Weekly Blog 10/15

Dear Wines Families,

I have a few important announcements today.

Run-a-Thon Pledges

As of today, we are approximately half way to our pledge goal. Thank you everyone who has helped your child collect and turn in pledges. Being half way there is great news! Of course, it also means we are only half way there!! If your pledge envelope is still on the kitchen counter, please send it in with your child. Just a reminder, pledges can be made online at https://squareup.com/market/wines-elementary-school-pto. 5th grade parents, 100% of 5^th grade pledges go to help pay for Camp Tanuga. All other pledge money will go to upgrading our playground, supporting technology at Wines, financing field trips, and other PTO supported opportunities. In other words, everything we raise will go directly back to our students.

Science and Builders Fair Nov. 6^th

Our Science and Builders Fair takes place during the evening of Nov. 6^th. This annual event is open to all students at Wines. The Science and Builders Fair is a non-competitive/non-judged opportunity for students to share science inquiry, collections, demonstrations, and building creations. Attached to today's email was a registration packet and FAQ’s. This is a wonderful all school event and I hope you and your child consider entering and/or attending.

Halloween

I’ve had a few parents inquire about our plans for Halloween. We do celebrate Halloween here at Wines. Students may not come to school in costume. Instead, they may bring their costumes in a bag and change in the afternoon at a time designated by his or her teacher. We will have our annual Halloween parade beginning at 2:00. We are planning to re-start an old Wines tradition and have our parade go through the neighborhood behind the school (we attempted to do this last year but the rain kept our parade indoors). I will send a map of our route as we get closer to the day. Classrooms will have different activities that afternoon so please look for information from teachers about plans and times.

A couple of Halloween reminders:

• Again, no costumes can be worn to school in the morning

• Costumes must be “friendly”—no weapons, no fake blood. A good rule of thumb is that if you are not sure if the costume/prop is appropriate, then it isn’t.

• If your family does not wish to have your child participate in Halloween activities, we will have an alternate activity at school. Please let me know and I will make arrangements.

Fairy Garden Work Day: Thursday Oct. 16 (that’s tomorrow!!!)

Fluttering fairy wings, busy bees, whistling dwarves ... Thursday, 16 October, 3:45-5:00 pm. Please join our next effort to move Mount Mulch. No experience with fairies or mulch necessary! It would be useful to have a shovel, metal rake, wheelbarrow, gardening gloves, and drinking water.

For more information, please contact Jill Anthony Stephenson, Patricia Ferrer Beals, or Janice Hendrick.

That’s all for this week.

David