October 10, 2011
Newsletter for October 10, 2011
October 2011
Tuesday October 11th 4/5 FIELD TRIP BUCHANON
FARM
Tuesday October 11th SCHOOL PHOTOS
WILL BE IN
Wednesday October 12th FRENCH LUNCH TABLE
Thursday October
13th 4/5 FIELD TRIP SCHMEDDINGS
FARM
Friday, October 14st NO SCHOOL
Monday, October 17th KINDER FIELD
TRIP PUMPKIN PATCH
Wednesday October 19th FRENCH LUNCH TABLE
Wednesday, October 19th FIELD STUDY 2nd FINLEY
DAY
Thursday October 20th at
7:30pm ICP BOARD
MEETING
Friday, October 21st SCHOOL PHOTO PAYMENT DEADLINE
Friday, October 21st FRENCH LUNCH TABLE
Friday, October 21st BOOKMOBILE
Wednesday- Friday, October 26-28th NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 2nd at 8:30am PTO MEETING
Friday, November 4th GIVING THANKS HARVEST FESTIVAL
HAPPENINGS
BOARD MEETING
LAST THURSDAY
Out of last Thursday’s Board meeting we will be taking
specific steps forward in the next month.
The Board approved the following actions:
BUS ROUTE
The bus
route from the Lincoln area to Adams and on to Muddy Creek has been approved. I contacted the District to get this route
started. They are currently working
through some problems with their bus routes, but promised they would help get
it started as soon as possible. I will
let you know as soon as I know when the bus will start its regular morning
route.
LIGHT FIXTURES
The Board decided to start the process for changing the
light fixtures in the classrooms from T12s to T8s. What that means is that our classrooms will
use less electricity for lighting, and the new lights will not flicker or
hum. Another reason for this action is
that T12 light bulbs will no longer be made after July 2012.
HEATING
The next action was to approve switching the heating in the
two classrooms on the northwest wing of the school to heat pumps, and to add
insulation to the ceiling. This past
year each classroom cost us over $2000 to heat.
A heat pump will cost us between $300 and $500 to heat and cool. It is very difficult to put money into the
switch to electricity for heating, but the savings and environmental
considerations are too great to ignore.
So we are moving forward on a step by step basis to reduce our energy
consumption.
FUNDING
The money
for these improvements comes from our careful use of State money for running
the school and from donations and fund raisers that have been held in the
past. The students in our classrooms
will experience a significant change in the comfort and lighting. We will add heat pumps in the rest of the
classrooms as quickly as we can raise the funds. I am working on the bids for the first two
classrooms now.
ROOM 1 NEWS
We had a lot of fun on Restore day this week, identifying plants and bird
watching. It was great to be working outside even if it was a little rainy.
-Miss
Bridget
ROOM 2 NEWS
The children were excited about Restore Day. They were ready to get out in nature!
One student even asked especially if we could go check on the ash tree she
planted last year.
–
Ms. Gorman
ROOM 4 NEWS
In
spelling, we are playing Spelling Charades and Pictionary based on classmates
drawings using our words and definitions. In science, the students are
learning about moon phases, the gravitation pull of the moon and its affect on
the ocean, the earth’s tilt and how it relates to the seasons and just how big
the sun is compared to us and the other planets. In literacy, we are going through the book
“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. In math, the students are getting faster with
their math facts.
-Mr. Day
HOT
LUNCH PROGRAM
We are looking into a lunch program that would cost about
$3.25/lunch/kid twice a week. We would like families to tell the office
if they would be interested. If there does seem to be interest, we are looking
at a trial period for the program that will probably be during the first two
weeks in November.
PAINTING PROJECTS
We
have painting supplies left over from our painting projects that are available
to anyone that could use them – brushes, rollers, roller paint pans, and
masking material.
