BOOSTER MEETING

In the Parents Room tonight at 7 pm. We will be discussing Holiday Store, security procedures, and Spring Auction. Hope to see you there!

South Arbor Family Recipe Book: Business Directory ad sizes and prices

Ad sizes and prices for SOUTH ARBOR BUSINESS DIRECTORY (included in cook book) (5”x8” trim size)

½ page spot ($80, includes link on Blog): 4” (tall) by 5” (wide)

½ page banner ($80, includes link on Blog): 8” tall by 2-1/2” (wide)

¼ page spot ($40, includes link on Blog): 4” (tall) by 2-1/2” (wide)

¼ page banner ($40, includes link on Blog): 2” (tall) by 5” (wide)

1/8 page (business card, $20): 2” (tall) by 2-1/2” (wide)

Please submit artwork in jpeg format to hsaxton@christianword.com. Submit payment (cash or checks payable to SABC) to Booster Box in Parent Room.

Deadline for reserving ad space: Monday, October 26.

Deadline for submitting ad copy: Monday, November 2.

Thank you!

News You Can Use: Ann Arbor Treasure Hunt!

Thanks to Sam Misiak, who sent around this announcement through the South Arbor E-Community list:

There are still almost two weeks left in October, and plenty of time to complete the 2nd annual Ann Arbor Treasure Hunt. Once you have gathered the solutions to all of the clues, send it in and you could be the winner of a Pirate's chest filled with Awesomness that has been donated from lots of Ann Arbor's great local shops. The Hunt is FREE to play, and is just a fun way for families, groups of friends, or a combination there of, to go downtown on any Fall day in October, and have a good time solving clues and creating fun memories. You can get your free treasure maps on the official blog at a2treasurehunt.wordpress.com , or by clicking here... TREASURE MAPS . Once you've "captured" all of the clue's solutions on film, just send them into the address printed on the map by October 31st.... and you will be entered into the drawing to win Lavish Pirate Loot!!! So, get ready to set sail on a fun voyage through the wild seas of Ann Arbor... Ahoy!!

Family Day a Great Success!

Thanks and congratulations to Craig Bergman and Beth Peterson, who co-hosted the first South Arbor Family Day. Lots of people out there, raking mulch and pounding through clay to plant 200 tulip bulbs.

Many thanks to the families who showed up to help!

News You Can Use: Sam's Club Policy Change

If you are a regular Sam's Club shopper -- or even if you're just thinking of picking up some holiday gifts there this year -- please be aware that their return policy is changing NOVEMBER 1. A sales clerk told me about this when I was in there today, returning some fancy hot chocolate...

Before November 1, there is no time limit on when you can return electronics (such as Wiis or televisions) -- if you have the receipt, you can return it anytime.

If you purchase the equipment on or after November 1, you have just 90 days. So get out there and SHOP!

Special Adoption Book

Today in Mr. Heires class I made a special presentation about adoption, reading a book that is a family favorite entitled "I Don't Have Your Eyes," by Carrie Kitze. The class had been studying genetics, how the traits of parents are passed to their children . . . well, often. But not always.

My husband and I foster-adopted Christopher and Sarah when they were very little. And today in Mr. Heires class I told the story of how as a young woman I had dreamed of having a little girl with chocolate brown eyes, and a little boy with steel-blue ones. I told them of how I traveled all over the world, and saw how so many children needed families to love them.

And I told them of how I returned home and discovered that there are 500,000 children right here in the United States who need temporary or permanent homes. And one day, when the time was right, Chris and Sarah came into our lives and nestled there. You see, I never carried them in my body -- but from the beginning God created a place for them in my heart, and in the heart of my husband.

I have placed a copy of this special book in the library at South Arbor Academy, for teachers and parents who wish to share it with their children. I will also be placing a number of resources pertaining to foster care and adoption, for those who wish to explore it further.

If at any time you would like to discuss becoming an adoptive or foster parent, I am only too happy to do so. I've recently been invited to join the board of an exciting new foster agency in Ypsilanti called "Fostering Futures." If you are inclined to find out more about foster or adoptive parenting, please do let me know -- or feel free to check out my blog for foster, adoptive, and special needs parents called the "Extraordinary Moms Network."

Frosty's Village - Conference Fun for Kids!

During Fall Conference (November 11-12) Boosters will be sponsoring our first Holiday Store. You can get scrip for holiday shopping, pick up a copy of the "South Arbor Family Recipe" book for holiday gift giving or personal use, and order handmade gingerbread treats for teacher gifts.

