Music Concert Season

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Meredith Hill music concerts. Students will perform in afternoon concerts starting at 2:20 p.m., and evening concerts at 7:00 p.m.

January 22--Honor Choir & Steel Drum Concert

February 5--2nd and 3rd Grade Music Concert

April 22--4th and 5th Grade Music Concert

Concerts are scheduled for the spring for kindergarten, 1st grade, and additional honor choir and steel drum performances. Those dates will be published in later newsletters.

PTA Special Guest

At the PTA meeting on Jan. 21st, Mark Davidson, Deputy Superintendent, will make a presentation on the upcoming levy. The PTA meeting begins at 6:30. Hear information first hand from Mr. Davidson, who will also be prepared to answer any questions you have.

Martin Luther King Assembly

The Martin Luther King Assembly has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 26th, at 10:30. Students will be presenting skits and artwork and other personal work in honor of Dr. King. Please plan on joining us for the assembly.

Election Impacts School Funding

Two levies will appear on the ballot on February 3, 2004, that will have a direct impact on Meredith Hill Elementary School. Approval of these levies supports current levels of educational services and will NOT increase the current tax rate. The levies are:

* A four-year replacement Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O), to continue the funding of basic school operations.

* A six-year Technology Levy to support the current computer-to-student ratio of 1:8 in the schools, and to upgrade the infrastructure.

The EP&O levy is identical to a maintenance and operations levy, except in name. These funds bridge the gap between what the state provides and what the community expects in education. This is not a new levy. It is a request for the continuation of funding provided by the Maintenance and Operations Levy that passed in February of 2002.

If you are registered to vote, please remember to do so on February 3. If you are NOT a registered voter, you can register this month in time to vote in this important election. Voter registration forms are available in the school office.

For more information on these two levies, go to www.fwps.org or email or call the community relations department at 253-945-2262 or 2266.

Sick Children

Please don’t spread germs; keep sick children at home. We know it can be difficult sometimes deciding whether or not to keep your child home from school. It seems like they often wait until the last minute to mention they don’t feel well. Here are some guidelines to help make that decision. Please keep your child home if he/she has any of these symptoms:

* Vomiting

* Diarrhea—two or more loose, watery stools nnnnin the past 24 hours.

* Rash—children should stay home for any nnundiagnosed rash covering their bodies. They do not need to stay home if the cause of the rash is known and it is not contagious.

* Thick drainage for the eye (this could be pink eye).

* Sore Throat—especially with a fever or swollen glands in the neck.

* Fever—children should stay home with any temperature of 100 degrees or higher. We recommend children stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours.

District policy is that children with ANY of the following symptoms must be sent home:

* Temperature of 100 degrees or higher.

* Any vomiting or diarrhea at school.

* The presence of any of the following untreated communicable diseases: Head lice, scabies, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, Strap throat and/or scarlet fever, pink eye, ringworm and impetigo.

Meredith Hill Open House

January 29th

Meredith Hill's Open House will be January 29th from 6:30-8. This is a very exciting time for the children as they look forward to sharing their work and classrooms with you. Teachers are looking forward to seeing you also. The Book Fair will be open during Open House so that you can shop for yourself, and perhaps gift some books to the teachers from their "wish lists." Mark your calendars for this fun evening at Meredith Hill.

Thank You Volunteers

For your time, talents, and 340 hours of volunteer service given in December!

The School Board Needs to Hear from You

Your opinion counts as the School Board trys to decide whether or not to build the new middle school. Please email them ASAP at

Ebarney@fwps.org

School Emergency Website

www.schoolreport.org is a website designed to disseminate crucial school emergency information as quickly as possible. During emergency conditions, the school district will be making regular updates to this site throughout the day.

Parents can also tune to local television or radio stations for news of school weather closures or crisis situations.

JANUARY Calendar

15– Cookie Day

19– NO School

Martin Luther King Holiday

21– PTA General Meeting 6:30

22– Steel Drum/Honor Choir

Concerts:

2:20 Assembly and 7:00 pm

23–29 Book Fair

26– Martin Luther King Assembly

10:30 am

29– Open House 6:30-8:00 pm

Cookie Day

FEBRUARY Calendar

4– Class Pictures

5– 2^nd and 3^rd Grades Music Concerts

10– Mr. Brown’s Class to Airport

12– PTA Board Meeting 6:30

Cookie Day