BIG, Busy Week Ahead!

We are five days away from Thanksgiving Break! Five Days! Does anyone else out there feel as if time is just flying by? Maybe I am just getting too old! (256 is getting up there, you know?) If I don't get a chance to send out an e-mail or note, I pray that everyone has a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving. For those of you travelling, may you get there and home without any difficulties.

What does this week hold for us? I am so glad you asked. Sit back, read on, and take notes.

• The Penny Harvest, for Common Cents, continues this week. Team 4 (us, along with Ms. Hunt, Mrs. Cuffman, and Mrs. Ward's classes) were in 1st place last week. GREAT JOB! Keep it up and send those pennies in. Every cent collected will be used to help out a need in our community as decided upon by our student council.
• The Scholastic Book Fair runs through Thursday of this week. During school hours Monday through Wednesday and all day Thursday until 7:30, the library is hosting the "Chill Out With a Good Book" book fair. Stop by and check it out!
• Tuesday is an SSA opt-out day. Students are encouraged to come to school dressed up as their favorite book character. (There will be NO parade.)
• Thursday is also an SSA opt-out day. Students are to come to school dressed for a blizzard to help remind them that it is the last day of the book fair. (Perfect for a 70 degree day, don't you think?)
• Thursday night is the PTO's chili supper along with the book fair. Reservations for the supper were due in by last week, but you can contact PTO to see if arrangements can still be made. The evening's festivities wrap up at 7:30.
• Friday is the presentations for our social studies trunk projects! That will begin at 12:30 if you would like to come.
• Friday also ends our class book orders. Have those orders turned in to me or online by 3:00.
• Midterm reports will also come home on Friday along with student work.

You then have all of next week to visit, eat, watch football, eat, nap, visit, and eat some more! Very soon after that we will have to start thinking about planning our Christmas/Holiday party. I have already had some parents eagerly anticipating this grand event. I am open for any thoughts and ideas you may have for the party. School-wide, we have "Pajama Day" set for Thursday, December 20--the last full day before Christmas Break. That will be a D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) Day along with hot cocoa and watching The Polar Express. Would you want the party that day or wait until the half day on Friday? You let me know. While somewhat on the topic, I hope my request for no teacher gifts this year will not fall on deaf ears. After a year and a half together, I don't need gifts to know how dear each one of you is to me. It would mean a lot to me to know that instead of buying a gift for me, you go do something together as a family. I'll leave it at that. (I hope my name-sake is reading this!) Have a great week and enjoy Thanksgiving! Save a piece of pumpkin pie for me!