Thetford Elementary School

News and Views

Oct 9, 2006

From The Principal’s Desk:

Open House: Thursday evening October 12th 6:30-7:30

for all students  in grades  K-6 and their families. This is an opportunity for students to share their work and their classroom, with parents and others. We look forward to seeing you.

For famiiies of fifth and sixth grade students:

Its that time of year when 5th and 6th grade students at TES are traditionally thinking about Friday night “socials”.  These evenings, which usually happen 3 or 4 times a year, are planned by the students with some guidance and direction from Keith Thompson and me and with the help and support of parents.  We know that there are always questions from parents and welcome dialogue and collaboration so that we can all make these events age appropriate and fun for the kids. With that in mind, Keith and I are available to talk with parents about the 5th and 6th grade socials on the evening of October 12th during open house. We will plan to convene in the art room at 7:15 for this purpose and welcome your attendance and participation. 

        I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful support that is given to TES by the local PTO. The TES PTO provides support for a number of activities and organizes fun events for the children including the annual Halloween party, which will be coming up at the end of the month. PTO “Room Parents” serve as a contact for the classroom and help organize volunteers.  During the NECAP testing last week and this, PTO parents are providing snacks for the children to fortify them during the testing period. I hope you will all consider participating in the PTO. Meetings are the last Wednesday of the month. It’s a great way to meet other parents and develop a connection to the school. (PTO news from the September meeting is included in this newsletter.)

School Announcements:

Homework Club: The after school homework club will begin this Tuesday October 10th and run Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school. This program is free and is open to all 4th-6th grade students. Information and registration has been sent home but if you have questions you may call Sandy Dickson at school.

        Our third annual Hike for Hunger was very successful raising $1,283 and kicking off the first Kids Connection event for the school year.  Everyone enjoyed a beautiful afternoon hiking the Mimi trail, snacking and playing games. Many thanks to Mary Corrigan for once again coordinating donations including donations for the local food shelf.

Sally Foster Sale: The Sally Foster Fund Raiser brought nearly $10,000. to our school!  Many thanks to the students and teachers who participated, the parents who helped their children sell, the community members who purchased or donated to our cause, and the parent volunteers who helped display, tally and complete our sale.  An extra special thank you to Kendra Waterbury, who coordinated all activities associated with this event and without whom we would not have been able to realize such success! Profits from the sale will be shared between all classrooms to fund field trips or classroom "extras”. Thank you again for your support.

From the Health Office: Have you lifted your child's backpack recently?  What AREN'T students carrying back and forth these days?!  Please sort through contents on a regular basis to eliminate as much unnecessary weight as possible.  (As a bonus, you just might find that missing library book or classroom newsletter. . .) Children's loads will only be getting heavier as we head into the winter clothing season.  We ask that you pack clean dry extras such as socks, pants, and underwear; so it is doubly important to rid backpacks of anything not needed.  Lighter loads ease the potential for injury and make for happier students.

EMERGENCY phone trees will be coming home with students in the next few days.  Please take a moment to check your number carefully.  The success of the tree, which is used primarily to notify families about unexpected school closings, depends on everyone's participation.  We start the tree as soon as the decision to cancel school is made; many families have children at TA, which starts an hour earlier than TES, or leave early for daycare.  Families with more than one student at TES are listed on only one phone tree.  Call Wendy Cole at 785-2698 with any questions or concerns.

PTO News: Thanks to all the new (and old) faces that came to our September meeting. It was great to see so many people!

Halloween Party. A big thanks to the parents who stepped forward to form the committee to plan this year’s Halloween Party at T.E.S on Halloween night! More information from them will be sent home with the kids as this gets closer.

Newsletter. Another big thanks to those parents who have joined the newsletter committee this year. (If you still want to be involved in either of these events, it is not to late, just let the PTO know.)

Boxtops. The first dead line for box tops to be sent in is Oct. 31st, so if you have not gotten yours in, please do so by 10/27/06! Drop off locations are in the lobby at T.E.S, at the recycling center, and at the Thetford Town Clerk’s office. Remember, it helps to have them come in individual bags of 50 (and marked).

Finally, a reminder that our next meeting is Oct. 25th at 6:30 p.m. in the S.E. Room, hope to see even more faces there! From: Roxanne Eastman, PTO Chair (re123@valley.net)

Looking for some help: I’m Looking for three bowls, which were left at the school in June following the Staff Appreciation Luncheon. These bowls had been left in the staff room for pick up, but have gone missing, despite a lengthy search. Please check your kitchens for the following:

1. Very large ceramic bowl, beige with blue stripe under rim.

2.”Large”ceramic bowl, medium brown, bamboo pattern, tapered sides, small   handles in rim.

3.Small ceramic bowl, white with a gray or blue stripe across it. Looks like a large soup bowl.

If any of these bowls mysteriously showed up in your kitchen ("Where did this come from?"), I would love to get them back to their homes, especially as one was a wedding gift. I greatly appreciate all the effort parents put into preparing food for the luncheon, and am feeling awful that these bowls haven't been found. Thanks! Jean Graber 785-9875

Community Announcements:

Caring Community Preschool currently has a couple of openings for this school year.  The

Preschool is located in Post Mills and offers a morning program until 11:30am. The calendar follows that of OESU. Any child from ages 3 to 5 years old is welcome. Please contact Dawn Stever, Preschool Director at 333-4819 for more information. 

Fright Night at Latham Memorial Library. Friday October 13th 8:30-9:30 pm.

Free to those of strong constitution, others may pay dearly. Put your children in bed and leave them safe at home. Stay there yourself if you are faint of heart. Simon Brooks will be telling ghoulish tales, supernatural stories, and yarns that might just make you jump out of the grave at Latham Library, Thetford VT. Come and have your spine tickled, your toes curled, your hair stood on end. For details, call Latham Library, 802 785 4361

Commodity and Food Distribution.  Income eligibility guidelines have increased effective July 1 2006.

Please call Roberta Howard (333-4607) for an application or further information.  Assistance for weatherization is also available.  Contact Bob Walker (785-4126) for information.