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We had a great meeting last Friday with 50 kids including Girl Scouts that came out to support our Souper Bowl of Caring Drive which is happening this week February 1-5. We are collecting Hearty Soup and Crackers for P2P to help them reach their goal of 5000 cans of soup. Some of the favorite hearty soups are Beef Barley, Chicken Noodle, Corn Chowder, Lentil as well as Saltines, Wheat Thins and Club Crackers. The whole school is participating in a friendly competition between the Broncos and Panthers. Please see attached list of teachers and which team they are rooting for. The winning team of classrooms will receive extra recess.
P2P will pick up the donations on Friday after school. We thank you for your support and appreciate the donations.
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Kids Care Club has also started to fundraise for a very special cause, Kimochis. Kimochis are a really cool Social Emotional Tool that we use around the district. Kimochis for those that don't know means "feelings" in Japanese. There is a Kimochi Family Kit but many military families can't afford it. There is a growing list of families that have applied for the kit to be donated to them.
Each kit has Hero (the new character, a black lab) two bags of emotions (one for the family and one for the parent in service) a nesting heart, a book about Hero and a curriculum of help for digesting emotions. It is all wrapped up in a cute backpack. We would like to raise enough money for 10 kits. The retail price of a kit is $150.
Our Valentine Gram is one of the ways we are starting to raise money. As Holmes school kids we know how important it is to be able to share our feelings in a healthy way. Please help us raise money to send these kits to military families which will help kids work through their emotional needs. Attached is the Valentines Kimochis Grams for teachers and staff which ends next Wednesday, February 10th. Kids Care Club will be distributing them to teachers on Thursday and Friday February 11th and 12th. We appreciate your support!
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The third graders at Holmes enjoyed a very special visit from Chris Evers and Animal Embassy last week. They learned all about important adaptations that help animals survive and thrive in the wild, such as suction cups on the bottoms of a frog's feet for climbing and the quills that protect a hedgehog from getting eaten by predators. The kids got up close and personal with an owl, a lizard, and a turtle, among other exciting creatures. Please click here for some pictures.
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Thursday, February 11 at 9:15 am in the Common Room Linda Johnson, Elementary Mathematics and Science Coordinator will speak about our science and math curriculum.
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The International Cultures Committee invites every Holmes student in grades K - 5 to participate in an optional, at-home creative project that explores, in a personal way, the concept of culture.
Participating students will select a topic, from the predefined list, to write, draw, or collage about. Submitted pieces will be publicly showcased at school and published in a Holmes School e-book. Participating students also will be recognized at a special Holmes School event on March 3rd. Please encourage your child to participate, help guide them on this journey of self-discovery, and experience the pride they'll feel sharing their unique stories and traditions with the greater Holmes community! The initiative commences January 11th. Submissions are due Tuesday, February 9th. Thank you in advance for your support. We all look forward to the pride our students will feel sharing their unique stories and traditions with the greater Holmes community!
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It is that time of year! We are looking for submissions for the Holmes School Literary Magazine. *New for 2015-2016*
- Students will no longer write pieces at home in an effort to make the magazine more authentic and a reflection of the writing done in school.
- Students can pick a piece they created at school.
- Participation is voluntary.
- Students are limited to submitting one entry.
Student's work must be 300 words or less (can be an excerpt of a longer piece) and should be revised and edited to the best of the student's ability. All work must be submitted by Wednesday, March 16th. Magazines will be available for purchase in the late spring.
Thank You for your support!
Kim Paladino and Rachel Satter
Literary Magazine Coordinators
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Encourage your child to try something new this week, and better yet, do it together! Make a homemade card for a relative, plan and cook dinner as a team or take a "trial" class you've always wanted to try. Be the person you hope your child will be by role-modeling constructive use of free time. You'll have fun while you build self-esteem! Talk early, talk often.
For more information visit: www.thrivingyouthdarien.org
A Community Fund initiative: Let's Get Talking - Thriving Youth.
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1 Kindergarten Registration
2 BOE Public Hearing 7pm
Town Hall
11 PTO Meeting, 9:15am CR
11 Kindergarten Valentine
Share, 2:30pm CR
(Snow Date 2/12 @ 2:30pm)
15-18 February Recess - No School
27 H Factor 3-5pm
March 3 Int't Cultures Event 7 General PTO Meeting, 7-8pm, CR 9-11 Early Dismissal for Conferences 16 Holmes Literacy Submissions
Due 25 No School (Good Friday) 28 No School (Staff Development)
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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
BRITISH THEATER GROUP PRESENTS ALADDIN
In its 24th Season the British Theatre Group of Darien presents a brand new production of Aladdin. with a funny spin on the fairytale classic and the hysterical punchlines of a traditional British Panto show. Saturday, February 27 and Sunday February 28 at 3pm at the Darien Town Hall Auditorium. Doors open at 2:30pm. Don't forget to bring some cash as for each show we will raffle off two tickets with Jet Blue Airlines to any JetBlue destination of your choice. All ticket and raffle proceeds will go to Neighbors Link Stamford to support their great programs and family services. For more information visit us on Facebook. Tickets are available here.
