NewsFlash

November 13
  
     The Sally Foster orders have arrived, and the fifth graders will be bringing their orders home on Monday, November 16th.  If your child had a large order, an adult will need to come inside and pick up the orders at dismissal.  Michele Vozza will be placing the orders just outside of our classroom door tomorrow afternoon.  A BIG thank you to Michele for handling this fund-raising event for our program.  We are grateful for you!
    
     Get into the spirit of our school!  Check out the new spirit wear shirts displayed outside of the Central Grade office.  Order forms went home with your child this week and are due back on December 2nd.   

     Central Grade School is participating in the Festival of Trees again this year.  Our school's theme is "Going Green:  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle."  Information regarding this event went home with your child today, along with a colored index card.  Students interested in creating an ornament for our school's tree have the weekend to do so.  Simply cut out a leaf shape of your choice on the index card, decorate it, and write one tip for helping the environment on it.  Return your ornament to school on Monday or Tuesday of next week. 
     
     Next Tuesday our class will be attending the first of two Young People's Theater shows in Lars Auditorium.  The performance begins at 12:30 p.m. and tickets are $2.00 per child.
If you have already sent in a check for yearly donations to support extracurricular activities, your child is covered for this performance.    
 
     Next Wednesday, our class will hold an election for student council representatives.  Each class at Central Grade elects two representatives to serve on this student body.  Together, the representatives will work with the principal to plan school events and community service projects.  Fifth graders interested in running for student council are to prepare a speech (no longer than one minute) to share with the class.  The students understand that serving our school in this capacity is a year-long commitment and that those elected must be willing to give of their time, even if it means missing some recesses and class instruction.

     Central Grade's annual school-wide submarine sandwich making day is Thursday, November 19th.  Our class is scheduled to work from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.  If you'd like to join us in this school community event, we'd love to have you.  There are sign up sheets posted near the office, or you can just let the office know if you'd interested.  It's a lot of fun!   
   
     Due to the size of our student population, Mr. Peters and Mrs. O'Hearn are reminding parents to please use the assigned drop-off and pick-up doors for your children.  The fifth graders are to enter and exit the building through the "C" doors on Seventh Street.  Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

     Mr. Farley, our fabulous gym teacher, is once again offering intramural basketball after Thanksgiving break.  On Thursdays and Fridays, all interested fifth graders can go into the gym on lunch recess to play.  At Open House, several parents volunteered to be referees, but we could still use a few more.  If you are available between 11:45 - 12:15 on intramural days and think serving as a referee sounds like an activity you'd enjoy, please let me know and I'll pass along your name to Mr. Farley.    

     Thank you to Annie DeVries for graciously offering to be the PTO representative for our
classroom!  We appreciate you and all of the time you give to Central Grade School. 


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     At our Parent Night meeting, field trips for the year were discussed.  All of the proposed trips for the year are curriculum based and will serve as extended learning opportunities for your child.  Below is a list of the prices for each trip.  You may send in donations as you are able.  

Young People's Theater (2 shows) $124.00  
Michigan Legacy Art Park $ 35.00
Dennos Museum Trip $155.00
Lansing Trip $1115.00
Inland Seas Schoolship (Manitou) $800.00
Local Courthouse NC
Wexford Sand Mine NC
Daily Planners $100.00
Total Costs: $2329.00 / 31 students = $76.00

Note:  I am counting on parent drivers this year to cut down on the expense of field trips.