Dear Parents October 23, 2009

The corrected spelling test and a corrected math quiz are in the parent folder. Please sign the parent folder to be returned on Monday. Also there is a special letter concerning the swine flu. A vaccine will be provided at no cost and will be administered to students who have preregistered through the consent form. Read the memo for details and if interested, return the form by October 26th.

Also your child has an invitation for you for our character sketch next Friday, October 30th. The time is 1:45 p.m in the large group room. You will come into the lobby area and sign in and then go around the corner and enter the door to the right of the large bulletin board.

The students are really excited about this event and hope you can attend. There is a parent signature sheet to be returned on Monday. to let me know how many will be attending. Also we are asking parents to contribute refreshments for our celebration. This is voluntary, but the class and I will greatly appreciate your contribution for our event. I indicated a particular item on the invitation that is needed. I would like students to bring the refreshment items and their costumes the day before so that we can prepare the room ahead of time and the kids will have their outfits at school ready to go. Also if students have props that could possibly cause injury, parents must bring these to school. Thanks for your help.

The students have been working on the character sketches at school. Some students are done writing and typing their work at school. However, some will need to finish them this weekend. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in helping your child finish writing the character sketch this weekend for Monday so the students can do the typing at school. The students should also bring back their book to school as well.

Please check your childÕs assignment book and my website for homework assignments. Some students are forgetting to complete homework. I give time in class to begin all assignments, but students must finish any undone work for homework. Thank you for checking with your child on the assigned work.

The monthly Messenger is in the Parent Folder. Check out the articles about events happening in the elementary schools. Also there are lists of important dates such as conferences, holiday programs and the Thanksgiving luncheon. (DonÕt forget the Turkey Luncheon deadline for reservations is October 29th.) I also enclosed an additional copy of The PTG Press for students. Some students did not get this earlier so I made another copy to send home.

The students had a fun week. They enjoyed the activities for Red Ribbon week. We also had a special presentation this week from Lincoln Caverns. Students are doing a unit centered around bats. They learned about the different kinds of bats in Pennsylvania. They also learned about a problem bats are having with a fungus called the white-nose syndrome that is killing them.

If students are interested in learning more about bats and seeing bats up close, Lincoln Caverns is sponsoring a free event. Robyn Graboski and her friends, Bernice & Buffy, big brown bats, will be joining Lincoln Caverns to celebrate Hauntingdon Night.Ê Robyn is the director of Centre Wildlife Care (CWC), a non-profit organization, dedicated to rehabilitation of mammals, birds, and reptiles.Ê Ms. Graboski will present 30 minute programs on the hour and 1/2 hour, 6 - 9 PM.ÊStudents can also make a bat craft of recycled materials to take home, too.Ê There is no charge for the programs, but CWC graciously accepts donations.

In addition Lincoln Caverns is having Hauntingdon Night on Friday, October 23rd. There is a $2.00 discount onÊtickets for the haunted caverns and trail from 6:00 till 10:00 PM.Ê A portion of the proceeds from each Hauntingdon Night ticket purchase will be donated to the Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce, organizers of Hauntingdon and to Bat Conservation International's White Nose Syndrome Research Rapid Response Fund.Ê

If you are looking for a fun family activity, check it out. I have no affiliation with Lincoln Caverns, but I have visited the caverns several times and it is educational and fun. For more information, visit www.lincolncaverns.com or call 814.643.0268.ÊStudents also have a flyer in their parent folder.

The students received a flyer earlier this week for the annual library book fair which runs from October 23rd. through October 30th. Also I enclosed a pink order form copy for students who participated in the fundraiser so parents have a record of what was sold.

Hope you can come to our WriterÕs Celebration next week. We are looking forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

Ms. Szczerba