NOROTON YACHT CLUB SUMMER JR SAILING PROGRAM - OPEN TO ALL!
Noroton Yacht Club is accepting non-members to its junior sailing program this summer, 201
6. NYC offers classes appropriate for both young beginners and advanced teen racers (and everything in-between). Boat types are: Optis, Pixels, c420s, Lasers (4.7 rig, radial rig & full rig), BIC O'pens and Big Boats. 8-17 year olds are eligible. Beginner and intermediate programs are 4 & 8 weeks; advanced and racing programs are 8 weeks only. Program highlights: experienced instructors; superior beginning sailor instruction; racing team; exceptional racing coaching; fun classes and big boats. Please email Connor Brady at sailingdirector@norotonyc.org or view website at www.norotonyc.org .
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PARKS & RECREATION SPRING & SUMMER PROGRAMS
The Darien Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that registration for 2016 spring & summer programs, as well as the sale of 2016 beach permits, will begin on Wednesday, March 2nd online at www.darienct.gov/parkrec, in-person in Room 110 of the Darien Town Hall or through the mail. Program offerings are currently accessible online for viewing. The 2016 spring and summer brochure, which includes the beach permit application, will be mailed out to all Darien residents the week of February 22nd. This brochure will include popular programs such as Tiny Tots Soccer, New Level Tennis Lessons, Mad Science, STEM education courses, and many fun-filled summer sports camps.
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PARKS & RECREATION FEBRUARY BREAK WITH OVERTIME ATHLETICS
The Parks and Recreation Department and Overtime Athletics have joined forces to bring this fun-filled camp to the youth of Darien the week of February 16th - 19th. Parents have the choice of registering for Tuesday - Friday from 9 AM - 4 PM for $245, Tuesday - Friday from 9 AM - Noon for $130 or daily from 9 AM - 4 PM for $65/day. This exciting variety sports camp for children ages 5 - 12 includes instruction in the fundamentals of such traditional sports as basketball and soccer as well as utilizing Overtime Athletics signature curriculum incorporating non-traditional sports such as kickball, relay races, and cooperative games. The camp will be held at the Darien Town Hall. Camp fee includes snacks - full-day participants should bring lunch each day. For more information or to register, please visit https://ereg.darienct.gov/ereg/Activities/ActivitiesPortalRegistration.asp?aid=47
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DARIEN YOUTH COMMISSION'S SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM!
The Darien Youth Commission's Summer Camp registration beings Monday, February 8! FAQ regarding program and registration can currently be found on the Youth Commission website at www.darienct.gov/yc. The three sites again this year will be: Camp Ox Ridge for students entering grade 1; Camp Royle for students entering grades 2 & 3; Camp Mather (@ Holmes School) for students entering graders 4, 5 & 6. Summer camp dates are: June 27 - July 15; July 18 - August 4.
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CURTAIN CALLCurtain Call is Stamford's longest-running and only not for profit theatre-producing company, providing year-round, live performances for the whole family as well as classes and educational programs for all ages.
Curtain Call's "Winterstock" full-day winter vacation program for ages 6 thru 15, February 15 to 18. The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, Stamford. Visit http://www.curtaincallinc.com/workshop/ or call 203-329-8207 x16
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THE DARIEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
Please consider volunteering your time with the Darien Historical Society (at the Bates-Scofield House, 45 Old Kings Hwy N). Extra hands are needed to help out with school field trips that run on Feb. 23, 24, March 1, 2, 14, 17, 18, 21, & 22. Time commitment is small and flexible. Please contact Kimberly Kennedy ( kkennedy1365@gmail.com) or Sarah Keena ( SLKEENA@aol.com) for more information.
DARIEN ARTS CENTER - New Theatre Classes start in February! New Kids' Theatre Director, Heather Kahlert is leading fun classes that start 4th week in Feb. and go thru 3rd week of May: Creative Dramatics for ages 3-5 on Tues. or Thurs. from 10:30-11:15am, Beginning Acting for grades K-2 on Tues. from 4-5pm, Actor's Toolbox for grades 3-5 on Thurs. from 3:45-4:45pm, & Lights, Camera, Action! for grades 6-8 on Thurs. from 5-6pm. Register at darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683.
The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Rd., behind Town Hall.
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DARIEN ARTS CENTER - XOXO VALENTINE WORKSHOP, February 6th, from 2-3:30 p.m., DAC Visual Arts Studio. This crafty workshop is dedicated to the ones we love. Kids can express their desire to make art while creating Valentine-themed projects to take home or give as gifts. For ages 5 & up. $30 per person. Please enroll your loved one by Feb. 4 at darienarts.org or call the DAC at (203) 655-8683. The Darien Arts Center is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind Darien Town Hall.
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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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