LER Newsletter for April, 2010
Principal’s Notes
Dear Families,
Just like last year, March literally “blew by”!! Thankfully we are enjoying a beautiful early spring! We only had 3 snow days this year! As of today, our last school day for the year is June 17th.
On that note, we will also begin creating class lists for next year very soon. Teachers will be meeting with me to create balanced classes, which take into account student learning styles, academic needs, friendships, the ratio of boys and girls, and special learning plans. Creating balanced classrooms is a challenging process for sure! We do take into consideration input from parents/guardians as well. While teacher requests are considered, they are not a guarantee. Our top priority is to create balanced classrooms that offer the best learning environments for all students. If you would like to make a teacher request, please make this request to me in writing explaining your educational reasons for the placement. Your request must be sent in by April 30, 2010. Again, creating balanced classrooms will remain our top priority. If you have any questions about the placement process, please call me at 582-3612.
Yours in the service of children,
Karen Moody
Safe Footwear at School
With warm weather around the corner, please remember that flip-flops, high heels, and open-back sandals should not be worn to school. Children should wear sturdy, comfortable footwear each day, and remember that sneakers must be worn for phys. ed. classes.
The Walking School Bus Returns!
Students and parents are invited to join Mrs. Moody & Miss Sergent, RSU #11 Health Coordinator, at the Gardiner Common at 7:50 each Tuesday morning, weather permitting, as we walk to school together!
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.
Visit the LER School Store
Our school store is open before school on Mondays and Fridays in the office. Students can buy pencils, erasers, and other small school supplies. We also have LER Lions T-shirts.
GEPTA NEWS:
Our annual Read-a-Thon was a wonderful success! Extra special congratulations to our Top Grade Readers and to our Top Reading Classrooms – Mrs. Tarrio’s Kindergarten Class at LER with 20,272 minutes and Mr. Michaud’s 4th Grade Class with 22,462 minutes! Great Reading, Everyone!
We had the most reader participation EVER in this year’s Read-a-Thon – fantastic! Many thanks to all the parents and staff who helped make the Read-a-Thon’s closing event, The Indoor Carnival, such a fun day!
The GEPTA is planning a spring Fundraising Rummage and Plant Sale for Saturday, May 8 at the LER School. We are not able to accept donations quite yet, but please keep us in mind as you are doing your Spring cleaning and stay tuned for more details about dates and drop offs! Thank you! We will also be renting tables to give YOU an opportunity to make a little money from your unwanted treasures. Check your child’s backpack for further details, e-mail Kristy Gould at kgould21@ymail.com, or call Katherine at 582-8250.
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.
The GEPTA is also coordinating a spaghetti supper to benefit the family of an LER student who has been diagnosed with leukemia. Mark your calendars for Friday, May 21 and join us for a delicious dinner, family movie, silent auction, raffle and more! If you or someone you know would like to donate an item to our raffle or silent auction, please contact Katherine at katherine@gepta.org or 582-8250. Any donation (merchandise, gift certificate, handcraft, free service or class) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Our next monthly meeting will be held April 13 at the River View Community School in South Gardiner at 6:00 pm. Childcare will be provided and we might even have a door prize! We hope to see you there!
Please keep remember, even if you aren’t able to attend our monthly evening meeting, you are still welcome to join 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, and more! Contact geptanews@gmail.com, Katherine at 582-8250, or Ellen at 582-9467 if you would like more information!
No School on Friday, April 16th
Please note that there is no school for students on Friday, April 16th because of a staff workshop. Students will return to school on April 26th following April vacation.
No School for Pre-K and Kindergarten on Screening Days
Please note that there is no school for our Pre-K students on Wednesday and Thursday, April 14th & 15th, due to screening for our incoming Pre-K students.
There is no school for kindergarten students on Friday, April 30th, as we will be holding screening for our incoming kindergarteners.
BoxTops & Campbell’s Update
Great job collecting and passing in those Campbell's labels. Total points for the month of March were 477. We have reached a balance of 8,000 points in our Campbell's account! Each grade level will be using these points to order supplies from the catalog for end of year activities. Please continue passing in those UPC with logos from our favorite Campbell's products.
CONGRATULATIONS to our Pre-K students and their families for winning the February/March Box Tops contest! Their combined efforts brought in 644 Box Tops labels. The students will receive an extra recess along with a popsicle treat. The total collected for these two months was $228.80, which will help fund the Puppet Theater coming to our school at the end of the month.
The Book Fair is Coming!
The GEPTA is holding Spring Book Fairs at the LER and RVCS Schools and we need your help.
The RVCS Fair is scheduled for April 8-15 and the LER Fair will be April 29-May 15. Please contact Liz Brodie at liz@gepta.org if you are able to work at the Book Fair during any of those dates!
All the proceeds from the Book Fairs are turned directly back into the GEPTA's Reading Incentive Program which puts free books into the hands of our students! Thank you so much for helping to bring books to our schools!
