Meriwether Matters
Meriwether Matters is a weekly digest of top news items from the MLS PTO. 
Click through to mlspto.org for all the most up-to-date information!
 
In the Spotlight

We have extended the registration deadline to Monday, January 18 at 6 pm, so it's not too late to sign up for some great Spring E-Zone classes. A new offering: French is available for grades K-2 on Friday afternoons for 9 weeks, spanning both Spring 1 and Spring 2. Click here for a list of all the fun classes with spaces available; to register online, please visit www.mlspto.org/enrichmentzone.

Silent Auction Needs Your Help!
If you or a friend or relative is artistic, has a talent (floral arranging? fly fishing guide? artist?), has a business (CPA? Golf lessons?), or knows of an auction­able item (tickets to a Taylor Swift concert or signed memorabilia from a sports celebrity?), please contact Melissa Hoover at mhoover@bridgewater.edu. Mark your calendar for the auction on Friday, March 18, and follow our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mlssilentauction for updates, auction item teasers, and more!

The Golden Apple program is designed to honor outstanding teachers in public and private schools in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City. MLS winners in the last three years were Andrew Sherogan, Bonnie Carey, and Pat Atkins (who has since retired), so they are not eligible for this year's award, but the rest of our fabulous teachers are fair game. Nominate someone today! Click here for more details. 


Upcoming Events & Deadline
  • EZone Spring 2016 Registration Closes: January 18. Click here for information.
     
  • No School for Students: Monday, January 18 - Tuesday, January 19
     
  • PTO Board Meeting: Monday, January 25, 6:30-8 pm, MLS Library. All are welcome to attend.
     
  • No School for Students: Monday, February 15
  • Box Tops Competition Deadline: Friday, February 19. Click here for all the details.
     
  • Kids Night Out: Friday, February 19, 6-9 pm (please note: this is a correction)
  • Bingo Night: Friday, February 26, 6-8 pm, MLS Cafeteria. Prizes are needed! Click here for details.
  • MLS PTO Silent Auction: March 18. Click here for more information. 
mlspto.org Highlights for the Week

ACPS Legislative Agenda
The Albemarle County Public School system has released its 2016 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Agenda. Some of the agenda items that ACPS intends to pursue are (1) the elimination of all Standards of Learning (SOL) tests for grades 3-12 that are not linked to federal reporting requirements; (2) the passing of legislation that would give counties the same authority as cities now have to generate revenue across a broader base; and (3) supporting reforms to the composite index that would include a real property assessment component to reflect the real property tax monies actually received by a locality. Click here for more information.

Yearbook Orders
It's not too late to order your 2015-2016 Meriwether Lewis Elementary yearbook! Go to www.balfour.com or click here to access order information. There are a limited number of yearbooks still available for purchase - consider ordering soon!

Girls on the Run
Attention 3rd - 5th grade girls! Girls on the Run is coming to MLS for the Spring 2016 season! GOTR aims to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Registration takes place ONLINE from January 12 - February 1 (enter the lottery by January 16 in case the program is over-subscribed). Click here for all the details. Thanks to Ms. Brodie for sponsoring the MLS chapter!

Laurel Geis and Holly Stancil, Communications Coordinators
You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to Meriwether Matters, a weekly publication of the Meriwether Lewis Elementary PTO. Community events are listed by request as space is available. The MLS PTO does not endorse or have any additional information regarding these events.