HTS Newsletter of May 21, 2009
Principal’s Corner
Well, the Peter Pan Fair is behind us. The smells of hot-dogs and onions, chili and fried dough, potted flowers and lilac bushes and a hundred other scents are a thing of the past. Even all the leftover goodies from the White Elephant table are packed up and headed to another recycling option!
I’ll tell you what isn’t behind us, though: the incredible sense of community and camaraderie that permeated everything about that day. Throughout the year this school, its staff and its students are the recipients of hundreds of small acts of thoughtfulness and goodwill. I cannot think of a need that, once shared, hasn’t been met. Cold hands in winter receive hand knitted mittens for warmth. Kids who have outgrown boots and ski pants have a way of finding “just the right fit” in our clothes closet. Many of these kindnesses are offered anonymously, “just because....”
But, before you think all this kindness stuff is a one-way street flowing into the school, let me share this. During the school year this staff has given, out of pocket, over $1,000 to various needs. Births are celebrated and the sorrows of deaths in our families are acknowledged by a plant or a gift certificate in the person’s memory. We have also donated money to Cystic Fibrosis, Childhood Cancer Research, our Foster Grandparent program, the Destination ImagiNation trip to Tennessee, and gift certificates to families whose needs have been made known to us. (And, of course, this figure doesn’t include all the other things that staff members have purchased on their own to help a student, to add to the classroom, to help a colleague.)
So, as the year winds down, know that your kindnesses have touched us as we hope our kindnesses and commitment to your child(ren) have touched you. That wonderful event called the Peter Pan Fair just captures all the things that make West Gardiner a true community.
Donna McGibney
Dates to Remember
May
25th: Memorial Day, no school
26th: Orientation for incoming K-students, 6:00 - 6:30
26th: District Budget Validation Meeting, 7:00, GAHS gym
27th: 5th grade band to GAHS for rehearsal, 9:00 - 11:30
27th: All-Bands concert, GAHS gym, 7:00 pm
28th: Fifth graders to Gulf of Maine, 10:00 - 2:00 (please note the corrected time)
28th: Last day to collect gifts for the troops
29th: Kindergarten Barnyard Hullabaloo, 2:15
29th: District Art Show, GAHS cafeteria, 3:30 - 7:30
June
5th: Kindergarten to Maine Wildlife Park, 9:00 - 2:30
8th: All library books due!
9th: District Budget Vote, West Gardiner Fire Station, 8:00 - 8:00
9th: PTA meeting, 6:30 in HTS library
11th: REACH Showcase at GRMS, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
12th: Mrs. White’s class to Maine State Museum, 9:00 - 12:30
15th: Field day, a.m.
16th: Last day of school for 4-year old program
17th: Fifth Grade Celebration, 10:30
17th: Last day of school
Please note that there is no school on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th.
Last Call for Gifts for the Troops
Our bus drivers are collecting food, letters from students, and other useful items for the troops. If your child is interested, please give your contributions to your bus driver or send them to school by Thursday, May 28th. The Bank of America will send the items for us at no cost! If you have any questions, please contact our transportation department at 582-6663. Thank you for any donations!
MSAD 11 Arts Extravaganza
A celebration of student art from the
K-12 students of MSAD11 will be on exhibit in the
Gardiner Area High School Cafeteria
on Friday, May 29th, 3:30-7:30
Spring Picture Reminder
All LifeTouch money must be turned in to school by Friday, May 29th. Any photos or packages that you will not be purchasing must be returned to school by that date also. Thank you!
THE GRMS Drama Club
Presents the Spring Production of
CSI-Neverland
CSI meets Neverland in this marvelous merger of comedic mayhem. Murk and Tinker, Fairy Forensics Officers, are investigating the mysterious murder of Peter Pantaloon's shadow. Their prime suspect is Head Librarian Brenda Brooks who despises Seuss, Hogwarts, giant peaches, and the boy who refuses to grow up. As Peter clearly laments the loss of his shadow, they whisk Brenda away for questioning and throw her in a lineup with the infamous Captain Sharp."
Thursday, May 21 @7:00
Friday, May 22 @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 23 @ 7:00 PM
GAHS Little Theater
$3.00 Students & Seniors, $5.00 Adults, $10.00 Family
Destination ImagiNation
thanks you for your support!
Congratulations to our HTS students who are attending the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee!
The team members invite you to visit wwwGlobalfinals.org
on Saturday, May 23rd at 7:30 pm to watch the closing ceremony online!
Thoughts on Reading
from Wendy Oakley
Title I Literacy Specialist
When I look back, I am so impressed again
with the life-giving power of literature.
If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of
myself in the world, I would do that again by reading,
just as I did when I was young.
~ Maya Angelou ~
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
~ Joseph Addison ~
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.
~ Emilie Buchwald ~
Kindergarten & Pre-School Registration
There’s still time! If you have a child who will be five years of age on or before October 15th please contact the school at 724-3930.
The Four Year Old Program is still accepting applications for the 2009 - 2010 school year. Children must be four years of age on or before October 15, 2009. Please call 582-5346.
