WELCOME BACK – The 2010-2011 school year promises to be a great and exciting year filled with Christs’ love and care. We send out a big welcome to many new students joining our Bethlehem family. The following students have joined us: Nicholas Danley (K), Ashton Fox (K), Alexis Dilts (1), Zachary Ruger (1), Clarissa Glatz (2), Brianna Gunther (2), Tessa White (2), Ken Gunther (3), Madison Gunther (4), Crysta Pankey (5), Kaiden Railling (5), Tyler Urban (6), Jacob White (6), Noah Geddings (7), Isaiah Hough (7), and Jessica Findlay (8). We have also filled our 4 year old preschool and the 16 little ones will begin their journey here next week. We pray that each of our new students learn to love and enjoy their new school. Please take time to greet them and their parents, welcome them, and make them feel at home here at Bethlehem.

HOT LUNCH PRE-PAYMENT INFO – Hot Lunch/Breakfast fees for this year will be paid in advance into a family account and daily costs deducted.  When a family account reaches an amount specified below, families will be notified via e-mail or phone that the account needs to be replenished. These pre-payments may be sent in with children in payment envelopes provided or paid in the school office by cash, check or credit cards. (Breakfast fees and extra milks will also be deducted from your family account.)

            In addition; if family account becomes delinquent as detailed below, hot lunch/breakfast services will be denied students until account is replenished.

            These initial hot lunch account payments must be received by Friday, September 10 or hot lunch services will be denied. Below is the breakdown of the above pre-payment plan:

            Students eating hot lunch for a regular basis paying full price
                        $50/child -  - notification - $20/child -  - denied - $20 delinquent

            Students eating hot lunch on an irregular basis paying full price
                        $20/child -  - notification - $10/child -  - denied - $10 delinquent

            Students eating hot lunch on a regular basis paying reduced price
                        $10/child -  - notification - $2/child -  - denied - $2 delinquent

            Students eating breakfast who receive free lunches
                        $5/child -  - notified - $1 child -  - denied - $1 delinquent

            If you have any questions; please call the school office.

FALL FAMILY FUNDRAISER – Yesterday, September 1st, school children received two items to sell to friends, relatives, close neighbors, and co-workers. The profit from the sale of these items goes directly to children and to their family.  The profit from magazine sales goes to an account for each child in grades 4-8 to help pay for their D.C. trip in 8th grade.  Profit in grades K-3 goes into a class account to buy items for the classroom or to pay for field trips.  Bethlehem keeps none of the profit.

            The sale of Smart Cards profit goes to fulfill the $25-$75 family fundraising fee along with all Scrip Card profits. Please remember the fundraising fee is in lieu of any fundraising sales the rest of the year.  Also, once the fee is covered, families receive 50% of any profit after that.  This is put into an account and can be used for any fees the family needs to pay.

            Please take advantage of this opportunity to provide additional funds for your family.  Also, don’t misplace or lose your Smart Cards.  You are responsible for the $15 each one costs us and you receive $5 profit from each book sold.

TUTORS NEEDED - WE TRAIN - If you can spare one hour of your time per week to help a child succeed during the 2010-2011 school year, please consider being a tutor. You DO NOT need a background in education. The teachers give very detailed directions and will answer any questions you may have. All you need is a desire to spend time with and help a child. We meet on Monday from 3:10 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. during the school year. If you are interested or have questions, please call Lori Tucker at 792-4466.

MAGNETIC SCHOOL CALENDARS –  We have extra magnetic calendars.  Anyone in need of another one may purchase it for $2.00 in the school office.

PICK UP / DROP OFF REMINDERS – Your cooperation with all drop off and pick up procedures is crucial in maintaining the safety of our students.  Most students should be dropped off on the west side of the building.  Only families with Kindergarten, Preschool, and string/bell students should use the east / Hermansau lot.

            After school we are seeing more and more children being picked up in the east / Hermansau lot.  Please remember that only Kindergarten parents, those entering the building for specific reasons, and those with special circumstances should use this lot.  This can be a dangerous area for children.

            Also, those students not picked up by 3:15 on the west side will be supervised with bus people in the hallway outside of the 8th grade classroom.  If not picked up by 3:30, they will need to go to the lower level latchkey area for pickup.

            We would ask you to cooperate fully with these procedures for the sake of student safety.  If a few ignore the above, others will then join and create an unsafe situation.  Thank you!

SCHOOL YEAR REMINDERS – There are several requests for families to help us make things run smoothly.  Please remember to do the following:

            1.  If a child is absent, please call the school office at 755-1146 to report absence and reason or type of illness.  Please do this by 9:00 on the day of the absence.  Follow this up with a note to school for the appropriate information.  Families have been provided a pad for this and other messages for school or teacher.

            2.  All payments to school should be sent in the payment envelopes provided at registration.  Please fill in appropriate info on envelope and send with children to school to give to teachers.  Please do not let bills become too large.

            3.  $3.50 is the charge for adults eating hot lunch.  

FREE AND REDUCED PRICE LUNCHES – Families who meet certain income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced price hot lunches.  If you missed the info at registration or are unsure if you qualify, contact Mrs. Tessin in the school office.

GARDEN SURPLUS – Would you like to share your bounty of luscious vegetables from the garden (tomatoes, peppers, cukes, etc.).  The hot lunch program will gladly accept your donations.  The children can bring any items in and leave on the kitchen counter in the morning.

SEPTEMBER CHAPEL OFFERINGS – Giving Gardens supports the distribution of climate and culturally appropriate seeds,   training, planting, and harvesting of gardens in Haiti and around the world. These seeds    provide families with enough food to eat.

            Every $500 donated to Giving Gardens supports:  Garden seeds that can produce nutritious vegetables will feed many families. Vegetables and fruits can transform sick and malnourished children into healthy and energetic boys and girls.

            Surplus food from the gardens is sold to earn money for other kinds of food, for clothing, for medicine and for education.

            Seeds from the produce may be collected and used for the next season’s crop.

            Seeds of faith that are planted in young people through special garden schools, similar to vacation bible school, taught by trained teachers and missionaries.

            Perhaps the most important gift you are giving is the seed of faith being planted and nurtured through the work of teachers and missionaries.

            Please help the families of Haiti with your Chapel offerings and prayers.

SAVE THOSE LABELS AND BOX TOPS – Please remember Bethlehem when you shop.

            1.  We continue to save Campbell products.  These labels are sent in for playground supplies for the children.

            2.  We also participate in the General Mills Box Top program.

            3.  We have signed up for the Tyson Project A+ program (the whole strip not just the A+ sign).  We earn $.24 for each label turned in.  This helps support some of our programs here at Bethlehem.

MY COKE REWARDS PROGRAM - This is another way for our school to purchase things that are needed for sports gear, creative supplies, books, classroom tools and more. 

            All you need to do is go to mycokerewards.com (register if you aren’t a member).  Enter your codes to collect points – choose “Donate to Your School” from the six ways to spend points.  Find our school by Zip Code. When our schools page comes up, click “Donate Points Now” and enter the amount you’d like to donate. So check under the cap, inside the package, and on the bottom of the shrink wrap packaging.

SCRIP UPDATES – BONUS – Fashion Bug is offering a 2% bonus contribution from Saturday, August  21, 2010 through Friday, December 31, 2010.  This means Barnes & Noble gift cards will have a 8% contribution instead of the normal 6% contribution during this time period only.