Hanawalt Staff Wish List

This year the PTA is not coordinating a classroom gift. Please never feel obligated to get your child’s teacher a gift, but if you want to buy one, here is a list of items the teacher needs.

Kindergarten
Mrs. Genzen, Ms. Heemstra and Mrs. Revell

• Colorful dry erase markers


• Brightly colored card stock


• Gift certificate to Office Max, Office Depot, Target, Learning Post and bookstores


• Indoor games

1st Grade
Mrs. Wade

• Gift certificate to Target, WalMart and Learning Post


• Stickers


• Dry erase markers in neat colors

Mrs. Nordmeyer

• Gift certificate to bookstores & Learning Post

2nd Grade
Mrs. Von Arb

• Indoor recess games


• Gift certificate to the Learning Post, WalMart, Target or Scholastic


• Expo dry erase markers

Mrs. Olivetta

• Pencils


• Glue sticks


• Gift certificate to bookstores and Learning Post


• White copy paper

3rd grade
Mr. Tutt

• Retail gift certificate where books and supplies are sold


• Flash cards—addition, subtraction and multiplication

Mrs. Carpenter

• Chapter books


• CD player and headphones


• Carpenter cash items


• Gift certificate to Walgreens and Shutterfly to develop photos.

Mrs. Esch

• Chapter books


• Gift certificates to Learning Post


• Sharpie markers—all colors


• Post-It Notes


• Bookmarks (paper ones)


• Educational math games for 4th and 5th grade from Learning Post


• Large calculators


• 6 sided/8 sided dice


• Deck of cards


• Double and triple dice


• Decks of cards


• Magnetic clips


• Indoor recess games

4th grade
Mr. Lovell and Mrs. Thomas

• #2 pencils


• Computer paper


• Red pens


• Note cards


• Board and card games for indoor recess


• Sticky notes


• Gift certificate to Learning Post, Office Max, Borders and Target

Mrs. Yeager

• Bright copy paper


• Wide-clear tape


• #2 pencils


• Gift certificates to any bookstore, office supply store or Target

5th grade
Mr. Gillaspey

• Printing paper in bright colors


• Indoor recess games that can be played in 15 minutes (cards, Connect Four, Battleship, etc.)


• Gift certificate to Borders, Office Max and Target

Mr. Garvey

• Crayola markers


• Dry erase markers


• Gift certificate to Learning Post, Borders, Barnes & Noble and Best Buy (for computer speakers)

Mrs. Hesse

• Sharpies


• Colored bright copy paper and/or card stock


• Pilot ink pens (blue, purple, pink, green)


• #2 pencils


• Zip-lock bags (all sizes)


• Dry erase markers


• Gift certificate to WalMart, Target and Barnes & Noble


• Indoor recess games

Administration
Mr. Burg and Mrs. Hutton

• Tissues — for all to use


• Pens — blue, black and red


• #2 pencils for ITBS tests


• Post-It Notes — small and medium


• AA batteries


• Manila file folders and assorted file folders


• Yellow highlighters


• Copy paper


• Permanent black Sharpie markers

Custodians

• Pliers and screwdrivers


• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges

Nurse

• XS sweat pants

P.E./ Mr. Baker

• Gift certificate for sports items


• Grass seed for field


• Kleenex

Music/ Mrs. Looney

• Colorful copy paper


• Crayons


• Gift certificate to bookstore

Art/Mrs. McKenzie

• Gallon of glue


• Black permanent Sharpie markers


• Solid colors of cotton fabric for weaving (1-2 yards per color)


• Masking tape


• Paper plates—small and large


• Ziploc bags, quart and gallon


• Pipe cleaners


• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges


• Neon colored paper


• Gift certificate to Borders, Michaels, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Lowes

Resource teachers
Mr. Carter

• Pencils


• Pocket folders


• Printer paper


• Flash cards—colors, numbers, letters, shapes


• Gift certificate to Learning Post, Office Max, Office Depot

Mrs. Kerr

• Tissues


• Paper plates, small and large


• Dry erase markers


• Box of 24 crayons


• Post-It notes, small


• Flash cards, alpha, shapes, number


• Heat seal laminating paper


• Gift certificate to office supply store or Learning Post

Ms. Dean

• Glue sticks


• Crayola markers


• Educational computer games


• Stickie notes


• Gallon size baggies


• Books for class library


• Gift certificate to Learning Post or book stores

Ms. Caskey

• Lysol wipes


• Pocket folders


• Tissues


• Wide-lined loose-leaf paper


• Printer paper


• Gift certificate to Office Max, or Learning Post

News From The Principal

As we approach the completion of the first quarter of the calendar year I want to remind parents of the appreciation staff have for the dedication you have regarding the success of your student. Setting routines, communicating expectations, and discussing educational goals have a long-term impact on the values youth have regarding education. The unique partnership that Hanawalt staff, students, and parents have developed over time is a constant that perpetuates the expectation of high academic and social success. Successful organizations are a product of the combined efforts of all stakeholders. The consistently positive focus that you have reinforced with your students has guided us toward that end. Thank you. Reciprocally, I want to remind staff of the appreciation that parents have shared regarding your dedication to the academic and social success of your students. It is not unique to observe staff taking additional time to meet with students before school, during the noon hour, or after school because of a staff observed need. These events are not required or expected but self-initiated because of the sincere devotion of staff to the profession and to the community. Thank you. Recent Hanawalt Highlights:

• All staff members have began to focus on implementing a new writing curriculum into classrooms. Being a Writer is a curriculum purchased by the district that is being implemented across the district.
• The technology committee has continued to refine schedules in order to offer computer lab options for all k-5 classrooms. Third grade classroom teachers have continued to explore software and web-based options for teaching word processing with students. In addition, several staff members have began to create unique classroom websites to communicate events from the classroom. Please feel free to provide feedback to staff about the positive impact and effectiveness of these tools. Thank you to Mr. Garvey, Mrs. Hesse, Mrs. Esch, Ms. Vikki, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Wade, and Ms. Genzen for their efforts to incorporate this technology.
• The leadership team has organized and led professional development sessions with all staff members regarding a revisit of Hanawalt’s Shared Vision. Outcomes from the work of the staff will be used when making decisions about all programming at Hanawalt.

PTA Board Meetings

The PTA Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at high Noon in the community room. These meetings are open to everyone. However, if you cannot attend these meetings, please feel free to contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com or Martha Miller Johnson at marthamillerjohnson@gmail.com with any questions.

Field Trips

One of the most important things the PTA does is support field trips. As you know, many classes have gone on field trips since school started. Students have been to the Civic Center, Living History Farms and other places off campus to enhance their learning. Your generous donations help pay for tickets and/or transportation for all Hanawalt students.

Web Site - One of the Best

Hanawalt has been recognized as one of the best PTA sites in our region! Many thanks to parents Cheryl Thompson, Travis Thompson, and Julie Brandt for the efforts with the website and newsletter.

You can see other great blogs in our region here at: www.teachersalaryinfo.com/top-teacher-blogs/top-pta-ptsa-midwest/

Hanawalt Sprit Wear

Need a gift idea? We have one. Why not buy your son or daughter (or yourself) a Hanawalt hoodie? We are feeling so good about our school that we want everyone to know about it so the PTA will be selling Hanawalt hoodies, T-shirts and flannel pants around Nov. 1. The logo will be the fierce Hanawalt hawk that is on the Block Party T-shirts that all students received last month. Samples of the clothes will be on display in the lobby so look for these soon!

Poinsettias for Sale!

Brrrrr. The weather is getting colder and that means the holidays are coming. Students brought home a flyer this week announcing a poinsettia sale. The same people who sell us those amazing plants during the spring flower sale are offering poinsettias. Orders are due by 3:00 p.m. on November 9. Delivery of plants will be on November 22—just in time to be part of your holiday décor or a great hostess gift.

