laurens central school newsletter what's inside. . . … · your support means far greater...

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What's Inside . . . Superintendent’s Letter ....... 2 From the Principal .............. 2 Board Recognition Week .... 2 Welcome to Laurens ........... 3 Athletic Booster Club ......... 3 Guidance News ................... 4 Athletic Hall of Fame ......... 4 POW/MIA Remembrance ... 5 Emergency Plan .................. 6 No Child Left Behind ......... 6 Holiday Greenery Sale........ 6 EduTyping .......................... 6 Fall Concert ........................ 7 POMP ................................. 7 Backpack Programs ............ 7 Ghoulishly Great Ideas .... 8-9 Village of Laurens ............ 10 Classroom Treats .............. 10 Share and Shine ................ 10 Colorcycle ......................... 10 Calendar of Events ............ 11 Drama Club ...................... 12 T hank you to King and King Architects for sponsoring this issue of the Leopard’s Tale. Volume IV, Number II October 2019 LAURENS CENTRAL SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Open House Night ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NIGHTS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IS COMING UP— OPEN HOUSE NIGHT, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10! This year we will be making a major change in the set-up for Open House. First and foremost, there will be only one night this year. Parents will have the opportunity to attend multiple 20-minute sessions in both elementary and high school classes. Teachers at the high school level and teachers of special classes such as PE and music will be grouped according to subject area and parents of high school students will no longer have to follow their child’s daily schedule. To start the evening we will be hosting a Spaghetti Dinner. The dinner will run from 5:00-6:30 p.m. with all proceeds going to the Chickerell Family who lost their home and all contents this summer in a house fire. Please be sure to come for dinner and help us support this family as they rebuild their home and their lives. This fund raiser is open to all members of our community. Finally, during the evening parents and community members will also have the opportunity to attend a VERY IMPORTANT meeting in the MPR. Information about the future of our school and an upcoming capital project will be shared during that time! See Insert in this Newsletter Winterguard Mandatory Parent Meeting Who: ERA, Jr. and Varsity Guard members When: Tuesday October 8, 6:00 p.m. Where: Cafeteria It is mandatory that a parent and guard member attend this meeting. Thank you Kelly Bennett Executive Director Reminder School Picture Day October 18, 2019 Parent/Teacher Conferences The first Parent/Teacher Conference Day of the year will be held on Thursday, Novem- ber 21 for grades K-12 and Friday, November 22 for grades K-6. Two afternoons, plus one evening will be set aside to enable all parents to meet with their child’s classroom teacher. Elementary report cards will be handed out at the conference. Secondary students will receive their report cards as in the past. Look for more details in the November newsletter. Please remember that parents do not have to wait until these dates to meet with your child’s teachers. If you have any questions, please contact the school to set up an appointment.

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Page 1: LAURENS CENTRAL SCHOOL NEWSLETTER What's Inside. . . … · Your support means far greater success for your child. In closing, I look forward to an exciting school year; one where

What's Inside. . . Superintendent’s Letter ....... 2From the Principal .............. 2Board Recognition Week .... 2Welcome to Laurens ........... 3Athletic Booster Club ......... 3Guidance News ................... 4Athletic Hall of Fame ......... 4POW/MIA Remembrance ... 5Emergency Plan .................. 6No Child Left Behind ......... 6Holiday Greenery Sale ........ 6EduTyping .......................... 6Fall Concert ........................ 7POMP ................................. 7Backpack Programs ............ 7Ghoulishly Great Ideas ....8-9Village of Laurens ............ 10Classroom Treats .............. 10Share and Shine ................ 10Colorcycle ......................... 10Calendar of Events ............ 11Drama Club ...................... 12

Thank you to King and King Architects for

sponsoring this issue of the Leopard’s Tale.

Volume IV, Number II October 2019

LAURENS CENTRAL SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Open House NightONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NIGHTS OF

THE SCHOOL YEAR IS COMING UP—OPEN HOUSE NIGHT, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10!

This year we will be making a major change in the set-up for Open House. First and foremost, there will be only one night this year.

Parents will have the opportunity to attend multiple 20-minute sessions in both elementary and high school classes. Teachers at the high school level and teachers of special classes such as PE and music will be grouped according to subject area and parents of high school students will no longer have to follow their child’s daily schedule.

To start the evening we will be hosting a Spaghetti Dinner. The dinner will run from 5:00-6:30 p.m. with all proceeds going to the Chickerell Family who lost their home and all contents this summer in a house fire. Please be sure to come for dinner and help us support this family as they rebuild their home and their lives. This fund raiser is open to all members of our community.

