The Auction is just DAYS away! We have some terrific NEW ADDITIONS to our Catalog, including:

-- A 30 minute introductory flight or scenic tour from Charlottesville Flight Center!

-- A "Bluebird Beach" painting, entirely done by Ms. Kirtley's 3rd grade class!

-- Kaya American Girl Doll with her book The Journey Begins!

Click here to see our Silent Auction Catalog with more details about these and HUNDREDS of other amazing items. We hope to see you at the King Family Vineyards on Friday, March 20th from 6:30 - 10:30 PM!

Melissa Hoover mhoover@bridgewater.edu ~
Carleen Kupcis carleenkup@gmail.com ~
Christina Keller christinaminglekeller@gmail.com

Kids Night Out - This Friday 6pm

This Friday night is Kids Night Out and your chance to enjoy a night out too--at the annual MLS Silent Auction!

There is an extended pick up time of 10:30, so you can stick around and enjoy the Friday night fun.

The movie is Big Here 6 plus a variety of Looney Tunes Cartoons. Please remember to feed your child prior to drop off at 6pm and pack a water bottle and snacks. When it's time for the movie, a pillow and sleeping bag are great to send along. There is no online registration this week so please send in your form and payment by Thursday. THANKS!

PTO Volunteers of the Month

Volunteers are the driving force behind so many of the great things that happen at MLS. Among their many contributions are planning and putting on programs for the whole family; assisting teachers by offering their time and helping hands; and raising money to support the integration of technology in the classroom, professional development for faculty, and other school priorities. Each month, the PTO recognizes at least one volunteer who has made a significant contribution. Our volunteers of the month are highlighted on the bulletin board just inside the school's front door. Take a moment to thank these generous volunteers the next time you see them. So far this year, the MLS PTO Board has recognized:

September 2014: Kristina Parker and Laura Steenburgh
October 2014: Julie Chung, Kristen Jamison, and Rebecca Martin
November 2014: Jennifer Bryerton
December 2014: Lisa Goldstein
January 2015: Samantha Hartog and Bryce Harris
February 2015: Brooke Reid

Big Changes for MLSPTO.org

We have a brand-new website and a new MLS PTO logo! The site provides the most current news and information in blog-form on the home page, with links to all our programs and services for more detail. It is integrated with our social media sites, so follow us on Facebook (MLS PTO) and Twitter (@MLSPTO) too! Visit mlspto.org today to check it out!

Many thanks to our new webmaster, Miroslav Halas, and co-president Laurel Geis who have engineered the new site. Thanks also to Sarah Eagleburger for her work on the new MLS logo, which gave rise to our PTO version. We also owe a huge thank you to James Younger, who has generously served as our webmaster since the inception of mlspto.org. In addition, James has served as PTO treasurer, EZone coordinator, silent auction back-room guru, and numerous other roles in his seven years of volunteering. Thank you James, Miro, Laurel, and Sarah for your many contributions!

The Talent Show - Thank You!

Thank you so much to everyone who helped in so many different ways to make the talent show a huge success.

First and foremost the students who participated did a great job. Behind every student are hard working parents who helped make each act a success, communicated with the co-chairs, got the props and materials, drove carpool for auditions and dress rehearsal and clapped louder than anyone when their child took the stage - THANK YOU PARENTS!

To all the parents who helped out behind the scenes - Tom Bevacqua, Maureen Strazzullo, Sarah McLean, Laura Good, David Ibbeken and Bill Streed. We could not have pulled it off without your help.

Amanda Callaghan single handedly managed the bake sale. We had 16 parents who baked or brought in items for the bake sale. Thank you so much - it was a huge success!

Lastly, we could not have pulled it off without the help of the staff at MLS! Dr. Irani, Brandi Robertson, Sue Fortune, Kim Nash and Dan Arrington and his wonderful team. Thank you ALL!

We Notice Program

The County Student Advisory Council and Albemarle Publics Schools are excited to announce the start of the annual We Notice Program.

This is an opportunity to recognize a teacher or staff member whose work you would like to celebrate. This recognition can be given to any staff member who works in our schools, such as teachers, office staff, building service team members, teaching assistants, cafeteria workers, school nurses, and bus drivers.