We have a wide variety to choose from:
• 8" (3 branches with 9-12 blooms) $18
• 6.5" (1 branch with four or six blooms) $10
• 5" (1 branch with 3-5 blooms) $7
• 4.5" (1 branch with 1 bloom) $5
• 4.5" Christmas Cactus $8

Please note that a line for your name and phone number was inadvertently left off the order form - please add that to the form when you return it to the mailbox. Return the form (with your contact info) and your check or cash in an envelope to the mailbox by the music room. Please contact Cheryl Thompson at 971-7787 or Cheryl@tasty-treats.com if you have any questions. All money raised will be put in the PTA General Fund.

Updated flyer can be found here

Parking Patrol Update

The morning drop-off is going very smoothly! Thanks to all the parents and students for making this happen.

As winter approaches, please keep in mind the hills around Hanawalt make driving interesting particularly during and immediately after a snow fall. Because of the limitation of what we can do, we suggest you make a "snow plan."

Robertson (the street in front of the school) is typically our biggest issue. If you know you will have problems getting up the hills, we suggest you drop off your child along 56th, have them walk down to the cross walk at Robertson. They will be able to safely cross there. You will be able to go straight and take a right on 28th street and go back to Grand Ave. One of the reasons this works well is the grade of the hill is less.

If school is dismissed early because of bad weather, there will be volunteers out front directing traffic to ensure traffic continues one way down Robertson -- just like drop-off. The reason for this is keep traffic flowing. In previous winters, the hill in front of the school gets very slick. Plus, to keep traffic going in one direction, it gives us the opportunity to create alternate plans if we have an accident. Early Outs - for pick up on early outs due to inclement weather, talk to your child about your "snow plan." This may include meeting you somewhere besides the front of the school. Please remember we are only trying to ensure everyone gets to and from school safely. Unfortunately our options are limited, so patience is important.

Coins for Computers

As we work towards bringing more technology to Hanawalt, we are encouraging students to bring spare change to school on Fridays. On any given Friday we’ll collect between $30-$50, and it is deposited into a designated technology account. Thanks so much for donating all that change, and keep it coming!

New Student Registration

All students who are new to Des Moines Public Schools must register at the District Office prior to attending school. Legal parents or guardians must complete all appropriate forms, provide all required documents, and be a resident of the district in order to register. New families can start registering at the Welcome Center on November 29, 2010. For more information on the district please go to www.dmps.k12.ia.us.

Kindergarten News

It has been a busy fall in the Hanawalt Kindergarten Classes. We have been studying trees and the weather. The beautiful fall leaves have helped the students learn about the changes in the seasons and what happens to the trees. The trees have also been helpful in learning our colors and color words. With the changes in our weather, we will soon discover how the different weather affects our lives and activities.

A guest speaker from the Des Moines Public Water Department came to talk with us about how important water is to us. We learned about many different ways that we use water every day. We also learned about all the different foods that have water in them. The class discovered that we need to have a lot of water to live.

First Grade News

First graders at Hanawalt were recently visited by Gail Peckumn from the Des Moines Water Works. Students were introduced to the water cycle and how the water is cleaned for us to use. Students learned about the importance of water conservation, and not adding pollutants. They learned that water can be cleaned through a multi-step process, including the use of rocks cleaning water. This in class visit was a great culmination to our science hands-on study of pebbles, sand, and silt. We appreciate the opportunity to have these types of programs provided by the Urban Environmental Partnership.

We are very excited about the implementation of a new district writing program, “Being a Writer.” Students are learning how we work as a community to become better writers. As we move through the writing program, students will be sharing their work with one another in order to help each other make their writing pieces even better. We look forward to a year of great writing. Please ask your child to share some of the topics they have been writing about in class.

Second Grade News

In November our Hanawalt second graders will learn all about the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World in 1620. We will make a book about the Thanksgiving story and also one about turkeys. We will meet an Iowa farmer and learn all about his turkey farm. All second graders will make the Mayflower and find out through books and discussions what a hard life these Pilgrims endured for 66 days on this ship. We will be reading many nonfiction books that will teach us about this important part of our country’s history.

Fifth Grade News

In American History fifth graders investigate the American Revolution. To enhance their knowledge of a major contributor to the formation of our country Hanawalt fifth graders are planning a field trip to the Applause performance of “Ben Franklin” on October 21 at the Temple for the Performing Arts.

Fifth graders are also participating in a pen pal program with classrooms of students in Germany, Italy, Indonesia, and Sweden. The students write to each other trading information about themselves and their cultures. The students also the opportunity to Skype with their pen pals to actually see them in person and talk with them.

Other News

This year Hanawalt special education students again can participate in an adapted physical education class. During this class, students are working on developing large motor skills and hand-eye coordination at a variety of stations. The favorite station of the students incorporates the newly purchased Wii and Wii Fit. When at the Wii station, students are working on developing their core muscles through a hula hoop activity. Other stations include a bean bag toss, the log roll, and balance boards. Following conferences students will be taught new stations. The new stations will include brain gym movements and activities that are associated with the PE for Life grant that Hanawalt was recently awarded.

Thank you from the Art Studio

Thank you for continuing to send your recyclable materials to the art studio. Cardboard tubes, paper sacks, and egg cartons are favorites. We also welcome any donations of masking tape for building with these materials. We will begin working with clay in January. We are collecting plastic gallon ice cream containers with lids for that unit. If you are an ice cream lover, please save and send your containers to the art studio! Have a wonderful autumn!

Go for a walk in the leaves with your child. Smell and listen to the sounds of nature. Look for colors, shapes, and shadows.

Enjoy! Sally McKenzie, Art

P.E. News

The PE4Life team headed by Mr. Baker has received observation requests from across the state. Teachers, board members, curriculum coordinators, athletes, and coaches from Iowa City, Sioux Falls, Marion, Decorah, and The University of Iowa (Karl Klug-University of Iowa football player) have visited and observed the unique programming that Hanawalt offers students. Yet another reason why Hanawalt is considered to be a cutting edge elementary campus. Feel free to view a recent story through this link. http://www.kcci.com/news/25316114/detail.html

Junior Rider Wrestling Information

If you are interested in the Junior Rider Wrestling program please contact Jay Groth, Roosevelt High School Head Wrestling Coach. Jay can be reached at 242-7272 ext. 3396 or ext. 3769. Practice beings November 22, and practices and meets will continue until February 14, 2011. The program is open for kindergarten through 8th grade.

Kid Striders

The Kid Striders program started out as a big hit with the kids. We have had several complete 2 miles running on the outdoor track. It has been fun to see the enthusiasm they have for running and walking. As parents, you can help them retain that enthusiasm all year long. We sent home a form a few weeks ago. You can track 5 miles at home this year, and another 5 miles next year, by the end of March, 2011. Please fill these out and return them back to school, to Mr. Baker.

Currently we are still running outdoors, when the weather allows. All grades can run, and we are there
M-W-F from 11:50 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The weather will determine when the indoor schedule begins.

Once the weather turns cold and snowy, we will begin running indoors. This year there is a conflict with gym time and lunch recess. Because of the extra class schedule for Mr. Baker this year, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will not have gym time over lunch. This means we have to offer them time to run for the Kid Striders program before and after school. We are offering them the option of Tuesday and Thursdays, before and after school. Designated times are from 7:30-8:00 a.m., and from 3:15-3:45 p.m. We are asking the kids to designate which day/days and times work best for them/you. Please discuss this with them, and they can find a signup sheet in their classroom. Having an idea of how many students could be running each time offered, will help assure we have enough volunteers to work.

Speaking of volunteers, we are looking for more parents to work these time slots. They are all short snip-its of time, so hopefully you can find one to work with your schedule. We could use your help as often as once a week, or as little as once a month. Please let me know if you are interested. –Cathy Kramer, 314-7335 or ckdesigns1@msn.com.

Indoor Schedule:
Monday: Kindergarten from 11:50-12:15 p.m.
Tuesday: 7:30-8:00 a.m.
Tuesday: 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Wednesday: 1st Graders from 12:00-12:25 p.m.
Thursday 7:30-8:00 a.m.
Thursday: 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Friday: 2nd Graders from 12:05-12:25 p.m.

