YOU have Made a Mighty Difference!

The Lucas PTO has concluded its annual direct-ask fundraiser and once again, Lucas families and friends have answered the call with stunning generosity, donating more than $10,600! This money allows the PTO to fund improvements in our outdoor space (including a more natural playscape,) books for the library, field trips (such as School of the Wild,) visiting artists (such as OPERA Iowa,) and more.

THANK YOU to these donors whose generosity added up to $10,684.61 for Lucas students:

Abundant Playscapes
Alpla, Inc 

Century Roofing Co. Inc. 

ConAgra Foods 

Expectations 

Short’s Burgers 

UI Community Credit Union 

Anonymous (6) 

John and Marcia Anderson 

Dana and Julie Aschenbrenner 

John and Michelle Bacon 

Renee and Sara Baird 

Jennifer & Dawn BarbouRoske 

Joe and Karla Bell 

Brian and Nancy Cassady 

Claire Chapnick and Gerald Sorokin 

Judy and Ben Clark 

Ernest Cox and Samantha Solimeo 

Mary and R.J. Daughenbaugh 

Deborah Dickinson 

Tobi and Damond Drake 

Ryan Downing and Jennifer Sherer 

Mindy Farmer 

Dawn Fitzpatrick and Brad McDowell 

Mike Frasier and Jennifer Horn-Frasier 

Crystal and Stan Galloway 

Kyle and Sarah Galloway 

Maureen Geraghty 

Gary and Sara Glenn 

Amanda and James Goodrich 

Dave and Amy Greazel 

Phillip and Andrea Gugliuzza 

Ronald and Beverly Herman 

Ben and Brooke Hill 

John and Marilyn Holloway 

John and Margaret Holmes 

Sarah Holmes and Zara Wanlass 

Ruthanne Hyduke 

Chris and Sheral Jensen 

Diane Johnson 

Sheila and Brandon Johnson 

Bill and Holly Kenyon 

John and Mary Kenyon 

Jenilyn Lewis 

Les and Nancy Lipschutz 

Der-Fa Lu and Stephen Heywood 

Roger and Jennifer Lusala 

Sarah and Andrew Lynch 

Debbie and Joseph Manning 

Tara and Rod Martin 

Jun-Nicole Matsushita and Huy Tong 

Rose Metz 

Diane Molander 

Paul and Shelby Myers-Verhage 

Ha and Phil Nguyen 

Tung Nguyen 

Susan Nicol and Don Bates 

Michelle Norman and Michelle Wikner 

L. Charles and Cathy Novak 

Debra and Brian Parrott 

Joe Pavelich 

Mike and Pat Pavelich 

Kevin and Michele Pellinen 

Christine and Jay Phillips 

Anna and Benjamin Plank 

Steve and Nancy Pohlman 

Sara and Erika Riggs 

Erin and Rob Rindels 

Bryan and Lisa Ringen 

Heather and Damien Roth 

Joel and Mary Sherer 

John Shoop 

Eric Siron 

Erin Snyder 

David Snyder 

Barbara Solomon and Jeff Arnold 

Renee Speh and Anthony Miller 

Suellen and Will Swain 

Norm and Connie Thoreson 

Hao Tong 

Andrew and Leslie Veit 

Mr. and Mrs. George Veit 

Patricia Verhage and James Blanchard 

Larry and Marilyn Walberg 

Zara Wanlass 

Steve and Joanne Young 

Last chance for lost & found

Are your drawers and closets less stuffed then they used to be? Perhaps some of your family's items have found a new home--in the Lucas Lost & Found! We have several clothing items including coats, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, etc. that need to be claimed. We will display the items in the school entryway starting Monday, December 17, through Wednesday, December 19. All unclaimed items will be donated on December 20.

School Buddies volunteers needed

Spend your lunch hour helping a child who needs extra support and guidance from a mentor like you.

School Buddies volunteers meet with a student one day a week. The volunteer and child spend their time together playing board games, reading, eating lunch, working on academics or just hanging out and talking. This relationship-focused program, coordinated by Big Brothers Big Sisters and Lucas staff, has been shown to boost participants’ academic and social skills. Lucas supporters can volunteer here or at one of the other nine elementary schools throughout the district that offer the School Buddies program.

