· We have completed watching Act 1 of Into the Woods, and students are identifying archetypal characters in the play. Act 2 will begin on Monday, 11/28/2011.
· Ms. Lanier has introduced a new technology tool called Fakebook, where students create a mock Facebook account for a literary character.
· Progress reports go home Monday. Attached to the progress report will be the contents of the AIG notebooks since last marking period. All students are required to bring a binder to class daily. When they are given a handout or assignment, they are to add it to their Table of Contents and then place in their binder. Most students are managing this quite well. Others need to be sure they are prepared for AIG by bringing the notebook and organizing the pages as soon as they get them. We leave a Table of Contents on the board daily, so they know what their Table of Contents should look like. They can also use this to see what work they have missed. Keeping a notebook in this way teaches organization and responsibility while also giving us a way for parents to view their child’s work every marking period.
· Ms. Lanier has been working diligently to get the AIG folders in compliance since several signatures and forms were missing from last year. Thanks to all of you who were able to come in and sign this paperwork. If you were not able to come in, we have sent the paperwork home. Please have your child return it as soon as possible.
· The next PAGE meeting is Tuesday, November 29. Thanks to all of you who have attended these meetings.
· Please don’t forget to support our school and the AIG program through the Barnes and Nobles night. (flyer included)
New York Updates:
· Right now, we have about 60 students and 12 adults who have signed up for the NY trip. There has been a wonderful response to this trip, and we are glad everyone is excited. This trip will allow us to bond and get to know each other while creating many wonderful memories.
· If you have signed up to chaperone, please don’t forget the chaperone meeting on
Monday, 11/28/2011 in Mrs. DeCresie’s room at 6pm.
· Mrs. Beaulieu has approved the next fund raiser for the trip. Several students have asked if they could make things to sell as potential Christmas gifts, and we have been given permission to do so. Two weeks prior to Christmas break, we will set up a table in the front hall near the office. Students will rotate through attending the table, and I will need an adult to volunteer to sit with them since money will be involved. They will be able to sell items our students have made to the school as classes go to lunch. Any AIG student who wants to sell items needs to follow these guidelines:
o Make the price of the item reasonable. Remember you are primarily selling to students.
o Try to keep your cost of materials low so you can make a profit.
o You set the price you want to charge for what you have made.
o Attach a tag to the item. On the tag, write the student’s first and last name and the price.
o When the item sells, the person working at the table will cut off the tag and store it in the money box. When the box is returned to class, we will record what has been sold, and assign credit to that student in their account.
o Whatever you make that gets sold goes in your account. This money earned will go toward your next payment. It cannot be used for spending money.
o Please don’t make so many of an item that you lose money if it doesn’t sell.
o Be willing to make a few of the item for the first week to see how it sells. You may want to take orders for more so you know how many to make the second week.
o Decide if you want to take orders on a variation of your product. For example, one student suggested making bracelets out of cording. He could make a few in two colors, and then have a signup sheet listing what other colors he could make it in. Don’t commit to more than what would be cost effective. In other words, don’t just say you would do any two colors, because then you may have to buy cording of a certain color and only sell one bracelet of that color.
o If you want to sell something but have no crafty skills, please let me know. I have a couple of ideas. However, you would need to be able to stay after school one or two days to make what I have in mind.
· Participation in this fundraiser is optional. There will be another one for Valentine’s Day. If you do decide to make items to sell, there will be lots of time for parent /child bonding as you strategize together what you can cost effectively create.
As always, please feel free to contact us. Email is usually the fastest way to get a response.
Terri DeCresie [email protected]
Sarah Lanier [email protected]