Two-hour delay Monday!

The Iowa City School District has just announced there will be a two-hour delay Monday morning. Check KCRG, the Press-Citizen and other local media for details.

Help still needed for Spelling Bee Thursday

A few volunteers are still needed to help with the Lucas Spelling Bee at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3:

1st & 2nd grade:
2 Masters of Ceremonies
2 Judges
2 Ushers

3rd & 4th grade:
1 Judge

5th & 6th grade:
1 Judge

Please contact Jeffrey Fields jeffrey.fields@yahoo.com or Joe Pavelich
j.pavelich@mchsi.com to let us know how you would like to help!

Students encouraged to dress up for Read Across America Week February 28 to March 4

The students and staff at Lucas Elementary School will be celebrating their love of books the week of Monday, February 28 to Friday, March 4, by dressing in colors to match the book of the day, and ending Friday with a big Storybook Character Day celebration.

On Monday, February 28, students, teachers and staff are encouraged to wear the colors red and blue, in honor of the Dr. Seuss book "Red Fish, Blue Fish."

Tuesday, March 1, Lucas is closed because of a conference day.

Wednesday, March 2, everyone is encouraged to wear green and white in honor of the book, "Green Eggs and Ham."

On Thursday, March 3, Read a Shirt Day, everyone one is encouraged to wear a shirt with words on it.

And on Friday, March 4, is Storybook Character Day, and students, teachers and staff are encourage dress up as their favorite storybook characters. Please use the following guidelines when planning the costume:

1. Students should have the book their character is from with them.

2. No weapon, knives, or any other weapon or look-alike weapon will be allowed.

3. No costumes that depict blood or violence.

4. Costumes should allow for students to participate in their regular daily routines.

Prizes will be given in each hallway for:

Most Original Costume

Most Creative Costume

Most Accurate Costume

Let’s all have a fun-filled day celebrating children’s literature!

Costume suggestions:

Students can wear an entire costume or one item of clothing. Character should be fictional. Uniforms for a non-fiction book will not be included in the judging. Example: football uniform for a book about football, a baseball uniform for a book on rules of baseball, etc.

*Pippi Longstocking - Wear red pigtails that stick out, long stockings and a dress.

*Pecos Bill - Cowboy hat and vest

*Ira Sleeps Over - Carry a teddy bear and wear pajamas

*There’s a Nightmare in My Closet - Wear pajamas and an army helmet

*Blueberries for Sal - Loose fitting overalls and carry a bucket with three blueberries

*Little House on the Prairie - Wear a prairie dress and hat

*Pig Pig Grows Up - Pig nose and carry a baby bottle

*101 Dalamations - White pants and shirt with black spots and dog ears

*Little Red Riding Hood - Red cape and basket

*Trouble on the T-Ball Team - Baseball ball, cap and glove

Ideas and Leadership for Lucas Kids Clubs Needed

Lucas Kids Clubs are back! Yolanda Spears is helping to coordinate our popular school-wide Kids Club program, which will be offered one day a week after school throughout the month of April. Two clubs in the works are scrapbooking and knitting but we would like to offer more. If you have an idea and/or are willing to lead a club, we want to hear from you.

Past clubs that have been popular are volleyball, cooking, basketball, peace club, dance, cheerleading, bike rodeo, kickball, and pets. If you would like to lead one of these clubs or have another idea, please submit it to Yolanda Spears (email: Spears.Yolanda@iccsd.k12.ia.us or call 688-1140) by Friday, March 4. Permission slips for the clubs will be sent out after spring break.

Lucas kids love these clubs! In the past, nearly 200 kids have participated. Please help us provide more club options!

Kindergarten Registration is March 1

Parents of children who will be 5 years old on or before September 15, 2011, may register for kindergarten between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Lucas. Please bring verification of your child's birth date, such as a certified copy of birth certificate. You do not need to bring your child with you to register him or her.

If you are unable to register your child(ren) on March 1, please call Lucas at 688-1140.

You Can Make a Difference for a Lucas Family that Experienced a Tragic Fire

(This note is from Yolanda Spears, Lucas Family Resource Center)

Hello Everyone

I just spoke to John Lee, dad of Lucas student Samantha Lee, about their tragic house fire that took place recently. He informed me that there was extensive damage (smoke, heat and water) inside the house and that they would like to accept the help that Lucas families, staff, neighbors, PTO, and LOC have offered. Here is the plan: We will collect some donations and make sure that it is delivered to the family.

