Our Kindergarten classes were dressed in their pajamas for "Polar Express Day". They brought along their favorite stuffed animal for the ride. They were treated to a reading of the story this morning. Each student enjoyed cookies and milk as they watched the movie. This is one of the favorite days of Kindergarten that helps us get into the Holiday spirit!

A big "Thank You" to an anonymous businessman. He had Nicolinni's Ristorante bake and deliver chocolate chip cookies to the local elementary schools. The students will enjoy these cookies during lunch. It is nice to see the kindness and support from our community.

We had a special performance by the High School Show Choir today. They sang and danced to many of our favorite Christmas carols. Our students even helped with some of the singing! There was a special appearance by "Rudolph" and "Santa". Their performance definitley got us into the holiday spirit! Thanks to the Show Choir for visiting us at North.

The Sadecky Puppets paid a visit to our school today thanks to the PTO. They shared the story, "December Dilemma". The main character, Jasmine, took a toy monkey robot that did not belong to her. She really wanted this robot because all the stores were sold out. She and the robot became "lifelong friends", although she knew it was wrong to keep him. She finally decided it was best to return the monkey robot to its original owner. This was a good lesson for the students to hear while being very entertaining! Thanks PTO.

It is "Math Monday" and time to solve some math word problems! The students need to write their name, grade, and answer on a piece of paper to be turned in to me tomorrow morning. Good luck and happy solving! Kindergarten: Leanne invited 3 friends to her birthday party. Later she invited 2 more friends. How many friends did Leanne invite in all? 1st Grade: The weather reporter said it snowed 2 inches on Monday, 4 inches on Tuesday, and 1 inch on Wednesday. What was the total amount of snowfall for all three days? 2nd Grade: Over the weekend, Tom made 23 snowballs and Rich made 19 snowballs. How many snowballs did the two boys make in all? 3rd Grade: Sandy sent 102 emails to her friends during the year. Kelly sent 132 emails during the same time. How many more emails did Kelly send? 4th Grade: Daniel buys 18 bones. He plans to divide the bones equally among his 3 dogs. How many bones will each dog get?

Thank you to our PTO for providing a lovely luncheon for our December meeting. We discussed the exciting events planned for this month. The Santa's Workshop will take place next week. If you would like to volunteer and help the students shop, please call me so that I can add your name to the list. Also, the Winter Festival is scheduled for December 20th. This day allows the students to visit 5 stations throughout the school. Please call or send a note if you are available from 12:00-2:15 to help with this special day. Thanks!

A big thank you to Peg Flynn with the Mahoning County Green Team. She came to North today and made recycled ornaments with all the students. One homeroom from each grade level was chosen to use their ornaments to decorate our school tree. The tree was donated by Pioneer Tree Farm and is in our front lobby. You can check out more pictures on our "Event" page!

A big thank you to all our North families who donated gently used winter coats that they outgrew. Our PTO collected 39 coats that will be donated to a local elementary school that is in need. I appreciate the thoughtfulness of all that were involved in this "act of kindness."

Our fundraiser winners were treated to lunch at Olive Garden by our PTO. The students rode in style in a limo. They enjoyed pasta, breadsticks, and a drink. The excitement in the air was shared by all. Thanks again to our PTO and all who supported the fundraiser.

Thursday, November 29th at Springfield Intermediate School, will be a presenter on bullying. John Halligan will be speaking to adults about his own tragedy with his son. He will talk about how to deal with bullying, cyberbullying, and teen depression. I know the topics may be above the elementary age, but may be beneficial in years to come. The presentation begins at 7:00 and is open to the public. I hope many parents can attend.

Our 1st Grades participated in their annual Pilgrim/Native American Day. The students visited stations set up between the two classrooms. They enjoyed a story and snack while sitting in a teepee. The students made Indian skins that included symbols and a beaded necklace. Each student left with a Pilgrim boy or girl magnet and Paperbag Indian. The afternoon was a nice way to incorporate all they have learned about Thanksgiving.

