Avoid the August rush, order school supplies now

Lucas families have the opportunity to order school supplies for next year through a company called SchoolKidz. Lucas teachers provide their supply lists for all grade levels, SchoolKidz fulfills the orders, and the complete package is waiting for you at the Popsicles with the Principal event just before school starts in August. You can place your order now through Wednesday, June 5.

To order:

1. Go to www.shopttkits.com
2. Enter the account number: 72011
3. Choose the appropriate grade level kit - REMEMBER TO CHOOSE THE GRADE YOUR CHILD WILL BE ENTERING IN THE FALL!
4. Enter your child’s first and last name
5. Add to cart; confirm your order and checkout.


Note: You do not need to sign in or create an account when checking out. You may check out without an account by entering your email address only.

If you have any questions, please contact Lucas parent volunteer Brooke at brookemhill@gmail.com.

Final Box Top collection of the year runs through Friday, May 24

We will have one last Box Top contest May 20 - 24th. Three popsicle parties will be awarded
to a K-2, 3-4, and 5-6 winner. Box Tops can again be placed on the flyers sent home last week or they can be put in baggies and given to the classroom teacher.

 For those that are ambitious, they can send them in counts of fifty. A spruced up Box Top box will again be in the office on Monday for collection or they can be given to the classroom teacher, just make sure the homeroom teacher is listed on the baggie.

By saving those little Box Tops from a variety of products you already use, you have already helped Lucas PTO raise more than $2,000 this year. Every dime counts!

4th grade attends School of the Wild

Lucas 4th graders spent the Week of May 13-17 at School of the Wild, a special program offered by University of Iowa Recreation Services. They went hiking, explored wetlands, identified animal tracks and plants, and even got to release a hawk that had been rehabilitated from a wing injury.

Thanks to the 4th grade teachers, the School of the Wild staff and all of our parent volunteers for making this a great experience for our students!

Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience performs at Lucas Thursday after school

On Thursday at 2:30 p.m., Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience will perform for free at Lucas on the K-2 playground. This is a special event for LOC students, but other Lucas families are welcome to attend. Students must be accompanied by a parent.

Simien and his band are in town as part of a two week tour of Iowa communities organized by the University of Iowa's Hancher.

If you can't make it Thursday, head downtown to the first Friday Night Concert of the season, this Friday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m., to catch a bit of this unique blend of New Orleans and Afro-Caribbean funk-reggae. Simien is an eighth generation Creole from the “Capitol of Zydeco Music,” Mallet, Louisiana, and is also passionate about Creole music education and advocacy. He has created a performing arts program called “Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco.” Since its creation in 2001, the program has provided informational performances to nearly 500,000 students in the U.S., Dominican Republic, Brazil, Paraguay, and Australia.

Volunteers bring nature back to K-2 playground

BEFORE

Did you notice the K-2 playground looked a little different this week? Thanks to the dedication of our  Lucas Outdoor Educational Playscape Initiative committee and many hours of muscle power from about two dozen parents, teachers and kids on Saturday, we've taken the first major step toward a more natural play area for our students. More pictures are posted on the PTO Facebook page (be sure to "like" us while you're there!) And the Press Citizen featured us in Sunday's paper. Thanks to all who contributed to the planning and execution of this project. Watch for more opportunities to participate as the project continues!

AFTER

Fun Night committee thanks volunteers, donors

A Mighty big THANK YOU to all of the volunteers and sponsors that made this years Fun Night a great success, raising more than $7,000 that PTO will use to support a wide array of activities and events for Lucas students!

In particular, a few donors were an integral part of the accomplishment: Hy-Vee (pizza and cookies), Midtown Family Restaurant (walking tacos), Noodles & Co. (pasta), Texas Roadhouse (rolls), Fareway (soda pop) Pepsi (water), and Bissinger Chocolates (Chocolate “games”). 