Finally, during the evening parents and community members will also have the opportunity to attend a VERY IMPORTANT meeting in the MPR. Information about the future of our school and an upcoming capital project will be shared during that time!

See Insert in this

Newsletter

Winterguard Mandatory Parent Meeting

Who: ERA, Jr. and Varsity Guard members When: Tuesday October 8, 6:00 p.m. Where: Cafeteria

It is mandatory that a parent and guard member attend this meeting.

Thank youKelly BennettExecutive Director

Reminder

School Picture DayOctober 18, 2019

Parent/Teacher ConferencesThe first Parent/Teacher Conference Day of the year will be held on Thursday, Novem-

ber 21 for grades K-12 and Friday, November 22 for grades K-6. Two afternoons, plus one evening will be set aside to enable all parents to meet with their child’s classroom teacher.

Elementary report cards will be handed out at the conference. Secondary students will receive their report cards as in the past. Look for more details in the November newsletter.

Please remember that parents do not have to wait until these dates to meet with your child’s teachers. If you have any questions, please contact the school to set up an appointment.

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Superintendent’s Message

From the PrincipalThe PowerSchool Parent Portal is a great way to maintain

communication between home and school. Parents of stu-dents in grades 7-12 can log into the portal to check grades, attendance, assignments that might be missing, etc. In addi-tion, we now have the PowerSchool app active so that you can conveniently monitor grades and attendance from your tablet or smartphone.

Our goal is to have as many parents as possible sign up for the portal this year. If you already have a parent portal account you do NOT need to set up a new one for this year. Your user name and password from last year are still active.TO CREATE A NEW POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL ACCOUNT• Email Mr. Dorritie at [email protected] to receive

an Access ID and Access Password.• Once you have these, go to the Parents Page”of the school

web site (www.laurenscs.org).• Click on “PowerSchool Parent Portal” on the right hand side.• Click on “Create New Account” when the login screen

appears.You will be able to create your own unique user name and

password, but will need the access ID and access password from Mr. Dorritie in order to actually activate the account.TO PUT THE POWERSCHOOL APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE• Log into your Powerschool Parent Portal account through

the Internet on your smartphone or tablet• Once you are logged in look at the lower left hand side of the

screen. You should see buttons to download the app for your Apple or Android phone and a box with a “school code.”

• Write down the school code, download the app and enter the school code when asked. You should then be all set to go!

School Board Recognition WeekThe week of October 21-25 is School Board Recognition

Week. This special week has been designated to commend school board members for their dedicated service to the children of New York State, and we are inviting you to join us in demonstrating your appreciation of these outstanding individuals. School Board members are dedicated to serv-ing children and providing strong educational programs. They devote many hours of service to public education and continually strive for improvement, excellence and progress in education.

Please join us in honoring and giving thanks to our school board members. A kind note or phone call would be greatly appreciated. Write a personal letter of thanks for the end-less hours these individuals donate to our school. Attend the October board meeting to say a special thank you in person.

Whatever way you choose, please support our Board of Education. They work hard for our community and deserve our thanks and words of encouragement.

LCS BOARD OF EDUCATIONCynthia Struckle, President

Thomas Francisco, Vice PresidentGerard Murello

Margaret WikoffPeggy Bush

Thank You Board Members!

A month into the new school year and things here in the building have been running smoothly! I truly enjoy having everyone back in the building—staff and students alike. It’s like the building comes alive! Schools are not complete without lots of people using them!

A huge THANK YOU goes out to the individuals and organizations that provided school supplies. The outpouring of support was simply amazing. And, while I risk leaving someone out, and ask for your forgiveness if I missed your name, I would like to thank the Laurens Fire Department Auxiliary, Laurens American Legion Family, the Laurens Presbyterian Church and everyone else who donated school supplies. You have no idea of just how wonderful it was to be able to provide each child with their back to school needs. And, we have many supplies ready and available for the months ahead. Thank you!

As far as activities . . . Our soccer teams are doing well. The Drama Club has held tryouts for a November production of the play, “Winnie the Pooh.” The Athletic Booster Club has held its first meeting and POMP will start up soon. Parents, if you have a child participating in music, drama or athlet-ics, please know that these activities do not exist and cannot meet their full potential without your support. That support includes parent participation. Each organization helps our students improve their skills to the fullest. Please consider joining. Meeting dates are provided on the monthly calendar. Your support means far greater success for your child.

In closing, I look forward to an exciting school year; one where our students grow not only physically, but most importantly, in their academic, social and emotional growth. Our goal is to develop students who will become knowl-edgeable, thoughtful, involved, kind and caring individuals. With your help all of this can be accomplished!