REACH Showcase
The Student Showcase for REACH and enrichment students in grades 3-8 will be held at the Middle School on Thursday, June 11th from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
Peter Pan Fair
Congratulations to all of our winners!
Classes collecting the most grocery items -
Tied for first place: Mrs. White & Mrs. Nickerson’s classes each collected 176 items
Second place: Ms. Wises’ class collected 117 items.
Class selling the most raffle tickets -
Ms. Wise
Thank you to our raffle prize donors -
West Gardiner Fuel
Vaughn Smith Associates
West Gardiner Beef
Adventure Bound
QSP
John Canty Construction
McGee Construction
Gardiner Federal Credit Union
Portland Sea Dogs
Hickey Tree Service
Furlong Lawn Care
Gardiner Savings Bank
Fuller's Market
Gary Ladner Landscaping
Russ Williams Fuel
The Fraternal Order of Police
Renys
Spectrum Generations
Spectrum Generations
White Flour Catering
Don Collette
Berry and Berry Floral
Gerard's Pizza
A-1 To Go
Blue Sky Bakery
Bagel Mainea
Isamax
Tilbury House Publishers
PTA News
A HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who helped to make the Peter Pan Fair another great success! Thanks for the donations of your money, time and talent. Thanks for your hard work in planning, organizing, setting up, working the fair, and cleaning up. Thanks for selling those raffle tickets, making those cakes, donating groceries, white elephant goods and other things. Thank you especially to those who worked the fair, some even for 4 hour shifts with no break!!! Your sacrifice was greatly appreciated!!! Thanks for the workers selling food, drinks and raffles. Thanks for the game workers and face painters. Thanks to the workers in the plant room, cake room, prize area, white elephant sales and dessert café, being stuck inside on a beautiful day! Thank you also, for bringing your children to this event, supporting our school.
And thank you to Cindy Smith, for your tireless work in planning, organizing, shopping, delivering, manning, putting your entire family to work and pulling it all together. WOW! We are lucky to have you!
Members, be sure to nominate yourself or someone else for a PTA office. Fill out a nomination form available in the HTS lobby, and put it in the PTA mailbox at school, or send it in with your child. Nominations are due June 1st. it’s not too late to become a member now in order to cast your vote. Please contact Jane Staples at 724-3154 or janeandjosh@tds.net for nomination information, or Angela Goulette at 724-2681 for membership information.
Join us as we wrap up a fabulous year on Tuesday, June 9th at 6:30 pm in the library!
Skills and Drills
FIELD HOCKEY CLINICS
at Gardiner Area High School
Saturday, July 11th
Grades 2-4, 9:00 - 12:00
Grades 5-8, 1:00 - 3:00
The cost is $25.00. More information and registration forms are available in the HTS office.
(Not an MSAD#11 event)
Central Maine
GIRLS LACROSSE CLINIC
at Capital Park in Augusta
July 13th - 17th
8:30 am - 11:30 am
Grades 3-8
The cost is $75.00. For more information, please call Sharon Gallant at 623-6334 or Gretchen Livingston at 215-8393. Registration forms are available in the HTS office.
(Not an MSAD#11 event)
Gardiner Boys
Summer Basketball Clinic
at Gardiner Area High School
July 13-16
grades 3-5. 8:00 - 11:30
grades 6-9, 12:00 - 3:30
$75.00, includes clinic T-shirt
For more information, please contact Coach Cassidy at 582-8671 or 582-1326
Registration forms are available in the HTS office.
(Not an MSAD#11 event)
Gardiner Girls
Summer Basketball Clinic
at Gardiner Area High School
July 20-23
grades 3-5 8:00 - 11:30
grades 6-8, 12:00 - 3:30
$75.00, includes clinic T-shirt
For more information, please contact Coach Gray at 215-4535 or 582-3150
Registration forms are available in the HTS office.
(Not an MSAD#11 event)
MSAD 11 Budget Process
Please mark your calendars for these important steps in the budget process:
Tuesday, May 26th -
Budget Validation Meeting, 7:00 pm
MSAD 11 residents are encouraged to attend this meeting at the GAHS gym to vote on each budget article. The voting public should check in before 7:00 p.m. with their town officials. Each town will have a table for check in.
Tuesday, June 9th -
Referendum Vote, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
MSAD 11 residents visit their local polling places to vote.
Be sure to cast your ballot at the West Gardiner Fire Station.
Ongoing Fundraisers
HTS continues to participate in these ongoing programs which will help us to raise funds for our school. Keep saving over the summer months!
Box Tops for Education - BoxTops are a great fundraiser for our school. Each label is worth 10 cents, which goes directly towards purchasing items for our school. Please take a moment to clip these valuable BoxTop logos and send them in to school.
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. Please do not send the front labels to school.
Printer & Toner Cartridges - We participate in two different programs to collect printer cartridges and toner cartridges of all types and sizes, which are redeemed for cash. Please send your empty cartridges to school.