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Safety Update and Thank Yous

Safety Improvements

Some people have noticed the new yellow and black room numbers on the classroom windows. In case of an emergency, these numbers will help the police and fire departments easily identify rooms from the outside of the building so they will be able to quickly provide help where it is needed.

We are also working on covering the interior classroom windows in case there is an intruder in the building. Students practice being quiet during a lockdown drill and, by also covering the windows, the classrooms seem empty. Camille Watanabe and RD La Bay have been working on both the window coverings and the room numbers - THANK YOU!

Also, thank you to Greg Reichlin who has organized and purchased safety buckets for each classroom. These buckets will provide extra supplies for students and staff if there is an extended lockdown or other emergency that causes us to be at school for a prolonged period of time.

Reminder: Lockdown drill scheduled for February 27

Our school, along with all other schools in the district, will practice our full lockdown procedure on February 27. A full lockdown would be initiated when there is an intruder or other threat of violence on our school campus.

While it's difficult to think about these possibilities, it's important that we are prepared as a school community. As a parent, you also need to be prepared by being familiar with a few aspects of school lockdowns. Here are two things you need to know in the event of a real lockdown at your student's school:

1. You will receive an automated phone call notifying you that it is occurring. Calls will go to all telephone numbers on file for your student. You will be told in that call or a subsequent call where parents should report to receive more information and for student/family reunification.
2. Do not call or go to the school, even though it is likely to be your first instinct. It's important to keep the phone lines open for communication between the school and first responders. Law enforcement will not let anyone near the site until the situation is resolved: that's why you will be directed to another location to wait for your student.

 If you happen to come to the school on Feb. 27th at the time of the lockdown drill, please be prepared to wait outside the school until the drill is over. We will be following our lockdown protocol and that includes not letting anyone into the school. Thank you in advance for your patience.

Thank you Horace Mann students and families for your support of the Reach for the Stars Reading Incentive Program.  155 students participated in the program, and read a total of 99,364 minutes in 14 days!  Students collected $8,014 in pledges, which earns our students $4,000 in books to add to their personal libraries, and $4,000 for Horace Mann in Usborne books and funds to purchase Common Core mentor texts.  Congratulations to Mrs. Trotter's class for the highest percentage of student participation!

Did you know that 1 in 7 students at Horace Mann have reported food allergies or sensitivities this year?

The Food Allergy/Sensitivity Parent Group is a group of parents of kids with food allergies or sensitivities who are focused on ensuring that kids at Horace Mann are not excluded from activities during school time because of their food requirements.

If your child at Horace Mann needs to avoid certain foods, we would love to hear from you. Please take a moment and click here

Saturday, March 8, 2014

9AM-2PM

Horace Mann

For more information, click here.

This event is open to the public.  Go to the new PTSA website to reserve your booth:

http://horacemannptsa.org/Page/Fundraising/FleaMarket 

Hear ye, Hear ye, the first Knighting Ceremony of 2014 was held on Thursday, February 20th. These third and fourth grade students worked hard and earned their place in the Royal Order of the Knights of the Multiplication Table.

Congratulations to our newest Senior Knights: Zack H., Bryan P., Steven J., Kevin J., Jeffery Z., Zack E., Annika R., Emily M.

Congratulations to our newest Junior Knights: Adria L., Albert L., Jason C., Tobin S., Jordyn W., Jina K., Guatham I., Jiwon K., Alice M., Erika B., Emily S., Sreya S., Rakesh V., Nico S.

Click Here for more information!

http://horacemannptsa.org/Page/Volunteers/SkateKingDay
                   

Who: Mann & Rockwell Elementary Parents reading The Whole Brain

         Child by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.

What: Learn more about strategies to nurture your child's developing

           mind.

When: Wednesdays at 7pm, Feb 26th, March 5th & March 12th

Where: Mann Elementary Library

Book Club Leader: Marion Holland, Mann Counselor

Please bring a copy of the book with you to the first class. 

Reserve your spot by email: mholland@lwsd.org                     

Join Team Horace Mann Elementary and TAKE THE PLUNGE to support Special Olympics

Lake Sammamish, Idylwood Park

March 15, 2014

For details check out their website.

Staff Appreciation Week begins March 24th! It is the Hospitality Committee's biggest (and most fun) even of the year! Would you like to join our mission? Please visit our webpage for more information and to sign-up for one of our daily activities. With your help, Staff Appreciation Week will be OUT OF THIS WORLD!

http://horacemannptsa.org/Page/Hospitality/SAW

*Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week is officially recognized the week of May 5th - 9th; however, Horace Mann celebrates our teachers a bit earlier because of state testing. The events listed on the website are planned by the Hospitality Committee. It is up to the SAW classroom volunteers and room parents to coordinate more personalized surprises for their teacher during the week.

Questions?

Contact Maegan Birr - school@birrfamily.org

The world map is up on the bulletin board next to the elevator at school with dots showing where Horace Mann families hail from.

If you haven't already, please fill out this quick survey and we'll add your location!  We also want to know how to say "hello" in many different languages.

http://sdrv.ms/1d8Bzrg

All students are invited to participate.  Pick up paper form in the school office or print online at:  http://www.mathinaction.org/Pages/MannMC.aspx  or see schedule:  http://www.mathinaction.org/Documents/MC%20SCHEDULE%202013-2014.pdf
Winners are randomly chosen from submissions. 
Turn in at school office, Math Challenge Box.

Sponsored and funded by the PTSA. 

Neetu Srivastava (neetusv@yahoo.com), Horace Mann Math Challenge Coordinator

Don't forget that the Horace Mann PTSA earns money on nearly every Amazon purchase you make when you start at our unique Amazon URL. Just click the logo each time you shop, or better yet, bookmark the link (http://www.amazon.com/?tag=homaellw-20). Thanks!

To add content to the Horace Mann Newsletter, email your entry to horacemannager@horacemannptsa.org

The Horace Mannager welcomes article submissions from students, parents, staff & the community. The PTSA reserves the right to be selective regarding materials published.