Knight NewsArthur Elementary School http://arthur.cr.k12.ia.us April/May 2015

Our Mission:Through understanding and compassion, all Arthur students will be challenged and

motivated to become successful learners and achieve their personal best.

SPRING IS HERE AT ARTHUR!Mrs. Wacek’s students celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday Williamsburg Day

Happy 100th Birthday, Arthur! Volunteer of the Year 2014-15: Donna Hawthorn

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER – ANGI HOYER,

PRINCIPALHappy 100th Birthday Ar-

thur!! 2015 marks the 100th year Arthur has been open and educating the young people in Cedar Rapids! To celebrate, we are

hosting an Open House on Thursday, May 7th from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars and join us to view memorabilia from Arthur’s past, the contents of a 2015 time capsule to be sealed and opened in 40 years, displays provided by the History Center focused on the school, neighborhood, and Chester Arthur. Enjoy refreshments as you receive building tours and listen to a presentation from our guest speaker, Mark W. Stoffer Hunter, that will include photographs of Arthur years ago. There will also be a walking tour of the Arthur neighborhood to explore the area and fun establishments from the past. Please spread the news! We would love as many Arthur alumni as possible to join us as well.

ARTHUR VOLUNTEERS “YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

We appreciate your dedication and hard work with the Arthur Students. Your time makes a difference in each student’s life! Thank you for enriching the Arthur Community! Please join us at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon April 16th anytime between 11:00-1:00 in the Arthur library.

ARTHUR ELEMENTARY’S VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - DONNA HAWTHORNFondly known as “Grandma Donna”, Donna is at Arthur

Elementary, Monday-Friday, from 9-3 working with students in grades first, third and fourth. In the classroom, she helps students stay on task and focus on performing at their personal best. When working one on one with students Grandma Donna gives her undivided attention assisting in learning math, writing and reading skills. Providing the students she works with the confidence and skills to be more successful in the classroom. Building self-confidence, personal best and academic achievement is a daily accomplishment for this one of a kind volunteer and foster grandparent.

Donna’s regular attendance gives the staff and students she works with an undoubted dedication to each of them. Donna’s willingness to be flexible, nonjudgmental and committed sets her apart from others. Donna listens to the needs of staff and students and adjust accordingly to make the experience a win-win for all. Building relationships with staff and students to further cement the foundation of her volunteer work. Grandma Donna is a regular face in the hallways at Arthur Elementary giving 100% daily. Grandma Donna is enriching the experi-ence each day for students and staff at Arthur Elementary and is a welcome part of our community at Arthur.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL The last day of school will be Friday, June 5th. Dismissal

time will be 1:30 p.m. Report cards will be sent home with students on this last day.

ARTHUR-TRANSAMERICA PEN PAL PROGRAM

Pen Pal according to the Oxford Dictionary definition is defined as, “a person with whom one becomes friendly by exchanging letters”. A few classrooms at Arthur had the opportunity to become pen pals with employees at Transamerica here in Cedar Rapids. The students in Irwin, Arkenberg, Pershing, and Orr have written and received pen pal letters monthly since last fall. This has been a wonderful opportunity to practice writing skills in an authentic and purposeful way. The program is going to culminate in May when the Transamerica pen pals come to Arthur to enjoy a picnic lunch with their student pen pals. Thanks to Jennifer Pearson, a kindergarten mother and Transamerica employee, for suggesting and helping to arrange this exciting learning opportunity.

A Pen Pal letter from one of Miss Orr’s students

Whoooo Makes A Difference?Volunteers Like Yoooou!

FROM THE COUNSELOR’S CORNER –

ULIE KAPFER, COUNSELOR

UPCOMING EVENTS…April

2.....................................6:30 PTA meeting in the library3.......................................................1:30 Early Dismissal6................................. Pasta for Pennies fundraiser begins9................... 6:30 p.m.1st and 2nd grade music program

at Franklin Middle School9.....Mrs. Girdner’s class field trip to Brucemore Mansion10.. Mrs. Pershing’s class field trip to Brucemore Mansion13...... 5th graders field trip to Franklin for music concert14....................... 6:30 p.m. Kindergarten Music Program

at Franklin Middle School16............. 11:00-1:00 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon20................... 5th Grade visit to Franklin Middle School23.............................................................6:00-7:00 p.m.

