October Parent Bulletin

Ma'ema'e Elementary

October 2011

October Parent Bulletin

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s),

Dream Big, Work Hard, that is our focus for this school year. You can see our banner in the front of the school and in the cafeteria. Our teachers and staff wear the t-shirt proudly every Monday and we have discussions with our students about our focus because they are the ones who will make the difference for our school.

Spirit week (September 26-September 30, 2011) is the start of our preparation for our first round of HSA testing for grades 3, 4 and 5. The culminating event is our rally to be held on September 30, 2011, at 1:15 pm in front of our cafeteria. The actual HSA testing window will open October 17, 2011. Remember October 17 is a school day. School is in session that day. The professional development day scheduled for that time was cancelled.

Our fall intercession is October 3-7 and October 10 is directed leave. There is no school for teachers and students during these times. Our office will be open for business as usual from 7:30-4:00 pm.

Our school Campus Beautification Day is Saturday, October 15 from 9:00-2:00 pm. We hope to see as many parents as possible on that day ready to do whatever needs to be done. There will be painting, cleaning and other chores to do.

Parent/Teacher Conferences begin on October 24 and run through November 4, 2011. No conferences are scheduled for the two Wednesdays within the two weeks. Please check with your children for your confirmation notices that were sent home Monday, September 26. Conferences are a great time to meet with your child(ren)'s teacher and to find out how they are doing. Make the time to meet with the teachers.

Our Halloween Parade is the climax to everything that takes place in October. Please join us on Monday, October 31 at 8:30 am for this spectacular event. Come prepared to see the most creative, interactive costumes. I will see you at the parade.

Thank you,

Pearlene Blaisdell,

Principal

Vice Principal Corner

Safety

Traffic

The safety and well being of our children at Ma`ema`e is very important to all of us. Please obey all traffic signs and rules of driving as you drop off and pick up your children. Rules, laws and policies are made to be followed to protect our children from accidents. Our junior police officers (JPOs) volunteer their time in the morning and after school to assist with the parking, crossing and traffic into and out of the school parking area. This is all in the name of "safety." We ask for your understanding and cooperation in the following ways:

Drop off and pick up your children in the designated areas: bus shelter fronting Wyllie Street and the Ma`ema`e lane crosswalk just before the cafeteria.

Slow down when you drive. This is a designated school zone. Slow down as you drive through the parking lot.

Stop when the JPOs hold the "STOP" sign out. Many drivers ignore the sign and this could be a potential danger for both parties.

Parking in the handicap zone is allowed for cars with handicap permits. Please do not use the stalls for that "just dropping my child off" excuse.

Inappropriate language or remarks are frowned upon especially in front of the children. Please treat everyone with respect! You are also the model for appropriate behavior.

We the students, faculty, staff, parents and community at Ma`ema`e School practice the Ohana Values. When it comes to the safety of everyone, let's take responsibility, be cooperative, show our Aloha and be the best that we can be because it is " a kakou thing!"

Thank You!

Traffic Reminder:

The Kawananakoa Lane is a two way roadway to the residents of Kawanankoa Place. Please show your Aloha to our neighbors. Slow down as you drive down the lane and yield if you find a car coming up the lane. That car may be driven by a resident.

In addition, please come to a complete stop at the STOP sign at the bottom of the Ma'ema'e Lane. Occasionally, there may be a police officer patrolling the area and he/she may issue a citation if you are in violation of the law. Please follow the traffic rules!

We thank you for your understanding.

Child Passenger Restraints

Hawaii Child Passenger Restraint Law and Penalty

Hawaii's Child Passenger Restraint Law requires children under the age of 4 years old to ride in a child safety seat. Children 4 through 7 years old must ride in a child passenger restraint or booster seat.

Violators are required to appear in court and if convicted, attend a 4-hour class and may be assessed a penalty of $100-$500 depending on the number of offenses.

Parents are eligible for a Hawaii state tax credit of $25 per year, which applies to the purchase of a child passenger restraint.

Please keep in mind that the reason for using a child passenger restraint is for the safety of your child.

Waste Water Management

What Can We Do To Protect Our Waters for Life?