MOVIN’ MUSKRATS
We
had several track & field stars this week! A round of applause goes
to these Muskrats completing 5 miles: Ella Barnard and Celia H’Almeida
(1st graders), Alder Ame (2nd grader), Aidan Siener (3rd grader),
Natasha Rubenstein (4th grader), and Reya Fairbanks (5th grader). Way to
move it Muskrats! We’ve had 4 weeks of running on our new track and the
Muskrats are doing great out there. It’s never too late to join us on Thursdays at lunch recess!
PTO
At last
Wednesday’s meeting we covered such subjects as helping with the hot lunch
program, bringing the kitchen up to code, our farm stand, the flashing safety
light outside, a bus route, a school garden, wildlife stewards, parent nights
out, the school building and it’s maintenance and the harvest festival. Please join us at the next meeting, Wednesday
November 2nd.
MUDDY CREEK PTO YAHOO GROUP
We
have a yahoo group specifically for the Muddy Creek PTO. This is a
listserv that allows us to post information, have discussions and store
documents. Send an email to sign up to muddycreek_pto-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
You will receive a message to confirm your request. You can visit
our group website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/muddycreek_pto/.
GIVING THANKS HARVEST FESTIVAL
Friday,
November 4th. Please come to our annual festival in which we have a
potluck, a pie auction, a cake walk and other activities for the kids and a
live band, among other things. This is a community event, so if you know of
members of the community that have an interest in MCCS, please invite them. More
details to come.
MUDDY CREEK KITTENS
Just
before the beginning of the school year, a very pregnant cat was found at Muddy
Creek. She gave birth on the school grounds to an astounding 10
kittens! She and the kittens have been fostered through Heartland Humane
Society by the family of Skyla Baker-Swartzendruber. They are all healthy
and growing. The mama cat (kid-friendly and a proven mouser) is now
available for adoption at Heartland. The kittens will be ready in a few
weeks. They can be adopted through Heartland, which is a great deal as
they come spayed or neutered and with shots. For more information contact
the Baker-Swartzendrubers at erikpeter@yahoo.com.
THANK YOU
To the parents that spent time last Friday cleaning
up our kitchen. And to all painters that helped out over the weekend.
October 2011
Tuesday October 11th 4/5 FIELD TRIP BUCHANON FARM
Tuesday October 11th SCHOOL PHOTOS WILL BE IN
Wednesday October 12th FRENCH LUNCH TABLE
Thursday October 13th 4/5 FIELD TRIP SCHMEDDINGS FARM
Friday, October 14st NO SCHOOL
Monday, October 17th KINDER FIELD TRIP PUMPKIN PATCH
Wednesday October 19th FRENCH LUNCH TABLE
Wednesday, October 19th FIELD STUDY 2nd FINLEY DAY
Thursday October 20th at 7:30pm ICP BOARD MEETING
Friday, October 21st SCHOOL PHOTO PAYMENT DEADLINE
Friday, October 21st FRENCH LUNCH TABLE
Friday, October 21st BOOKMOBILE
Wednesday- Friday, October 26-28th NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, November 2nd at 8:30am PTO MEETING
Friday, November 4th GIVING THANKS HARVEST FESTIVAL
HAPPENINGS
BOARD MEETING
LAST THURSDAY
Out of last Thursday’s Board meeting we will be taking specific steps forward in the next month. The Board approved the following actions:
BUS ROUTE
The bus route from the Lincoln area to Adams and on to Muddy Creek has been approved. I contacted the District to get this route started. They are currently working through some problems with their bus routes, but promised they would help get it started as soon as possible. I will let you know as soon as I know when the bus will start its regular morning route.
LIGHT FIXTURES
The Board decided to start the process for changing the light fixtures in the classrooms from T12s to T8s. What that means is that our classrooms will use less electricity for lighting, and the new lights will not flicker or hum. Another reason for this action is that T12 light bulbs will no longer be made after July 2012.