Just a reminder, the American Red Cross is holding a Blood Drive at North today. If you would like to donate, you may stop by the school from 2:00-7:00 p.m., no appointment is necessary. Thank you for helping.

Our 3rd grades were busy this past week having a collection for the Poland Food Pantry. They collected canned goods, pasta, baked good mixes, and macaroni and cheese. These items were delivered along with a Thanksgiving placemat that each student decorated. As families come to receive food, they will be given placemats to add a festive touch to their holiday dinner. This food collection was part of the Social Studies curriculum for being a good citizen within a community. Thank you to all who helped with the collection.

It is "Math Monday" and time to solve some math word problems! The students need to write their name, grade, and answer on a piece of paper to be turned in to me tomorrow morning. Good luck and happy solving!

Kindergarten:Sarah went shopping. She bought 3 shirts and 1 pair of pants. How many shirts and pants did Sarah buy altogether? 1st Grade:Jack and Jill made pancakes for breakfast. Jack put 4 pancakes on the plate. Jill added 4 more pancakes to the plate. How many pancakes were on the plate? 2nd Grade:Gregory lost his pencil box. It contained 3 erasers, 10 pencils, and 7 pens. How many items did Gregory lose in all? 3rd Grade:John's family went to the school carnival. They spent $19 on lunch, $14 on carnival rides, and $29 on dinner. What was the sum of money John's family spent on lunch and dinner? 4th Grade:Anthony played in 6 baseball games. He hit 3 home runs in each game. What is the total number of home runs he hit?

All the students decorated placemats for Veteran's Day. These placemats will be delivered to the Golden Corral for their annual Veteran's Day event. The restaurant gives a complimentary meal to all veterans. Our placemats will be used to add a "special something" to their meals as they celebrate the day with their families.

In honor of Veteran's Day, Sergeant Johnson and Sergeant Willaman, paid a visit to our school. They are Military Police for the Vienna Air Base. They spoke to the students about their duties on base. They also showed various equipment that they use on their job. They shared that the weight of one vest they wear weighs approximately 70 pounds. To conclude the program, the students were given time to ask questions. A big thank you to these men for taking time to visit North and protect our country.

The students were treated today to a program by the JJ Brothers. They are authors and illustrators with book titles that include The Adventures of Caterpillar Jones and Dog Collars. They stressed the importance of reading and writing. They also talked about the parts of a sentence with the help of students. The brothers made stories "come alive" with their props as the students laughed out loud. A big thanks to our PTO for providing this wonderful entertainment.

Our mock election was held today. The voting box traveled to each homeroom this morning for the students to cast their vote. The ballot contained a picture and name of each candidate. After voting, the students received an "I Voted" sticker along with a pencil, compliments of Mahoning County Board of Elections. Mr. Sofranec and I counted and re-counted the votes to make it official. North Elementary students have re-elected President Barack Obama. Remember, tomorrow is your turn to cast your vote.

North Elementary is hosting a Blood Drive on Thursday, November 15th from 2:00-7:00 p.m. A representative from the American Red Cross held an assembly with our students explaining how they can help by getting family members to donate. We had 2 fourth grade volunteers help with the assembly, one dressing as a "super hero" and the other as "Buddy". They both helped stress the importance of people donating. If you are interested in donating, please schedule your appointment at www.redcrossblood.org. Thank you for your help.

Our November PTO meeting is tomorrow at 9:00 am. We will be talking about Santa's Workshop. If you are unable to attend the meeting but you are able to volunteer on December 12th or 13th, please send in a note. We will be looking for volunteers to help set-up the items and also to help students shop. The PTO appreciates any help that you can give. Thank you.

The PTO fundraiser items made their way home today. Orders that were too heavy for students to carry are still at the school. The orders can be picked up between 2:30-5:00 today in the 4th grade hall. Student raffle prizes will be announced on Thursday morning. The prizes are the Limo Lunch, Toss-n-Score game, and Angry Bird banner. Thank you to our PTO for organizing this fundraiser and thanks to all who purchased fundraiser items.