Please bring the donations to the Teachers Lounge on Monday February 21^st and Friday February 25^th

· Toiletries

· Toys

· Cooking/Kitchen

· Bedding

· Clothing (sizes see below)

They have found temporary housing so the family is also in need of furniture. If you have furniture to donate please call Yolanda Spears at Lucas FRC @ 319-688-1140 (or email Spears.Yolanda@iccsd.k12.ia.us) or call Melinda Pradarelli (PTO Co-President) 319-341-6106 (pradarelli@mchsi.com) with the following information:

· Who: Your name and phone number

· What: Item to donate

· When: Is the item available

· Where: The item is (address)

· How: Indicate if you are able to transport the item

We would like to have furniture donation information by Thursday March 3^rd so that we can arrange a pickup and drop off schedule.

If you would like to make monetary donations you can bring it to the office and indicate that it is for the Lee Family. Another option would be to donate gift cards and you can do that by ordering through our SCRIP program (http://www.iccsd.k12.ia.us/Schools/Lucas/pto/currentscrip.pdf) and specify it is for the Lee Family.

When buying things for the family here are some sizing guidelines:

· John (Dad)—Tops Large and Bottoms 34 waist / 32 length

· Samantha (Lucas Student) – 6/7 girl’s clothes and 13 girl shoes

· Jack (4yo brother/son) – 4/5 boys clothes and 11 boys shoes

Thanks to LOC, PTO, Lucas community/neighbors and staff in advance for working together. In closing, I conveyed to John that Lucas is a FAMILY and when a family member is in need we pull together to help J

Miss Yolanda

Lucas Family Resource Center

Looking for photos for Lucas Yearbook!

Have you captured any fun Lucas events this past year with your camera or cell phone? Please consider emailing them to Emily Spellman, who is putting together the annual Lucas Yearbook! Please send your pics to Emily at easpellman@msn.com as soon as possible!

Help Support Big Brothers Big Sisters!

Did you know that Lucas Elementary School currently has about 30 students taking part in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County “Buddy Program”? Volunteers with this program spend an hour with these students each week eating lunch, playing games and chatting.

The students, and volunteers, love it! But Big Brothers and Big Sisters relies on financial support from the community to make great programs like this possible. Which is why you’ll be excited to know that Lucas has formed two teams – each a mix of staff and teachers – to take part in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake 2011 fundraiser the weekend of Feb. 26-27.

Please consider making a pledge to one or both of these teams, and show Big Brothers and Big Sisters that Lucas cares! To make a pledge, stop by the Lucas front office and see Elise Denniston, call her at 688-1140 or email her at Denniston.Elise@iccsd.k12.ia.us.

Principal Burton discusses classroom assignments, special requests

At Monday’s PTO meeting, Principal Julia Burton announced that student
classroom assignments will be announced one week before school starts,
rather than at the end of the current school year. Additionally, she said
she would no longer consider special requests from parents to assign
students to particular teachers.

She said these measures are necessary for several reasons. First, because
new students to the area register throughout the summer, it’s difficult to
predict how many classes there will be for a particular grade level until
just before the school year. Second, she said teachers and staff work very
diligently throughout the summer to determine the appropriate mix of
students for a particular class, taking into consideration their academic
needs, socialization skills and a host of additional factors, and special
requests can easily upset that balance to the detriment of other students.

She said Lucas would post the class lists for the fall 2011 student
assignments on the front door of school one week before the first day of
classes, which is August 18.

Reminder: spring pictures scheduled for March 2

Spring pictures will be taken of Lucas students whose families would like to order them beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 2. Parents, please watch for order forms coming home in your students' folders this week.

Minutes from January 10 PTO meeting now available

The minutes from the January 10 PTO meeting are now available online, ahead of tonight's PTO meeting at 7 p.m. in the Lucas Art Room.

You can view the minutes as a Word document or in PDF format.

PTO Meeting Monday, February 14th

Please join us Monday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. for our next PTO meeting. We'll discuss plans for Fun Night, updates on the Direct Ask Campaign, and the latest information on a Lucas Cookbook that should be ready for sale before Mother's Day.

Come show your love for the Mighty Hawks!

ICCSD 2011-12 Calendar now available

The Iowa City Community School District School Board on Tuesday approved the 2011-2012 school calendar.  Two versions are available: one is the calendar summary and the other is the academic school year calendar. For the academic school year calendar, click here. For the calendar summary, click here.

Get out of the Snow and Rollerskate this Friday Night!

Don't forget the Lucas PTO is sponsoring a FREE Family Rollerskating Night this Friday, Feb. 4 at Mercer Park Scanlon Gym from 6 to 8 p.m. In addition to rollerskating there will be healthy snacks, basketball and more!

Lucas Dance Marathon Raises Money for UI Children's Hospital

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Lucas Dance Marathon last Friday. The event, sponsored by the Lucas Student Council, helped to raise $1,422.00 for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Great job, Lucas community!

School is Canceled for Wed. Feb 2

Classes are cancelled for all Iowa City schools on Wed. Feb. 2. Enjoy your snow day!