Parents' News -- October 2011

St. John's Episcopal School

PARENTS' NEWS

October 2011

On the Web

Countdown to Carnival!

Anticipation is building for Carnival, which will take place Saturday, October 29, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. This year's event will feature all of the classic fun and games you know and love, PLUS some new activities that will add to the excitement! Look for the return of the popular Smokin' Hot Tailgate Grilling competition, feast on delicious food from Kuby's and Burger House, and take in an amazing concert by Cary Pierce of Jackopierce. So what are you waiting for?

Order your wristbands online NOW>> and save yourself money and time!

(And remember: everyone attending Carnival will need a wristband, so avoid long lines and higher wristband prices on the 29th.)

And while you're buying your wristbands, don't forget to order your retro-cool Carnival T-shirt! Parents and kids alike will want to sport this great new design, and students will want to wear theirs on Carnival Spirit Day, scheduled for Thursday, October 27.

Carnival (and Comerica Bank) Cares For Our Community

During the week of October 24, Carnival volunteers will collect gently-loved coats in carpool as part of the Coats for Kids program. Our sponsor, Comerica Bank, has partnered with the East Dallas Exchange Club to help keep all of the children in East Dallas from feeling the chill this winter. Carnival is thrilled to be part of this effort. Read about how you can help>>

Coats for Kids

Up Next

Suds 'n Buds

When: Tomorrow, October 13, at 6:30 p.m.

This dads-only social is a great opportunity to get to know other Crusader Club members while enjoying an outdoor buffet and beverages at the home of Mike Androvett (8258 San Benito Way). Contact Jennifer Hand with questions.

PA Meeting

When: Tuesday, October 18, at 8:30 a.m. in Parish Hall

St. John's drama specialist Tom Parr will discuss the school's integrated drama program. All are welcome to attend.

Carnival Spirit Day

When: Thursday, October 27

Encourage students to show their school spirit by wearing a Carnival T-shirt or any other St. John's T-shirt with free-dress on Thursday, October 27. See page 53 in the handbook for free-dress guidelines.

Monthly Box Tops Collection

When: Friday, October 28

Students in the Lower School homeroom and Middle School advisory who turn in the most Box Tops during the month of October will win free Slurpees from 7-Eleven.

Crusader Club Dads 'n Kids Breakfast

When: Friday, November 11, at 7:15 a.m. in Parish Hall

Dads: Mark your calendar now for this kid-favorite event. Join us in Parish Hall for Krispy Kreme donuts, coffee, juice, fruit and yogurt.

Everyday Support

Comerica Bank Cash & Care Program -- A new, turnkey program to raise funds for our school

Now, when you choose to bank with Comerica, you'll also be banking on St. John's! That's because when you open a qualifying checking account at one of the Lakewood-area Comerica locations, the bank will generously direct $150 to St. John's on your behalf! See more info and offer details>>

Box Tops

We're now almost half way to our Box Tops collection goal, and it's only October! Your collective efforts have already netted more than 20,000 Box Tops and raised more than $2,000. That ranks St. John's #20 in the state of Texas for the total number collected! Pretty impressive for a school of our size. So let's be sure to keep up the momentum.

Ways to Get Involved

Carnival -- Carnival still has volunteer spots available. Dads are needed for set-up (Friday, October 28, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.) and tear-down (Saturday, October 29, from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.). Contact Amy Houdek if you'd like to help.

Grandparents Day -- Grandparents Day will be the afternoon of Friday, November 18 (remember that we have the full week of November 21 off this year). Invitations will be mailed to grandparents on October 18. We need two parent volunteers to shuttle teachers to and from the remote parking area on Grandparents Day, as well as home bakers to contribute baked good items. Please contact Brandee Knox-Beck if you'd like to help.

A Note of Gratitude

Jeannie Courtwright, Stephanie Dodds and their fantastic team of volunteers planned and staged a rockin' rodeo round-up Book Fair! Thank you to all who helped and to those who shopped Book Fair in support of our library!

Thanks, too, to the dads who attended Donuts with Dads and shopped Book Fair -- you braved the crowds and your kids love you for it!

Wishing Well raised $9,000! -- Thank you to all who donated funds to Wishing Well. We raised a total of $9,000, and as a result, 39 teachers and two part-time teachers are benefiting from your generosity, which is helping to fund various classroom needs.

