Since this is the final newsletter before Thanksgiving break, you really do need some advice from the kindergarteners on how to prepare for the big Thanksgiving meal! I'm not making these ideas up, and we have permission from parents to print the following students' counsel to you!

Carter Mann - "I would get [the turkey] from a barn for 6 dollars. I would bring him in the garage and check the garage for the turkey to make sure he didn't get away, and then I went out to play with him and he got away so I found him and put him back in the garage...I take him out again, and he stayed with me that time, and he went back in the garage. I'd put him in the oven at 10 degrees. My mom would put some cheese on it. I would cook it for 6 minutes. I would eat it, and it would feed 5 people. . .Hudson, Grady, Carter, mom and dad. Then, when we were all done, we'd wipe our mouths off and play the Wii. Then, I came up, and another turkey grew, and so I told my mom and dad and that's all."

Zoey Nydam - "I would go to a store and ask the store to make [the turkey] for me and I would pay for it. It would cost 66 dollars. I would. . .cook for 44 hours. I would ask them to put some surprise stuff in it. It would feed a family (4 people). I would tell them to put some forks on the plate with it. Then, I would ask them for a couple napkins and silverwear."

Lauren Rike - "I would get it at the supermarket for 10 dollars. I would get...this is really tricky....5 pounds of turkey cause I carried one (pound) before and it's not heavy. I would cook it in the oven on warm...if it was hot it would sting, burn. I would cook it for an hour. I would put...Oh it's so yummy...M&M's and whipped cream on it. It would feed 4 people, because 4 people are in our family. One more thing on it...it's so yummy... ketchup!!"

Asher Rippey -- "I would get [the turkey] at the Hy-Vee or Target--those are both stores where I could get it, I think, and Target has toys andImpo Hy-Vee doesn't, and Hy-Vee has a new donut restaurant...It would cost - any kind - probably about 1 dollar. I would cook it in the oven but not [at] 1000, 'cause that would be too hot, so probably 5 or 6 or 9 degrees. I would cook it for 5 minutes...I mean 1 minute. I would eat it, even though I haven't even tried it. . .

At the Optimist Luncheon on November 7th, seniors Jared Lowe and Hailey Nicolet - and eighth graders Cydney Brockman and Jaren Ruble - were honored for their dedication and excellence in education, character, integrity, and commitment to bettering their school.  Dr. Byrd, Simpson College President, encouraged them as the "MVPs" of the school to live with purpose and passion. They were accompanied by Secondary Principal Austin Temperley. Congratulations, Jared, Hailey, Cydney, and Jaren!

The wait is finally over!!!  This week we announced this year's musical: Seussical the Musical!  Performances are scheduled for April 11-13, 2013.  If you are a junior high or high school student, and even remotely interested in auditioning or working on a crew, plan to come to the pre-audition meeting NEXT Monday, November 19th from 3:45-4:15 p.m. in the Secondary Choir Room.  Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Augustine will hand out the audition packets and tell how to prepare for auditions or sign up to work on a crew.   

If you are interested in theater but not comfortable onstage, you should sign up for a crew!  We are looking for crew heads and workers in the following categories:  choreography, backstage, house set-up, costumes, hair/make-up, props, set construction, set painting, lights, and spot lights. Actors can also serve as crew heads and will be required to work on crews.  We are also looking for one High School Assistant Stage Manager, one Junior High Stage Manager, and one Student Music Director - perfect positions for the students who want to be heavily involved as servant-leaders!   Come to the pre-audition meeting for details! For those interested in being onstage, auditions are December 3-4 in the Secondary Choir Room, and call-backs are on December 6.  Clear your calendar now!  

The TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) has been renamed DMC$ DOLLAR$!  Our new name is intended to communicate to all families that anyone and everyone can reduce tuition expense at DMCS through this program. DMC$ DOLLAR$ is not a needs-based program.  Almost 200 DMCS families are currently participating in DMC$ DOLLAR$, and weekly gift card sales will reach their peak in the months of November and December, as families use this program not only for gas and groceries, but also for Christmas shopping. If you want to know how you can earn hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, please visit the DMCS website and click on the DMC$ DOLLAR$ tab, or contact Michelle Bailey. We want to help you set up your account to earn tuition credits or to make payments to your lunch account.  

Grandparents Day is Friday, December 7, 2012.  Invitations have been mailed to grandparents.  To view the invitation, click here.   

Volunteers are needed to set up our "well-used, yet beautiful" Christmas tree! Can you help put up the tree in the Multi-Purpose Room on Monday, November 26th or soon thereafter? This beautiful "Festival Tree" was donated to the school several years ago. The tree is permanently decorated and only needs to be moved from storage for display in the MPR.  Please contact Peggy Lettow at 252-2496 if you can help.

Join the Annual Food Drive at DMCS to Benefit Hope Ministries!   Boxes for your non-perishable food items are located under the bulletin boards in our Multi-Purpose Room. The last day to bring your food items will be Friday afternoon, December 14^th.  Hope Ministries indicated the need is great. The most desired items follow:

• Canned green beans
• Canned fruit cocktail

Early Education is seeking a Lead Teacher for the year-round, all-day Pre-Kindergarten classroom.  Preferred candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Application materials are available here.