Kindergarten Visitation Night (for families of students entering Kindergarten next school year)

24..................................Pasta for Pennies fundraiser ends24.................All School assembly- Franklin music groups24....................................6:00-8:00 PTA Spring Carnival

(food being served beginning at 5:30 p.m.)24.......................................................................Hat Day29............6:00-7:00 p.m. PTA Family Board Game night

in the library

May4.................................. 5th Graders instrumental try outs5..........................4th grade field trip to Hoover Museum7......................................Kindergarten Mother’s Day Tea7........ 4:30-7:00 Arthur 100th Year Birthday Celebration7..................... 7:00 PTA meeting/Founder Night Awards8..................................................No school for students-

Professional Development Day for Staff11........................ 6:00-7:00 Arthur Title I Reading night

at Barnes and Noble13............................. 2nd grade field trip to Indian Creek13......................................... Kindergarten Camp Skeeter14............... 5th Grade to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines14......................... Mrs. Pershing’s class pen pal luncheon15......................................5th Graders to Noelridge Park

for the H.O. Maxey Fun Run15......................................... Arthur Night at the Kernels18....................................3rd visit with the Cedar Rapids

Fire Department Fire House19..............5th Grade Musical at Franklin Middle School20.....................................................1:30 Early Dismissal20................................1:00-1:30 Annual Portfolio Picnic

on Arthur school grounds22.................................. Ms. Orr’s class pen pal luncheon25...........................................No School- Memorial Day27....... Mrs. Arkenberg and Ms. Irwin’s pen pal luncheon29.........................................5th Grade Graduation event

June3...................................................... All School Field Day

Students at Arthur are doing their PARRT! All students can earn white PARRT tickets in our common areas – Hallway, Playground, Restroom, and Cafeteria. They earn those tickets by doing their Personal best, using Active listening, being Respectful, being Responsible, and being Trustworthy in those areas of the building. We have a fishbowl in the main entrance cabinet that white tickets are collected in and each time we fill it, the students enjoy a celebration. Some of the celebrations we have had already this year are a school-wide PJ day, dance party over the intercom, and school-wide BINGO. We are working towards a bubble gum blowing contest the next time the fishbowl gets filled! PARRT tickets are not the only recognition the students get for doing their PARRT. When a staff member sees a student going above and beyond our PARRT expectations, they can give the student a Knight and Shining Armor. This is a card that is filled out, addressed to the student, explains what the adult saw them do, and it is read on morning announcements! Once a week, Mrs. Hoyer draws a name from those Knights and Shining Armors and that students receives a special surprise.

PASTA FOR PENNIESThroughout the month

of April, Arthur is participat-ing in a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society called Pasta for Pennies (formally known as Pennies for Patients). For the past 3 years, Arthur has part-nered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help raise money for their research for a cure for blood cancer. The students have consis-tently raised over $1200 each of those years. To promote this campaign, a representative from LLS comes and does a kick off assembly for the student body and classroom teachers can do lessons centered around blood cancer - what it is, how to treat it, and what we can do to help. Last year, some classrooms partnered with their buddy classrooms and wrote letters to blood cancer patients, all children, right here in Iowa. This is not only a fundraiser for LLS, but also a contest to see which classroom can raise the most money. This year, the classroom that raises the most money, will be rewarded with a pasta lunch provided by Olive Garden! Students will be bringing home more information during the first week in April about the fundraiser and how you can help.

We are so proud of the way our students have stepped up and are doing their PARRT, in school and for our community!

Cedar Rapids Community School District takes your safety seriously and welcomes your input. Please contact your building principal/administrator and report any safety concerns that you may have. Thank you for help-ing us keep staff and students safe.

HISTORY AND YOU - CORY GOLDENSOPH, ARTHUR

HISTORIANThere are few things better for breakfast (or lunch or din-

ner) than pancakes. If you agree with me then you are in good company. Pancakes are so popular that they have their own day. Shrove Day, or Pancake Day is the day before Ash Wednesday. It is a day, like Fat Tuesday, during which Christians begin traditional fasting before the season of Lent. Pancakes were seen as a sweet and tasty way to treat yourself prior to fasting.

