Are you wondering what's for lunch? Starting next week, you probably will be. Beginning in February, the district will no longer send home a lunch menu with each child. So if you'd like a paper copy to hang on your fridge, you'll need to print one out. You can go to our school website to find a menu, or to the district site (go to the Departments menu, then Operations, Food Services; click on "menu" and choose the month). Or just use this handy-dandy shortcut link that will take you directly to the menu page.

Also, remember today is the Science Fair! Even if you did not participate, you're welcome to come and peruse the projects that our students have worked so hard on. The projects will be in the gym from 1:00-2:30.

Check out some of the things our school is doing to remember a very special student.

Meep meep meep, mmeeeep meep meeeeeeep meep meep meep meep meep mmmmmeeeeeeeppppp!

Translation: Remember, the science fair is this Friday, so wrap up your projects and get your display board ready!

*Boards are available at the office $3.50.

Fun in the Great Indoors

If your kids are feeling a little cabin feverish this time of year, here's an acitivity that might help. Chess club is taking place after school and is it's a fun way for kids to learn the basics or even more advanced strategies. If they need a little inspiration, check out this story about a ten-year-old chess champion from Utah. One interesting fact--internationally, chess is the most competitive sport behind soccer.

Chess as a sport? Maybe there's hope for me to be athletic after all.

Also, remember to keep working on your projects for the Science Fair. Poster boards to create the display for the projects are available at the office for $3.50.

SEP Conferences

Tomorrow evening is our school's mid-year SEP Conferences (or for those of us stuck in a linguistic rut, Parent Teacher Conferences). Hopefully you have received the paper with your assigned time and have marked it in red on your calendar.

The January PTA newsletter had some fantastic tips on what kinds of things to ask at SEP Conferences. Ideas included:

• What is my child like during the day? Does he or she participate in class discussions and activities?
• How much help should I provide on homework assignments?
• How is progress measured?
• What are my child's best and worst subjects? What can I do to help with improving the areas that need work?

If you'd like other ideas for how to prepare for SEP Conferences, check out the articles here and here. You can access your child's grades by going to our school website and clicking on the SIS link on the left side of the page. If you've never used SIS, it may be something worth asking about at the conference.

You can also find links to teacher email accounts on the school site. Emailing teachers is a great way to follow up on issues discussed during the conference.

Science Fair

Do you have a child that loves science?

Fantastic!

Do you have a child that hates science?

Even better!

Because now is the time for the science fair, and this activity is a great way to help kids see how fun science can be. The kick-off assembly was held yesterday, so talk to your child and see if they have any interest in doing a project. If not, check out some websites like sciencebuddies to see if any of the project ideas pique their interest. No matter what your child is interested in, chances are that there is an underlying scientific principle of phenomenon they could explore by doing a project.

Look for a blue flyer that came home yesterday. It details the specifics of the fair and explains the scientific method. If you have other ideas for resources, feel free to leave them in the comments.

It's a happenin' Friday

There are two activities to be aware of tomorrow. The sixth grade has a skating field trip (do you remember those old Charmin commercials? Some extra padding might not be a bad idea.)

Also, there is a School Community Council meeting at 11:30 at the school. No injuries are expected there.

And We're Back!

Are you feeling

resolutionish?

resolutionary?

revolutionary?

Or are you just plain

tired?

Hopefully you've recovered from all of the holiday happenings and are finding your groove again. This is a great time of year to look back at all of the great things that have happened and set some goals for improvement. Check out Karalee Peterson's message in the PTA newsletter (should have come home yesterday) for some simple ideas on how to foster the success of your kids. Ideas include talking with your children often, letting them make choices, and creating and environment that encourages learning.

So go ahead and get chatty, let the kids decide what's for dinner, and snuggle up with a good book. Sounds like a winning list of resolutions to me.