Silent Auction Benefit for Roth family Saturday, Oct. 1

Friends of the Roth family have organized a silent auction fundraiser for this Saturday, Oct. 1, 6-8 p.m. at The Vine in Coralville. All proceeds will go to the Lucy Jane Roth Medical Fund. Lucy, 2, is the sister of Jake Roth, a current Lucas student. She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in August and is currently undergoing treatment at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. You can read more about Lucy and the Roths in today's Press-Citizen and Gazette.

Herky will attend the event from 6-7 p.m. Many individuals and businesses have donated items for the auction, including:

• Autographed sports memorabilia - footballs, jerseys, hockey puck, posters, shoes, and more from many different teams: Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State, NHL, NFL, NBA
• Restaurant, store, and services gift certificates
• Gift baskets
• Art and collectible items, and much more
• A raffle for Press Box Tickets to Iowa vs. Northwestern game on October 15, tickets are $20 each
• A raffle for an original art work in foil imaging by local artist Kimberlee Rocca, tickets are $15 each

All are invited to The Vine on Saturday for this fun event to support a fellow Lucas family.

October lunch menu starts next week

Here's what's for lunch at school in October. Can you guess which day's choices include 

• Broom Stick Fish Sticks
• Frog Eyed Tater Tots
• Spider Web Coleslaw
• Haunted WW Sugar Cookie

Mighty Hawks on parade

In case you missed today's Press-Citizen, here's Mighty Hawk (aka Principal Julia Burton) marching in the City High Homecoming parade Wednesday evening.
Additional parade photos

What's for dinner Thursday? Area restaurants serve up profits for schools

The Iowa City Community School District Foundation is partnering with 32 area restaurants for "Food for Thought: Dine Out for Education" Thursday, Sept. 29. Participating restaurants will donate 10% of their sales (excluding alcohol) to the Foundation. Click for a list of participating restaurants.

Treat  yourself to a night off in the kitchen. Ditch the brown bag and make it lunch AND dinner. It's for the kids!

Lunch and school fee waiver applications must be submitted by Sept. 30

Friday, Sept. 30, is the deadline to submit an application for free/reduced lunch or other school fee waiver. Families are also reminded to check School Dining account balances regularly to ensure sufficient funds. Please read this memo from ICCSD Family Support Services for additional information.

Make a Mighty Difference, y, Haga una diferencia tremenda

As of today, “Make a Mighty Difference” has raised $8,465.14! This is an amazing success for our first-ever direct donation drive, which will allow PTO to support Lucas education more effectively than with past sales-based fundraising events.

If every Lucas family contributes $90, we’ll reach our goal of $25,000 with ease! 100% of your donation will benefit Lucas through classroom supplies, library books, special events and field trips, music and physical education, and more.

If you haven't donated, please consider doing so now- every donation counts!  Write a check to the Lucas PTO, send cash to the office, or donate online at www.makeamightydifference.org

Help "Pack the Pick-up" during City High Homecoming Parade Sept. 28

City High students are incorporating a service project into their homecoming festivities and asking those attending the parade on Sept. 28 to bring a non-perishable food item to "Pack the Pick-up." A City High parade marcher will safely take the items from those along the route (1st. Ave. from Bradford Drive to Court St.) and exchange it for a sweet treat. As a reminder, the parade starts at 6 p.m.

Those unable to attend the parade may still contribute to this food drive at donation bins in area grocery stores. All donations will support the Crisis Center Food Bank.

Picture day is this Friday, Sept. 23

Your child should have received an informational sheet from Lifetouch regarding school pictures this Friday, Sept. 23. Parents have the option of ordering pictures online or with the order form/envelope included with this information sheet. The information sheet has a school code needed to complete the online order. When your online order is complete, you will be prompted to print the order form for your child to present to the photographer. If you prefer to use the order form, please send the completed form and payment (cash, money order or check payable to "Lifetouch") with your child on Friday.

"Virtual Backback" will reduce paper pile-up in actual backpacks

In the next few months, all Iowa City elementary schools will be moving to new websites, which offer a number of great capabilities including a "virtual backpack" to house all of the community fliers that are approved by the district. You will be asked to check the "virtual backpack" on a regular basis for information on local events and activities.  

