S.O.A.R. NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
by Debbie Fischgrabe
September 26, 2009
S.O.A.R. Program
Putnam Co. R-I School District
Newsletter – Volume 3, September 25, 2009
“LIGHTS ON AMERICA” FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITY PLANNED FOR OCT.
22ND
The Putnam Co. R-I S.O.A.R. Program is planning a great Family
Night in conjunction with the “LIGHTS ON AMERICA,” nation-wide
event that will be celebrated across the United States on that
evening. The 10th annual nationwide celebration of afterschool
programs will take place in more than 7,500 communities.
As parents of students who participate in Putnam County’s S.O.A.R. Before and Afterschool Program, I hope that you will join the 1 million Americans who take part in Lights On Afterschool to help call attention to the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.
The PC R-I S.O.A.R. Program is planning a Talent Show in the Middle
School Auditorium on that evening that will begin at 6:30 p.m.
after you all have had the opportunity to meet with your children’s
teachers for their Parent/Teacher Conferences. If you and your
S.O.A.R. child or children would like to perform a family act in
the Talent Show that evening please contact Mrs. Fischgrabe at
660-947-3361, ext. to reserve a spot for your talent act. If you
have a skit, a song, want to read a poem, share a dance, just let
us know. Please reserve this date on your calendars and make plans
to support our students and the program at large. More information
will be provided in the weeks to come. This should prove to be a
fun-filled evening for all!!!!!
PUTNAM COUNTY HOMECOMING PARADE
The S.O.A.R. students had so much fun participating in last year’s Homecoming Parade we have made arrangements for the S.O.A.R. Program to enter a float in the parade again this year. The theme of the 2009-2010 parade is Hollywood. We will have a banner on the float that reads, “S.O.A.R.’S GOING HOLLYWOOD – OUR FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT WE HAVE TO WEAR SHADES.” Please send some sunglasses with your children if you have them to go along with the float’s theme. Your children may also dress up like “movie stars” if they like—but it is strictly your choice. Your children may also bring candy to toss from the float—this, too, is up to you. Be sure to fill out the attached permission form and return it to the program teachers by Wednesday, September 30th if your child plans to take part in this activity. When the parade is over your children will be taken back to their classrooms to finish out the school day. The S.O.A.R. staff will pick the children up after school as usual to go to the S.O.A.R. Program. Please be sure to write a note to your child’s building secretary so they may be released to take part in this event. Children will be released at 1:30 p.m. to ride the float. If they need to change into other clothes you will probably want to have them released at 1:15 p.m. The parade starts at 2:00 p.m. and proceeds to the Unionville Square.
HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK…
Famous author, Henry David Thoreau, tells us "Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits." John Chapman, known to most as Johnny Appleseed, was born 235 years ago on Sept. 26. It is estimated that in his lifetime (1774-1845), Appleseed planted apple trees across more than 100,000 square miles in the Midwest. According to American Forests, "the last known living apple tree planted by Johnny still grows on a farm in Nova, Ohio, that was part of a Land Grant signed by John Quincy Adams in 1837." The S.O.A.R. students made homemade applesauce this week to celebrate the accomplishments of this gentle man.
The Team Leaders have started a unit on recycling. They will be recycling paper over the next few weeks and learning various aspects of the need to and responsibility of all to conserve our planet’s resources.
S.O.A.R. students made “Ooze” this week, which was a slippery
and fun activity. They learned about suspending particles in water
to make a colloid and the various properties of an ideal liquid
which was first identified by Isaac Newton in the 1700s. Ask your
kids about what they learned. I’m sure you will find it very
interesting!
And of course, our students have also been reading and writing and
playing math games. All in all they have had a very busy
week!
UPCOMING EVENTS…
Several S.O.A.R. students will perform one of the Reader’s Theatre plays that they have been working at the Elementary Character Education Assembly on Wednesday, October 14th at 8:30 a.m. The play, There’s No One Like You,” addresses the need to accept other people, even if they are not like ourselves. Please feel free to attend the assembly and support our students!
Arrangements are in the works to take the students on a field trip to the University of Missouri-Columbia for a basketball game. We will provide more information in the near future when specific details become available.
A FINAL THOUGHT...
The Putnam County Fair has come and it has gone and everyone
is easing into the routine of school--the routine of doing
homework, the routine of establishing an earlier bedtime, the
routine of extra-curricular activities and the family routine which
brings the most joy and satisfaction to our children. Our children
take their lead from us, their parents. If we are positive about
going to bed earlier so that they will be more rested to face the
challenges of a new school day then our children are more ready to
accept the change. If we are positive about our children’s
accomplishments in their classrooms and encourage and applaud their
successes then they are more apt to continue their road to academic
success.
Many times I’m afraid our schedules do not permit us to play. Yes,
play. I like to think of play as a type of “time out” from life.
It’s a time when we can be free of stress, free of schedules and
free of routine. True play may seem pointless —because it’s fun —
but ultimately it is also useful. Studies have shown that the
smarter the animal, the more they play. For humans, play
reinvigorates us not because it is down time, but because it gets
us in touch with our core selves and the joy of life.
I want to applaud you parents on the jobs you are doing with your
children. The
S.O.A.R. Program staff appreciate the opportunity to work with them on a daily basis and we are truly excited to have the opportunity to meet and become friends with their families.
I hope that each of you have a wonderful weekend with your
families—and don’t forget to find some time to PLAY!!!
Ms. Debbie, Ms. Amanda, Mr. Michael, Ms. Nellie, Ms. Elladean and
Miss Mary
