A Note from the President…

Thanks to everyone who came out to our first meeting in September, it was great to see so many new faces! Thanks to all those who participated in our Chip Shoppe and Eaglewear fundraisers. Next up, our fabulous Silent Auction. Book your babysitters for this popular grownups only event at the Dorf Haus on Saturday, November 7th for a night of fun and amazing items to bid on! Many opportunities to support the Grand Ave Playground Fund this month too – hope to see you there! Our next meeting will be Monday, November 16th at the beautiful new Bridges Elementary, and I hope to see you then. Megan Tepe GSPIE President Email: gspie2@gmail.com

Give Back With Outback

We are pleased to partner with Outback Steakhouse, Madison West for a Give Back Event which benefits the Grand Avenue Playground Fund.

When: Thursday, October 22 (kids off school)

Time: 4 – 10 pm

GSPIE will receive 20% of your total checks when you bring your GSPIE invitation or show on your smart phone. All friends, family and community welcome to attend, MUST mention GSPIE for us to receive credit for your purchases. A sincere THANK YOU to our GSPIE families at Outback who helped make this event possible! We appreciate your support!

Family Fun Events

Grab your friends and family and head to Knuckleheads in the Dells for some family FUN!

Friday, October 23 (kids off school) Time: Noon – 8 pm

$7 Amusement Wristband $10 Need 4 Speed Wristband

$9 for One Hour of Trampoline Jump Time (grip socks included and must sign waiver)

10% of proceeds will benefit the Grand Avenue Playground Fund for snack bar, wristband and trampoline jump time purchases from noon to 8 pm.

MUST mention GSPIE and/or bring flier that was sent home or show on smart phone to get the discount and for GSPIE to get credit for your purchases!

All Sauk Prairie area family/friends are welcome to attend the event! Let the kids get some energy out, they can play with all their SP friends and you are benefitting a GREAT cause – a new playground at Grand Avenue that will be utilized by the community for years to come!

For flier/waiver links visit our webpage: http://www.gs-pie.org/ or “LIKE” Grand Spruce Partners in Education on Facebook.

Thanks for all that you do to support GSPIE – we hope you can take the opportunity to join the fun!

Grade-School Partners in Education (GSPIE)

Your Parent Teacher Organization

October 2015

Upcoming GSPIE Meeting

Monday, November 16 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm Bridges Elementary

School

Join GSPIE to learn more about the Grand Avenue Playground project and other events coming this spring! Take the opportunity to get involved in your children’s education & become an active GSPIE member. FREE CHILDCARE is provided. To ensure we have enough sitters on hand, please RSVP to Megan Tepe at gspie2@gmail.com

Share Night

Success

Thank you to all of the friends, families and staff at Grand Ave and Bridges for coming out and supporting our Culver’s Share Night on Thursday, October 2! It was a very busy evening, which earned us $497. A super special “THANK YOU” to our parent volunteers who helped deliver food trays and takeout orders – we couldn’t have done it without you! Our next Culver’s Share Night will be in May.

Chip Shoppe

Product Delivery

Mark your calendars – pick up for the Chip Shoppe items order is Wednesday, October 28th from 4 to 6 pm in the Grand Avenue lunchroom. All orders MUST be picked up as we do not have freezer space to store items. Thank you for your participation. Stay tuned for total earnings, once we get a final total from Chip Shoppe.

Fall Eaglewear

We had a fantastic Eaglewear sale – with great new items being offered! Thank you for your support. Items should be coming home in student

backpacks before Thanksgiving. Remember – unless there is a defect in the item (i.e., snag, rip or open seam) we do not accept returns – all sales are final.

Pirate’s Cove

Hole in One

A great big THANK YOU to the families, staff and community that took part in the Pirate’s Cove discount coupon fundraiser through GSPIE this summer. Not only did you get to mini-golf at a discount rate, but you helped raise a little extra money too! We recently received our check from Pirate’s Cove for the summer of 2015 and we are happy to announce that we raised $242.50 – just for having fun with our families! GSPIE…putting the FUN in FUNdraising!

The Literacy Committee

Book Drive

It is a great time to clean out your bookshelves! The

Literacy Committee will be hosting a book drive in December to collect new and gently used books.

Please consider donating to give the gift of literacy to our Bridges and Grand Avenue Elementary School classrooms and students. Thank you so much for your support!

6th

Annual Silent Auction

Saturday, November 7

7 – 10 pm (doors open at 6pm) Dorf Haus, Roxbury

$5 Admission (includes 1 free ticket to raffle wheel)

Join us for a fun-filled event to raise money to support GSPIE programs and new playground equipment at Grand Avenue Elementary School. Bid on items from local, regional and national businesses, and the stars of our auction: THEMED CLASSROOM BASKETS! Plus, spin to win exciting prizes on our Raffle Wheel! Cash prizes will be awarded to classroom baskets in the following categories: Most Creative ($50), Best Aesthetic Presentation ($50), Highest Bid (50% of bid back to the classroom). Classroom baskets will be judged by an independent party. THANK YOU for all of your AWESOME donations to the classroom baskets! Special thanks to: AdPress Printing, Dorf Haus and Black Diamond Mobile DJ for supporting this event! Items to bid on (NOT a complete list):

