The Slate 2017-2018 Orchard Park Elementary Newsletter

December 1, 2017 Orchard Park Elementary 10404 Orchard Park Dr. S. Indianapolis, IN 46280 (317) 848-1918 www.ccs.k12.in.us/ope @OrchardParkCCS Principal: Rhonda Turner Asst. Principal: Elizabeth Young Secretaries: Elizabeth Hutton, Julie Garringer, Gale Runberg Orchard Park PTO Co-Presidents: Glenda Strohmier & Ann Bernard Vice President: Elizabeth Pilling Treasurer: Karla Walsworth Secretary: Adrienne Kelley Hospitality: Elizabeth Pilling Slate Editor: Cassie Hull Spirit Wear: Heather Moehl & Carli Houser Taste of Carmel: Karla Walsworth, Glenda Strohmier & Ann Bernard Box Tops: Adelina Priddis Dine to Donate: Cassie Hull Green Cubs: Brenda Fresch Valentine’s Parties: Roger Sipe, Nicole Sipe, & Carli Houser Snacks: Suzanne Manning Muffins with Me: Heather Moehl & Lynette Williams Science Fair: Bill Ahrbecker Staff Birthdays: Patricia Altamirano

Orchard Park Elementary PTO

@CCS_OPE_PTO

Issue 7

Important Dates December 10

Taste of Carmel Planning Mtg

February 14

Valentine’s Parties

December 11

Dine to Donate:

February 15

Science Fair

February 21

Dine to Donate: City BBQ

March 1

Taste of Carmel

March 19

Dine to Donate: Blaze Pizza

Greek Tony’s Pizza and Sub Shop

December 15

PTO Meeting 8:30 am

Dec. 23-Jan 8

Winter Break

January TBD

PTO Meeting 8:30 am

January TBD

Dine to Donate

‘Tis the Season for Shopping! If you plan on doing any online shopping at Amazon this holiday season, be sure to always direct your browser to smile.amazon.com. When you start with the “smile,” a portion of your order can be donated back to Orchard Park PTO. If you haven’t already chosen OPE PTO as your charity of choice, you can use this link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/35-1686565

Holiday Lights Recycling Drive Burnt out lights? Don’t throw them out! Recycle them! Collection Dates: NOW thru January 11, 2018 Collection boxes will be located outside of the front office. Bring in your nonworking holiday light strands (no pre-lit trees are accepted). 85% of each strand is recyclable!

OPE Student Council is selling candy canes for 50 cents each from December 14-22. This optional sale will be available each day before morning announcements and during all lunches. All money earned will be donated to a local, national and international charity at the end of the school year. We hope you might enjoy this sweet campaign!

QUAKENBOOKS We need your help! Taste of Carmel is seeking Sponsors & Donors! Does someone in your family have a tie into a local business? We are looking for event sponsors. Please see the Taste of Carmel Sponsor information on the last page of the SLATE. We are also looking for donations of items and gift certificates for the Silent Auction portion of this event. Please contact our Auction Coordinator, Julie Johnson, if you have a connection to a business who may be able to donate to our Silent Auction. Email her at [email protected].

Our bookstore QuakenBOOKS was given another teacher grant in November from the Carmel Education Foundation. This is the second time they have presented us with money totaling $1,500 from both grants to be spent on equipment, art supplies, and books. If you see a member of the board, please express your appreciation for their generous contributions to our invaluable student-led bookstore. We have now either given away or sold close to 10,000 books since its inception in March 2016. Your children can come buy books during their Media time or two other short periods during the day. Mrs. Quakenbush buys books all the time to ensure that they have the best selection. All books are sold for only 50 cents so all students can afford to buy them.

Join the Planning Committee! Next Meeting: Sunday December 10th at 7:00 pm The Taste of Carmel is the PTO’s largest annual fundraiser, and is now a premier event in our community. This event would not be possible without the parent volunteers who help with the Taste of Carmel Committee. We can always use more volunteers. If you are interested, please email Karla Walsworth at [email protected]. We also need volunteers on the day of the event. Please email Karla if interested.

Save your bread tags! Carmel High School senior, Danielle Rothchild, is President and Founder of Danielle Cares for Chairs. Her foundation collects bread tags to be recycled, and the proceeds are used to help those in need get mobility devices, such as wheelchairs.

A raffle ticket will be given to each student for every 5 bread tags submitted. Raffle drawings will be held monthly. Start saving today! Click here for more information on Danielle Cares for Chairs- https://daniellecaresforch.wixsite.com/ daniellecareforchair

Mrs. Locke’s 5th Grade & Mrs. Meyer’s Kindergarten

What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and without judgement.

Benefits of Mindfulness for Students: Promotes empathy and optimism Improves focus, attention, executive function, and impulse control Leads to lower levels of depression and aggression Helps regulate emotions. Relieves stress and calm down when upset Improves sleep Reduced test anxiety Greater motivation Decrease blood pressure

Teachers who receive Mindfulness Training: Have greater self- compassion Decreased emotional exhaustion and burnout Utilize more effective teaching practices Demonstrate less reactivity Improved classroom management

How do I learn More? Thanks to the Carmel Education Fund, Mrs. Sweitzer and Mrs. Lafferman received a grant to fund their project of Social and Emotional Learning through Mindfulness and Yoga. Implementation of this program will begin in January 2018. If you would like more information, please contact: Mrs. Sweitzer: [email protected] or Mrs. Lafferman [email protected]

Resources Beach, S. R. (2017) Why we need Mindfulness in schools. Retrieved from http://leftbrainbuddha.com/why-we-need-mindfulness-in-schools/ Mindful Schools (2017) www.mindfulschools.org