S.O.A.R. NEWSLETTER
October 17, 2008
by Debbie Fischgrabe
October 17, 2008
S.O.A.R. Program
Putnam Co. R-I School District
Newsletter – Volume 2, October 17, 2008
LIGHTS ON AMERICA CELEBRATION
October 16th was the date
afterschoolers across the country celebrated the before and
afterschool programs with “Lights On America” celebrations.
The celebration was held in the elementary gym from 6:00-7:30
p.m. Naomi Boss, representative from Congressman Sam Graves’
office, Representative Rebecca McClanahan and Thom VanVleck visited
the celebration, along with Judy Duden of Kirksville and several
administrators and S.O.A.R. Advisory Council members. This
was a great opportunity to let others see the positive things that
this program is accomplishing with our children. Thanks to
all of you that brought your children and joined in the celebration
for our district. 
"LIGHTS ON AMERICA" - OCTOBER 16, 2008
HELP FOR PARENTS
For those of you that were at the celebration last evening you might have had the opportunity to meet Rebecca Holliday from Family Services. She is one of our newest community partners. She had literature on the Child Care Assistance Program and Child Care Applications for anyone that was interested in finding out more about these services. I will keep some of the forms in my office and I will also have them available at the S.O.A.R. Program should you want to pick up a copy. This is a wonderful service that is available to all. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Holliday at (660) 947-2567 if you have questions or need her assistance.
FUTURE PLANS
Toward the end of the summer the S.O.A.R. students went to the Care Center and read to the residents. The residents have requested that the students come back to read to them as they thoroughly enjoyed their first visit. Therefore, I am trying to arrange it for our students to go there on the second early out Wednesday of each month and read to the residents for one hour. Because this will be an on-going activity that was covered by your original enrollment form I will not send a new “field trip” permission form each month. I do want to make you aware of this and I will have a schedule for you in the near future. It is so important to teach our children about helping others. I know this would be a very beneficial activity for all.
FAMILY NIGHT HALLOWEEN PARTY – OCTOBER 30TH
DO YOU HAVE YOUR COSTUMES FIGURED OUT? A Family Fun Night has been planned for Thursday evening, October 30th, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at McCalment Park. This will be a Halloween Costume Party for all S.O.A.R. students and their families. There will be food, treats, games and FUN FOR EVERYONE!! Please mark your calendars for this event that is guaranteed to be a fun for the whole family.
ACTIVITIES COMING UP NEXT WEEK
Mr. Chris Altiser will visit the program on Monday to give a presentation on bow hunting.
Mrs. McDonald will return next week for more pumpkin carving and to begin demonstrating the task of repairing the hall mural.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK
Mrs. McDonald visited the program this week to carve pumpkins. This was a great seasonal activity that was enjoyed by all.
Mrs. Swiger visited and taught Grades 3-8 the elements of self defense.
CHUCKLES AND GRINS . . .
“What word is always spelled incorrectly?”
Answer: Incorrectly
“What do elves learn in school?”
Answer: The elf-abet
“Why is the math book so unhappy?”
Answer: Because it is full of problems
RECIPES TO MAKE WITH YOUR CHILDREN
It’s getting colder outside. Some may have noticed some frost this past week. If not it is only a matter of time. When it gets cold I automatically think of hot chocolate--hot chocolate with marshmallows is the absolute best!! AmazingMoms.com shares the following ways to make our hot chocolate even better:
Start with a good home made cocoa--like mom used to serve--this
makes a world of difference. You'll find the recipe on the
can. Then choose one of the following “additions” to make it
a wonderful, toasty treat for your children:
Garnish your cocoa with a candy cane which can double as a stirrer.
Whipped cream and colored sprinkles
make this drink super special!
Top with whipped cream, cherry and chocolate sauce
Make a "Milky Way" drink by adding caramel topping.
Place chocolate chips in the bottom of a clear glass mug.
Add steaming hot milk and stir the melted
chocolate.
Top hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon
Drop a scoop of peppermint ice cream into a mug of hot
chocolate.
Put two large marshmallows in the bottom of an empty cup and pour
hot
chocolate on top so that the marshmallows melt. Serve with
graham
crackers to make s'mores in a cup.
Another quick and easy treat for your children is Cookie Cutter Toast.
Cookie Cutter Toast - Very Quick and
Easy
Simply make toast in your toaster and then have your children
cut the toast with their favorite cookie cutters. Then spread
peanut butter, cream cheese, cottage or any favorite toast
topping.
A FINAL THOUGHT . . .
Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! I remember many family activities that we shared together from collecting pecans and raking leaves to making apple butter. Sometimes the simplest tasks are the ones that we have the most fun with. Children have the incredible ability to make fun out of most anything they do. As adults, we sometimes forget or don’t allow time to have fun. We are so busy with working, completing household chores and doing all the various “have to” things that we sometimes forget how to have fun or how fun a little carefree FUN truly is. Having fun with our families is a great stress reliever and I would highly recommend that you “treat” yourself to some fun on a regular basis! Have a great weekend!
Ms. Debbie, Mr. David, Mr. Michael, Ms. Nellie and Ms. Elladean
