McAuliffe News

McAuliffe PTA	December, 2007
Editor and Publisher: Rowena McReynolds

MISSION STATEMENT: Our PTA is a not-for-profit association of parents and educators who work to enhance the educational opportunities of all McAuliffe students. As volunteers, we are united in supporting the McAuliffe staff and the students in ways to make our school a safe and successful place for our children.

Important Dates This Month:

Nov 27	5th Enterprise CIty
Nov 28	Math Club
Dec 5	Math Club
Dec 7	Excite's Parent's Night Out
Dec 10	International Club Family Meal Night at Dominos
Dec 11	Newsletter Items Due
Dec 13	Choir Concert 8:15am & 6:30pm
Dec 17-21	Celebrity Readers all week
Dec 17	Newsletter Published
Dec 18	Briarhill Band & Choir Performance
Dec 19	Math Club
Dec 20	Fireside Reading 8:15 Parties: 1:45 Decorate 2:00 Start
Dec 21	Caroling 8:15 Early Release
Dec 24-Jan 2	Winter Break

Submissions for newsletter or website should be emailed to rowena@mcreynolds.com or call (972) 966-3231. www.mcauliffepta.org is updated through the month with the latest news.

Contents

Excite Parents' Night Out!

MRSA Staph Infections

PSTA Update

Special Needs Play Groups

Special Ed On-line Mall

GET YOUR NEWLETTER VIA EMAIL

If you are not receiving the newsletter via email, SIGN UP NOW! We have 157 families have confirm their sign up and 103 have been signed up but not sent their email confirmation. If all of your who have received a request to confirm your email address respond, we will have met our 250 user minimum. When we reach our minimum, we can save trees and stop newsletter distribution via hard copies. You will also receive grade specific emails.

THE TALENT SHOW IS NEAR!

McAuliffe students have some extraordinary talent, so come show it off! The Talent Show is on January 24. That may seem still a long ways off, but it will be here before you know it. Auditions will be during the first full week right after the Christmas break, so now is the time to start preparing.

Students, think of a two-minute act. You can sing, dance, play a musical instrument… whatever talent you want to share! Look for the sign-up sheets, which will be posted outside the music room before the Christmas break. Pick a day and time – and tell your parents! If you have background music, it needs to be school-appropriate and you will need to leave a copy with us at the audition.

Parents, the auditions will be on two different days, to try to reduce after-school conflicts. We will let you know what day and time your child signed up for, so you know when to have them there! If you have any questions, please contact me, Ben Ewart, by phone at 972-317-4205 or by email at ben.ewart@verizon.net. Thank you for supporting your kids!

INTERNATIONAL CLUB DISCOVERS RUSSIA

Our next International Club will be on Dec. 10^th in the library after school. Rowena McReynolds will talk about her trips to different Russian cities. If you would like to share a country with the students, or would like more information about this fun and free club, please contact Jan Jacobson 972-317-9363 or Amy Bone 972-966-8639.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE IS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

Please try to turn your engines off while in the carpool lanes (no idling). The weather is perfect these days, and the benefits of having clean air for our children, faculty, parents and even siblings along for the ride are very important.
Throughout history, students have been the driving force in social change. Now more than ever is the time for students across the country to join the movement against global warming. Please educate your children (and yourselves) by taking action at home and school. Two great websites: stopglobalwarming.org (Take Action At School) and http://www.takecareoftexas.org/for-kids/ .
Interested in seeing the recycling process from beginning to end? Check out The City of Arlington's website at http://www.ci.arlington.tx.us/environment/recycling_video.html# . It's a great reference! The City of Highland Village contracts with Abitibi and uses the same process.

Our committee is in the process of a fundraiser. We currently have reusable grocery cart bags (that clip on to your cart and are amazing!). The cost is only $10/ea. (Half the cost goes right back in to our committee, so that we are able to bring more awareness for our children & campus!! These also make great Christmas gifts for any of your tree hugging family members and friends! Please contact Yvonne Halcomb at yhalcomb@hotmail.com or Trae Atchison at traeatchison2004@yahoo.com. And please remember the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!

LOST & FOUND

Be sure to check the Lost & Found by the last week of every month. Junior Girl Scout Troop #206 has made it their service project to keep the McAuliffe Lost & Found clean & tidy this year! They will be collecting un-claimed items the first Friday of every month, bagging them & donating them to CCA. Be sure to check the Lost & Found frequently!

EXCITE PARENTS' NIGHT OUT!

Kids—looking for something Exciting to do while your parents go to a holiday party or catch up on their shopping?
Do we have something fun exclusively for McAuliffe students and their siblings!!

