Vol. XXI; No. 20 May 5, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER

Thur., May 8 Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 P.M. – Mt. Ararat High School (Room 201)
Sat., May 10 Kora Shriners Screening Clinic – 9:00 A.M.-12 noon – Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick
Mon., May 12 PTO Meeting – 3:45 P.M. – Room 2
Wed., May 14 All-District Band and Chorus Concert – 7:00 P.M. – Orion Performing Arts Center
May 17 & 18 Playground Installation – Phase II
May 19-23 Half-Price Book Fair – Library – hours are listed in newsletter
Wed., May 21 5th Grade Step-Up Day – Mt. Ararat Middle School
Thur., May 22 Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 P.M. – Mt. Ararat High School (Room 201)
Mon., May 26 Memorial Day – NO SCHOOL
Thur., May 29 Kindergarten Mini-Day – 1:30-3:00 P.M.
Mon., June 9 PTO Meeting – 3:45 P.M.
Thur., June 12 Board of Education Meeting – 6:30 P.M. – Mt. Ararat High School (Room 201)
Tue., June 17 Field Day
Thur., June 19 Last Day of School

From The Principal’s Desk:

Dear Families,

Playground News!!
The new playground equipment is ready for installation! The date is May 17th, a Saturday, at 9:00 A.M. to pour the concrete footings and do grading. On Sunday, the 18th, also at 9:00 A.M., or at a later time if more convenient for you, we will install the equipment. Please contact Whitney Abreu at 833-5821 if you are available to help either day. We will need lots of help on Saturday, the 18th. Besides those of you with strong backs, we will need help to provide refreshments.

Concert
Our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will attend the M.S.A.D. No. 75 All-District Band and Chorus Concert on Tuesday, May 13th, at 10:00 A.M. This is the dress rehearsal for the evening performance on Wednesday, May 14th, at 7:00 P.M. in the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham.

ACES
Our school will participate in All Children Exercising Simultaneously this Wednesday, May 7th, a national day to encourage and celebrate physical activity. This will take place right after morning announcements.

Kindergarten Mini-Day
Kindergarten Mini-Day is scheduled for Thursday, May 29th, for children starting school next year. It will take place from 1:30 to 3:00 P.M. Parents will meet with Ms. French and the School Nurse, and the children will meet in the Kindergarten classroom with teachers Mrs. Estrella and Mrs. Hathaway.

Families Can and G.E.A.R. Flyers
You may be interested in the services offered by one or both of these groups. Families Can offers parent education and support. G.E.A.R. offers parent to parent support and information for parents of children with emotional and behavioral health concerns.

Building Readers
Take a look at these ideas for supporting literacy development and enjoyment of reading at home.

HELLO FROM THE PTO

We are so grateful to everyone who gave of themselves, their businesses, and their families to help out and attend the Rogers Family Benefit Dinner as well as the on-going community support. It is wonderful to have such a supportive community, school and PTO! There is interest in continuing this phenomenal community spirit by creating more volunteer opportunities to help others in Harpswell. Stay tuned for more information as things develop.

The Murder Mystery Dinner was another big success. Both nights were sold out! Thank you to everyone who worked in the kitchen, contributing to the success of the last show. The Grumbling Gryphons performance was well received, and the PTO would like to plan on having them return next year. Thanks to everyone who volunteered and/or attended!

Spring has sprung and volunteers are needed for the following events: *Mini-courses (all Wednesdays, May 28th, June 4th, 11th and 18th), *Playground installation on Saturday and Sunday, May 17th and 18th, and *Field Day on Tuesday, June 17th. Please feel free to contact anyone listed below if you are interested in helping out.

Teacher Appreciation is next week and if you haven’t already, you may be hearing from a Room Parent for food donations for the luncheon. We thank you for all of your efforts in helping us show the teachers and school staff how much we appreciate them!

The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12th, at 3:45 P.M. in Room 2. Please join us. Childcare will be provided.

Co-Chair Whitney Abreu 833-5821
Secretary Perian Phillips 833-5288
Treasurer Beth Sylvester 833-6859

LIFETOUCH SPRING PICTURES

Spring portrait packages were sent home with students before spring break. If you have not returned the money for the pictures you are purchasing, please do so this week. You are not under any obligation to purchase the photos so if you do not want them, please return the entire package.
HALF-PRICE BOOK FAIR

Our annual Half-Price Book Fair will be held during the week of May 19th-23rd. To thank everyone for their support of our full-price book fair in the fall, we annually hold a half-price fair. The Library does not make any profit during this fair, but you will find many bargains and it is a great time to stock up on summer reading books.

Students will have time to browse the fair, fill out “Wish Lists” and make purchases during their regularly scheduled library class and throughout the week. Parents and siblings are always welcome to come as well.

The Library will be open each morning during the week at 8:30 A.M. We will close at 4:00 in the afternoon except on Thursday when we will stay open until 6:00 P.M. We are closed each day for lunch and recess from 12 noon until 1:00 P.M. Hope to see you there!

REMINDER TO H.I.S. CHORUS MEMBERS

Rehearsals for the All-District Concert are Wednesday, May 7th, and Monday, May 12th, from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. at the Orion Performing Arts Center in preparation for the concert on Wednesday, May 14th at 7:00 P.M. Please mark your calendars!

TOYS AND CLOTHES COLLECTION FOR KIDS

Are you getting ready for spring? Are you cleaning out your closets? Please consider donating your kids’ used clothing and small toys to help families in need. We will have a box in the upstairs hall at school to collect your donations. Thanks!

SCREENING CLINIC

Kora Shriners is holding a no-cost screening clinic on Saturday, May 10, 2008, from 9:00 A.M. to 12 noon at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. The clinic will identify children in the area who can benefit from the expert orthopedic and burn care provided by Shriners Hospitals free of charge. For more information or to make an appointment, please call Kora Temple toll-free at 1-800-782-5672.

FOURTH GRADE CLASS FUNDRAISING

To raise money for Chewonki, the fourth grade has opened bottle accounts at Rocky Ridge Redemption in West Bath, Don's Redemption in Brunswick, and The Beverage Rack on Cushing Street in Brunswick. The Beverage Rack will give us six cents per returnable. Please consider dropping of your returnables and asking your friends and neighbors to do the same. Our account name is HIS Chewonki Fund. Thanks for your support!