SEPTEMBER 2012http://www.dps.k12.oh.us/school-rivers-edge/

At River’s Edge Montessori it is our vision that we, the students, will make wise choices and become good citizens so that we can accomplish our goals and reach our highest level of achievement in our global society.

Let’s Get POPPING!River’s Edge Alliance of Parents hopes to raise money for various events and programs this year by sponsoring popcorn sales throughout the year. For the week preceding Popcorn Day, students can pre-purchase a bag of popcorn for $0.50. September’s Popcorn Day is Friday, September 14!

Welcome New Families and StaffThe start of a new school year always brings new faces to our school community. River’s Edge Alliance of Parents would like to extend a warm welcome to those students, families and the following staff members who are joining us for the 2011-2012 school year:

Jennifer Dearwester - Assistant PrincipalJill Hardenbrook - School NurseSuzanne Thum - Speech Language PathologistJessica Werner - 9-12 teacherMinerva Quiles - 6-9 paraprofessional

We will do our best to provide you with information and help you get connected.

The following communication tools will help keep you up to date:• Monthly Newsletter, The Current• Monthly River’s Edge Alliance of Parents (REAP)

Meetings (second Monday of the month at 6 PM)• School Website: http://www.dps.k12.oh.us/school-

rivers-edge/

River’s Edge Alliance of Parents Meeting

Monday, September 10, 20126:00 - 7:30 p.m. in the Media Center

(Childcare will be provided)

River’s Edge Alliance of Parents (REAP) is our school’s family involvement and volunteer organization (similar to a PTA). We are a group of parents/guardians who want to be involved in making a positive difference in our school community. Not sure how to join? Just show up!

This newsletter is produced by River’s Edge Alliance of Parents with input from the Title I program and the school’s administration and staff.

RIVER’S EDGE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Important:

There is no school for students on Wednesday, September 26!

Supply Fees DueThe second installment of the $5 supply fee cash payment is due this Friday, September 7. If you opted to pay the $25 fee rather than purchasing your own supplies from the list, please make your payment to the office.

Important Information: You’ve Got It ... We Need It!

Just a reminder that all initial registration paperwork needs to be filled out and returned to your child’s teacher immediately. To be in compliance with all district and state regulations, we must have all forms returned immediately. Make sure the office has an accurate list of who may pick up your child. Also, if you have a change in address or phone number during the school year, please remember to notify the office of the change.

DPS Volunteer Program ProceduresRiver’s Edge Montessori cannot operate its special programs and events without the help of our parent/guardian volunteers. The staff and students recognize and appreciate the help our volunteers have donated in the past. It has truly made a difference in our school.

The procedure for allowing volunteers into our schools is available online through a quick and easy form at the DPS website: http://home.dps.k12.oh.us/community/volunteering.html%20. Even if you followed this procedure last year, you must still go online to register again for the 2012-2013 school year.

If you have questions or have no computer access, please contact Tina to arrange for a time on one of the school’s computers.

For those of you who have been dedicated volunteers in the past, we hope you continue your service and to those new to REM, we look forward to meeting you!

YES! Sign me up for the REAP Yahoo Group!

Name:

Email:

Child’s Name:

Teacher:

Please return this slip to the office.

! Get Signed OnGetting information home to families is one of the most important priorities we have as an organization. It is also one of our greatest challenges. In an attempt to offer a variety of communication methods, River’s Edge Alliance of Parents operates a Yahoo! Group.

This group not only provides a “home” for archived issues of The Current, but also a school calendar of all upcoming events with automatic e-mail reminders and a discussion forum for members as well. Have a great idea but can’t make it to our monthly meeting? Have a question but not sure who to ask? Remember reading something in The Current but can’t find it at home when you need it? You can find it all on the Yahoo! Group.

Still unsure? Sign up and give it a try--you can unsubscribe at any time. Return the following form to the office today!

“A Harvest of Thanks” LuncheonRiver’s Edge Montessori is blessed to have a fabulous staff of people who are committed to creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment for our children. Visitors to our building repeatedly comment on how peaceful and orderly the atmosphere is and how focused the children are on their work. This doesn’t happen just by accident.

