First off, I want to wish you and your families a happy holiday season. Sometimes it is important to step back and reflect on all the things in our lives that we should appreciate. As I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate both the historical significance and the principles that Thanksgiving promotes. Enjoy your time with your children, as someday they will grow up and may not always be around to celebrate with you. Happy Holidays!!

Randy Dahms,

Principal at Mentone Elementary

Mentone Elementary will be celebrating Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th at 10:00 a.m. (the front doors to the school will open at 9:30 a.m.) Information concerning Veterans Day was distributed to students and was posted on Mentone’s Facebook page. Parents, please have all Veterans Day information turned into the school by Monday, November 4th. If interested, Veterans and their spouses can enjoy a free lunch with us during our regularly scheduled grade level lunch times.

Fundraiser pick up is November 20th from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the front entrance. You will be given an orange tag with your student’s name the day before pickup. You will just get in the pick-up line, have your tag visible and we will help you load your product.

The Student Council’s annual food drive for the First Baptist Church of Mentone will be held the week of November 18th-22nd. Nonperishable food items that do not have an expired shelf life are welcome. All items must be brought into the building in a plastic bag such as you would get at a checkout in a food store. All items must be non-perishable food items that are not expired. Student Council has set a lofty goal of collecting 2,500 items this year. If students are able to reach this target, we will have a celebration in the gym. Hey Bulldogs, let’s do this!!

The student council is looking at an event for a dads and daughters breakfast on Friday, December 13th. More information will be forthcoming in the near future!

I wanted to take a moment to recognize our fifth-grade girls' volleyball team and Coach Shriver for a great volleyball season. These girls were competitive and represented our school well. Just as our volleyball season concluded, our fifth-grade boys have started their basketball season, and their first game will be on November 12th. Good luck Bulldogs!!

School spirit wear information was passed out to students this Friday. All orders are due on November 15th so that these items can be ready and available before Christmas. Thank you for your support! (note- if this information was misplaced, extra copies are available in the office).

This month, the PTO treated teachers to coffee from Egg Town Coffee in Mentone and a breakfast buffet during Parent-Teacher Conferences! They also brought in some goodies for our custodians on Custodian Appreciation Day. They really work hard to keep our school looking great!

At our latest meeting, we made plans to kick-off our Spirit Wear fundraiser, volunteer during the quarterly Incentive Stations and another super fun, super-secret treat for teachers. It’s going to be a great second quarter!

Would you like to become more involved here at our school? Consider joining the Mentone PTO! We’ve got a great group of parents, and more are always welcome!

Our next meeting will be on MONDAY, November 18th @ 6 pm. Please note, this is a change due to a scheduling conflict. It’s never too late to get involved, so I hope to see you there!

Families with students in grades 1, 2, and 3 (and siblings) are invited to Book Bingo on Tuesday, November 19th in our school cafeteria. At this free event, your child will win at least one free book and enjoy some light refreshments. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and bingo will last from 5:45-6:45. Use the QR code on the letter sent home or this link to RSVP by November 8th. Hope to see you there!

· As the weather turns colder, sometimes students like to bring in blankets and stuffed animals. These things should be left at home. Sometimes a dirty blanket or stuffed animal can cause issues at school that are avoidable.

· As the weather is turning colder, coats and hats are important, so students are comfortable during recess. If the windchill outside is lower than 20 degrees, students will normally be kept inside for recess. Otherwise, fresh air and playing outside is good for kids so we will go outside for recess if possible.

· As a reminder for attendance, please make sure you call or email the school when students are late or absent.

Kids’ Club is a before and after school program that takes place at 9 local elementary schools. Mentone runs from 7 to 8:45AM before school then 2:45to 5:30PM. Kids’ Club is more than childcare – the staff follow a curriculum. The Caregiver assists the Site Director in creating a pleasant inviting atmosphere in which children feel comfortable and secure. This person possesses a warm and supportive attitude toward children and strong interpersonal and communication skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents, children, and staff. This person provides a quality experience to children and parents focused on YMCA core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring.

Currently, Mentone could use another person to work the 2:45 (arrive 2:35)-5:30 after-school hours as a sub. The other sites could also use extra staff and subs. If you are interested, Please contact Heidi Moseley at hmoseley@kcymca.org, or Karlee Fawley at kfawley@kcymca.org with any questions.

All positions are under 20 hours a week

November

Monday, November 11th- Veterans Day Program in the school gym (doors will open at 9:30 a.m.)

Monday, November 18th- PTO Meeting in the school library at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 19th- Book Bingo grades 1,2,3 Doors open 5:30 p.m., Bingo 5:45-6:45

Wednesday, November 27th - Friday, November 29th- School will not be in session in commemoration of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

December

Tuesday, December 10th- Our Christmas Concert for students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade will start at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 pm.