December 31^{st -} (Monday) – “Winter Break”

January 1^st – (Tuesday) – “Winter Break”

 January 2nd – (Wednesday) – “SCHOOL RESUMES – TRACKS A, B, & D”

 January 3^rd – (Thursday) – “School Library & Computer Lab OPEN”– Our school’s library is open on Thursdays after school from 2:30-3:30PM.  Students on and off track can check out and return books.  AR Testing and First in Math support are also available during this time in the Computer Lab. 

January 4^th – (Friday) – “Spirit Wear Day” – Wear your Donner gear, California Distinguished School Shirt, or school colors and help your class win the spirit trophy each week and a pizza party at the end of the school year!  And don’t forget about the spirit surprises going on all year! 

**December 24^th – January 1^st / “Winter Break”** 

SCIENCE FAIR AND INVENTION CONVENTION – Looking for something for the kids to do over the winter break?  How about starting a science fair project or creating a new invention.  This year’s school site science fair and invention convention takes place on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.  First place winners and all inventions will advance to the district science fair and invention convention to be held March 20^th – March 21^st.  All students on an accelerated contract are encouraged to participate. 

 10^th ANNUAL SPAGHETTI FEED – Our 10^th Annual Spaghetti Feed is just around the corner on Friday, February 1^st.  It is time to begin gathering items for our Grade Level Baskets. Please donate items appropriate for your child’s grade level. 

All perishable items must have a date that will NOT expire prior to March of 2013.

 You can bring/send any items to your child’s teacher or the school office anytime before Friday, January 25, 2013.  Grade Level Themes:

Kindergarten – “Pets”

1^st grade – “Art Supplies/Crafts”

2^nd grade – “What’s For Dessert”

3^rd grade– “Wrapping paper/Gift bags/Thank you cards”

4^th grade – “Family Night”

5^th grade – “Sports”

6^th grade – “Gift Card Mania”

Baskets (medium or large) and “basket decorating” supplies are also needed. 

The items will be made into gift baskets which will be auctioned off the evening of the spaghetti feed.

December 17^{th -} (Monday) – “CAAP ACADEMY” / 2:30-4:00PM in the LIBRARY - The CAAP Academy is an afterschool program to assist students with homework and to provide academic support. The CAAP Academy meets every Monday and is open to ALL students. Students must be picked up by a parent or guardian until permission forms have been completed.

*We are in need of snack and water donations in addition to adult or older student support during our CAAP academy. If you can donate a few healthy snack items, water, or a few minutes of your time it would be greatly appreciated and of huge benefit to our students attending this program.

December 18^th – (Tuesday) –“AR TEST TAKING” – Our school’s LIBRARY is open for ALL students (whether on or off track) to take AR tests from 2:00-3:00PM every Tuesday. Library services are NOT available on this day.

December 19^th – (Wednesday) “WINTER BAND CONCERT” – Join us for our school’s Winter Band Concert at 6:00PM in the MP Room. Our beginning and intermediate band students have been practicing and practicing. Now they are ready to show off their amazing musical talents.

December 20^th – (Thursday) – “School Library & Computer Lab OPEN” – Our school’s library is open on Thursdays after school from 2:30-3:30PM. Students on and off track can check out and return books. AR Testing and First in Math support are also available during this time in the Computer Lab.

December 21^st – (Friday) –Track Change Minimum Day

Kindergarteners are on the AM schedule 7:40-11:11am.

1^st – 6^th grade students are dismissed at 12:40pm.

“Spirit Wear Day” – Wear your Donner gear, California Distinguished School Shirt, or school colors and help your class win the spirit trophy each week and a pizza party at the end of the school year! And don’t forget about the spirit surprises going on all year!

**December 24^th – January 2^nd / “Winter Break”**

*Information*

YEARBOOK – Don’t miss this money saving opportunity to get your 2012-2013 school yearbook. Now through December 21^st yearbooks are only $18.00. Yearbook prices will be $25.00 after December 21st due to order commitments. Yearbook envelopes are available in the school office for your convenience.

SCIENCE FAIR AND INVENTION CONVENTION – Looking for something for the kids to do over the winter break? How about starting a science fair project or creating a new invention. This year’s school site science fair and invention convention takes place on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. First place winners and all inventions will advance to the district science fair and invention convention to be held March 20^th – March 21^st. All students on an accelerated contract are encouraged to participate. (See attached flyer) Science Fair and Invention Convention(.pdf)

Participating students can pick up a Science Fair and Invention Convention packets from your child’s teacher or in the office.

10^th ANNUAL SPAGHETTI FEED – Our 9^th Annual Spaghetti Feed is just around the corner on Friday, February 3^rd. It is time to begin gathering items for our Grade Level Baskets. Please donate items appropriate for your child’s grade level.