On October 25, your family can share your appreciation and gratitude with our staff for a job well done by participating in our “Harvest of Thanks” luncheon. Volunteers are needed to contribute food items for the luncheon. We need families to donate casseroles or other main dish items, side dishes, salads and desserts--including options for the members of our staff who are vegetarians. We are also in need of some volunteers to help set-up, serve and clean up the luncheon. If you have questions, contact Tina.

“A Harvest of Thanks” Luncheon

YES! I want to help with the Staff Appreciation Luncheon planned for Thursday, October 25.

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Student:

Teacher:

I will make the following food(s) for the luncheon:

Please return this slip to the office.

Treasurer-in-Training

For the past several years, REAP has been fortunate to have Carmen, a trained accountant, as our Treasurer. Unfortunately, Carmen’s time at River’s Edge is nearing its end. We are taking a pro-active step in seeking a parent/guardian who is interested in eventually filling the role of Treasurer of our parent group. We plan to elect a Treasurer-in-Training who will work with Carmen throughout the year and learn the position requirements. If you are interested in this important position, please contact Carmen for more information.

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

Each year River’s Edge Alliance of Parents organizes several events to thank our staff for a job well done, to provide service projects for our students, to raise money to be used at our school, and to create opportunities for family fun. None of these events is possible without our family volunteers*--people who donate their time and talents for the betterment of our school and community.

Following is a list of events requiring volunteers. Even if you have just one hour to give, you work during the day, or feel you don’t have any skills fitting our needs, we can use everyone somewhere. Please read over this list and if you see an area where you may be of service, complete the Volunteer Information Form on the following page and return it to the office. If you completed your Volunteer Information and sent it in, THANK YOU! You do not need to send in another form.

Book  Fair  Team  –  Leader:  MeridithTeam  must  be  able  to  help  set-­‐up  the  book  fair  in  October  during  the  day,  be  

able  to  help  operate  the  sale  during  the  run  of  the  fair  and  help  pack  up.  Must  be  comfortable  handling  money  and  processing  orders  (with  register).  May  be  required  to  aid  students  in  choosing  books.  

Family  Movie  Night  Team  –  Leader:  Aliesa  Team  must  be  available  Friday  night  of  scheduled  Family  Movie  Night  from  about  6:30  –  8:00  p.m.  to  set  up  the  projector  and  the  concessions,  run  the  movie,  take  money  for  concessions  and  put  concessions  away  at  the  end  of  the  event.  Volunteers  also  assure  attendees  sign  in  for  participation  credit.

Labels  for  Education  CoordinatorThe  Coordinator  sends  in  all  Labels  for  Education  collected  per  rules  from  the  Labels  program.  Submissions  are  due  in  June.  This  is  an  excellent  activity  to  do  with  kids  or  if  you  have  no  time  to  volunteer  during  the  day.

Mother/Son  Event  -­‐  Leader:  To  Be  DeterminedThis  is  an  event  for  the  boys  to  balance  the  girls’  Valentine’s  Dance.  This  event  needs  to  be  planned  and  implemented.

Pie  Sale  Team  –  Leader:  Lisa  Team  must  collect  and  tally  pre-­‐paid  orders  October  29  -­‐  31  and/or  be  available  to  sort  and  prepare  orders  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  November  13.  This  is  our  biggest  fundraiser  of  the  year  …WE  NEED  LOTS  OF  HELP!!

Popcorn  Team  –  Leader:  LisaTeam  members  must  be  able  to  be  at  school  for  about  3  hours  on  popcorn  days  to  pop  and  distribute  popcorn  to  students  who  have  pre-­‐paid  orders.  About  4  volunteers  needed  each  popcorn  day.

Pop  Tabs  RepresentativeRepresentative  must  be  able  to  stop  by  school  once  a  month  to  pick  up  collected  tabs  and  deliver  them  to  Ronald  McDonald  House  on  Valley  Street.

