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
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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
(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.
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.
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
• 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.
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
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:
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
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
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