Don't miss Coffee & Conversation with Dr. Irani this morning at 8:15. From Dr. Irani's email today: "We are excited to open our doors for coffee tomorrow morning at 8:15. The focus is on technology that we are integrating into our curriculum. You will have the chance to see our 3-D printer in operation, play with our Samsung Galaxy tablets, and much more. Our PTO has spoiled us with excellent coffee too!"

Talent Show Auditions: Feb 3rd & 5th 2:40 - 4:40pm

Are you interested in being part of the MLS Talent Show? All talents welcome: in the past, students have sung, danced, recited poems, played instruments, performed skits or magic and done gymnastics!

You can only be in ONE act, each act can be no more than 2 ½ minutes in duration and your act must be ready at the time of audition. Bring your music, props, costumes, etc. and be rehearsed and ready!. Click here for all the details.

Sign up for auditions here:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0848afa82da13-mlstalent

Save the Date for the Talent Show:
March 6th, 2015

Bingo Night: Friday, Feb 6, 6:00-8:00pm

Volunteers Needed!!
Interested in volunteering? Please see sign up below:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f084ca5ae22a64-bingo

Bingo Prizes Needed!!
We are looking for donations for Bingo Night prizes: pre-school and school age appropriate gifts as well as gifts for adults, but we will appreciate everything you can donate. Prize collection boxes are located under the bulletin board near the pencils and in the front lobby. This is a good opportunity to re-gift any unwanted presents your family may receive during the holidays.

If you have any questions contact Loretta Willis at: willispups@gmail.com

Spring EZone

Spring I EZ courses start Monday, January 26th! Watch your email for dismissal instructions and important reminders.

You can still sign-up online for Spring Session II courses at Spring 2015 EZ Registration for your favorite EZ courses! Registration for Session II ends Monday, March 9th.

Visit the Enrichment Zone home page for the complete schedule. Now is a great time to put course dates on your calendar!

If you haven't paid for your Spring I EZ registration, please do so! Cash or checks made out to MLS PTO should be sent via backpack mail, ATTN: Enrichment Zone.

Questions? Please contact Emily Castle at ez@mlspto.org.

Box Tops

The MLS PTO Box Tops Classroom Contest is in full swing. The class collecting the most Box Tops will be rewarded with a special prize, and all Box Tops turned in will help earn money for our school!

Currently, Mrs. Oehler's 1st graders are in 1st place with 700 Box Tops, Ms. Wetmore-Simpson's 5th graders are in 2nd place with 537 Box Tops, and Mrs. Benoit's 2nd graders are in 3rd place with 459 Box Tops.

Let's keep those Box Tops coming in! Box Tops can be placed in the white bin in the MLS front hallway. Please don't forget to label the Ziploc bag or envelope with your child's name, grade and classroom teacher.

For those of you who are counting the Box Tops before you turn them in, it would be extremely helpful if you group them in small Ziploc bags of 50 each (with Bonus Box Tops grouped separately from regular Box Tops). The classroom contest will continue through the end of February.

Any questions please contact Brooke Reid at jandbreid@aol.com. Thank you and happy collecting!

Silent Auction Update

Requesting Support for MLS PTO Annual Silent Auction...

Our deadline is fast approaching! Thanks to many of you who have already donated or helped us secure donations for the annual PTO Silent Auction on March 20th! This is a final call for donations, to be in by February 2nd, less than 2 weeks away. We still need your help to make this year's Auction a smashing success! Here's how:

1) Do you know a local business owner, or are you a local business owner, who would be willing to donate a gift card or service to be auctioned on the big night?

2) Would you be willing to host a party? Each year at the Auction, we sell tickets to parties (aka "Meriwether Mixers") hosted by MLS families. If you would be willing to host and fund a party (for 6 or 56!) for other MLS families, we would be grateful. You can host the party yourself, or join up with other MLS families to host the party together. We would particularly like to get families new to MLS involved!

3) Do you or your kids have any artistic abilities? Could you create an item to be auctioned? Artists in the past have created oil paintings, fancy birdhouses, benches and much, much more! (Submissions due February 2nd; items delivered by March 2nd.)

If you answered "yes!" to any of the above, we would love to hear from you. If you are willing to help, or have any questions, please contact the committee.

Many thanks,
Melissa Hoover mhoover@bridgewater.edu
Carleen Kupcis carleenkup@gmail.com
Christina Keller christinaminglekeller@gmail.com

MLES Welcomes Bill Wellington: Tues, Feb. 3

Bill Wellington is a storyteller, folk musician, songwriter, and dance caller who has entertained audiences throughout America for over twenty five years.

He is performing on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd in the morning in 2 assemblies and presenting an evening program at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

It is free and open to our school community - don't miss it!

Pennies for Patients Service Project

Ms. Kuhn's 3rd Grade class is very excited about their service project this year and hopes that you will join them in raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School & Youth Programs.

The service project will run from January 9th - February 13th.

Donations can be made online here or via boxes placed in the classrooms.

Golden Apple Awards

Nomination forms are available at individual schools or online at www.k12albemarle.org

The deadline for school principals to receive nominations is February 4, 2015.

Community Events

YMCA Girls Lacrosse Program
The YMCA Girls Lacrosse Program is attempting to form a K-2 & 3-5 grade team within each Albemarle County School. Practice information will be released at a later time. Please see the flier for more details:
YMCA Girls Lacrosse

Girls Geek Days
The next Girl Geek Day will be on February 7 at BF Yancey Elementary School.

Registration is essential. You can get to the registration link by going to the Girls Geek Day page:
http://www.tech-girls.org/girls-geek-day.html

Important Dates

Coffee and Conversation with Dr. Irani

Wednesday, January 21st

8:15am

Spelling Bee (3rd-5th)

Thursday, January 22nd

PTO Meeting

Monday, January 26th

6:30 MLS Library

EZone Classes Begin

Monday, January 26th

Bingo Night

Friday, February 6th

6:00-8:00pm

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Dana Quist, Communications Coordinator

Meriwether Lewis School PTO

To submit items for inclusion in Meriwether Matters,

please email mlsmatters@gmail.com.

Community events are listed by request as space is available. The MLS PTO does not endorse or have any additional information regarding these events.