Staff  Luncheon  Team  –  Leader:  TinaStaff  Luncheons  are  our  biggest  event  to  thank  the  staff  for  all  of  their  hard  work.  On  Oct  25  and  April  19  team  members  must  be  available  to  staff  the  luncheon,  setting  out  dishes  for  the  staff  to  choose  from,  cleaning  empty  dishes,  etc.  In  addition  to  the  team,  several  families  are  needed  to  supply  potluck  items  and  baked  goodies  for  the  staff  to  enjoy.  If  you’d  like  to  contribute  but  are  not  available  during  the  day,  we’d  love  to  have  you  share  a  dish!  Just  check  the  baking  and/or  cooking  boxes  on  the  Volunteer  Information  Form.  Tina  is  ready  to  work  with  someone  interested  in  taking  over  this  event.  If  you  have  an  interest  in  leading,  please  note  on  Volunteer  Information  Form.

Valentine  Dance  Team  –  Co-­‐Leaders:  Tina  and  to  be  determinedTeam  members  must  be  available  for  a  few  planning  meetings,  and  on  Feb  8  to  help  decorate  the  gym,  set  out  baked  goods  and  staff  the  dance.  In  addition,  several  families  are  needed  to  provide  baked  goodies  to  serve  as  treats  during  the  dance.  If  you’re  a  baker  we  can  count  on,  check  the  baking  box  on  the  Volunteer  Information  Form.

* Volunteers must complete the volunteer procedures as described in page 2 of this newsletter. Please see the DPS website for more information (http://home.dps.k12.oh.us/community/volunteering.html%20).

Volunteer Information Form(Continued from “All Hands on Deck!” on the previous page) Please return to the school office.

Volunteer Information Form(Continued from “All Hands on Deck!” on the previous page) Please return to the school office.

Volunteer Information Form(Continued from “All Hands on Deck!” on the previous page) Please return to the school office.

Your Name Contact Phone #(s) Student’s Name

Teacher’s Name Email Address(es)Email Address(es)

Please check all boxes of areas you are willing to help. For more information on an activity refer to “All Hands on Deck” on the previous page. If you completed this form at Open House, you do not need to do so again.

Please check all boxes of areas you are willing to help. For more information on an activity refer to “All Hands on Deck” on the previous page. If you completed this form at Open House, you do not need to do so again.

Please check all boxes of areas you are willing to help. For more information on an activity refer to “All Hands on Deck” on the previous page. If you completed this form at Open House, you do not need to do so again.

Book Fair Team Treasurer-in-Training Family Movie Night Team

Labels for Education Coordinator Mother/Son Event Team Pie Sale Team

Popcorn Team Pop Tabs Representative Staff Luncheon Team

Valentine’s Dance Team Please contact me for any: Baking, Cooking, and/or Crafting activitiesPlease contact me for any: Baking, Cooking, and/or Crafting activities

Availability (Check all that apply): Mornings Afternoons Evenings WeekendsAvailability (Check all that apply): Mornings Afternoons Evenings WeekendsAvailability (Check all that apply): Mornings Afternoons Evenings Weekends

Additional Info: Additional Info: Additional Info:

Pie Peddler Annual FundraiserJust Around the Corner

River’s Edge Alliance of Parents is gearing up for our 15th annual Pie Peddler Sale. This is always our biggest fundraising event of the year and we need everyone’s help to make it a success. The pies sold during this sale are made by The Pie Peddler, a subsidiary of Mehaffie’s Pies of Dayton. Students will be given order forms and additional sales information in mid-October. For the remaining three weeks of October, students are asked to take pre-paid pie orders from family members, neighbors and friends. An assortment of pies are available for $9.00 & $10.00 each. Students will return their order forms and money at the beginning of November and pies will be delivered to River’s Edge on Tuesday, November 13--a week before Thanksgiving!

The more pies we sell, the more money we raise! River’s Edge Alliance of Parents is hopeful that each student can sell at least one pie and challenges students to try and sell three pies each. It’s time to start thinking about who would love a pie! Watch for more details in the October issue of The Current.

Miss an edition of The Current? You can view them all online at the River’s Edge Alliance of Parents Yahoo! Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/riversedgeallianceofparents/ (for more info

on the Yahoo! Group, see article on page 2). The Current is produced at the beginning of each month.

