Fall Fundraiser a Big Success!!!

The PTO is proud to announce that Lucas students helped to raise more than $21,000 during the Fall Fundraiser. The initial total raised was $21,313.50, but that does not include online sales. As soon as we know the grand total, and what portion of that will go directly to our school, we will be sure to let you know!

A big thanks to Brooke Hill for organizing the fundraiser. And don't forget that fundraising items will be ready for student pick up and distribution on October 20 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the MPR at Lucas. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Halloween Party Volunteers Needed

PTO is in need of multiple volunteers to help make this year's Halloween Party at Lucas on Friday, October 29 a success.

The event organizers need volunteers for three shifts. Two shifts are needed during the party: multiple volunteers are needed from 2:50-3:45 p.m. and 3:35-4:30 p.m. The third shift is for cleanup from 4:30-5 p.m. As part of the cleanup, four volunteers are needed to act as hall monitors.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Nancy Cassady at cassadyim@mchsi.com

Reminder: Lucas Classroom Open House is Tuesday night

Lucas parents, don't forget -- the Lucas Classroom Open House is 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night, Tuesday, September 28. Formerly called Back to School Night, this is your chance to meet your child's teachers, visit classrooms and learn about the curriculum being taught. Students are welcome -- but not required -- to attend with their parents.

September Lucas newsletter now online

The September 2010 issue of the Robert Lucas Newsletter is now available online! Click here to view it.

Photos: Lucas marches in City High Homecoming Parade

Lucas families showed up in force Wednesday to march in the City High Homecoming Parade Wednesday afternoon. Lucas Dads Engaged in Engineering Dreams (DEED) organized the Lucas participation. Students chanted "Lucas, Lucas," handed out candy and had a great time. Below are some photos from the event.

Some Fall Fundraiser Order Forms Submitted Without Checks

Dear Lucas families:

Thanks for everyone's participation in this year's fall fundraiser through the Chip Shoppe, which officially ended yesterday. We've had lots of great participation and are getting ready to send in your orders.

However, a number of students brought back order forms with some items marked "paid" without including checks to cover the full cost of the orders. While we will do everything we can to honor all the orders, we hope you understand that PTO can't order items without having the money to pay for them.

If you think you may have sent in an order form without enough money, please contact Brooke Hill, our PTO fundraising chair, right away at brookemhill@gmail.com. Brooke will also try to contact Lucas families whose order forms were missing money directly.

Thanks again for everyone's help in raising funds for Lucas students, teachers and staff!

2010 Run for the Schools registration now open

Hey, runners and walkers -- great news! Registration is now open for the 2010 Run for the Schools.

Sponsored by MidWestOne Bank and hosted by Iowa City Road Races, Inc., the annual run will take place at 8 a.m. Sunday, October 17. Races include 1/2 mile and one mile Fun Runs, 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome.

Students and race participants are encouraged to collect donations for Lucas Elementary and other Iowa City schools through this great family event.

Click here for a printable race registration form.
Click here for Online Race Registration Option

Race registration materials are available at all 25 schools and online registrations will also be accepted.

You can also make a donation to the schools on behalf of the Run for the Schools.

Click here for a printable Donation Form.
Click here to make a Secure Online Donation to the ICCSD schools!

100% of all donations collected for the ICCSD will support our local public schools through the Foundation's Excellence Fund and provide funding for educational activities and equipment throughout the district.

For more information, visit http://www.iccsdfoundation.org/runforschool.htm

Reminder: City High Homecoming Parade is Wednesday

Hey, Mighty Hawks! Remember that Lucas Elementary School families are invited to march in the City High Homecoming Parade Wednesday afternoon.

Lucas families march in the 2009 City High parade.

Please gather at Mercer Park no later than 5:15 p.m. and look for the Lucas Mighty Hawk Banner. The parade begins at 6 p.m. and ends at Bates Field (City High), where a snack will be provided by City High.

All Lucas families are invited, but students MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Wear a Lucas shirt if you have one (DEED members are encouraged to wear their DEED t-shirts). And bring a bag of candy if you want to hand it out along the parade route.

If you have questions or are a dad who wants to order a DEED t-shirt, contact Joe Bell at jk.bell@mchsi.com or 319-330-1386.

Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for Making the Big Blast a Big Success!

The Lucas Big Blast Fall Festival was a huge success!  Great fun was had by all who attended.  The weather was perfect and so was the popcorn.  A special thank you to all of the volunteers that helped the event run so smoothly.

Leslie Veit, Free Family Night Chair for PTO.

P.S. Thanks also to Leslie Veit for chairing this great event! It wouldn't have been possible without her great organizational skills.

