GARRISON

From the Principal’s Desk: We have had a smooth beginning to the school year and we hope that all are settling into the rou-tine of school. Our school wide behavior initiative of Respect, Responsibility, Honesty, Caring and Safety couple with the MOP Rules is a positive way to create a sense of belonging here at Garrison. We hope you will also reiterate the MOP rules at home for a character building opportunity with your children. Our morning announcements are now being hosted by the leadership teams of sixth grade students. Be listening carefully for our up-beat student led morning newscast.

“Make it a great day...the choice is yours!”

“Building Knowledge, One Log at a Time!”

Mrs. Kelly Andrews, Principal

Thank You Parents! Thanks to all parents who are helping with the car arrival and dismissal process in the north lot by staying in line and pulling up to the curb. At the end of the day, we are able to load all the cars in a timely manner when everyone moves forward, slowly and pa-tiently. If you have business in the building, please park in the north lot and come on in, otherwise, have patience with us as we bring you around in the line. Students can unload and load safely from the sidewalk which helps to move the process faster for everyone. Thanks for your help in this safe-ty matter.

Richmond Community Schools www.weRrichmond.com

September 2, 2011

It is the policy of Richmond Community Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability in

its educational programs or employment policies.

PIONEER PRESS

The Garrison Branch of West End Bank will be open for deposits each Tuesday morning beginning September 13, 2011. Students from grades 4, 5, and 6 applied and interviewed for positions as employees of the Garrison Branch. Student employees will be named next week. A big thanks to all the students who participated in the interview process. All Garrison students may open savings accounts at the Garrison Branch of West End Bank. This is a deposit only branch. For more information, please stop by the branch office on the stage in the gym on Tuesday mornings. Packets to open a deposit only account are available in the of-fice. The bank will be open from 7:20—7:50 am.

Volume 5, Issue 2

Please join us for the first meeting of the year. We will be making plans for Cabin Days, fundraisers and other events for the school year. Everyone is welcome!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 6:00 pm in the Library

WHO is the PTO? YOU are. Please get involved. And we are. The 2011-2012 Board Members: President: Tina Mayer Vice Presidents - Fundraising:

Jacki Teng, Marcie Lindahl Vice President - Events and Activities: Hope Shipley Vice President - Staff Appreciation: Corey Kuhn Secretary: Rochelle Rogan Treasurer: Michele Brehm

WHAT is PTO? The Parent-Teacher Organization supports our students and staff. Some of the recent items include:

- Purchasing 2 Smart Boards - Purchasing items from teachers’ wish lists - Sponsoring Welcome Back night, providing re-freshments - Purchasing embroidered polo shirts for staff -Sponsoring School Skates

WHEN are meetings? Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Tuesday, November 1, 2011 Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Tuesday, May 1, 2012

WHERE are meetings? All meetings are held at 6:00 pm in the Garrison

Library.

WHY get involved? Everyone is encouraged to attend meetings or contact a board member and help us with activities to enhance your children’s learning experiences while at Garrison. There are also “no fuss” ways to help by collecting Box Tops for Education, Campbell’s Soup Labels, and Car-tridges for Kids. Read the newsletters and check out the PTO link on Garrison’s webpage for updates throughout the year.

Richmond Community Schools www.weRrichmond.com

“Tales From a Country School”

We still have a few books left from last school year to purchase our first published collection of student stories. Books are available in the office at the low price of $16.00. Proceeds of the book go to fund the PTO projects for the upcoming year that will support students and teachers at Garrison.

Immunization Update Garrison Elementary will begin excluding students

from attendance on Wednesday, September 14 if

proof of state required immunizations (Indiana Code

20-34-4) is not provided to the school by Tuesday,

September 13. This exclusion includes all extracur-

ricular and school-sponsored activities, including

athletics.

Vaccines will only be available at the Wayne Coun-

ty Health Department, 201 East Main Street, Rich-

mond. To schedule an appointment, call 973-9245.

Your child will need verification of the appointment

by presenting the appointment card to the school

nurse.

While excluded from school, your child is still re-

quired to complete classroom work. You will need

to work with the school to get any of your child’s

missed assignments.

Exclusion from school attendance is a serious mat-

ter, and we must have your assistance to assure that

your child receives the required immunizations as

quickly as possible.

