November 22
, 2015
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Royle PTO Online
In This Issue
 
November

11/24  Kids Care Turkey Drive
11/25  Thanksgiving Early                  Dismissal12:55pm
11/27  Thanksgiving Recess -            No School
 
December
12/1-4  Parent Teacher Conf               Early Dismissal 
12/1-4  Gingerbread                           Workshop 1pm
12/2     PTO Exec Board Mtg
            9:15am
12/3     DAEG Science Rocks               12:55pm
12/8     RMGTT Culinary                     Works 6:30-9:30pm
12/10   Peter Lourie 3-5                     Assembly
12/18   Royle Endeavors Fall               Program Ends
12/23   Holiday Recess Early               Dismissal 12:55pm
1/4      Students Return 
 
For more details on these events, please visit the PTO website homepage
Useful Links


 
Messages From the PTO
 
Thank you to Kelly Phelps, Rachel Zarghami and the entire Book Fair committee for a very successful Fair and family night. Who doesn't like wearing their p.j.s. 
 
Thank you to all of the parents that contributed to the Teacher's Libraries by purchasing a book from their baskets.  
 
The web team has created a Royle PTO Facebook page and Twitter account.  Like the page to join in the community and stay in the know with what is going on at Royle.  
 
      

Kids Care Club

Turkeys and Chickens!  Participate with Kids Care Club and Student Council by bringing fresh or frozen turkeys and chickens Tuesday, November 24th starting at 8:00 am until 9:00 am.  Lower Farifield County Food Bank truck will be on hand to collect our donations.  Help us meet our goal of 100 turkeys and chicken.

Questions, comments, ideas contact Amanda Craig at [email protected] or Nicole Casey at [email protected]  Students of all ages are invited to submit your artwork for the Yearbook.

Box Tops Thank You!!

Thank you to the more than 50 families who contributed with Box Top coupons this year. Together we have raised close to $500 to date for this school year.  100% of the funds will be re-invested in PTO programs for our kids.

Winners for the Fall contest were Leo Zawacki, Briggs McGluckin and Allison Spengler class! Top submitter's received gift certificates to the book fair!

The Box Tops contest continues through March so keep clipping and keep sending in your coupons.  Spring prizes will be awarded for the top 3 classrooms.  Current leaders are Mirabella, Satter and Rosen.  Send in your box tops to win a special prize for your class this spring. 

Conference Week Enrichment Program

Conference Week Enrichment Program Science Rocks! at Royle
Looking for an after school activity during the shortened days of conference week?  Consider signing your student up for an entertaining and education program called Science Rocks!  In this hands-on class we will explore some basic principles of science by making things foam, fizz or fly!  Learn the properties of matter and how technology helps us to expand our knowledge on this, discover how forces can make an object move, how properties of an object can change and more!

Who:  All children grades K-5 are welcome.  Kindergarteners must attend with a parent or caregiver.
Where:  Royle Common Room
Date & Time:  Thuursday December 3rd from 1-2 pm
Fee:  $15/child or $25/family
Deadline for registration is Wednesday, December 2nd.  Space is limited.
Questions? Please contact Jennifer Keehlwetter j[email protected] or Leah Kennedy [email protected]

Gingerbread House Decorating Workshops

Join us for gingerbread house decorating during conference week! Workshops will be held every day from Tuesday, December 1st through Friday December 4th from 1:00-2:00pm in the Royle Cafeteria. Each workshop is $25 per child; please return a check payable to Royle PTO. Look for registration forms, which went home in students' folders this past week or click here .  Please include your choice of date in order of preference, as class sizes are limited, and note that Kindergartners are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We still need volunteers to help run these workshops! If you have any questions, or are available to assist, please contact Lindsay England at [email protected] or Patty Deery at [email protected].

Kids Care Club Conference Week Projects

Join Kids Care Club for fun service projects in early December. All events run from 1-2 pm and will take place at Royle School or offsite at Atria. There is no cost for these events.

GET CRAFTY AFTER SCHOOL December 1st (common room):
Come create holiday wreaths for residents of the Atria Senior Center. Listen to holiday music, munch on delicious snacks, and chat with friends while building decorative wreaths.

ATRIA SING A-LONG + WREATH GIVING December 2nd (Atria):
Join us at the Atria Senior Center to deliver wreaths, sing holiday carols, and read holiday books.