In addition, the following also made contributions:

Adventureland
Aero Rental
Aspen Leaf Yogurt
Ben Franklin Crafts
Blick Art Materials
Bob's Your Uncle
Burger King
Carlos O'Kelly's
City High Boosters
Cookies & More/Dairy Queen (Sycamore Mall)
Coral Ridge Ice Arena
Coral Ridge Mall
Costco
CR Kernels
CVS
Daylight Donuts
Englert Theatre
Game Day Iowa
Gasby's Convenience Stores (Muscatine Ave)
Grand Harbor Resort & Waterpark
Hamburg Inn
Heyn's Ice Cream
Hills Bank
Hy-Vee Drug
Iowa Book
Iowa City Parks & Recreation
Iowa City Press-Citizen
Iowa Cubs
Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack
Johnson County Safe Kids Coalition
Midwest One Bank
National River Museum (Dubuque)
Olive Garden
On the Go Convenience Stores (Muscatine Ave)
Pancheros
Pizza Pit
Pizza Ranch
Prairie Lights Books
Quad Cities River Bandits
Renee's Ceramic Café
Riverside Golf Resort & Casino
Riverside Theater
RSVP
Running Wild
Scheel's
Sheraton Hotel
St. Louis Cardinals
Target
UI Athletics Hall of Fame
Walgreens
Wal-Mart
Westport Touchless Autowash
Whitey's Ice Cream
Z'Mariks

Also a special thanks to the Kohl’s employees that continue to come back year after year to help with this important event. If you visit one of these sponsors, please considering thanking them for their consideration and for contributing to the education of our children. Thanks again for the help of everyone involved.

Final PTO meeting of the year is tonight at 7 p.m.

You could think of tonight as your last chance to get in on PTO participation this year. Or you could think of it as a jump start on next year. We're still looking for volunteers to head up some of our annual events. Bring a friend and volunteer together--it's more fun!

For tonight's agenda, click here. As usual we'll start at 7 p.m. in the art room with babysitting available in the Kindergarten room.

Be a part of the Lucas playground transformation: Work day is Saturday, May 1

The Lucas Outdoor Educational Playscape Initiative (LOEPI) is hosting a playground work day on Saturday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All are welcome, including Lucas students accompanied by adults.

The project involves the renovation of a portion of the K-2 playground on the south side of the school building. We will be removing some asphalt and putting in a mulch area with natural play objects.

Join us anytime during the day for as long as you wish!

• Starting around 8 a.m. we will be tearing out asphalt and loading it on trucks.
• By mid-day we'll be ready to preparing the area (digging out areas of the dirt and adding a drainage area). Also, we will be laying down landscaping fabric. 
• Later in the day we will be placing the mulch in the play area, putting in the play objects that we have and cleaning up.

Items needed: Mulch forks, wheel barrows, shovels, rakes and brooms. Come dressed to work and get messy! Water and snacks will be provided – please bring a water bottle to help save on cups

and trash.

For more information, see this flyer or contact Ann Campion,  ann.campion@gmail.com or 319-330-0896

Lucas community gathers for 50th birthday bash

Mighty Big Thanks to Ann Kessler and the 50th Anniversary planning committee for a marvelous celebration. It was great to see so many current and former teachers and families celebrating together, sharing memories, and envisioning the next 50 years. Thanks also to the Orff Club for a wonderful performance and to all the students who contributed decorations. It's great to be a Mighty Hawk and has been for 50 years!

New farmer's market starts Tuesday 5/7 at Mercer Park

Iowa City's newest Farmer's Market is practically in the back yard of some of our Lucas families. Be sure to stop by Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. for  fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, jewelry, gift items, and other products from area farmers, bakers, and artisans. The first market is this Tuesday, May 7; it will run weekly through  October 29.

For those unfamiliar with the area, Mercer Park is located on Bradford Street (off of First Avenue), next to Southeast Junior High. The Mercer Park Farmer’s Market will be held in the parking lot directly north of the baseball fields.

For more information, contact Emily Ambrosy at the City of Iowa City at emily-ambrosy@iowa-city.org.