Day to Day Best Management Practices:

Keep sidewalks, curbs and gutters clean. Leaves and lawn clippings are a source of phosphorus.
Leave mulch grass clippings on the lawn for fertility or use the clippings for composting.
Avoid excess watering and overuse of pesticides and fertilizers.
Store oil, paint, gasoline, antifreeze and other automotive products properly. Keep these substances tightly sealed. Dispose of batteries and tires properly.
Clean up oil or other vehicle fluid drippings. Do not store used vehicle parts on areas that drain to the storm sewer.
Clean up hazardous material spills properly and don't wash waste into the storm sewer.
Pick up pet waste and throw it in the trash bin.
Wash vehicles at a commercial car wash or on a non-paved surface to avoid drains to the storm sewer.

From the Cafeteria

Mahalo!
For the Tremendous Support!
School Lunch Month Was a Big Success!

Breakfast with Your Child

Parents and adults are welcome to eat breakfast with their child but due to Federal Rules and Regulations, parents/adults are not allowed to eat from the student's plate. Adults may purchase their own breakfast for $2.20. Thank you for your cooperation.

Meal Time Reminders

We would like to extend our gratitude to parents/guardians, who have been keeping track of their child's Meal Time account diligently. We appreciate your support and cooperation!

Negative Balance Notices

Just a reminder that our staff will continue to send home negative balance notices (pink) through your child. If your child's balance reaches an $11.25 negative balance or $2.00 negative balance for a child under the reduced lunch program, he/she will not be able to purchase a lunch ( in accordance with Hawaii State Department of Education School Food Service Policy). We strongly encourage parents to make regular deposits into their child's Meal Time account (s).

Cash Deposits

The cost for eating only lunch for a month would be approximately $45.00 and the cost of eating both a breakfast and a lunch daily in an average month (20 school days) is approximately $65.00. We strongly encourage parents to make regular cash deposits into their child's Meal Time account.

Adult Breakfast

For parents or other adults accompanying their child for breakfast, please bring exact change with you to pay for your meal ($2.20 for adults) as we have a very limited change fund.

Recess Juice/Milk Purchases

Also of note, if your child is under the Federal Lunch program (free or reduced meals) and he/she purchases juice or milk during morning recess, please make sure you have sufficient funds in your child's account to cover these ala carte items.

From the Library

Library News October 2011

Happy October! Time flies by so quickly when you're having fun! I am having a great time getting to know your children and sharing information literacy skills as well as the love of reading with them. The library is kicking off October with our Celebrations book drive donation. With a donation of $10 your child will donate a book to the library with his/her name in it and also be the first person to check out the book as well as be recognized as the donor during his/her birthday month. Flyers will be sent home with your child, but if you need an extra copy, I've attached it in this newsletter.

Borrowing Policies

If your child has an overdue book, he/she may not borrow additional materials until the book is returned or paid for. Damaged books will be assessed a fine based on whether it can be repaired or not. Please treat the books well so they can be shared with everyone for many more years. Students may come in the morning from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to borrow books. Parents are welcome to accompany their child.

Make-Up Picture Day

Lifetouch will be here October 24, 2011 to take pictures of students who did not take a picture in Sept. If you would like your child to retake his/her picture, please return all of the pictures and write on the package what was wrong with the picture so the photographer doesn't make the same mistake. If you paid online, but forgot to bring in the envelope with the code, please be sure to bring it October 24.

Book Fair Wrap Up

Our book fair was a great success thanks to all of YOU! We were able to raise over $3000. When walking near the cafeteria, take a glance at the library window and see the READ sign constructed from donation slips from the book fair. This was all possible with your support. Special thanks to my volunteers who came to cashier, bag books, monitor students, drive to Halawa to pick up special orders, and make things run smoothly. Thank you to the Wyllie Fire Station for allowing the big field to be open for parking. The support of the teachers, staff, and administration has been just awesome. Mahalo.

Library Celebration Form

Heath Room

Thank you for the Flu Clinic Consent Form returns. This year 360 students and 30 faculty/staff members signed up to receive the vaccine. That is a fairly good return considering fifth grade was unable to participate this year. If you have a fifth grader, please check with your pediatrician about getting the flu shot or mist from their office, also remember to get yourself immunized. Many pharmacies offer flu vaccines with no cost to you; they will bill your insurance company. Get protection for those you love!

Remember to have children wear shoes that offer some protection to their feet. All that running and playing at recess is great for bodies but hard on feet in slippers. Closed shoes are required for PE and field trip days.

Have a great fall vacation!