Pancakes have been popular for a very long time. Scientists believe that Stone Age Men were making something like pan-cakes 30,000 years ago. They would make flour out of cattails and ferns. They would then mix the flour with water and cook it on heated rocks. Unfortunately for them, maple syrup wasn’t invented for many years later.

There is further evidence that mankind was still eating pancake-like food 5,300 years ago. This time they were made out of einkorn flour. Einkorn wheat was one of the first plants to be used by humans, so it is very old.

Ancient Greeks and Romans ate their pancakes with honey poured over them. The English, during the Elizabethan age, ate their pancakes with rosewater, spices, sherry, and apples. Early American pioneers were fortunate to have Native American friends who had learned how to make maple syrup from the sap of a maple trees.

So this weekend, when you sit down to east a plate of tasty pancakes, think of how fortunate you are to be eating the same sort of food people ate many thousands of years ago. It isn’t every day that you get to eat food that old.

THANK YOU ARTHUR PARENTS!A big thank you to the Arthur families for adjusting to the

new school start and end times. It is so important for the students to be at school on time and the transition has been wonderful! The number of students arriving late has actually gone down!

As an Arthur staff we have reviewed the school day schedule and student progress in math and reading. The extra 20 minutes have been filled with math, reading and/or community building activities to ensure the very best use of the added minutes. School will begin at 8:50 and conclude at 3:55 throughout the rest of the school year.

KINDERGARTEN’S CAMP SKEETERWhat is Camp Skeeter?? On Wednesday, May 13th all kin-

dergartners and Mrs. Foley’s K and 1st graders will participate in Camp Skeeter. This is a fun filled morning of camp activities outside around Little Arthur. The “camp counselors” that help direct the camp activities are none other than the Arthur School 5th graders! During this morning the kindergartners will get to paint a t-shirt, make s’mores, ride the trail on (pretend) horses, and much more. This fun morning culminates with a daddy luncheon. All fathers are invited to come and eat lunch with their kindergartner (or first grader if you have a child in Mrs. Foley’s room) right at noon. A hotdog lunch will be provided. After the lunch, the kindergartners will sing a few songs for their daddies and then return to class for the afternoon.

THE NEWS FROM 3RD GRADEWe’ve been studying craftsmanship and industry in Mrs.

Pershing’s 3rd grade class. We talked a lot about Grant Wood as a craftsman and were able to see where he painted most of his artwork in Cedar Rapids. We wrote biographical reports about him and tried our hand at painting an ice wagon like the ones they had at his summer art colony. We’ve talked about the families of Brucemore and how each one contributed to the growth and industry of the Cedar Rapids community, namely the Sinclair Meat Packing plant, Quaker Oats, and Penford Products. On April 10, we’ll see the house and the grounds for ourselves.

In science, we’re learning about the water cycle and drawing models of our thinking as we gather more information about it in each lesson. Before we finish the unit, we’ll know about evapora-tion, condensation, surface tension, slope, how water effects Earth materials, and how the water cycles above and below the ground.

Students in Mrs. Girdner’s class work together, using their fractions strips, to help learn equivalent fractions

The District offers an online Virtual Backpack site to support the efforts of community orga-nizations wanting to share information about educationally-based programming.

Individuals or organizations wishing to post material on the Virtual Backpack submit items electronically and approved materials will ap-pear online for families to access.

Organizations will � nd a link to submit � yers for consideration on the District homepage at www.cr.k12.ia.us . Families can access th e Virtual Backpack from their school Web site.

VIRTUAL

BACKPACK

2015-2016 Iowa Department of Education Open Enrollment applications (district to district)• Grades 1-12 DEADLINE: March 1, 2015 • Incoming Kindergarten deadline:

September 1, 2015

2015-2016 In-District Permit Application This is a request for a student who resides in the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) to attend another CRCSD school that is not in the attendance area where the family resides. Please refer to Procedure 602.4a and check with your building counselor to determine if a permit is allowed or required.

