Francis Scott Key Elementary School (home)

Newsletter Archives 2008-09 To search past weeks, press ctrl+F (PC) or apple+F (Mac) to pull up the search box. Once the box is up, put your search words in and click "Find Next". September October November December January February March April May June Notes from Key Parents' Meeting with Michelle Rhee Feb. 19, 2009 June 12 - June 15 Next Week: *Fri. 6/12: End-of-year Picnic, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Upcoming Events Mon. 6/15: Last Day of School; Dismissal at 12:15 Mon. 8/24: First Day of School! 8:40 a.m. Important Reminders *We still need volunteers for the end-of-year picnic! Let Jill Inbar jill.inbar@me. com know if you can help out. The event is from 6:30 to 8 p.m on Friday 6/12 and is a potluck event. Families A-L please bring dessert and M-Z bring a side-dish. (And remember to label your dish and pick it up before you leave!) Pizza and sodas available for sale for $1 each. Please remember that school rules apply during the picnic, and parents are asked to be responsible for their children for the whole event to insure that everyone has a great time. Please also keep in mind that everyone working at the event is a volunteer parent, and that the event runs most smoothly with parent help and patience. Please note that the summer reading list and a letter from Ms. Hayes is attached to this email. Enjoy your summer reading! Remember to pick up any medications that Ms. Gagliardi, the school nurse, has in her office. Please return any books to the Key School library as soon as possible! Thank you. Now that it's the end of the year, room parents will be letting you know of any plans for end-of-the-year gifts for teachers or goodbye parties. It's a great time to send a quick e-mail to thank the room parents, as well! They volunteered for the position, so in lieu of gifts, a simple "thank you" to them is very appreciated. Vicki Wanielista wants to thank the Key community for their help & support and reports the good news that her family friend has been found! Remember to pick up your PTA registration packets from the Key School office anytime after July 1. This has important calendar & event information, the directory form, snack guidelines, and much more! If you need to see the DCPS calendar, please refer to http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/documents/calendars/DCPS-School-Calendar-2009-2010-Large.pdf If you are a departing Key Family (we'll miss you!), you can remove your name from this listserv by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/, logging in, and following the directions to remove your name from the list. If you have trouble, reply to this email and I can remove you. Thank you and congratulations to Priscilla Felten and Simone Dilk for being the Key student dispatchers in the Northwest Current this week! Enjoy your summer and have a happy & safe time! We look forward to seeing you next year. Thank you and your children for all that you contribute to the Key community! June 5 - June 12 Next Week: Wed. 6/10: 5% of purchases at Georgetown Whole Foods benefitting Fillmore Wed. 6/10: Trash-Free Lunch Day! Thurs. 6/11: 5th grade graduation, 10:15 a.m. *Fri. 6/12: End-of-year Picnic, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Upcoming Events Mon. 6/15: Last Day of School; Dismissal at 12:15 Important Reminders *The end-of-year picnic from 6:30 to 8 p.m on Friday 6/12 is a potluck event. Families A-L please bring dessert and M-Z bring a side-dish. (And remember to label your dish and pick it up before you leave!) Pizza and sodas available for sale for $1 each. Please remember that school rules apply during the picnic, and parents are asked to be responsible for their children for the whole event to insure that everyone has a great time. Please also keep in mind that everyone working at the event is a volunteer parent, and that the event runs most smoothly with parent help and patience. If you can, sign up to help set-up, clean-up, and sell pizza! Let Jill Inbar jill.inbar@me.com know if you can help out. Please return any books to the Key School library as soon as possible! Thank you. lease bring your DCPS registration packets P filled-out asap back to Key. Bring them in complete sets (with the exception of the health forms which you can complete with your child's doctor.) Everyone needs to fill out the FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) application. Even if you do not need FARMS assistance, you must fill it out and mark "decline", and you therefore do not need to reveal your income. After a lot of input from parents, DCPS has moved the professional development days next year to Fridays. DCPS has posted the final version of the 2009-10 calendar at http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/documents/calendars/DCPS-School-Calendar-2009-2010-Large.pdf Thank you and congratulations to Alexa Bartenfelder and Anisa Hasan-Granier for being the Key student dispatchers in the Northwest Current this week! Healthy Food Tips: There are lots of ways to eat healthily and help your children and the environment this summer! Support our local Palisades Farmers' Market: http://www.palisadesfarmersmarket.com/ The milkman is back! Have local, organic milk, dairy, eggs & more delivered right to your door with South Mountain Creamery: http://www.southmountaincreamery.com/home.php Participate in a local CSA - community supported agriculture May 29 - June 5 Next Week: Wed. 6/3: - Paper ballot vote for LSRT candidates on the blacktop *Wed. 6/3: - General PTA meeting, 6:30 p.m Wed. 6/3: - Trash-free lunch day Upcoming Events Thurs. 6/11: 5th grade graduation, 10:15 a.m. Fri. 6/12: End-of-year Picnic, 6:30 to 8 p.m Mon. 6/15: Last Day of School; Dismissal at 12:15 Important Reminders June 3rd - *The general PTA meeting is an important one - CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AGENDA . Come elect PTA officers & LSRT members, and vote on the budget for next year and the continuation of the bulk supplies for classrooms. To RSVP for childcare, please email cross@parkmont.org and indicate the number of children and the number of slices of pizza. The cost for childcare is $3 per child (which includes one slize of pizza). Additional slices are $1 each. Click here to see the most recent bylaws The meeting agenda and budget for next year will be posted on the web prior to the meeting. Also, updated by-laws will be adopted (available on www.keyschooldc. org). See below for the LSRT candidate bios. Nick Keenan is the father of three boys, all proud Key School students – Brayton in Ms. Moroney’s third grade, Eddy in Mr. Riley’s third grade, and Paul in Ms. Palm’s first grade. Nick has worked for over 20 years as a technology professional and executive, most recently as Chief Technology Officer of the GSI business unit of Thomas Reuters. Nick graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics. Andrew Stirling is the father of two incredible students at Key School . His daughter, Jane (9) is in Mrs. Foster’s fourth grade class and his son, Calvin (6) is in Ms. Mahurin’s first grade class. Andrew is an 18-year veteran of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where he serves as the Assistant Director of the Division of Resolutions and Receiverships. In this role, Andrew helps ensure that failed banks are resolved at the lowest possible cost and with the least possible disruption to customers. Andrew is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , where he earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Economics. Please bring your DCPS registration packets filled-out directly back to Key. Bring them in complete sets (with the exception of the health forms which you can complete with your child's doctor.) Everyone needs to fill out the FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) application. Even if you do not need FARMS assistance, you must fill it out and mark "decline", and you therefore do not need to reveal your income. Thank you and congratulations to John Hagerty and Alec Squires for being the Key student dispatchers in the Northwest Current this week! Our 2nd grade teacher, Vicki Wanielista, needs the Key Community's help. A dear family friend's daughter is missing from the Orlando, FL area, where Vicki is from. She's been gone since Monday, the 17th, and it is now a National Missing Persons case. If you can help, please see: http://www.helpfindjulie.com/ where there are flyers you could post and info. about getting the word out. Any thoughts/prayers and help you can give will be very welcome. May 25 - May 29 Next Week: Mon. 5/25: Memorial Day--No School All Week: Spirit Week (sponsored by your student council) Tues. 5/26: Pajama Day! Tues. 5/26: Passport Tuesday to Brazil (wear green, blue & yellow--Brazil' s colors) Wed. 5/27: Crazy Hair Day! Wed. 5/27: Principal for the Day is Alexandra Zartman Ball Wed. 5/27: Luis Garay Percussion World performance, 1:30 and 2:15 p.m. Wed. 5/27: Trash-free lunch Day Thurs. 5/28: Jersey Day! Thurs. 5/28: Fillmore Festival (information for specific classes from indiv. teachers) Fri. 5/29: Red, White & Blue Hat Day & Field Day & 5th Grade Talent Show! Upcoming Events Wed. 6/3: Paper ballot vote for LSRT candidates on the blacktop Wed. 6/3: General PTA meeting, 6:30 p.m. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AGENDA Important Reminders Please bring your DCPS registration packets filled-out directly back to Key. Bring them in complete sets (with the exception of the health forms which you can complete with your child's doctor.) Everyone needs to fill out the FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) application. Even if you do not need FARMS assistance, you must fill it out and mark "decline", and you therefore do not need to reveal your income. See below for the LSRT candidate bios. Nick Keenan is the father of three boys, all proud Key School students – Brayton in Ms. Moroney’s third grade, Eddy in Mr. Riley’s third grade, and Paul in Ms. Palm’s first grade. Nick has worked for over 20 years as a technology professional and executive, most recently as Chief Technology Officer of the GSI business unit of Thomas Reuters. Nick graduated from Harvard with an honors degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics. Andrew Stirling is the father of two incredible students at Key School . His daughter, Jane (9) is in Mrs. Foster’s fourth grade class and his son, Calvin (6) is in Ms. Mahurin’s first grade class. Andrew is an 18-year veteran of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where he serves as the Assistant Director of the Division of Resolutions and Receiverships. In this role, Andrew helps ensure that failed banks are resolved at the lowest possible cost and with the least possible disruption to customers. Andrew is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , where he earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Economics. MARYLAND’S PLACE IN SPACE: Come one, come all! Saturday, May 30 is going to be a phenomenal day of interactive activities at Maryland’s Place in Space at the Baltimore Convention Center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Maryland’s Place in Space is a free, family-friendly event that will be open to the public. This fun expo for all ages will have plenty of hands-on science activities and demonstrations including thrilling robotic competitions and creative projects with NASA astronauts. There will also be special appearances by Sid the Science Kid from Maryland Public Television’s PBSKids; Stormin’ Bob Swanson, the Singing Weatherman, and Wall-E. Don’t miss this first ever opportunity to see-all in one place and all at one time-the exciting work and research from Goddard and Johns Hopkins APL, as well as our other Maryland partners in space and technology including: NOAA, Space Telescope Science Institute, Maryland Science Center, the Univ. of Maryland, and many others! Congratulations to our very own co-president, Paige Chabora, on the birth of her new baby, Zoe Winter Freedman, sister to Sasha (1st) and Noah (pre-k), born on May 15th! The GW Tennis Center at Mt. Vernon now has online registration for summer tennis camps that start June 15. They are offering several discounts, including an "Early Bird" discount of $50 on full-day registration until May 31st (use the coupon code "MOMTAUGHTWELL" to redeem the savings). For more information, visit their website at www.gwtennis.net. HANDWRITING BOOT CAMP July 6-30, 2009 at Key Elementary School in Washington, DC Certified Instructors: Janis Linden and Ann Conway Dates: Mon., Wed. and Thurs., beginning Mon., July 6 - Thurs, July 30 Session Times (all one hour long): Session A: 8:45a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Session B: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Session C: 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Please choose one session only) Handwriting is an important part of every child’s development. Handwriting begins with scribbling and progresses to forming lines into shapes, creating pictures and forming letters. The letters then transform into words, which become sentences. Today, children are expected to develop handwriting skills before they enter Kindergarten. We will be teaching the Handwriting Without Tears® program, developed by Jan Olsen, an occupational therapist, which uses a child’s visual skills and provides them with the necessary handwriting skills to be successful in school. Sessions will be held at the Key Elementary School Campus (5001 Dana Place, NW, Washington, DC). Cost: $495 + $25 application fee (includes instruction, materials, and home activities). To register, call Janis Linden at 703-461-2819 or email JLinden926@hotmail.com May 1 - May 9 Next Week: Fri. 5/1: World Family Day at Key, 9 a.m. - noon* Teacher Appreciation Week all week long! Tues. 5/5 - Thurs. 