Information is coming home today about our Halloween parties and parade for Wednesday. There will be a time change regarding our parade. The parade will begin at 1:30. It looks as if it will probably be indoors because of the weather. All students are to come to school with their make-up on. They will be able to change into their costumes before the party. The students with signed permission slips will be dismissed immediately following the parade. Only assigned Room Parents will be allowed in the classrooms. Thank you.

Our Armstrong Kids Korner friends returned to North today. Our Kindergarten students were treated to the story, Fall Is For Friends by Suzy Spafford. After listening to the book, the students made fall masks decorated with leaf cut-outs and jewels. A letter will be coming home soon to let the parents know when this episode of Kids Korner will air on Channel 20. A big thanks to Armstrong for bringing this lesson to North.

Mrs. Metzger's 1st Grade class was busy being crafty yesterday. They designed Halloween cards with well wishes for nursing home residents. The cards were decorated with jack-o-lanterns, bats, and ghosts. The cards will be delivered this week to Sunrise Assisted Living. Thank you to our 1st graders for spreading happiness to others!

The students have all received a username and password for a math website. This website allows students to gain extra practice on grade-specific math skills. The students will be practicing at school, but are able to access at home also. Please log onto www.ixl.com and enter your child's username and password. The students have access for the school year and can log on for an unlimited amount of time. The students have been very positive about this site and are enjoying their practice time. Thank you for helping us continue the math practice at home.

Yesterday our 2nd Graders were able to use their interviewing skills. Twenty-five High School football players paid a visit to North. After being paired with 2nd grade students, they took turns interviewing each other. The interviews were then shared during a whole school assembly. The assembly ended with our Little Bulldog cheerleaders leading us in some pep rally cheers! Good luck to our High School football team against East tonight!

Great news to share about a North student. One of our 3rd grade students won 1st place in the Juvenile Court "Stay in School" poster contest. He was chosen among all of the county 3rd graders who entered. He will be honored at a breakfast banquet in November. Congratulations to Maddox! We are so proud of you!

Information came home last week about our Veteran's Day "Hero Wall". We are collecting pictures of North's family and friends that have served or are currenty serving our country. The pictures need to be turned in by October 26th. Please make sure to complete the information sheet and have your child's name and homeroom on the back of every picture so that it can be returned. Thank you for helping us honor these heroes.

It is "Math Monday"! I told the students that once a month I will post word problems for each grade level on our website. The students need to write their name, grade, and answer on a piece of paper to be turned in to me tomorrow morning. Good luck and happy solving! Kindergarten: Marcy went to the library and checked out 5 books. Her brother checked out 1 book. How many books did Marcy and her brother check out altogether? 1st Grade: Mrs. Metzger has 3 hamsters. The fourth grade teacher gives her 4 more hamsters to take care of over the weekend. What is the total number of hamsters Mrs. Metzger has now? 2nd Grade: At the fair Marty's family won 5 goldfish, 4 balloons, and 3 stuffed animals. How many goldfish and balloons did Marty's family win altogether? 3rd Grade: There are 22 students in Mrs. Hay's class, 17 students in Mrs. Hoover's class, and 25 students in Mr. Sofranec's class. How many students do these 3 teachers have altogether? 4th Grade: Samantha has 2 green shirts with 6 buttons on each shirt. Samantha has 3 yellow shirts with 5 buttons on each. What is the total number of buttons on both her green and yellow shirts.

Please join us today for our PTO Fundraiser dinner. TGIFriday's will be donating up to 20% of each sale to North's PTO. Please bring the coupon with you so that we will get credit for your dinner. Enjoy a night of no cooking while helping our school! Hope to see many of you there.

Tomorrow is Picture Day! I have been reminding the students all week about this day! If you plan on buying pictures, please make sure you send the envelope and money tomorrow with your child. Each student will be photographed, even if you are not buying a picture package. Homerooms will be taking group photos also. Have your child wear their best smile tomorrow!

Tomorrow, our 3rd graders will be taking the Reading Ohio Achievement Test. This allows us to see how poficient each student is in reading. Please make sure your child gets a good night sleep and eats a good breakfast tomorrow morning. Above all else, please tell them not to worry and encourage them to do their best.

