Volunteers, please

Hey y'all,

If volunteering was high on your list of "things to do more of in 2012" then this email is for you! 

We need lots of parent-power to fill the following positions: 

 

Red Plate Date Volunteer (11-1pm)
January 27
February 17
March 16
April 13
May 18

Zion Shelter Lunch Delivery and Food Preparation Volunteer
February 6
March 5
April 16
May – Pending
June 4

Also: If you wish to donate an item to the annual auction you have until Feb. 11 to do so. Attached is letter you may use to gallantly encourage a for-profit entity to consider a tax-deductible contribution to our school. …or even a non-profit entity! Everyone is welcomed to contribute!

Also, also: The fossil pile in the rear of preschool building is dying (hahaha) to be moved into our garden to top off the fossil pits. We are looking for a few folks with shovels and wheelbarrows to move the old rocks. This can be done anytime, on the weekend, after school…and may be a good volunteer opportunity for those with less flexible schedules.

And one last thing: Please send $3 to contribute to the 3-6 year old auction baskets by Jan. 20.

Email with questions, comments or stories about your experiences at WMPCS!

Thanks,

Bianca Shoneman

(I finally legally changed my name :)  

Welcome back, parents!

The annual auction, you know the fundraiser designed to raise lots and lots of useful money for our dear school, is planned for Saturday, February 18, 2012.  Mark your calendar and schedule the sitter!

It will be at the Whitehurst Lake House ( 903 Whitehurst Lane,Pactolus). An auction item preview and the bar will open at 5:00 pm. Tickets are available at the office for $20/person or $35/couple. Tickets at the door will be $25/person.

75-100 items will be auctioned off. Typically, these items are donated from local merchants and community members. If you are entertaining the idea of soliciting donations there's now an incentive to do so!   For each item donated to the auction, individual or toward the class baskets (more on this in another email)  the parent responsible for acquiring the item will be entered into a drawing for a pair of tickets to the auction and a $100 gift card (visa).  Auction tickets will be selected at the end of January and the gift card will be awarded at the auction (must be present to win). You have until Feb. 11 to collect a donation.

PS: if you donate an item be sure to register the item with Mrs. Hardee and Mrs. Hill on the form in our classroom. Registration is required to be awarded a prize!

On a personal note, our family is didn’t have much time to solicit donations last year but we did make a donation to the school...something to consider.

Oh and don’t forget that the theme this year is Luau. A prize will be presented for the best dressed. So break out your grass skirts and shelled tops!

 Aloha!

Holiday concert and more

Hello Hardee/Hill parents!

I hope everyone is enjoying the fast approaching holiday season and taking time out to smell the Douglas Firs. As you know, tomorrow is the annual WMPCS Holiday Concert at Washington High School (400 Slatestone Road). Students are asked to arrive at 6:00pm with their glockenspiels and dressed in school uniforms.  If your child is up for it, you may outfit them with a Santa hat or elf ears. Santa gear or not, you'll be amazed at how talented our 3-6 year olds are.

On Monday, December 12, 2011, Erin Passailaigue (thanks, Erin) will assist the classroom in preparing and delivering the monthly lunch to Zion Shelter. Mrs. Hardee and Mrs. Hill froze the leftover Pilgrim Stew and Rolls used over the Thanksgiving holiday, so there is no need to donate food items this month (thanks, Mrs. Hardee and Mrs. Hill).

I can't believe it how fast the holiday break is approaching. Classes end on December 21 (1/2 day, no BASC) and resume on Jan. 3, 2012.

Fall festival

Fall festival takes place on Monday, Nov. 21 from 8:45-11:45. This is a special event with games, food and fellowship. All the 3-6 year old classrooms are planning to make "pilgrim stew" for the children to eat during lunch on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.

We will cut and prepare the ingredients on Monday, November 21, 2011 during our Fall Festival. We will use a crock pot to cook feast.

Last week, letters were sent home describing the event and requesting a donation to the stew (listed at the bottom of the page that was sent home with your child). Thank you for your contribution to our special Thanksgiving lunch.