5/7: Book Fair** Tues. 5/5: Book Fair Family Pizza Night, 5-6:30 p.m. Tues. 5/5: Teacher Appreciation Day Sat. 5/9: Fillmore Playwright's Theater, Gala Theater, 7:30 p.m.*** Upcoming Events Tues. 5/12: PTA Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Fri. 5/15: Parent Teacher Conferences - No School Mon. 5/25: Memorial Day - No School Wed. June 3 Please remember that the General PTA meeting and elections has moved Important Reminders Friday, 5/1: Annual World Family Day from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Students will "travel" around the world without leaving the blacktop. Calling all international parents to participate by having a game, dance, craft or music to share and teach students about their cultures. Contacts for the event: Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net or Charlotte Perry at charmperry@aol.com. **Book Fair volunteers are still needed to help set up the fair on Fri. May 1 and to help staff the Fair -- particularly after school on Tues. May 5 (including Pizza Night) and Wed. May 6. If you would like to volunteer for this worthwhile event, please contact Mari Bailey at mari_f_bailey@ yahoo.com or at 202.333.0760 ***Fillmore Playwright's Theater this year will feature plays by Key students Sophie Reveal and Samantha Mehring. If there is a program you would like to see funded by the PTA, or if you have any concerns with PTA budget implications for 2009-10, please email PTA co-presidents or treasurer no later than Sunday, May 3 with your suggestions. Please bring your DCPS registration packets filled-out directly back to Key. Bring them in complete sets (with the exception of the health forms which you can complete with your child's doctor.) Everyone needs to fill out the FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) application. Even if you do not need FARMS assistance, you must fill it out and mark "decline", and you therefore do not need to reveal your income. Apr. 24 - May 3 Next Week: Tues. 4/28: Passport Tuesday goes to Iran, 2:00 p.m.* Wed. 4/29: DCCAS Composition Testing, grades 3-5 Wed. 4/29: Trash-Free Lunch Day Thurs 4/30: Mary Cheh hosts discussion about Ward 3 education in Deal Cafeteria, 6:30 p.m. Fri. 5/1: World Family Day at Key, 9 a.m. - noon** Upcoming Events Tues. 5/5: Teacher Appreciation Day Tues. 5/5 - Thurs. 5/7: Book Fair*** Tues. 5/5: Book Fair Family Pizza Night, 5-6:30 p.m Sat. 5/9: Fillmore Playwright's Theater, Gala Theater, 7:30 p.m. Important Reminders -*Passport Tuesday Iran: Roya Bahrami, a Persian composer and musician will be performing on traditional instruments, like the santur. Friday, 5/1: Annual World Family Day from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Students will "travel" around the world without leaving the blacktop. Calling all international parents to participate by having a game, dance, craft or music to share and teach students about their cultures. Contacts for the event: Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net or Charlotte Perry at charmperry@aol.com. ***Book Fair volunteers are still needed to help set up the fair on Fri. May 1 and to help staff the Fair -- particularly after school on Tues. May 5 (including Pizza Night) and Wed. May 6. If you would like to volunteer for this worthwhile event, please contact Mari Bailey at mari_f_bailey@ yahoo.com or at 202.333.0760 Please bring your DCPS registration packets filled-out directly back to Key. Bring them in complete sets (with the exception of the health forms which you can complete with your child's doctor.) Everyone needs to fill out the FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) application. Even if you do not need FARMS assistance, you must fill it out and mark "decline", and you therefore do not need to reveal your income. Apr. 17 - Apr. 26 The Weekend: Sat. 4/18: World Family Potluck Dinner* Sun. 4/19: Grounds Cleanup, 9 a.m. to noon** Next Week: Sun. 4/19 - Sat. 4/25: EARTH WEEK!*** Tues. 4/21 - Fri. 4/24: DCCAS Testing, grades 3-5-Wed. 4/22: Trash-Free Lunch Day Wed. 4/22: Earth Day #39 Upcoming Events Tues. 4/28: Passport Tuesday goes to Iran, 2:00 p.m.**** Wed. 4/29: DCCAS Composition Testing, grades 3-5 Thurs 4/30: March Cheh hosts discussion about ward 3 education in Deal Cafeteria, 6:30 p.m. ****Passport Tuesday Iran: - Roya Bahrami, a Persian composer and musician will be performing on traditional instruments, like the santur. Friday, 5/1: Annual World Family Day from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Students will "travel" around the world without leaving the blacktop. Calling all international parents to participate by having a game, dance, craft or music to share and teach students about their cultures. Contacts for the event: Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net or Charlotte Perry at charmperry@aol.com. Many thanks to fifth graders Emma Perry and Noah Howard- for being our Key School Northwest Current dispatch reporters this week! Important Reminders Please bring your DCPS registration packets filled-out directly back to Key. Bring them in complete sets (with the exception of the health forms which you can complete with your child's doctor.) Everyone needs to fill out the FARMS (Free and Reduced Meals) application. Even if you do not need FARMS assistance, you must fill it out and mark "decline", and you therefore do not need to reveal your income. \ *World Family Parents’ Potluck hosted by the co-chairs, Charlotte Perry and Maria Emanuel at 2219 49th Street, NW , from 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. It will be an opportunity for international parents to share a dish from their country - Key’s own Taste-of-the-World!!! RSVP to Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net or call (202) 607-8642. *Join the fun at the Grounds Cleanup on Sunday, 4/19. * Bring gloves, rakes, brooms, clippers, or any yard tools you find helpful. Kids are great helpers, too. The more the merrier! Please email Wendy Lynch at wendylynch4522@comcast.net with questions. ***Earth Day: - Starting Sunday, with grounds cleanup, and throughout the week, teachers, students, and families will honor Earth Week with a variety of daily activities or themes. Please look for information each day through announcements, signage, and from your kids! -****Passport Tuesday Iran: Roya Bahrami, a Persian composer and musician will be performing on traditional instruments, like the santur. Apr. 10 - Apr. 19 End of This Week & Next Week: Fri. 4/10: No School--Holiday Mon. 4/13: No School--Holiday Tues. 4/14: Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 4/15: Trash-Free Lunch Day Thurs. 4/16: No School--Emancipatio n Day Sat. 4/18: World Family Potluck Dinner* Sun. 4/19: Grounds Cleanup, 9 a.m. to noon** Upcoming Events A full week of school for DCPS the week after next! Tues. 4/21- Fri. 4/24: DCCAS Testing, 3-5th grades \ Important Reminders \ *World Family Parents’ Potluck hosted by the co-chairs, Charlotte Perry and Maria Emanuel at 2219 49th Street, NW , from 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. It will be an opportunity for international parents to share a dish from their country - Key’s own Taste-of-the-World!!! RSVP to Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net or call (202) 607-8642. *Join the fun at the Grounds Cleanup on Sunday, 4/19. * Bring gloves, rakes, brooms, clippers, or any yard tools you find helpful. Kids are great helpers, too. The more the merrier! Please email Wendy Lynch at wendylynch4522@comcast.net with questions. A Call for Book Fair volunteers! Volunteers are needed to help set up the fair on Tues. April 28 and to help staff the Fair on May 5, 6, and 7. If you would like to volunteer for this worthwhile event, please contact Mari Bailey at mari_f_bailey@yahoo.com or at 202.333.0760 Thanks to Olivia Bray & Tavis Duvall for being our Northwest Current dispatchers this Week. Apr. 3 - Apr. 13 Next Week: Fri. 4/3: Records Day--School Dismissed at 12:15 Tues. 4/7: Class Picture Day Wed. 4/8: Trash-Free Lunch Day Fri. 4/10: No School--Holiday Mon. 4/13: No School--Holiday Upcoming Events Thurs. 4/16: No School - Emancipation Day Sat. 4/18: World Family Potluck Dinner* Tues. 4/21- Fri. 4/24: DCCAS Testing, 3-5th grades Important Reminders PTA Volunteers Needed for Next Year! The enthusiastic participation of PTA volunteers helps make Key an exciting and nurturing environment for our kids. Please consider volunteering to serve as a committee chair or co-chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. A list of the current committees appears in the school directory and at www.keyschooldc.org. Please contact Paige Chabora at pchabora@yahoo.com to express interest or ask questions about various opportunities. Thank you! *World Family Parents’ Potluck hosted by the co-chairs, Charlotte Perry and Maria Emanuel at 2219 49th Street, NW , from 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. It will be an opportunity for international parents to share a dish from their country - Key’s own Taste-of-the-World!!! RSVP to Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net or call (202) 607-8642. A Call for Book Fair volunteers! Volunteers are needed to help set up the fair on Tues. April 28 and to help staff the Fair on May 5, 6, and 7. If you would like to volunteer for this worthwhile event, please contact Mari Bailey at mari_f_bailey@yahoo.com or at 202.333.0760 Thanks to Jonathon McCrea and Codrin Parau for being our Northwest Current dispatchers this week. Mar. 23 - Apr. 3 Next Week: March 23-27: Spring Break--School closed all week Wed. 4/1: Trash-Free Lunch Day Fri. 4/3: Records Day--School Dismissed at 12:15 Upcoming Events April 10-13: Holiday--No school Friday or Monday Important Reminders PTA Volunteers Needed for Next Year! The enthusiastic participation of PTA volunteers helps make Key an exciting and nurturing environment for our kids. Please consider volunteering to serve as a committee chair or co-chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. A list of the current committees appears in the school directory and at www.keyschooldc.org. Please contact Paige Chabora at pchabora@yahoo.com to express interest or ask questions about various opportunities. Thank you! Green Tip: Reduce Reuse RECYCLE Not sure what to do with your dead electronics? Try to avoid throwing them in the regular trash; many common gadgets contain some toxic elements (lithium, lead, mercury, etc.) and plenty of recoverable elements (gold, silver, copper, etc.). [Learn more from the US EPA]. Note that some 'old school' (picture tube) TVs can contain as much as 4 pounds of lead alone.... Ideas: *if it's a cellphone -- or any type of battery -- drop it in the appropriate Green Committee container in the Key School lobby ... or *if it's small enough, pick up a poly envelope in the lobby and eCycle it for free through the US Postal Service ... or *if it qualifies (for example, TV's 32" or less), recycle or trade it in next time you're at Best Buy [learn more] ... or *drop it at one of the two DC trash transfer stations, or call 311 for free pickup [learn more] . St. Albans Workshop: March 26, 2009: Making Friends and Influencing People: How preschoolers use social language. Find out more about how children's speech and language development influences their social lives and vice versa. FROM 6PM-7:30PM IN SATERLEE HALL AT THE ST. ALBANS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER. 3001 WISCONSIN AVENUE, NW. CALL 202-363-7380 TO REGISTER. Thanks to Arthur Ammeson and Bella Heffernan for being our Northwest Current dispatchers this week. Mar. 14 - Mar. 20 This Week: Fri. 3/13: Last day to register for introductory languages for the spring* Fri. 3/13: Last day for pre-k registration Sat. 3/14: Key Basketball Game, Jelleff's, 8:30 a.m.** Sat. 3/14: Auction! 6:30-11:30 p.m.*** Next Week: Tues. 3/17: Passport Tuesday travels to Argentina Tues. 3/17: Meeting at Key with Principal Pope from Hardy, 7 p.m.