January 28, 2009 Newsletter

Meriwether Lewis Elementary School Weekly Letter January 28, 2009

503 916 6360 - http://lewiselementary.org Principal Notes From Mr. Lauer Drama Performance Last night students from Mrs. Ross, Ms. Davis and Mr. Post’s classrooms performed for family and friends under the direction of our Drama Teacher in Residence, Tori Padellford and these same students performed music under the direction of Mr. Jamesbarry. The students did a great job. I wanted to thank our staff for their work helping with the production. Tori will soon begin working with another group of classrooms and by the end of the school year all classrooms will have the opportunity to take perform. Family Resources Directory Available The school office has created a directory of a number of different resources available to families.  Health care, transportation assistance, clothing and furniture and other resource information is available in this directory. Please contact the school office if you would like information. PTA Clothes Closet The mission of the Portland Council PTA Clothing Center is to provide school clothing based on need for children enrolled in Pre-K through 12th grade.  Used and new clothing is available. This is a great resource for winter clothing, jackets and shoes.  4th & 5th graders going to OMSI Camp may even be able to find outdoor clothing for camp.  Please come by the school office for an application.    Free Reduced Lunch Reminder: If your household has experienced a change in income, your child(ren) may now qualify for free or reduced priced school meals. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, if your income goes down, if you lose your job, if you start getting food stamps or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). You may submit an application for the first time, or you may reapply if previously denied and your income has changed.

the school office at 503 916 6360. This will help us in our planning process. Also if you know of family and friends who plan to have kindergarten students attend Lewis, could you please share this information with them. District Sponsored Kindergarten Readiness Fair Kindergarten Readiness Fairs. Families can participate in a model kindergarten class; learn about kindergarten readiness; talk to kindergarten teachers and district personnel; hear about district resources such as child care, special education and the Talented and Gifted program; and receive information on student transfer choices. • Southeast Portland - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, Mt. Scott Community Center, 5530 S.E. 72nd Ave. Walk and Bike Update FRIENDLY FACES, HAPPY FEET Are you interested in getting more students to walk or bike to school? Do you want more fitness opportunities and cleaner air for Lewis Elementary School? Safer Routes to School is excited to present our latest campaigns "Stop + Walk" and the "Walking School Bus/ Bike Train". Both campaigns provide school volunteers the resources to get more students active on their commute to school. If you are interested in organizing a "Walking School Bus/Bike Train" or "Stop + Walk" at Lewis, please contact Carolina at 503.823.1189. We will be holding the following trainings: •Friday Jan. 30th , 9:30am-11am at Peninsula Park Community CenterStop + Walk •Thursday Feb 5th, 3.30-5pm at Lewis Elementary School- Stop +Walk •Tuesday Feb 10th , 6pm-7:30pm at Gregory Heights Library- Walking School Bus/ Bike Train •Wednesday Feb 25th, 12pm-1:30pm at Southeast PrecinctWalking School Bus/ Bike Train •

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School meals are nutritious and offer unlimited fruits and vegetables with every lunch. If your children are not currently eating school meals it would be an honor to serve them. For more information and to download an application, go to: http://www.nutrition.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/10057  Ask for an application at your school or call: Cindy Baumbach @ 503.916.3247 Sincerely, Tim Lauer Important Information for our 5th Grade Students and Their Families Regarding Middle School and 6th Grade: Transfer Window: January 30, 2009 - March 13, 2009 Middle School Transfer Process: Very IMPORTANT PLEASE READ This process is very important for our 5th grade students who may be considering a middle school other than their home middle school. Some middle schools require attendance at a mandatory parent information meeting in order to be considered for a transfer. Students who live in the Lewis attendance area are slated to attend Sellwood Middle School. Students who have transfered to Lewis are slated to attend their neighborhood middle school unless they choose to go through the transfer process. More information can be found on the PPS Enrollment and Transfer Office page at http://readysetconnect.pps.k12.or.us. Note: If you would like further information or any help with the transfer process, please contact the school office or the Enrollment and Transfer office at 503 916 6360 . Lewis Kindergarten Round Up Meetings Scheduled We will be offering two informational meetings for prospective kindergarten families. Please share this information with family and friends who might be interested. The dates and times are listed below: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - 9:00 am or Thursday, February 26, 2009 - 6:00 pm We need your help... Kindergarten Round-Up We are working to determine just how many kindergarten students we can expect for next school year. If you have an incoming kindergarten student in your family and you plan to have him or her attend Lewis during the 2009 - 2010 school year, could you please fill out the information form available on our web site, ( http://lewiselementary.org/kindergarten ) or contact

Lewis Garden Update If you would like to be added to the Lewis Garden email list, to receive updates on projects and events, please leave a note in my box in the office with your address, or email me at [email protected] with the request.   This Wednesday, and every Wednesday, I invite you to come help with regular garden maintenance from 9:00-10:30 AM or after school from 3:00-4:30. This week we will continue building the bioswale next to the Outdoor Classroom.   Thank you!  -Julia Hamlin Seeking Carpenters We are looking for carpenter's that would like to help on some projects for the Outdoor Center.  We would love to build a few simple cold frames to grow winter vegetables, a small bridge to pass over the new bioswale next to the Outdoor Classroom and planting tables for the new greenhouses.  You would definitely have help from me and other volunteers so you wouldn't be working on this alone.  If any one of these projects interests you, please contact Julia at [email protected] or leave a note with the office.  Thank you! Community Dinner at Lewis - February 20th, 6:00-7:30 Planning meeting, January 29, 2009 3:00 pm in Room 3... We are going to be hosting a Community Dinner/potluck with the theme "Food, Tradition and Culture".  Everyone is invited.  Now is a good time to start thinking about what you might bring to share from your family's tradition or cultural heritage.  Sign up for dishes in the office.  If you would like to be involved in planning this event, please join us tomorrow, Thursday, January 29th at 3:00 in room 3 (Sarah Kohn's classroom, next to the office).

Lewis Auction Ticket Sales

AUCTION TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Get 'um while they are inexpensive.   January $20 February $25 March $30 This is sure to be a fun, community building, affordable, fundraising event for all of our children and for Lewis. Please support it by coming and inviting others to come.