• January 5, 2015 Permit application and guidelines available from resident school

• March 1, 2015 DEADLINE: Submit application to a students attending building

• April 2015 Parent/legal guardian will be notified in writing of decision on permit

Johnson Elementary will become a STEAM school starting in 2015-2016. The enrollment procedure for new students asking to attend will be by lottery process that will take place later this spring. No new students will be allowed to permit to Johnson Elementary during the 15-16 school year. All students who are currently enrolled may continue to attend if they so choose. There will be a process for students who are currently attending and do not wish to continue in the STEAM school. These procedures will be explained in detail later this spring.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF 1ST GRADEThis is Mrs. Cater’s Class. We are on the playground taking

a picture. It was sunny and nice outside. Our picture was on the new play equipment. We are looking forward to more nice days – Lily Belle B.

Mrs. Cater’s class enjoying outside recess at last!

The Mount Mercy University Education Club visited the classrooms of Mrs. Cater, Mrs. Foley, and Miss Metz. Their visit was part of a service project for their club as out-reach and to share their love of learning with students. During their visit, Mount Mercy representatives shared a spring book with each classroom, and gave each student in the classes their own personal copy of this book. We are so grateful for their visit! We love reading!

Mt. Mercy students sharing a book with Miss Metz’s class

Follow the District on , @crschools, and

4TH GRADE NEWSFor the past several weeks, 4th grade has been delving into

the Progressive Era, the Roaring 20’s, and the rise of the Stock Market. This continued into the Great Depression of the Dirty 30’s, the Stock Market Crash, and the Dust Bowl. They have learned that several amazing (and still used) inventions came out in this time period, from Band-Aids and Zippers in the 20’s to the ball point pen and calculators in the 30’s. 10 cent movies that were “gasp” black & white and without sound! Men were dapper and women were flappers that daringly work make-up in public and asked men out. Theodor Geisel became Dr. Seuss, and hobos rode the rails looking for work, food, clothing, and a place to stay. The transition from 20’s to 30’s saw Herbert Hoover as our president, while FDR took over to try and “clean up the mess” the nation had become.

All of this research will culminate in a field trip to the Hoover Museum on May 5th. We will certainly be looking for any par-ent volunteers that would like to come and experience first-hand the accounts of his life, what he did before, during, and after his presidency, and to take a tour of the fantastic grounds

ARTHUR SWIM AND GYMWashington High School Pool And GymThursday April 16Th From 6-8 PmPizza And Soda Will Be SoldBring: Your Own Basketballs, Swim Gear, and Towels.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEKArthur is very fortunate to have a wonderful staff that

values students and works hard each day to help them learn. Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4th-7th this year. Be sure to offer your appreciation to these staff members for the fine work they do here at Arthur!

INSTRUCTIONAL COACH’S NOTES – KAMBER BOECKMANN

• Arthur Title I Family Reading Night at Barnes and Noble All Arthur families are invited to join us at Barnes and Noble

on May 11th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for our Title I Family Read-ing Night. Arthur students that attend will be given a certificate to purchase a book for up to $10.00. The Arthur Magic Mallets will play and staff guest readers will be sharing stories. Arthur teachers will be available to help students choose a “just right” book for them to purchase. This is a special time for families to share the love for reading with their child. When a child is al-lowed to choose their own book they are much more intersted and engaged, this choice pomotes a lifelong love for reading. You may also sign up for the Barnes and Noble summer reading program that evening. Hope to see you there!• Extend Day Program

We just finished with our second round of 16 sessions in a learning opportunity called the Extended Day Program (EDP). By collaboratively reviewing data, and creating formative assess-ments to monitor growth, our staff was able determine students in grade 3rd-4th who needed additional support in reading.

During our EDP sessions we were able to group the student in small groups of six or less and planned time as efficiently as possible. Students were grouped together on level of difficulty of text they could read independently with specific reading skills that they needed to be a more effective reader. While some groups were working on comprehension strategies, others were spending a great deal of time on reading to become fluent readers. To do that, they must first become accurate readers, so we provided many opportunities to listen to models of fluent reading and had multiple opportunities to practice reading with text at the right level of difficulty.

While additional support at school is awesome, you can also do some great things at home. It is important that students have multiple experiences with text. Having a discussion with your child about the text that they are reading is highly encour-aged. Each child in the building has a HeadSprout code given by the classroom teacher. Children could use this code to work on the four main components of comprehension: finding facts, making inferences, identifying themes, and learning vocabulary in context. This website is engaging as students are explicitly taught these skills.

