Dear Parents,

Next week we have one and a half days of school due to parent-teacher conferences and Thanksgiving holiday.  Students are dismissed at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.  There is no school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Due to the short week there will be no homework or Friday Folder. 

Christmas is just around the corner.  You may want to add a few items to your shopping list: classroom items (see attached note), personal items, Giving Tree item, and Toys for Tots and Teens.

Once again Onekama PTO along with Onekama Lions Club and National City Bank has organized “The Giving Tree” to help families in our school.  These families would like to remain anonymous; as I am sure you can understand.  The trees will be located in the atrium.  Each tree will have many tags on it.   Some tags have shirts, coats, boots, shoes, food (peanut butter, mac & cheese, etc), and personal items (shampoo, soap, etc).  If you would like to help, then please come to school and choose a tag.  Please check in with the office with your tag(s) so they can keep track of them.  All items need to be wrapped and turned into the elementary office by Friday, December 18th.  The office will put a name tag on it at that time. 

I would like our class to support the Giving Tree Project.  We will collect personal items.  I’ll purchase a large plastic tote.  Students need to bring in any personal items such as shampoo, hand soap, bar soap, body soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, dish soap, toilet paper, laundry soap, etc.  Please send in all items by December 18^th.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is collecting Toys for Tots.  The drop off gift barrel will be located in the Student Services office.  Items should be unwrapped and turned in by Monday, December 14.  In the past they have had trouble with enough appropriate gifts for the teenagers, the 10-15 year old group.

Last Tuesday was Leslie’s last day with us here at Onekama.  She and her family will be in Florida for the winter months.  They’ll return in the spring.  Before she left, we each gave her a big hug.  She’ll be missed.

Leanne Harju has been working in our classroom for the last two weeks.  Ms. Leanne is an Onekama graduate.  She’s been hired by our school as a work study student.  Currently she is taking classes at West Shore Community College and working here part-time.  Ms. Leanne has been assisting in the classroom as well as working with students one-on-one in hallway.  She is a wonderful addition to our elementary classrooms.

The following are dates that you may want to add to your calendar:

• Pennies for Patients Collection – November 2-20

• Picture Retakes – November 23

• Onekama Public Library – December 10 at 11:45 – 1:30

• PTO Order Pick-Up – December 9, 10, & 11

• Christmas Program – December 17 at 7:00 p.m.

• Christmas Break – December 23 – January 3

• Good Behavior Ski Day – February 9  (1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd)

Warmly,

Shantel