Final Week to Order Holiday Plants

The grower who supplies our spring flowers has presented us the opportunity to also offer their Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus plants to our Hanawalt Community. Every year in the spring we always have people who wished they had ordered their spring and summer flowers-they are that beautiful!!

Don’t miss your chance to add some color and holiday spirit to your home.
There are several sizes and colors available, all pots are wrapped in assorted colored foil. These would also make awesome hostess gifts for the holidays!
All orders are due next Tuesday 11-09-10

Sorry no late orders can be processed. Downlaod a copy of the order form here and return the form to the PTA mailbox. The PTA mailbox will be checked after school on the 9th at 3 pm and we will submit those orders to the greenhouse.

News From Principal Burg

Based on enrollment Hanawalt was granted a full time in-class math and literacy collaborator to work primarily in grades two and five. Tara Niesen’s preservice teaching experience occurred in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Please help in welcoming her to the community.

Mr. Garner has been given the opportunity to work at another campus in Des Moines. We appreciate everything that he's done during his tenure at Hanawalt and wish him the best.

Various programs are beginning at Hanawalt including the Literacy Army, Spanish and French, Girl and Boy Scouts, Junior Great Books, Sally Foster Fundraiser, Book Fair, and much more. Thank you to all the parents, teachers, and community volunteers who have worked to offer these opportunities to our students.

Wednesday adjusted dismissal days have been extremely rigorous and productive for Hanawalt teachers. To ensure a focused and comprehensive professional development plan, Hanawalt has constructed a year-long agenda that specifically targets key concepts and strategies to improve the academic experience and performance of all students. To date teachers have:

• Analyzed student data in the areas of mathematics and literacy as collaborative teams to identify SMART goals that will anchor professional learning for adults and adjusted instructional practices for students.
• Examined the relationship between the Iowa Core Curriculum and the national Model Core Curriculum.
• Worked in collaborative teams to form the foundation of a multi-year focus on technology integration. Led by the technology committee (Mr. Garvey, Mr. Gillaspey Mrs. Hesse, and Mrs. Heemestra), staff began to highlight core objectives that students should acquire by specific grades.
• Collaborated with district technology leaders to institutionalize practices that allow teachers to instruct more efficiently using SharePoint, a content management system used to facilitate collaboration, provide content management features, implement business/educational processes, and supply access to essential information.
• Provided with access to a national spokesman (Jason Pittman) on contemporary methods to integrate technology into the classroom. His expertise has provided an innovative perspective on how information technology can heighten the educational experience of students while equipping them with employable skills as adults.

A big thank you to the parents, teachers, and students who were involved in organizing the Hanawalt Block Party. These events, united with the values and customs of Hanawalt, combine to define our culture which is a demonstration to the public that we value community, relationships, and unity. A sincere thank you for your on-going dedication and support of Hanawalt's mission to remain a holistically preeminent elementary campus.

– Andrew Burg, Principal

Thank You! In past month, we’ve thrown a lot at Hanawalt parents and you have responded beyond our wildest expectations! Make no mistake, parents are a key ingredient to making our school great and you are doing your part.

Block Party
On October 1, we hosted the first annual Hanawalt Block Party. It was a twist on the traditional Hanawalk but with less fundraiser and more fun. We had more than 50 parent and teacher volunteers, which truly demonstrates that many hands make light work. Thanks so much to all of you, particularly Kristen Hall who committed many hours alongside our presidents-elect Mary Mouw and Rose Green to make this an amazing event.

Some quick numbers. . .

• $900.00 was raised for our technology fund at the dunk tank. Thanks to teachers Mr. Garvey, Mrs. Hesse, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Olivetta and Mr. Tutt who braved the beautiful, but cool fall night.
• $160.00 was raised in free will donations. This money will be deposited into the general fund and used for things such as field trips, Helping Hands, classroom supplies and Day in the Arts.
• $2,100.00 was raised in the book fair. Proceeds will be used to purchase new books for the library.

Sally Foster
On Wednesday, September 29, the Sally Foster Fundraiser came home with students. Students have been selling Sally Foster gift wrap with great success for several years. The program changed a bit this year, but it still offers the same quality gift wrap as always.

While the gift cards are a great idea for you to purchase and give to others so they may buy online, you do not have to buy a gift card to place an order. Simply go to www.sallyfoster.com to do that. You’ll need to use your debit or credit card to complete the transaction. You will be promoted to give a school code — 242651. Even if you forget our number, you can look up Hanawalt online. Either way, we will receive 40% of the proceeds from your order. So don’t forget to credit the school!

The idea behind the gift cards is to lessen load for students — no more schlepping heavy boxes home to deliver. All orders, except the cookie dough, will be shipped directly to the person placing the order. Cookie dough orders will be available for pick up on Nov. 12. We’ll need some help that day to hand out cookie dough. If you can help out, please contact Kay Smith at kayfentonsmith@msn.com

Upcoming events and clubs
New programs start in October. They include:

• Junior Great Books for grades 2-5
• Chess Club at 7:30 a.m. every Friday for all grades
• Literacy Army. Volunteers are still needed. Contact Jodie Yon at 249-4116 or Sue Hetherington at 255-1540 for more information.

Directories
If you ordered a school directory on Meet the Teacher night, we anticipate they will be ready for distribution in mid-October. If you did not place an order, but still would like to, please drop $5 with your student’s name and homeroom in the PTA box no later than Friday, October 8.

More Fundraising News
Thanks to all who participated in the Non-Fundraising Fundraiser. If you haven’t dropped off your donations, it’s not too late. Just put it in the PTA mailbox. We raised more than $2,500 to be used towards Day in the Arts, field trips, classroom supplies and much more!

Along with Sally Foster, these represent our fall fundraisers. We have two opportunities left — the Spelling Challenge following winter break and the spring flower sale.

Please remember that the Hanawalt PTA is a 501(c)(3), which means your contribution may be tax deductable. We also have the capability of completing matching funds forms from your employer. If you need a receipt or more information, please contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com or Martha Miller Johnson at marthamillerjohnson@gmail.com.

October - Dates To Remember

13 Conferences — classes will be held; 90-minute adjusted dismissal for all students. Teachers on duty from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. for conferences

14 Conferences - no classes. Teachers on duty from 12:15 p.m. until 8 p.m. for conferences.

15 No classes

Attendance Policy Reminders For Elementary and Middle School

You have been previously provided with a copy of the revised Attendance Policy. There are a few key points we’d like to stress. Please remember that you must let your child’s school know that he or she will be absent within 24 hours of the absence. Also, please carefully review the list of what are excused and unexcused absences. If you wish to take your child out of school for a vacation or non-related school event, the absence will be unexcused. You should also be aware that tardies and early withdrawals may accumulate toward a full day’s absence. Attendance in school is critical to a child’s education progress and the revised policy emphasizes this fact. If you need a copy of the policy or if you have questions, please contact the office. – Andrew Burg, Principal

School Supply Closet

This year, the PTA is managing a school supply closet. The idea is to provide supplies to those students who were unable to bring their own, as well as provide an "emergency supply" for all students. Hopefully this will mean fewer notes home to replace lost supplies. If you'd like to contribute to the supply closet, we are in need of ink pens -- blue, black and red. Contributions can be put in the PTA mailbox or dropped off at the office. For more information, contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com

Remember Your Box Tops!

Don't forget to clip your General Mills box tops. Box tops can be returned to the PTA mailbox any time you get tired of them floating around your kitchen. This is an easy way to contribute to the PTA. We gather all the box tops and submit them to General Mills for cash that will be used for things such as field trips, Day in the Arts and more.

