Drake Doings
11/20/2015 Weekly Update
YES to Chess!!
The first meeting of the Drake Chess Club took place on Wednesday, 11/18. Thirty three students from grades one through six participated. We had to move from the Media Center to the gym! About half of the session was reviewing rules and other information. Our time for play was negatively affected by the fact that only one student brought a chess set. We rounded up an additional seven sets from classrooms, and with Mr. Martin’s two sets, most people were playing, most of the time. Students were eager to play and learn how to get better. Next week is short, so Chess Club will meet after school on Monday, 11/23. Please bring a chess set!
The Drake Chess Club is an open club. We will accept new members at any time. Have your child stop by the main office for a permission slip. But please remember, the club is for students who already know how to play the game. There are too many participants to allow for introductory chess lessons. If want to teach your son or daughter to play, and have them join later, that's great! If you are looking for resources to help your child learn the game, contact me using the information below.
Click here to see the handout given to students at the first mtg.
Click here to see the quiz students took before play started - see how well you do.
Click here if you want some guidance on great holiday chess gifts for your child!
Mentors Make a Difference
KIDS HOPE USA is a national mentoring organization. Mentors are recruited, screened, trained, and then matched with a student. Each mentor meets with his or her student for one hour each week during the school day. The hour includes academics, creative play, and relationship building.
KIDS HOPE USA has 1,069 programs in 32 states across the country. Ohio has 56 programs. Locally, there are two programs in Strongsville and several others in Brunswick and Medina. For more information, click here to visit their website.
Drake Family Get-Away
Drake will be having a family fun get-away to Great Wolf Lodge on Sunday, March 20th. “Bee” sure to save this special date on your calendar! Flyers will be sent home at a later date.
For more information on Great Wolf lodge, Sandusky, click here to connect with the main website
6th Grade Memory Book
PTA Reflections Contest
Does your child love to "Let his/her imagination fly" when creating things? Please consider sharing that creativity with the PTA!
Reflections is a PTA sponsored cultural arts program that your child can participate in. Last year at Drake, we had 7 participants, (which is awesome!), and one very talented Drake student, Vardaan Shah, won at the state PTA level for his musical composition. We hope that we get even more participants this year so that we can have an art show in the spring.
The categories are Visual Arts, Literature, Dance Choreography, Video Production, Music Composition, Photography, and Special Artist. The deadline will be December 11, 2015. You can get the rules, entry forms, and more info here: http://www.ohiopta.org/PROGRAMS.aspx. Click on the Reflections tab. The theme this year is "Let Your Imagination Fly".
Also, please feel free to contact Beth Babits with any questions at ebabits@gmail.com.
It's NOT just for the Girls
Safe Sitter Course: Sponsored by Strongsville Council PTA
Sign up today...spots fill fast!
Safe Sitter®, an up-to-date and well-rounded youth development program with a medical basis, teaches young teen babysitters everything they need to know to keep themselves and the children in their care safe. The nationally-recognized, pediatrician-developed program includes child care techniques, basic first aid, rescue techniques (like choking infant and child rescue), babysitting as a business, and online and cell phone safety.
To register email Heidi.Dolan@UHhospitals.org
Where: Safety Town Building, Walter F. Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Rd., Strongsville OH, 44136
When: Monday, December 21, 2015 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $40 for Safe Sitter® (1-day) includes The Official Safe Sitter® Babysitter’s Handbook
Please bring your own lunch
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SAFE SITTER WEBSITE
Reminder…Student Fees Due December 4th
This is a reminder that student fee notices were distributed to all parents/guardians in September and October. The deadline for payment of fees is Friday, December 4th. If you have yet to pay your student fees, please submit payment by the deadline. If we do not receive payment, your parent/guardian PASS account will be deactivated on Friday, December 18th. If you have already paid your 2015-16 student fees, thank you for your timely payment.
Dates to Remember:
November
20 - Rockin at the Rec - That’s tonight!
25-27 – No School – Thanksgiving Break
December
3 - Marco's Pizza Night
4 - PTA mtg. at Scrambler Marie's
18 – Holiday Class Parties
21 – No School – Staff In-Service Day
22-31 – No School – Winter Break
No Newsletter Next Friday - Happy Holidays
William Arthur Ward
If you have any input about this newsletter, please contact me.
Email: jmartiin@scsmustangs.org
Website: strongnet.org/Domain/806
Location: 20566 Albion Rd., Strongsville, OH 44149
Phone: (440)268-5444