WOW, a whole week of school coming up!   Forgot what that’s like.  Enjoy it, ‘cause next week is Thanksgiving, with an early dismissal and two days off.

Do you use or buy Pepperidge Farm or Campbell’s products?  We’re talking Goldfish, bread, cookies, soup, spaghetti o’s and more.  Well, we need those labels and UPC codes!  Labels for Education is having a Holiday Bonus Offer.  If we submit 2500 Labels for Education points before December 31st they will match it with an additional 2500 points, plus we get automatic entry into a sweepstakes for 1 of 3 grand prizes.  We have collected 1725 Labels points so far.  Just 775 more and we’ll get the bonus. 

What is Campbell's Labels for Education?  Campbell's Labels for Education is a program that helps schools obtain free educational merchandise in exchange for proofs of purchase collected from eligible Campbell brands, including all Pepperidge Farm products.  Visit the website www.labelsforeducation.com for more info.

Just last month the school was able to purchase jump ropes and playground balls for the kids to use during recess time using previously submitted Labels for Education points.  It's a great way to get things we need at school without asking parents to spend extra cash. So, please send in those labels before Dec 30th! 

And don’t forget, the BoxTops contest is still on and runs through Dec. 11, so send those in as well.

THANK YOU!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out and helped last weekend in the garden and to those who came and supported our school at My Three Sons night.

At school this week:

*The Cranbury Connection is now available!  Get your copy today! Send in $5 with the form found in the KnowalotMore or on this website or just send in your $5 in an envelope marked Cranbury Connection and be sure to indicate your child’s class/teacher so we know who to send it home with.  The Connection is a school directory created by parents for parents.  It includes contact info for over 270 students, PTO contact info, Teacher extensions and info on Cranbury “connected” businesses, all in one handy booklet!  And, all proceeds benefit our school.  Any questions, please contact Susan Zelman at rszelman@optonline.net. 

A parent/student meeting will be held in the NHS Band room on Tuesday, November 17 at 6pm. More information will be available including cost and the complete schedule. Visit their website for more info at http://www.nhsband.com:80/html/guard.html.

* November 21, 2009 11:00 AM  Polar Express Pajama Storytime  Celebrate the season at Borders! Wilton - Borders 14 Danbury Road Wilton, CT 06897  The holidays are not complete without a classic retelling of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Join us for a special pajama party complete with games, stories, bells and more! Activities will vary by store.

*It’s getting close to turkey time. The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is up and running again at 1-800-BUTTERBALL. This year it's got 50 home economists and nutritionists ready to answer some 100,000 expected questions.   Or visit their website at www.butterball.com/

* Looking for Turkey Day fun?  Visit KidsEvents.com for fun Thanksgiving Events like Turkey Trots, Turkey Shoots, Turkey Hikes, parades, cooking workshops, historical Thanksgiving fun and MUCH much more!

NEW ACTIVITIES!

For one special evening, shoppers, restaurant goers, and returning commuters, can listen to a variety of musical styles being performed by harmonizers, melody makers, and crooners while strolling the streets of downtown New Canaan.   Scheduled performers include: EJ Couloucoundis, a local talent that has been compared to a young Harry Connick, Jr; The Summer Theatre of New Canaan Singers; Acoustic Rock with Dave Ross from Wet Water; The Magical Music for Life Foundation Singers, and more.

 “Singing in the Streets comes on the heels of a successful and high energy Battle of the Bands evening we had back in October,” says NCCC Publicist Linda Kavanagh,” And now this event will lead into the highly anticipated Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting coming up December 4/5.”

*Now Playing at IMAX at the Maritime Aquarium - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (PG) 7 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays 4 & 7 p.m. Fridays – Sundays   Gigantic pancakes fall from the sky in the Hollywood hit “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” but they don’t really look gigantic unless you see them fall life-sized on the massive IMAX screen of The Maritime Aquarium.  “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” features the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T and Neil Patrick Harris. It’s rated PG for brief mild language.

* Starting Friday November 20^th At the IMAX Movie Theater at the Maritime Aquarium - The Light Before Christmas Two children find themselves magically in the middle of the season’s most famous poem in the IMAX family film, “The Light Before Christmas.”