News From The Classroom - 1st Grade

With the first weeks of school completed we are off to a wonderful start to a great year of learning in first grade. Students are getting back into the routine learning expectations and new responsibilities. One of the most exciting changes this year for students in K-2 is the additional instructional time in music, art, and physical education. In music, Mrs. Looney is integrating poetry learned in the classroom into the musical classroom, adding a new rhythm and movement. Mr. Baker is teaching new brain gym movements to facilitate learning that we will also use in the classroom to increase time on task. In art, Mrs. McKenzie teaches first graders how to utilize art to increase their comprehension of reading texts. By working together, we can learn from each other and grow more as learners.

News From The Classroom - 2nd Grade

Reader’s Workshop is a very important part of our morning in second grade. It gives each student the opportunity to read a book at their level and practice the reading strategies we are learning this year. We will be learning strategies to increase and improve our comprehension, accuracy and fluency. We are also learning that by reading each day we will expand our vocabulary and continue to become better readers.

News From The Classroom - 3rd Grade

The Hanawalt Third Graders are already busy learning lots of new things! We are working with numbers in math learning about place value and rounding. In reading, we are finishing up a unit on adventure. We have enjoyed reading several stories with characters who encounter adventures in a variety of ways. In Writer’s Workshop, the students are learning how to write good paragraphs. Ask them how hamburgers relate to a paragraph. Students are learning about water in science. We’ve learned that it is an earth material and have done an experiment to find out how water reacts on different surfaces. Later this fall we will take a field trip to Water Works Park to learn how we get our water that we drink. Here’s what a few kids have to say about third grade so far:
Kade says he likes math and learning his facts.
Elmin is excited about the Bloomcamp Relays this spring.
Cindy says she likes all of the reading time she gets.

News From The Classroom - 4th Grade

The fourth grade students are off to a terrific start. In science the fourth graders have been studying the Human Body. We were able to take apart an owl-pellet and see what was inside. Then we put the bones together and found out what kind of small animal the owls had eaten. It was stinky, but lots of fun. We used our joints in different ways to observe how an immobilized or stiff joint can affect everyday activities. We will soon be learning about our muscles and finally our coordination of eyes to hands and eyes to feet. The Human Body has been fascinating for all.

We are coming upon our first field trip to Living History Farms. We will be taking a walking tour of the farms and learning to understand historical patterns, periods of time, and the relationships among these elements. Questions we will ask would be how did towns in Iowa develop? Why did certain businesses appear before others? What does the blacksmith do for the people who would live in and around the town of Walnut Hill? LHF is a fun learning experience for everyone.

Parents/Guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their children in another public school district in the state of Iowa should be aware of the following dates:

March 1, 2011 is the last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2011-2012 school year. September 1, 2011 is the last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students and those students falling under the “good cause” definition for the 2011-2012 school year. To insure that the transfer of individual students does not adversely affect the diversity plan of the District, certain limitations to open enrollment have been established. Parents of kindergarten students are therefore encouraged to make application requests prior to March 1, 2011.

TRANSPORTATION:

Parents/Guardians of students open enrolled from another school district are eligible for transportation assistance if the household income of the parent/guardian is at or below the federal poverty guidelines for household size. The two districts must be contiguous. Assistance may be in the form of actual transportation or in the form of a cash stipend. Information regarding transportation eligibility and a complete copy of the District’s open enrollment policy and procedures may be obtained from the Open Enrollment Office, 901 Walnut St., Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3506

Bicycle Etiquette 101

When your student chooses to ride his or her bike to school please reinforce the following safety reminders:

• You must walk your bike at all times when on school grounds
• Helmets keep you safe and should be worn at all times
• Use a bike lock
• When riding your bike on the very narrow sidewalks always inform walkers when you are approaching them from behind. Politely stating, “On your left,” alerts a walker that you will pass them on the left side. This helps to ensure both individuals are safe.

Literacy Army

Literacy Army is a group of parents and community volunteers who work with Hanawalt students on building better reading skills. Time commitment – 30-45 minutes a week. Volunteers are assigned a student at the beginning of the year, and then work individually with that student utilizing reading materials and learning games that are provided by the teacher and Literacy Army coordinators. There is a brief training session all new Literacy Army volunteers are expected to attend. For more information please contact Sue Hetherington sahetherington@msn.com or Jodie Yon jodiesevier@mchsi.com.

Magical Musical Tour Day - Week of September 27

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be starting Magical Musical Tour Day the week of September 27th. This is affectionately known as “Tour Day”. This special day happens 5-6 times a year. Students share music with each other during music class. There are 2 parts to Tour Day, performing and listening.

Performing – Students may; play a piece or song on an instrument, sing, read a poem, or dance. The piece must be performance ready (not just in the learning stage) and Mrs. Looney must OK dances (2 minutes). Students get a chance to learn how to be performers and how to be a good audience.

Listening – Students sign up to bring a CD, ipod, tape or record by a favorite group. The language and topic of the music must be appropriate. Students learn how to sharpen their listening skills. They listen for the type of music, the instruments playing, vocals, and much more.

Instruments and CDs may be stored in the music room for safe- keeping. Please do not leave instruments or CDs in the lockers.

Art Request - Your Trash Is Our Treasure

Please consider saving and sending your recyclables to the Art Studio! Young artists look forward to using the materials and their imagination to build sculptures. When sending materials, please make sure they are rinsed and dry. Do not send metal cans or anything with sharp edges. Thank you for helping us collect interesting materials to use! We can put any of the following materials to use:

• Egg cartons
• Cardboard cereal boxes
• Cardboard paper towel/toilet paper rolls
• Styrofoam meat trays
• Small cardboard pieces
• Plastic vegetable trays
• Small plastic containers and lids
• Ribbon, yarn, buttons, jewels
• Anything you think has creative possibilities!

Which Day Does Your Child Have Art?

Kindergarten Mrs. Genzen – Tues & Wed Mrs. Heemstra – Tues & Fri Ms. Revell – Mon & Thurs	1st Grade Mrs. Nordmeyer – Mon & Fri Mrs. Wade – Mon & Thurs	2nd Grade Mrs. Olivetta – Wed & Fri Mrs. Von Arb – Tues & Fri
3rd Grade Mrs. Carpenter – Mon & Tues Mrs. Esch – Thurs & Fri Mr. Tutt – Tues & Thurs	4th Grade Mr. Lovell – Tues & Wed Mrs. Thomas – Mon & Thurs Mrs. Yeager – Wed & Fri	5th Grade Mr. Garvey - Tues & Fri Mr. Gillaspey – Mon & Thurs Mrs. Hesse – Mon & Wed

Please note the day that your child has art, and help them dress with art in mind. Sometimes accidents happen, and children become very concerned if they are wearing a new, or special article of clothing. I appreciate your help in making their art experience a positive one!

Literacy Army is a rewarding opportunity to feel involved at Hanawalt!

Literacy Army is a group of parents and community volunteers who work with Hanawalt students on building better reading skills. Time commitment; 30-45 minutes a week. Volunteers are assigned a student at the beginning of the year, and then work individually with that student utilizing reading materials and learning games that are provided by the teacher and Literacy Army coordinators.

There is a brief training session all new Literacy Army volunteers are expected to attend.

For more information please contact Sue Hetherington (sahetherington@msn.com) or Jodie Yon (jodiesevier@mchsi.com).

Welcome Prinicpal Berg!!

Dear Hanawalt Parents, Students, and Staff,

As the summer break has come to an end, the excitement of a new school has begun. It has been a busy summer with various activities and investments being made to continue the lasting tradition of excellence at Hanawalt. A brief recap includes:

• Camp Invention led by Hanawalt staff served nearly 100 elementary students from around the metro


• Steps taken to realize Hanawalt’s ongoing vision of increased technology access including a full-service computer lab (coming during the 2010-2011 school year!