A Reminder of District Policy Regarding Pets on School Grounds
Please remember that no animals are allowed on RSU #11 property without first getting permission in writing from the building administrator. This includes activities on our playgrounds and fields during non-school hours.
GAHS Food Drive for Life
The GAHS Civil Rights Team is holding a food drive to benefit Chrysalis Place in Gardiner and the New Life Center in Thailand. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off by April 15th in the LER office, at GAHS or at Goggin’s IGA. Area businesses have pledged cash for each item collected, which will be donated to the New Life Center.
Art Volunteers Needed
It’s that time of year again! The annual district-wide art show is being held on Friday, May 7th from 3:00 to 7:00 in the GAHS cafeteria. Mrs. Marquis is in need of parent volunteers, or high school students who would like to earn community service hours. Please send a note to school if you are able to help, or call the school at 582-3612 to leave her a message.
Recycling Helps Our Students in Art Class
Mrs. Marquis is in need of empty egg cartons and clean styrofoam meat trays for use in art classes. Please “recycle” by sending these in to school.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
It’s time for Parent-Teacher Conferences! Your child’s teacher has sent a note home regarding the conference schedule. Our teachers will be available on Thursday, April 15th, as well as other times as needed. Be sure to reply and schedule your conference appointment if you have not already done so!
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found area is overflowing! Please stop by during Parent-Teacher Conferences to look for items that your child might have forgotten or misplaced. Please put your child’s name on the inside of his/her clothing, backpack, lunch box, etc. Names help us in returning lost items!
Star Students
Each 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! The character skill for the month of March was effective communication, and the skill for April is problem solving. Congratulations to all of our Star Students!
A Message from the Maine Public Health Association
It takes more than duct tape to be ready for an emergency! An emergency or illness can keep you home - sometimes without power, heat, or clean water. There are a few simple steps you can take to help your children, your pets, and the older adults you care for be safe during emergencies or illness.
Flooding. Ice Storms. The Flu. Get ready to help your family for the unexpected by creating a kit of the essentials, including food, water, medicine, and safety supplies. These are all important if you are stuck at home due to an emergency or illness. Make a plan for how you and your family will respond to the situation, and stay informed of potential illness and emergencies and what are the best things to do if they happen.
Visit www.getMEready.org to watch Dr. Dora Ann Mills, Director of the Maine CDC, and Dr. Carrie Frost, a pediatrician from Portland, talk about getting ready to help your family during an illness or emergency.
How ready are you? At www.getMEready.org you can take a short survey, then learn more about how easy it is to build a kit, make a plan, and be informed.
In Maine we like to be independent. When you’re ready for an emergency, you won’t need help from emergency professionals. That will let them focus on others needing assistance. And when you and your family are ready, you can help your neighbors and others in need.
What goes in my kit? Go to www.getMEready.org and find out what you need, what you’ve already got, and how to build your kit without spending a lot of extra money. The steps to building a kit are simple. You can also enter a drawing for a free kit to be sent to you!
Mainers are known for being ready for anything. Let’s make sure we are! Go to www.getMEready.org and start getting ready today! Get ME Ready 2010 is a project of the Maine Public Health Association.
Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Informed. Go to www.getMEready.org to learn more.
The TOOTH ANGEL PROGRAM
has had another successful year!
Repeat students have a decreased new decay rate of 90%
Maine Dental Health Out-Reach, Inc. visited Laura E Richards School in March 2010. We are a team of Registered Dental Hygienists providing dental care to eligible children.
Who is eligible?
• Children who do not have a dentist, have not seen a dentist in the past 6 months and do not receive cleanings or twice yearly exams or fillings if decay is present.
o 20 Students were seen
16 new students
4 previous students
These are the services we provided:
• 20 student’s teeth were cleaned
• 119 sealants placed (coverings on the top of teeth to reduce decay)
• 20 fluoride treatments (to harden teeth)
o 18 received a 2nd treatment
• 20 Oral Hygiene Instruction (teaching children how to clean their teeth)
o 18 received a 2nd instruction
• 20 screenings (listing healthy teeth, cavities and missing teeth)
• 20 dietary counseling (educating children on what decays their teeth)
• 10 students were referred to a dentist for fillings and extractions
o 38 decayed teeth
DENTAL HYGIENE PREVENTION:
Improves Health
Increases Self Esteem
Decreases Pain
Increases School Attendance
Decreases the cost of Emergency Room Care
How can your child receive these services next year?
A consent form will be in your child’s school packet at the beginning of the school year.
How can you help this program’s success?
Your tax deductible donation would enable the Tooth Angels to expand our out-reach programs to those who would not be able to receive dental care. Please visit our website for more information (www.mdho.org) and to donate. Or send checks to: Maine Dental Health Out-Reach, Inc., PO Box 275, Winthrop, ME 04364.
Thank you for your support!
Susanne J. LaVallee,
Founder 2003
EDUCATE, TREAT AND CREATE HEALTHY SMILES!!!