**** Wed. 3/18: Trash-Free Lunch Day Wed. 3/18: Last day to complete parent survey***** Upcoming Events March 23-27: Spring Break April 3: Records Day--School Dismissed at 12:15 Important Reminders *Registration for spring Introductory French and Spanish (offered to kindergarteners and first graders) is open through today, Friday, March 13. The Introductory French class is scheduled for Mondays and Fridays from 3:15pm to 4:15pm (including 15 minutes for snack) for five weeks, with the first class on Monday, March 30. Also offered this spring is an Introductory Spanish class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45am to 8:30am for five weeks, with the first class on Monday, March 30. Students who participated in the fall Spanish session are given priority to enroll, but there are additional spaces open to all kindergarten and first grade students. **The Key School basketball team is playing their last regular season game this Saturday at 8:30am at Jelleff Boys & Girls Club (3265 S Street, NW - behind the Social Safeway). Bring your kids and come support the fifth graders - Anders Assarsson, John Hagerty, Ali Rashedi, Noah Howard, Jonathon McCrea, Elly Nandango, & Alec Squires - in their last game playing for Key School . ***Auction info: The Auction will be held at the Mary Graydon Center at AU Sat. from 6:30 until 11:30 p.m. Free parking available in the lot on Nebraska Ave, on the right as you head from Palisades towards Ward Circle. Cross the street and enter the quad to reach the Graydon Center. Tickets are $70 at the door. Don't forget that we will also be raising money to improve the writing program at Key and giving our teachers an opportunity for additional training. Class art projects are currently on display in the Key cafeteria. Please take a look! Raffle tickets still on sale Friday at school. Catalogs will come home in backpacks Friday, or you can link online to: http://www.keyschooldc.org/auctionsite_files/KS_2009_auction_catalog.pdf Contact co-chairs Peter Fitzgerald at peterf@npaonline.org or Steve Richards at sjr2018@aol.com with additional ****Meeting with Principal Pope: Open to 3-5 grade parents. At 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. *****The LSRT has created a parent survey about your family's experience at Key. We are hoping that every parent will complete it, as it helps the staff, LSRT and PTA at Key proceed with programs that are important to you. We are asking that surveys be completed by Wed. March 18th. PTA Volunteers Needed for Next Year! The enthusiastic participation of PTA volunteers helps make Key an exciting and nurturing environment for our kids. Please consider volunteering to serve as a committee chair or co-chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. A list of the current committees appears in the school directory and at www.keyschooldc.org. Please contact Paige Chabora at pchabora@yahoo.com to express interest or ask questions about various opportunities. Thank you! Thanks to Kobe Jolley for being our Northwest Current dispatcher this week! Mar. 6 - Mar. 14 This Week: Fri. 3/6: Science Fair Family Night, 6-8 p.m., auditorium* Next Week: Tues. 3/10: Executive Committee Meeting Wed. 3/11: Trash-Free Lunch Day Sat. 3/14: Auction! 6:30-11:30 p.m.** Upcoming Events Tues. 3/17: Parent meeting at Key with Principal Pope from Hardy*** Wed. 3/18: Last day to complete parent survey Important Reminders The LSRT has created a parent survey about your family's experience at Key. We are hoping that every parent will complete it, as it helps the staff, LSRT and PTA at Key proceed with programs that are important to you. We are asking that surveys be completed by Wed. March 18th. *The 2009 Family Science Night is a unique opportunity to see all of Key student’s outstanding enthusiasm for learning and creating in the sciences. Family Science night starts at 6.00 pm . Entertainment from the Mad Scientist Show provides exciting high-energy interactive entertainment for the kids, while parents have an opportunity to view these spectacular entries for the 2009 Science Fair. $2 for pizza and lemonade, $1 for additonal slices. Come and have some Key School Fun! Auction info: Please turn in your RSVP and get ready for a fun evening! The catalog will be out next week, so look it over and decide what you might bid on. Don't forget that we will also be raising money to improve the writing program at Key and giving our teachers an opportunity for additional training. Also, buy your raffle tickets NOW! You can ask your room parent who is selling them in your class, or look out for them on the blacktop. Contact Marie at marie@nickkeenan.com if you have raffle questions. For more general auction info., please contact co-chairs Peter Fitzgerald at peterf@npaonline.org or Steve Richards at sjr2018@aol.com. ***Meeting with Principal Pope: More info. will be announced about this next week, including time. Meeting will be at Key for interested parents. *Registration for spring Introductory French and Spanish (offered to kindergarteners and first graders) opens Monday, March 2 and runs through Friday, March 13. The Introductory French class is scheduled for Mondays and Fridays from 3:15pm to 4:15pm (including 15 minutes for snack) for five weeks, with the first class on Monday, March 30. Also offered this spring is an Introductory Spanish class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45am to 8:30am for five weeks, with the first class on Monday, March 30. Students who participated in the fall Spanish session are given priority to enroll, but there are additional spaces open to all kindergarten and first grade students. Registration forms for both classes will be sent home in kindergarten and first grade backpacks on Monday, March 2. PTA Volunteers Needed for Next Year! The enthusiastic participation of PTA volunteers helps make Key an exciting and nurturing environment for our kids. Please consider volunteering to serve as a committee chair or co-chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. A list of the current committees appears in the school directory and at www.keyschooldc.org. Please contact Paige Chabora at pchabora@yahoo.com to express interest or ask questions about various opportunities. Thank you! The Francophonine 2009 Festival Interesting info. available at www.francophoniedc.org Feb. 27 - Mar. 6 This Week: Fri. 2/27: Parent Teacher Conferences- -No School Next Week: Sat. 2/28: Basketball Team plays at Jelleff, 5:30 p.m. Mon. 3/2: Registration for Intro. French and Spanish opens* Wed. 3/4: Trash-Free Lunch Day Fri. 3/6: Science Fair Family Night, 6-8 p.m.** Upcoming Events Tues. 3/10: Executive Committee Meeting Sat. 3/14: Key School Auction at AU, 6:30 - 11:30 p.m. *** Important Reminders *Registration for spring Introductory French and Spanish (offered to kindergarteners and first graders) opens Monday, March 2 and runs through Friday, March 13. The Introductory French class is scheduled for Mondays and Fridays from 3:15pm to 4:15pm (including 15 minutes for snack) for five weeks, with the first class on Monday, March 30. Also offered this spring is an Introductory Spanish class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45am to 8:30am for five weeks, with the first class on Monday, March 30. Students who participated in the fall Spanish session are given priority to enroll, but there are additional spaces open to all kindergarten and first grade students. Registration forms for both classes will be sent home in kindergarten and first grade backpacks on Monday, March 2. **Science Fair help needed! We still need a few more dishes and beverages for the Judges. Thursday March 5th we will be needing help to set up the gym, meet at 3.30 to take down projects and 4.30 to set up the gym (guys,we will not have access to the gym until then to move tables). Help is needed for pizza and soft drink sales the night of the Science Fair Friday March 6th @ 6pm. Please e-mail dbwinter@verizon.net to offer food or with any questions. ***Auction info! The wines are starting to trickle in, but we still need your help for the one-of-a-kind item to be offered up at the Key School Auction on March 14! The theme is: What is your favorite wine... and why? Everyone has his or her favorite pick -- that bottle they discovered while away on travels, or right here in their back yard! So simply pick up a bottle, and fill out the special form, noting the details on why this particular wine is your favorite. When all of the donations are put together, the result will be a basket of highly-recommended wines -- designed to garner high bids! Please share your wine story now! Please contact Tracey Madigan at tracey.madigan@gmail.com to arrange for bottle drop-off. The Fund-an-Item this year at the auction will be to develop a Writing Program at Key, similar to the Guided Reading program that we funded last year that has been successfully implemented this year. We hope you will participate in this professional development opportunity for our teachers, that will result in our students becoming better writers! PTA Volunteers Needed for Next Year! The enthusiastic participation of PTA volunteers helps make Key an exciting and nurturing environment for our kids. Please consider volunteering to serve as a committee chair or co-chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. A list of the current committees appears in the school directory and at www.keyschooldc.org. Please contact Paige Chabora at pchabora@yahoo.com to express interest or ask questions about various opportunities. Thank you! The Key Girls on the Run program begins again on March 11th and will end with a 5K run on Sunday, May 10th. The team will meet on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:45. Girls in 3rd through 5th grade can register online before February 25th at www.gotrdc.org. Cost is based on family income. Contact Jennifer Joly, Kate Bergantino or Shannon Flaherty if you have questions Thanks to John Hagerty and Dianalyn Romo for being our 5th grade N.W. Current reporters this week! Do you need help preparing your taxes? You can get the tax help you need...and raise money for Key School in the process!! H&R Block's Non-Profit Referral Program will donate $25 to the Key School PTA for every new H&R Block customer that submits a Key School Referral Form. Simply bring a Pre-Printed Key School Referral Form to H&R Block when you meet with your tax professional and the PTA will receive $25. These Pre-Printed Referral Forms will be available at the Key School Main Office --please stop by the office and pick up a form for yourself (or for a friend). Get the tax help you need...and raise money for the PTA! If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit www.hrblock.com or contact Lisa Gilley at lisagilley@comcast.net. Green Tip of the week: For "trash free" lunches (which are good EVERYDAY!), buy in bulk and send portions in small, reusable plastic containers instead of buying individual packs. Feb. 20 - Feb. 27 Next Week: Tues. 2/24: Passport Tuesday goes to Brazil! Wed. 2/25: Trash-Free Lunch Day Fri. 2/27: Parent Teacher Conferences- -No School* Upcoming Events Fri. 3/6: Science Fair Important Reminders *Individual teachers will let families know their conference times for 2/27. separate email will be sent to the parent body ASAP with a link to notes from the productive Thursday night parent meeting with Chancellor Rhee. Thank you for your comments for the meeting. Make sure you book your sitter for the Key auction on March 14th. Invitations have been mailed out and we hope to see you there! Please send in your RSVP and get excited to bid on the fantastic assortment of items that will be available. Also purchase your raffle ticket on the blacktop for a chance to win $5,000! PTA Volunteers Needed for Next Year! The enthusiastic participation of PTA volunteers helps make Key an exciting and nurturing environment for our kids. Please consider volunteering to serve as a committee chair or co-chair for the 2009-2010 academic year. A list of the current committees appears in the school directory and at www.keyschooldc.org. Please contact Paige Chabora at pchabora@yahoo.com to express interest or ask questions about various opportunities. Thank you! The Key Girls on the Run program begins again on March 11th and will end with a 5K run on Sunday, May 10th. The team will meet on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:45. Girls in 3rd through 5th grade can register online before February 25th at www.gotrdc.org. Cost is based on family income. Contact Jennifer Joly, Kate Bergantino or Shannon Flaherty if you have questions. Pre-K registration continues throughout February and is not first-come first-serve, so you do not need to line up! Please see Ms. Cheeks or Mr. Landeryou for more information. Middle School Out-of-Boundary process opened for applications Wednesday, Jan. 28. You can see http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/procedures.htm for more info. For info. on Alice Deal MS, please see www.dealpta.org. Do you need help preparing your taxes? You can get the tax help you need...and raise money for Key School in the process!! H&R Block's Non-Profit Referral Program will donate $25 to the Key School PTA for every new H&R Block