Principal’s Message:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! It is hard to believe it is already
December!

November brought many successful activities…Parent conferences, the book fair, Harvest for
the Hungry Food Drive, and Dimes for Dollars fundraiser. Thank you for your support!

We thank the PTO for purchasing new chairs for the Computer Lab.

December brings the much anticipated Holiday Programs. Our Strings and Orchestra Concert is scheduled for December 5 at 7:00 p.m. Our Chorus and Band Concert is scheduled for
December 15 at 7:00 p.m. Ms. McCusker, Mrs. Prigelmiller, and their students have spent many
hours practicing in class and after school in preparation of the concerts. Please plan to come out for
an evening of festive music!

Enjoy the upcoming holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Download the Cape St. Claire December 2011 Newsletter (20)

Welcome Back to school !!!
PLEASE JOIN US!!! Come and share your ideas at our first PTO Meeting at 6:30 on September 20th in the Media Center! At the first meeting we will present the proposed budget for the year and go over the programs and events offered by the CSC-PTO. Please plan to attend.

Dates to Remember
 School Closed Labor Day Monday, September 5
 Volunteer Orientation Wednesday, September 7
 Patriots Day Friday, September 9 _ Wear your red, White, and Blue
 Back to School Night Tuesday, September 13 @ 7 pm
 Schools Close 2 Hrs early Wednesday, September 14
 Fifth Grade Parents Meeting Thursday, September 15
 PTO Meeting Tuesday, September 20 @ 6:30 in Media Center
 Movie Night Friday, September 23
 Schools Closed Rosh Hashanah Thursday, September 29
 Ice Cream Social Friday, October 14

Welcome New Faculty and Staff
We would like to welcome to our school this year Corrine Shuck – Part-Time Physical Education Teacher, Kathy Whittemore – Part-Time Art Teacher, Samantha Klenkel – Grade 3 Teacher, Julie Wajtkowicz – Grade 3 Teacher, Tabitha Bathras – Grade 4 Teacher, Laura Bryerr – Grade 4 Teacher, Stephanie Nokess-Grade 5 Teacher, Sharman Devaney – Part-Time Teacher Assistant, and Gloria
Griffith – Part-Time Teacher Assistant.

5th Grade Parents
Please come join the 5th Grade Committee to plan events for the year on Thursday, September 15th. If you can’t make the meeting, but would like to help, contact one of the 5th Grade Committee chairpersons, Geralyn Valente, Sarah Reilly, or Liz Wolin.

Attention New Volunteers
Volunteer orientation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7th. Anne Arundel County Board of Ed requires all volunteers to view their video before working with children. Choose either the 9:00 am or 1:00 pm viewing time. If you have any questions please contact Geralyn Valente at 410-693-9798 or valente94@verizon.net.

The Ice Cream Social
The Ice Cream Social will be held on October 14th. It is an exciting way to meet other CSC families and friends. There will be lots of food, games, prizes, and of course, ice cream! Plan to bring the whole family. The Committee is asking for volunteers to help with games. Details will be sent home .

Coming this fall….Cape St. Claire Elementary spiritwear!!!. Show your school spirit and order top quality spiritwear items! Many styles and options to choose from. Flyers/order forms coming soon. Don’t be caught without one!

Thank you from the CSCES PTO Board!
President: Kerry Wilson
VP Volunteers: Geralyn Valente
VP Fundraising: Susan Ogden
VP Social Events: Ann-Marie Lipchak
VP School Activities: Theresa Holtzclaw
Recording Secretary: Leslie Coble
Corresponding Secretary: Jill Remson
Treasurer: Vicki Burgess

Parent Visitation Day: To celebrate American Education Week, we are inviting parents to come visit your child’s classroom on November 14 from 8:30 am – 2:15 pm. Please sign in at the table located in the front lobby prior to going to the classroom. We are pleased to announce that you will have an opportunity to visit the Book Fair in the Media Center while you are in the building.

Report Cards: The first marking period ended on October 28th. Report cards will go home on November 11th for students in grades 1-5. Kindergarten report cards will be given to parents at the Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: The school will be closed for students the week of November 21st. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on November 21st and 22nd. We are looking for 100% attendance at these informative meetings.

Download the entire Cape St. Claire November 2011 Newsletter (21)

As always, this school year would not have had such a smooth start without the help of our PTO. The officers and committee chairs spend hours and hours supporting the initiatives and efforts of Cape St. Claire Elementary. From fundraising to beautification, to providing assemblies and technology equipment, hospitality and many more activities that support our students, staff, and community. Please support our PTO!