For more information, contact Elyse Sable of Big Brothers Big Sisters at 319-337-2145 or elyse@bbbsjc.org.

Target card can be the gift that keeps on giving all year round for Lucas

If you shop at Target with a REDcard (credit or debit) this holiday season (or any time of year!) Target will donate up to 1% of your shopping total to the school of your choice. And we happen to think Lucas would make an excellent choice. Funds through this program are directed to the Lucas principal once a year in August.

Here's how to make the magic happen:

From this link: http://www.target.com/redcard/benefits-target-rewards
Scroll down to find Take Charge of Education
click Enroll
Under have a REDcard? click find a school

(If you don't have a target card and would like one, click learn more about REDcard)

Enter City, State click submit and find Robert Lucas and click on it
click select this school

Enter your first and last name and your REDcard number
click complete enrollment

DPO to hear about Kirkwood Regional Center at Dec. 12 meeting

The next Districtwide Parents Organization (DPO) meeting will be this Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 11:30 a.m. at West High School, 2901 Melrose Ave. The meetings are open to all residents in the Iowa City Community School District.

Jon Weih will discuss The Kirkwood Regional Center - Johnson County, which will be built on the University of Iowa’s Oakdale Campus. Weih is interim director of the new regional center, which is scheduled to open in 2015, and is director of student services/student life at Kirkwood’s Iowa City campus. The regional center will support and enhance science and math education for K-12 students, and provide adaptable training that matches the specific needs of employers in the area.

No PTO meeting next week; info session on ICCSD Revenue Purpose Statement is Dec. 12 at Lucas

Just a reminder that there is no monthly PTO meeting in December. We'll return to our usual second Monday of the month schedule in January. We encourage you instead to use next week's "one hour school meeting" slot on your calendar to attend Superintendent Steve Murley's information session about the upcoming vote on a new Revenue Purpose Statement for the district. The meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at Lucas.

Lucas t-shirts make great gifts!

Just a reminder that the PTO is still selling 50th anniversary t-shirts as well as last year's black Lucas t-shirts, either of which would make a fabulous gift for the Lucas student in your life. If said Lucas student happened not to bring home the t-shirt order form, fear not, we bring you news of joy! The form is available online. Return it with payment to the office by Dec. 14 to receive your items before the winter break.

Student Council demonstrates spirit of giving with food drive

The Lucas Student Council annual food drive runs through Dec. 14. Each class has a collection box and the class that brings in the most items will have a pizza party. Contributions will be delivered to the Johnson County Crisis Center on the afternoon of Dec. 14. If you are available to help drive the items to the Crisis Center, please contact Renee Hansen.

The Crisis Center lists the following among its most needed items: canned fruit & 100% fruit juice, canned meat & tuna, hearty soups & stews, pastas & rice, canned vegetables, baby diapers (all sizes), baby formula & food.

Winter coats, snow pants available to those in need

Anyone in need of a winter coat or snow pants is invited to visit the former Roosevelt Elementary (611 Greenwood Drive) this week, Dec 5, 6, 7 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. each day to choose from a collection spearheaded by Longfellow Elementary 4th graders. The Coats of Kindness Drive includes items from infant to adult sizes.

ICCSD Revenue Purpose Statement vote in the news

Today's Press-Citizen includes coverage of the first Revenue Purpose Statement information session at an elementary school.

One article notes that parents at last night's meeting at Shimek Elementary voiced concerns over scheduling the vote before a comprehensive facilities plan is completed and shared with the public and before a demographer completes a projection of enrollment growth.

Regarding growth, a second article notes that the Iowa City Community School District has added more than 1,000 students in the last five years. By comparison, more than 2/3 of all school districts in Iowa have 1,000 or fewer students, which leads Superintendent Steve Murley to comment: “You can almost think of it as we’re adding entire school districts.”

At a meeting on this topic earlier this month at City High, Murley indicated that because the district needs to ensure enough seats for all students, it would have to focus on new buildings over all other priorities, including renovations to older buildings like Lucas, unless the new Revenue Purpose Statement is adopted by voters on Feb. 5.

