Vol. 3 Issue 27

Helping Others

During the month of December, the first grade students will be involved in a meaningful and exciting Community Outreach Project.  Our project will benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Buckhead, a non-profit organization that houses sick children and their families while they receive life-saving treatments from area hospitals.  In order to accomplish this goal, we will sponsor, organize and facilitate two activities to raise money.  We need many volunteers to help.

We have planned two major fund-raising events:  Candy-Cane Gram Sale and a first grade teacher outing raffle.  For the Candy-Cane Gram Sale, please send in the following items to school with your child on or before December 6^th:

• 5 boxes of standard size flavored or traditional candy canes 
• 2 standard size or one extra-large (used) shoe box 
• 1 Scotch Magic Tape

The Candy-Gram Sale on December 10^th and 11^th is a time when all students at Sarah Smith may purchase a candy gram for .25 cents to send to another person at Sarah Smith. The grams must be completed and returned by December 13^th.The candy gram will be attached to a candy cane and delivered to the student’s classroom. We need two volunteers per day for the Primary Campus (December 10-11) and one volunteer per day (December 12-13) to collect money at a table by the office from 7:20-8:15. The grams will be sold at both campuses. The children in our class will attach the messages to a candy cane and they will all be delivered on Wednesday, December 18^th.

Last year was our first year to do a first grade teacher raffle and it was a huge success!  For only $1 a ticket your child has the opportunity to win an afternoon with the fabulous first grade team of teachers.  Two winners will be chosen per class to hang out after school for fun and games in the gym and then we will be off to Menchies for a yummy treat! There will also be opportunities for your child to win the chance to have lunch and fun with our Assistant Principals or a Media Specialist for the afternoon! The raffle tickets will be sold on December 18^th and 19^th from 7:30-8:00am. Remember that 100% of the proceeds will go to help the Ronald McDonald House of Buckhead!

The Ronald McDonald House can always use additional household items as well.  If you would like to donate any of the following supplies, please send them to school with your child.  This may also be a great collection project for our Daisy Scouts or Cub Scouts to work on with their groups.

• $5, $10, or $20 increments-Kroger, Target, Wal-Mart gift cards
• Solo Cups
• Plastic forks, knives, spoons
• paper plates (the thicker kind is best)
• macaroni and cheese or ravioli
• individually wrapped snacks (chips, crackers, gummies, etc.)
• laundry detergent

In order to effectively execute all of these wonderful events, we need several volunteers to lend their helping hands.  If you are willing to volunteer your time, please find a slot that fits your schedule using the signupgenius link. Our Holiday Outreach Liaison, Adrianne Cronan, will contact volunteers with more details after we return from Thanksgiving Break.

Thank you so much!  I know this is such a busy time of year for everyone but I believe the children gain so much from helping others in our community. 

Sharing Holiday Traditions

 

In an effort to get our students to learn more about each other, I would like family volunteers to come in and share traditions for fall/winter holidays: 

Makar Sankranti (and/or Diwali)

 Chanukah  

Christmas  

Kwanza

If you'd like to share, please visit the signupgenius link.  If more than one parent volunteers to share traditions for the same holiday, families can collaborate to plan activities. I will close the signup on Friday. Once you have a plan, please contact me to find a time that works for you (in December). Volunteers can bring in artifacts, story books, and/or food associated with the holiday.