Celebrate reading at Family Literacy Night Sept. 24

Are your bookshelves bursting? Are you looking for new readers for some of your kids' outgrown favorites? Gather them up and bring to the Lucas Book Swap!

Drop your books in the basket outside the office by Friday, Sept. 20, and then come to Lucas Literacy Night on Tuesday, Sept. 24, to look through other families' offerings and make a selection. The event runs from 5:30-7 p.m.  (A free dinner will be served.)

Also during Literacy Night you'll have a chance to enjoy fun family activities, read stories with a local celebrity, and even get an Iowa City Public Library card. (Bring proof of address and photo ID to receive your library card.)

Get in the Little Hawk spirit with tailgate Sept. 20 and Homecoming parade Sept. 25

Bring the family out for the DEED tailgate Friday, Sept. 20, 5-6:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Our Redeemer Church, corner of 1st. Ave. and Court St. The DEED (Dads Engaged in Engineering Dreams) dads will be grilling up hot dogs and serving dinner for all (vegetarian option also available.) Whether or not you attend the City High football game, this is a great opportunity for Lucas families to get together for fun and food!

Hold on to that Little Hawk spirit throughout the week and join us for the City High Homecoming parade on Wednesday, Sept. 25. There are two ways to join the fun:

• As a participant--meet in the Mercer parking lot after 5:15 and look for others wearing Lucas t-shirts. The parade starts at 6 p.m. This event is sponsored by DEED; all students must be accompanied by an adult to walk in the parade. 
• As a spectator--park yourselves along First Ave. between Bradford and Court and cheer on the Lucas contingent and the rest of the marchers. If you choose this option, please consider supporting the City High Ambassadors "Pack the Pick-up" effort to gather food donation for the Crisis Center Food Bank. Exchange non-perishable food for candy as the group makes its way along the parade route.

Regardless of whether you walk or watch, the City High PTSO invites you to share treats at the end of the parade on the Hoover Elementary playground.

Parent program focuses on discipline, self-esteem Thursday, Sept. 19

Lucas will be hosting a program for parents on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6-8 p.m. Free child care for school-aged children will be provided. The program is the Smart Discipline program for parents, which focuses on techniques to improve cooperation from children and methods for parents to help boost their children's self-esteem.

The Smart Discipline for Parents Workshop was created in 1985 by Dr. Larry Koenig, a family therapist from Baton Rouge, LA. Certified trainers present these workshops in communities all over the country.

We encourage you to join us next Thursday for this seminar that could hold the key to harmony in your household.

Location change for school board election

The Lucas polling place for tomorrow's school board election has been moved to Mercer Park Recreation Center, 2701 Bradford Drive. This is a temporary change, only in effect for this election.

All polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. Early voting is available at the Johnson County Auditory's Office today, Monday, Sept. 9, until 5:30 p.m.

There are nine candidates vying for three open seats on the School Board. Information about the candidates was shared in an Aug. 26 MIghty Hawk Messenger post.

Voters will also be asked to renew the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) in this election.

PTO meets tonight at 7 p.m.

The agenda for tonight's PTO meeting has been posted. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. with free child care available. Look for signs in the school front entrance as our meeting and babysitting rooms may change to take advantage of air conditioned spaces.

Sept. 10 Open House canceled

The Open House scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10, has been canceled due to expected extreme heat and humidity. A decision on rescheduling is pending.

Learn more about fall fundraiser at Sept. 10 Open House

You might not have realized it, but Mighty Hawk gold is a fine complement to parched-lawn brown!

If you'd like to accent your home with one of our fine Make a Mighty Difference yard signs, be sure to visit the PTO information table at next week's Open House, Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 5:15-7 p.m.

All Lucas students and families are invited to come and see the students' early work and chat with the classroom teachers from 5-6 p.m. Our school neighbors at The River Church will be serving a free dinner from 5:15-7 p.m., but you have to visit the classrooms first to pick up your free dinner ticket!

While you're in the classrooms, take note of the many items--Smart Board technology, instruments, library books, supplies--that were made possible by PTO.

PTO leaders will be available at this event to answer any questions you may have about how to Make a Mighty Difference, how the money will be spent, or why we ask for direct donations rather than having the students sell items to family and friends.