customer that submits a Key School Referral Form. Simply bring a Pre-Printed Key School Referral Form to H&R Block when you meet with your tax professional and the PTA will receive $25. These Pre-Printed Referral Forms will be available at the Key School Main Office --please stop by the office and pick up a form for yourself (or for a friend). Get the tax help you need...and raise money for the PTA! If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit www.hrblock.com or contact Lisa Gilley at lisagilley@comcast.net. SHOP ON THE INTERNET? Please be sure to load the igive shopping window, and you will never have to think about it again. All affiliated sites will automatically donate a portion of your purchases to Key School - no need to shop through specific sites! Please go to www.igive.com and choose Key School as your cause, and get that window loaded. It just takes a minute and then anytime you shop online it kicks into gear....very worthwhile! Feb. 13 - Feb. 20 Next Week: Mon. 2/16: President's Day--No School Wed.2/18: Trash-Free Lunch Day Upcoming Events Fri. 2/27: Parent Teacher Conferences- -No School Important Reminders Thursday 2/19 , members of the LSRT, PTA executive committee and a couple of representatives from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades are meeting in a "living room" format with representatives of the Chancellor's office, about Life After Key, and Hardy Middle School. In order to foster open communication and provide for an inclusive discussion since the number of attendees is limited, we are soliciting input from the entire Key community in advance of the meeting. If you would like to provide a new comment or suggestion on the topic, please email Mike Bailey at baileyma@georgetown.edu. Notes will be compiled and brought up at the discussion if appropriate. Following the meeting we will communicate again with the larger Key community to ensure transparency. Pre-K registration continues throughout February and is not first-come first-serve, so you do not need to line up! Please see Ms. Cheeks or Mr. Landeryou for more information. Middle School Out-of-Boundary process opened for applications Wednesday, Jan. 28. You can see http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/procedures.htm for more info. For info. on Alice Deal MS, please see www.dealpta.org. Middle School Out-of-Boundary process opened for applications Wednesday, Jan. 28. You can see http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/procedures.htm for more info. For info. on Alice Deal MS, please see www.dealpta.org. March 6th In an effort to spend more conservatively for the 2009 Science Fair on Friday, March 6th, the committee is asking help from parents to feed the 10-15 Judges that have kindly given up their work day to judge our students projects. If you can provide a breakfast or dinner item that day, please email Deb Winter at dbwinter@verizon.net and she will let you know dish you could help with. There has been a big campus cleanup of coats and clothes. The Lost and Found is located outside of Ms. Foster's 4th grade classroom. Please check it if your child is missing anything. Do you need help preparing your taxes? You can get the tax help you need...and raise money for Key School in the process!! H&R Block's Non-Profit Referral Program will donate $25 to the Key School PTA for every new H&R Block customer that submits a Key School Referral Form. Simply bring a Pre-Printed Key School Referral Form to H&R Block when you meet with your tax professional and the PTA will receive $25. These Pre-Printed Referral Forms will be available at the Key School Main Office --please stop by the office and pick up a form for yourself (or for a friend). Get the tax help you need...and raise money for the PTA! If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit www.hrblock.com or contact Lisa Gilley at lisagilley@comcast.net. Green Tip of the Week: Save energy, money, air, and climateIf you aren't already doing so, save energy in these remaining weeks of winter by lowering your thermostat to between 66°-68° by day and 60°-62° by night. Offer up any tips of your own to: greentips@palisadesdc.org SHOP ON THE INTERNET? Please be sure to load the igive shopping window, and you will never have to think about it again. All affiliated sites will automatically donate a portion of your purchases to Key School - no need to shop through specific sites! Please go to www.igive.com and choose Key School as your cause, and get that window loaded. -Congratulations to Kaili Gregory and Francis Dragulet, who were the 5th grade "Dispatches" journalists for the Northwest Current this week! A few AUCTION reminders! Saturday, March 14 Remember to book your babysitter for this date. Have a special talent or item that you would like to offer up? Donations of items or services are still welcome! Solicitation forms were sent home, but for any questions or clarifications, please contact Tracey Madigan at tracey.madigan@gmail.com. Parent volunteers are working with your children on class projects -- items made by each class which will be up for bids on auction night. Favorite Wine? Wishing you could donate something, but not quite sure what? Then be part of a wonderful, one-of-a-kind item that every Key parent can contribute to! All you have to do is answer this question: What is your favorite wine... and why? Everyone has his or her favorite pick -- that bottle they discovered while away on travels, or right here in their back yard! Share your vino -- and your story! Just pick up a bottle, and fill out the details on why this particular wine is your favorite... When all of the donations are put together, the result will be a basket of highly-recommended wines. Please contact Tracey Madigan to arrange for bottle drop-off. Calling all veteran raffle ticket-sellers - and those new to the game - we need you. Special prize for the top seller. Contact Marie Collins at marie@nickkeenan.com if you can help. Can’t count on the market these days? why not try good old-fashioned LUCK! With the Spring Auction frenzy underway we are once again conducting the ever popular Raffle. You do not need to be present at the auction to win! Friday the 13th will turn somebody’s luck around -- that’s when we draw the winning ticket for a $5000 cash prize. $50 per ticket, chance of winning 1 in 300. Look for parents selling on the blacktop or contact your room parent. There is an oversight hearing on the Department of Transportation on February 23 to tell of their concerns about the need to improve street crossings, maintain sidewalks, and the need for new sidewalks for children walking to school. If you are interested in testifying, please contact: Marlene Berlin, DC Senior Transportation Initiative, IONA, mberlin@iona.org (202)362-8866 Feb. 6 - Feb 13 Fri. 2/6: Handwriting Without Teears Workshop for Parents, 9-10 a.m., auditorium Tues. 2/10: Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m Wed. 2/11: Key Open House for Prospective Parents, 9-11am Wed. 2/11: Trash-Free Lunch Day-Fri Fri. 2/13: Key classrooms celebrate Valentine's Day Upcoming Events Mon. 2/16: President's Day--No School Important Reminders ***The spring open house will be Wednesday, February 11th, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. - This is the final open house for the year, so please tell any friends or neighbors that may be interested in Key. If you are willing to help lead tours for prospective parents that day, please contact Michelle Mundt, michellemundt@verizon.net. Please get those auction donations in! More information and forms are available on the school website. Pre-K registration continues throughout February and is not first-come first-serve, so you do not need to line up! Please see Ms. Cheeks or Mr. Landeryou for more information. Middle School Out-of-Boundary process opened for applications Wednesday, Jan. 28. You can see http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/procedures.htm for more info. For info. on Alice Deal MS, please see www.dealpta.org. Interested in seeing a sports equipment swap at Key and willing to organize it? Please let me know if you want to take this on by emailing cross@parkmont.org Calling all veteran raffle ticket-sellers and those new to the game we need you. Special prize for the top seller. Contact Marie Collins atmarie@nickkeenan.com if you can help. We’re ready to start sales first week of February. Can’t count on the market these days - why not try good old-fashioned LUCK! With the Spring Auction frenzy underway we are once again conducting the ever popular Raffle. Friday the 13th will turn somebody’s luck around -- that’s when we draw the winning ticket for a $5000 cash prize. Tickets go on sale next week. Don’t forget to buy your chance. $50 per ticket, chance of winning 1 in 300. Look for parents selling on the blacktop or contact your room parent. There has been a big campus cleanup of coats and clothes. The Lost and Found is located outside of Ms. Foster's 4th grade classroom. Please check it if your child is missing anything. Do you need help preparing your taxes? You can get the tax help you need...and raise money for Key School in the process!! H&R Block's Non-Profit Referral Program will donate $25 to the Key School PTA for every new H&R Block customer that submits a Key School Referral Form. Simply bring a Pre-Printed Key School Referral Form to H&R Block when you meet with your tax professional and the PTA will receive $25. These Pre-Printed Referral Forms will be available at the Key School Main Office --please stop by the office and pick up a form for yourself (or for a friend). Get the tax help you need...and raise money for the PTA! If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit www.hrblock.com or contact Lisa Gilley at lisagilley@comcast.net. Green Tip of the Week: Watch your Purchases! When making your grocery & toiletry purchases, consider buying products that are in recyclable packaging instead of packaging that must be discarded. For example, some toothpaste brands come in recyclable metal tubes, others come in only-disposable plastics. Also, individually wrapped items are unkind to our landfills; consider buying bulk. offer up any tips of your own to: greentips@palisadesdc.org -Congratulations to Priscilla Felten and Julius Boggus, who were the 5th grade "Dispatches" journalists for the Northwest Current this week! Jan. 30 - Feb. 6 Next Week: Mon. 2/2: Pre-K Registration begins.* Tues. 2/3: Middle School Informational Fair at Key, 7-9 p.m. See attached invite.** Wed. 2/4: Trash-Free Lunch Day Upcoming Events Wed. 2/10: Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 2/11: Key Open House for Prospective Parents, 9-11 a.m.*** Mon. 2/16: President's Day--No School Important Reminders -*Pre-K registration continues throughout February and is not first-come first-serve, so you do not need to line up! Please see Ms. Cheeks or Mr. Landeryou for more information. -**Join Key and Six School Council Parents at a Middle School Informational Fair created by the Six School Council, Key Parents, and the LSRT. Held in the Key Auditorium. The Chancellors Office will present to the whole audience, and then parents will break off and have 3 sessions to "visit" their choice of 5 middle schools that will be in attendance (Hardy, Deal, Oyster-Adams, Lincoln, & Washington Latin Charter). Hardy is Key's feeder school; the other 4 schools are presenting as out-of-boundary options, or because they are feeder schools for the other Six School Council School parents being invited to attend the Fair. Question/Answer periods will be part of each session. Questions can be directed to Linda Reveal at lreveal@creativefamilyconnections.com. Middle School Out-of-Boundary process opened for applications Wednesday, Jan. 28. You can see http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/procedures.htm for more info. For info. on Alice Deal MS, please see www.dealpta.org. Calling all veteran raffle ticket-sellers - and those new to the game - we need you. Special prize for the top seller. Contact Marie Collins at marie@nickkeenan.com if you can help. We’re ready to start sales first week of February Can’t count on the market these days - why not try good old-fashioned LUCK! With the Spring Auction frenzy underway we are once again conducting the ever popular Raffle. Friday the 13th will turn somebody’s luck around -- that’s when we draw the winning ticket for a $5000 cash prize. Tickets go on sale next week. Don’t forget to buy your chance. $50 per ticket, chance of winning 1 in 300. Look for parents selling on the blacktop or contact your room parent. -***The spring open house will be Wednesday, February 11th, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. This is the final open house for the year, so please tell any friends or neighbors that may be interested in Key. If you are willing to help lead tours for prospective parents that day, please contact Michelle Mundt, michellemundt@verizon.net. With our Auction coming up on March 14 at