Filmed in the stop-action animation format of TV’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the story follows two siblings who – via the magic of a special friend – find themselves as characters in Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “The Night Before Christmas.” “The Light Before Christmas” features a musical score that harkens back to beloved Christmas classics, and includes a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film by Evergreen Holiday Classics and Tandem Motion Picture Studios.

*Sunday, 22 November, 2009 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM UBS Parade Spectacular, the Stamford Thanksgiving Day parade, presented by Stamford Town Center, starts off at noon and parades giant helium balloons through downtown Stamford. Cost: FREE

Among the many new balloons, Cookie Monster, Leonardo and Super Grover will make their debut this year. Don’t miss Grand Marshals, Connie Chung & Maury Povich and Master of Ceremonies, Alan Kalter from the Late Show with David Letterman. Award winning marching bands will add pizzazz to the day. The Westhill and Stamford High School marching bands will march along with bands including Greenwich, Harrison, Norwalk, Brien McMahon, Trumbull, Uniondale, Brentwood High Schools and the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band and

other marching bands from all over Connecticut and New York. This year, Stamford Downtown is proud to present the Pixie’s Six as seen on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and Connecticut Ballet’s The Nutcracker. So, don’t let the parade pass you by, step off is at 12 Noon on November 22 in Stamford Downtown.

The parade route starts on Summer Street at Hoyt and ends on Atlantic Street. The parade route is just a few short blocks from the Stamford Metro-North Railroad Station, which provides frequent service from the north and south.

And don’t miss the Balloon Inflation Party sponsored by SAC Capital Advisors, LP on Saturday, November 21 from 3-6pm on Hoyt Street at Summer. Get a backstage look at the balloons as they come to life. Music, parade talent and costumed characters will greet and delight spectators.

Do you like to ice skate or want to try?  Here are some local (and not so local rinks) to try:

CLOSEST:

*Darien Ice Rink   55 Old Kings Highway North, Darien CT  www.darienicerink.com  Phone 203-655-8251  Public Skating Rates: Admission Adults $7.00 Seniors $5.00  Children under 12 years $6.00 Skate Rentals $4.00. check their website for public session schedule.

*Stamford Twin Rinks Conveniently located at 1063 Hope Street, Stamford, CT, 06907. With two NHL regulation Size Rinks providing superior ice conditions and a comfortable dehumidified environment, inside you will find 2 restaurants , 4 attractive party rooms, RedLine Sports Shop, New York Sports Club, Springdale Ballet and Dance Academy, BodyCheck Training Center. video arcade and more.  Whether you are a figure skater, hockey player, or recreational skater, STR has what you are looking for!  Visit their website for schedules: www.stamfordtwinrinks.com.

* Longshore Park Skating Rink 260 Compo Rd S Westport, CT 06880  Currently under construction, call to check status of the rink at 226-7465 General admission is $9 per session for adults or $7 with a handpass.  Children, to age 17 pay $6.25 or $5 w/handpass.  Group rates, private parties, seasonal passes and lessons are also available.  For more information, call 203-226-RINK or go to http://www.wpalrink.com

This unique and exciting recreational activity is fun for the entire family. Our state-of-the-art sound system and planned festivities make every public skate a happening. Top of the line ice skate rentals are always available. Ice skating is available year round. For schedule of open skate sessions, visit their website at http://www.sportscenterct.com/about/hours_directions.html

NOT BEAR< BUT NOT VERY FAR

*The Pond at Bryant Park is open for the skating season. Sixth Ave between 40th and 42nd Sts 212-661-6640  The Pond is one of NYC's most treasured winter destinations and skating is free it you have your own skates. Enjoy a day of family skating or join one of the many events and ice activities this season!  If you need skates the cost is $12 to rent skates (or BYO). The complex is surrounded by cute holiday shops, an indoor pavilion and the Canadian-themed lounge Celsius, which conveniently offers a full children's menu and plenty of hot chocolate!  Dates: November 6 — January 24; Hours: Sunday — Thursday  8am—10pm; Friday, Saturday  8am—midnight