Stephen and Melinda Pradarelli

Here are some photos from tonight's big event:

REMINDER: Meet at Lucas Tomorrow to Help Us Fill Up and Organize the PTO Shed

PTO is holding a "help us fill up and organize the shed" event on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. If you can spare any time we would love to have you help us move PTO items out of the teacher workroom and into our shed. Also, PTO members who have been storing Fun Night games and/or anything else PTO-related at their homes should bring those items on Sept. 18 to be stored. If you have any empty rubbermaids or storage bins at your house please consider donating them to PTO for this event. If you can help with this event email Melinda Pradarelli at pradarelli@mchsi.com

Help Lucas Elementary School win an interactive White Board

Hy-Vee is promoting a contest that will award an interactive White Board to 200 schools who earn the most points through purchases of certain brand protects at local Hy-Vee stores.

Here's the scoop, from Hy-Vee's corporate Web site:

For every $20 of Procter & Gamble products you purchase at Hy-Vee from September 1 to November 30, you earn 100 SMART Points to donate to the school of your choice. Get 100 additional points when you spend $5 or more on Sara Lee Bakery products in the same transaction as your qualifying $20 Procter & Gamble purchase. Find the promotional code printed on your receipt of purchase, and enter it by clicking on the "Donate Points" button. From there, select the school for which you would like to make a donation.

More than 200 schools with the most points will win!* Plus, this year the participants with the most points earned from each winning school will win a MacBook® computer for their child. We encourage you to invest in the future of our schools and share the details of this promotion with your friends and family during the promotional period.

To learn more and to register to participate, sign up here. When you purchase the right kind and amount of items, you will receive a slip stating the number of "Hy-Vee Smart Points" you earned at the checkout register and a code to enter at the contest Web site.

Good luck!

March with Lucas Elementary in the City High Homecoming Parade September 22

Help celebrate Mighty Hawk and Little Hawk pride Wednesday, September 22, by marching with Lucas Elementary School in the City High Homecoming Parade.

Lucas families are invited to gather at Mercer Park no later than 5:15 p.m. and look for the Lucas Mighty Hawk Banner. The parade begins at 6 p.m. and ends at Bates Field (City High), where a snack will be provided by City High.

All Lucas families are invited, but students MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Wear a Lucas shirt if you have one. And bring a bag of candy if you want to hand it out along the parade route.

Questions? Contact Joe Bell at jk.bell@mchsi.com or 319-354-2281.

General Music Concert Dates

At last night's PTO meeting, music teacher Nathan Kelley announced the 2010-11 General Music Concert dates. The dates are as follows:

Thursday, April 14, 2011

1 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. - Kindergarten

1:30 - 1:50 p.m. - 1st Grade

Thursday, April 21, 2011

1 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. - 2nd Grade

1:30 - 1:50 p.m. - 3rd Grade

Thursday, May 5, 2011

1 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. - 4th Grade

1:30 - 1:50 p.m. - 5th Grade

Sixth graders will perform at their graduation.

Flip Flop Friday fields funds for family

Congratulations to Lucas students and staff for making "Flip Flop Friday" yesterday a huge success!

Students and staff were asked to give a donation in exchange for getting to wear flip-flops to school Friday. The school donated a total of $655 for Kim Evans and her family, whose home and possessions were destroyed in a house fire this summer.

Way to go Mighty Hawks!

Lucas PTO to hold first meeting Monday, September 13

Please save the date! The Lucas PTO will hold its first meeting of the new school year at 7 p.m. at the school. We have lots of new faces to meet, and lots of business to discuss. So please attend if you're able.

Free babysitting will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

Stephen and Melinda Pradarelli
PTO Co-Presidents

Fall fundraiser kicks off Tuesday!

Lucas PTO kicks off its fall fundraiser on Tuesday Sept. 7 with a school assembly. Students will bring home a packet of information from The Chip Shopped in their backpacks. Students then have just two weeks to collect and turn in orders.

This is Lucas' one and only large school fundraiser. Proceeds from the sale will be used for items that are not covered in the school's budget. Things such as author and artist visits, instructional materials, yearbooks for every student, technology, playground equipment, teacher appreciation, and various items to enhance the educational experience for all!

We encourage all families that can to participate in this fundraising sale. Friendly sales are made by contacting family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. NO DOOR-TO-DOOR selling. SAFETY is our number one concern!

Help Us Fill Up and Organize the PTO Shed

The PTO Shed is finally complete -- shelves and all! PTO is holding a "help us fill up and organize the shed" event on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. If you can spare any time we would love to have you help us move PTO items out of the teacher workroom and into our shed. Also, PTO members who have been storing Fun Night games and/or anything else PTO-related at their homes should bring those items on Sept. 18 to be stored. If you have any empty rubbermaids or storage bins at your house please consider donating them to PTO for this event. You can bring them on the 18th or bring them to our first PTO meeting Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. We can use any and all help! Questions, email Melinda at pradarelli@mchsi.com