Construction Update: The construction is 4 weeks behind due to the weather condition. The
construction fence will be relocated giving us access to the bike rack. This should take place within the next 2 weeks.

Download the entire Cape St. Claire October 2011 Newsletter (21)

MSA SUCCESS!!! Cape St. Claire opens this year with great news about Maryland School Assessment (MSA) scores. Our third, fourth and fifth grades made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the MSA as defined by the Maryland Department of Education. As a staff, we are proud of our gains and will work hard this year to ensure the continued success of all students. I know that every family will support us in this effort. MSA scores were released over the summer and some parents have come to the school to retrieve their child(ren) „s scores. If you have not picked up the MSA reports, they will be sent home with students in grades 4 and 5 on Wednesday, September 7th.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Parents are asked to report directly to their child‟s classroom upon arriving in the building. I have scheduled two visitation rotations to enable parents with more than one child to visit each of their child‟s classrooms. We will also attempt to allow parking on the field for the evening – weather permitting.

TRAFFIC SAFETY UPDATE
When parking in the “Overflow” area on the field to pick up students at dismissal time, please use either the crosswalk to the left of the building near the playground or the crosswalk by the stop sign at the entrance of the bus loop.

KINDERGARTEN CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Construction for the new wing is underway.

Download the full Cape St. Claire ES September 2011 Newsletter (21)

The PTO would like to say thank you to Sarah Reilly for serving on the board. We appreciate all the hard work she has done. We would like to welcome new board members, Ann Marie Sedor (Lipchak) and Vicki Burgess. We look forward to a great year.

We would like to give a thank you to Mrs. Siner and the teachers who prepared all the wonderful dishes for the volunteers at the breakfast. We really enjoyed ourselves.

We would like to give a big CONGRATULATIONS to the 5th grade class who will be moving forward to Middle School. We hope you are taking many good memories with you. Good Luck to you all.

We bid farewell to Mrs. Mumper as she retires. We wish her the best as she enjoys her new endeavors.
We are also saying goodbye to Mrs. DiGorgio and Mrs. Dellinger as they move on to new and exciting things.

Yearbooks! Yearbooks!
Get your yearbooks! All the great memories of the 2010-2011 school year are preserved forever in this 76 page full color book. Purchase a copy today! Contact Karen Collins at kcollinshandspa@yahoo.com or 410-757-5772 to purchase from our extra copy inventory. Yearbooks are $17.00. Don’t delay, because once they’re gone… they’re gone!

Box Tops
Box Tops raised over $900 for the year. Please keep clipping over the summer……next submission is in October. And save those Capri Sun pouches too!!!

Morning Drop Off
Parents are needed in the morning to assist with the morning drop off. Please contact Geralyn Valente at Valente94@verizon.net if you are able to help. Some of our current morning volunteers have 5th grade children. We need your help to make drop off time successful!

Hospitality Committee
I would like to first and foremost THANK the Hospitality Committee members for their hard work all year long and remind them that we still have the teachers breakfast at the end of the year ! In addition, I want to wish the members who are moving on to middle school “Good Luck” and request that they email me so I can remove them from my list. Thanks! Vicky Jenkins

Yearbooks
By now everyone should have their yearbooks. And what a wonderful yearbook it is once again. We want to thank Karen Collins for putting together a great book of memories. We appreciate all the hard work that goes into creating such a cherished celebration of our year at school.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Download the June 2011 PTO Newsletter (29) in PDF format.

PTO News
As you know, our meeting on Tuesday, May 10th will be our last PTO meeting of the year. At this meeting, we will elect the new board members. It has been a fun year here at CSCES and we have accomplished many wonderful things.

Dates to Remember

• Tuesday, May 10th-PTO Meeting in the Media Center @ 6:30
• Tuesday, May 10th – Skate Zone Fundraiser 6:00 @ Skate Zone
• Friday, May 13th – Interims Sent Home
• Tuesday, May 24th-Volunteer Breakfast in the Media Center 8:30 am
• May 26th and 27th – No school for Kindergarten, Spring Conferences
• Monday, May 30th – No School, Memorial Day
• Wednesday, June 1st – Kindergarten Orientation
• Friday, June 3rd – Fifth Grade Picnic
• Friday, June 10th- Movie Night
• June 9th, 10th, 13th, and 14th – Schools Close Two Hours Early
• Tuesday, June 14th – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
• Tuesday, June 21st – Market Day Pick-up @ 5:45 pm

