Deweys Diary

Draper Elementary PTA Newsletter

Vol. 8 No. 2

draper
Annual Fun Run is Oct. 5

October 2012

October
1 2 5 8 10 11 17 17 18-19 22-26 31 Dual-immersion window opens until Nov. 1 PTA meeting, 9 a.m. Fun Run, 9 a.m. No SchoolTeacher Work Day School Community Council Meeting, 3:30 p.m. Dads & Donuts, 8 a.m. Retake Day for Pictures Early Out No SchoolFall Recess Red Ribbon Week Halloween Parade, 2 p.m.

November
1 2 2 7-8 8 9 13 14 20 21-23 Open Enrollment permits due PTA meeting, 9 a.m. Dual-immersion application deadline SEP Conferences Early Out No SchoolTeacher Comp Day Chick-fil-A Spirit Night Art Through the Ages Training, 9:30 a.m. Early Out No SchoolThanksgiving Recess

This year's Fun Run is Friday, Oct. 5, at 9 a.m. The Fun Run is our annual fundraiser and proceeds are used to sustain PTA-sponsored programs such as field trips, science programs, Dads & Donuts, assemblies, literacy, drug awareness and more. We hope to raise $12,000. Classes with 100 percent participation in returning pledge packets will receive a class activity of their choice. Here are a few guidelines for the run: Parents are invited to participate. No rollerblades, bikes or pets are allowed. Strollers are OK. Meet your student(s) on the west side of the school (outside the gym). No traffic will be allowed to enter or leave the parking lot from 8:50 to 11 a.m. All runners are encouraged to wear a white T-shirt (or previous Fun Run shirt) so runners are more easily identifiable. If you would like to volunteer contact Jamie Free, tylerandjamie@gmail.com, or Margot Day, blair.margot@gmail.com.

Reflections Entries Due Oct. 12

This years Reflections theme is "The Magic of a Moment. Students are invited to submit entries in the categories of: Music, Photography, Visual Arts and Literature, Dance, Theatre, 3D and Film and Video. All entries are due Oct. 12. Entry forms and rules can be found on our website under the PTA/SCC link under Reflections. If you questions email Kathy Holmberg at kjholmb@yahoo.com.

Stay Informed
Like Draper Elementary on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our PTA blog at draperelementary.blogspot.com

PTA Membership Drive Continues

Parents are encouraged to join our PTA this year. We will have a membership booth at the Fun Run on Oct. 5 and at Dads & Donuts on Oct. 11. It costs $6 to join and the money is used to fund PTA programs. Membership forms are also available in the office.

Draper Elementary
1080 E. 12550 S. Draper, UT 84020 Ph: 801-826-8275 draper.canyonsdistrict.org

Presidential Fitness Testing Complete

Our initial Presidential Fitness Testing took place this month. Students performed the shuttle run, sit and reach, push-ups, situps, and endurance (1/4, 1/2, or 1- mile) run. Thanks to our parent volunteers who make this program possible. Final testing will take place this spring. Parents are encouraged to help their students practice some of these exercises at home.

Principals Message
We are a month into the school year and we have enjoyed getting to know your children and the dynamics each one brings to our classes. We also know that partnering with parents and building a trusting relationship is another important piece of our job and one we strive to build. I recently read an article from www.scholastic.com that I would like to share with you, keeping in mind that teachers live busy lives and often find their time stretched thin. The article offers 6 Ways to Be Considerate of the Teachers Time. Know when, why, and how to call, email, visit, and write to your childs teacher. 1. Make an appointment to talk. If you have something you want to discuss, don't try to rush the conversation by finding the teacher before or after school in the hall. Set up a meeting and let her know what the issue is in advance. 2. Don't interrupt teaching time. Unless it's an emergency, don't call or stop by the class to chat with the teacher when class is in session. 3. For less urgent matters, send a note or email. If you want to update the teacher on a family matter or ask a specific question about schoolwork, writing an email or note is a great way to communicate. Put a note in your child's folder or write it in the planner whichever way it's most likely to reach the teacher. 4. Bring a list of questions to conferences. Keep your meetings with the teacher focused and on-track by creating an agenda of things you want to cover. 5. Volunteer. Pitch in when your child's teacher asks for help with projects. 6. Say "Thanks!" Don't forget to thank your child's teacher for all he/she does. Send a note after report cards or an email when your child raves about a project to let the teacher know he/she is appreciated. We value our parents and the communication needed to help students be successful. Please partner with us and see how much can be accomplished when we all work together.

New Dragon Challenge Program

The PTA is implementing a new program called Dragon Challenge aimed at keeping students excited about learning and achieving. October will be our first official Dragon Challenge and students this month will be rewarded for their reading minutes. Students in K-2 should read 400 minutes a month or 20 minutes a night five nights a week. Students in grades 3-6 should read 600 minutes for the month or 30 minutes five nights a week.

PTA Preparing Emergency Kits for Students

Emergencies can happen and peace of mind comes from being prepared. The PTA is assembling individual emergency kits for every student and staff member at school. These kits will be kept in classrooms. If you missed our table at Curriculum Night, the blue Emergency Cards are available on the front hall PTA bulletin board and need to be filled out. To help with costs and allergy concerns, we are asking parents provide the food items for these kits: a drink, two granola bars (or equivalent), and two suckers. These items will need to be replaced yearly. They may be sent to school in a quartsized bag with the emergency card. If you prefer, you can pay 50 cents to the PTA (per student) for one small water bottle, two Quaker granola bars, and two suckers. If you would like us to take care of this for you, please pick up an emergency card and send it completed with your money to your child's teacher or the front office by Oct. 12.

Open Enrollment Applications Due Nov. 1

Those attending Draper Elementary on permit and want to continue at the school during the 2013-14 school year will need to file a new open enrollment application with the district. The forms are available on our school website and are due Nov. 1

PTA Presidents Message

Wow! I cant believe how fast this first month of school has flown by! Just five weeks into the school year and we have already done so many things. We had a great Curriculum Night and learned about the new core standards; the faculty gave us great updates on what to expect and how to help our students make it through the year. We started to get fit with the first two rounds of Presidential Fitness testing. We kicked off the arts programs with both Art Through the Ages and Reflections already underway. We are getting excited for our firstever Fall Fun Run! Some classes have already attended field trips (those cute fourth graders in their fancy clothes at the symphony looked adorable). We even had a very successful Dads & Donuts. Whew, I am exhausted, yet exhilarated just thinking about all of it. I hope all of you have enjoyed this first month as much as I have. We have eight more just like it coming up! The PTA couldnt make all of these (and many more) great programs happen without your support. A great big THANKS to all those who have volunteered time and/or financial support to VOTE YES for our school. Remember, there is still time, and we can always use more help. If you would like to help out in any way please contact me Id love to hear from you! Get out your running shoes (and your checkbooks) and support our Fun Run coming up Oct. 5 so we can continue to provide an amazing school experience for our students.

Kenna Sorensen, Principal

Ashley Boyle, PTA President 2012-13, ashboyle@hotmail.com