Paper copies will still be available by request.  Please inform the office if you need paper copies.  


These new Edline websites will also have an option to translate into numerous languages.

Boost your Little Hawk (or Trojan) spirit with $25 student athletic pass

Student athletic passes are available for purchase in the school office. This $25 pass will cover admission for all City High or West High athletic events, excluding post-season contests, for the 2011-2012 school year. 

March with Lucas Elementary in the City High Homecoming Parade September 28

 

Help celebrate Mighty Hawk and Little Hawk pride Wednesday, September 28, 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).

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.

Friday Fundraiser Update: $7,993.12

As of this morning, the Lucas PTO Make a Mighty Difference 2011-12 fundraiser has raised $7,993.12! Thanks especially to the folks who have stepped up in the past couple weeks to give, including:

Antonio and Diane Malkusak
Shelby and Paul Myers-Verhage
Donald and Emily Spellman
Ruthina West
Rebecca Worthington

View the full list of donors at our Make a Mighty Difference Donor Wall of Fame at http://themightyhawkmessenger.blogspot.com/p/donor-hall-of-fame.html

Meanwhile, there are just over three weeks left before our campaign officially ends on Monday, October 10! If you haven’t given yet, please consider doing so today! Every dollar counts as we try to raise $25,000 to support our teachers and students. It’s easy, and your donation is tax-deductible. For information about how to give, click here.

And Go Mighty Hawks!

Next PTO meeting is Monday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.

The PTO will meet on Monday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room (MPR.) Free babysitting will be provided. Pam Ehly, ICCSD director of instruction, will be the guest speaker, discussing Iowa Assessments (formerly Iowa Test of Basic Skills.)
Complete agenda

K-3 Back-to-School Night is tonight at 6:30

Families of students in kindergarten through 3rd grade are invited to Back to School Night from 6:30 to 7:30 this evening. Let your child show you around the classroom and take the opportunity to chat with the teachers.

Don't forget to vote in school board election today

Area voters are electing five new members of the School Board for the Iowa City Community School District today. Polls are open until 8 p.m. In school elections, several polling places are consolidated, so be sure to check your voting location before you head out. Most families in the Lucas neighborhood will cast school ballots at Lemme Elementary (3100 E. Washington) or City High (1900 Morningside Drive.)

Free Science & Math Festival Sept. 18 at UI

It's never too soon to start planning your weekend. On Sunday afternoon from 1-5 p.m. check out iExploreSTEM, a FREE festival to nurture the interests of Iowa's K-12 children in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The event will feature more than 45 fun hands-on educational activities including:


Future Engineers Contest -- Create the tallest tower in 8 minutes
CyberAnatomy -- Learn anatomy like a medical student
Pitch and Win -- Pitch your business idea to investors in 3 minutes!
Turbine Testing -- See a model working wind turbine & make your own
Diagnostic Detectives -- Diagnose a case and play lab Jeopardy
Mobile Science -- Visit working mobile weather and communications labs
AND LOTS MORE!!!


When: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 1-5 p.m.

Where: State Hygienic Lab, UI Research Park, Coralville, IA

Information: www.iExploreSTEM.org or gina-schatteman@uiowa.edu

Shout out to donors who are making a Mighty Difference!

The Lucas PTO wants to send a shout-out and a tip of the hat to some of the folks who have already made a difference by supporting the Make a Mighty Difference fundraiser at Lucas Elementary School. A HUGE thank-you to:

ConAgra Foods

Goodfellow Printing

Sara Baird

Julia Burton

Judy & Ben Clark

The Cox Family

Freda Dixon

Tobi Drake

Lorie Dykes

Kristi Fitzpatrick

Dawn Fitzpatrick & Brad McDowell

Joel and Jill Graff

David Amy Greazel

Stephen Heywood

Ben & Brooke Hill

John & Mary Kenyon

Jennifer Lee Howard

Jeni Lewis

Les & Nancy Lipschutz

Andy & Sarah Lynch

Jennifer Lynch

Debbie & Joe Manning

Rob & Anna McComas

Kathleen McKay

Michelle Norman

Cathy & Charles Novak

Joseph Pavelich

Jay & Chris Phillips

Stephen & Melinda Pradarelli

Pam & Steve Quigley

Dave Snyder

Renne Speh

Danella Van Tasell

Leslie & Andy Veit

Mary Lee & George Veit

Helene Volkert

Larry & Marilyn Walberg

Wayne & Dixie Walker

Janis Williams

Joey Young

THANKS for making a Mighty Difference!