Attention Volunteers
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday May 24. It is our annual volunteer breakfast from 8:30 am – 10:00 am. The teachers and staff prepare a wonderful breakfast for us to say thanks for all our hard work during the year. Thank you to all our 389 volunteers who have given up their time and energy to help our school this year. We have calculated over 7000 accumulated volunteer hours this year – this number is up from 4500 last year. This has been an amazing year. We have had 28 volunteer senior citizens and over 20 high school students helping in the classroom and after school with the flex language program. We would like to thank all those parents for the long hours put in both at home and at school, in the classroom, in the media center, the computer room, the gym and the cafeteria. There are so many people helping in so many different ways. We would like to thank each and every one of you that has worked so hard to support our wonderful teachers and we want you to know that your help benefits our children and makes our school such an amazing place.

Movie Night
There will be a movie night on Friday, June 10th. We hope to have it out under the stars. It is sure to be a lot of fun, so plan to attend. Details will be coming home.
Yearbooks
The yearbook is HOT this year! After originally selling out we decided to order a few extra copies… BUT we only have 40 left to sell. If anyone is interested in purchasing one of these extra copies they should contact Karen Collins at 410-757-5772 or kcollinshandspa@yahoo.com.

Market Day
A Message from Market Day:
It’s Reward Time — Spring Frequent Buyer
Redemption month is here! With one more purchase of $40 you can redeem your 3 Drawer Storage Cube at the May pick up. You must have made at least a $40 purchase at least 2 times between February and April 2011 and have another purchase of $40 or more to redeem in May. For more information on Market Day’s Frequent Buyer program, please see the May order guide or www.marketday.com.
Two Free Offers
In May, customers can get a 1 lb. box of French Toast Sticks – every kid’s favorite – Free with a $50 purchase! Plus, get a Free 4 pack of Teriyaki ChicNSteakes with a $90 online purchase using promo code MAYBONUS
May orders are due at school Friday, May 13th. Online orders are due by Wednesday, May 18th and Pickup is Tuesday, May 24th at 5:45 pm.
Questions: Brenda Hall at 410-991-3004 or hallfam97@comcast.net
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MARKET DAY.

Fun Run
Thank you to all the volunteers and participants in this year’s Fun Run. It was a huge success and everyone had fun. We raised over $7000.00 for the school. We would also like to Thank Kerry Wilson and Susan Ogden for all of their hard work on the Fun Run. What a great day!

Hospitality
The Hospitality committee would like to thank all of those who volunteered their time and efforts to the fabulous events this year. Cape St Claire Elementary sure does have some good cooks!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

Download the May 2011 PTO Newsletter (26) in PDF format.

Our next PTO meeting is Tuesday, April 12th at 6:30 in the Media Center. We will be accepting nominees for positions for the upcoming year. If you are interested, please plan to attend. We hope to see everyone there!

Dates to Remember

• Thursday, March 31st -2 Hour Early Dismissal
• Tuesday, April 12th – PTO Meeting in Media Center @6:30
• Friday, April 15th- Grandparent/ Special Friends Day
• Friday, April 15th – Report Cards Go Home
• April 18th – 25th – Schools Closed for Easter/Spring Break
• Friday, April 29th – Earth Day Celebration

April is Earth Month
Cape St. Claire will be celebrating Earth Month in April. During the month of April, we will be holding a “Walk to School” day every Friday. Gather friends and neighbors, and walk/run/bike/hop/skip to school.”

Students will be learning about ways to care for the environment and will be participating in a school-wide Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 29th. Students will be painting rain barrels to be sold in the community to raise money for the tagging of our young terrapins being raised in Mrs. Yates’ class. Students in various third and fifth grade classes have begun raising bay grasses that will be planted at the CSC Main Beach later in the spring. Be sure to get your Cape Cares T-shirt and wear it every Friday during the month of April.

“Escape Through the Cape” FUN RUN and Pasta Dinner!
Don’t forget that our 9th annual 5k and 1 mile fun run/walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th at 8:30 am. To kick-off this terrific event, please attend our pre-race pasta dinner, hosted by Noodles & Company at the school on Friday, April 29th from 6-8 pm. Come to either event, or better yet, come to both! For more information, go to www.cscpto.org or contact Susan Ogden (susanogdens@gmail.com) or Kerry Wilson (jeff_and_kerry@hotmail.com).
AAC Waste Management will also be handing out yellow recycling buckets for free April 29th.