All perishable items must have a date that will NOT expire prior to March of 2013.

You can bring/send any items to your child’s teacher or the school office anytime before Friday, January 25, 2013.  Basket Theme Letter (.pdf)

Grade Level Themes:

Kindergarten – “Pets”

1^st grade – “Art Supplies/Crafts”

2^nd grade – “What’s For Dessert”

3^rd grade– “Home & Garden”

4^th grade – “Family Night”

5^th grade – “Sports”

6^th grade – “Gift Card Mania”

Baskets (medium or large) and “basket decorating” supplies are also needed.

The items will be made into gift baskets which will be auctioned off

the evening of the spaghetti

November 19^th – 23^rd (Monday – Friday) – “Thanksgiving Break”

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We are very thankful for our amazing students and our wonderful families!

November 26^th- (Monday) – “Welcome Back Tracks A, C, & D

“CAAP ACADEMY” / 2:30-4:00PM in the LIBRARY – The CAAP Academy is an afterschool program to assist students with homework and to provide academic support. The CAAP Academy meets every Monday and is open to ALL students. Students must be picked up by a parent or guardian until permission forms have been completed.

*We are in need of snack and water donations in addition to adult or older student support during our CAAP academy. If you can donate a few healthy snack items, water, or a few minutes of your time it would be greatly appreciated and of huge benefit to our students attending this program.

November 27^th – (Tuesday) – “AR TEST TAKING” – Our school’s LIBRARY is open for ALL students (whether on or off track) to take AR tests from 2:00-3:00PM every Tuesday. Library services are NOT available on this day.

November 29^th – (Thursday) -“School Library & Computer Lab OPEN” – Our school’s library is open on Thursdays after school from 2:30-3:30PM. Students on and off track can check out and return books. AR Testing and First in Math support are also available during this time in the Computer Lab.

November 30^th – (Friday) – “Spirit Wear Day” – Wear your Donner gear, California Distinguished School Shirt, or school colors and help your class win the spirit trophy each week and a pizza party at the end of the school year! And don’t forget about the spirit surprises going on all year!

Annual Craft Fair and Tile Night –Join us today from 2:30pm- 7:00pm in our school’s Multi-purpose Room. Meet vendors offering great gifts for the holiday season. Also enjoy painting a tile for the school wall or paint a special ornament for the tree. Look for tile and ornament pre-order forms in your child’s communication folder.

ELITHA DONNER’S ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR & TITLE NIGHT – Want to be a vendor? The PTA would love to have Donner families represented at the event. The pricing…the 6×6 spaces are $40 or $30 & $10 raffle donation. We have 40 vendor spaces and about half are confirmed filled, including “Papa Dale’s Drivin Diner.”

See the attached flyer and agreement for the event. If you are interested please return the completed agreement to the office with payment as soon as possible, as the spaces are first come, first serve.

 Craft fair flyer 2012(.pdf)  Craft Fair Application .(pdf)

PTA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE – Our 1^st membership drive ended November 1^st. Congratulations to Mr. Goldman’s and Mrs. Keating’s classes with the most memberships. It is not too late to become and Elitha Donner PTA member. Not only do you support our school, but you also receive many local discounts and school incentives.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION – As the holidays are upon us, don’t forget you can shop at hundreds of major stores through the Box Tops website. Every order earns more Box Tops for our school. Click on http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/marketplace/Default.aspx for more information. While you are there be sure to log on as supporter of Elitha Donner Elementary. Are you into Extreme Couponing, or just saving a dollar here and there? Each month there are several coupons you can print off the www.boxtops4education.com website that you can use. Below the Box Tops class chart you will find the coupon offers for November. You will need to go directly to the website to print them out.

Lastly, while doing your holiday grocery shopping, don’t forget to look for those items with box tops.

EGUSD Participates in National Speak Up Survey – The Elk Grove Unified School District is seeking input from students, staff and parents about technology use and education through the national “Speak Up” survey administered by Project Tomorrow, a non-profit education organization.

EGUSD stakeholders are asked to take the survey online at http://www.speakup4schools.org/speakup2012/ and select whether you fall under the category of parents, students or teachers & administrators. The website asks for the user to enter the state and name of the school. Survey takers will then need to enter the “secret word” elkgrove to access the survey.

Individual responses are anonymous. They are associated with a school but are not tied to the individual. The survey is open now and will close on December 14, 2012.

The survey results will inform EGUSD about how participants feel about their education and the use of technology. Survey results may be used for planning and community discussion. Project Tomorrow releases national findings through a variety of venues including: Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC, national and regional conferences, e-mail distribution, Project Tomorrow website, and through Speak Up partners. According to Project Tomorrow, local, state and national stakeholders report using Speak Up data to inform their new programs and policies.