School News for November 5, 2009

Thursday, November 05, 2009

It's not too early to plan for your student's college education

The Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation (LEAF), with the support of the West Geauga Schools, will hold a free college information session for parents of Geauga County students in grades K-9 regarding preparing for a student's postsecondary education. Topics include timelines for parents, financial aid facts and myths, college costs, tools for reducing college costs, saving for college, tools to use when talking with one's student and resources.

The session will be held Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at West Geauga Middle School in Room 124 located at 8611 Cedar Road in Chesterland.

Reservations are required; capacity is limited. Please call LEAF at (440) 358-8045 to reserve a seat or register online at www-leaf-ohio.org and click on event registration.

Burton Elementary News

* Important Dates to remember

Nov. 16: PTO meeting, 3:45 p.m.

Nov. 17: Market Day pickup, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 19: Early dismissal, 1:45 p.m.; Fall conferences 3 to 7 p.m.

Nov. 23: Fall Conferences, 4 to 7 p.m.

Nov. 25: No school - Thanksgiving Break

* The PTO is running the Kidstuff coupon book fundraiser. If anyone is interested in purchasing or selling the books, please send in a check for $25 to the PTO. Anyone who does no want to purchase a coupon book is asked to return it to the school. Proceeds will help various activities and projects at Burton Elementary School.

* Please remember that the weather is changing and we do go outside everyday. Please dress your children appropriately for the weather.

* The school appreciates everyone's cooperation in sending in notes when their kids are out sick.

Afterprom update

Thanks to everyone who attended the first planning meeting for the afterprom committee. There was a great turnout.

The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 in the high school cafeteria. There are still many committee spots to fill and we hope you will consider joining us to SOAP (Save Our After Prom).

The committee is in need of donations of gift cards for our gift card bonanza gift basket raffle. Any merchant, any amount would be appreciated. This basket, along with many others, will be raffled off at the Dec. 19 boys' home basketball game.

If you or your family or friends would be willing to sponsor a gift basket or would like to make a monetary donation, please contact Lydia McKenzie at (216) 536-4855, Andrea Kreuz at (440) 635-0337, Dawn Skidmore at (440) 313-8849 or Lori Hess at (440) 488-0933. Or, send a donation to the school marked to the attention of the Afterprom Committee.

In addition, be on the lookout for the first major fundraising effort - Ohio Lottery Pick 3 raffle with 27 chances to win cash during the month of December.

Troy Elementary PTO continues to give

As plans were being made for the closure of Troy Elementary School last spring, the PTO discussed how to apply their remaining funds to support its students and programs. One of the areas of donation was athletics. The Troy Elementary School PTO donated funds to cover the cost of four students to participate in winter sports this school year.

This is yet another example of the generous support from the Troy Elementary School PTO over the many years of its existence. The members of the PTO are examples of people that are not only generous, but also dedicated to the students and willing to work as a collective whole to maximize the potential of all students.

Students experience P.E.E.R.S. Awareness

On Oct. 13, Berkshire students were able to participate in the P.E.E.R.S. Awareness program. Students experienced what it was like to drive while under the influence. The program uses an actual car hooked up to a simulation program. "The driver" wears goggles that create the illusion of driving while under the influence.

Kent State Geauga paid for the program through a grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. As part of the grant, Berkshire, Cardinal and Euclid schools were able to participate in the program. Students in grades 10-12 were able to be part of this program.

Burton Elementary groups head to OSBA Conference

Burton Elementary School is sending students to the Ohio School Boards Association Conference for the second year. The Student Achievement Fair at the OSBA Conference features student groups who make an impact for their school district.

Mary Jo Maxwell and Roots & Shoots applied to be exhibitors at the achievement fair and were accepted. Michelle Peters and Tracks & Treads did the same.

Mrs. Maxwell and Mrs. Peters will accompany six students to the OSBA Conference Nov. 9 and 10. The students will prepare information and posters that they will present at their both during the Achievement Fair on Tuesday. The students will discuss their programs with various board members and administrators who stop by the booth to ask questions.

The Achievement Fair is an excellent program that highlights all the excellent programs going on in school districts across the state. The students accompanying Mrs. Maxwell and Mrs. Peters are Katie Dingman, Lexi Sell, Amber Bowman, Lexi McDermott, Ashley Richardson and Maddie Timmons.