Information for Parents and Students

Summer Letter 2010

July 20, 2010

Dear Parents,

We hope you are having a fruitful and restful summer, and since summer is half over, our thoughts are turning to the new school year. In John 21 when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told them to let down their nets again. They did and caught so many fish that they could not haul them into their boats! We usually focus on the miracle of the fish but miss the reason the miracle was possible: the disciples heard Jesus speak and obeyed. This is the essence of a life of faith. Did you take time to listen to the voice of your Master today and to obey what He said? Jesus said that the members of His family are those who do the will of God. Our fisherman friends have shown us how we can know the will of God, even in discouraging circumstances, and how listening and obeying will bring a great harvest in our lives. Our prayer of all our students, parents and teachers is that we may all be more intimate with Him by attending to His voice and acting upon what we hear. Please take note of the important information below.

PREPARATION

We here at Strickland are feverishly preparing for the great year ahead. Among other things, the APTF has bought brand new, Mac Mini computers for the computer lab. Thank you, parents! We are also adding 20” flat computer screens! In addition the exterior of the first grade building has been repainted for a fresh, inviting look.

CALENDAR

Saturday, August 7 – Pre-owned Uniform Sale – 9 AM – 11 AM

Saturday, August 7 – Workday at the School – 8 AM – Noon

Tuesday, August 17 – 7:00 PM – New Parent Orientation

Wednesday, August 18 – Teachers Return

Monday, August 23 – 10:00 AM – Open House for K4 through 2nd Grade

Monday, August 23 – 7:00 PM – Open House for 3rd through 8th Grade

Wednesday, August 25 – First Day of School

A complete calendar is located in the handbook and is updated regularly on our website.

NEW PARENT ORIENTATION

This meeting is mandatory for all parents new to Strickland School who were unable to attend the May orientation. We will discuss important school policies and procedures, uniforms, tips for parents, and there will be a question and answer session. The meeting is for parents only so please find other care for your children.

OPEN HOUSE

This is an important event for you and your child to meet the teacher and see the classroom. Teachers will have some pertinent information for you at this time. First through eighth grade students please bring the notebook paper assigned below with you to help teachers prepare before the first day. Parents may open a hot lunch account for their children at open house.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

All students will receive the supplies that they need to get started in school. The teachers will distribute these supplies as needed for their classrooms. Students in first through eighth grades must bring the following types and amounts of loose-leaf notebook paper. Please bring the notebook paper to open house so teachers have time to prepare for the first day of class.

1^st through 5th Grades	Wide ruled	2,000 sheets
6^th, 7^{th and} 8th Grades	College ruled	1,000 sheets

TEACHERS FOR 2010-2011

We are happy to welcome back so many excellent teachers for another year. Please pray for all our teachers as they prepare to minister to your little ones. Below is the tentative list of employees. Please take special note since some teacher assignments have changed.

Bettylee Lukefahr	K4 (until noon)
Mary Wall	K4 (until 3:00 PM)
Jenny Jackson	K5 (until 3:00 PM)
Ruby O’Neal April Skirrow	K5 (until noon) K4 and K5 (afternoons)
Jeanette Schmitz	1^stGrade
Amy Gold	1^stGrade
Pamila Stout	2^nd Grade/Lower School Principal
Patty Pearson	3^rd Grade
Belinda Means	3^rdGrade
Ann Smith	4^th Grade
Pattie Hill	5^th Grade (5^th-8^th Grammar)
Brenda Caffey	6^thGrade (5^th-8^thScience)
Becky Fleming	7^th-8^th Grade
Don Morris Ranti Valdez Gloria Knox Becky Oekerman Doug Rigdon	PE 6th-8^th Math, Computer Spanish Music 5^th Grade Math
Diane Rigdon Janet Ludwig	Extended Care Director Extended Care
Rosie Casey	Cafeteria Manager/ 4th Grade Assistant
Karen Ard Lori Petty	Accounts Manager Office Manager/Admissions Director

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

Due to multiple classrooms at some grade levels, students in K4, K5, first and third grades will receive a letter from their teachers by the middle of August. Please do not call the school to learn your child’s room assignment unless your child does not receive the letter by August 18.

YEARBOOKS

A few of last year’s yearbooks are still available for sale for $28 each. If you are interested, stop by the school or see an APTF officer.

OFFICE HOURS

While someone is usually at the school this summer, please check the office answering machine for office hours or call for an appointment. Our staff is on vacation this summer so please do not call them at home; direct all your inquiries to the school office.

VOLUNTEERING AND TRAINING

Please bear in mind that each parent of a student here at Strickland is required to volunteer for at least 4 hours sometime during the school year. APTF volunteering and work done for the school under the direction of the teachers or administrators meet this requirement. Parents must complete and return the signed paperwork as proof of their volunteer efforts in order to retire their four-hour requirement. Parents must also attend at least 3 hours of parenting training. Please see p.10 of the handbook for details.