Here’s to the start of a great school year,Mrs. Romona N. Wenck, Superintendent

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Welcome to Laurens!GARRISON GERMANalicen sosnowski kylie loforte

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style,” Maya Angelou. I am Alicen Sosnowski, and was born and raised around this area. I graduated from Milford, and then left for 20 years, living and exploring areas of Buffalo, Michigan, and North Carolina. I started out in the medical field as an Exercise Physiologist, but found my calling working with kids. I received my teaching degree and never thought about doing anything else after that. My daughter, dog, and I moved back not too long ago, and have finally found a home here at LCS. I’m very excited to be here, teaching Title 1 Reading and Math, and thank you for the welcoming!

Hello! I am Garrison German, the new instrumental band teacher at LCS. I am ecstatic to be joining the staff this year, and cannot be more thankful for how welcoming the community has been. I graduated from Horseheads High School in 2012, and have since received my degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in music performance from Valdosta State University in Georgia. I have been involved with marching band in some capacity for 12 years straight, and Laurens seems like the perfect place to add many years to that number. I look forward to working with all of the students, and meeting those in the community!

Hello! My name is Kylie Loforte and I am the new second grade teacher here at Laurens Central School. Originally I am from Canandaigua, NY. Growing up, I was an active member of the school community. I was on the swim team, in Mixed Choir and in Jazz Choir, played cello in Orchestra, and was in various clubs. After I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from SUNY Oneonta, I moved back to the area to teach here at Laurens. I also love reading, photography, listening to music and being outside. I am thrilled to be a member of this amazing community and am so excited for the school year to begin! Go Leopards!

The LCS Athletic Booster ClubPlease consider joining the Laurens Athletic Booster Club. Here are some of the

services the Booster Club fundraisers provide for our student-athletes and coaches:*Fees for summer leagues and tournaments

*Fees for summer athletic camps*Equipment and apparel

*Transportation fees for Headwaters summer soccer

*Donations for the annual Awards Banquet*Plaques for the Awards Banquet

*Lodging for coaching clinics*Donations for the LCS Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

New members are needed and welcome! Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in Room 115.

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Guidance NewsCOLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK

LCS will be participating in HESC’s College Applica-tion Week for the 5th year, from October 21-25. Seniors will have one-on-one support and assistance in completing their college applications in the High School Library. Parents are also encouraged to participate. More information about this event is coming soon and will be sent home to all families of seniors. It was a huge success in previous years and we expect the same results this year!

INFORMATION FOR SENIORSSeniors should begin working on college applications as

soon as possible and complete them no later than December vacation. If applying for Early Action or Early Decision, these deadlines are usually November 1 or 15.

Seniors should now ask teachers, coaches, employ-ers, and advisors for college letters of recommendation. Please give them as much notice as possible—a rushed letter is not the best letter!

Don’t forget that you may submit your 2020-21 FAFSA as of October 1 this year! It is much easier to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to accomplish this task. Visit www.studentaid.ed.gov and www.fafsa.gov for more information. You will need to register for a FAFSA ID before you can complete the FAFSA. See www.fsaid.ed.gov to obtain your ID. One parent must register for an ID as well.

IMPORTANT DATESOctober 3 Registration deadline for 11/2 SAT 5 SAT exam at Oneonta High School 10 Meeting for parents of seniors before Open House,

6:00 p.m. More information about this will be in the Open House invitation letter.

Senior Retreat at Gilbert Lake 16 PSAT Exam 21-25 College Application Week 25 Elmira College Rep Visit, 11:30 a.m. 26 ACT exam at Oneonta High School 30 Tolerance & Diversity Assembly, 1:00 p.m. 31 Hartwick College Rep Visit, 9:00 a.m.November 2 SAT exam at Oneonta High School 7 SUNY Geneseo Rep Visit, 12:15 p.m. 8 Registration deadline for 12/14 ACT 8 Registration deadline for 12/7 SAT 13 Keuka College Rep Visit, 12:00 p.m.

TEST FEESSAT without writing: $49.50 SAT with writing: $64.50ACT without writing: $ 50.50ACT with writing: $67.00PSAT: $17.00 (Fee waivers available for SAT, ACT, PSAT)

Athletic Hall of FameThe purpose of the Laurens Central School Athletic Hall of

Fame is to recognize those individuals who through their accom-plishments have brought pride and distinction to our school and community as an athlete, coach, administrator, or as a contributor to the development and success of the Laurens Central School Athletic Program. If you wish to nominate an individual for consideration of membership to the Hall of Fame, please contact Mr. Bill Dorritie, Building Principal, to pick up an application form or go to our website www.laurenscs.org, go to sports on the left hand side and then choose Athletic Hall of Fame By-Laws.