The vote will determine whether the district may continue to use the 1% local option sales tax revenue for infrastructure improvements after 2017. The tax is set to remain through at least 2029, but, without a new Revenue Purpose Statement, after 2017 the district will be required to follow state guidelines for spending that money, starting with reducing debt levies and reducing physical plant and equipment levies. If the Revenue Purpose Statement is adopted, the district retains control of how the tax revenue is spent through 2029, and thus will be able to borrow money against those future revenues to fund both construction and renovation in the near term.

The district is holding a series of information sessions about this vote including one at Lucas on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 7-7:30 p.m. 

If you are not a Press-Citizen subscriber, you may still read the above articles as part of the 10 articles per month online the paper offers non-subscribers. The Gazette's coverage is less extensive, but online access is free. The ICCSD has also provided information about the Revenue Purpose Statement and the vote on its website.

Lucas band students tuning up for Dec. 4 concert

Lucas band students will join with other eastside elementary musicians for the Elementary Band Concert, Tuesday, Dec. 4 at City High’s Opstad auditorium. Band students who attend regularly on Mondays after school at Southeast Jr. High will be playing. Students need to arrive between 6:30 and 6:40 p.m. wearing white tops/shirts and black pants/skirts. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for students, or buy a family pass for the year - all concerts, all levels, band, choir, orchestra for $25.

Lucas FRC shares holiday resources

Families in need of assistance this holiday season may consider these local resources.

Salvation Army Toys for Tots 
To receive toys, applicants must bring the following to register: Iowa issued picture identification card; proof of Johnson County residency; social security cards for each member of the family; and proof of income. Pick-Up times will be scheduled at registration. Register and pick up at the following location:
The Salvation Army, 1116 Gilbert Ct., Iowa City (319-337-3725)
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, through December 4 from 1 to 5 p.m.


Crisis Center Food Bank Project Holiday
Register to receive a free traditional holiday meal in December. Project Holiday is a special service provided each year by The Crisis Center Food Bank to distribute foods for Johnson County families. The Food Bank provides a variety of food options and clients will be able to choose the best items for their family. Questions? Call the Food Bank at 319-351-0128. Register through Friday Nov. 30 at the following location:
The Crisis Center Food Bank; 1121 Gilbert Ct., Iowa City
Wednesday, Friday noon to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


St. Mark’s Church Gift’s for Parents Program
This annual event gives children in our community an opportunity to experience the Joy of Giving. Children ages 3 to 14 get to "shop" for gifts for the significant adults in their lives. Volunteers help the children choose presents from among items donated for up to 4 adults in their lives. Other volunteers wrap the gifts. All enjoy a free pancake breakfast provided by St. Mark's United Methodist Men. No pre-registration required.
St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 2675 East Washington Street, Iowa City (319-337-7201)
December 1, 9 a.m. to noon

Clean your closets, help your Lucas neighbors

If you’re spending more time indoors these days and feeling a bit overcrowded amid all your stuff, here’s a great way to downsize your clutter while helping your fellow Lucas families. Take your outgrown or unwanted items to Iowa City’s Stuff Etc. (1027 Hwy 6 East) and tell the staff you’d like your consignment profits to be directed to the Lucas Elementary Family Resource Center. Anything that sells will result in funds that can be used to assist Lucas families in need. Anything that doesn’t sell is donated to Goodwill.

Lucas Day at Iowa women's basketball is Dec. 1

The Mighty Hawks will be cheering on the Hawks on Saturday, Dec. 1, when the Iowa Women's Basketball team takes on UNI at 2:30 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. 

In honor of this Lucas Elementary Day, Lucas will be recognized at the game and all Lucas students receive $2 admission. Parents, teachers, and other adult guests may purchase tickets at the discounted rate of $5 (normally $10). Additional youth tickets (18 and under) are $2 (normally $6).

All students must be accompanied by an adult.

Please place your ticket orders ahead of time by calling the UI Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS (be sure to mention Lucas Elementary Day to receive the discount) or by completing and mailing a ticket order form. Order by Friday, Nov. 23 to receive tickets by mail; order by Nov. 29 to print tickets at home.

Members of the Iowa women's basketball team will visit Lucas on Monday, Nov. 19.

ICCSD hosts information sessions about Feb. 5 ballot initiative

On February 5, area voters will be asked to vote on a new revenue purpose statement for the Iowa City Community School District. The vote will determine whether the district may continue to use the 1% local option sales tax revenue for infrastructure improvements after 2017. The tax is set to remain through at least 2029, but after 2017 the district will be required to follow state guidelines for spending that money, starting with reducing debt levies and reducing physical plant and equipment levies.