Destination Imagination
Congratulations to Cape’s two Destination Imagination teams. The Olympians, Lydia Rutledge, Sander Miller, Jacob Arends, Zack Gootzamdt, and Abby Wenz finished fifth. Team Synergy, Matthew Wolin, Jack Bragaw, Ari Callow, Maci Killian, and Peri Long finished third and will be continuing on to States April 2nd. Awesome job, everyone!

Ticket to Reading
Join us in sharing a love of reading at the Scholastic Book Fair. The fair will be held Monday, April 11th – Friday, April, 15th. It is a great way to connect your kids with books they want to read! The hours are as follows: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 8:30a am- 8:00 pm; Thursday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm; and Friday 8:30 am – 6:00 pm. We appreciate your support. See you at the Book Fair!

Five Below Fundraiser
Shop at Five Below in Annapolis until April 23rd and CSCES will receive 10% of your purchase. Just take the flyer sent home or pick one up in the volunteer room. It is also available online at www.CSCPTO.org. Thank you!
Yearbooks
Time is running out to place your Cape St. Claire Yearbook orders! If you haven’t already submitted an order, the forms can be dropped off at the office or may be sent in with students by Thursday, April 14. In addition, you can place yearbook orders at upcoming school- and PTO-sponsored events through the same date. If you have lost your order form, please pick up a new one from the office. Since the PTO has ordered a limited number of books, don’t wait to order or you may be disappointed. The cost is $17.00 and can be paid with a check payable to Lifetouch (NOT to Cape St. Claire) or with exact cash, as change cannot be provided. You are welcome to combine siblings’ orders onto a single form with one payment.

24 Club
Six students will be representing Cape St. Claire Elementary School at their respective grade-level County 24 Game Competitions coming up in May. The 24 Game is a math card game where students have to figure out how four numbers can equal 24 by adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. The students are: 3rd Grade – Taylor Layden and Kyle Remson, 4th Grade – Drako Alva and Kyle Keller, and 5th Grade – Nicholas Koy and Sander Miller

Market Day
April Sales are underway. This month we have DESSERT Bonus Days. If we sell 100 or more pies, we will earn a 30% profit. Please consider purchasing a pie to serve on Mother’s Day. The April Special is a free 2LB box of Manicotti with an $80 online purchase. Just enter code APRBONUS at checkout. Market Day offers a line of 100% SAFE household cleaners. They are made with 100% pure vegetable plant based enzymes. Even the packaging is made from recycled paper. April orders are due by the 15th. Pickup is Tuesday, April 26th at 5:45 pm. Any questions, please contact Brenda Hall at 410-991-3004 or hallfam97@comcast.net.

Talent Show
Another wonderful talent show this year. We have a lot of talented students at our school. We would like to thank Jen Caughron for all her hard work. Great job all!

Mad Math Minutes
Mad Math Minutes was a big success! Our Math Maniacs raised over $5700. While we highlight special winners, we would like to thank all students and their families for their involvement—every student made a difference. And also a thanks to the teachers for making time in class for Mad Math. Mrs. Bohlman’s Second Grade class won the large Orangutan. The three other monkeys went home with: (1) Brandon Briggs, (2) Kellen Urban, and (3) Michael Ryan. You should all be proud of yourselves! Thanks also to the Paris family For the banana suit!

Capri Sun/ Terra Cycle
It is time to start saving those Capri Sun pouches. The Terra Cycle program is starting back up. Look for the container that is well marked in the multipurpose room. Any questions contact Alison Van Hoven at ziggycali@comcast.net or Lisa Puglisi.

Teacher Wish List

• The Kindergarten teachers are asking for glue sticks and Lysol wipes.
• Mrs. Cressman and Mrs. Yates are in need of Lysol Wipes
• Mrs. Di Giogio is requesting Tissues and Lysol Wipes.

We hope everyone has a fabulous Spring Break!

Download the PTO Newsletter for April 2011 (74) in PDF format.

Dates to Remember

• Tuesday, March 8th – PTO Meeting in Media Center @ 6:30 pm
• Friday, March 11th – Mad Math Minutes
• Friday, March 25th – Talent Show 6:30 pm @ Broadneck High School
• Thursday, March 31st -2 Hour Early Dismissal
• Friday, April 15th – Report Cards Go Home
• April 18th – 25th – Schools Closed for Easter/Spring Break
• Friday, April 29th – Earth Day Celebration

PTO News
We will have our next PTO meeting on March 8th at 6:30 pm in the Media Center.
There are many fun events happening in the following months, so please join us to hear about them. We hope to see you there.