To be eligible for selection to the LCS Hall of Fame candidates must meet the following requirements:• Election to the LCS Hall of Fame shall be open to persons

who have made an outstanding contribution to the school as a superior competitor in athletics, and who last competed at LCS 10 or more years prior to the date of induction.

• Male or female participants in any recognized form of sports competition are eligible for nomination.

• Athletes must be Laurens Central School graduates.• Nominees must have demonstrated good citizenship and

character in their lives both during their years in high school and after.

• It is also important that the Committee consider the athlete’s overall contribution to his/her sport both during high school and beyond, and to weigh carefully both high school achieve-ments and overall achievements as a measure of overall success in one’s sport(s).

• A coach or administrator shall be considered only after leav-ing the LCS Athletic department program.

• An outstanding team can be voted into the Hall of Fame as a team inductee, but must also wait 10 years after the team competed last.

• Nominations will be accepted for any athlete, coach, admin-istrator or contributor who through his/her commitment, sacrifices, and dedication to the LCS Athletic Program has brought pride and distinction to our school and community.

GUIDELINES• Athletes must have been graduated for a period of at least

10 years.• The eligibility timeline does not apply to coaches, athletic

directors, administrators or contributor; however, they must have completed their tenure with the district.

METHOD OF ELECTION• Nominations shall be received from any friend of LCS Ath-

letics or any family member of any individual meeting the qualifications listed above.

• Nominations must be made on the appropriate application form to be considered. Please contact Mr. Bill Dorritie, Building Principal (607) 432-2050 for application forms or go to our website.

• All forms must be completed and received by October 30 to be considered for induction this year.

A complete copy of the LCS Athletic Hall of Fame By-Laws can be obtained on our website or by contacting the main office.

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LCS Hosts POW/MIA Remembrance Day CeremonyOn Friday, September 13, LCS was proud to observe

POW/MIA Remembrance Day by hosting an assembly for students and staff and attended by students in grades 6-12. The ceremony was conducted by Retired New York State Army National Guard Colonel Carlton Cleveland, a graduate of Laurens Central School and current Commander of Ameri-can Legion Post 1688. He was joined by active duty members of the National Guard, current Legionnaires, and members of the Laurens American Legion Women’s Auxiliary.

As part of the ceremony 8th grader Victoria Stevens played Taps and seniors Jerred Brodie, Kaleb Sonnenberg, and Jordan Weir read passages that signified each of the 13 folds of the American Flag. Women’s Auxiliary member Marie Iannotti (a member of the Legion for 56 years) then

read the poem In Flanders Field. At the conclusion of the ceremony our sixth graders worked with Colonel Cleveland and Legionnaires to learn how to properly fold the flag at the end of the day when they go out for their Safety Patrol posts. Classes were also invited to participate in an outdoor obstacle course using remotely-controlled bomb disposal robots provided by Colonel Cleveland’s National Guard EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) unit.

Laurens Central School would like to thank Colonel Cleveland, the members of the National Guard, and the Legionnaires that made this presentation possible. We also thank all of our active duty and retired service members for their commitment to our nation.

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EduTypingWEB-BASED KEYBOARD

SOFTWARE FOR SCHOOLSLast school year, the Laurens Central School District pur-

chased keyboarding software for each student. Your student will be using EduTyping keyboarding software during the school day to learn the skill of touch-typing on the keyboard. The EduTyping software is a 100% online software program that can be accessed from any Internet-ready computer. We are also providing the EduTyping software log in informa-tion to parents and guardians should you wish to have your students practice these skills at home.

If using this software at home, please be sure to login via the Library’s website to ensure that your child’s progress can be tracked. All students in grades 2-7 have direct instruction and practice in keyboarding with the library media special-ist. We strongly encourage older students to continue using their EduTyping login to practice this very important skill. We begin teaching appropriate finger placement in kinder-garten. Keep in mind that keyboarding practice must be done on a device that connects directly to a keyboard.TO ACCESS EDUTYPING 1. Visit www.laurenscs.org2. Click on Library3. Click on edutyping

Students will need the following to login: License ID: laurensUsername: ________________________________(students have their username or may see library staff)Password: 123456Please contact Mrs. Rokhvadze should you have any ques-

tions: [email protected]. Thank you and see you in the library!

No Child Left Behind ActAs part of federal regulations, parents of children attending

Laurens Central School may request the school to provide you with information regarding the qualifications of teachers in the Title I/AIS program.