the University Club of American University, now is the time to get involved with the Key School Auction "A Red Carpet Event for a Blue Ribbon School". The auction is the major PTA fundraiser of the year. Without the funds it raises many of the resources the PTA provides to the school, including additional teacher aides and learning supplies, would not be possible. This year, with the tough economy, we are relying more than ever on parents to make the auction a success. You can help by donating your own item/service or asking for a donation from a local business. Donations are due next week - for donation forms and information go to the PTA website: www.keyschool.org. You can also get involved by helping with the class room projects - always some of our most popular items at the auction! Ask your child’s room parent coordinator how you can help. Contact Peter Fitzgerald at peterf@npaonline.org or 202/250-5922 with any questions. Do you need help preparing your taxes? You can get the tax help you need...and raise money for Key School in the process!! H&R Block's Non-Profit Referral Program will donate $25 to the Key School PTA for every new H&R Block customer that submits a Key School Referral Form. Simply bring a Pre-Printed Key School Referral Form to H&R Block when you meet with your tax professional and the PTA will receive $25. These Pre-Printed Referral Forms will be available at the Key School Main Office --please stop by the office and pick up a form for yourself (or for a friend). Get the tax help you need...and raise money for the PTA! If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit www.hrblock.com or contact Lisa Gilley at lisagilley@comcast.net. Reduce REUSE Recycle So you have something hanging around that you just can't use ... but figure that SOMEBODY could use it? If you can't sell it, then: FREECYCLE it! For example: 1. Offer it up to your neighbors on the local listserv: http://groups. yahoo.com/group/Palisades/ 2. Offer it up to the broader community on the "free" section of Craig's List: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/zip/ 3. Offer it up to other Freecyclers in the area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecycledc/ And offer up any tips of your own to: greentips@palisadesdc.org Jan. 23 - Jan. 30 Next Week: Tues. 1/27: Passport Tuesday Goes to China, 2:15 p.m. (Dragon Dance performance at 2:30) Wed. 1/28: Trash-Free Lunch Day Wed. 1/28: General PTA Meeting & Children's Food & Health Presentation, 6:30 p.m. See attached invitation.** Upcoming Events Mon. 2/2: Pre-K Registration begins. See the front office for more info. Tues. 2/3: Middle School Informational Fair at Key, 7-9 p.m.** Wed. 2/11: Key Open House for Prospective Parents, 9-11 a.m.*** Important Reminders -*30 min. general PTA meeting will include babysitting and will be followed by a presentation about food entitled "How School Foods, Dyes, Trans Fats and More Affect Your Child" (please see attached invitation.) We hope you will join us! If you would like to use the babysitting service, please RSVP to Paige at pchabora@yahoo. com, indicating the number of children and the number of slices of pizza for each child. The cost is $3 per child (which includes one slize of pizza). Additional slices are $1 each. **Join Key and Six School Council Parents at a Middle School Informational Fair created by the Six School Council, Key Parents, and the LSRT. Held in the Key Auditorium. The Chancellors Office will present to the whole audience, and then parents will break off and have 3 sessions to "visit" their choice of 6 middle schools that will be in attendance (Hardy, Deal, Oyster-Adams, Lincoln, Washington Latin Charter, and City Collegiate Charter). Question/Answer periods will be part of each session. Questions can be directed to Linda Reveal at lreveal@creativefamilyconnections.com. More info. will be available in the next NW@K. -***The spring open house will be Wednesday, February 11th, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. This is the final open house for the year, so please tell any friends or neighbors that may be interested in Key. If you are willing to help lead tours for prospective parents that day, please contact Michelle Mundt, michellemundt@ verizon.net. Don't forget to get involved with your class auction art project! Contact your room parent for more info. Do you need help preparing your taxes? You can get the tax help you need...and raise money for Key School in the process!! H&R Block's Non-Profit Referral Program will donate $25 to the Key School PTA for every new H&R Block customer that submits a Key School Referral Form. Simply bring a Pre-Printed Key School Referral Form to H&R Block when you meet with your tax professional and the PTA will receive $25. These Pre-Printed Referral Forms will be available at the Key School Main Office --please stop by the office and pick up a form for yourself (or for a friend). Get the tax help you need...and raise money for the PTA! If you have any questions or need additional information, please visit www.hrblock.com or contact Lisa Gilley at lisagilley@comcast.net. Green Tip of the week: Reuse! - Our friends at the local UPS Store (next to Starbucks on MacArthur) will take and reuse any and all styrofoam pellets or other packing material you may have... as long as they are clean. Just bag them up and bring them in. It's the perfect way to get rid of them. If you have a GREEN TIP to share, just send it to greentips@palisadesdc.org. SAECC Annual Community Meeting: Making the Right Educational Choice for YOUR Child. On Wednesday, February 4, the St. Albans Early Childhood Center (SAECC) will host Ward 3 DC Board of Education representative, Laura McGiffert Slover, to discuss important developments in the DC Public School System and Ward 3 schools in particular. Ms. Slover will also be joined by a representative from an independent school who will address about how to think about whether or not to apply to private school based on your individual child's personality, skills, interest and needs. The event is free and open to the public, babysitting and refreshments will be provided. The forum will take place on February 4 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm in Saterlee Hall (3100 Wisconsin Avenue). Saterlee Hall is located across from the St. Albans parish on the Cathedral grounds. For more information, please contact Carola McGiffert at cmcgiffert@hotmail.com. Jan. 16 - Jan. 23 Next Week: Mon. 1/19: No School--MLK Day Tues. 1/20: No School--Inauguratio n Day Wed. 1/21: Trash-Free Lunch Day Thurs. 1/22: 1-2 grade Fillmore Open House & Performance, 1:30 p.m. Thurs. 1/22: 3-5 grades perform dance and theater at Fillmore, 7 p.m. Fri. 1/23: Records Day--School Dismissed at 12:15 Fri. 1/23: 5th gr. Basketball team hosts tournament at Key,1:30-3:30* Upcoming Events Wed. 1/28: Gen. PTA Mtg. and Children's Food & Health Presentation, 6:30 p.m.** Tues. 2/3: Middle School Informational Fair at Key, 7-9 p.m. Important Reminders *The 5th grade Key School Basketball Team will be hosting a tournament next Friday. The tournament will start at 1:30 and will include games against Hyde and Stoddert Elementary Schools . So if you are looking for something to do because of early dismissal next Friday, come out and support the Key School Basketball Team. **30 min. general PTA Meeting will include babysitting and will be followed by a presentation about food entitled "How School Foods, Dyes, Trans Fats and More Affect Your Child." We hope you will join us! Key Snow Brigade: Please send an email to Greg Mize gemproductions@mac.com if you would like to be on the Snow Brigade listserv, and you will be emailed or telephoned by him on the night before or morning of a snow or ice storm. Brigade members will be presumed to be interested in being on school premises on any given morning of need. Members will do their best to be at the school for at least 20 minutes before school starts -- with 7:30 a.m. as the time to begin work. Everyone brings his/her own shovel. We will use common sense to divvy up the work once we get to school and see how much person power we have. This a pure volunteer effort. No demerits, bad feelings, etc. for not showing up. Green Tip of the week: Reuse! - Our friends at the local UPS Store (next to Starbucks on MacArthur) will take and reuse any and all styrofoam pellets or other packing material you may have... as long as they are clean. Just bag them up and bring them in. It's the perfect way to get rid of them. If you have a GREEN TIP to share, just send it to greentips@palisadesdc.org. Our fifth grade NW Current Dispachers this week were Anders Assarsson and Valeria Souchar. Thank you for your contribution! Jan. 10 - Jan. 16 Next Week: Sat. 1/10: - Key Basketball Team plays at Jelleff, 5:30 p.m.* Mon. 1/12: - First Day of ASEP Classes. Mon. 1/12: - K parents welcome at Fillmore Open House (no performance), 1-2 p.m. Tues. 1/13:- PTA Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 1/14: - Trash Free Lunch Day Wed. 1/14: - Hardy School Open House, 9-11 a.m. at Hardy** Thurs. 1/15: - Science Fair Proposals Due (please see attachment) Upcoming Events Mon. 1/19: - No School--MLK Day Tues. 1/20: - No School--Inauguratio n Day Thurs. 1/22: - 1-2 grade Fillmore Open House & Performance, 1:30 p.m. Thurs. 1/22: - 3-5 grades perform dance and theater at Fillmore, 7 p.m. Fri. 1/23: - Records Day--School Dismissed at 12:15 Wed. 1/28: - Gen. PTA Mtg. and Children's Food & Health Presentation, 6:30 p.m. Tues. 2/3: - Middle School Informational Fair at Key, 7-9 p.m March 14th: SAVE THE DATE! The auction date has been set for March 14th. It will be held on the AU campus. More information will follow, but please mark your calendars now. Important Reminders TWO NEW ASEP CLASSES FOR THURSDAY: Ballet with Ms. Mahurin for Kindergarten and Grade 1 - All levels are welcome! The Fitness Club with Ms. Williams - Third through Fifth grade kids will enjoy a variety of ways to exercise and be fit including yoga, pilates, kickboxing and aerobics! If you would like to participate in either class, please contact Cheryl Bruner at Cherylbruner17@yahoo.com. Key Snow Brigade: Please send an email to Greg Mize gemproductions@mac.com if you would like to be on the Snow Brigade listserv, and you will be emailed or telephoned by him on the night before or morning of a snow or ice storm. Brigade members will be presumed to be interested in being on school premises on any given morning of need. Members will do their best to be at the school for at least 20 minutes before school starts -- with 7:30 a.m. as the time to begin work. Everyone brings his/her own shovel. We will use common sense to divvy up the work once we get to school and see how much person power we have. This a pure volunteer effort. No demerits, bad feelings, etc. for not showing up. *Jelleff Boys & Girls Club is located at 3265 S Street, NW, just off Wisconsin next to Social Safeway. Students and parents invited to come cheer the basketball team on! **Please see www.hardyms.org for more info. about the Hardy Open House and Application Workshop. Application workshop occurs from 9:30-11 a.m., and students planning to attend must R.S.V.P to 202.729.4350. IDoug Dupin filmed a DVD of the Key Holiday Performance, which turned out well. He is selling them at $10/DVD, with some of the proceeds going to the PTA. If you would like to buy one, you can reach him at doug@timeprism.net Green Tip of the week: reduce reuse RECYCLE If you're looking for something to do with your Key Christmas tree -- place it in the nearest curbside treebox for ongoing collection by the District DPW. They are having a tree crew pick them up and convert them to mulch. After 1/17 they can be put with the regular trash. If you have a GREEN TIP to share, just send it to greentips@palisadesdc.org December 13 - December 19 Next Week: Tues. 12/16: Passport Tuesday Goes to the Netherlands! ** Tues. 12/16: 5th graders go (by bus) to see the Hardy Holiday Music Program, 10 a.m. Parents are invited! Tues. 12/16: Online registration for ASEP opens, 5:00 p.m.* See classes here Wed. 12/17: Trash Free Lunch Day Fri. 12/18: Deadline to register for ASEP Fri. 12/19, 10 a.m. Holiday Sharing Program at Key. Families welcome! All classes perform. Upcoming Events December 22 - January 2: Holiday Break. No School.