Some websites that allow students to listen to and follow along with great books are Storyline Online, TumbleBooks, and BookFLIX. Storyline Online features professional actors reading aloud stories. To see the words in the stories, you would need to turn on the closed captioning. TumbleBooks, which is an online collection of animated, talking picture books, teaches young children the joys of reading in a format they’ll love. BookFLIX is an online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks.

https://www.storylineonline.net/http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/media/onlineResources.html. The

username 1053arth and the password is aea 10http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/ The username 1053arth and

the password is aea 10

5TH GRADE GOES TO COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG: ARTHUR STYLE – MARRISA B. Currently, the 5th grade students are learning about Colonial America. As part of their curriculum, students got to experience

firsthand what it would of been like living back then. Here are some of their reactions: Jessica: What I liked about Williamsburg day was getting to see and do things like they did during the colonial times. The new

kind of depth was amazing to me. It was a little hard to imagine the daily life and strass of the colonist until Williamsburg day.Janae: What I liked about Williamsburg day was getting to dress up liked you were one of them. I also liked the Dame school

because you got to see how it was like. I liked the slave quarters sort of because you get to see how a slave ship was like. That is what I liked about Williamsburg day

Mady: My favorite parts of Williamsburg day was when we got to dress up, eat apple pies, and be in the Dame school and the Raleigh Tavern. I liked all of these thing because they were very fun. Eating pie was awesome because it was delicious. The Dame school was fun because Mrs. Haman was mean but she is really isn’t. I liked the Raleigh Tavern because socializing and playing games were great and fun combination.

Liam: My favorite part about Williamsburg day was when we went to the slave quarter with Mrs. Irwin to know what it was like to be a slave. Another part I liked was the church and I had to sit in the back. We had these cards that say if we were a slave or an owner. I was an escaped slave.

Isaac: My favorite part or Williamsburg day was the Slave quarter and the Raleigh Tavern. It was fun. I liked the part when we got to dress up and the bell ringing in the hallway. I wish we could do this again! My favorite part of the Raleigh Tavern was when we got to talk about stuff that happened in our town and we played games like The Royal Goose and chess.

Delaney: My favorite part of Williamsburg day was dressing up and feeling like a Williamsburg colonist. I thought it was really fun and I wish that we could do this more often. The best part of the whole thing was being a part of it. I liked eating the apple pies with my friends.

Welcome to Dame School!

Studious students at

William and Mary College

Experiencing the slave ship

Going to church

Hanging out at the Raleigh Tavern

5TH GRADE FUN RUN On May 15th, Arthur fifth graders will participate in

the annual H.O. Maxey Fun Run/Walk at Noelridge Park. (Rain date is May 21st) Students will have the opportu-nity to run or walk alongside students from other Cedar Rapids elementary schools. This is a non-competitive event and meant to be fun for all. The run is two miles while the walk is one mile.

The Fun Run is not a competitive activity, but is de-signed to promote interest in physical activity, especially in the cardiovascular benefits exercise run/walk. Preliminary warm-up activities with stretching exercises will precede the run/walk. Students will receive a FUN RUN/WALK T-shirt and be bussed to and from Noelridge Park.

Any extra family activities (walks, bicycle rides, jogs, and active exercises) that you can do would greatly assist the students’ appreciation of this activity. Parents are invited to watch and encourage everyone’s “personal best”.

IT’S THE BUDDY BENCH – ISAAC TAYLORThe buddy

bench is an idea that helps prevents bullying and helps you make a new friend. I got the idea of a buddy bench from a child in Roundtown, Pennsylvania. I have been fund-raising for 13 days and have raised $720.00. I am fill-ing out two grants and am trying to get $15,000 to put benches at all elementary schools that would like them in the Cedar Rapids, College Community, Linn-Mar, and Marion School districts.

If you would like to donate, just check out my articles and website, www.gofundme.com/ITTbudbench. It is also on the KCRG and KGAN website called, “Isaacs Buddy Bench Cedar Rapids Iowa”. Remember that Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream and made changes. Others, like Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks pursued their dreams by believing and taking actions.

LIBRARY NEWSThe end of the school year will be here before we know it and

these are the end of the year library dates:• Last day to check out books: May 22nd• All library books are due: May 27th• Last day for library lessons: May 29thPlease try to help your Arthur student get their library books

back or paid for by May 27th. The classes with all their books back will get something special to celebrate how responsible and trustworthy they are.

