Monday Morning Memo

What a GLORIOUS Family Fun Fest we enjoyed on Friday!  The weather was perfect and, while the wet field eliminated one ride that was planned, everything else was better than could have been expected.  Thanks to Katie Moreland and her vast crew of volunteers who made the event so much fun for the children. 

The Kindergarten Music Program takes place this Wed., Sept. 25 at 9:00 in the north wing Multipurpose Room.  Come see these amazing youngsters, under the direction of Mrs. Haskamp, demonstrate their skills just a little over a month after school has begun!

High School Night is Thursday, September 26, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the third floor commons.  Eighth grade students and their parents are invited to first hear from Mr. Van about the high school application process and how teachers and administrators help in that process.  Then at 6:30, parents and students will go to the north wing multipurpose room to talk with representatives from local high schools about their program and application process.  If you do NOT want your child’s address given to local high schools, please let Mr. Van know, so that he can remove your child’s name from the mailing list that the schools request. 

This Friday, Sept. 27^th,  is both Spirit Day and Pet Blessing Day, if the weather cooperates!  Please note that, due to our limited space, only students in kindergarten, first and second grades may bring live pets.  ECC students bring stuffed animals and third through eighth grade students may bring pictures of their pets.  The chapel service will begin at 8:30 on the upper field.

We would love to have you participate in this fun tradition, but to keep it fun and safe for everyone, we have a few requests:

-- Parents of kindergarten, first and second grade students who bring live pets, please go to the upper field before 8:30am. 

-- Please drop your child off as usual to his/her class.  The teachers will bring the children to the upper field.

-- If you are bringing a live pet, please bring gloves and bags to pick up any waste they may leave behind as we will be up on the field for PE classes and sports later in the day.

-- Please remember that live pets should not be brought into the building.  We have a number of children with pet allergies and others who are frightened of different pets.

-- There will be signs signifying the dog area, the cat area, etc. on the field.  When you get to the field, please head to that area right away.  We’d like to avoid any animal fights!

-- In the event of rain, the Pet Blessing on the field will be cancelled and we’ll bless our pets (in absentia) in the all-school chapel service in the church.

Thank you so much, and we look forward to seeing you all on Friday morning!

Community Learning Event -- Bill Severns, coach and author, has written a compelling book titled, Keepers of the Sandlot, where he provides insight and perspective into what our children truly seek through their participation in team sports. Bill played professional baseball for six years in the Brewers organization, but his true passion came from the twenty-three years he spent coaching youth baseball. Through Bill’s life experiences, he has valuable insights and perspectives to share with our community. On Tuesday, October 1^st, 2013, Bill will be at St. Paul’s for a community discussion at 6:00 PM in the north wing multi-purpose room.

We strongly encourage all coaches and parents of children who play sports to attend. There is no charge for this event but please RSVP by contacting Linda van Thullenar at Lvan@speds.org. Copies of Keepers of the Sandlot and the Sandlot Strategy are available for check out from the Early Childhood office. If you would like more information about Bill or the books please visit:  http://billseverns.com.

Get ready to get your groove on!  Individual registration for the October 4th Buddy Run is now open.  Registration is $25 per student.  This includes a St. Paul's sweatband to show your spirit the day of the run, and each student registered is entered in a raffle to win a St. Paul's Spirit Pack.  Please register by September 30th.  Follow this link to register online today!https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/BuddyRun2013/Registration/tabid/484794/Default.aspx  Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors do not need to individually register their children.  Please note, all students preschool through 8th grade participate in the Buddy Run.  All students toddler through 8th grade receive a Buddy Run t-shirt.  The toddlers will have a special activity with their buddies on October 4th, but they will not attend the Buddy Run as a class.

Go to the SPEDS website and find out how your child can create a website for online fundraising or to print a paper sponsor form (sponsor forms also came home in backpacks).  Remember there are awards available for the students based on sponsorships and spirit.  P.E. Teacher for a day, master of ceremonies for the buddy run, a pizza party, and a donut breakfast with St. Paul's parent and Sporting K.C.'s Jimmy Nielsen are all awards this year.  http://www.speds.org/current-parents-and-students/parents_guild/buddy-run/  

Get ready to shop at STUFF in Brookside on Thursday, September 26th.  STUFF will donate 15% of sales to the Buddy Run if you mention St. Paul's.  Bring in the STUFF rack card that is sent home in backpacks (or download the STUFF flier) and you will receive a free canvas "pursue good stuff" tote bag.  Don't forgot to eat at SPIN Pizza every Tuesday in September.  SPIN is donating 10% of sales to the Buddy Run. http://www.speds.org/file/download/SPINSept2013_sm.pdf  

Parents, we need your help the day of the Buddy Run.  Please follow this link for volunteer opportunities.  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044DAEAD283-volunteers

Eighth grader Ella L was the only St. Paul’s girl to participate in the Barstow Cross-Country Meet.  She won the 1.5 mile girls race!!  Her closest competitor was 33 seconds behind.

St. Paul’s doesn’t officially have Cross-Country or Track as a sport, but Mr. Kurt encourages students to participate when these events come up.  Congratulations, Miss Ella!

Monday Morning Memo Sept. 24, 2012

What a delightful Family Fun Fest we all enjoyed on Friday!  The weather was gorgeous, the activities were fun for the children, the volunteers all made those activities possible, and a good time was had by all.  Thank you so much to Brittany Harris and Katie Moreland for chairing this event, gathering the volunteers, and providing one of the most cherished events for our children.  

It’s time for our first music program of this school year!   Our kindergarten students, under the direction of Mrs. Haskamp, will lead off our musical performances on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 9:00 a.m. in the north wing multipurpose room.  Come share the joy of these lively performers!