- Mon. Jan. 5th: Return to School March 14th: SAVE THE DATE! The auction date has been set for March 14th. It will be held on the AU campus. More information will follow, but please mark your calendars now. Important Reminders *The ASEP (After School Enrichment Program) which takes place each winter at Key School will be open for enrollment on 12/16 at 5 p.m. online. Classes will begin the week of January 12 and run for 8 weeks, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The cost will be $73.00 per student, except for those students already registered in the Aftercare Program on the day of the class. Please check out the great list of classes attached. If any of the offerings are of interest to your child (ren), please register online (starting Tuesday, December 16th). You may also pick up a paper registration form in the main office. Volunteers needed once-a-week for snack distribution from 3:10-3:30 (or less as the session progresses); please contact arthur@1on1basketball.com if you can help. **Passport Tuesday: Pre-k through 1st grade 1:30-2:10, and 2-5th grades, 2:15-3. Kids will join the Rooden/Heiden family to learn more about the Netherlands. There are still a few Christmas Trees left for sale. We hope you will buy yours at Key if you haven't already! Please contact Todd Stein at todd.stein@starpower.net, who can arrange both pick-up and payment. A reminder that drop-off's in both the a.m. and p.m. are not permitted in KEHP (Key Extended Hours Program.) Only students already enrolled in that particular day are eligible for the KEHP program. If you didn't get your luminary set at the Christmas Tree Sale, they are still available and can be purchased from Polly Johnson's porch at 5814 Sherier Place. Luminary Night is Sunday, Dec. 21st. Don't forget to download the igive window at igive.com before you do your online Christmas shopping. It automatically (and at no cost to you) donates money back to Key School. If you go to your online retailers through www.upromise. com, then Key gets double the benefits! Green Tip of the week: Can you recycle your wrapping paper? Yes. DC accepts non-metallic wrapping paper for recycling. And keep in mind that many people reuse wrapping paper if it hasn't been shredded by over-eager fingers. December 6 - December 14 Next Week: Sat. & Sun. 12/6 & 12/7: Christmas Tree Sale. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.* Please come buy your tree at the Key parking lot! Mon. 12/8: Parent/Teacher Conferences- -No School Tues. 12/9 & Wed. 12/10: Holiday Secret Shop* Tues. 12/9: Executive Committee PTA Meeting, 7:30, school office Wed. 12/3: Trash Free Lunch Day Wed. 12/10: Hardy Open House, 9-11.** Upcoming Events Fri. 12/19: 10 a.m. Holiday Sharing Program at Key December 22 - January 2: Holiday Break. No School. Important Reminders Luminaries will be available for sale at the Christmas Tree Sale. Luminary Night of the Palisades will be celebrated with the Winter Solstice this year on Sunday, December 21. Proceeds for sales will be given to D.C. Hunger Solutions. The Opening of the Holiday Secret Shop is quickly approaching. ...December 9 and 10th. To make it a success this year, parent volunteers are needed!! Wrappers, Decorators, Shop Assistants, etc. Please contact Carolyn Schafer Shahida (carschafer@comcast.net) or Elaine Kennedy (ekennedy@diventaconsulting.com) ASAP! THANK YOU!! Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. Don't forget to download the igive window at igive.com before you do your online Christmas shopping. It automatically (and at no cost to you) donates money back to Key School. If you go to your online retailers through www.upromise. com, then Key gets double the benefits! From Nov. 28 to Dec. 7th, 10% of your purchases at any Tree Top Toys will be awarded to Key School IF you mention Key at checkout, AND you get 10% off your purchases, too. Thanks for your support! December 1 - December 7 Next Week: Wed. 12/3: Trash Free Lunch Day Sat. & Sun. 12/6 & 12/7: Christmas Tree Sale. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.* Please come buy your tree at the Key parking lot! Upcoming Events Mon. 12/8: Parent/Teacher Conferences- -No School- Tues.12/9 & Wed. 12/10: Holiday Secret Shop** Tues. 12/9: Executive Committee PTA Meeting, 7:30, school office. Important Reminders Listen to WAMU's story about Key receiving the Blue Ribbon! The link won't stay live for long, but look under "local news" and "D.C. Elementary School Wins National Recognition" : http://wamu.org/news/. -*PLEASE BUY YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE AT KEY! Key parking lot. We need the support of many families to make this fundraising endeavor successful. Volunteers also needed. Helping Key’s annual winter fundraiser is fun and a great way to connect with neighbors in the holiday spirit. Volunteers needed for two hour shifts, either Saturday or Sunday. Jobs are handling trees and staffing the cashier’s table. Please contact todd.stein@starpower.net to sign up, and let him know your time slot preference. The Opening of the Holiday Secret Shop is quickly approaching. ...December 9 and 10th. To make it a success this year, parent volunteers are needed!! Wrappers, Decorators, Shop Assistants, etc. Please contact Carolyn Schafer Shahida (carschafer@comcast.net) or Elaine Kennedy (ekennedy@diventaconsulting.com) ASAP! THANK YOU!! Please note that there is a typo in the Directory and we ask you to make a telephone number change in your copy. The Dilk family (Simone--5th/ Williams and Ethan--3rd/Riley) number should read: 202-966-0781. From Nov. 28 to Dec. 7th, 10% of your purchases at any Tree Top Toys(see attached flyer) will be awarded to Key School IF you mention Key at checkout. Thanks for your support! Starting this month DCPS is keeping a comprehensive listing of parent volunteers. When you come to Key to volunteer, instead of signing into the visitor's log, please sign into the "Volunteer Log" at the security desk. Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. November 21 - November 28 Next Week: Fri. 11/21: Last Day to turn in canned goods for the food drive* Fri. 11/25: Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony**, Key Auditorium, 9:15 - 10 a.m. Parents encouraged to attend! Fri. 11/25: Passport Tuesday travels to Tibet!*** 2 p.m. Auditorium. Wed. 11/26: Trash Free Lunch Day Thurs. 11/27 & Fri. 11/28: No School for Thanksgiving Holiday Upcoming Events Sat. & Sun. 12/6 & 12/7: Christmas Tree Sale**** Mon. 12/8: Parent/Teacher Conferences- -No School Tues. 12/9 & Wed. 12/10: Holiday Secret Shop***** Important Reminders *The Community Service Committee is collecting non-perishable items for the Capital Food Bank. Items are due at school by Friday morning. There is a box to collect your items inside Key's front doorway. -**Key School is being awarded the Blue Ribbon of Excellence at a ceremony on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. in the Key auditorium. In attendance will be special guests Mayor Adrian Fenty, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and more. Please come support Key as we are awarded this special honor. Refreshments will be served! ***Key students will have the exciting opportunity to travel to Tibet on 11/25 at 2pm Presented by Todd Stein [Olivia (4) and Sophia (1)], with his Tibetan colleague Tencho and musician Karma. The children will try their hand at Tibetan greetings and dances, learn what it's like to be a child in Tibet, see traditional Tibetan dress, and as a special treat, listen to a live musical performance. ..and more. ****Volunteers needed for Key Christmas Tree Sale (December 6-7). Helping Key’s annual winter fundraiser is fun and a great way to connect with neighbors in the holiday spirit. Volunteers needed for two hour shifts, either Saturday or Sunday. Jobs are handling trees and staffing the cashier’s table. Please contact todd.stein@starpower.net to sign up, and let him know your time slot preference. *****The Opening of the Holiday Secret Shop is quickly approaching. ...December 9 and 10th. To make it a success this year, parent volunteers are needed!! Wrappers, Decorators, Shop Assistants, etc. Please contact Carolyn Schafer Shahida (carschafer@comcast.net) or Elaine Kennedy (ekennedy@diventaconsulting.com) ASAP! THANK YOU!! -From Nov. 28 to Dec. 7th, 10% of your purchases at any Tree Top Toys will be awarded to Key School IF you mention Key at checkout (see attached flyer). Thanks for your support! Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. November 14 - November 21 Next Week: Sun. 11/16: School Grounds Clean-Up, 9 a.m. - noon.* Wed. 11/19: Key School Open House for Prospective Parents, 9-11 a.m.** (volunteers needed!) Wed. 11/19: Trash Free Lunch Day Thurs. 11/20: Fillmore's Meet the Teachers/Be an Artist Night, 6:30 - 8 p.m.*** Upcoming Events Tues. 11/25: Blue Ribbon Award Ceremony at Key, 9:15 - 10 a.m. Parents encouraged to attend! Important Reminders -*Volunteers needed for the Key School grounds clean-up! Come rake and sweep and prune while you chat with your neighbors and make the school even more beautiful. Please bring any equipment you think might be helpful: rakes, brooms, clippers, gloves. Please direct questions to Wendy Lynch: wendylynch4522@comcast.net. -**11/19 Key Open House, 9:00 am to 11:00 am. We still need a few more tour guides to lead small groups of prospective parents around Key (fact sheets will be provided!). Please contact Michelle Mundt at michellemundt@verizon.net if you can help. -*** Fillmore Night at Fillmore West, 1819 35th Street, NW, Third Floor. You will meet your child's Fillmore teachers & then you can take a sample class! The Opening of the Holiday Secret Shop is quickly approaching. ...December 9 and 10th. To make it a success this year, parent volunteers are needed!! Wrappers, Decorators, Shop Assistants, etc. Please contact Carolyn Schafer Shahida (carschafer@comcast.net) or Elaine Kennedy (ekennedy@diventaconsulting.com) ASAP! THANK YOU!! NASA invites students to become Rocket Scientists, Sunday, 11/16, 1-3 pm at the Goddart Space Center. Free. Offered 3rd Sunday of every month through May. www.nasa.gov/ centers/goddard/visitor/events/index.html Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. Attached is an Errata sheet for the Directory, with a few corrections & additions. Please print it out and include it with your directory. November 7 - November 16 Next Week: Mon. 10/27: Veteran's Day Holiday. No School. Tues. 11/12: Hardy Open House for students & parents, 9-11 a.m. Tues. 11/12: Trash Free Lunch Day Tues. 11/12: PTA Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m., School Office Wed. 11/13: International Parent Potluck Dinner, 7-9 p.m.* Sun. 11/16: School Grounds Clean-Up, 9 a.m. - noon.** Upcoming Events Wed. 11/19: Key School Open House for Prospective Parents, 9-11 a.m. Important Reminders International dinner hosted by the World Family Committee at Charlotte Perry's home. Please come meet other international families and learn about Passport Tuesdays and World Family Day. RSVP to Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net. Please bring a dish from your country to share. **Volunteers needed for the Key School grounds clean-up! Come rake and sweep and prune while you chat with your neighbors and make the school even more beautiful. Please bring any equipment you think might be helpful: rakes, brooms, clippers, gloves. Please direct questions to Wendy Lynch: wendylynch4522@comcast.net. A reminder that KEHP (Key Extended Hours Program) is not available on a drop-in basis. Regular enrollment is at capacity and there is a waiting list. If you are interested in being added to the waiting list, please contact KEHP Director Ann Conway at fskehp@yahoo.com. Key School has a new telephone number. Please make a note of it. 202.729.3280 Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. October 31 - November 9 Next Week: Fri. 10/31: Halloween Parade, 11:45 a.m.***(Please see below for more info.) Fri. 10/31: Half Day due to Records Day. School dismissed at 12:15. Tues. 11/4: Don't forget to vote on election day! Normal school day. Wed. 11/5: Trash Free Lunch Day Wed. 11/5: Hardy Night at Key, 6-7 p.m. For 5th graders and their parents. 2nd floor library.** Fri. 11/7: Homeless Walk Upcoming Events Tues. 11/11: Veteran's Day Holiday. No School. Wed. 11/12: Hardy Open House for students & parents, 9-11 a.m. Thurs. 11/13: International Parent Potluck, 7-9 p.m.*** Important Reminders -*Please join students on the blacktop for the annual Halloween Parade at School at 11:45 on Friday. Please remember NO weapons are allowed with costumes at school. School will be dismissed at 12:15. School lunch (and bagged lunches) will be served from 10:30 through 11:15 that morning. -**Former Key students and parents will be at Key to have separate discussions with current 5th grade students and parents about Hardy. Pizza and drinks provided for $2/slice. Please contact Margie Palm margiepalm@gmail.com if you have further questions or to RSVP. -***Hosted by the World Family Committee at Charlotte Perry's home. Please come meet other international families and learn about Passport Tuesdays and World Family Day. RSVP to Maria Emanuel at mariaemanuel@starpower.net. Please bring a dish from your country to share. Attached is an Errata sheet for the Directory, with a few corrections & additions. Please print it out and include it with your directory. Key School has a new telephone number. Please make a note of it! 202.729.3280 Your Safeway card must be registered with www.escrip.com by NOVEMBER 1 in order for them to give Key a donation. CALL 877-SAFEWAY to get your Safeway club card number. Then log on to www.escrip.com to enter your card number, and let Safeway & eScrip give money to our school!! (Key School ID: 11873281) Need help? Contact Jennie McDonnell jenniemcmiller@aol.com or 364-2695. Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. October 24 - November 2 Next Week: Mon. 10/27: 9 a.m. DCPS enrollment audit. Make sure your child is at school! *(See below.) Mon. 10/27: Deadline (extended) for Sally Foster orders. **(See below.) Tues. 10/28 & Wed. 10/29: DC BAS Testing for 3-5th grades in reading & math. Tues. 10/28: Passport Tuesday goes to Mexico, 2 p.m. in the cafeteria Wed. 10/29: Trash Free Lunch Day Fri. 10/31: Halloween Parade, 11:45 a.m.***(Please see below for more info.) Fri. 10/31: Half Day due to Records Day. School dismissed at 12:15. Upcoming Events Tues. 11/4: Don't forget to vote on election day! Normal school day. Tues. 11/11: Veteran's Day Holiday. No School. Important Reminders * DCPS does the student head count this Monday, which sets Key's budget for 0809. It is VERY important that you send your child to school this morning unless there are critical matters that require them to stay home. Please do not schedule any appointments or anything else this morning. **The Sally Foster orders are being entered so we can receive our product delivery on Thursday, November 13th. Many thanks to those of you who have submitted your orders. If you didn't submit your order, it is not too late! Check your wrapping supply and canvas your family and friends over the weekend and turn your order form in by Monday, October 27th. Don't miss this opportunity to buy great quality paper, gift bags and sweet treats, all while supporting Key School! Please call Norma Ramella at 202-441-5314 with any questions. ***Please join students on the blacktop for the annual Halloween Parade at School at 11:45 on Friday. Please remember NO weapons are allowed with costumes at school. School will be dismissed at 12:15. School lunch (and bagged lunches) will be served from 10:30 through 11:15 that morning. Key School has a new telephone number. Please make a note of it! 202.729.3280 Your Safeway card must be registered with www.escrip.com by NOVEMBER 1 in order for them to give Key a donation. CALL 877-SAFEWAY to get your Safeway club card number. Then log on to www.escrip.com to enter your card number, and let Safeway & eScrip give money to our school!! (Key School ID: 11873281) Need help? Contact Jennie McDonnell jenniemcmiller@aol.com or 364-2695. Hardy Middle School is having a series of Open Houses for parents AND students on the following Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m.: 11/12, 12/10, 1/14. Please call 202.729.4350 to RSVP. More info. available on www.hardyms.org. Encourage music at Key by lending a hand. We are putting together a list of Key parents with musical expertise so that teachers can call on parents to help enrich the curriculum with music and to help prepare for the Holiday Assembly and other performances. Even if you just have an hour to give, or interest in an ongoing contribution, let us know. Moms and Dads both wanted! Please contact Lauren Goodyear Schramm at goodschramm@verizon.net with the following info:-the instrument(s) you play-how you might contribute -your child's grade and teacher October 18 - October 24 Next Week's Events: Sun. 10/19: Harvest Festival, 12-4 p.m. (see * below for details) Mon. 10/20: Fillmore Open House for Kindergarten parents, 1-2 p.m. Wed. 10/22: Trash Free Lunch Day Thurs: 10/23: Fillmore Open House (grades 3-5 at 10-11 a.m., grades 1&2 at 1-2 p.m.) Thurs. 10/23: Hardy Open House, 5:30 p.m. (see attached invitation) Upcoming Events: Fri. 10/31: Halloween Parade, 11:30 a.m. Fri. 10/31: Half Day due to Records Day. School dismissed at 12:15. Important Reminders: Key School has a new telephone number. Please make a note of it! 202.729.3280 *The Harvest Festival is finally here this Sunday from noon until 4pm! Don't forget that Friday is your last chance to buy pre-festival punch cards for $10. They will be $12 at the Festival. Punch cards are worth 24 tickets. Individual tickets will also be available at the sale. They are as good as cash and can be used for everything at the Festival. Last chance to drop off gently used children's books, CDs and DVDs will be Friday. Remember, bring your decorated pumpkin to the Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest no later than 1:30pm. Baked goods will be accepted at the Bake Sale throughout the day. Winners of the Pumpkin Decorating Contest, the Great Pumpkin Raffle and the Jelly Bean Jar guess will all be announced at 3pm. Another way to help: Please bring a cooler full of ice to the concessions stand. The cooler will be returned to you. Not the ice. Your Safeway card must be registered with www.escrip.com by NOVEMBER 1 in order for them to give Key a donation. CALL 877-SAFEWAY to get your Safeway club card number. Then log on to www.escrip.com to enter your card number, and let Safeway & eScrip give money to our school!! (Key School ID: 11873281) Need help? Contact Jennie McDonnell jenniemcmiller@aol.com or 364-2695. A science, math and technology career day for middle-school aged girls is being offered by Girls, Inc. of DC, Sat. Oct 25 from 1-4 at Cisco Headquarters. Call 202.806.1174 for more info. October 13 - October 20 Next Week: Mon. 10/13: Columbus Day Holiday--No School Tues. 10/14: Exec. Cttee. PTA Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wed. 10/15: General PTA Meeting, 6:30-8 p.m. Babysitting and pizza available for children (potty-trained and up) in the art room on the 2nd floor. If you will be using babysitting, please rsvp to Paige at pchabora@yahoo.com, including in the email the number of children and slices of pizza requested ($3 per slice of pizza per child.) This will be a paper-less meeting, so see the agenda and treasurer's report online beforehand at www.keyschooldc. org. PLEASE come and learn about your PTA! Wed. 10/15: Trash Free Lunch Day Sun. 10/19: HARVEST FESTIVAL! 12-4 p.m. Buy your punch cards next week on the blacktop. Make sure to volunteer for your children's class booth with your room parent. Please bring baked goods for the bake sale. *More info. on the pumpkin decorating contest & MORE below! Upcoming Events Thurs. Oct. 23: Hardy Open House and Reception - Please see the invitation Important Reminders Encourage music at Key by lending a hand! We are putting together a list of Key parents with musical expertise so that teachers can call on parents to help enrich the curriculum with music and to help prepare for the Holiday Assembly and other performances. Whether you have just an hour to give or interest in an ongoing contribution, let us know. Please contact Lauren Goodyear Schramm at goodschramm@verizon.net with the following info:-the instrument(s) you play-how you might contribute -your child's grade and teacher Great news for Washington residents: Mayor Fenty has expanded residential recycling collection so that it now includes wide-mouthed plastics (yogurt containers), plastic toys, and aerosol cans. For a complete list of acceptable recyclables, please see this list. REMINDER: You can drop off your batteries, cell phones and toner cartridges for recycling in the foyer at the main entrance to Key. ***No car batteries please***. Stuffed Animals for Kids: The annual stuffed animal drive for stuffed animals for kids in Quito, Ecuador will start Tuesday, October 15 until Friday, October 18. The medical group Por Cristo will travel at the end of the month to deliver health care and your stuffed animals to children who suffer from heart disease. Key School has sent stuffed animals for the past several years. Please drop off all your gently used stuffed animals to the box in front of the school. The kids in Quito thank you! Contact marisa mize, m2mom5@gmail.com with questions. HARVEST FEST INFO! The Harvest Festival's 1st Annual Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest is here! How many ways can you dress a pumpkin? Get into the spirit of our autumnal affair by bringing your creation to the Harvest Festival October 19th. Head to the Pumpkin Patch and start planning your pumpkin this weekend! Everyone gets a prize for entering. Grand prizes will be awarded for two age groups: Pre-K through 1st Grade and 2nd through 5th Grade. There will also be special prizes for Craftiest Caricature and Ghouliest Gourd. Prizes include two $100 savings bonds, Lacrosse Gear, and more. Fillmore Arts Program Director Katherine Latterner and Teacher Alex Power will be our esteemed judges. Check your child's backpack for a flyer with more details. Buy your Harvest Festival Punch Cards on the black top next week before and after school. Pre-event punch cards will be $10 and are the equivalent of 24 tickets. Punch cards will be $12 the day of the Festival. Individual tickets will also be sold at the Festival. Can't make it up to school before the Festival? Just contact your room parents before Oct. 16 to arrange to purchase Punch Cards at pre-event prices. Punch cards are redeemable for games, used book sale, concessions and bake sale. Cash is king, but checks can be made payable to Key PTA. Check out the Giant Pumpkin in the main lobby. It could be yours if you buy a raffle ticket at the Festival. Or maybe you or your child would rather have the giant Jelly Bean Jar displayed near the Library. If you correctly guess how many jelly beans are in the jar you'll saved yourself a trip to Safeway for Halloween treats. Don't forget to volunteer! Contact Lisa Sterling at lisapsterling@hotmail.com to help with set-up, clean-up, Pumpkin Contest or Raffle. A Cockatiel by the name Flicka is missing. She is red-cheeked, wings and tail feathers are grey and yellow and has the distinctive 'pony-tail' on top of her head. Her family lives on 48th St. behind Safeway. Please help spread the word about Flicka. Contact Ana Maria at home # 202-342-0189 or cell # 202-486-0293. October 6 - October 13 Next Week: We are pleased to offer a second Introductory (K and 1st grade only) Spanish class on Mon. and Wed. from 3:15 to 4:15 pm, starting Oct. 20. Registration for the class is now open: http://www.families only.com/key-fall-2008. The class is limited to 12 students and will be available on a first-come first-served basis through Wed., Oct. 8. Registration for other classes remains open through the rest of today. Wed. 10/8: Trash Free Lunch Day Upcoming Events Mon. Oct. 13: Columbus Day Holiday--No School Tues. Oct. 14: Exec. Cttee. PTA Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Wed. Oct. 15: General PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Babysitting available. Thurs. Oct. 23: Hardy Open House and Reception Important Reminders The Sally Foster Fund Raiser Campaign has officially begun and packets have been sent home with your child. Please order holiday goodies to support Key School! You can also order online through our website at: http://www.keyschooldc.org/sallyfoster.htm Please email KeySallyFoster@yahoo.com or call Norma Ramella at 202-441-5314 with any questions. Harvest Fest (Oct. 19th) is right around the corner! Volunteers are still needed for set-up, clean up and working the grill. You can contact Lisa Sterling at lisapsterling@ hotmail.com or your room parents to volunteer for your class activity. Don't forget to donate your gently used children's books, cd's and dvd's for the Children's Book and Media Sale. Donation boxes are near the entrance to the school. Have you picked your pumpkin? A new and exciting addition to the festival this year is the Great Pumpkin Decorating Contest with lots of great prizes. Details coming next week. September 29 - October 5 Upcoming Events Tues. 9/30: Deadline for registering for Foreign Language at Key has been extended through the weekend. Please see http://www.familiesonly.com/key-fall-2008 to sign up and take this great opportunity to expose your child to a new language. Intro. to Spanish is full, but all other classes still have space. Wed. 10/1: Trash Free Lunch Day Wed. 10/1, 6:30 pm: Green Committee meeting in the Key Cafeteria. Open to all. Please come to plan our priorities for the new year. [Enter by the door off the blacktop.] Wed. 10/1, 12:30 pm: Nathans in Georgetown is hosting a "Q&A Cafe" featuring Michelle Rhee. Incl. lunch and a chance to ask her questions. Fri. 10/3: Parent/Teacher Conferences. No School. Teachers will post individual family conference times. Oct. 23rd: Hardy Open House and Reception (Click here for invitation.) Important Reminders The Sally Foster Fund Raiser Campaign will take place during the month of October. Key School earns 50% on each item! Watch for sales catalogs coming home with your students. The sale will end on October 22nd. Products ordered via catalog will be delivered to the school on November 13. On-line orders will be shipped directly to your home. Please email KeySallyFoster@ yahoo.com or call Norma Ramella at 202-441-5314 with any questions. Thanks for your support. Safeway continues to give 10% of purchases to Key through Oct. 6th if you are registered with eScrip. Or you can bring in receipts to the Retail Rebate drawer through Oct. 12th. September 22 - September 28 Upcoming Events Wed. 9/24: Trash-Free Lunch Day Thurs. 