Lower School Newsletter from Wade Putnal

August 18^th, 2016

Welcome Back!  It’s wonderful to have all the children back in school. The hallways are bustling with smiles, voices, and laughter! It’s also wonderful to have 68 new lower school friends joining us at FPD. We have so much to be grateful for and appreciate the opportunity to partner with you. Know that my door is always open and let us know how we can help you. Looking forward to a great year. Thank you for your prayers and support!

NOT ON THE LUNCH PLAN?  Your child can still eat in the lunchroom on any day:

      Cost?  $7 (Your account will be charged $7 per lunch)

      Payment?  All lunch charges are now streamed through your FPD billing account

      How?  On the day you wish to purchase lunch, parents or students should send                  a note to the Elementary office or email: carrie.rogers@fpdmacon.org
(Visitors are still welcome for lunch and may pay with cash or check if needed)

Lower School Open House for all classes 3k-5^th grade is Monday, August 29^th - 6:30pm. Please go directly to your child’s classroom. If you have more than one child in the lower school, it may be best if parents split and go to different classrooms. If you need to meet other teachers, please do so at the end. 1^st-5^th teachers will be sharing important information, expectations, and this is a great time to get your questions answered. 3K-Kindergarten parents may visit classrooms to see what your child has been doing so far this year. Open House meeting is for parents only, please.

“Coffee & Conversation for New Parents”- Join other FPD moms on Friday, Aug. 26^th, 8:30-9:30 am in the Clark Fine Arts Lobby to learn about our Viking Parent Association (VPA) and all the ways you can be “ALL IN” this year at FPD!

VIKING FOOTBALL advance tickets are now available for our big game next Saturday, Aug. 27^th vs Howard High School at Five Star Stadium, Mercer University. Kickoff is 7:30pm. Advance tickets are $7 and on sale through next Thursday the 25^th at noon. Get your tickets at the Viking Store. We will have a “RED OUT” that night – Go Vikings! Let’s WIN at Mercer!

Fall Classes: Check out all the great offerings for children and adults through our FPD Center for Discovery! Gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, chess, robotics, music, ballet, crafts, Crazy 8s Math – and many more! View brochure and register online, at www.fpdmacon.org/center-for-discovery. Invite a friend to sign up with you!

BOX TOPS !! Don’t forget to send in your Box Tops which earn money for our school! Collection boxes are located in the Elementary Office and the High School office.

5^th Grade Parents: An info meeting for the Washington, D.C. trip for those families who are NOT yet SIGNED UP is 6:00 pm Monday, Aug. 29^th in the HS Lecture Hall, right before Open House. This is a repeat meeting of the “early-bird” meeting held last spring for those who didn’t attend or haven’t yet signed up for the trip.

Morning Carpool Reminders - Please have your children sit in the BACK SEAT on the RIGHT (passenger side) for easy assistance in getting out. Attach carpool card on the right visor to flip down so it can be seen. Class begins at 8:15am. Thank you for having your children to school on time. Remember, you’re always welcome to park in the upper soccer parking lot and walk to the carpool area to pick up your child, but we encourage you to use the easy drop-off and pick-up in the elementary and kindergarten carpool areas. We’re off to a great start!

Late Start Wednesdays – (3K-12^th) – School day begins at 8:50 am every Wednesday unless noted on the red FPD calendar. Please use carpool areas to drop off your children on these days. If students arrive early, they will go to designated classrooms. Students should bring a book in their book-bag to read each Wednesday. Electronics are not allowed during this time, except for book readers.

What’s new in the Library? It’s almost BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB time! A yellow flyer is coming home in signed papers soon that explains how you may participate. Mrs. Darnell has more than 300 new books to choose from and hopes you’ll stop by the Media Center during Open House, August 29^th. What a treat for the children!

Technology Tidbit: It’s a new school year, so it’s a great time to review your family’s plan for safe technology usage. As always, we encourage you to monitor your child’s screen time, and balance it with lots of outside time and quiet reading times. J

Our first Lower School Chapel is Tuesday, Sept. 6^th from 12:05-12:25pm. Parents are always welcome to come join us in the Clark Fine Arts Center as we worship together and hear a wonderful message from our school Chaplain, Dr. Charley Chase.

News from the Science Lab: We are in need of small jars – such as baby food jars, pimentos, etc. Please send to the office or to Mrs. Clausen in the lab. Thanks!

Did you know??? Friends of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia donated aluminum can “pull tabs” (over 16 million tabs!!) raising nearly $10,000 for local families in need last year. Our FPD students helped, and we want to continue this year. Please send pull tabs in a Ziploc bag to the office or to Mrs. Clausen in the Science Lab. Thanks so much!

The Viking Store is glad you’re back! We’re open M-F, 7:45 am-3:30 pm, located near the cafeteria in the MAC lobby. We have school supplies, uniform-approved outerwear, gifts, Viking Bucks cards, snacks, FPD room decorations and Spirit Day t-shirts, and Lands’ End short-sleeve polo shirts in stock. We carry used uniforms for $10 or less until August 24. Please see order form in today’s signed papers to order t-shirts or football jersey by August 26^th. Other t-shirt designs can be viewed on our Facebook page at FPD –The Viking Store. Questions? Contact Renita at renita.eversole@fpdmacon.org or 477-6300 x 177.

DON’T FORGET:

·       Read aloud to your child daily J

·       Please complete your blue VPA (Viking Parent Ambassadors) Form. Copies available in the Elementary or High School offices. Thank you for volunteering! J

·       Labor Day Holiday – Monday, Sept. 5^th – no school/offices closed

·       New Family Dinner at football game, Friday, Sept. 9^th

·       Elementary School pictures, Thursday, Sept. 15^th

·       Elementary Play, “Pied Piper of Hamelin,” features 3^rd-5^th grade, Sept. 27-29