event)
Mural Exhibition at Gerard’s Pizza
During the month of January, grade levels from LER will take turns filling the windows of Gerard’s Pizza in downtown Gardiner. Not only are the winter themed murals beautiful to look at, but visitors may go inside and cast a vote for their favorite mural. The class creating the mural with the most votes will receive a pizza party from Gerard’s Pizza! All other students will receive a frosty treat for participating. Look for your child’s grade level to be displayed in the following weeks:
11th-17th - Second grade
18th-24th -First grade
25th-31st - Kindergarten
We hope you all enjoy the beautiful artwork from the children of LER!
Welcome Student Teachers!
Please join us in welcoming two student teachers from the University of Maine at Farmington who will be with us for the coming 16 weeks. Amanda Garland will be working in Mrs. Smith’s room, and Rebecca Lewis will be working in Mrs. Tarrio’s room. Welcome!
Safe Footwear at School
Children should wear sturdy, comfortable footwear to school. With boot weather here, remember to pack shoes or sneakers in your child’s backpack, or to leave at school in his/her locker or cubby. We do not allow slippers in school.
National Kidney Foundation Serving Maine
Valentine’s Father & Daughter Dance
Saturday, February 7, 2009
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The Senator Inn, Augusta
284 Western Avenue
(call 207-622-5804 for directions)
To reserve tickets, call Ruth Klemanski at 772-7270
~ NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR ~
This event sells out - Registration now open
Reserve early!
$40.00 per Father/Daughter Couple
$5.00 each Additional Daughter
Ticket cost includes light refreshments, free gift, a free raffle entry, music by live DJ, and photo opportunities by Tsukroff Photography.
Proceeds benefit The National Kidney Foundation Serving Maine’s patient assistance program, which in turn assists kidney patients throughout Maine. The mission of the National Kidney Foundation Serving Maine is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.
(This is not an MSAD #11 sponsored activity.)
The Leadership School Adventure Camp at Kieve
The Leadership School at Kieve is offering a wonderful opportunity for children ages 5-14 to remain active during the week of February break, the 16th-20th. The Adventure Day Camp offers campers a chance to meet new friends, explore winter outdoor activities, and experience the new, state-of-the-art climbing facility. Local pick-up and drop-off transportation is available. For more information, contact Sarah Ricker at
(207)563-6212 or visit www.theleadershipschool.org.
(This is not an MSAD #11 sponsored event)
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.
No School Announcements
In the event that schools are unable to open due to inclement weather, announcements will be broadcast on TV stations channel 6, 8, & 13 and by radio stations WABK and WMME as early as possible. Cancellations are also posted on WABI’s StormWatch at www.wabi.tv. Please listen for the announcements and do not call the schools, principals, superintendent, or teachers. Occasionally, school is dismissed early during the day, which would also be announced on these radio and television stations.
Bundle Up ... It’s Cold Outside
Now that cold weather is here, students need to dress appropriately for outside recess - including hats and mittens or gloves, boots and snow pants. When there is snow on the playground, students who are not wearing boots and snow pants will need to stay on the paved areas.
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.
We continue to hold recess outdoors throughout the winter unless the weather is exceptionally cold. All students are expected to participate in outside recess unless there is a health reason accompanied by a doctor’s note.
Box Tops for Education
Continue clipping those Box Tops! Tell your family, friends, and neighbors to save these 10-cent symbols. They really do add up! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our December collections. The classes collecting the most BoxTops were Mrs. Ellis’ morning Pre-K, Mrs. Michaud’s & Mrs. Awley’s kindergarten, Ms. Clary’s first grade, and Mrs. Canning’s second grade.
Remember to keep sending us your Shaw’s receipts, clean empty yogurt containers, BoxTops for Education, Campbell’s points, and empty ink & toner cartridges!