9/25: Back to School Night, 7 p.m. Come to the auditorium to learn more about Key from Mr. Landeryou, and then visit your child(ren)'s classes to hear from their teachers. Book your babysitters! Fri. 9/26: Closing date for Key's Foreign Language registration (See below for more info.) Register at http://www.familiesonly.com/key-fall-2008. Important Reminders Registration for Key's Foreign Language ("FLES") Program is now open. Classes include Spanish, French and Chinese. Register and get more information online at http://www.familiesonly.com/key-fall-2008 by next Friday, September 26. Classes begin in October. Please remember to renew your Safeway and Giant cards so that your purchases bring dollars to Key School. 10% of your Safeway purchases go to Key between now and 10/6. If you are not registered through the eScrip program, bring your Safeway register reciepts to the Retail Rebate drawer by 10/12. If you are registered, 10% automatically goes to the school! Also, downloading the igive window at igive.com means that Key receives a percentage of many of your online purchases to thousands of vendors. Fillmore has requested any magazines (except Sports Illustrated) that would be of interest to boys (outdoor magazines, etc.) Please send them in to school with your child's teacher. This is the last week that we are sending Next Week at Key in this manner. Starting next week, we will send Next Week at Key through the yahoogroups listserve. You must join to receive the weekly emails. The listserve is distribution only, and NOT a discussion board, so users are not allowed to reply to the whole group; you will only receive official PTA emails or emails from Mr. Landeryou on this listserve. ALL parents on this email list should have received an invitation from "keyschoolpta moderator" on Wednesday at about 9 a.m. If you did not receive it, please look in your email junk folder. Contact us if it was not received. To join the listserve, please follow the steps below: Open the email Click on "join this group" button. The yahoogroups website will open and display a description of the group. Click on the appropriate buttons indicating which email address you'd like to use (you do NOT have to use a yahoo.com email address--keep reading on their website for the SECOND option, which allows you to use your own email). Indicate whether you would like to receive emails individually or bundled, etc., fill in the anti-spam box (where you are asked to type the letters you see) and then click again to join. If you have trouble, click on "join the mailing list" instead of "join the group." You should now be a member and will receive our weekly emails. This listserve will make sending PTA emails much more efficient on a weekly basis, will allow newcomers to join more immediately each fall, and will allow you to "unsubscribe" quickly when your child leaves Key. Thank you so much for your cooperation with this communications upgrade! Christy Halvorson Ross & Paige Chabora PTA Co-Presidents Alliance to Save Energy & the DDOE's Energy Office SAVING ENERGY IN DC SCHOOLS PROGRAM To: All Parents From: David Landeryou I'm happy to announce that Key Elementary School will be taking part in the Saving Energy in DC Schools (SEDS) Program during the 2008-2009 school year! The Saving Energy in DC Schools Program is a comprehensive program for K-12 schools that uses energy-based lessons correlated to state standards to enhance project-based, real-world learning, encourage energy-conserving habits, and save schools and districts money on energy costs. Through hands-on learning, students become active leaders in saving energy and energy educators in their schools, homes, and communities. The program has 4 goals, which I will be asking school staff and inviting parents to support wherever possible: Teaching about energy and the link between energy, the environment, and our communities. Saving energy at school. Involving the whole school community - students, teachers, administrators, and facilities staff - in fostering a culture of energy awareness and conservation. Taking the energy-savings message home and into the community to help parents and community-members save energy and money. Please be advised that a team at Key consisting of teachers Amy Johnson and Vicki Waneilista, maintenance staff William Smith, Benny Lucas, and Kenneth McFaddin, and parent Wynn Calder will be taking the lead on implementing the SEDS program. We're hoping to integrate good energy-saving behaviors into the school so that our students will become good environmental stewards and also teach their families to do the same. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this great opportunity for Key School! September 12 - September 21 Upcoming Events Wed. 9/17: Trash-Free Lunch Day Don't forget that Back to School Night is around the corner on 9/25 at 7 p.m. Book your babysitters now! Important Reminders Please note new lunch prices: $1.25 for hot lunch and $.65 for milk. Calling all Parents Who have Kids with Food Allergies Chris Simmons is writing a write a follow-up food allergy article to the one published in last October’s Key Notes newsletter. If your child has a food allergy and you would like them listed in the article, or have questions or suggestions for the article, please contact Chris Simmons (chris@rainmakerz.biz, ph: 202-255-2355) by Tuesday, September 16th. As of today, the following eight Key students will be included in the article: Fox (Aaron) Chyatte Lincoln Cooper Sean Lindstrom Eva Ross Si Ross Shea Simmons Gabriella Squitieri Marco Squitieri The following information will be required for each child: 1 - Allergic foods, 2 - Severity/category, 3 - Teacher and grade Chris will need you to confirm (via email) that he has your permission to publish this information. He will forward the final draft of the article to all participants for your information prior to publication. Yahoo Groups Please look in your e-mail inbox for an invitation from yahoogroups.com next week to join the PTA listserve to continue getting these announcements. Instructions will be included. September 5 - September 14 Friday 9/5: Deadline for Directory forms Friday 9/5: Family Potluck Picnic on the school blacktop from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Familes A-N please bring side-dish and O-Z bring dessert. Pizza and sodas available for sale for $1 each. Please remember that school rules apply during the picnic, and parents are asked to be responsible for their children for the whole event to insure that everyone has a great time. Please also keep in mind that everyone working at the event is a volunteer parent and that the event runs most smoothly with parent help and patience; if you are interested in volunteering (setting or cleaning up, or selling pizza), please contact Kirsten Beronio at kberonio@att.net. Tuesday 9/9: Executive PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m. Office conference room. Wednesday 9/10: Trash Free Lunch Day. Trash Free Lunch Day Dear Parents (and kids): Key started holding a weekly "trash free lunch day" last year to raise awareness about how much we throw away at a typical school meal and to consciously reduce our waste. We will continue this tradition this year. Please don't feel you have to throw things away at home in order to pack a 100% trash free lunch box - aim to reduce where it makes sense and improve over time. A few simple tips: Buy larger bags of snacks & foods instead of individual-packs, and put them in reusable containers (ziplock bags can be reused, particularly if used for dry foods). Use small reuseable plastic containers (Rubbermaid makes many sizes, available at Safeway and CVS). These last for years. Plastic water bottles are reusable. Steel or aluminum bottles are also popular (see www.kleankanteen.com to order online). Check out www.reusablebags.com for a variety of alternative bags and containers. Some students bring in silverware or durable plasticware and cloth napkins and take them home every day. We thank you for your help and support! - The Green Committee Important Reminders Before and After School Care is available across the street from Key School on Fulton Street. Amanda Boling (her son Thomas starts Pre-K this school year) is already working with a number of Key Students. Please contact amanda.boling@gmail.com for more information. If you have not already done so, please remember to pick up your PTA Registration Packet from the main office and turn in your dues, volunteer, directory and other forms as soon as possible. Please look in your inbox for an invitation from yahoogroups.com next week to join the PTA listseve to continue getting these announcements. Instructions will be included. Next Week At Key is also always posted on the school website at www.keyschooldc.org. A Reminder about Drop-Off Procedures: We regularly hear from horrified parents who’ve observed some risky, inconsiderate drop-off habits. Please remember to obey all traffic laws and school safety rules when dropping off your children in the morning. Of particular note: When dropping off your children by car, the following school traffic pattern should be used: drive north along Hurst Terrace, turn right and head east on Garfield Street, turn right and continue south on Eskridge Terrace, and then turn right and head west on Dana Place. This assures a flow of traffic in one direction (think clock-wise around the school) on a street that cannot adequately handle busy two-way traffic. Parents may not use the staff parking lot or driveway for any reason. This includes turning around, dropping off, or parking. Do not pull over to the wrong side of the street to drop off a child. Do not attempt illegal 3-point turns in a street intersection. Remember, your neighbors are watching! September 2008 Monday 9/1: Labor Day Holiday--No School Wednesday 9/3: Trash Free Lunch Day Friday 9/5: Deadline for Directory forms Friday 9/5: Family Potluck Picnic on the school blacktop from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Familes A-N please bring side-dish and O-Z bring dessert. Pizza and sodas available for sale for $1 each. Please remember that school rules apply during the picnic, and parents are asked to be responsible for their children for the whole event to insure that everyone has a great time. Please also keep in mind that everyone working at the event is a volunteer parent and that the event runs most smoothly with parent help and patience; if you are interested in volunteering (setting or cleaning up, or selling pizza), please contact Kirsten Beronio at kberonio@att.net. PLEASE check your children for HEAD LICE before bringing them to school on Monday 8/25. There has been an unfortunate infestation throughout the Palisades and many parents have spent hours trying to eradicate the problem. Checking to ensure that your child does not have lice the first day will help prevent the spread of infestation. Please check the following websites for guidelines: Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/index.html. Fact Sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/factsheet.html. General Management Help: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html#Management. What to do if you think kids have it: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice/flow2.html If you have not already done so, please remember to pick up your PTA Registration Packet from the main office and turn in your dues, volunteer, directory and other forms as soon as possible. If you are interested in being a room parent, please email the Room Parent Coordinator, Lori Denham, at lori.denham@rcn.com. PLEASE continue to check your children for HEAD LICE and nits daily to help prevent the spread of infestation, and remember they need to be treated thoroughly and have no nits before they can return to school if they have had lice. A variety of links that will help you identify and treat the problem are on the Key website at www.keyschooldc.org. DCPS requires that with head lice: "The student may return to school after treatment and when hair is nit-free." Vigilant daily checking by parents, daily regular shampoo, and hair cuts are three very good steps toward controlling this problem. Foreign Language offerings will be announced in early September. Please look out in your child's backpack for more information. The PTA will be distributing "Next Week at Key" through a yahoogroups listserve this year (in Newsletter format; not a discussion group), which will cut down time on sending out emails, make address changes smoother, simplify the process of passing on the list from year to year, and make unsubscribing from the list when your child leaves Key easier. Soon you will be sent an email from yahoogroups inviting you to join. Please follow the one-time simple directions to join the list, and you will receive our weekly emails.