If you wish to discuss the circumstances that re-

quires exclusion, please contact the school nurse,

Mrs. Lisa Bowersock, at 973-3431.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 Labor

Day—

NO SCHOOL

6

Banking Day

Early Dismissal

@1:40

Staff Meeting

PTO Meeting @

6pm

7

K-Kids Meeting

8 9 10

11 12 Fall

Picture Day

13

Banking Day

Early Dismissal

@1:40

PTO School

Skate 6-8 pm

14 Author’s

Breakfast

15

NEHS Meeting

16

Mobile Dentist

17

18 19 20

Banking Day

Early Dismissal

@1:40

Teams

21 Boston Run

Student of the

Month

22 23 24

25 26 27

Banking Day

Early Dismissal

@1:40

28 29 30

September 2011

Boston Run and Academic Teams 2011

Each year Richmond Community Schools sponsors a city-wide cross country foot race for intermediate students called the Boston Run. The event has grown over the years and currently there are 6 races for girls and boys in grades 4, 5, and 6. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at the Kuhlman Center. There will be no rain date this year. At Garrison, students with permission slips submitted to Mr. Higgins will practice every Wednesday after school from 2:40—3:30 pm. There will be no conflict with Academic Teams practice as students with permission may participate in both. Academic Teams practice every Wednesday from 2:40—4:30 pm. Students interested in the Math , Sci-ence or Spell Bowl Academic Teams must have permission forms submitted and com-mit to the rigor of study for the team. There will a practice competition for each team pri-or to the State competitions. Spell Bowl will be held at Civic Hall on November 17, 2011. Science Bowl will be held at Garrison in late January 2012 and Math Bowl will be held at Dennis Middle School Auditorium on March 1, 2012. For both activities, parents must be on time to collect their student: 3:30 pm for the Bos-ton Run and 4:30 pm for the Academic Teams. Looking forward to a great year of competi-tions.

Since school began, we are pleased to welcome more new staff to our ros-ter.

Sherry Kirschner: Mrs. Kirschner is not a new face to Garrison as she has been with us for many years taking a leave of absence last winter. However, she is back and this time assisting Mrs. Beisner in Kindergarten.

Carolyn Casiano: Mrs. Casiano has also worked as a Cafeteria Paraprofessional and now moves into Kindergarten to assist Mrs. Robinson. She has 3 children, Mitchell, Derick, and Lydia.

Sheila Focht: Mrs. Focht started with us in the Cafeteria this year and will now share in as-sisting in Mrs. Beisner’s Kindergarten class. You may also see her in other areas of the building as needed this year. She is grandmother to Jarrett, former Garrison student.

Rosanna Smith: Mrs. Smith is a new face and from the New England area. She has a long resume of working with children and she will work with everyone in the cafeteria as a paraprofessional. She is grandmother to Lena.

Natasha Long: Mrs. Long is new to our caf-eteria as well but has been seen a lot here as a volunteer. She is mom to Grant.

Garrison is so fortunate to have all of these ladies join our staff. Please welcome them all as they become part of the Garrison community!

Reminder to parents: If your after school plans change, please try to call the school before 2:00 pm. Calling after that time creates difficulty in getting messages to students in a timely fashion. As times continue to be tough for all, please remember that Communities in Schools has a selection of community resources available to all families including lists of Food Pantry’s and organizations that offer free meals. Please contact Melody Weikart at (765) 973-3431 and she will happy to as-sist you. Please be sure your students are following the outlined RCS dress code. It can be found on the RCS website or you can obtain a copy from the Parent Resource Site in the office at Garrison. Thanks. IMMUNIZATIONS: Please make sure your child’s shots are up to date. If you have any questions, please call our school nurse, Mrs. Lisa Bowersock. PTO is still collecting ink cartridges, box tops and Campbell Soup labels. Please send them in as you can. Please keep our office up to date with your student information. We should always be able to con-tact you throughout the school day in case of emergency. Thanks for your help! See the attached calendar for the school lunch menu. Just remember that it is always subject to change. School lunch prices will be $2.00 this year. Newsletter Contest: Each student whose parents read this newsletter, may sign, clip, and return the bottom portion of this page to be placed in a drawing for a free item from our school bookstore. Our goal is to encourage regular communication from the school to home. Thanks for your partici-pation.

Vision Statement

C connections to the real world A achievement for ALL B est practice instruction I enquiring minds for lifelong learning in a N nurturing, caring, creative community.

Upcoming Events Sept 5 Labor Day—NO SCHOOL Sept 6 PTO Meeting @ 6:00 pm Sept 7 K-Kids Meeting Sept 12 Fall Picture Day Sept 13 Banking Opening Day PTO School Skate 6-8 pm Sept 14 Author’s Breakfast Sept 15 NEHS Meeting Sept 16 Mobile Dentist Sept 19 Banking Day Sept 21 Boston Run at the Kuhlman Center Student of the Month Breakfast

Newsletter Contest

Student______________________________________ Teacher_______________________________________ Grade_______

Parent Signature__________________________________________________________________________________________