The district is holding a series of information sessions about this vote including one at Lucas on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 7-7:30 p.m. Another nearby option is the session at City High on Monday, Nov. 19, from 7-8 p.m.

Information about the vote is posted on the ICCSD website and is detailed in today’s Press-Citizen.

City seeks input on improving transit and police department

The City of Iowa City is gathering information about what can be done to improve the transit system and the police department to better serve our minority populations. The city's ad hoc diversity committee is holding a Public Information Gathering Session on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 6-8 p.m. in Room A of the Iowa City Public Library (123 S. Linn St.)

The two primary meeting topics are:

• operation of the City's transit system, including but not limited to the downtown interchange
• operation of the City law enforcement, including but not limited to the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) as it relates to minority populations 

The meeting is open to the public, and anyone is welcome to attend and share comments and concerns. Individuals needing special accommodations or having translation questions should contact City Clerk Marian Karr at 356-5041 at least 48 hours in advance. If you are unable to attend comments may be sent to:

Ad Hoc Diversity Committee
c/o City Clerk
City of Iowa City
410 E Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240

Or e-mail to staff: marian-karr@iowa-city.org

Comments must include full name and address. (Anonymous correspondence will not be accepted.) All correspondence is public.

People all over the U.S. are Making A Mighty Difference: Are you?

It was another big week for the Make a Mighty Difference fundraising campaign with nearly $1,000 added to our total. To date you've helped us raise $7,664 to support PTO projects throughout the year. THANK YOU!!

There is still time to make your contribution and to share this opportunity with friends and family. Did you know that we've had 18 contributions from folks outside of Iowa City. We are so grateful for the support of these far flung grandparents, aunts, uncles, family members and friends in other Iowa towns as well as Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Watch the blog and your child's backpack for information soon about an opportunity to contribute to the fundraiser while enjoying a burger at the new Short's Eastside on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

Now let's get to that updated list of donors!

Make a Mighty Difference 2012 Honor Roll

Alpla, Inc.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

 Dana and Julie Aschenbrenner

John and Michelle Bacon 

Renee and Sara Baird

Jennifer & Dawn BarbouRoske 

Joe and Karla Bell

Brian and Nancy Cassady

Claire Chapnick and Gerald Sorokin

Judy and Ben Clark

Ernest Cox and Samantha Solimeo

Mary and R.J. Daughenbaugh


Deborah Dickinson
 

Tobi and Damond Drake

Ryan Downing and Jennifer Sherer

Expectations

Mindy Farmer

Dawn Fitzpatrick and Brad McDowell

Mike Frasier and Jennifer Horn-Frasier

Crystal and Stan Galloway

Kyle and Sarah Galloway 

Maureen Geraghty

Gary and Sara Glenn
Amy and Dave Greazel

Phillip and Andrea Gugliuzza

Ronald and Beverly Herman

Ben and Brooke Hill

John and Marilyn Holloway

John and Margaret Holmes


Sarah Holmes and Zara Wanlass 

Ruthanne Hyduke

Diane Johnson

Sheila and Brandon Johnson

Bill and Holly Kenyon

John and Mary Kenyon

Jenilyn Lewis

Les and Nancy Lipschutz

Der-Fa Lu and Stephen Heywood

Roger and Jennifer Lusala

Sarah and Andrew Lynch 

Tara and Rod Martin

Jun-Nicole Matsushita and Huy Tong 

Diane Molander

Paul and Shelby Myers-Verhage

Ha and Phil Nguyen
 

Tung Nguyen

Susan Nicol and Don Bates

Michelle Norman and Michelle Wikner 

L. Charles and Cathy Novak

Joe Pavelich

Mike and Pat Pavelich


Christine and Jay Phillips

Anna and Benjamin Plank

Steve and Nancy Pohlman 

Sara and Erika Riggs 

Bryan and Lisa Ringen

Heather and Damien Roth 

Joel and Mary Sherer

John Shoop 

Eric Siron

Erin Snyder

David Snyder

Barbara Solomon and Jeff Arnold

Renee Speh and Anthony Miller

Suellen and Will Swain 

Norm and Connie Thoreson

Hao Tong 

Andrew and Leslie Veit

Mr. and Mrs. George Veit

Patricia Verhage and James Blanchard

Larry and Marilyn Walberg

Zara Wanlass

Plan ahead to attend the Nov. 12 PTO meeting

The next PTO meeting is a week away, Monday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the school. As always, free babysitting will be available in the kindergarten room. The meeting agenda is available here. Those who attend are asked to review the minutes for the September and October meetings ahead of time so that we may vote to approve or amend as needed.

