Help Fill the Thoreau Skate Closet

Do you have any outgrown or unused ice skates at home? Please consider donating them to the Thoreau “skate closet.” We are collecting ice skates (new or used, figure or hockey, all sizes) to be used by Thoreau students at the Nakoma ice rink. The goal is to gather enough skates to make it possible for teachers, scout leaders, and after-school programs to bring groups of students down to the ice rink so that everyone can enjoy this fun wintertime activity. Skates can be dropped off in the Thoreau office.

Winter Family Dance

The Winter Family Dance is coming up on Friday, Feb. 1, from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the Thoreau Elementary gym. This year's theme, as decided upon by the Thoreau Student Council, is "Tropical Island."

As always, we need plenty of help to make this event a success, so please contact the PTO if you are able to volunteer.

December PTO Meeting Date Changed

The PTO general meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11, has been moved to Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the Thoreau library.

TICO Store Visits Planned for December

We are gearing up for our first classroom Tico Store visits of the year. Please consider volunteering to help kids “shop” at the store, even if it's just for your child's class. And we are still looking for a couple of parents to take over next year. Please contact Helen Apel if you are able to help: h:233-6137, bhapel@charter.net. Dates for class visits are as follows:

Monday, Dec. 10 – Fifth Grade

Wednesday, Dec. 12 – First Grade

Friday, Dec. 14 – Second Grade

Monday, Dec. 17 – Fourth Grade

Wednesday Dec. 19 – Third Grade

Friday, Dec. 21 – Kindergarten

Square 1 Art Fundraiser

The Square 1 Art Fundraiser is underway! Mr. Mayhall has been working with our students to produce beautiful, colorful artwork. Imagine your child’s brilliant artwork on coffee mugs, holiday ornaments and other high quality products. Samples of some products are on display in the art case near the office. Proceeds from this fundraiser, 33% of the purchase price, go directly to supporting social and academic programs sponsored by the Thoreau PTO.

Important dates

Oct. 22 -- Your personalized order form with 20 free stickers of your child’s art will be sent home

Nov. 1  -- Paper orders returned to school are due

Nov. 9  -- NEW THIS YEAR Online ordering is available until this date. Each student will have a unique, online access code. Perfect for out-of-town relatives!

Dec. 3  -- All products will be delivered the week  to your child’s classroom – just in time for the holidays.

Thank you for your support. If you have any questions about the Square 1 Art Fundraiser please contact Jenice Con Foo (jaconfoo@gmail.com or 608 274-6176).

Girls on the Run!

The Thoreau Girls on the Run team ran their practice 5K yesterday and everybody did awesome! 

Their official race is Saturday June 9th at McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg at 9 a.m.  Everyone is welcome to come cheer! 

Registration for Thoreau's Fall team will begin online August 1st. All girls going into 3rd - 5th grade are eligible to join our team, to register go to http://girlsontherundaneco.org/. Scholarships are available, come join the fun!

Huge thanks to our  dedicated and fun coaches this season: Coach Lynne (Lynne Dennis), Coach Ray (Rachel Plast), Coach Rachel (Rachel Rodgers), Coach Elf (Hannah Elfman) and Coach Hannah (Hannah Conner)"

Thoreau’s own Claudia is the Spanish Spelling Bee C-H-A-M-P in Madison!!

After a two hour competition, fourth grader, Claudia, stands victorious and will move forward to represent us all at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in New Mexico!!!!!!!!

Ms. Hanson receives the Crystal Apple Award.

It’s time to say a big “Thank You” to our staff!

Today, our children with the help of volunteers, made ribbons to express their thanks to our staff.  It is a lovely and touching scene at the front of the school.  If you have a chance, come by and see these expressions of appreciation.

PTO General Meeting is this Monday night. Latino Family Meeting at 6 p.m.

Join us for our next General Meeting.  Topics to be discussed are changes to the terms of officers in the bylaws, fifth grade promotion funding, Discovery Fair, planners for the fourth grade, volunteer day funding, staff appreciation funding and more.  As always, Ms. Costello will also give her report for the month.

The PTO is reliant on members to bring to the table questions and concerns as well as make the final decisions. General Meetings are a great way of nurturing interests and sparking ideas for the future of our school. The agenda may be viewed here.

This month, we will start our meeting at 6 p.m. for our Spanish-speaking families in the library. The regular General Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.