If you would like this information, please fill out the infor-mation requested on the form below and return to:

Superintendent’s OfficeLaurens Central School

PO Box 301Laurens, NY 13796

Please provide me with information regarding the qualifications of teachers in the Title I/AIS program.

Name of Parent/Guardian:

____________________________________________

Mailing Address:

____________________________________________

City, State, Zip:

____________________________________________

Telephone Number: ____________________________

Emergency Management/ SAVE Plan

All school districts in the State of New York are required to comply with the Commissioner’s Regulation 155.13 which requires written annual notification to parents, students, and staff regarding District Emergency Management/SAVE Plans. The updated plans are on file in the Superintendent’s Office and are available to parents, students, and staff at any time school is open, between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The object of emergency planning is to anticipate problems in dealing with natural and manmade disasters. Depending on the kind of intensity of the disaster, the school may be required to carry out any of the following procedures: School cancellation, evacuation, sheltering.

Early dismissal, or evacuation drills, are held at least once a year. This year’s drill will be held in October. It is impor-tant to take note that emergency drills will be carried out without advance notice. As a result, children may be coming home to either empty homes or locked doors. Parents must make contingency plans with their children to go to the home of a neighbor if the children require supervision. A form will be sent home to all elementary parents requesting this information.

If you have any questions concerning this plan or wish to make a suggestion to increase its effectiveness, please contact Superintendent, Romona Wenck at 432-2050.

Class of 2020 Holiday Greenery Sale

DOOR WREATHS & SWAGS$23 EACH + $1.84 TAX

If you are interested in purchasing, please fill out and detach the order form below and send it to the school with payment by November 8, 2019.

You may also order through a member of the senior class.

Delivery expected the week of November 25.

Name _______________________________________

Phone # or email ______________________________

Door Wreath: __________ Door Swag: ___________

Red bow: _____________ Plaid bow: ____________

*Please make checks payable to LCS Class of 2020

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Patrons Of Music People

POMP would like to thank those who have generously donated to the Laurens Central School Music Program. Donors who have contributed $100 or more have been recognized with a name plate on the Music Note found in the LCS Multi-Purpose

Room. If you would like to make a donation, please complete and mail the form below.

Donor LevelsBenefactor—$250 and up; Patron—$100-$249

Name: ________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________

Email: ________________________________________

Detach and send with check payable to: POMP, c/o Garrison German, 55 Main St., Laurens, NY 13796

Thank YOu!

The LCS Music Department is pleased to present its

Fall ConcertOctober 24, 2019

6:30 p.m.Laurens Central School, Multi-Purpose Room

Featured ensembles will be:Concert BandConcert Choir,

Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Singers, Junior Band, andElementary Choir

Backpack ProgramsLaurens Central School has developed a Hygiene Back-

pack Program and a Food Pantry Backpack Program for the 2019-2020 school year. The purpose of these two programs is to assist our students and their families with basic hygiene products and food that will be used to create a meal or two during the week. The food backpacks will be distributed weekly and the hygiene backpacks will be sent home once a month. With the rising cost of necessary hygiene products and food, the District is dedicated to ensuring that our families are provided with supplemental hygiene and food products. Families will have the opportunity to sign-up to receive the hygiene backpack, the food backpack, or both backpacks.

In order to maintain both the Hygiene and Food Backpack Programs, the District would appreciate your consideration in donating any of the following items:

HYGIENE BACKPACK• Shampoo• Bar(s) of soap• Toothpaste• Deodorant (a type that both men and women can use)

FOOD BACKPACK• Boxes of cereal• Spaghetti• Spaghetti sauce (24-45 oz. cans/jars)• 15 oz. cans of peas, bean, carrots, corn• 15 oz. cans of peaches, pears, fruit cocktail• Applesauce (24-45 oz. cans/jars)• Boxes of crackers• Bags of pretzels• Boxes of microwave popcorn• 10.5 oz. of cream of mushroom soup• 5 oz. cans of tuna fish• 5 oz. cans of chicken• Boxes of biscuit mix• Boxes of macaroni and cheese• Jars/cans of chicken gravy (24-32 oz.)• Bags of egg noodles

If you or your organization is interested in assisting our families by donating any of the items above, you may either drop the items off at the Main Office or contact Lindsey Gifford at 432-2050, ext. 2100. The Laurens Central School District thanks you for donating to these wonderful programs.

Your Donations are greatly appreciated!