Jeremy & Megan Tepe: Milk Break for a Year

Milwaukee Admirals: Ticket Vouchers

Rejuvenation Clinic of Sauk Prairie: Beauty Basket

Fiskars: Crafting Basket

Tools of Marketing: NFL Play 360 Bag & Packer Gear

Walt Disney World: Park Hopper Passes

Madison Children’s Museum: Guest Passes

Making Waves: Products & Gift Certificate

Fair Valley Performance: Groceries for a Week

Village Family Dental: Sonicare Toothbrush System

Vitense Golfland: Free Passes

Pump It Up: Gift Certificate and Jump Passes

Piggly Wiggly: Groceries for a Week

Cedarberry Inn: 1 Month Family Pool Membership

Cave of the Mounds: 1 Free Adult/Child Admission & Gem Bag

Madison Mallards: Mo-Hawk Man Bobblehead

Geier, Homar & Roy: Estate Planning Gift Certificate

Hope from Usbourne Books: Book & Stuffed Animal

Mueller Sports Medicine: Autographed Alex Morgan Basket

Maxwelton Braes Golf Course (Door County): 18 holes of golf & cart

Circus World Museum: Free Admission

Photography Packages from Ania Fields Photo Art & Indian Summer Photography

River Arts, Inc: Tickets to 80 Days Around the World

Shedd Aquarium: Free Admission

Zefit: 6 Month Membership

Zefit: 6 Personal Training Sessions

Jill Dederich & 31 Gifts: Grey Retro Metro Weekender Bag

Midway Oil: Hot Lunch for a Year

Midway Oil: Hot Lunch for a Year

Midway Oil: Milk Break for a Year

Midway Oil: Milk Break for a Year

Ultrazone Laser Tag: Birthday Party

Culver’s Sauk City

Michelle Kraemer & Tastefully Simple: Gift Certificate & Product

Marisa Greiber & Scentsy: Package

Mckenzie Colby & Scentsy: Package

Paul’s Chocolates

Lindsey Lewerenz & Norwex: Package

Knuckleheads: 10 wristbands & 10 trampoline passes

Bank of Prairie du Sac: State & Presidential Coins Basket and $25 Visa Card

Michelle’s Tupperware: Basket

North Central Group: Hotel Stay

Pam Halverson & Craig Scholian/First Weber: Outdoor Fire Pit

KP School of Dance

Chetwood Motorsports

A1 Movers

Prairie du Sac Fire Dept: Fire Truck Ride

Tracy Thompson & Family: Lake WI Sunset Cruise

Helt Financial Services: Family Night In Package

Simply Manufacturing: Groceries for a Week

ACE Hardware: OXO Good Grips 12-piece Locktop Container Set

BMO Harris: Groceries for a Week

Gift Certificates/Cards from: o Hu-Hot o Kwik Trip o RP Adlers o The Press Box o The Gym Bar & Grill o McFarlanes o Consumers Co-op o #1 Kitchen o Wyttenbach Meats o Outback Steakhouse

Teacher

Features

Leslie Hendricks Bridges Elementary Kindergarten Teacher

Favorite children’s book:

Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss books Favorite place to travel to:

I would love to travel to Australia and New Zealand, but going Up North to the cabin is always a favorite destination.

Weird, but true, fact about you: I worked as a Youth Staff onboard a cruise ship for a year after college before I came back to teach in classrooms. I’ve also traveled to the same number of US states as my age.

Favorite school subject while growing up: Math, and still is!

As a child, what you wanted to be when you grew up:

I have always wanted to be a teacher, and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

Why you went into teaching: Teaching is something I’ve always wanted to do. I love seeing the growth in young children and their zest and unique perspectives on life.

What is your philosophy on teaching: I believe it’s my job to make learning fun and meaningful to each child. I try to make my lessons active and engaging, and hope to spark a passion for lifelong learning in my students.

Thank You

Thank you for your continued support of the Grand Ave Playground Fund! We are getting closer to our target each

week. Many opportunities to have some family FUN this month and support this great cause – Knuckleheads (10/23) & Outback Steakhouse (10/22) events, be sure to mention GSPIE so we receive credit for your purchases. Donate online http://www.gs-pie.org/grand-ave-playground-project.html or send in the pledge form.

Laura Hutchins Grand Avenue Elementary 5th grade teacher

Family members: John (husband), Kylie (daughter-7), Clay (Son-4), Ali (Yellow Lab-12) Favorite children’s book:

Ranger’s Apprentice Series Favorite place to travel to:

It is a tie: Alaska & Hawaii Weird, but true, fact about you:

We have 8 khaki ducks that we raised from ducklings. They are layers, and we collect and eat their eggs.

Favorite school subject while growing up: Science

As a child, what you wanted to be when you grew up:

Either a hairdresser or a teacher. Why you went into teaching:

I have always enjoyed helping people learn. I also loved the idea of making exciting and creative lessons.

What is your philosophy on teaching: My goal is to create a learning community where students can feel safe to make mistakes and take academic risks. I also want to create a “love of learning” that will follow them throughout their lives. Promoting respectful, responsible, and resourceful learners is key.

Staff Appreciation

THANK YOU to all of our volunteers who have been bringing in treats on Early Release Days! You are SO appreciated! Staff Appreciation Week will be coming up the week of November 16th. This year's theme is "Our Staff Make Magic Happen!" We've planned a few tricks up our sleeves, so if you'd like a chance to thank our amazing staff for everything that they do, check out our SignUpGenius page www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0B44A8AD2CA5FF2-staff1 or contact darcy.miller@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance for your help!