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.