Looking for a few ways to be of assistance in the aftermath? Take a look at this project

Winter Wonderland
When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA.

Monetary donations will be accepted indefinitely to the Connecticut PTSA “Sandy Hook Fund” to provide ongoing support to the community. Please send checks to the Connecticut PTSA.
 
Please send all snowflakes and donations to: 

Connecticut PTSA 
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 0651

Our ♥’s go out to all of the families & community of #Newtown, CT ♥Sandy♥Hook♥Elementary♥

At this time of tragedy, children throughout our country may be struggling with their thoughts and feelings about the stories and images and they may turn to adults for help and guidance. PTA has many resources available to assist students, families, schools and PTAs in coping with school violence. Additional resources regarding media exposure and traumatic events may be found online at the following links:

Dr. Marylene Cloitre, the director of the Institute for Trauma and Resilience at the NYU Child Study Center, and her staff have put together tips for parents and school professionals for talking to kids about tough topics such as these school shootings and for understanding how children and adolescents cope with traumatic events.
Talking to Kids about School Violence
Media Exposure and Traumatic Events: How Much Media Coverage is Too Much?

The American Psychological Association offers tips for parents about talking to their children about school shootings.
Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting

Tips for talking about hate, violence and other sensitive issues with your children
Discussing Hate and Violence With Your Children

10 things you can do to prevent violence in your school community.
Checklist to Help Prevent Violence in Schools

School lets out at 2:00p this Friday, 12/14.  Please remember to pick up your children on time.

For your generosity in making our Teacher Appreciation Lunch a tremendous & delicious success!

We had a terrific turnout and a wonderfully abundant display of food to share with our staff on Tuesday, December 11. 

The PTA would like to thank all of our parent volunteers without whom this would not have been possible.  You are a valuable asset to our school community!

The PTA would also like to extend special thanks to Patti Escobedo for delivering our extra food to our local food bank and reaching out to assitance some of our needy members in the community.

Sending best wishes to our members of the Jewish Community during this year’s Festival of Lights!

 Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is celebrated Dec. 8-16, 2012. On the Hebrew calendar, the dates are 25 Kislev to 2 Tevet in the year 5773.

An eight-day celebration, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E. during the Maccabean revolt against oppressive Greek rulers. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays and is celebrated by lighting a nine-branch candelabrum, commonly called a menorah.

Greek influence over the Jews in the Land of Israel had become an affront to Jewish culture and ritual. Antiochus, the Greek ruler, forbade Jewish religious practice, so a small group of Jews, the Maccabees, revolted. These Jews eventually prevailed and, as a first order of business, restored the Holy Temple, which had been desecrated. The menorah in the Temple
needed to be re-lit because, according to tradition, it should burn continuously. The Temple liberators found one vial of olive oil, enough for one day of light. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days.

Traditionally, one candle or flame is lit for each night until the eighth night, when all eight
lights shine together. The menorah has a ninth "helper" flame -- known as the shamash -- used to light the other candles. This is necessary because in Jewish law the Hanukkah lights' only purpose is to visually proclaim the miracle of the holiday. Jews place the lit menorah in a prominent window in order to fulfill this commandment.

Gift giving is now a common practice on Hanukkah, and it is therefore a beloved time for Jewish children. Fried potato pancakes (latkes) and doughnuts (sufganiyot) are traditional fare, and a spinning top (dreidel) with four Hebrew letters has become synonymous with the holiday. The letters -- nun, gimel, hei, shin -- form an acronym for the message of Hanukkah: A great miracle happened there.

Orders from our Autumn Fundraiser are available for pickup Thursday, 12/6 (2:35p – 6:30p) in Room 29

Pickup of Tasty Batters Cookie Dough is mandatory and perishable!  If not picked up, it will be donated to our local food shelters. 

Please note: Cookie Dough will not be given to students without a signed note of permission from their parent. 

Thank you all once again for your support and to help us meet our fundraising goals!

(12/6 at 6:30p)-Wildwoods Foundation presents on their various Urban Ecology Programs @WildwoodsLA

We are excited to welcome Mr. Dwain Wilson, Executive Director of The Wildwoods Foundation who will be presenting their Eco-X and Full Circle Urban Ecology Programs for your general consideration.  Learn about these enriching programs and how you, our  school community may consider potential PTA funding of these supplemental programs at our school. 
 
To learn more about The Wildwoods Foundation and their programs please attend our next General Meeting, Thursday December 6 from 6:30p-8:00p or visit them on the web at www.WildwoodsFoundation.org.