Editor: Kelly Hetherington
thetherington<AT>comcast.net
1301 Timberlane Rd., Tallahassee, FL  32312
(850) 893-4310
www.gilchrist.leon.k12.fl.us
View the newsletter online and/or join the listserv at
http://listserv.leon.k12.fl.us/ges-parents.html


PTA FUNDING PROPOSALS NOW DUE

From the President:
The PTA Celebration and Chili Cook Off was a hearty roar!  A special thank
you to Larry Schueren for getting the guys organized and the competition
ready.  Congratulations to Roger Newsome for his landslide victory to claim
1st place and the three 2nd place winners Scott France, Bruce Leslie and
Guy Prentice.  Another special thank you to Kay Meyer Photography for
taking all the team photos that will be used to create our PTA Wall of
Achievement.  I do have some bad news though; the nomination ballots for
the open PTA positions were accidentally thrown away during clean up so I
need you to contact me with your choice for the following chairs.  A
nomination does not obligate someone to fill the position, so if you know
of a superstar (and that superstar could be you!) and you think they would
be ideal but you’re not sure if they are available, nominate them anyway -
at a minimum they’ll be flattered and if we’re lucky we’ll be able to
benefit from their time and talents for the 2004-2005 school year.  Open
positions are listed below (email me at osgood<AT>talstar.com or call me
894-4658):

1) President
2) Vice President
3) Treasurer
4) Secretary
5) Partners in Excellence
6) Membership
7) Gift wrap (or major fundraiser)
8) Harvest Hoopla (or major annual program)
9) BEAR/AR Celebrations

 We’re getting close to the end of the school year, which means
there are residual monies left in the PTA account which need to be spent by
June 30th.  Are you a member of the PTA (this includes parents, teachers,
staff, grandparents etc…)?  Do you have an idea for something the school
could use?  If so, all you have to do is pick up an “easy to fill-out”
proposal form at the front office, fill it out and turn it in by April
23rd, attend the next PTA meeting on May 4th and tell voting members about
the benefits your proposed purchase will bring to the school and/or the
children (2 minutes maximum).  The PTA members will vote on which proposals
to approve.  It was your time and talent that was invested  to raise these
dollars so even if you don’t have a proposal to submit your vote makes a
difference.  Janice France tells me we have approximately $30,000 to
spend.  In addition to voting on proposals we will also be electing the PTA
chairpersons for the 2004-2005 school year at the May 4th PTA meeting (the
last meeting of the school year – can you believe it?) .
If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade,
plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.
--Chinese proverb
Jennifer Osgood 894-4658 or osgood<AT>talstar.com

Upcoming Events
Tues., Apr. 20:  Olympics Opening Ceremonies, 2nd and 3rd grades
Wed., Apr. 21: Olympics-K, 1st, 4th and 5th grades
Wed., Apr. 28: Academic Warnings sent home
Tues., May 4: PTA Meeting, 5:15 p.m.
SAC Meeting, 6:15 p.m.
Tues. & Wed., May 4-5: Kindergarten Orientation and Walk-Through
Thurs., May 6: Tutor Train ice cream social
Fri., May 7: Last day AR testing this Trip

New KINDERGARTEN OBSERVATION DAYS
By Janice Marsh and K-Team

Our Kindergarten Observation/Orientation Days for next year’s new
kindergarten students will be May 4th and 5th from 9:00-10:30.  You may
choose either day to join us.  Bring your student if you would like.
Please come to the office, sign in, and get a name tag.  We will get
started right at 9:00, but come a little early and see the video that the
Kindergarten teachers produced showing a day in the life of a Gilchrist
Kindergarten student.  There will be a short information session followed
by a tour of the school and the kindergarten rooms.  Please share this
information with your neighbors that have new students coming to
Gilchrist.  We need everyone to register early so we will know how many
teachers are needed.