• Additional arrival of various classroom technologies including projectors and document cameras


• Completion of a $25,000 technology grant proposal by PTA representatives


• Beautification committee/community volunteers managed various projects to improve the aesthetic appeal of Hanawalt’s campus


• Ordered, organized and distributed school supplies from Staples by PTA representatives


• Ordered new physical education resources through the PE4Life grant


• Summer tutoring by various staff members


• Addition of a ½ time literacy leader position

Addition of new staff members/programs for the 2010-2011 academic year:

Mr. Burg (Principal)
Mr. Chamberlain (Autism Associate)
Ms. Dean (Special Education)
Mrs. Gaylord-Crispin (Autism)
Mr. Hansen (Band)
Mrs. Johnson (Literacy Leader) NEW Position
Mrs. Kearney (Orchestra/Strings)
Mrs. Morris (Counselor)
Mrs. Roberts (Autism Associate)
Mrs. Sowers-Geisler (Social Worker)


Additional Reminders/Announcements:

• Drop-off/pick-up procedures will continue as established during 2009-2010 school year


• Morning cafeteria supervision will begin on the first day of school. All students will be welcomed into the cafeteria and supervised by staff at 7:50. For the safety of all students, drop-off may not occur before this time unless students are attending Metro Kids before school day care. From 7:50-8:05 students will independently read at a table assigned to his or her grade. This is an effort to capture an additional fifteen minutes of independent reading to support an increase in fluency and comprehension proficiency.


• Students will receive new lunch numbers starting this fall. Look for an envelope at the beginning of the year and please help your student memorize this number as soon as possible.


• DMPS revised an outdated student attendance policy. Information will be on the DMPS website and sent home with your student.


• Riding a bicycle or walking to school is a healthy life choice and can ease traffic congestion before and after school. If you choose this mode of transportation, it is essential for parents/guardians to encourage and practice safe traveling habits with your student. No bicycle age requirement will be established unless warranted in the future.


• A recently passed Edujobs bill by congress has secured funds that enabled Hanawalt to retain full time Art, Music, and Physical Education. This current plan will increase the amount of time students are involved in Fine Arts and Physical Education from 45 to 90 minutes per week for each subject.


• Please consider joining the PTA. Questions regarding the association can be directed to co-presidents Martha Miller-Johnson and Lisa Russell.

It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Hanawalt community. Thank you in advance for your on-going efforts to improve the academic and social experiences of all Hanawalt students. I look forward to meeting each of you and am excited to continue in the work of providing a world-class education for your child.
-Mr. Burg, Principal

September Dates to Remember

6 Labor Day - no classes, offices closed
7 School Board Meeting
8 School Pictures
24 Staff development for teachers - no student classes

Updates from PTA Co-Presidents

Welcome back!

As we get ready for another great year at Hanawalt, we want to take a minute to thank all the people who make Hanawalt great – the teachers, staff and parents who work together to make the student experience top-notch.

We have a lot of fun planned during the next few months. In addition to fundraising, which is one of the most important functions of PTA, we are also planning FUN activities to bring us together as a community. That’s what the Boo Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast was all about. If you missed it, we hosted a coffee hour the first three days of school. We were thrilled to see so many new faces among the familiar.

As we move into the school year, we plan to balance the fundraising with other activities. The calendar as we see it so far …

Week of September 8
• The Nonfundraiser Fundraiser
• School photos

Week of September 27
• Sally Foster Fundraiser goes home with students
• Hanawalt Block Party (this is a new-look Hanawalk without the fundraiser attached)

We continue to look for parents to help out in a variety of capacities. We recognize that life is busy and many hands make for light work – or at least that’s what my mom used to say. We have lots of different opportunities that might work into your schedule. If you’d like to be added to our list, contact Martha Miller Johnson at marthamillerjohnson@gmail.com

We aren’t even a week into the school year, and there’s so much that has already happened. The school supplies that were pre-ordered last year arrived and were on the appropriate desks for Meet the Teacher night. With left over supplies and generous donations, we have started a school supply closet that teachers can access at their discretion.

And, we’ve worked closely with Principal Burg to kick-off a computer lab that will be online by mid-September. There’s much more around the technology initiative that will be sent out in the coming weeks, but it is all very exciting.

So again, this is your PTA. If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact either of the co-presidents – Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com or Martha Miller Johnson at marthamillerjohnson@gmail.com.

School Photos - Wednesday, September 8

Get ready, smile! - The annual school portraits are scheduled for Wednesday, September 8. Forms will be sent home with student shortly. Remember, these are the more “traditional” shots that will go in the yearbook. You pre-order the package and it will be delivered in October. Even if you don’t order a package, your student will receive a composite photo.

There will be a second opportunity for photos next spring. This shot is more informal – some might even say fun. These are just “extra” photos and will not be used for the yearbook. If you have any questions about photos, please contact the school office.

Check the Backpacks for Club and Activity Information

Watch the backpacks for information about clubs and other activities that will be starting up throughout the month of September. There’s a lot happening – Chess Club, Foreign Language, Junior Great Books and much, much more!

PTA Membership

Didn’t have a chance to run by the PTA table on Meet the Teacher night? You still have a chance to join PTA for $10. Your membership is not a commitment to volunteer (unless you’d like to). The membership dues are used to offset the costs of the many student-centric activities we sponsor such as field trips, Day in the Art, technology, Helping Hands and much, much more. If you’d like to join, drop a check or cash into envelope with your name into the PTA mailbox.

Hanawalt Block Party Coming October 1!

Bounce houses, live music, food, a dunk tank and the annual run down Robertson are some of the fun activities planned for the block party on the evening of Friday, October 1. Bring your family, neighbors and enjoy the Hanawalt Community. More information to come …

Soup Lables, Box Tops and Corporate Matching, Oh My...

The PTA continues to be aware of how often we ask you to open your wallets to support the many activities we sponsor. While we appreciate EVERY dollar you generously donate, there are other ways to help. This includes cutting out Box Tops on specially marked General Mills products, as well as Campbell Soup labels. All you have to do is collect the box tops and soup labels, slip them into an envelope and drop them into the PTA mailbox any Friday during the school year. Our school coordinator then takes care of submitting them periodically throughout the year to the appropriate programs for cash to be used for technology, field trips, Day in the Arts and special school assemblies.

In addition, because the PTA is a 501(c)(3), we typically qualify for Corporate Matching Programs. Be sure to maximize your donation if your company has such a program. Documentation can be provided upon request. For more information, contact Lisa Russell at lisa@scubacreative.com

News From The Principal and PTA President

Well it looks like Spring might actually come after all! Hanawalt and the PTA have a lot of fun planned through the end of the year. Some dates to mark on your calendar (don’t forget you can always access the PTA/school Calendar at hanawaltpta.blogspot.com) that you won’t want to miss are:

3-04-2010 Roosevelt’s Bridges to Harmony choir will be performing in the gym at 1:00 p.m.

3-09-2010 Spring photos will be taken beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Weitz Commons. Only students who return the form with payment will have their pictures taken.

3-11-2010 Kindergarten registration is from 1-7 p.m. Please bring a copy of your child's birth certificate and proof of address. (Not a PTA function but very important if you have a kindergartner starting next year)

3-29-2010 ITBS begins. The district has reduced the number of tests that students will be taking. Grades 3-5 will taking the reading comprehension test, two math subtests, and the science test. These are required to be in compliance with state guidelines.

3-31-2010 Spelling Challenge Kick-off (geography theme) Watch for more information to come home soon.

4-2-2010 Due date for Yearbook orders

4-9-2010 Super Fun Night!! Carnival night at Hanawalt. Lots of fun to be had by all!! Look for more information to come home after Spring Break.

4-16-2010 A Day in the Arts. If you’ve never experienced this special day it is truly wonderful and a Hanawalt tradition. A Day in the Arts is a day of exploration that all our children look forward to each year.

New start/end times beginning 4-5-2010. Our day will begin at 8:05 a.m. and we will dismiss students at 3:10 p.m. This will be the schedule for the rest of the year. All bus schedules will be adjusted by ten minutes. Buses will pick up students ten minutes earlier than the current time; they will drop off students ten minutes later. The additional ten minutes that we still need to make up during the day will come from schedule adjustments. Two snow days are still scheduled for the end of the year.