STUDENT COUNCIL 100TH YEAR PLANS -

JESSICA C. AND DOUGLAS W.Can you imagine walking to a brand new school that

is now a 100 years old? That’s what happened in 1915 when Arthur first opened. We can because Arthur’s turning 100! The Student Council is planning all sorts of fun for Arthur’s 100th year of learning! From wearing funky outfits throughout the decades to movies and plays. Even crafts, songs, and activities are being thrown into the mix! There is even a historian from town coming to celebrate with us! Be prepared for all the fun! Arthur is ready to celebrate 100 years of learning and more. Are you ready for the celebration?!

OPENING SOON: Arthur’s 5th Grade Class Proudly Present:

“SUMMER CAMP” - A 5th Grade MusicalA musical caper about finding a place to belong

MAY 19TH FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

PTA SPRING CARNIVAL ARTHUR’S EVER

POPULAR CARNIVAL IS BACK!SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS AWESOME

SCHOOL EVENTAPRIL 24TH 5:30 (food starts) 6-8 pm (games)

FUNFOODGAMES

RAFFLE PRIZES

TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 20TH-24TH AND AT THE DOOR

WRIST BAND PRICES ARE: $10 FOR FOOD AND GAMES

$7 FOR JUST GAMES

5TH GRADE YEAR- END CELEBRATION Each year, our 5th graders create display boards to illustrate

their years at Arthur Elementary. The boards often include everything from pictures to certificates, from special books to special talents, and from art projects to literary accomplishments. The students work on these boards at school during the month of May. A letter will be going home at the end of April with more details on the boards.

These boards will then be displayed during the celebration that occurs on the afternoon of May 29th. Parents and guard-ians of 5th grade students should look for an invitation coming home in early May and are encouraged to attend this important event in their child’s life.

ALL SCHOOL PORTFOLIO PICNIC, MAY 20THArthur’s annual Portfolio Picnic is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th, from 1:00-1:30.

Parents, students, and teachers will join together on the school grounds over picnic lunches to celebrate student writing and other learning successes. Parents may bring their children a spe-cial lunch that day or order a sack lunch from the Arthur cafeteria. Please look for the separate information sheet coming home regarding lunch orders and send back as soon as possible. The big parking lot on the Annex side of the street and the blacktop behind Arthur will be available for parking. Please come and celebrate your child’s learning at Arthur!

Parents and other family members are asked to meet their students at their homeroom locations (homeroom of the youngest sibling) starting at 1:00. At that time parents may pick up their student(s) and portfolios and proceed to the school grounds to find a spot for a family picnic and sharing.

If the weather does not cooperate, families will want to gather their children indoors. Class-rooms, hallways, the gym, and the cafeteria are available to use.

Since this is an early dismissal day, parents may take their child(ren) home at the end of the family picnic at 1:30.

FROM THE PTA PRESIDENT – JULIO MARTIN, 2014-15 PTA PRESIDENTThe year is coming to an end and what a GREAT year it has been. I want to start by thanking the Arthur Community for

all the support you all give to the PTA and Arthur Knight Kiddos! This year we have had some great events: Started the year off with the Welcome Back Picnic, Boo Hoo Breakfast and then the Walkathon that kids have so much fun at. Throughout the year there has been the Warrior Homecoming Parade, Roller Skate Night, Trunk or Treat, Ice Skating Party, Rough Riders Night, Family Movie Night, Hospitality, Enrichments; Wacky Weird Science, Running Club, Holiday Treats, Open Gym just to name a few. Coming up, we still have the FUN and GREAT Carnival April 24th, Swim & Gym April 16th, Super Skate April 28th, Family Game Night April 29th and Dance Team Enrichment for Grades 4/5 May 19-22 and Yearbook May 22nd. Also, in the next couple of weeks look for the great and WONDERFUL supply kit order forms for the 2015/2016 school year!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every Chair, Volunteer, Staff member, PTA member, Executive Board member and Arthur Community for all of your hard work and dedication this year making this year’s events a success.