Thanks to all who helped the Crusader Club sponsor a fantastic Family Movie Night that included:

Around 200 St. John's parents and students in attendance
280 hot dogs
Lots 'o popcorn
A few brain freezes due to super-speedy sno-cone consumption
More fun than you could shake a stick at!

Very special thanks to Family Movie Night parking czar Chris Speer!

Our thanks to Director of Facilities Chad Bridges and his team for helping with EVERYTHING -- Book Fair, Movie Night and all events

The teachers and staff thank Traci Beasley and Valerie Adams for hosting an awesome teacher appreciation event on Conference Day

Thank you to the Grade-Level Coordinators for organizing the grade-level socials and keeping everyone so well informed. And a big thank you to the Classroom and Advisory Coordinators for helping to keep our classes so organized. Say thanks when you see these people!

PRE-K	SECOND GRADE	FIFTH GRADE
Grade-Level Coordinator	Grade-Level Coordinator	Grade-Level Coordinator
Hillary DeGroote	Kim Horton	Karen Burns
Class Coordinators	Class Coordinators	Class Coordinators
Melissa Eakes Jana Manders Janet Rice	Crystal Androvett Rachel Fitzgerald Hollis Langdoc Deb Young	Sheri Bordelon Amy Brown Marla Cannon Jane Ann Ferguson

KINDERGARTEN	THIRD GRADE	SIXTH GRADE
Grade-Level Coordinator	Grade-Level Coordinator	Grade-Level Coordinator
Liz Lamberson	Shannon Juett
Class Coordinators	Class Coordinators	Class Coordinators
Kate Fagelman Debbie Gilmore Alex Watters	Jennifer Birdwell Julie McVicker Katie Powell	Mickie Bragalone Cata Cooper Leigh Parks Katherine Winson

FIRST GRADE	FOURTH GRADE	SEVENTH GRADE
Grade-Level Coordinator	Grade-Level Coordinator	Grade-Level Coordinator
Stephanie Taylor	Chenoa Barhydt	Kristen Simenc
Class Coordinators	Class Coordinators	Class Coordinators
Molly Banowetz Jennifer Craven Tena Lowe	Susan Hamilton Jennifer Hand Gari Lister	Susie Abughazaleh Gwendolyn Chestnut Ellie Jesberg Courtney Slusher

		EIGHTH GRADE
		Grade-Level Coordinator
		LaDonna Ross
		Class Coordinators
		Kris Chester Elizabeth Howard Tana Parsons Kelly Secker

Looking Way Ahead

Mark your calendar for these events.

October

Crusader Club Suds 'n Buds: October 13

PA Meeting: October 18

Carnival Coat Collection: October 24 - 28

Carnival Spirit Day: October 27

Monthly Box Tops Collection Day: October 28

Playin' It Old School Fall Carnival: October 29

November

PARENTS' NEWS: November 9

Crusader Club Dads 'n Kids Breakfast: November 11

Grandparents Day (Friday before Thanksgiving): November 18

Monthly Box Tops Collection Day: November 30

December

PA Meeting: December 6

PARENTS' NEWS: December 14

Semi-annual Box Tops Collection Day: December 16

January

Auction Gift-giving Party (parents only): January 5

Uniform Resale: January 9

PARENTS' NEWS: January 11

PA Meeting: January 24

Crusader Club Cares Day: January 28

Monthly Box Tops Collection Day: January 31

February

PARENTS' NEWS: February 8

Teacher Appreciation Lunch: February 14

PA Meeting: February 21

PA Speaker Series (Mandy Griffith on Internet safety): February 23

Monthly Box Tops Collection Day: February 29

March

ALL ABOARD! Auction: March 2

PARENTS' NEWS: March 14

Teacher Appreciation Lunch: March 23

Crusader Club Breakfast (Comerica economist as speaker; dads only): March 30

Monthly Box Tops Collection Day: March 30

April

PA Meeting: April 3

PARENTS' NEWS: April 11

Games Day: April 27

May

Crusader Club Classic Golf Tournament: Date TBD

PA Meeting and Volunteer Recognition: May 8

PARENTS' NEWS: May 9

Semi-annual Box Tops Collection Day: May 9

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