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September 08, 2005
New year update
Greetings!
Thanks to all who came to the Middle School back-to-school night last Thursday. In addition to the curriculum, we covered several things that are coordinated by the Middle School committee. I'll include all of those below, in addition to some new information. We'll try to get information out on a regular basis, once things settle down a bit!
Team Building - we will have our team building exercise this Friday, September 9. The students will walk from school to Lake Temescal for a 9:30 - 2:30 session led by Challenger Learning. They need to bring a sack lunch, and not wear skirts or sandals. It is very important that we get back two forms in order for your child to attend: the Walking Trip permission slip that was in your Hillcrest folder, and a Rights and Responsibilities form that is coming home today. With the building under construction, a new middle school teacher, and lots of kids in each class, this team building exercise is extra important this year, so please make sure your child's forms are signed and returned. We also need 2-4 chaperones just to walk the kids over and back - shouldn't take more than 20 minutes or so, so if you can walk in the morning or in the afternoon, please email carlson03@sprynet.com and let me know so that we have enough.
Pizza Fridays - On the attached worksheet, you will find an area for Pizza Fridays. This year, we are asking you to order and prepay for the entire semester. It makes it much easier to have a standing order at Cybelle's, and to not have to handle money in the classroom. There will not be refunds for absences. Any pizza left by an absence will be available for sale or may be given to the deserving Hillcrest staff.
Middle School Finances - We have tried to simplify the finances for the middle school, and offer you a way to write a single check for the first semester. The attached worksheet shows the different categories for the first semester: a deposit on the spring field trip, Pizza Fridays, the museum field trip, and a donation for the teachers' holiday gift. The spring field trip deposit is due soon as we need to make our down payment. The top half is an example of how to fill it out, and please fill out the bottom with your child's name on it along with a check to "Hillcrest PTA". Sally Petru is our MS Fundraising/Volunteer Coordinator, and Pam Litke is her co-coordinator for the Pizza and Snack Bar.
Social: Social events need to be self-supporting, and chaperoned by parents. If we don't have enough chaperones, we can't have the event. We usually have 2 dances with other schools, and a Hillcrest-only event. Our Hillcrest only event is the very fun "Rock and Bowl" at Albany Bowl on Saturday, October 8 from 7-9 pm. This is for middle school students only, although if parents want to chaperone and need to bring their younger children, they may play on other nearby lanes. Liz Agnello is our MS Social Chair.
Sports: Kenn Stansbury is returning again as our favorite Hillcrest "Athletic Director". He coordinates the teams, uniforms, coaching, fields/courts, and referees. We have 4 sports at Hillcrest currently -- coed flag football, boys basketball, girls basketball, and coed volleyball. We may be able to participate in a cross country league as well, so if your child is interested in that, please contact Kenn. We have the St. Augustine's gym rented again starting in late fall for basketball in the winter, and volleyball in the spring. Your child will need to pay a small amount to play on each team, as well as a refundable uniform deposit. Details about flag football will come soon.
EMAIL: In order for you to get these in a timely fashion, we need your email address! We will post these on the website as well, and will print the first few, but email is the fastest by far, and the best way to reach most parents (I know I have to dig to find anything in my kid's backpack!).
Parents' Mixer: Along those same lines, most of you should have received an "Evite" to the Middle School Parents Mixer on Thursday, September 15, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Petrus' house. If you have not, it is because A: I have the wrong/old email for you; B: Your spouse received the email; or C: I don't have your email address at all. We hope everyone can make it -- please plan on bringing something to share, as this is outside the budget!
MS Committee: The committee for this year is:
Liz Agnello - Social
Jennifer Chapman - 6th grade rep & PTA Board Liaison
Hwee Song - 8th grade rep
Aileen Dolby - Personnel
Sally Petru - Fundraising/Volunteer Coordinator
Laura Carlson - Communications & Committee Chair
Posted by LauraC at September 8, 2005 11:37 PM