High School Night is this Thursday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the north wing multipurpose room.   This event is for our eighth graders and their parents to learn from representatives of the various high schools about their program.  Not only do Admissions people from the schools come to engage our students, but also graduates of St. Paul’s who are now attending there.

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE 3rd ANNUAL BUDDY RUN?  This is the LAST WEEK for sponsor families to get their names on the t-shirt! Sponsorships are offered at three levels and ALL sponsor families will be listed on the back of the t-shirt.  To appear on the back of the t-shirt sponsor families must make their donation by Friday, September 28th!  If you aren't up for being a sponsor, please register your child for the run. Both Sponsorships and Child Registration can be done here:  https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/?tabid=387225.  If you would prefer not to pay online, please print the form at the end of this post and return it to school.  All students will participate in the Buddy Run and all will receive a t-shirt to wear the day of the run!  This event is a FUNdraiser and is the only fundraiser besides the auction that the Parents' Guild sponsors.  All children who are registered or whose family is a sponsor at any level will receive a St. Paul's water bottle and be entered in a raffle to be the Master of Ceremonies the day of the race.  Volunteers are also still needed. This is a fun two hour opportunity with our kids. Sign up today!  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA4AE1-buddy.

DID YOU KNOW that St. Paul's receives funding from other non-profit organizations and foundations?  The size of these incremental donations often depends upon the percentage of parent participation in the Annual Fund - that is why we so strongly encourage every family to participate!   Every donation matters, so please participate to your level of inspiration.  Thank you!
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Monday Morning Memo

Our eighth graders have returned safely from a memorable, fun four days at the YMCA Camp of the Ozarks! The teachers were pleased with the cooperation, diligence, and enthusiasm of this group. The weather cooperated until the last afternoon but it was deemed a very successful trip.

The first program of this new school year is the kindergarten program on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9:00 in the north wing multipurpose room. Come witness the joy of performing that these students portray, under the leadership of Mrs. Haskamp.

High School Information Night will be this Thursday, Sept. 29 for eighth grade parents and students. The evening begins at 6:00 in the middle school commons where parents will learn about the deadlines, expectations, and assistance offered by St. Paul’s in the process of applying to area independent high schools. At 6:30, representatives from the area independent high schools will be available in the north wing multipurpose room to greet parents and students and to talk about their programs. It’s a very important night for eighth grade families who are considering independent high schools.

Remember the noon dismissal for all students on Friday, Sept. 30! This is to allow professional development time for our faculty. There will be no lunch served, and the 11:45 carpool will occur at 12:00. Please be patient with us, as dismissing all the students at one time takes more time. Arriving at 12:15 or 12:20 will preclude the waiting in such long lines.

Friday is also Spirit Day and Feed the Need Friday! Wear your St. Paul’s spirit wear with pride and, if you want to help, the following items are in great need at our church pantry:

Fruit, cans, 15-16 oz. size

Corn and other non-green vegetables, cans , 15-16 oz. size

Spaghetti-Os, chili, lasagna, or other canned meals, 15-16 oz. size

Jelly, 16± oz. size

Vienna Sausages, sardines, salmon, Spam, or other canned meats

Toilet tissue

Personal Hygiene - dental, shampoo

Paper or plastic sacks.

Our coffees will take the form of brown bag lunches this fall! We offer parents the opportunity to come talk to me and the division head for the level in which your child is working this year about the issues that are on your mind. We have had coffees in the past but thought we would try a lunch time to see if other people could join us. Bring your lunch, if you’d like, and come chat with us about your child’s (and YOUR) experience to date. All meetings will be in the church’s Garden Room at 11:30 a.m.:

Tuesday, Oct. 4 -- Lower School (grades 1 – 5)

Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Middle School (grades 6 – 8)

Thursday, Oct. 6 – Early Childhood (toddlers through kindergarten).

Prayer Opportunity: In response to a request, we are providing the church chapel, located next to the church sanctuary, for private prayers of petition on behalf of others this Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. until noon. We have been alerted of two specific circumstances that invite prayers of intercession, but undoubtedly there are many others. The chapel will not be staffed but it will be prepared for anyone who stops by. Please let us know if you would like to add a name to the intercessions by e-mailing: pbauer@speds.org.

Service Club: Last call for families of k-8^th graders interested in participating in our monthly Service Club at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, September 27. We will meet in the main hallway of the south building. Our project: rock painting for our Pocket Park. To enroll, please e-mail: pbauer@speds.org

The Oct. 14th Buddy Run is quickly approaching. Have you registered your children? Please visit our online registration today, https://stpeds.ejoinme.org/buddyrun2011. There are many donation levels - families who donate at a higher level will have their family name on the back of the Buddy Run t-shirt. With the $25 registration per child, students will receive a St. Paul’s water bottle and a chance to win a SPEDS Prize Pack full of our new Spirit Wear! All students will get a colorful Buddy Run t-shirt to wear the day of the event. For more information on the Buddy Run, visit our website, http://www.speds.org/current-parents-and-students/get-involved/buddy-run/. There are awards for children who obtain sponsors. Sponsor forms can be printed from the Buddy Run Website. Students will have opportunities to raise money with sponsorships. We will give prizes for students with 5 or more sponsors. Those will be distributed before school when students turn in their sponsor forms.

The Spirit Award will be given to the buddy classes that show the most spirit at the Buddy Run. The winning classes will have a picnic lunch and play games together on Friday, Oct. 21 on the upper field. In case of inclement weather, the picnic will be held in the ECC Commons.

The Class Award will be given to the class with the most collective sponsors (not most money raised) -- teachers can participate, too! The winning class will have lunch in the Garden Room with several of the KC Sporting players and coaches. The date will be mutually agreed upon when the KC Sporting season ends.