1. Shaffer Times March 2010 Principal’s Perspective This is the month of major preparation for our upcoming PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) tests. We have been working very hard to ensure that all of our students are well-prepared for the test. We have provided PSSA Coach books and set up PSSA Saturday Coach Sessions for our students. Our reading specialists and our teachers are working hard to address individual students and customize lessons. I have every confidence that we will make “adequate yearly progress” and reach our academic goals for this school year. More to follow. Principal Leonard TAMBELLINI’S SECOND CHANCE Due to a great response, your PTO will be giving Shaffer families a second chance to order from Tambellini’s Gourmet Frozen Foods. Please use the order form in this Shaffer Times to place your order. ORDERS AND MONEY are due NO LATER than Wednesday, March 17 th. Orders must have a phone number for each family.

2. PTO Meeting New School Board Director, Mr. Bob Rinsma, will be attending our March PTO meeting on Tuesday, March 9 th at 7pm. We will be discussing field trips, FUN Day and are anxious to hear from our teachers and parents! As always, children are welcome and feel free to bring a snack to share. Teacher Time Kindergarten is hard at work blending sounds together, making words and putting words together into sentences. In Mathematics, we are learning about time and money. Parents, please continue reading take home books and counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s nightly with your child. It makes a big difference! Mr. Meredith’s 4 th Grade class will be using a new system for teleconferencing to talk to schools from other places in Pennsylvania to discuss Pennsylvania history and geography in May. Also, this spring, his class will be forming construction companies and building toothpick bridges. Through this activity, this class will learn cooperation, teamwork, geometry, and balancing a checkbook. In preparation for this activity, we are also asking for donations of toothpicks and liquid glue for the companies. We really appreciate any donations!

3. Social Time Fifth and sixth grade students will be bringing home information about our first Social! It will be in the school gym on Wednesday, March 17 th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Please check backpacks for permission slips and ticket information. Scholastic Book Fair Time It’s that time of year again! The Scholastic Book Fair will be hitting our Library from Tuesday, March 23 rd through Thursday, March 25 th. Students will be able to shop during their Library classes. Our Family Night event will be on Tuesday, March 23 rd from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Check backpacks for book fair fliers the week of March 15 th ! FUN Day FUN Day 2010 is just around the corner and planning is already underway! Heroes are welcome and needed to staff the many events and activities we have for the students. FUN Day will be on Friday, May 28 th from 9am- 3pm. Don’t miss it!

4. Guidance Time As we approach springtime I am excited once again to begin preparing for Career Day at Shaffer. This is a fun and educational day for all students to be able to hear from parents and community members about various careers. I will be looking for parents and family members who are interested in presenting and I will also be contacting businesses and community leaders to take part in this day. Career day will be held on Wednesday, April 28 th, 2010 between 9:00a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Individuals who would like to receive more information and set up a time to come to the school should call the guidance office at 412-371-4535 ext.2230. Refreshments will be served and it is a great opportunity to get to know Shaffer Elementary better. I appreciate the support and this day has been a great success each year. Also during the month of March students will be working on the theme of “self-esteem.” Please encourage your child to do his/her best and believe in what he or she is accomplishing in school. It is important to try even when the assignment is difficult. There will always be support given during the school day if needed. Sincerely, Mrs. Jessica Cohen PSSA DATES Testing dates are as follows: Reading & Math for Grades 3-6: April 7-16 Writing for Grade 5: April 19-23 Science for Grade 4: April 26-30

5. Thanks to those who sent in labels so far this year. Our winners for the February contest were: Mrs. Cole’s class (1 st place: 284 labels) and Mrs. Gable’s class (2 nd place: 248 labels). Each label was counted as one regardless of value, including labels from earlier in the year, if name/classroom was noted. March contest: Send in your labels by March 31 st ! We are giving everyone another chance. Please mark envelope or baggie with student name and teacher/classroom. Besides the classroom contest, each student bringing in 20+ labels this spring will be awarded a small prize. Please save: Box Tops for Education, Labels for Education (Campbell’s, etc.), and Tyson’s Chicken A+ Labels. Please trim off excess box or label portion - - a few minutes of trimming by each contributor can save hours for our labels hero! For Campbell’s, we no longer need the front of the label; please save UPC barcode with Campbell’s kid or new Labels for Education logo. Thanks! Keep Clipping! Your PTO appreciates your contributions! RIF Our next distribution of free books from Reading Is Fundamental will be held this month. Each Shaffer student is entitled to one book to keep. Funding is provided by the national organization and your PTO. We are also pleased to announce the receipt of hardback multicultural books for the classrooms from RIF & Macy’s. Go to www.rif.org to find out reading suggestions and activities for your children or how to encourage legislators to support this program. www.rif.org

6. PSSA Tests Coming in April March Events: PUT ON FRIDGE!! 6 th PSSA Coach Session from 8am-10am at Shaffer 9 th PTO Meeting at 7pm in Library 12 th Underground Railroad and Heritage Celebration at 1pm 16 th Uniform Public Hearing at Admin. Bldg. 6:30pm- 8pm 17 th Tambellini’s Orders Due with Payment 17 th Fifth/Sixth Grade Social 6:30pm-8:30pm 18 th NO SCHOOL – Teacher In-Service 19 th NO SCHOOL – Parent/Teacher Conferences 20 th PSSA Coach Session from 8am-10am at Shaffer 23 rd -25 th Scholastic Book Fair during Library Classes 29 th TAMBELLINI’S FUNDRAISER DISTRIBUTION ORDERS READY FOR PICKUP AT 3PM ** Also, coming in April, a fundraiser for our students with great hoagies from Fox’s Pizza Den in Turtle Creek!

7. Nurse’s Time WE ARE COMING INTO THE HOME STRETCH FOR THE 2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR. Believe it or not, it’s time to start planning for the 2010-11 school year! Attention 6 th grade parents: All 7 th grade students must have the following immunizations to begin school for the 2010- 11 school year: 4 doses of tetanus (1 dose after the fourth birthday) 4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the fourth birthday) 3 doses of polio 2 doses of measles 2 doses of mumps 1 dose of rubella 3 doses of hepatitis B 2 doses of varicella or written statement from physician indicating month & year of disease or serologic proof of immunity All students entering Grades 7-12 must have 1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) 1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4) ALL 7 TH GRADE STUDENTS MUST HAVE: A mandated dental examination. Your private dentist or the Smile Dental Program at school can do dental examinations. Private dental forms can be downloaded from the Shaffer website. Smile Dental Program forms will be provided by the school nurse. 5 th Grade Parents, it is time to start making your doctor appointments for the mandated 6 th grade physical exam for the 2010-11 school year. 2 nd grade parents, it is time to make dental examinations for the up-and-coming school year. 3 rd grade is the time set aside by the state for dental check ups. The Smile Dental Program will provide school dentals, October 19, 2010. Forms will be provided in September for that exam. All Private doctor forms will be sent home at the end of the year for the 2010-11 school year. 6 th Grade Physical examinations are mandated by the state. Some 6 th grade students are not up-to-date with this mandated requirement. Physical examination forms can be downloaded from the nurse section of the Shaffer website or call Mrs. Walter @ 412.371.4535 ext. 2250.