Morning Drop Off
We need your help to keep morning drop off running smoothly. Please consider volunteering your time!

Mad Math Minutes
What is up with that giant banana and the cute orangutan?!? Well, the school is going wild, crazy and mad for math— with Mad Math Minutes! This is a school-wide academic fundraiser where children ask for sponsors to pledge a monetary amount for each Mad Math Minutes answer! Mad Math Minutes will be held on March 11th. That day, each child who participates will take the Mad Math Minutes test which will consist of a series of math questions. Tests will be scored and returned with the pledge sheets for a final pledge tally. Pledge sheets are due on or before that day. Pledge money will be due by March 21st. You’re CLASS can win that big orangutan!! He will live with the class that collects the most Mad Math money. But YOU can win some monkey friends to take home! Three students can win these monkeys for collecting the most individual pledge money. We hope you will join the madness! If you cannot, please cheer and support those math maniacs in your school! This fundraiser is for our future playground projects. Contact the giant banana, Leah Humphries, for questions, extra pledge sheets or to offer to volunteer on March 11th. 410-757-4532. Thank you!

Talent Show
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Talent show! It is March 25 at 7PM at Broadneck High school. Come support our students and have some fun too!

April is Earth Month
Cape St. Claire will be celebrating Earth Month in April. During the month of April, we will be holding a “Walk to School” day every Friday. Students will be learning about ways to care for the environment and will be participating in a school-wide Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 29th. Students will be painting rain barrels to be sold in the community to raise money for the tagging of our young terrapins being raised in Mrs. Yates’ class. Students in various third and fifth grade classes have begun raising bay grasses that will be planted at the CSC Main Beach later in the spring. Be sure to get your Cape Cares T-shirt and wear it every Friday during the month of April.
SAVE THE DATES!!
Friday, April 29, 2011 Spaghetti Dinner 6-8 pm and Saturday, April 30, 2011 FUN RUN 8:00 am
“ESCAPE THROUGH THE CAPE”
The Cape St. Claire PTO is once again excited to sponsor its 9th annual 5k and 1 mile fun run/walk through the Cape St. Claire community. In addition to the run, we are pleased to announce our first ever pre-race spaghetti dinner! Friday evening pick up your registration packet and enjoy dinner hosted by Noodles & Company! Details and forms for both events coming soon. If you have questions or would like to volunteer please contact: Susan Ogden (susanodgens@gmail.com) or Kerry Wilson (jeff_and_kerry@hotmail.com).

4th Grade News
Thanks to everyone who supported the 4th grade cookie dough sale. The class sold 363 boxes and raised approx $1,500.00 for their class trips. Congratulations to Mrs. Schultes’ class who won the cookie party having sold 116 boxes and to Ryan Valente who won the Target gift certificate having sold 32 boxes. Because of snow, the delivery of the cookie dough is postponed until Monday February 28. Volunteers are still needed to help sort and distribute cookie dough. Thanks so much!!!

5th Grade News
Come one, come all….Help Support 5th Grade. Please support the 5th grade by going to Menchies Frozen Yogurt in Annapolis Towne Centre on Towne Centre Blvd (at the base of Target) from Saturday March 26th to Friday, April 8.
Please mention CSC and 20% of your purchase will help support our trip to Philadelphia.
There will also be a SKATE ZONE and Pizza Hut fundraiser in April. All support is greatly appreciated.

The Walking Club
Sadly, we are unable to resume the kid popular walking club at recess time this spring. Thank you to all the parent and staff volunteers that helped out during our brief trial run.

Chess Club Update
The chess club had a great fall session, and ended with a tournament during the last two classes. The top finishers of the fall in-class tournament were: Sander Miller, Drako Alva, Ridley Hutton, Leo Brown.
TTop Girl: Paris Sistilli and Best New Student: Thales Savkli
Spring session has started and runs through May.
On Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the PTO sponsored the fifth annual Cape Chess Tournament at the Cape Clubhouse. Cape Elementary students were joined by kids from Windsor Farm Elementary and Arnold Elementary for the event. It was a fun day. The kids were very focused on their games, and participants donated pantry items for the Lighthouse Shelter. Top finishers were: Drako Alva (Cape), Sander Miller (Cape), Thales Savkli (Cape), Ridley Hutton (Cape).
Top Girl: Paris Sistilli (Cape) and Rising Star: Jack Evans (Windsor Farm)

Box Tops Update
We’re ready to send off just under 5000 box tops. We’ll have made around $850 for this school year. Thank you for all of your ripping and clipping. Every box top counts! Thank you to Mrs. Koontz’s Kindergarten Class – they counted 1200 box tops for 100 day. If you have time, please clip neatly and batch in groups of 50. Please keep bonus box tops separate. Otherwise, send them in the way that works best for you. We’ll get them ready. The next submission isn’t until October but keep sending them in.
Happy Clipping!