As a reminder, Friday is the last day to donate a canned food item for the fall food drive. We appreciate all the gifts and so will Eagles Wings, Washington’s local food bank!

Thanksgiving Lunch Menu

Pilgrim Stew

Oyster Crackers

Oranges

Pumpkin Pie

Pilgrim Stew

3 lbs. lean ground chuck

6 cans condensed tomato soup

4 large potatoes

4 whole carrots

2 small onions

4 stalks celery

4 cans of corn

Busy week!

Hey families,

Just a few updates:

·         Zion Shelter Lunch Delivery:  Tammy and Mike Tetterton, parents to Ana, will contribute fresh soup for this month's Zion Shelter Food Drive! Special thanks goes out to them for this delicious donation. To round out the meal, Mrs. Hardee and Mrs. Hill will supply oranges and rolls. Students will assist in buttering the rolls and slicing the fruit Monday morning in preparation for the delivery.  Xi Maxson, Tye's mom, will deliver the food to the shelter Monday morning at 9am. Many thanks to all paricipating in this month's Zion Shelter Lunch Delivery.

·         Fall Can Food Drive: This service learning project is in full swing. Donations  of canned or cash goods are appreciated.  All 3-6 and 6-9 year old are participating. Shortly after Nov. 18 (last day to donate) the 6-9 year olds will deliver donated goods to Eagles Wings, the local food bank. Don't forget to send an item or two!

·         Hardee/Hill Pantry: Mrs. Hardee asked that the wish list be updated to include boys 3-6 size underwear. We’d hate to be without those….please contribute if you can!

·         Red Plate Day: Paula Weatherington, Haley’s mom, volunteered to sit with the kids from 11:30-1:30 on Nov. 9 (thanks, Paula) so the teachers can enjoy a warm meal in chairs they fit in!

·         Pettigrew state park field trip is fast approaching. We depart Nov. 10 from school (8:45 SHARP!). If interested in learning more about the school supported field trip guidelines click here

Share week- who knew?

As some of you know, this is our family's second year at WMPCS. Sophia started when she was a mere 3 years old. Last year, we missed a lot of important dates and had a difficult time navigating the policies, scheduling and the new rules. Our bumpy road was a primary driver behind us accepting on the role of Room Parents. However, no matter how close you are to the source you still slip up from time to time. We had one such event this week.

This week is Sophia’ share week. So on Tuesday when she asked to bring her favorite doll (a 1970's hand-me-down from my 87 year old grandmother...a doll my husband affectionately calls Big Nasty) in the heat of the morning routine we allowed it. 

At 8:15, after Seth dropped her off he called to tell me we'd gotten the share item all wrong and Sophia was bummed. He said the share item is supposed to be educational. (Beyond assisting the students in honing their role playing skills in the practical life area there is nothing educational about Big Nasty). As a matter of fact, our share item was a direct violation of the toy policy. Who knew there was a toy policy?

Here’s an excerpt from said policy:
At WMPCS students are invited to bring items from home to share with the class at various times during the school year. At no time should these items be toys but instead educational items. For example: a bird’s nest or photos from a trip. In addition, toys from home should not be brought to the Before or After School programs as toys are already provided for everyone to play with. Washington Montessori will not be responsible for any lost or damaged toys brought from home. All items are at teacher’s discretion.

So to avoid disappointing your children and looking like a half-awake parent, please keep in mind that your share item should be educational like a map of the world, a found fossil,  a Spanish music CD..not a Big Nasty doll.

Pettigrew State Park

The 3-6 classes will be visiting Pettigrew State Park on Thursday, November 10. Permission slip and fees  (payable in cash) should be returned by Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Preschool parents are required to drive their pre-school age children or arrange for them to stay at school. Older students may ride with their own parents or carpool with others.

Pettigrew State Park is amaizngly beautiful. Cypress trees, geese, water and much more. Join us!

Updated wish list!

A little bird told me that cello sponges and dishwashing liquid are high the classroom needs list.