Any questions, comment, suggestions, contact the Health Room; school days 7:30-2:30,

595-5406 H.Bedford, Health Aide

Gifted & Talented Program

Gifted & Talented Adds to Everyone's Enrichment Experience

The Ma`ema`e Elementary School Gifted and Talented students are well into their explorations for this year's First Lego League theme based on Food Factor and our 5th grade GT students have learned of the "National FLL Disclosure" related to how the missions and challenges will be accomplished. Release of the information took place on Friday, September 2 across the U.S. and the world! Five students from our team also attended a "State FLL Kick-off "which was held at Punahou School on Friday, September 16, 2011. At this event, students were V.I.P. hosts to many of the State of Hawaii professionals who support the STEM and FLL movement in our schools. The students were honored to participate as hosts, as well as hear Mr. Roger Kwock, a State of Hawaii educator, share how strategic planning, even when solving puzzles, requires critical thought and planning, a clear view of patterns, and thinking of already known connections when solving a problem in learning or life. As we think about the many missions and problems we will need to address during this FLL season, we realize even more that using planned strategies will be necessary for us to be successful during the Food Factor robotic challenges and the research component of the competition. If you are interested in learning more about the FLL movement, please visit their website at:

http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2011foodfactor

While these students, as well as our GT students from grades 2 through 4, are working on FLL challenges, Ma`ema`e will be adding a new opportunity to ALL students through quarterly visits to Room 42. With the support of our administration and classroom teachers, we are looking "out of the box" for ways to offer enrichment experiences as a way ofdifferentiating and enhancing the learning for our students. Each quarter for this school year, we are specifically looking at providing new opportunities that are beyond the daily classroom experiences. The goal is to focus on higher level thinking, in order to extend lessons and reach higher goals for every student. The classroom teacher and GT teacher will work together to provide experiences related to healthy choices in living, writing (poetry and reflective pieces), team-building, and technology. Messages related to our experiences will be shared in future newsletter publications.

Technology Update

Technology Fundraisers

General Mills

Labels will be sent in November. Continue to send in the labels.
Recycling Ink Cartridges and Toners - Intrade (847-5300) will pick them up at your office and if you tell them, they'll credit to Ma`ema`e or send to the office or lab.
Office Depot

5% back to the school (designate Ma`ema`e) on qualifying purchases (ask Office Depot for a list of qualifying purchases) School ID Number: 70027176

Walkathon
October 21. 2011 from 12:15-1:45

This year we will be using the money to purchase part of a pod of macbooks for student usage. Instead of collecting pledges per lap, we will be collecting donations only. Example: Four adults say they will donate to the Walkathon. The student will write the name down and note the amount of donation and collect it. When finished collecting, the student will turn all the donations into the homeroom teacher.

12:15 -12:30 Grade 2

12:30 -12:45 Grade 3

12:45 - 1:00 Grade 4

1:00 - 1:15 Grade K

1:15 - 1:30 Grade 1

1:30 - 1:45 Grade 5

Prizes

Top 3 winners for the school

Top winner per grade level

Class that has 100% participation and turning in donations by October 11th
Class that brought in the most money
Class that walked the most laps during the Walkathon
Grade 3 Poster Contest for Walkathon

PTSA

Treasurer's Corner
By Wendy Yoshioka-Moore

Wasn't August a busy month? The usual back to school activities and fundraisers were in full swing. As of August 31st, we collected $20,919 in Liliha Bakery tickets!

Thank you so much for participating in the Liliha Bakery fundraiser. I hope everyone enjoyed the yummy coco-puffs and other pastries! Awesome job everyone; I just know September is going to be a stellar month for us!

Technology expenditures for August were $3,454.06. Membership dues paid to the Hawaii State PTSA totaled $1,591.00. Believe it or not, but we are already gearing up for the holidays. Ursula Costorio-Meyer has already reserved our Christmas Trolley for $1,209.48 and I have already purchased Easter Eggs for $152.99.

create the most interest for your readers.

Attention!

October is Fire Prevention Month.

The Fire Fighters' Safety Guide will be distributed to all students on October 11, 2011. Please take time to review the guide together with your child(ren). It helps your child(ren) learn about home safety, fire procedures and what to do in the event of a fire.

This knowledge holds true for your child(ren) at home. Remember, it is not if there will be an emergency; it is being prepared for when an emergency happens. Preparation and practice is critical at school and at home!

Upon completion, please submit the completed guide to your child's homeroom teacher. Return the signed Junior Fire Fighter Pledge for valuable coupons.

School Calendar & Community Events

10/3/11 to 10/711