The Lucas PTO Fundraising Committee

Make a Mighty Difference fundraiser tops $7,000

The Make a Mighty Difference fundraising campaign has brought in $7,068.12 as of today! 

Thanks to all of you who have dug deep so the Lucas PTO can continue to support our great school without requiring our students to sell items many of you told us you didn't want or need. 

Despite our progress, we still have a way to go to reach our goal of raising $25,000 by October 10. So if you haven't given, please consider doing so today -- whether it's $25, $50, $100 or more! Every dollar makes a difference. And if every Lucas family donates $90, we’ll reach our goal with ease. 

Don't forget that 100 percent of your tax-deductible donation will benefit Lucas through classroom support, library books, special events and field trips, music and physical education and more. You can write a check to the Lucas PTO or donate online at www.makeamightydifference.org.

Also, please look for a flyer in your child's take-home folder today encouraging Lucas families to give. And, as always, Go Mighty Hawks!

Free Winter Clothing Distribution

2011 Children’s Free Coats and Socks & Underwear Distribution

(Children MUST be present)

This is a free distribution of winter clothing in infant, child and adult sizes.
Included in the distribution are coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, sweatpants, sweatshirts, sweaters and blue jeans.

Date: Saturday, October 8

Time: 9:00AM to Noon

Three Locations Near You:

North Liberty
NL Community Pantry
85 North Jones Blvd

Iowa City
Eastdale Mall
1700 S. 1st Ave

Coralville
Community of Christ
2121 South Ridge Dr

September Lucas News now online

The first newsletter of the 2011-12 school year is now online! Click here to view the September issue of the Robert Lucas Newsletter.

Fundraiser slowly gaining ground, but we need more help!

The Lucas “Make a Mighty Difference” fundraising campaign pulled in a little more support since last Friday, for a new total of $5,902.80. Again, hats off to the parents, grandparents, school staff, community members and others who are digging deep to help us reach our goal of raising $25,000 for our great school by October 10 – just over five weeks away!

Remember, if every Lucas family donates $90, we’ll reach our goal with ease! So if you haven’t given yet, and you’re looking for motivation to do so, consider the testimonials from members of the Lucas community below.

And as always, Go Mighty Hawks!!!

The world has changed a lot since the time I went to elementary school in Iowa City. Getting our kids ready to be productive members of society means providing them with real life learning opportunities. I have contributed to the Make a Mighty Difference campaign because I want Lucas students to have the same opportunities for learning that kids in new schools have. In fact, I want Lucas kids to be not only connected through technology, I want them to be just as comfortable exploring nature and caring for the environment as they are interacting online! I am proud to be the principal at Lucas. Our kids deserve our support.

- Julia Burton

Principal, Lucas Elementary

We have been part of the Lucas family for more than 10 years. This is a school that has given our two girls a fantastic elementary experience. Now with the Make a Mighty Difference campaign we are excited to be able to give directly to Lucas instead of having our donated dollars go to a third party fundraising company. We are proud to be part of this campaign, which will help ensure every child has the opportunity to receive an excellent education. Go Mighty Hawks!

- Melinda and Stephen Pradarelli

Lucas parents

We were excited to give to the Make a Mighty Difference Campaign because we love Lucas Elementary School and we don't want our kids to have to sell things to our family, friends and neighbors. We support the PTO's efforts to streamline fundraising so our kids can focus on learning.

- Renee Speh

Lucas parent

Lucas kids are lucky to receive high quality education, which Iowa City schools are known for, from dedicated teachers and staff who do an amazing job with increasingly finite resources.  There is no shortage of ways we can choose to spend our money these days, but I did not hesitate to give to the Make a Mighty Difference campaign because it is an investment in our children and their future.

- Ben Hill

Lucas Parent