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Ghoulishly Great Ideas for

Halloween Parties & Trick-or-Treating

If it were only at Halloween, we wouldn’t be concerned about the candy. But it’s not just at Halloween. It’s candy and other treats all too often—

breakfast candy (sugary cereals), liquid candy (soda), and fruit candies at lunch (fruit snacks/gummies & roll-ups).

Celebrating Halloween healthfully isn’t about giving up all the treats. It’s about bringing them into balance, especially since kids often have multiple celebrations: at school, at friends’ houses, at

after care, and in the community. And then there’s trick-or-treating.

There’s more to Halloween than candy. There’s dressing up, having fun with friends, playing games, and doing crafts. With so many celebrations throughout the year, it’s important to enjoy

Halloween Parties Savor the flavor. At the party, serve no more than one sugary/ higher-fat item. Provide mostly healthier party snacks and non-food goodies.

BOOgy down! Instead of a sit-down & eat party, get up and go with the following activities: ghost sack races, costume parades, pin the nose on the witch, and bobbing for apples (watch them eat them afterward!).

Keep them spellbound. Shift children’s focus away from candy to: reading & writing Halloween stories, making slime, making masks out of paper plates or bats out of egg cartons, acting out short plays, running a haunted house for other classes, & learning about Halloween history.

Make good food look frightfully delicious! Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to make sandwiches or fruit more interesting. Decorate the room, serve food with creepy plates, napkins, cups or straws, and design and fill treat bags with Chex Mix or other healthier snack foods.

each one without going overboard.

- W- A

- W- A

slicspri

- C- D

- G- O- L

- T- W

- Pcr

- P- R- S

Healthier Party Snacks ater

pple cider itch’s Brew (see recipe)

pples (w/caramel or yogurt dip; or ed and let kids top with spooky

nkles)

arrot sticks & low-fat dip ried apricots

rapesranges cut into wedgesight or low-fat popcorn

ortilla chips & salsa hole wheat Fig Newtons umpkin dip & graham ackers (see recipe)

umpkin muffins (see recipe) oasted pumpkin seeds nack cups of canned

peaches or mandarin oranges

WITCH’S BREW Recipe 1 24 oz. bottle cranberry juice cocktail 1 can frozen orange juice ½ gallon apple cider Grenadine Mix first 3 ingredients together in a cauldron (or punch bowl) and serve in clear plastic cups, with Grenadine

‘blood’ dripping down the inside of the cup!

For added fun, float funny face ice cubes in the brew: Half-fill & freeze ice tray (or muffin cups) with water, garnish each cube with blueberry eyes & a mandarin orange smile, & then fill rest with water & freeze again.

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PUMPKIN MUFFINS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift together: 1¾ cups whole wheat pastry

flour (or half whole wheat and half all purpose flour)

¾ teaspoon salt ½ cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg

Beat in a separate bowl: 2 eggs

Add to the eggs: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

¾ cup low-fat milk 1 cup canned pumpkin

Combine the wet and dry ingredients with a few swift strokes (don’t over mix). Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds of the way full and

bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes a dozen muffins.

Pumpkin Dip (from the Dannon Institute)

Mix the following ingredients:

3 tablespoons canned pumpkin

1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt 1 tablespoon orange juice

concentrate (use 100% juice for more nutrients)

½ tsp of cinnamon (optional)1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)

Dip in with graham crackers.

SLIME (For playing, not eating)

2 Cups Water 1/2 Cup Cornstarch

Food Coloring Boil 2 cups water in a

medium saucepan. Add cornstarch while stirring.

After that is mixed well, add food coloring and stir.

Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Make

sure kids play with it on a plastic covered surface.

Healthier Trick-or-Treating GiveawaysFor younger kids, try small toys like:

• Temporary tattoos or stickers • Small plastic spiders or ghosts • Super bouncy balls • Colorful pencils, erasers, or pencil toppers • Spooky plastic rings or false teeth • Bracelets or hair accessories

For food treats, try: • Lunch- or snack-size bags of pretzels or crackers • Individual packages of raisins • 100% juice boxes

For candy, try: • Sugar-free gum • Fat-free candy like fruit snacks/gummies, SweeTarts,

Smarties, Twizzlers, or Skittles• Lower-fat chocolate candies like York Peppermint

Patties, 3Musketeers, or Junior Mints• Giving out the smallest size of the candy (the smaller

the bar/package, the lower the fat & calories).

It is most important to work with children on healthy eating throughout the year. Encourage healthy eating but don’t battle over it. Instead, try to work something out, like allowing your children to eat what they want on Halloween night and then save 5 treats to eat over the next 5 days. Dispose of or put the rest out of sight.

