News from Mr. Wallsmith 5-7-2010

A few end of the year reminders:

There cannot be any school lunch meal charges after today, Friday, May 7.  All students with a negative account balance should have received a notice slip today in his/her backpack.  Remember that you can check your child’s account balance for free at
http://www.ezschoolpay.com/.  To use the feature, you will need your student’s ID #.  It is located on their account balance slip or you can call our office at 594-2446 or email Mary Beth Strobel at: mailto:mstrobel@usd348.com

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U.S.D. 348 Grades 3-5 Elementary Track Meet

Thursday – May 13, 2010

Bring a sack lunch and water!!

Field Events begin at 11:00 a.m.

Running Events begin at 12:15 p.m.

WEATHER FORECAST??? YES, you will be outside for four hours.
SUN SCREEN?? YES,  and dress appropriately.  TENNIS SHOES!!!
SACK LUNCH??? YES, you will need one!!  WATER!!!
In case of inclement weather, the track meet will be cancelled.

ONCE THE FIELD EVENTS ARE COMPLETED, WE ASK THAT ALL SPECTATORS FIND A PLACE IN THE STANDS FOR THE RUNNING EVENTS.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION SO THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE.

Baker University has generously allowed us to use Liston Stadium free of charge for our elementary track meet for the past several years.  The football field has recently been repaired, and  they have made it very clear to us that the only people allowed on the field are the adults who are running the softball throw.  This means that student athletes must walk around the track to get to the softball throw on the south side and to get to starting lines for the 200M and 400M relays.

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There are summer discount coupons for World’s of Fun and Six Flags in our office if you have an interest.

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Here is a message from PTO about the School Supply Packets

Dear Parents,

The Baldwin Elementary PTO is offering the opportunity to pre-order your child’s school supplies for the 2010-2011 school year!  We are very excited about providing this service to our very busy parents!  Just think, no scrambling to Wal-Mart confused about what type of markers to purchase, no children upset or melting down if they are out of Hannah Montana notebooks or SpongeBob folders!!!!

You can pre-order your school supplies May 3rd through May 21st, 2010, and then conveniently pick them up at enrollment in August!

This packet of information includes three components:  1) this cover letter; 2) your child’s/children’s school supply list; and 3) a Back-to-School Pack order form (provided as an attachment).  You may notice that there is a significant increase in the supplies needed for the 2010-2011 school year.  This is a result of the school district’s funding having been significantly decreased, and they are now unable to afford several items that they have always provided within their respective budgets in the past (for example, copy paper, index cards, and sticky notes, just to name a few).  However, the price of the Back-to-School Packs will be comparable to what you would pay if you went to the store and bought the items today–especially factoring in gas for the trip and of course, your time, which is invaluable!

Please note that the PTO has not built in a profit margin for the Back-to-School Packs.  It was our goal to do this through Innisbrook at cost as a service to parents.  However, in terms of total transparency, you might be interested to know that because we are doing an additional program through Innisbrook, as a result, we will receive a much higher percentage of the profits than we have in the past with the large Innisbrook fundraiser that will again take place in the fall. This, in turn, will result in more revenue for the PTO and therefore, more services and funding provided to the students whom we cherish!  Please also note that due to potential on-going budget cuts, teachers may request that you purchase additional items at the time of enrollment, and items may need to be replenished throughout the year.  However, these pre-ordered Back-to-School Packs will get you well on your way in accomplishing the ever-dreaded school supply-shopping odyssey, and again, we hope this will result in a helpful service to you from the Baldwin Elementary PTO!

Again the sale will run May 3rd through May 21st, 2010. You may order your school supplies online at www.innisbrook.com(select Buy School Supplies) or return the following order form with payment to your child’s school.

If you have questions about this service, please feel free to contact Cindi Thomas at cczthomas@gmail.com  (phone is 785-594-3384), or Kelley Bethell-Smith at kjbethell@hotmail.com (phone is 785-418-4051).

Sincerely,
Cindi Thomas & Kelley Bethell-Smith

  IC_Order_Form.pdf

  IC_school_supply_list-final.doc

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  KIDS_NIGHT_OUT_10_new.pdf

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Cook’s Choice Main Entree:
Monday, May 10 – Burrito
Tuesday, May 11 – Pizza
Wednesday, May 12 – Chicken Fried Steak
Thursday, May 13 – Track Meet – BRING A SACK LUNCH AND WATER!!!!
Friday, May 14 – not yet determined.

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Other upcoming dates:
PTO Buy One Get One Free Book Fair is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, May 17 and 18. The Book Fair will be open from 7:45-8:10, 11:30-12:50, and 3:15-4:00 on both days.

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Intermediate Center Awards Ceremony- May 21at  9:00

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May 21 – Last day of classes.  School dismissed at 11:30.  No lunch will be served
Progress reports will be mailed out on Wednesday, May 26.

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Many of you may be thinking about next year.  Our Board of Education will be setting the budget priorities at their meeting on Monday, May 10.  Once they have determined the direction for the district, I will be able to assign teachers to classes and begin preparations for next year.  If you have any thoughts or comments on the budget situation, it is not too late to contact your board members or attend Monday’s meeting.

Thank you,
Mr. Wallsmith

Dan Wallsmith

Principal, Baldwin Intermediate Center
100 Bullpup Drive
Baldwin, KS 66006
785-594-2446

http://besic.usd348.com/