Place: Excite! 510 Parker Square
Off Cross Timbers in Flower Mound
Date: Friday, December 7^th
Time: 6:00-10:00pm with extended hours to 11:00pm
Price: $20 per child (extend the fun for 1 hr. for only $5 more!)
Ages: 3 ½ potty trained to 5^th Grade

Come hang out with your friends from McAuliffe, jump on trampolines, play in the foam pit, play fun organized games, listen to awesome music. There will be pizza for dinner and so much more! Sign up available between Nov. 26^th and November 30th Questions? Julia Hedgpeth, j_hedgpeth@hotmail.com, 469-293-6787

2^ND MONDAY MCAULIFFE FAMILY MEAL NIGHT

Domino's Pizza
1940 FM 407 (corner of Justin Road and Sellmeyer Road)
Monday, December 10^th
Pick up or delivery (for delivery call 972-317-3030)

When you order just let the Domino's crew know that you are supporting the McAuliffe fundraiser, then give them the flyer when you receive your pizza. Domino's will donate $2 per order to McAuliffe PTA, and if you order Cinnasticks Domino's will add an extra $1!

Thank you for supporting McAuliffe and the PTA! We can't wait to see you there! Questions? Julia Hedgpeth, j_hedgpeth@hotmail.com, 469-293-6787

Look to Just for Grins for Your Holiday Needs!

Stumped about what to buy this holiday season? Just for Grins and the PTA can help! Teachers always appreciate thank you notes and note pads to use at school and home. Teenagers love personalized note cards. Game packs make great stocking stuffers.

This holiday season give twice—your recipient will love your thoughtful, unique gift, and our school will raise much needed funds. Visit www.JustforGrins.net to see the great things they have to offer.

Order online at www.JustForGrins.net
40% of your purchases will be donated to McAuliffe PTA!
Your student can win great prizes based on the number of items sold!
On the last page of your checkout type your student's name and teacher, then locate McAuliffe Elementary in the drop down menu directly below the student's name
Share www.JustforGrins.net with friends and family!

Thank you for supporting McAuliffe Elementary and the PTA! Questions? Julia Hedgpeth, j_hedgpeth@hotmail.com, 469-293-6787

Challenger Space Shuttle

Challenger Publishing Company Monthly Announcements

Gift Card Winner:
The winner of Challenger Publishing Company’s drawing for the month of October for a $5 gift card from Barnes & Noble is Hailey from Mrs. Fonda’s class. Congratulations! All you have to do to become eligible for this drawing is publish a book through Challenger Publishing. All new authors will be automatically entered and a winner is drawn the last school day of every month. Good luck!

Current Authors
The following students are our October authors and are currently publishing or completing their books:

Mrs. Courtney’s class:
	Drea	Enchanted
	Brandy	I Love Troy Bolton
	Nathaniel	Pirates
Mrs. Blair’s class:
	Cody	Dad
Mrs. Nichols’ class
	Jace	Halloween Scare
Mrs. Vanzant’s class:
	Ryan	Pumpkin Goes Fishing
	Brooke	Fishing Frenzy
Mrs. MeGown’s class:
	Kyra	My Family Loves Me
Mrs. Fonda’s class:
	Hailey	A Stormy Night
	Christina	My Friend Ella
	Kaden	The Homerun I Hit
Mrs. Vallez’ class:
	Dalton	The Gorillas
Mrs. Weesner’s class:
	Jessica	My Pet Bobert
Mrs. Wheeler’s class:
	Briza	AHHHHH!!!!!!
	Josh	The Player
	Victoria	The Wishing Shell
Ms. Wiesepape’s class:
	Lauren	Soccer Queen

Teacher Contest

Congratulations to Mrs. Wheeler for winning a $20. gift card to Teacher’s Tools. Her class submitted the most books (9) between 9/14/07 and 10/31/07. The next cutoff for our teacher contest will be 12/20/07. Keep those great books coming!

HEY DAD’S!

What a great turn out we had at our first “Father’s Friday”. It was great to see so many Dad’s and Granddad’s in the hallways! Thanks to you, our final day of the Fall Book Fair was the best ever and will help to place many more new books in McAuliffe’s library.

FIELD DAY!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in helping out with field day!! It could not have happened without all the parent volunteers. This year with all the activities we were down to the wire with volunteers and we want to send a huge thank you to those of you who filled in the much needed spots up until the day of the event. The kids had a fabulous day and really enjoyed all the fun. We had a terrific time and those who helped really made it the event the children will have memories for life!!

Thanks so much!! Julie Apfel, Anita Wendel, and Tony Doran

FROM THE FALL CARNIVAL COMMITTEE…..