CREATE A GET WELL CARD December 3rd: (library):
Bring holiday cheer to children by making get well cards for those less fortunate and listen to a speaker from the Center for Hope. 

Please email [email protected] or [email protected] if you would like to join us for one or all of the days.
RMGTT Culinary Works Cooking Event!
 
Join us for RMGTT Culinary Works Cooking Event! (EVENT Is Now FULL)
When: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 
Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm
Where: Kitchen's By Deane | 1267 E Main Street, Stamford CT 

Chef Julia Deane of Culinary Works will provide professional cooking instruction with a casual, hands-on, social format in her beautiful kitchen design showroom at DEANE, Inc. This will be a great Royle event to socialize with friends, eat great food, learn new cooking skills and create new festive, holiday appetizer recipes that you will be able to take home with you and make for your friends and family this holiday/winter season. 

This private Royle Mom's Go-To-Town cooking class event is $50 per person. Note, spirits are not included and space is limited to forty Mom's. We are asking everyone to bring a bottle of wine to share and sip with the delicious food that we will be eating that evening.

Sign up for this event now! Click on this link to pay directly: Royle Mom's Night with Culinary Works .  We look forward to seeing you at this very fun RMGTT event!

Please contact Janine Vairo at [email protected] or Kim Bravo-Ferrer at [email protected] with any questions!

School News 

Early Learning Program Applications

The Early Learning Program Applications are accepted from November 1, 2015 to January 6, 2016 for students who will be turning 3 and 4 years old during the 2016-2017 school year. At this time, ELP does not have a preschool option for children who are 5 years old or who will be turning 5 years old.  

A lottery drawing will be held and parents will be notified/emailed by January 16, 2016 regarding acceptance.

To apply for the 2016-2017 School Year please click the link below:
Endeavors After School

Endeavors After School Winter class schedules are posted on our website www.darienafterschool.com.  For a printable copy with descriptions, click here:  Darien After School Royle Winter Schedule

New this winter is a school musical, newspaper, video game design and more!  With options to suit many interests and grades each day, we hope you can join us this winter for FUN after school.

General registration opens 10am on 12/6 for the winter session running 1/11 through 4/8/16.
Questions to [email protected]

District News 
Regular Board Of Ed Meeting                November 24th 7:30 p.m.
Board of Ed Meeting Room 35 Leroy Avenue
  • Presentation of Proposed 2016-2017 Capital Projects
  • Further Discussion and Adoption of Proposed 2016-2017 Proposed Budget Meeting Calendar
  • Review, Discussion and Possible Action on Five Year Budget Projections.
  • Presentation and Discussion on Preliminary Major Budget Proposals for 2016-2017
SEPAC Meeting                
Understanding the PPT Process Shirley Klein, Assistant Superintendent of SESS, Dr. Scott McCarthy, Program Director of SESS and Laura Straiton, Interim Program Director of Early Childhood, SESS Preschool through 2nd grade. Administrators will demystify the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) process and explain referral to -- and eligibility for -- special education...update district policy on team members in your child's PPT...and highlight the role a parent plays in the PPT.  Tuesday, December 15,9:30-10:30. Tokeneke School Common Room. Attendees are encouraged to submit preliminary questions and RSVP by Friday, Dec. 11th at [email protected]. Sponsored by the Tokeneke PTO and SEPAC.

Community News 


New Community News

Thriving Youth / CDSP/ Community Fund Tip of the Week
Elementary Schools / Family Values: Healthy Lifestyle
It's never too young to start talking to your kids about making healthy decisions. Whether it is deciding what to eat for snack, whether to exercise, or take medication to ease pain, these decisions are great opportunities for discussion.  By exposing your child to healthy lifestyle decisions and sexual attitudes,you are role modeling a process that they are more likely to incorporate into their own lives. Studies show that children who have been raised in an environment where healthy lifestyles are valued are less likely to engage in early sexual activity, alcohol and drug use. Talk early and talk often. Model healthy choices and talk with your kids about your choices and theirs.   Let's get talking... The Community Fund's Thriving Youth

Blue Wave Wrestling Club is a 3rd - 8th grade / beginner to advanced youth
wrestling program. Come check us out on Mondays & Thursdays 6:30-8 pm through Dec 7-March 3 in the DHS Wrestling room (down stairs of the DHS gym, across from the weight
room).
For more information and registration forms go to www.bwwrestlingclub.com
<http://www.bwwrestlingclub.com/>
Join the Darien High School Wrestling Facebook page for updated information
and high school wrestling news.