HEATING
The next action was to approve switching the heating in the two classrooms on the northwest wing of the school to heat pumps, and to add insulation to the ceiling. This past year each classroom cost us over $2000 to heat. A heat pump will cost us between $300 and $500 to heat and cool. It is very difficult to put money into the switch to electricity for heating, but the savings and environmental considerations are too great to ignore. So we are moving forward on a step by step basis to reduce our energy consumption.
FUNDING
The money for these improvements comes from our careful use of State money for running the school and from donations and fund raisers that have been held in the past. The students in our classrooms will experience a significant change in the comfort and lighting. We will add heat pumps in the rest of the classrooms as quickly as we can raise the funds. I am working on the bids for the first two classrooms now.
ROOM 1 NEWS
We had a lot of fun on Restore day this week, identifying plants and bird watching. It was great to be working outside even if it was a little rainy.
-Miss Bridget
ROOM 2 NEWS
The children were excited about Restore Day. They were ready to get out in nature! One student even asked especially if we could go check on the ash tree she planted last year.
– Ms. Gorman
ROOM 4 NEWS
In spelling, we are playing Spelling Charades and Pictionary based on classmates drawings using our words and definitions. In science, the students are learning about moon phases, the gravitation pull of the moon and its affect on the ocean, the earth’s tilt and how it relates to the seasons and just how big the sun is compared to us and the other planets. In literacy, we are going through the book “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. In math, the students are getting faster with their math facts.
-Mr. Day
HOT LUNCH PROGRAM
We are looking into a lunch program that would cost about $3.25/lunch/kid twice a week. We would like families to tell the office if they would be interested. If there does seem to be interest, we are looking at a trial period for the program that will probably be during the first two weeks in November.
PAINTING PROJECTS
We have painting supplies left over from our painting projects that are available to anyone that could use them – brushes, rollers, roller paint pans, and masking material.
MOVIN’ MUSKRATS
We had several track & field stars this week! A round of applause goes to these Muskrats completing 5 miles: Ella Barnard and Celia H’Almeida (1st graders), Alder Ame (2nd grader), Aidan Siener (3rd grader), Natasha Rubenstein (4th grader), and Reya Fairbanks (5th grader). Way to move it Muskrats! We’ve had 4 weeks of running on our new track and the Muskrats are doing great out there. It’s never too late to join us on Thursdays at lunch recess!
PTO
At last Wednesday’s meeting we covered such subjects as helping with the hot lunch program, bringing the kitchen up to code, our farm stand, the flashing safety light outside, a bus route, a school garden, wildlife stewards, parent nights out, the school building and it’s maintenance and the harvest festival. Please join us at the next meeting, Wednesday November 2nd.
MUDDY CREEK PTO YAHOO GROUP
We have a yahoo group specifically for the Muddy Creek PTO. This is a listserv that allows us to post information, have discussions and store documents. Send an email to sign up to muddycreek_pto-subscribe@yahoogroups.com . You will receive a message to confirm your request. You can visit our group website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/muddycreek_pto/.
GIVING THANKS HARVEST FESTIVAL
Friday, November 4th. Please come to our annual festival in which we have a potluck, a pie auction, a cake walk and other activities for the kids and a live band, among other things. This is a community event, so if you know of members of the community that have an interest in MCCS, please invite them. More details to come.
MUDDY CREEK KITTENS
Just before the beginning of the school year, a very pregnant cat was found at Muddy Creek. She gave birth on the school grounds to an astounding 10 kittens! She and the kittens have been fostered through Heartland Humane Society by the family of Skyla Baker-Swartzendruber. They are all healthy and growing. The mama cat (kid-friendly and a proven mouser) is now available for adoption at Heartland. The kittens will be ready in a few weeks. They can be adopted through Heartland, which is a great deal as they come spayed or neutered and with shots. For more information contact the Baker-Swartzendrubers at erikpeter@yahoo.com.
THANK YOU
To the parents that spent time last Friday cleaning up our kitchen. And to all painters that helped out over the weekend.