A Sea of Success

April
S A F E R E S P E C T F U L R E S P O S

2013

Important Dates to Remember:

April 2nd 6:00 pm PTA Meeting @ TJ in the LMC April 2nd & 12th - 2nd Grade Field Trip to Progress Industries April 5th TJ Family Carnival Night 5:00 6:30 Dinner 6:00 8:30 Games April 8th 12th Iowa Assessments for 3rd Graders (ITBS) April 10th 11th 12th No School for kindergarten and TK students Kindergarten Round Up . April 10th 5:30 7:00 PSS Meeting (Partnering for Student Success) @ Newton High School April 25th 2nd & 3rd Grade Spring Concert: 2nd Grade Arrive at 5:50 ~ Concert starts at 6:00 3rd Grade Arrive at 6:50 ~ Concert starts at 7:00

I B L e

From the Principal...............

We are certainly looking forward to some spring time weather! The kids are ready to play outside once again for recess. I hope everyone enjoyed spring break. It is hard to believe we are in the home stretch of this school year. April will be a busy month starting with our 3rd graders taking the Iowa Assessments from Monday, April 8th through Friday, April 12th (these were called ITBS). Parents of 3rd graders please take some time to talk with your child about how important it is that they do their very best on these tests. Other things you as a parent can do to help prepare your child: 1. Make every effort to have your child attend school during testing. 2. Encourage your child to do his/her best, but do not make the child apprehensive about the test. Children should answer test items for which they know the answer and not to dwell on items they don't know. Explain that it is important to try all the items first and then go back to unanswered items. 3. Get enough sleep! 4. Eat a good breakfast! 5. Please do not schedule doctor or dentist appointments during the morning hours as this is when we are testing. 6. Reassure your child that this will be okay, the test is just a snapshot of what they know. Your childs teacher has spent time preparing them also: teaching them how to take a bubble test, talking to them about considering all possible answers before selecting their answer, doing their best, not guessing~ if they dont know an answer they should skip it. Students have also had the opportunity to do some practice tests. We appreciate your help in preparing your child to do their very best. PTA will once again provide healthy snacks for the 3rd graders during the testing time. If you are interested in helping with this please contact Stephanie Critchfield. Second and third grade students have been busy preparing for their Spring Concert on April 25th. We are in for a real treat! Mrs. Harris as usual has prepared a wonderful concert for us.

Mrs. Sharp

Opera Iowa visited Thomas Jefferson on Thursday, March 21st. The 3rd
graders enjoyed a workshop session where they learned about Making an Opera, Designing and Directing or Singers and Vocal Styles. The 6th graders from Woodrow Wilson joined our 3rd graders for a real treat; the performance of Three Little Pigs. The kids and adults really enjoyed this experience! Thank you to TJ and WWs PTA for sponsoring this wonderful cultural event for our children!

Important Notes from an Important Group

Thomas Jefferson PTA News
The WW/TJ PTA meets the first Tuesday of every month starting at 6pm. We switch locations between WW and TJ since we consolidate our meetings. More minds equal better ideas, right? Kids have done a fantastic job this year bringing in labels and boxtops. PTA was just able to purchase 47 new recess balls for TJ. TJ is only a short amount away from reaching its goal of $2700. Please continue to save and bring in your boxtops and labels! The concession season is once again upon us. If you are willing to volunteer an evening of your time to work a soccer game or track meet, please contact one of the PTA officers: Stephanie Critchfield, Amber Zink, Mindy Benson, or Carrie Garrett. One of us will be able to get you set up. All volunteers are much appreciated and so much of our funds come from this venture. PTA will be sponsoring a Family Fun Night/Spelling Bee on Thursday, May 2, from 5:30-8:30 at Thomas Jefferson. A flyer will be coming home in early April with more information about this. We will also have a pizza dinner, movie and popcorn, book fair (which is running from April 29-May 2), coloring contest, tattoos, and photo booth to make this a fun-filled night for WW/TJ families to enjoy free of charge. Mark it on your calendars! I hope your children have been enjoying the new playground the PTA has built this year. We are still in the process of purchasing our final pieces. We still want to create some bench seating as well and have decided that the engraved bricks that you can purchase would look great put together as a bench. A booth will be set up at the Family Fun Night on May 2nd if you would like to purchase a brick then. We always enjoy old and new faces at our PTA meetings. Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, April 2, starting at 6pm in the TJ library. We have free childcare and great conversations on what we can do to help our schools and children be all that they can be.

LUNCH MENU APRIL 2013

Lo-Fat Milk will be served with all meals Monday 1 *Hot Ham and Cheese Baked Fries Broc & Carrots Mandarin Oranges 8 Turkey & Ham Deli *Wrap (lettuce, cheese, salsa) *Tortilla Chips Black Bean Salad Strawberries 15 *Cheeseburger (pickles & lettuce) Baked Wedges Orange Slices Dried Fruit Mix 22 *Meatball Sub Baked Fries Celery Sticks Mandarin Oranges *Cavatelli Pasta/Cheese Broc. Salad Baby Carrots Pineapple *Breadstick 30 Ravioli Romaine Salad Peaches Cottage Cheese *Garlic Bread 7-8 Salad Bar Daily 7-8 Alternate Entre-PB/J Sand 9-12 Alternate Entrees & Salad Bar Daily 9-12 Additional 100% Juice Daily & Fruits/Veg. 16 *Fajita Chicken Wrap (lettuce, cheese, salsa) Three Bean Salad *Seasoned Rice Banana 23 *Pepperoni Pizza Mixed Romaine Salad Red Pepper Strips Fresh Pear Slices *Snickerdoodle 9 *Italian Dunkers/Sauce Spinach Salad w/tom. Steamed Corn Grapes/Honeydew Melon Tuesday 2 Wednesday 3 Mandarin Orange Chicken Steamed *Rice Stir-Fry Vegetables Pineapple Melon Salad Fortune Cookie 10 *Chicken Strips Medley Potatoes Celery Sticks Banana Croissant 17 *Max-Snax Taco Spinach Salad w/Tom. Steamed Corn Watermelon Thursday 4 *Mr. Rib Baked Beans Cucumbers & Radishes Banana 11 *Pulled Pork Sandwich Sweet Potato Fries Marinated FreshVeggie Salad 100% Juice Dessert 18 Crispito (Chili, Cheese, & Lettuce) Green Beans Applesauce Pumpkin Bars 25 Beef n Bean *Nacho Cuban Black Bean Salad Mixed Lettuce Salad Fresh Pear Slices *Chicken Nuggets M. Potato Cauliflower/Cheese Mixed Fruit *Homemade Roll 12 Chili/Crackers G. Peppers & Carrots Applesauce *Homemade Cinn. Roll Friday 5

19 Turkey & Noodles California Blend Veggies Peaches Carrot Pkg. *Breadstick 26 Turkey Mashed Sweet Potatoes Green Beans Mixed Fruit *Homemade Roll

24 *Chicken Sandwich (pickles & lettuce) Baked Tater Tots Apple Slices Raisins

29 *Mini Corndogs Steamed Vegetables Cucumber Slices Blueberries M & M Cookie

K-6 Extra Veggie-Seconds