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A warm thank you to both the Outfitters and Directory teams for their help at Thursday's Open House. Our kids are looking great with new Holmes merchandise and it's easy to stay in touch with our Holmes directory. Thank you to Ashley Bartolotta, Adrienne Niederreither, Carol Donnelly, Aileen Wiate, Allison Thom, Marella Oviedo, Kanyi Zhao, Jen Rideout and Noelle Kraus! We also would like to give thanks to our terrific Holmes Family Photo team led by Angela Moore and Christina Bambina!
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After a successful event last Friday, we want to thank Heather Stramandinoli and her enthusiastic team of volunteers for their hard work and dedication to organize this year's second spirited filled Holmes Walk-a-Thon. Thank you again, Heather!
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The Holmes 2nd Walk a Thon was yet again another tremendous success last Friday. The Holmes staff, students and parents together made this fundraising event a true hit. Thank you to the over 85% of families who contributed with pledges and the 100% participation done by students & staff on Friday by walking. Once again, we are thrilled to share that we far surpassed our fundraising goal of $9,000. (We will happily accept any last minute contributors as well.) We look forward to using some of the funds raised to give back to our Holmes school community who all pulled together to make this event happen. Thank you to everyone!
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Please join us for Coffee with the Principal on Friday, October 2 at 9:15 am in the Common Room.
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Parents of children in 4th and 5th grade please join us for a parent meeting to discuss last year's Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test information.
Wednesday, October 7 at 9:15 am in the Common Room
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If you did not purchase one at open house and still want one, please fill out the below form and send it in to school with $10. We accept cash or check (made payable to "Holmes School PTO". Purchase includes a set of directories (1 large book and 1 small book). Once the form and money is received, we will send the set home with your child. Click here for the form.
If you have any questions, please contact Allison Thom (Allison.m.thom@gmail.com), Marella Oviedo (moviedo68@yahoo.com) or Aileen Wiate (awiate@oraclepartners.com).
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It's that time of year again! Mark your calendar for this year's "Monster" themed Book Fair on October 7th, 8th and 9th from 8:30-4:00 at the Holmes school gym. Join us for family night on Thursday October 8th from 5:30-8:00 for pizza and more. Come browse an amazing selection of books for all ages and find out how reading is so much fun you'll get goosebumps! If you are interested in volunteering at the book fair please email Lisa Primmer at lisakayprimmer@hotmail.com.
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If you are interested in using your gardening skills at Holmes please join our beautification team. We would love some additional volunteers. The time commitment it is small and flexible and it is a great way to use your green thumb and get to work outside. For more information or to sign up please contact Krista Brown at krista.brown@gmail.com.
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Get ready to Fall 4 Math and see just how much fun math can be! This program, co-sponsored by DAEG and Darien elementary schools, encourages students to play math games at home with parents, siblings and friends daily for two weeks: October 5-18. These games will focus on developing logical thinking, spatial reasoning, critical problem solving, and even math fact skills! Plus, DreamBox and Investigations, beyond homework, can also be applied! Parent Letter & Log
Here's how:
Today: Set aside two dice, a deck of cards, and some coins in a "Math Box".
Monday 10/5: Go to Fall 4 Math for grade-appropriate links and games developed by the district. DreamBox and Investigations, beyond homework, can also be applied.
Daily 10/5-10/18: Have your child record time and games played each day in the Play Log
Tuesday 10/13: Return the Play Log to school
Monday 10/19: Return the Play Log to school
At the end of the two-week play period, the class in each grade at your school with the highest total percentage of participation will win a prize! Ready, Set, MATH!
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Darien's gifted (Idea) program will accept referrals for FIRST GRADE students and any students NEW to the district now through October 15th. Parents may initiate the referral process by reaching their child's classroom teacher (at elementary schools)or the team leader (at Middlesex). Please see our updated website at http://ideaprogram.wordpress.com for a letter from new program coordinator Joan Glass, and for forms, grade level curriculum coffees, and information on the Darien Association for Education of the Gifted (DAEG.)
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Is My Child Making Progress? Understanding Progress Monitoring on Monday, October 5th, 11 am, in the Royle Common Room, Dr. Susie Da Silva, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, K-12 will discuss the purpose and components of a strong Scientifically Research-Based Intervention (SRBI) model. She will outline how an effective program supports students in the most meaningful way.
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Please join us for the JR Forever 8th Annual Memorial Walk/Run on:
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2015.
Time: 1:15 sign-in 2:00 walk/run
Location: Pear Tree Point Beach -Rain or Shine
Strollers/wagons are welcome
In 2008, friends and family established the JR Forever Memorial Walk in memory of JR Schoen, a 9-year-old Darien boy who lost his life to a brain tumor. Last year, a casual 5K run was added to attract runners who are passionate about a good cause. This family and community event will raise funds for Darien organizations that impact the lives of children.
This year's recipients are Children's Brain Tumor Research and JR's Ray of Hope. For more information and registration please go to www.jrschoenmemorial.org.