On Thursday from 4-8 in the gym, we will be holding a "Super Store," including a special area for kids called "Frosty's Village." For $6/child, you can have an hour free to attend conferences, go to the Scholastic Book Fair, and shop at the Holiday Store. Your South Arbor student will ...

* Enjoy a slice of pizza and juice box

* Make a gift for a family member

* Visit with their friends under the supervision of adults and older students

Sorry, but we are unable to accommodate unattended children younger than age 5. You may enroll pre-school age children if they are accompanied by an adult -- they can eat pizza and make a craft with their older siblings, so long as you or another responsible adult are present. Cost is still $6.

South Arbor Family Day This Weekend!

Come and help enhance the outside of your school! Parents, bring your kids and help us dig holes to plant 400 tulip bulbs for next spring. In the holes we dig, red bulbs will be planted by our students during Red Ribbon Week which was started by the Reagan administration in an effort to reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in youth.

The Health Committee's plan is to use the tulips as an object lesson with the students at South Arbor. We want to emphasize that good choices made today help dreams "bloom" in the future. We will provide cider and doughnuts bring your bulb planter and help make a difference for our kids and our school. See you there! Questions: mailto:craig_bergman%40sbcglobal.net (734)449-5338.

The Art Auction ... and a Story of Unexpected Beauty

The Art Auction was last night. I would like to publicly thank Anne Bouse and Chelle Hamel as well as the many other volunteers and participants. The early-bird raffle winner (drawn from the names of those who paid for their tickets by 9/25) was Mrs. Hurst. The teacher with the most parents and friends represented was Mrs. Rea. Both these people won $25 Target certificates. Congratulations!

Sadly, we did not meet the 150 person attendance we had hoped for -- we had less than 100 people there. Which means that, financially speaking, Boosters took a hit on this one. And yet, we also learned something about where our priorities need to be. In a word, Boosters needs to do a better job at encouraging families to see South Arbor as a place that supports not just teacher and students, but families.

I was touched to see MANY Boosters Plus families, who could have stayed at home because they had already made their contribution at the beginning of the year. Many of the South Arbor leadership were also present: Mr. and Mrs. DiLaura and Mr. Hudson as well as most of the SALT leaders, and a few teachers and board members came and gave their support. Their presence was greatly appreciated.

I only wish there had been more of you!

The day after our Art Auction, this short story seems especially appropriate ...

On a cold January morning in 2007, in a Washington, DC Metro subway station, a man stopped among the throngs of morning commuters, pulled out his violin and began to play. The man played several Bach pieces, with the beautiful sounds echoing off of the subway station walls like the shell of a well-build amphitheater.

During the time he played, over two thousand people went through the station, most lost in their busy thoughts, hustling their way to work. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged over $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... what else are we missing?

As reported in the Washington Post. Submitted by Lorin K.If enjoyed this story, please forward it to your friends and ask them to subscribe to http://www.amazinglyblessed.com/ to begin receiving their copy of these blessings.

ShopWIthScrip Program Is Now Online!

We would like to welcome all South Arbor families to take a look at our new scrip fundraising program – ShopWithScrip.com. An informational letter will be sent to you through the school, which introduces the program. These links will take you to the ShopWithScrip.com website and the instructions to sign your family up.

To register your family with the ShopWithScrip programm, click here. When prompted, you will need the South Arbor Boosters enrollment code: C1EE28FF2669

You can pay for your scrip orders one of two ways. Either you can turn in a paper check with your order form on Fridays at the Booster Store (or put them in the Boosters Box in the Parent Room by Friday at 3:15). Or, if you like the convenience, you may pay with electronic check through the "Presto Pay" option on the Great Lakes scrip website (there is a thirty-nine cent fee per transaction for this service). For more information, including a couple of tutorial videos - click here.

Any orders placed and paid for prior to 3:15pm on Friday, will be available for pickup at the school store the next Friday. You may turn in paper order forms (available at the school store) also prior to 3:15pm on Friday with payment and those orders will too be available the next Friday.

I just registered our family after watching the videos, and found the process very quick and easy. However, if you would like to ask questions about the program, we invite you to an informational meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 20th at 6:30pm in the Parent Room.

South Arbor Family Recipes/Business Directory

Do you like to cook? Or do you have a family holiday tradition you'd like to share with the South Arbor Community?

Please send me your recipe! You could win a free copy of the book (we hope to have it available for the Holiday Store). Preorder one or more copies for $10 each until October 23. After that, they will be $12 each.

Submit your recipe electronically (via e-mail attachment), by October 23, and win additional chances by . . .

