It is NOT too late to be a Super Stang! So you missed the Oct. deadline for PTA membership contest. So you missed MBEF pledge day. It's still A-OK to join and to pledge! Get YOUR family's name on the banner. All it takes is 5 easy steps: join the PTA, pledge to MBEF, attend a PTA meeting or event, volunteer for a school program and/or fundraiser, and use one of our shopping fundraising programs (SCRIP, eScrip, etc). Most of you are already doing it, you were just too busy to turn in the form. Every one of these things helps to provide the programming, supplies, and teachers that you have come to expect in Manhattan Beach schools. Don't delay anymore, join the Super Stang family today!!!

Best of all, it is NOT too late to join the MBEF classroom contest! Any classroom reaching 75% MBEF participation gets a bonus for their teacher.  If the class reaches 100% that bonus doubles! So donating is not only good for next year, your child will benefit now, too.  Only three classes have their 75% bonus in hand. Help YOUR teacher get those extra funds by pledging today! Pledging or donating to MBEF is easy, just click here. Questions? Email Johanna Kraus at johannakat@verizon.net or Stephanie Maruyama at stephanie_maruyama@yahoo.com or speak to your classroom liason.

Get out the lights and holly. Your decorating could net $100,000 to our schools! Patch.com is launching a nationwide contest to find the best dressed home in its Patch communities, and the winner's school district will receive $100,000.Here's how the contest works: beginning on Dec. 8 and continuing through Dec. 26, you can nominate your home by uploading a photo to the contest entry form on Patch.com. During that same time period you and your neighbors will also be able to vote for your favorite festive home. The winning entry will be forwarded to a national Patch judge that will select 24 finalists. Each finalist will receive $500 that they can apply to their Dec. electric bill. Voting will take place Dec. 30 through Jan. 8 when you will be able to vote for the Best Decked House in all of Patch. The grand prize winner's school district will receive a $100,000 check from Patch. Whether your style is sophisticated or silly, they want you to dress up your house in the name of good cheer and our kids. At the very least, Manhattan Beach will be decked out like it's never been before. Don't miss out on this opportunity to win a $100,000 gift to the Manhattan Beach Public Schools. (Click here for the full article.) 

Each day of the month, Manhattan Village Mall will provide a code and keyword to text to 444222 for a daily retailer offer that can be redeemed at Manhattan Village. The calendar will be located near Origins or you can simply check out Manhattan Village on Facebook for the code of the day. Show your text message on your telephone screen with that day's offer to the concierge and receive 200 bonus points for Meadows. And don't forget to show your store receipts to the concierge to earn money for our school!

Sunday, January 22^nd will be the Mustang Family Skate Fundraiser at the Toyota Sports Center from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. The Toyota Sports Center is located at 555 N.Nash St. in El Segundo and is the training facility of the Los Angeles Kings. Tickets will be available after winter break for $10 per person and will include admission and rental. Bring your family and your friends and dress warm for some winter fun!!! Sponsored by the Meadows 3^rd Grade Class.

The City of Manhattan Beach is sponsoring a new "Watt Watcher" Energy Contest. The school with the most participants will win $1,000.00 plus PRIZES for their school and an iPad for their Principal. Help save electricity at home and your family could also win prizes and $1,000.00 in cash! Entry deadline is December 31, 2011. Ask your family to fill out the entry form by logging onto the Going Green Section of www.citymb.info. Look for the Watt Watcher Energy Contest in the FREE Environmental Program Section. Or go to http://www.ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=2053. The first 20 people to sign up will receive a FREE set of LED holiday lights. YOUR household could reduce electricity use up to 50% through energy efficiency measures! The household that can reduce the most electricity over a three-month period will also get a reward.