WORKDAY

The August 7 workday will be from 8 A.M. until 12 noon. This is a great opportunity to sweat off those summer pounds! Hopefully we will be moving gravel, doing yard work, trimming bushes, painting among other odd jobs. Bring paint brushes, gloves, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow if you have them. Any other yard or regular tools will also be helpful. While this is not a workday for children, older students may come to help at their own risk if they are supervised by their parents. Hours worked at this work extravaganza will help meet volunteer requirements mentioned above.

CHANGE FEE

The office staff will happily make changes to your child’s payment schedule or enrollment times or days. This service is free until September 1. After September 1 the charge for this service will be $25 for each change made.

PAYMENTS AND LATE FEES

If you agreed to the twelve or nine month plan for paying tuition, your first monthly payment was due starting on June 7^th. A $20.00 late fee must accompany payments that are more than 5 days late. You may mail your payment to the P.O. Box or leave it in the red mailbox next to the school office.

UNIFORMS

A pre-owned uniform sale will be sponsored by the APTF on Saturday, August 7, from 9-11 AM. It is important that you buy uniforms for your child now if you have not done so, as all students must be in uniform starting on the first day of school. Be sure to buy a sweater, also, as some classrooms are cold even in hot weather. P.E. uniforms must also be purchased by the beginning of school. First and second graders must wear their P.E. uniforms to school on P.E. days as there is neither time nor place for them to change. Expect your child to have P.E. twice a week. You will learn the P.E. schedule during Open House. For further details see pages 18-22 of the handbook. Please refer to the APTF newsletter that follows for more information about the used uniform sale in August and about ordering T-shirts. Parents who wish to sell their gently used uniform items at the sale must bring them to the school during office during office hours by August 5. Every item dropped off must have the following information pinned to it: parent name and telephone number and the price. All items are sold by consignment; items that are not sold after two uniform sales must be picked up by their original owners or the APTF will dispose of them as it seems fit. The APTF takes a percentage of the proceeds of the sale for its general fund.

Please also note the following important information about ordering from Lands’ End:

Be advised that this school year is the last year that certain items on the uniform list may be worn. Please be careful when ordering or buying used items that may only be used this year.
The long chino skirt is a new item that has been added to the approved list.
The long chino skort is the only approved skort to order.
If the girls’ chino shorts are not long enough for your daughter, please purchase the boys chino shorts.
There are only three approved PE shirts, all available from the APTF: the gray PE shirt with the blue Strickland eagle logo and the gray child-drawn T-shirts from the last two years.
There are only three approved T-shirts for T-shirt days, all available from the APTF: the two child drawn shirts mentioned above and the blue T-shirt with the gold Strickland eagle logo.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Some Austin parents have received partial scholarships for sending their children to Christian schools by applying to the Austin Children’s Educational Opportunity Foundation. The CEO is a Christian organization that seeks to help families who find it hard to pay for tuition. For information, check the CEO website: www.ceoaustin.org.

AUSTIN PARENT TEACHER FELLOWSHIP

We are very thankful for the many indispensable services that the APTF performs for our school each year. I encourage your membership in the APTF and hope you will join in their profitable activities. Their newsletter which follows will provide valuable information about plans for this year. Please download the APTF membership form below to complete and join if you have not already done so.

We pray you and your children will have a blessed summer and return refreshed for a new school term.

In His service,

Doug Rigdon, Director

APTF Summer Newsletter 2010

APTF Membership Form 2010-2011

School Shirt Order Form 2010-2011

Parent Orientation, Open House, Workshops, and Calendars

This section contains information for students of Strickland and their parents. Click here to order school uniforms from Land’s End. Please use school code 900052051 when ordering.

Summer Workshop

A five week Summer Workshop will be offered beginning June 30th. To learn more, click on one of the links below:

Click here to download the Summer 2010 Workshop Forms for K through 1st Grade. Click here to download the Summer 2010 Workshop 1st-4th.

Calendars

Each month during the school year a calendar of events and the lunch menu calendar will be sent home with your child for your information. You may also view these school calendars online. Be advised that the published school calendar may be subject to minor changes due to school closures for weather or other problems. Such “snow days” may be added to the end of the school year or taken during scheduled holidays.

First Day of School is August 25, 2010.

Parent Orientation

A mandatory parent orientation for all parents of new students will be held on August 17th @ 7 p.m. at the school. One parent or guardian from each family registered is required to attend one of these sessions in order to obtain pertinent information about Strickland School’s policies and procedures including student and parent requirements, discipline and uniforms.

Open House

There will be an Open House on August 23rd for Kindergarten – 2nd @ 10 a.m. and for 3rd – 8th @ 7 p.m. for students and their parents. This will give them a chance to visit the classroom, meet the new teacher and possibly form carpools.