Click on this link to access the recognition form

Staff who are recognized will be invited to attend a reception at the Albemarle County Office Building on April 23.

BOS Town Hall Meetings in March

The Board of Supervisors are hosting a series of town hall meetings on the county's 2016 Operating and Capital Budget, which is currently under development. These sessions are designed to share information and start a community conversation about the budget. Everyone is invited to attend any session, each of which will last about 90 minutes. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you may share your opinions with the BOS at bos@albemarle.org. Meeting dates featuring our district's supervisors are as follows:

Monday, March 23, 7:00 pm: Supervisor Liz Palmer with School Board member Eric Strucko at Red Hill Elementary

Tuesday, March 24, 7:00 pm: Supervisors Jane Dittmar and Liz Palmer with School Board member Eric Strucko at Monticello High School

Saturday, March 28, 10:00 am: Supervisor Ann Mallek at the White Hall Community Center

For the complete calendar of meetings, including Virtual Town Hall options, visit http://www.albemarle.org/navpages.asp?info=release&ID=18609

Kindergarten Registration

Beginning Monday, March 2, families will be able to register their child online for kindergarten in any of the 16 elementary schools in the Albemarle County Public Schools division.

Parents and guardians can log on to www.k12albemarle.org/kindergarten to begin the registration process for their child. They still will be required to bring a copy of their child's original birth certificate, social security card, immunization records, and two proofs of residency to the school that their child will attend.

In-person kindergarten registration begins on Wed, March 18

Yearbook Pictures Needed

Calling all photographers! We need your photos for the 2015 Yearbook! Please click on this link to see instructions on uploading directly from your phone, (equivalent of iPhone 5 or higher is acceptable), or from your computer. Thanks!

Spring 2015 EZone

Spring session II courses are underway! Marvelous Mondays begins March 23; Terrific Tuesdays begins March 24.

All course descriptions and dates are available at this link: Spring 2015 EZ Schedule. If you haven't submitted payment for Spring I and II courses, please do so! Payments accepted via cash or check made out to MLS PTO should be sent through backpack mail, ATTN: Enrichment Zone. Questions? Please email ez@mlspto.org.

Thank you for your continued support of the MLS PTO through the Enrichment Zone program!

EZone

The MLS PTO is taking applications for the Enrichment Zone (EZ) Coordinator position for Meriwether Lewis Elementary school for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 school years. The EZ Coordinator will be paid an annual stipend of $2,500 for the part-time position. Applicants should be current members of the MLS PTO and be willing to commit to two years. PTO members are all parents and legal guardians of children currently enrolled in the Meriwether Lewis School, as well as all teachers, teachers' assistants, guidance counselors, and administrators of MLS. Total expected working hours are in the range of 150-200 hours spread over the course of the year. Please click here for a detailed EZ Coordinator position description.

Applicants interested in the position should submit a resume and a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and why they feel they would be a good fit for the role. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted no later than Friday, April 3rd, 2015 to MLS Assistant Principal Brandi Robertson at bprobertson@k12albemarle.org or submitted in the office. Please contact Mrs. Robertson or PTO Co-Vice President Peggy Williams peggybwilliams@icloud.com with any questions about the position.

Lost and Found

There are MANY items in the MLS lost and found right now. MLS parent Jolene Park kindly did some organizing and took photos! Check them out on our "MLS PTO" Facebook page and if any of these belong to your child, please come by the school and claim them. If you're not on Facebook, access the album by visiting www.mlspto.org and click on the Facebook icon (f) on the upper right area of the home page.

Community Events

NanoDays at UVA - Saturday, March 21st
9am-3pm in Wilsdorf Hall. As one of the many exhibits at the UVA School of Engineering Open House, NanoDays will showcase the Nanoscale and Quantum Scientific Research going on at UVA. It is especially geared toward children Grades K-8 with many intriguing, hands-on experiments and demonstrations. See the flyer for NanoDays here

Important Dates

Silent Auction

Friday, March 20th

6:30pm

Kids Night Out

Friday, March 20th

6:00pm - Extended pick up time: 10:30pm

Class Pictures
Wednesday, March 25th

National Pencil Day

Monday, March 30th

End of the 3rd Quarter

Friday, April 3rd

Spring Break

April 6th-10th

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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.