Submitting pictures with your recipe (either image of the finished recipe or a food-related picture of your child; include your child’s name and teacher on the back of the picture if you want it returned)

Submitting a food-related family story, tradition, or memory

Participate in the South Arbor Family Business Directory, which will also be included in this book.

Submit as many recipes as you wish for each category:

· Breakfast Favorites
· He Cooks (Dad’s specialties)
· Simple Suppers
· Treats and Snacks
· Baker’s Corner
· International Favorites
· Healthy Alternatives (recipes altered to lower fat and/or sugar content)
· Family Fun Night (recipes you make with the kids)

How to Enter: Electronic submissions preferred (attach recipes in WORD or rich text format; attach images in jpeg format). At the top of each recipe list your name and e-mail (e-mail will not be published). Be sure to include oven temperature, cooking time, number of servings, and pan sizes. If the recipe is from a published source, include cookbook name, publisher, date, and page number.

Send electronic submissions to hsaxton@christianword.com. Hard copy submissions and pre-orders for cookbooks may be turned in to the Boosters Mailbox with this form. Deadline is Friday, October 23. We must have your recipe by that date to participate in the drawing.

For more information about the South Arbor Family Business Directory, contact Heidi Saxton or Kathy Tucker.

South Arbor Community Holiday Store . . . Coming Soon!

I'm delighted to report that Boosters is sponsoring its first annual Holiday Store during Fall Conferences this year: November 11 (4-8 pm) and 12 (1-8 pm). The best time to visit will be Thursday from 4-7 -- that's when we'll open up the gym to accommodate the largest possible number of local merchants and vendors!

Why not join us, and get your holiday season off to a great start? (If you have a home-based business and would like more information about setting up a table to sell your products, just drop me a line.)

· Find the perfect gift for teachers, students, and the whole family!
· Purchase scrip for your holiday shopping.
· Get a slice of pizza, cocoa, or other treats to enjoy while you shop.
· Pick up a copy of “South Arbor Family Recipes” for your favorite cook!
· Order handmade gingerbread and gift cards for teachers’ gifts at the Booster store – no need to buy, wrap or deliver!
· Support South Arbor family businesses: Avon, Pampered Chef, jewelry, and many more.
· Scholastic Book Fair in the library from 8 a.m. -3 p.m. both days.
· Credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash accepted.

Questions? Contact Heidi Saxton (hsaxton@christianword.com) or Kathy Tucker (ladyfishkathy@yahoo.com). Or call Heidi Saxton at 429-2952.

SALT meeting results

Yesterday was our September SALT (South Arbor Leadership Team) meeting. Here are some of the highlights:

We allocated $400 to purchase a Cricut machine for the Teacher's Resource Room. These machines cut multiple sizes of letters, numbers, and other images for use on bulletin boards and for other classroom use. (At present our die cuts have only one size of upper-case letters, no numbers or lower-case.)

We also voted to spend $100 for start-up costs for a South Arbor Boosters website, which will allow parents to purchase scrip and apparel and make donations using credit card or PayPal. Special thanks to Ryon Maples, who is donating his time to create the site.

We welcomed Craig Bergman as the new Building and Grounds Chairman. He is working with Beth Peterson on the Red Ribbon Week activities (October 17-25), and secured a large quantity of red tulip bulbs from Lowes to plant in front of the school. Craig is also instituting "School Pride Days" on the third Saturday of each month, from 9-11, when families can come and help around the school -- painting and fixing things up. This is a great opportunity for parents who would like to help the school, but whose work schedules don't permit them to volunteer during regular school hours. The first School Pride Day is Saturday, October 17 from 9-11 a.m.

We allocated a total $2200 for the bi-monthly teacher lunches and conferences meals. Last week's Teacher Luncheon (thanks, Applebees, who gave us a great deal!) was a big hit! Thank you Stacey Foley, our Hospitality Chairwoman, for your hard work.

FISH t-shirts will be subsidized ($900) again this year for our 6-8th graders. The shirts, which normally cost $16, will be just $8.

The Holiday Store ($500 allocated) will be held in Heroes Hall and the Parents Room during conferences November 11-12. We plan to have a special section for teacher gifts (including handmade gingerbread men and women, with optional gift cards), and our first South Arbor Family Recipes book ($150 allocated for printing supplies), which will include a business directory of all companies owned or operated by South Arbor families. Stay tuned!

There are some significant expenses coming up, which we will only be able to cover if more families join Boosters Plus: the teachers are requesting 2 LCD players ($1200 each), our student ID badge machine is 10 years old and in need of replacement ($2000-2300), and our soccer posts are needing replacement ($1500). We also want to do some special assemblies and subsidize year-end field trips. If you haven't already done so, please send in your check today!