March 2008

Dear Latson Families,

Hopefully everyone had a restful and enjoyable “long weekend” on the 15th-19th. In case you haven’t noticed, we have entered that time of year
where the weather can be unpredictable. Please remember to regularly check the daily forecast – glimpses of spring often create in students’ minds the idea that they can “shed” the warm coats, gloves, hats, and boots “forever”, and we all know that is not the case. Everyone is expected to go outside on days when the temperature is above 10 degrees – only students with a doctor’s note are allowed to stay in during recess.

In order to contain the length of the newsletter as much as possible, let me remind you to continually read the “Wednesday Packets” and classroom newsletters. These are a valuable source of information related to upcoming events and deadlines.

March alone looks like this (I’ll forewarn everyone that it is a very busy month) – “March is Reading Month” begins on Monday, March 3rd. More information regarding activities for the month will be coming home next week.

On Wednesday, March 5th, Illustrator Michael Glenn Monroe will be visiting our school as part of our PTO sponsored Cultural Assembly schedule for this year. An order form for ordering autographed copies of some of Mr. Monroe’s books went home last week. Order forms are due back to us by Monday, March 3rd.

Next week, our Kindergarten classrooms (NOT the Green Kindergarten), our 1st grade classrooms, and our 2nd grade classrooms all have music informances in the evening - please check your child’s classroom newsletters and information being sent home by Ms. Welty regarding your child’s specific performance time.

On Friday, March 7th, Lifetouch will be taking Spring Photos of all of our students. These are the photos where every student is photographed and a “preview” packet is sent home to you. Our school receives a donation from Lifetouch for every student photographed, as well as a donation for every portrait packet that is purchased. If you typically purchase spring photos this is a great fundraiser for our school. We appreciate the way Lifetouch gives back to our schools. Also, on Friday, March 7th, Lifetouch will be taking our 5th grade class photo.

The week of March 10th, is a very busy week at Latson. Our PTO and Media Specialist, Laura Murray, will be hosting our spring Scholastic Book Fair in the Media Center all week. The Ann Arbor Handson Museum, along with the Book Fair, will be here and open on the evening of Wednesday, March 12th.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the evenings of Thursday, March 13th, and Tuesday, March 18th, from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Conference times will be scheduled through individual teachers.

On Thursday, March 13th, the Book Fair will be open and there will be Klutz Activity Night in the cafeteria (information about this activity is in this week’s packet).

On Monday, March 17th, the Irish Dancers who have entertained us in the past on St. Patrick’s Day will be here for an afternoon assembly. There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, March 21st. This is Good Friday/the Easter weekend. Our 5th graders leave for 5th grade Camp on Monday, March 24th. They will return on Friday, March 28th. The 3rd Quarter ends on Friday, March 28th. Howell’s Spring Break begins at the end of the day on Friday, March 28th.

Staff and students return on Monday, April 7th. In addition to all of these activities many grade level field trips and other individual classroom activities are not highlighted here, nor are monthly events like School Store and weekly bake sale/popcorn sale/ice cream sales – please read those classroom newsletters and Wednesday Packets carefully!!!

Please call if you have any questions. There is a lot of information in this letter and in this “Wednesday Packet”.

Sincerely,
Kari L. Naghtin