Hispanic Heritage FestivalHead to RiverScape on September 22 for the annual Hispanic Heritage Festival. The festival features Latin food and music including Salsa, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Cumbia and Bachata. Admission is FREE!

Urban NightsHead downtown for the fall Urban Nights event on Friday, September 14 from 5 - 10 PM. Visit businesses, restaurants and art galleries, and enjoy live musicians and entertainers.

Taste of the Miami ValleyMore than 30 restaurants will be on site at RiverScape providing food tastes. The event features live music as well. Friday, September 14, 5-11 PM; and Saturday, September 15, 2-11 PM.

Box Tops for Education

We love Box Tops for Education! Each Box Tops that you clip and send in to school will earn us $0.10 in cash! Over the past few years we have earned hundreds of dollars simply by collecting Box Tops. Lots of brands have Box Tops, including Betty Crocker, General Mills, Kleenex, Green Giant, Totino’s, Pillsbury, Old El Paso and Gold Medal. If you purchase a Box Tops product, simply cut out the Box Tops logo and send it in to school. It’s that easy! There is a collection container in the rotunda for students to drop off their Box Tops. Be sure to sign your name in the Box Tops Notebook to earn your Family Involvement Credit! In addition, if you tend to shop online, you can shop through Box Tops Marketplace (www.boxtops4education.com), which will link you to several popular sites like Gap, Old Navy, Kohl’s, Wal-Mart and many more. Simply enroll in the Box Tops program via their website, select River’s Edge Montessori and begin shopping. To get credit for our school you must begin at the Box Tops website and connect through them to the supporting vendor of your choice.

Community Rewards

By participating in the Community Rewards

program at Meijer, we earned thousands of dollars for our school during the last several school years! If you shop at Meijer and pay with cash, debit card, or your Meijer credit card, participation is easy. Fill out a Community Rewards application at the store or go online at www.meijer.com/rewards. Our school code for Meijer is 804165. You will need this code to complete the application. Soon you will receive a set of plastic cards (one for your wallet, one for your keychain). Each time you shop at Meijer, hand the cashier your card. She/he will swipe it and we will earn a percentage of your purchase amount. River’s Edge Alliance of Parents will receive a check based on the total monthly purchases of our participating members.

Tyson Project A+ If you buy Tyson chicken--which we know lots of families do--clip off the “Project A+” panel (the whole 1-2-3 strip) and send it in to school like you would a Box Top. Each panel is worth $0.24! Just imagine how much money

you could make for River’s Edge with just a little effort. Just send your A+ panels in with your Box Tops.

Take Charge of Education

If you have a Target Visa Card that you use, be sure to go to www.target.com and designate River’s Edge Montessori as your school of choice in the “Take Charge of Education” program. Each time you use your card--either at Target or any other retailer--a percentage of your purchase will go to our school.

Labels for Education

With Campbell’s new collection guidelines, earning points for our Labels for Education program is easier than ever. Just clip the UPC code itself and send it to school with your child. Eligible products include Campbell’s, Pace, Prego, V-8 and Pepperidge Farm. There is a collection container in the rotunda for students to drop off their Campbell’s UPC codes. Be sure to sign your name in the Campbell’s notebook to earn your Family Involvement Credit!

Good Neighbor Program

If you shop at Dorothy Lane Market, be sure to sign up for their Good Neighbor Program and designate River’s Edge Montessori School as your non-profit organization of choice. Sign up once per year (forms are

near the service desk in each store) and River’s Edge will receive a percentage of each purchase you make.

FUNdrai$ing for River’s Edge!

Be sure to tell your family and friends about these exciting, easy ways to support our school!

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SEPTEMBER

First Day of School (Pre-K)

Labor DayNo School

Professional Dev. Day No School - Students

Popcorn Sale

Title I Family Day at Carriage Hill MetroPark

REAP Meeting 6 PM

Join us September 10 for the first REAP meeting of the year. ALL parents/guardians of River’s Edge students are welcome to attend! 6 PM in the Media Center. Childcare is provided.

EVENTS

2012

Popcorn Sale - September 14The week preceding popcorn sale students may bring money to pre-purchase popcorn sold for $0.50 per bag.

Articles/info for The Current due