Finally, it has been my pleasure and honor serving as your PTA President this year and would like to introduce you to the incoming Executive Board for 2015/2016 School Year:

President: Amy Mullinex President-Elect: Danielle Wangsness Secretary: Stacy Martens Treasurer: Tonya HolianWe will be holding our last General PTA Meeting May 7th and at this meeting we will be Honoring 3 individuals that

have been Founders in making the PTA a success. Rhonda Jackson Chris Gerke Erica GerkeCongratulations for your outstanding work and dedication!

ARTHUR NIGHT AT THE BALL PARK - FRIDAY, MAY 15

Friday, May 15th is Arthur Elementary Night at the Cedar Rapids Kernels Ball Park! Gates will open at 5:30 PM and our very own Magic Mallets will be playing from 5:30 – 6:00 PM as you enter the ballpark. We will have tickets available to purchase through Arthur. If we sell 200 tickets we will raise $200. We will put this money towards buying Document Camera’s for the smart boards in the classrooms. The families who purchase tickets through Arthur will have their students name put into a random drawing for jobs at the game that night. A letter will come home telling you the specific job assigned. Hope to see many Arthur families at the ballpark on Friday, May 15th.

LUNCHES AT THE END OF THE YEAR The procedures that have been in place through the school

year will continue to be used as we end the school year. Some end of the year information:

• Accounts of students in grades K-4 will remain active. Any monies not used this spring will stay in the account and be available for next school year.

• At the end of this school year, any money left in a fifth graders’ lunch account will be electronically transferred to their Cedar Rapids middle school accounts.

• Parents of students who are leaving the CRCSD need to contact the Food Service informing them of the move. Accounts for these students will be closed out at the end of the school year and the final balance will be refunded.

LAST CALL!Arthur Families this is the last call for Hy-Vee Receipts. We

can count all Hy-Vee receipts dated May 1, 2014- April 30, 2015. We earn $1 for every $200 collected in receipts. So please, turn in any your Hy-Vee receipts by May 1 to be counted in the final turn in.

Total to as of 4-2-2015 $131,473.79 Money Raised will go towards buying Document Camera’s

for the classrooms. A special thanks to Natalie Murrell who has kept track of all the Hy-Vee receipts, the Campbell Soup labels and Boxtops for the year.

Thank you for supporting Arthur Elementary!

Non-Discrimination PolicyIt is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. District employees with questions or a grievance related to this policy should contact Jill Cirivello, Director of Human Resources, 319-558-2421; jcirivello@cr.k12.ia.us. Students and others should contact Ken Morris, Manager of Student Equity, 319-558-1504; kmorris@cr.k12.ia.us. The District mailing address is 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-1015.

DISTRICT WELLNESS GOALSv Implement elementary health education

curriculum, including nutrition.

v Discontinue using unhealthy foods for fundraisers.

v Ensure all snacks meet District Nutritional Guidelines for foods and beverages for schools, including vending, a la carte, snack lines, school stores, celebrations and fundraisers.

v Discontinue using food/food coupons as rewards or incentives.

v Require that students are physically active during the majority of time in physical education class.

v Ensure physical activity is not used for or withheld as a punishment.

v Celebrate birthdays and other events involving food once a month only.

Live

WELLNESS

Schools will be implementing during 2014-15 school year.

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WELLNESS POLICYPolicy 610

The Cedar Rapids Community School District supports a healthy environment in which students learn and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices. By facilitating learning through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, schools contribute to the basic health, academic achievement and quality of life of students. The District:

The “Wellness Policy Committee” will plan for, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of wellness initiatives as guided by the Board Policy and Procedures and inform and update the public about the content and implementation of the policy.

• Will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion. Will develop a wellness approach to physical activities that meet applicable federal and state guidelines.

• Promotes activities and policies that support staff members’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Supports parents’ efforts to provide a healthy diet and daily physical activity for their children.

• Will base menus on Dietary Guidelines for Americans, National School Lunch and Breakfast meal pattern requirements, and the Recommended Dietary Allowances.

• Recommends that foods and beverages offered on campus and for school activities meet applicable federal and state guidelines.

5TH GRADE FUNNIESAs part of the 5th grade Write Tools Program, 5th grades learned how to write fictional narratives. Using the writing process that

they learned, students wrote and published story books. Some students even choose to create a comic strip from their published book. Enjoy!

“Flying Potatoes Go to Space” – Paige

“Dog’s Life” – Hannah