Download the March 2011 PTO Newsletter (24) in PDF format.

Dates To Remember

• Monday, January 31st – Dimes For Technology due
• Tuesday, February 8th – PTO Meeting 6:30 Media Center
• Friday, February 11th – Report Cards go home
• February 14th -18th – Kindness Week
• Monday, February 21st – Schools Closed – Presidents Day
• Tuesday, February 22nd – Market Day Pick-up 5:45 pm
• Wednesday, February 23rd – 5th Grade Parent Information Night @ MRMS 6:30 pm
• Friday, February 25th – Hat Day
• March 8th and 9th – MSA Testing — Reading
• March 15th and 16th – MSA Testing — Math
• Friday, March 25th- Talent Show

Happy New Year Parents! And welcome back to school. We’re so thankful for all the great stuff that’s been happening at school so far this year and can’t wait for a great second half.

On that note, one quick message: If you’ve been hoping to help or looking to get more involved in any way, please email or call or talk to any of our PTO volunteers or leaders. We’d love any help you can provide. We know that time and schedules can be a challenge, but if you’re interested, we’d love to find a way to help you make it work.

If you have offered to help in the past and have not been call upon, please know that it was an oversight or a result of us being busy. It was definitely not us wanting all the volunteering for ourselves (seriously!). Being open to everyone and helping connect with and serve all parents is a key goal of our group.

Again, Happy New Year to all. Here’s hoping our kids and our whole school community have a great 2011.
Geralyn Valente (valente94@verizon.net)

Coming soon to a playground near you!
Be on the look out for the long anticipated, new playground equipment scheduled for installation late January, early February (weather permitting). Thank you to all our Fun Run 2010 sponsors and volunteers that donated their time and money to make this possible. We could not have done it without you.

Volunteers
There has been some confusion as to what to do if there is a drill at the school while you are volunteering . Volunteers in the building should report to the nearest teacher’s room. Volunteers in the volunteer room would report to the media center with Mrs. Horton.

4th Grade Cookie Dough Sales
The 4th Graders are selling Market Day cookie dough this month . Please help them raise money for their class trip.

“Mad Math Minutes” is a fun way for your child to raise money for the school. Look for information coming home soon about this fun event.

Coming Soon…Earthwear!
This Spring, the PTO will offer a new twist to spiritwear…. Earth Day t-shirts! Wear your Earthwear t-shirts throughout the month of April and beyond to show that Cape Kids care about the Earth and the environment. Look for order forms in late February.

Talent Show
Calling all talented fourth and fifth graders! The Cape Saint Claire Talent Show is coming soon. Information will be coming home with your children in February. Try outs are scheduled for Friday March 4 at 6:30PM in the cafeteria. The talent show will be at Broadneck High School on March 25. Start working on your performances! We can’t wait to see all the great talent in our school!

Afternoon Pick-up
In an ongoing effort to improve the parking situation at our school, we wanted to offer some helpful tips. Parking in the circle is at a premium, as we all know, but if we can all make an effort to follow these guidelines, more parents can park in the circle lot, which is especially helpful during these cold, wet months.

When you pull into the circle, please either back all the way up to the cone (near the portable) or pull all the way up to the front cone (parallel to the bus circle). Subsequent cars should back up or pull forward to a reasonable distance from the previously parked car. Obviously we don’t want people bumper to bumper, but there is no need to leave eight feet between cars. This takes up valuable space that could accommodate other parents. Please also be aware of the crosswalks. These need to be clear and accessible. Lastly, please remember that we absolutely cannot double park, stop in the “left lane” of the circle, or park in the handicapped spots without proper tags.

With a little effort, everyone can benefit from the improved parking situation at our school. Thank you for your help.

Feel free to download a copy of the PTO Newsletter – Jan/Feb 2011 (39)