A huge THANK YOU goes out to the following people for their help (including blowing up balloons and hanging streamers), donations (everything from helium to gourds & pumpkins) and effort (especially hauling all those hay & straw bales!) in making the Fall Festival look so awesome! We couldn't have done it without them!

Marsha Neal and her daughters	Chris Eastwood and his daughters
Kelly Wyant and her daughters	Ron and Lee Conte-Vaughn
Jan and Rick Jacobson	Fred Franks
Robin Jones & her son & daughter	Jack Medellin
Chez Robison	The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch

Thanks also to all the wonderful volunteers that staffed the booths, donated items for games, and in general make our fall a huge success. We were able to raise over $8,000 from donations and tickets sales in our first year.

LISD And Staph/MRSA

There have been reported cases of Staph aureus and Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) on some campuses in LISD. Staph is a common germ that many people carry in their nasal passages, under fingernails, or on their skin with no ill effects. MRSA is a type of Staph that has developed antibiotic resistance (certain antibiotics are unable to kill the bacteria). Staph is spread primarily through skin to skin contact or with direct contact to wound drainage through a break in the skin.

Prevention is the best way to avoid the spread of this skin infection. LISD personnel are teaching students that prevention is best accomplished by exercising good hygiene and washing hands frequently with soap and warm water. District departments have worked as a team to develop a central reporting system and implemented a plan of action when cases are reported. This plan of action may include additional cleaning of a facility, a review of current practices to determine if any changes would be beneficial, and an emphasis on educating students to be vigilant about signs and symptoms of these infections.

LISD works in partnership with the Denton County Health Department when there are reports of communicable diseases. Recommendations by the DCHD regarding Staph and MRSA are followed by the district.

Unfortunately, these skin infections have become a part of our daily lives and it is important that we work together to diligently promote and protect the health of our students. Parents are encouraged to review the following links with your student. Our LISD web site has informative information on Staph and MRSA at:www.lisd.net/parents/staphinformation.pdf (English), www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/antibiotic reisitanct/educational /Sperguntas.pdf (Spanish)

lf you do not have access to this information or have additional questions, please contact your school nurse. LISD values the health of our students and will continue to take appropriate measures to keep them healthy.

ptsa DECEMBER PRESS RELEASE FROM THE SPECIAL ED PTSA

December Meeting - The Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA is hosting a program on Legislative Advocacy presented by Rona Statman of the ARC of Texas on Thursday December 13^th from 6:30 to 9 pm at the LISD Special Services Building located at 400 West Main Street in Lewisville. Hear answers to your questions about IDEA, information about the Texas Legislature, and ways you can impact positive policy change for students with disabilities. Social time with refreshments begins at 6:30 pm, with the program beginning promptly at 7 pm. Details and a link to RSVP can be found at www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org or by calling 469-293-6343.

December Brown Bag Lunch – The SEPTSA and the Special Ed Department are hosting a talk on Changes in TAKS Testing on December 6^th at noon in the small classroom in the Student Services Building. Please RSVP to Stacey Amick at stacey.amick@verison.net.

December 3-7 is “Inclusive Schools Week” – www.inclusiveschools.org
pictures of ptsa members

LISD Special Education PTSA Members, September 2007 Meeting

The Special Ed PTSA announces new Playgroups and Friendship Groups for students with special needs!

We have 2 new groups forming. One is a Motor Skills Playgroup for parents and children dealing with motor challenges such as Cerebral Palsy or Spina Bifida. Contact Michelle Fox at (972) 219-0169 or tchelle05@yahoo.com for information. The other is a High School Boys Group for teens with Aspergers Syndrome. Contact Tracie Owens at (972) 874-7191 or fmaspergersgroup@verizon.net. We also currently have playgroups for preschoolers in PPCD or PPCD Comm Class, Elementary-age children with Aspergers and High Functioning Autism, and two Friendship Groups for Middle School Girls and Middle School Boys with Aspergers or High Functioning Autism. All contact information and details can be found on the Playgroups and Friendship Groups page at www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org.

SPECIAL EDUCATION"S ON-LINE MALL

build the village Please support the Special Education PTSA as we support the students, parents and teachers of Special Education students in LISD! Do your Holiday Shopping at LISD Special Education PTSA’s online mall.For every purchase you make, LISD Special Education PTSA receives up to 30% cash back. Choose from more than 360 merchants, including Target, Nordstrom, Lands’ End, iTunes, eBay, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Netflix, Home Depot, Travelocity, The Body Shop, Gap & Old Navy. Plus, shop in the holiday specials category with merchant such as Hickory Farms, My Wines Direct, Omaha Steaks & Starbucks. Plus we receive an extra 10%!!

To access the mall, click next to the “Build the Village” logo on our Web site at www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org

Or access the mall directly at http://lisdseptsa.btvo.org