Our 2nd Grade celebrated a Cowboy and Cowgirl Day! They dressed in skirts, jeans, cowboy boots and hats. In the classroom, they learned many western words. The students enjoyed trailmix as they sang songs around the "campfire". Let's hear a big "yee-ha" for our 2nd graders! The 1st grade enjoyed a book and art lesson from our friends at Armstrong cable. They made colorful owls that will hang to decorate our halls. A letter will be coming home soon to let you know when this lesson will air on the Armstrong community channel.

Just a reminder, the PTO Fundraiser is due tomorrow. All order forms and money can be turned into your child's homeroom teacher. Thank you for supporting our PTO. There will be a guest speaker from the state on Wednesday, September 26th, at the Poland High School. The speaker will talk about the state funding and the financial state of our school district. This event is open to the public and all are invited to attend at 7:00 pm.

Today we celebrated International Day of Peace. Our pinwheels are spinning, along with millions of others in the world. The project originated in 2005 by 2 art teachers in Florida. North officially joined this celebration last year. If you didn't get a chance to drive by the school today to admire our pinwheels, there are more pictures posted on our "Events" page. Have a great weekend!

Our PTO Membership drive is coming to a close. The classroom with the highest percentage of members join will receive a pizza party. Our PTO provides many activities, events, and assemblies for our students. Our first assembly will be in November with the JJ Brothers. The brothers are a funny team that write books who encourage the students to enjoy reading. All the proceeds earned for PTO go directly to benefit our students. The cost is $5 per person or $9 for two persons in the same family. At the end of the month, ask your child which homeroom won the pizza party!

Last week the students brought home information about the PTO fundraiser. There are many items to choose from out of the 3 catalogs. The items range from sporting items to food to jewelry. Please take a few minutes to look at the catalogs and consider purchasing something. The PTO will provide many avtivities for our students with the moneys raised from this fundraiser. All orders and money are due by Tuesday, September 25th. Thank you for your support

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Tonight is our tailgate! Please begin arriving at 5:30 at the High School closest to the Township building. Our PTO will have pizza, drinks, and popcorn for all to enjoy. There will be baskets to be raflled off. These include a "Girl's Themed Basket" and "Boy's Themed Basket" each with a portable DVD player in it. The classroom Bulldog paw yard signs will also be raffled away. The raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Thank you to the Tailgate Committee for planning such a fun event!

I would like to thank the parents who were able to attend our Parent Orientation last evening. We had a great turnout with many people volunteering for our PTO committees. I love the enthusiasm that is being displayed! Please return all Tailgate reservations by tomorrow. The committee needs to have a final count. We will begin at 5:30 at the High School closest to the Township building. You can purchase tickets at the Athletic Office during school hours if you plan on staying for the game. Let's help cheer the Bulldogs to a victory!

Tuesday evening at 6:00 is our Parent Orientation. It is an opportunity for parents to meet their child's teacher. In each homeroom, rules, guidelines, and homework policies will be discussed along with any questions you may have. Because this is an informational night, it is for parents only. I look forward to seeing many of you here. Please return the Tailgate forms and money as soon as possible. The PTO needs a count to make sure there is enough food for all to enjoy.

Thank you to all who attended our PTO meeting yesterday. It was so nice to see so many people willing to become involved with our PTO. Mr. Don Dailey, the Interim Superintendent, came to introduce himself and show his support for our school. Tailgate information is making its way home today. Please complete the reservation form, along with the money, and return to school if you plan to attend. It begins at 5:30 at the High School. Hope to see all of you there for pizza, raffles, and fun!

Welcome Back to the 2012/2013 school year! The first day jitters are behind us, but the smiles remain, as we continue learning the new routines and rules for the year. I want to remind you of some upcoming meetings for this week: Tonight, there is an informal Levy Committee Meeting at 6:30 at the High School. If you cannot attend, but would like to help with the levy, please call or write to inform me. Thursday at 9:00 am is our first PTO meeting. We will be discussing the Tailgate, Fall fundraiser, and Kindergarten Tea. Hope to see you there.