5th Grade News
 Believe it or not, it is almost time to say goodbye to our 5th
grade students who are moving on to the big, exciting world of middle
school!  Yikes!  However, before we push them out of the nest, so to speak,
they still have some fun and IMPORTANT things left to do.  One of those
involves the annual 5th Grade trip which will take place on May 14th.  Wild
Adventures is our destination and you should have already received a letter
with all of the details.  Also, be sure you have sent in the $6 for the 5th
Grade shirt required for graduation as well as your child’s size.  These
shirts will also be worn to Wild Adventures.
 For those students who are determined to get their names on the
Cooper Plaque for exemplary reading, please be reminded the deadline for AR
is May 7th.  At this time, all 5th grade students who have earned 200
points or higher will have their name added to this prestigious plaque.
Don’t let May 7th sneak up on you!
 Look for the special 5th GRADE CALENDAR for the month of May,
highlighting all of the important dates for your 5th grader.  Slap it on
the refrigerator so you can be one of those “on the ball” parents you’ve
always heard about.  We’ll probably be asking for some refreshment
donations for the cookout as well as the post graduation ice cream party,
so be watching for those requests!

Attention Parents!
REGISTRATION
For Kindergarten and New Elementary Students
NOW
8:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Parents should register children at the school in the zone in which they
are currently living.

Parents will need to bring before school starts:
• Proof of child’s birth date
• Proof of immunization: 5 DTaP, 4 polio, 2 measles, 1 mumps and 1
rubella (preferably 2 MMR), 3 hepatitis B and a varicella vaccine.
• Certificate of medical examination within the past year (August
2003-August 2004)
• Two proofs of residency (homestead exemption, mortgage deed, lease
or rental agreement, utility deposit receipt or current utility bill, or
property tax record).  The second item can be a driver’s license (with
correct address), cable or phone bill as long as you have one of the items
mentioned above.

Students who are currently enrolled in a Leon County Public School do not
need to register at this time.

OLYMPIC TIME IS HERE

Opening Ceremony will be Tuesday, April 20. The Parade of Nations will
begin at 8:45 a.m. with all students marching with their class.
Representatives from each class will perform with their grade level in the
Opening Ceremony. The Olympic Activities will consist of twelve different
stations through which the class will rotate and everyone in the class will
participate at each station. The events are going to be fun-filled for
everyone.

 The Olympic Activities will occur for 2nd & 3rd graders on Tuesday, April
20th, from 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.. Wednesday, April 21st, kindergarten and
1st grade activities will occur from 8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.. 4th and 5th
grade activities will be on Wednesday from 11:45 - 1:45 p.m..

We need YOU to make this day successful. If you have not already returned a
volunteer form and would like to help, you can volunteer by calling Rick
White at 893-0350 or Alan Bridwell at 668-9382. These men are the fantastic
guys who are Volunteer Coordinators for Olympics. The day of your child's
events have your child wear tennis shoes and clothing they can be active in
and comfortable. Sunscreen and hats are recommended. If your child has not
already done so, have him/her take 50 cents for a snow cone to his teacher
prior to his/her day of events. Don't forget to send their water bottle for
that day, also.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the Olympic Days.

Coaches Cramer and Mullinax

HATS OFF…

to fifth grade parents Nancy Byington, Greta Cooper, and Mae Kung, who have
been tireless helpers in Mrs. Funck's classroom this year. These wonderful
moms have assisted students, created bulletin boards, and helped with
projects all year long, always ready and willing to lend a hand wherever
needed. Mrs. Funck and her students, along with the rest of us, want to
say "Thanks" for being great Grizzly volunteers!

GIFT OF 30
We have two more names to add to our list of volunteers who have given
Gilchrist the "Gift of 30" or more hours of service this year.
Congratulations to Connie Clarke and Anne Gergen! Look for their names in
the front office on the volunteer bulletin board. To all our wonderful
volunteers: You are important and appreciated, especially as the end of the
year approaches and teachers are so busy! Let's keep those hours rolling in
until the very end of the year!