The annual "Community-Wide Movie" benefiting the Human Services Holiday Gift drive is MONDAY, DECEMBER 7.  Taking place at the Darien Playhouse, the feature presentation will be the newly released film:  "THE GOOD DINOUSAUR!"   (This movie is premiering in theaters on Wednesday, November 25.  Please consider waiting and bringing the whole family to this event on the 7th.  Or better yet, see it twice!) 
This event is "free," however in lieu of payment, each movie-goer is asked to bring donations as follows: gift cards (e.g. Barrett Bookstore; Walmart; CVS; Walgreen's; Target; local eateries; etc.) a new toy, books, etc.  All items should be new and unwrapped with a value of at least $15 each.  To get tickets, an adult should come the Darien Youth Commission office (Room 110) in the Town Hall on Monday, 12/07.  Movie-goers then bring tickets and gifts to the theater for admissions.  (Theater doors open @ 3:45; show-time is 4:15.)  Based on availability, tickets may be available at the theater.  To confirm this, call 203-656-7388 after @ 2:00 p.m. on the 7th. 
This event is not a drop-off event.  All children must be accompanied by an adult (at least one adult per four children is required.)  Tickets and gifts are required for adult movie-goers as well.  Sponsored by the Selectman's Office, the Darien Youth Commission, the Depot's Helping Hands Club, the Darien Human Services Department and the Darien Playhouse, inquiries should be directed to 656-7388 or [email protected].   
In the event that you are unable to attend on the 7th, please consider donating any of the above- mentioned items to the Human Services Department to supplement this gift drive!

An Afternoon with the Animals Early dismissal? Come spend the afternoon with the animals of the Darien Nature Center.  If time and weather allow, we will also go outside and explore the park in search of native wildlife.  Please come dressed for outdoor play.
Tuesday, December 1 and/or Wednesday, December 2
2-4 pm
Grades 1-5
Fee: $40.00
Membership not required
To register go to www.dariennaturecenter.org or call 203-655-7459

Previously Published Community News

HELP US SEND OUR TEACHERS TO SUMMER SCHOOL!
Donate to the Reiss Fund today! 
Just this past summer, two Royle faculty members received Reiss Fund grants to support their learning; music teacher Jane Minnis studied the life and times of Mozart and psychologist Barry Wasserman spent the summer developing "Social Acceptance for All" a unique program to build greater social understanding and support among students and staff. And a total of 17 teachers throughout the district took classes in sciences, the arts and music, and literacy thanks to your generosity.

For over 50 years, the Reiss Fund has generously awarded scholarships to our teachers allowing them to further their studies over the summer in an area of interest, exploration or enrichment. The learning from these incredible experiences comes back to our children's classrooms, enriching the learning that goes on and elevating the enthusiasm with which it is delivered.

Our ability to offer this extraordinary scholarship program to our Darien Public School teachers sets our district apart in Fairfield County. Our ability to continue to support our teachers through Reiss Fund grants depends on you.

Please make a secure online donation today at www.reissfund.org, where you can also print out a mail-in a donation form to send in with your check.

Royle Blast Guidelines


If you would like to post a message in the Royle Blast, please note the following guidelines:
  1. Send information to [email protected]
  2. Please no attachments
  3. limit submission to approximately 100 words
  4. Include contact name/phone/email
  5. Submissions must be age-appropriate and Darien school and/or community relevant. We will not include advertisements for businesses. Only community events that are child-oriented and for charitable purposes (not-for-profit) or are school related will be considered for inclusion in the Community section of the Blast. "Community News" information/events will run for a maximum of two consecutive editions.  Please time you submissions accordingly. 
  6. Must be submitted no later than Thursday at 5 pm. 
  7. Editor has final discretion as to whether information is appropriate for the Royle Blast. All text may be edited. For questions or comments on the Royle Blast, please send an email to [email protected]  
Jenn Seely, Kim Macdonald and Shelly Arrix
Royle Blast Editors