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October
2 Coffee with the Principal
9:15AM CR
5 SEPAC meeting, 11AM Royle
School CR
7 SBAC Meeting, Gr 4/5 Parents
9:15AM CR
7-9 Book Fair
8 Book Fair Family Night 5:30-8
12 Staff Development Day
15 Author Visit
28 School Picture Retake Day
30 Kindergarten Share
2:15-2:30PM
30 Halloween Parade 2:30-3PM
November
3 Staff Development Day -
NO SCHOOL for students
6 Holmes Fall Fest
9 Coffee with the Principal
9:15-10AM CR
11 Veteran's Day Share Gr 5
9:30-10:30AM, CR
13 Bingo Night
5-7PM, CR/Gym
25 Early Dismissal 1:25PM
26-29 Thanksgiving Break
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Getting ready to pack lunches? Reusable food containers save the Earth, and they save you money! Please pack waste-free lunches!
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Community News
TOKENEKE SCHOOL PUMPKIN CARNIVAL
Mark your calendars for the 50th Anniversary celebration of one Darien's most cherished fall traditions: the Tokeneke School Pumpkin Carnival!
Celebrating 50 years of fall family fun, Darien's Tokeneke School Pumpkin Carnival returns Saturday, October 17th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.( Rain Date: Sunday, October 18th) and promises fun for all ages with Halloween-themed activities, amusement park rides and delicious seasonal treats from local vendors. To honor its half-century birthday, the 2015 Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival will be a celebration of traditions like old-fashioned fair games and new experiences, including all-new rides and food options. The Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival provides critical funding for the Enrichment Program at the Tokeneke Elementary School. Admission is FREE! So stop by to support the school and to enjoy a day of Halloween family fun! http://pumpkincarnival.tokenekepto.com/
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CALLING ALL WITCH-CRAFTY KIDS: Sign up to carve a spooky, spectacular pumpkin for the Darien Land Trust's Pumpkin Blaze, an exhibit of jack o' lanterns on woodland trails at the Darien Nature Center's Hoot 'n Howl event. Please register your pumpkin by contacting Shirley Nichols at the DLT (203-655-4148 or shirleynichols@darienlandtrust.org) and sharing your name, email and phone number. Drop off your carved pumpkins between 9-1 pm on Saturday, October 24 at the DNC, 120 Brookside Road. The Hoot 'n Howl and Pumpkin Blaze will be held Sunday, October 25, 4-6 pm.
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Coffee & Conversations - Depression and Anxiety in Youth Thu, 10/8th - 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm What does it Look Like and When Is It a Problem? w/Dr. Aaron Krasner/Tracey Masella, LCSW. Tracey will provide an overview of signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and how to move forward in addressing these issues. Mental Health First Aid Training Sat, 10/10th and Sun, 10/11th - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm both days The 12 hour, two part, nationally certified course helps individuals and communities better understand mental health issues. This course is designed to provide people with key skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Like CPR training helps a non-medical professional assist an individual following a heart attack, mental health first aid training helps an individual who doesn't have clinical training assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Course fee is $50 and includes a 3-year certification in MHFA, 2 day training, MHFA book and handouts. Sponsored by the Darien Depot and Stamford Hospital. Please contact Dawn Roy, LCSW, ladyroy@earthlink.net, with any questions.***
DARIEN ARTS CENTER
Register now for fall classes starting soon at the Darien Arts Center. The DAC is offering a multitude of classes in dance & visual arts for students from preschool through high school that include painting, drawing, cartooning, animation, multi-media, digital photography, ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern & tap. To see a full list of offerings or to register, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall.
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FAMILY CENTERS PRESENTS -- "Active Parenting" for Ages 4-11; Oct 21-Nov 11
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TREE CONSERVANCY OF DARIEN
With the upcoming colorful fall season, Tree Conservancy of Darien would like to remind all ages to take photos of Darien trees & to capture the beauty of town trees year-round for their annual photo contest. The Celebration of Trees photo contest will have an opening reception on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the Darien Nature Center.
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2015 DARIEN FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MOBILEPACK EVENT
OCT 17&18 @ MMS CAFETERIA. Come help pack 200,000 Mannapack meals for starving children all over the world. Darien FMSC Mobilepack is hosted jointly by the churches of Darien and cosponsored by the Council for Darien School Parents.
VOLUNTEER SHIFT REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY SEPT 21. To sign up for a 2 hour shift, go to: http://fmsc.org/mobilepack/events
You must register online to volunteer. Registration fills up quickly! Register as an individual, family, church, sports team, class, or other group. Volunteers should be at least 8 years old or 3rd grade. Please adhere to the child to adult ratios when signing up groups with children.
- Grade 10-12: 5 students to 1 adult
- Grade 7-9: 4 students to 1 adult
- Grade 3-6: 3 students to 1 adult
Visit www.fmsc.org for more information on this amazing charity. contact: Tricia Ryan; pmr49@att.net
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Submission Guidelines:
Please send your submission in the text of your e-mail, single spaced and left adjusted, with "HTH Submission" in the subject line to holmes2home@gmail.com. Make sure you include a contact name and email or website in the text of your submission for questions.
We do not accept files or formatted text.
Please limit your submission to one paragraph. All text may be edited. Submission does not guarantee publication.
Community submissions must be local, 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organizations and parent or child-related. We will not include advertisements for businesses. Submissions will run for two weeks.
The deadline for submission is Monday by 4pm; H2H is normally distributed on Wednesdays.
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For recently distributed newsletters please visit our archive. Holmes to Home / Holmes School / Darien, Connecticut 06820 / (203) 353-4371
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