MONTEREY RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Message sent - 09/7/2009

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The only way around is through.
Robert Frost

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Thank you to all the parents and family members who attended Back to School
Night. The turn out was HUGE! These events are so important to fostering a solid school to home relationship, especially because Back to School Night is one of those rare evenings in which parents can catch a glimpse into their child's daily life at school while also having an opportunity to learn about the curriculum. Again, thank you for taking the time be invested in your child’s life at school.

HELP US RAISE FUNDS TO ADDRESS INCREASED CLASS SIZES AND FUND ADDITIONAL TEACHING SUPPORT (IMPACT TEACHERS)
As you know, class sizes have risen this year. In an effort to address the increased class sizes and provide more targeted support and enrichment for our students, one of the areas our Foundation will be focusing on is raising funds to support the hiring of additional teachers (IMPACT teachers). To this effort, MREF has generously given $8000 to help us begin this focus. Our goal is to provide support to all grades by bringing back two of our very own teachers, Karen Stokes and Greg Burrows. Please support our Foundation’s efforts to help us raise funds to ensure that this reality can be maintained all year. Look for the pledge letter soon.

PARKING
We are continuing to work on improving the pick up/drop off and parking situation at school. We need your support and assistance to make the picking up and dropping off of students a safe and orderly process. As you enter the parking lot you will need to follow the signs. When dropping off please make sure all students exit on the passenger side of the car. No students should exit their car and walk around the car to the sidewalk. After school all students who are waiting to be picked up will be asked to sit down outside by the flag pole and office entrance until their ride arrives. Please make sure to set up a meeting place with your child so that each of you knows where to meet. Most of all please drive slowly and carefully and look out for pedestrians.

PTA
Room Parents
Almost every classroom has a room parent at this time. Please check to make sure your child’s teacher has one. The room parent serves as a key liaison between the classroom and home. We need 100% of our rooms to have a room parent. On September 11 we will hold an informational meeting for all room parents in the library following Friday Flag.

International Fall Festival is coming soon – September 25
Join the fun at the International Fall Festival on September 25 from 4:30 - 7:00 - watch for more information coming home with your child.

Membership
Don't miss the PTA table where we'll have more information about upcoming events and our first General Association Meeting of the school year. Please be sure to return your Volunteer Interest Form and Membership Envelope. There will be a prize for the class with the most members.

Running Club Begins Tuesday
On September 8 our PTA sponsored Running Club will once again get underway. Be on the track beginning at 8:30. We look forward to seeing many of our runners and walkers out there.

Ice Cream Sales Begin This Wednesday
Ice Cream Sales will begin Wednesday, September 9, after school at the lunch tables. Ice Cream is $1 this year and there will be many varieties. All proceeds go to the PTA to help fund many school programs!

What is “Enroll 500”?
Enroll 500 is a campaign to get 500 or more people signed up for the FREE MONEY programs that are offered through different merchants. All you need to do is sign up/register your value saving cards at Ralphs, Albertson, eScrip and Target RED card. This could mean thousands of dollars for MRES. We can ask friends, coworkers and extended family to help MRES by having them sign up their cards too. How great it will feel to know that your everyday shopping is actually giving back to elementary kids and making MRES the best school it can be! You can find out how to do this by visiting www.MRESfoundation.org and look for the ENROLL 500! If you have signed up in the past, remember you have to re-enroll every year. Help us make our goal of 500 or more! Thanks for supporting MRES!

FOUNDATION
Recycling begins this Thursday
Start saving your plastic bottles and cans. On Thursday September 10, the MREF will be hosting the first monthly recycling day of the school year. Bring your bags of cans and bottles to the flagpole. Butterfly catches will be awarded to those students who bring bags full of recyclable bottles and aluminum cans. Please try to separate your bottles and cans into separate bags. Please no milk cartons this year.

Dr. Rich Newman.

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