There are many changes afoot in the district and our school and as of yet it isn’t clear how everything will settle out. Please bring any concerns, suggestions and comments to any of your PTA representatives or Mrs. Burton. We will be happy to share with you the most up to date and accurate information that we have.

Have a safe and relaxing Spring Break!

Julia Burton, Julia.burton@dmps.k12.ia.us, 242-8411
Cheryl Thompson, Cheryl@tasty-treats.com

March - Other Dates To Remember

3 120-minute early dismissal for all students
(Professional Development topics are: PE4Life Initiative;
Understanding Gifted; Effective Instructional Strategies)

10 Parent Teacher Conferences — 120-minute early dismissal
11 Parent Teacher Conferences — no classes
12 No classes, office open
15-19 Spring recess — no classes
26 Kindergarten field trip to the Civic Center
30 Third grade trip to the Civic Center

Thank You Volunteeers and a Place for Used Books...

We currently have 22 medical students from Des Moines University volunteering with the Hanawalt Literacy Army. This is a wonderful community connection. We really appreciate the time our parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends contribute to Hanawalt! Volunteers work with children on reading, writing, and math skills.

If you have very gently used children's books that you would like to donate to the literacy army, please bring them to the office.

Plant Sale

We will be holding our annual plant sale again this spring-look for information to come home the end of March/first of April. The plants will be delivered around Mother’s day in May. These are healthy, vibrant plants. There are several different types to choose from-bedding plants to hanging baskets, great for adding that pop of color to your yard. The plants were all great last year and the hanging baskets were nice and full. The PTA makes a commission off of all sales and monies will go into the general fund for next year’s programs and field trips. Be sure to watch for the flyer to come home.

2009 - 2010 Yearbook

Calling all shutterbugs! In order to produce a great yearbook we need your help-please send any pictures that you’ve taken throughout this school year to Lisa Russell, lisa@scubacreative.com by March 10, 2010. These pictures can be from field trips, assemblies, or photos taken in the classrooms.

Please send full size files (.jpg) if possible, so that we can have the best resolution possible in the yearbook. You should receive an order form in the take home folders today, please return all orders to the PTA mailbox with your payment of $15 enclosed. If you would like to have the front of your child’s yearbook personalized (see order form) the cost is $20. The yearbook is a full color, soft cover book. TThe due date for these orders is April 2, 2010. There will be one printing there may be a few extras but there will be no guarantees on orders that are turned in late.

Thank you from your yearbook committee-Lisa, Martha, Mrs. Carpenter and Cheryl.

2011 School Budget Information

As parents, you are understandably concerned about how the district's 2011 budget cuts will affect your children. To help you understand the financial situation that currently faces the district, here are some facts:

• Decisions regarding the budget will be made with an effort to preserve student progress toward the district graduate ends, and also to raise or maintain student achievement in core subject areas.

• The situation we find ourselves in is shared by all districts across the state. To be prepared, the district developed a worst-case scenario that estimates a $33 million cut. That $33 million amount is based on the fact the district is expected to sustain the two previous across-the-board cuts from fiscal years 2009 ($3.3 million) and 2010 ($17.5 million), and also will not receive any more federal stimulus money ($14 million in 2010).

• The district is still waiting to find out how much money it will receive from the state. The governor asked the Iowa Legislature to fund an increase of 2 percent allowable growth and restore $100 million to schools from the state's cash reserve funds, which will help alleviate some cuts, but not all.

• More than 84 percent of the DMPS budget goes to compensation packages (wages and benefits) for all staff. There's no way the district can cut $33 million from the little more than 15 percent that is left in the budget pie.

• We also have funding "silos" that cannot be touched (as stipulated by the organizations or government entities that provide those funds). What will be affected by state funding reductions primarily are programs, services and positions funded by state foundation aid (general fund money).

• Worst-case scenario staffing allocations (which classes, teachers and services will be affected) are being developed for each school, including ours, but how our school and others will ultimately be affected won't really be clear until about late March or early April, when DMPS is notified about the amount of funding it will receive from the state.

We ask for your patience as we work to piece together next year's financial puzzle. Please be assured all of us are dedicated more than ever to providing a quality education for your children. For information updates about next year's budget, visit the district Web site (www.dmps.k12.ia.us), and tune into local media or cable Channel 12. - Leigh R. McGivern, APR, Director of Board & Community Relations & Legislative Liaison -
Des Moines Public Schools

First Grade News

When it's cold outside, the first-grade students have enjoyed using their imaginations inside. The students have left the comforts of their warm classrooms to be transported to exotic jungles, sandy deserts, and deep oceans. All this traveling has been done as the children read nonfiction material about animals. As the students have read about their animals, they have learned about that animal's size and color, habitat, babies, food, and enemies. It has been exciting to learn how the animals live each day finding food and protecting themselves from predators. But learning about the animals is only part of the fun! After taking notes, the children have written their own animal reports to share with family and friends. Each child has become an expert and an author by reading to understand more about the animal kingdom and writing the new information in his/her own words. The children have done a great job of using all their reading and writing skills!

Hanawalt Day in the Arts - Friday, April 16

The arts challenge and inspire young people. The creativity nurtured in the classroom evolves into innovations, and eventually invention. Studies have shown that children who participate in the arts are more likely to set goals and successfully achieve them. In fact, studies show that students who participate in the arts are more likely to continue education after high school.

Let’s Celebrate the Arts during our annual Hanawalt Day in the Arts Friday April 16th!

During this day students will have the opportunity to work with community artists throughout the morning, with an all school workshop by Fonziba Koster in the afternoon.

If you would like to be a part of the day by assisting a guest artist, please contact one of the parent co-chairs below:

Alissa McKinney alissamckinney@msn.com
Kay Creger kay.creger@wellsfargo.com

As always, you are invited to join us on this very special day! Sally McKenzie, Visual Arts; Carol Looney, Vocal Music and Band; Alyssa McKinney & Kay Creger, Parent Co-chairs

2010 Science Fair Results

The official results of the 2010 Hanawalt 4th and 5th Grade Science Fair are:

4th Grade - Scientific Method Division

Judges: Analiza Alves, Ph.D. and Dwight Tomes, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Wyatt Johnson & Sean Anderson - Oil Spills
Honorable Mention: Amber Bormann & Grace Steffenson - Plants
Honorable Mention: Garrison Starkey & Danny Kramer - Volcanoes
Third Place: Aydin Baschich & Conor Quinn - The 3 Laws
Second Place: Rabsa Naseer & Kylie Sly - Earthquake
First Place: Katie Baumert & Jariah Hannible - Dissolving Eggshells

4th Grade - Scientific Topic Division

Judges: Marc Harper, Ph.D. and Craig Thomson, M.S.
Honorable Mention: Erik Ingebretsen - Sonoluminescence
Third Place: Sam Bruner & Isaac Anderson - Soda Fountain
Second Place: Ben Stone - Mold
First Place: Will Nigut & Sam Knoshaug - Submarine Fins

5th Grade - Scientific Method Division

Judges: Matthew Mouw, Ph.D. and Keri Carstens, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Emma Carlson - Water & Sun
Honorable Mention: Zam Zam Ali - Candy Melt
Third Place: Jacob Thompson - Trebuchet
Second Place: Olivia Griffin - Cornstarch
First Place: Will Myers - Earthquakes

5th Grade - Scientific Top Division

Judge: Daria Schmidt, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Tom and Sam Nordmeyer - Airplanes
Third Place: Miranda Gruber - Going Green
Second Place: Alle Brown-Law & Elaine Greiner - Man vs. Animal
First Place: Anne Beeman - Pendulum

News From The Principal

It is February, so it must be time to mention open enrollment… if you have neighbors or friends or if you have children heading into kindergarten and your other children are open enrolled, the deadline is March 1. All applications must be turned in to 901 Walnut Street. Late applications will not be considered. Families will be informed of their Hanawalt status in the summer. If you have a fifth grade open enrolled student, the district assumes that you are sending your child to Merrill Junior High. If this is not your plan, please call and let me know which school your child will be attending.

