Shaffer Times December 2009 Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! Thanksgiving may be over, but it is still time to give thanks! Thank you to the teachers and families who supported Shaffer IDOL and the food drive we started that night. Thank you to all the families who participated in our Fall Fundraiser! Thank you to the Veterans who gave Shaffer Elementary a shining example of patriotism. Thank you to everyone who came out for the November PTO Meeting – best attendance yet! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our fall Staff Appreciation Luncheon! Last, but certainly not least, thank you to Principal Leonard and the amazing staff and faculty who give us something to be thankful for each and every day. Happy Holidays everyone! HOLIDAY SHOPPE TIME Students will be able to shop for family members this week. Please check schedule on last page to see what day and time your child shops. All items are $1 including tax!

PTO Meeting Time Children are welcome and feel free to bring a snack to share! At our December meeting, on Tuesday, December 8 th at 7pm, we will finalize our plans for the winter fundraiser. Second Grade Time Curriculum really came to life in second grade last month as the students were able to get an up close and personal view of a fire truck and all that it contains! Mrs. Michalski would like to congratulate her little authors for their fantastic forays into fiction! Maybe we’ll see some of their bestsellers in Shaffer’s Library someday! Second grade would also like to thank the Veterans and everyone who made Shaffer’s Veterans Day Program a success. Kindergarten Time We are working on counting by 1s, 5s, 10s to one hundred. We are now on Theme 4 and reading all about life on a farm. We love talking about the farm animals and making their unique sounds. Our favorite book so far in this theme is Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm_ by Joy Cowley. We are counting down the days to 2010!

Nurse Walter Time Just a reminder: Kindergarten and 6 th grade physicals are currently due. Kindergarten and third grade dentals are due currently. The Dental Mobile will be visiting Shaffer in January to give free dental checkups. Information will be sent home shortly. If your child has had a physical over the summer, a new physical examination is not necessary. Send a copy of your child’s physical examination to Mrs. Walter, School Nurse, or have the doctor fax to: to the attention of Mrs. Walter. It is vital that we have up-to-date contact information for all of our students. Please make sure the school office has a current phone number for each parent/guardian. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the above, please call Mrs. Walter at any time at extension CHECK BACKPACKS FOR DISTRICT CONCERT INFORMATION. MUSIC TIME Did you know that practicing your instrument just ten minutes a day will make a difference in how well you play?! Break out the sheet music and have fun!

Guidance Time As the holiday season approaches, I am excited about coordinating our annual food drive to help benefit the local community. Items that will be collected include sealed cans and boxes and the dates of collection will be from November 23 rd through December 17 th. Donations will be taken to different sites in our area including the Braddock Carnegie Library. Each year this project has expanded throughout the school as I work with students to count cans and chart the progress that is being seen daily and weekly. I will continue to have involvement through these activities and I appreciate the support received by students, families, and staff members. All students will also be working on the theme of “Compassion” throughout the month of December and in conjunction with the holiday season. Please call the guidance office if you have any questions regarding this project, and thank you for your support in advance. Sincerely, Mrs. Cohen Visit for Shaffer and District information!

Virtual Coffeehouse Time Shaffer Elementary and the Woodland Hills Academy sixth grade students now have the opportunity to showcase their appreciation and knowledge of poetry every Friday during the “Virtual Coffeehouse.” Students who signed-up to participate are asked to find a school/age appropriate poem based on a given theme (e.g. weather, school, animals, etc.) and rehearse it throughout the week. Every Friday, a number of students will be asked to do a live performance reading for the students from both buildings over the Internet via video conferencing. Students will then discuss each poem’s elements and devices. The “Virtual Coffeehouse” opened its doors on Friday, November 6 th. The first meeting of sixth graders was a great success. The students introduced themselves and participated in a “Just Like Me” activity. They were given their first assignment (poems about school) and had two weeks to prepare for the next meeting. We would like our students to have an authentic coffeehouse experience. Parents, teachers, or siblings of participating students who would like to share favorite or original poetry are invited to attend. We would also appreciate donations of healthy snacks to be shared. If you have any questions or would like to do a reading, please contact Mr. Sharp at The only price of admission to the “Virtual Coffeehouse” is a rehearsed reading.

Coming January 16th... The (Original) Dancing with the Teachers - - Woodland Hills Style! December Events: PUT ON FRIDGE!! 2 nd Holiday Shoppe Set-up at 9am Students shop 10:30am-3:00pm 3 rd Holiday Shoppe 9:00am-12:30pm 4 th Make-up shopping from 8:30am-11:00am 8 th PTO Meeting at 7pm 21 st -January 3 rd – HOLIDAY BREAK NO SCHOOL HOLIDAY SHOPPE SCHEDULE Wednesday, 10:30-11:00amMrs. Watts’ class 11:00am-11:30amMrs. Smith’s class 11:30am-12:00pmMs. Rooney’s class 12:00pm-12:30pmMrs. Michalski’s class 1:30pm-2:00pmMrs. Cole’s class 2:00pm-2:30pmMrs. Zemba’s class 2:30pm-3:00pmMs. White’s class Thursday, 9:00am-9:30amMrs. Catone’s class 9:30am-10:00amMrs. Simon’s class 10:00am-10:30amMrs. Maus’ class 10:30am-11:00amMs. Brodt’s class 11:00am-11:30amMr. Meredith’s class 11:30am-12:00pmMrs. Tomko’s class 12:00pm-12:30pmMrs. Gable’s class