This week the Make a Mighty Difference fundraiser crept tantalizingly close to 40% of our financial goal thanks to a few new donors. We're still looking for broad participation in this campaign and want to remind everyone that all gifts are celebrated, no matter the size. Whether you can pledge $1, $10, $100 or more, all donors are recognized equally on our Wall of Fame.

City High Principal John Bacon writes to future Little Hawks

As principal of City High, I want our elementary and junior high school students to be excited and proud to be a future Little Hawk. 

Click here to read full newsletter

Make connections at first PTO meeting Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.

The first PTO meeting of the year is right around the corner. Mark your calendar for Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. to come learn about ways you can be involved in building the Lucas community. You could win a Lucas t-shirt (and find out why it says RRCS.) You'll probably pick up a tasty treat. And you'll certainly connect with fellow Lucas parents.

All Lucas parents are members of the PTO and your level of involvement is totally up to you. Our meetings last one hour, and free child care is provided in the Kindergarten room.

Future meetings (always the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m.) are:

• October 14
• November 11
• December 9
• January 13
• February 10
• March 10
• April 14
• May 12

PTO Makes A Mighty Difference by supporting:

• Technology - Computers, Smart Boards, I-Touch
• Enrichment - Field Trips, Visiting Authors, School of the Wild
• Outdoor Educational Playscape - Outdoor classroom space, Nature based play, Prairie Pocket, School Garden, playground equipment
• Family Activities - DEED events, Family supper, Free Family Nights, Fun Night

While you have your calendar handy, here are a few additional dates:

Tuesday, Sept 10 - Open House at Lucas with dinner provided by The River Church

Friday, Sept 20 - Lucas Family Tailgate at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church prior to the City High football game. Hosted by DEED (Dads Engaged in Engineering Dreams) our Dad’s group at Lucas.

Wednesday, Sept. 25 - City High Homecoming Parade (Lucas group organized by DEED)

If you have any questions about Lucas PTO or a specific event, please feel free to contact PTO co-presidents Leslie Veit or Renee Speh

Butterflies, bees, beautiful prairieland; Fall is fabulous for outdoor learning

Families interested in outdoor education, a cornerstone of our annual Make a Mighty Difference campaign, may want to check out upcoming events at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids and with the Johnson County Heritage Trust here in town.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m., Indian Creek will host an information session about the struggling monarch butterfly, a species in decline due to lack of habitat and food sources. The nature center is raising about two dozen monarch caterpillars, which they plan to tag and release that afternoon. Children will also have the opportunity to catch monarchs on the prairie and help naturalists tag and release them. The cost is $4 for members, $6 for non-members and $2 for children. Advance registration is encouraged; call 319-362-0664 or register online.

Indian Creek will celebrate another troubled species with HoneyFest on Sunday, Sept.  15 from 1-4 p.m. Spend a fun afternoon as a family learning about the important role bees play in your life--meet bee-keepers, see a live bee beard, play old fashioned games, make crafts to take home, and eat bee-licious treats. KCRG-TV9 meteorologist Justin Gehrts will talk about the challenges weather poses to bees and other pollinators. Tickets are $5 at the door or $3 in advance.

Also on Sept. 15, the Johnson County Heritage Trust will host a free Family Day at Belgum Grove, four miles west of Hills on the south side of 500th St. It’s the perfect time to get outside, smell the wildflowers, soak up the sun, explore the creek, fish in the pond and reconnect with the best that nature has to offer. Move through different stations, visit with local naturalists and experience fun, hands-on activities that teach about Johnson County’s natural prairies, streams, wetlands, and woodlands.

Dress comfortably and wear boots or sturdy shoes to enjoy all of these natural areas. Children are welcome to bring their own fishing poles. Two kayaks will be available for exploring the pond. The event is free, happens rain or shine, and all are welcome.

Johnson County Heritage Trust is a local, non-profit conservation land trust made up of citizens committed to the conservation, restoration, preservation and enjoyment of locally significant natural areas. For more information, call 319-338-7030 or email info@jcht.org.

For more information about Lucas's outdoor education and playscape initiative, contact committee chair Sarah Lynch.