I would like to thank all of you for cooperating with our parking patrol. Students are getting safely into the building. The afternoon is still problematic for a few. Remember that we are asking for you to stay in a single file line, we cannot have kids walking in between cars - it is a simple matter of safety. Julia Burton - Julia.burton@dmps.k12.ia.us - 242-8411.

February and March - Dates to Remember

February
3 120-minute early dismissal for all students
12 Classroom Valentine’s Day parties 2:10 p.m.
15 No classes

March
3 120-minute early dismissal for all students
10 Conferences — 120-minute early dismissal for all students
11 Conferences — no classes
12 No classes
15-19 Spring recess — no classes

News From The Nurse

Winter is here and it has been tough on everyone. We are finally getting a chance to go outside for recess. Please be sure your child is ready to go outside and play. They need to have boots and snow pants if they want to go out on the field and play in the snow. If they are going to stay on the blacktop, they still need to have gloves/mittens, hats, and warm coats!

Elementary age children need between 9 and 11 hours of sleep per night. Help your child keep to a bedtime routine. It will make going to bed much easier for everyone. Be sure your child eats a good breakfast in the morning either at home or here at school. Your child can be much more successful when they come to school rested and have had a nutritious breakfast. Hopefully spring will be here soon. Please call me with any concerns/questions. – Sandra Willett

Friday, February 5th -- Hanawalt Night at Roosevelt Basketball!

6:15 p.m. - Roosevelt Varsity Girls vs. Lincoln
7:45 p.m. (approx) - Roosevelt Varsity Boys vs. Lincoln

Future Roughriders - Come join the fun and games and cheer on the Roosevelt basketball teams!

Hanawalt students will be admitted free with the *Game Pass* found here. Adult admission is $5. (Good for both games)

School Directories

Finally they are done! If you ordered a directory please look for it in your child’s backpack today. It will have a purple cover. They are at the printer and should be back in time for Wednesday’s distribution. I sincerely apologized for how late these are getting out this year.

If you submitted an order late and do not receive one today please email or call me. cheryl@tasty-treats.com or 971-7787. I will have a few extras which I will hold for one week to make sure that all the late orders were covered and then they will be released to the school office, so if you didn’t order and still want a directory you can purchase from Ms. Hutton for $3. Thanks again for your patience in the turnaround time this year. –Cheryl Thompson

Summer 2010 Gifted and Talented Program Update

It is unclear how budget cuts will specifically affect GT programming in the Des Moines Public Schools during the coming year. At this point, however, we know the cuts will be very deep. GT summer programming, which has always been an “enriching extra” the department has generously offered, costs many thousands of dollars beyond the summer school tuition paid by GT parents each year. In order to insure that state mandated gifted programming and direct services we provide during the school year may continue, the decision has been made to suspend GT Summer School and Adventure Camp for summer 2010. Many other district issues also impact our decision, and most of the district’s general education summer programming will also be cancelled for summer 2010. Financially speaking, these are very difficult educational times. I am hopeful, however, that we will be able to resume at least some of our GT enrichment programming in summer 2011. -Debra Mishak, Ph.D., Supervisor, Gifted and Talented Education, Des Moines Public Schools

First Grade News

In Math, the first grade classes have been learning to take surveys and convert them into graphs and data representations. The children have been enjoying learning about their classmates and what things they like or dislike. We continue to learn our addition and subtraction facts. Please work on these at home.

In Health, we have been learning how to stay healthy and take care of our bodies. It is important to wash our hands and cover when you cough or sneeze to prevent the spreading of germs.

Please have your children dress in appropriate winter wear at all times. When it is warm enough, we do go outside and many of our students don’t have their gloves and hats along.

Silent Auction - April 9th

Planning is underway for the 2010 SILENT AUCTION! If you have items that you would like to donate, please let us know. OR: ask your favorite business, restaurant, or entertainment spot if they would be willing to make a donation. We greatly appreciate your contributions and ideas. Most donations are 100% tax deductible, and all of the proceeds go to Hanawalt PTA. Donors will be highlighted in our catalog and PTA Newsletter. We will collect items now through the end of March. Please contact: Kay Smith (kayfentonsmith@msn.com) or Jodie Yon (jodiesevier@mchsi.com) for more information. Thank you for your support of the PTA Silent Auction!

Music Notes

February is a busy month for music students. The Piano Festival is on Saturday, February 13th. Location and times will be coming home soon.

The Band and String students also get in the act with the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Hanawalt Band and String students will share their solos on Saturday, February 27th at Callanan Middle School. When rooms and times have been determined, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Looney will pass the information along to the students.

The Hanawalt Spring Festival is coming on Tuesday, March 2nd. This special music event will take place at Merrill Middle School. All students and families are invited.
Each grade level will sing 2 songs. It will be great fun to hear everybody sing in one program.

Hanawalt School Selected At PE4LIFE Model Site

Hanawalt Elementary School has been selected to serve as one of four PE4life® Model Sites in Iowa and will ultimately play a role in the delivery of workshops to other schools to improve physical education programs throughout the state.

Workshops focus on the integration of PE4life Core Principles that emphasize getting all kids healthy through fun and interactive physical activity. As a first step, a specialized team of educators and community leaders from Hanawalt Elementary will attend a PE4life Introductory Workshop at a PE4life Academy Training Center in Rogers, Ark., in early February, as well as receive ongoing PE4life Program Support Services.

“Our PE teacher, John Baker, has been a leader in his field regarding the importance of teaching students how to live healthy and lead active lives,” said Julia Burton-Varn, principal of Hanawalt Elementary School. “He inspires all Hanawalt students to improve their personal levels of fitness. PE is exciting, challenging, and student-oriented. We are very excited to become a model school.”

As a PE4life Model Site, Hanawalt Elementary School will serve as a display model for other schools by delivering a variety of activities to students, including adventure and outdoor education, fitness, and fundamental skills through a curriculum aligned with state standards.

The training, along with equipment scholarships and ongoing support of the four Iowa Model Sites, is being funded by a variety of contributors, including a project through the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, United States Department of Education funding sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, and Variety — the Children’s Charity.

The Des Moines Independent Community School District is Iowa’s largest provider of public education serving the individual needs of more than 31,000 students in 66 schools with more than 5,000 dedicated teachers and staff. For more information about Des Moines Public Schools visit www.dmps.k12.ia.us

News From The Principal

Thank you parents for your generous donations to Hanawalt in 2009. The PTA purchased coats, hats, and gloves for students who needed them. We have also received great classroom games for the endless indoor recesses we are experiencing this winter! In addition, we have purchased new microscopes which should be arriving soon. Science and social studies often become secondary subjects due to the emphasis on reading and math outlined under the No Child Left Behind legislation. I believe, however, that our students must be actively learning, exploring, and investigating subjects that take us beyond the fundamentals of reading and mathematics.

Any financial donation that you make can be designated for specific projects. For example, if you are a strong supporter of the Day in the Arts, your donations may go to that line item. As always, copy paper and facial tissues are welcomed!

Preparation for our second annual science fair for 4-5th grade students is underway. Display boards are available at school for any student who needs one due to the generosity of Laura Higgins who is spearheading this project. We thank Pioneer for their donation of $250.00 to our science budget to support the science fair. Each fourth and fifth grade student has received a detailed explanation of the science fair guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hesse or Mrs. Thomas. Participation is voluntary, but students must pre-register by January 15, 2010.

Major Changes for 2010-2011
The school board has approved the calendar for 2010-2011. Each Wednesday will be an early dismissal at 1:30. The intention is to provide professional development and collaboration time for staff.

School will begin on August 26. Other important changes: School will NOT be held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Winter Break will be from December 23-31st with school resuming on January 3rd. The last day of school (depending on the weather, of course) will be June 2, 2011. To download the district calendar, please go to www.dmps.k12.ia.us and click on the tab for District Calendar. The calendar is also on the last page of this newsletter.