On Halloween Night:

Make sure children eat a healthy meal before they go trick-or-treating so that candy is a dessert, not supper.

Remember Halloween safety:- Make sure children travel in groups and/or with an adult. - Give children flashlights for added visibility. - Accessorize with glow-in-the-dark necklaces or bracelets or use reflective tape. - Check collected items before allowing children to eat them.

For more information about healthy eating, visit: www.cspinet.org

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Helpful Reminders for Classroom Treats

The following reminders will help you and your child when preparing to send treats for sharing with your child’s classmates.• Talk to your child’s teacher to find out if there are any

children with food allergies in the class. Please avoid any foods that a student in the class is allergic to. If there are food allergies, always be sure to let the teacher know about the ingredients in the treat that is being brought to school.

• We prefer that you provide a treat that was baked in a commercial kitchen (there are strict rules from the Health Department that they must follow). Homemade treats are not forbidden, but please consider purchasing your child’s treat for the class.

• Food should be brought in single servings, such as cupcakes or cookies rather than cake, to minimize the handling of the food that is served.

• If baking at home, please be sure to clean all food prepa-ration areas with warm soapy water before you start and again if the area becomes contaminated.

• Have your child wash his/her hands before handling food, and again if they become contaminated during prepara-tion. They should also be washed when serving food.

• Items containing mayonnaise, raw eggs, milk products, custard, cream pies, filled pastries, creamed sauces, dips, meat or cheese products are not appropriate for school snacks. We cannot accept home canned foods.

• When students distribute snacks at school, they are asked to wash their hands for at least 30 seconds with warm soapy water; dry them and wear disposable food service gloves that the teacher will provide, or have individual children pick their own.

Thank you for your support in keeping treat time a pleasant and healthy experience!

Share and ShineThe focus of this month’s character trait will be on Self-

Control. Self-control is when the student is able to express feelings in positive ways and use appropriate behavior. Throughout the month of October and the rest of the school year teachers in K-6 will be teaching students the importance of good character. On October 25, at 1:45 p.m. in the MPR the 6th grade will be sharing information about the Laurens Central School Safety Patrol and their duties within the school.

You will receive a notice if your child will be receiving an award. However, all are welcome to attend! Parking in the bus loop is not advised as buses arrive after 2:30 p.m. and you will be unable to leave while the buses are in the loop.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATIONThe Box Tops for Education program is alive and well at

LCS. You can find these labels on many things you buy, from cereal to notebooks. See the website BoxTops4Education.com for more information. Please send Box Tops that you have collected in with your child. Our school earns 10¢ for every box top that we collect. Thanks!

Turn Markers Into Energy!Dear Parents,

I’m excited to tell you about a very special program I am coordinating at our school in conjunction with Crayola. It is called Crayola ColorCycle—an amazing new program devised to turn used markers into energy!

Outside the French Room, Room 209, we will be collecting used markers that are ready to be discarded. The markers will be sent to a facility where they will be converted into clean fuel. This fuel can be used to power vehicles, heat homes, cook meals and more!

Please help support our efforts by sending your kids in with any used markers you may have around the house–even non-Crayola brands. They also accept any kind of marker, white board marker or Sharpie marker, as well!

Thank you in advance for participating! Last year we sent them almost 40 pounds of markers. With the help of parents like you across the country, the Crayola ColorCycle program can keep tons of plastic out of landfills each year.

Remember, don’t throw out that used marker: ColorCycle it!—Naomi Graham

News from the Board of Officers for the

Village of LaurensThe Village of Laurens Office, as you know, is now

located in the school building. Anyone needing to conduct business with the Village can park in the school parking lot and enter via the side entrance off the main lot. A slid-ing window opening directly into the office is at the side entrance to assist individuals conducting business or paying school taxes. We hope this helps in our support to all our village residents.