If you happen to be at the store, please consider a purchase for the classroom pantry.

Thanksgiving food drive, bring your items in!

Below is a letter from the 3-6 year old teachers in regards to the Thanksgiving Food Drive!

Who:  Washington Montessori Public Charter School

             3-6 level & 6-9 level students

What:  Thanksgiving

Food Drive

When: Begin collecting canned items on Tuesday, November 1, 2011.

              Last day to collect items is Friday, November 18, 2011.

                                  

     Hunger is a need in every community across the United States of America. More than ever our community food banks are helping to provide to the hungry.  Please help make this giving project a success by sharing canned goods during the month of  November. Throughout the month of November the 3-6 and 6-9 level students will be participating in a canned food drive to help our local food bank, “Eagles Wings”, here in Washington, N.C..  

    Your child’s teacher will collect the items in their classroom and each week the 6-9 students will gather the items and prepare to deliver the items to the Food Bank of Washington. The 6-9 students will be delivering the items as part of their community service/fieldtrip for November.  The 3-6 students will not be participating in the delivery part of this community service project.

     Please talk with your 3-6 and 6-9 students about the importance of sharing at this time of year!

Thank you for your support,

All 3-6  and 6-9 teachers

Fundraising Opportunities!!

YARD SALE THIS WEEKEND- BRING YOUR DONATIONS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIDAY! ITS A GREAT EXCUSE TO CLEAN UP YOUR HOME.

Also, there are many programs available that will give WMPCS money or vouchers when you shop and it costs you nothing!  All we need is your participation.  Some of the businesses require enrollment prior to making a purchase in order for WMPCS to reap rewards.  Please take the time to review the list of businesses.  If it is  a business that you patronize,  kindly enroll accordingly.

Campbell's Soup Labels and Box Tops for Education Labels - Cut along the dotted lines of the labels/packages and drop off at the school office.

French Toast Uniforms - When ordering, mention WMPCS source # QS47EYJ.

Office Depot - When making your purchase, tell the clerk you want WMPCS to be the recipient of the 5% Back to School program.  WMPCS ID # 70113707.

Food Lion and Harris Teeter - Enrollment needed.  Link your MVP and VIC cards to WMPCS by filling out the end of this letter and sending it to the school office or to your child's teacher.  We have to enroll annually.  Even if you filled out a form last year, we need you to do it again for this school year.  Encourage your friends and families to link their cards to WMPCS too!  The more participants we have, the more money for our school!

Land's End - When making your purchase, tell the clerk to lik sale to WMPCS #900128901.

Target Credit Card - Enrollment needed.  Designate your Target Credit Card to WMPCS and they'll give our school up to 1% of purchases.

For Small Hands - Mention WMPCS when purchasing.

Box Tops for Marketplace - When shopping online enroll in the www.boxtops4education.com/marketplace program.  Designate WMPCS as your school and shop at over 60 online stores who will give WMPCS up to 8% of your purchase price. 

Funding Factory - Collect and bring in used Ink/toner cartridges and cell phones. WMPCS gets a check for ones that they can recycle.

Staples - Will give 10% discount on copy paper, ink and toner to WMPCS families.

SchoolPax which includes Subway, Travelocity, Footlocker, Verizon (mention WMPCS w/code for a new 2 yr activations and WMPCS will get $37.50) and 1-800-Flowers - Mention code B9NN when shopping online at Travelocity, Footlocker, Verizon and 1-800-Flowers.  When using and replenishing Subway cards mention the code and WMPCS will get a part.

Onecause.com - includes everything from Amazon.com to Wal-Mart.com and zillions of other stores for online shoppers.  WMPCS code 201628.

Thank you for your support of the WMPCS Program Income!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Kindly copy and paste this portion to a word document. Complete form and submit to the WMPCS office - PROGRAM INCOME

Name________________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________________________

Phone # ______________________________________________________________

Harris Teeter VIC # (12 #'s) _____________________________________________

Food Lion MVP # (12 #s includes small #s) _________________________________