LOST and FOUND
We have an amazing assortment of hats, gloves, mittens, sweatshirts, lunch boxes, and other items in the foyer. Please stop by and claim what is yours. I wish all of you a Happy New Year!

Julia Burton - Julia.burton@dmps.k12.ia.us or call 242-8411.

News From The PTA President

We are looking forward to finishing up the semester and moving into the Spring Semester at Hanawalt. I know that personally-- Spring cannot come fast enough!!

I would like to thank all the families that drop off their children each day, for adapting to the new drop off procedures-things have run so much better this year and I really think that the children are getting into school quicker and safer. We have had many comments from teachers about what a difference it is making to the classroom start time each day. There has been a decrease in the number of near miss collisions for both pedestrians and vehicles. Thank you everyone for your part in making this a success!! Thank you also to all the volunteers who stand out in the rain, sleet, snow and cold-We appreciate your dedication.

We have lots of fun lined up for the Spring semester including RIF distribution-look for your child to bring home a book of their choosing several times from now until the end of the year. These books are free of charge and for them to keep promoting the Fundamentals of Reading.

We will also have our Spring Carnival Celebration on April 9, 2010. Included by popular demand, will be the silent auction, which was so popular last year. We will also have our “academic challenge” the week leading up to the carnival. All are currently in the planning stages-watch for more information.

The PTA will also sponsor a plant sale-many people buy annuals each year. Why not buy them from Hanawalt this year? (We get a portion of each sale) The plants are delivered to directly to Hanawalt from the greenhouse. The plants last year were great, especially the hanging baskets. The prices are very competitive to elsewhere in town.

We also are in the planning stages for the Parent Appreciation Breakfasts. Last year we changed it up to overwhelming response. ~Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad~ We kept good notes from last year, so hopefully we can anticipate demand better this year. It is obvious that the time of the “Egg Strada” has passed. We are looking at new vendors for different options, if you have ideas or input feel free to email them to me. Warm thoughts, Cheryl

Attention 2010 - 2011 Kindergarten Parents

Kindergarten registration will take place on March 10-11 from 8am until 6pm. Please bring copies of your child’s birth certificate and your proof of address. Immunizations and physicals may be turned in before August 26th.

Reserve Wednesday, May 19 from 2:00- 3:00 to bring your future kindergarten student to Hanawalt to meet the teachers. Open Enrollment forms are due by March 1 to the district Open Enrollment office at 901 Walnut Street

Financial Update

As we start the New Year, I wanted to give you an update on how your generous donations are being utilized by the PTA.

Field Trips and Busing $1,695.25
Helping Hands $252.23
Library Book Supplement $1,500.00
Student Enrichment $1,090.84
T-Shirts $1,929.95
Teacher Appreciation $409.00

Hanawalt has numerous upcoming activities sponsored by the PTA that include Day in the Arts, more field trips and RIF week. Thank you for your ongoing support! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at kristiandjeff@aol.com or 255-7940.

Kristi Kiefer - PTA Treasurer

Third Grade News

With their passports in hand, the third graders boarded a plane and took off for Japan! While we are visiting, we are learning about Japan’s culture, history, government and economics. We have taken this trip because it ties into our Social Studies theme of communities. We are mostly learning about communities in the United States, but it’s fun to learn about different communities around the world as well!

In Writer’s Workshop students have finished up their fantasy piece of writing and have enjoyed some “open ended” writing time where they can write whatever they choose. Our next writing unit will be nonfiction where we’ll be researching and writing about a state! Let the research begin!

We are finishing up our unit in math on numbers and operations. The main areas covered were addition/subtraction with regrouping, estimation, and word problems with large numbers. We will be testing these concepts soon.
It amazes us every year to see our students grow and mature throughout the year. Your students are so much fun to work with and teach and we enjoy being with them!

Forth Grade News

Academically we are working hard and learning many new topics. In Reading theme 3 is called “It’s Amazing” this is all about the genre of fantasy, but it can build into many other amazing genres and ideas. We continue to work on all of the comprehension skills and strategies. Ask your child what we are working on this week.

For science we are finishing up Magnetism and electricity. The students will also be bringing home their science spirals and folders to help study. We are having a science fair in February, but this is not a required task. Contact your teacher if you do have any questions about the information that will be sent home. Next we will be studying our health unit.

If you have questions about Language Arts or Social Studies please contact Mr. Lovell or Mrs. Yeager. Thanks for all that you do for your wonderful kids!

Music Notes

Welcome to 2010 in the music room. We usually have some snow and cold weather during January, so we are singing songs about this great time of year. We are also singing songs in other languages, from other countries, and about different cultures. All classes are also working on a unit about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his special place in our own history.

We are also beginning to plan for the Spring Music Festival. This will be held at Merrill Middle School on Tuesday,
March 2nd at 7:00. Come and enjoy an evening full of music!

Spring Music dates
February 13 Piano Festival
February 27 Band & String Solo Festival
March 2 Hanawalt Spring Music Festival
April 16 A Day in the Arts
April 17 All City Honor Chorus
May 18 3rd Grade City Wide Sing-a-Long
May 20 Band Concert 6:00 p.m.
TBA Band Concert – (for the school)

News From The Art Studio

"The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create." -President Barack Obama

Welcome back to a brand new year! We begin 2010 playing in the mud! Our clay unit is always a favorite. It gives children an opportunity to think in shape and form as they take a simple lump of mud and create a work of art!

All Hanawalt artists will be working with clay for the next few weeks. Please make sure your child wears ‘art friendly’ clothes on art day. Clay and continual washing tends to dry out little hands. I provide hand lotion for students to use, however, please feel free to send a small container of lotion for your child, especially if they have allergies. Please write your child’s name on the container. They may keep the lotion in the art studio.

All students are learning Visual Thinking Strategies as they analyze and make connections to a number of works of art. VTS enables students to develop aesthetic and language literacy, and critical thinking skills. Students make meaning from the world around them, gaining confidence in their own ideas, while respecting those of others. It involves interacting with art, fostering cognitive growth and boosting academic achievement. Look for more information in newsletters to come.

Fourth grade students will visit the Des Moines Art Center the morning of February 23rd. They will travel by bus, leaving Hanawalt at 9:50 a.m. and returning at approximately 11:10 a.m.. All DMPS fourth grade students are able to experience the permanent collection due to the support of the Des Moines Art Center and DMPS.

Please continue sending your recyclables to the art studio. We love building and creating with a variety of shapes and forms! Please do not send glass items or cans with sharp edges.

If you are in the building, please stop by to see the fabulous pastel snow people in the fine arts hallway! They were created by 2nd and 3rd grade artists!

Thank you for your continual appreciation and support of arts education for our children. It is so rewarding to see their excitement as they discover something they did not previous know, or make a connection to something they did know!

Stay warm! Sincerely, Sally McKenzie

A Day In The Arts! - April 16, 2010

"The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather, paintings and poetry, music and fashion, design and dialogue, they all define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation." First Lady Michelle Obama

Hanawalt’s Day in the Arts is April 16th. It is a day when our students have an opportunity to learn and create with community artists. It is made possible through the support of our wonderful parents, staff, and PTA.

Hanawalt is the only Des Moines Public School to provide such a learning experience for their students! The focus of the day is learning in and through the arts. Workshop experiences encourage students to think in new and different ways, while providing rich cultural and cross-curricular connections.

Many parents donate their time to help make the day run smoothly. You can be a part of the day in a number of ways:

• Facilitating a workshop for students—YOU can be a guest artist!
• Assisting a guest artist for the morning
• Setting up the rooms the afternoon of April 15th
• Donating supplies for the workshops

Our parent co-chairs are Kay Creger and Alissa McKinney. Please feel free to contact any of the following people if you have questions or would like to be a part of the day. You can reach us by email or call Hanawalt at 242-8411.

Kay Creger kay.creger@wellsfargo.com
Alissa McKinney alissamckinney@msn.com
Carol Looney carolyn.looney@dmps.k12.ia.us
Sally McKenzie sally.mckenzie@dmps.k12.ia.us