Phone: (607) 441-5431, PO Box 377 Laurens, NY 13796

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October 2019 Calendar of Events 1 Headstart Parent Mtg., Rm. 200, 8:45-9:45 a.m. Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Village Board Mtg., Rm. 115, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Chamber Singers, Rm. 123 7:00-9:00 p.m. Yearbook Field Trip Oneonta Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. 2 GMS vs CV-SP BMS @ CV-SP 3 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Zumba, Cafe, 6:00 p.m. 4 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. CROP, Rm. 115, 3:00-5:00 p.m. 5 Homecoming BMS vs Morris, 11:30 a.m. GMS vs Morris, 11:30 a.m. GVS vs Morris, 1:30 p.m. BVS vs Morris, 3:00 p.m. Zumba, MPR, 9:00 a.m. Youth Soccer Games Homecoming Dance & Activities, 8:00-11:00 p.m. 6 Community Basketball, 6:30 p.m. 7 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. GMS vs Franklin BMS @ Franklin Cologuard Advocates, Rm. 115, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Jazz Band, Rm. 121, 7:00-9:00 p.m. 8 Fire Prevention Day Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. BVS @ Richfield Colorguard Parent Mtg., 6:00 p.m. ERA, JR , and VCG in Café Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. Chamber Singers, Rm. 123, 7:00-9:00 p.m. 9 BMS vs GMU GMS @ GMU POMP, Rm. 123, 7:00 p.m. K-Field Trip to Pumpkin Patch Girl Scouts, Rm. 135, 6-7:30 p.m. YFC, Café, 6:30 p.m. 10 K-12 OPEN HOUSE / SPAGHETTI DINNER, 5-8:30 p.m. Senior Fall Retreat Gilbert Lake Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. 11 No School—Conference Day Drama Entire Cast, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Boys’ Soccer Playoff #1 12 Girls’ Soccer Playoffs #1 Zumba, MPR, 9:00 a.m. 13 Community Basketball, 6:30 p.m. 14 No School—Columbus Day Jazz Band, Rm. 121, 7:00-9:00 p.m. 15 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. BMS vs Richfield GMS @ Richfield SCI Field Trip to Gilbert Lake Headstart Parent Mtg., Rm. 200, 8:45-9:45 p.m. Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. 16 BOE Mtg., Rm. 115, 7:00 p.m. Drama Entire Cast, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Boys’ Soccer Playoff #2

PSAT, MPR, 8:15 a.m.-Noon YFC, Café, 6:30-8:00 p.m. 17 Drama Entire Cast, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. BMS vs Edmeston GMS @ Edmeston Girls’ Soccer Playoff #2 Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. Quizzards, Rm. 209, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 18 Drama Entire Cast, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Boys’ & Girls’ Soccer Playoff #3 Individual Picture Day, MPR, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. CROP, Rm. 115, 3:00-5:00 p.m. 19 Tri-Valley Soccer Championship Zumba, MPR, 9:00 a.m. 20 Community Basketball, 6:30-9:00 p.m. 21 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Jazz Band, Rm. 121, 7:00-9:00 p.m. GMS vs Sharon Springs BMS @ Sharon Springs Booster Club, Rm. 115, 7:30 p.m. College Application Week College Info Day—SUNY 22 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Chamber Singers, Rm. 123, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Girls’ Sectional Round #1 Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. College Application Week 23 Drama entire cast MPR 5-7 Boys’ Sectionals Round #1 College Application Week Girl Scouts, Rm. 135, 6:00-7:30 p.m. YFC, Café, 6:30-8:00 p.m. 24 Fall Concert, Grades 4-12, MPR, 6:30 p.m. College Application Week 25 Share & Shine, MPR, 1:45 p.m. Drama Entire Cast, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Girls’ Sectionals Round #2 College Application Week 26 Boys’ Sectionals Round #2 Zumba, MPR, 9:00 p.m. 27 Community Basketball, 6:30-9:00 p.m. 28 Drama Sm. Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Jazz Band, Rm. 121, 7:00-9:00 p.m. 11th Grade Field Trip Morrisville JR & Varsity Colorguard Clinic, Gym, 6:00-8:00 p.m. 29 Drama Small Group, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Chamber Singers, Rm. 123, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m. Girls, Sectional Semis PJ Colorguard Mtg., Rm. 115, 6:00 p.m. JR & Varsity Colorguard Clinic, Gym, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Field Trip 11th Grade to Morrisville 30 Drama Entire Cast, MPR, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Boys’ Sectionals Semis Grades 7-12 Tolerance and Diversity Assembly, MPR,

1:00 p.m. YFC, Café. 6:30-8:00 p.m. 31 Halloween Zumba, Café, 6:00 p.m.

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MO

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CES

Prin

ting

Serv

ice

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

P A I DPermit No. 18Norwich, NY

13815

LAURENS CENTRAL SCHOOLLaurens, New York 13796

BOARD OF EDUCATIONCynthia Struckle, PresidentThomas Francisco, Vice PresidentJerry MurelloPeggy BushMargaret Wikoff

SUPERINTENDENTRomona N. Wenck

BUILDING PRINCIPALWilliam F. Dorritie

EDITORKim A. Gustafson

Current Resident or

POSTAL PATRONECRWSS

Sometimes THE smallest

things TAKE UP the

MOST room in your heart

Friday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.Saturday, November 16, 7:30 p.m.Sunday, November 17, 2:00 p.m.