Tiny Box Tops add up to big $$

Well, we Mighty Hawks sure do love our Cheerios (and Betty Crocker and Yoplait and a host of other products.) We collected almost 19,000 Box Tops during our October redemption period. Each one is worth 10 cents, which adds up to a great source of funds for our PTO initiatives. (Take this teachable moment and let your child do the math!)

Keep an eye out for these little pink dime-equivalents on the products you purchase and watch for the next call for collection.

In the meantime, congratulations to Ms. Dostal's 6th grade for the most Box Tops in a single classroom--1,771! You have a cookie party coming your way.

In second place, Mrs. Gugliuzza and Mrs. Vincent's 4th graders brought in 1,625 Box Tops and Mr. Ryan's 5th graders gathered 1,384, for third place.

You can also participate in the Box Tops program online by shopping for your favorite items through the Box Tops Marketplace and by registering an account at boxtops4education.com where you can earn bonus box tops by spending a minute or two answering an online survey, watching a promotional video, or playing a game.

Make a Mighty Difference raises $1,500 in one week

A mighty big THANK YOU to everyone who answered the call this week and contributed to our Make a Mighty Difference fundraiser. We added more than $1,500 in just one week! We've now raised  about $6,700 on our way to a goal of $15,000. We are anticipating receiving some additional corporate donations, not yet reflected in the total. If your employer offers a matching program for charitable contributions, we encourage you to make use of this way to stretch your contribution even further.

As you consider the gift you'd like to make, please keep in mind that PTO is merely the funnel through which these funds flow directly to our students and teachers. In the words of fundraising guru and college president G.T. Smith: "Donors don’t give to institutions. They invest in ideas and people in whom they believe." Who is more deserving of our support than our fabulous Lucas teachers and students?

Thanks to these individuals and families who have answered the call.

Make a Mighty Difference 2012 Honor Roll

Alpla, Inc.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

John and Michelle Bacon 

Jennifer & Dawn BarbouRoske 

Brian and Nancy Cassady

Claire Chapnick and Gerald Sorokin

Judy and Ben Clark

Ernest Cox and Samantha Solimeo


Deborah Dickinson
 

Tobi and Damond Drake

Ryan Downing and Jennifer Sherer

Expectations

Dawn Fitzpatrick and Brad McDowell

Crystal and Stan Galloway

Kyle and Sarah Galloway 

Maureen Geraghty
Amy and Dave Greazel
Ronald and Beverly Herman

Ben and Brooke Hill

John and Marilyn Holloway

John and Margaret Holmes


Sarah Holmes and Zara Wanlass 

Diane Johnson

Bill and Holly Kenyon

John and Mary Kenyon

Jenilyn Lewis

Les and Nancy Lipschutz

Der-Fa Lu and Stephen Heywood

Ruthanne Hyduke 

Roger and Jennifer Lusala

Sarah and Andrew Lynch 

Tara and Rod Martin

Jun-Nicole Matsushita and Huy Tong 

Paul and Shelby Myers-Verhage

Ha and Phil Nguyen
 

Tung Nguyen

Susan Nicol and Don Bates

Michelle Norman and Michelle Wikner 

L. Charles and Cathy Novak

Joe Pavelich

Mike and Pat Pavelich


Christine and Jay Phillips

Steve and Nancy Pohlman 

Sara and Erika Riggs 

Bryan and Lisa Ringen

Heather and Damien Roth 

John Shoop 

Eric Siron

Erin Snyder

David Snyder

Barbara Solomon and Jeff Arnold

Renee Speh and Anthony Miller

Suellen and Will Swain 

Norm and Connie Thoreson

Hao Tong 

Andrew and Leslie Veit

Mr. and Mrs. George Veit

Patricia Verhage and James Blanchard

Larry and Marilyn Walberg

Make a Mighty Difference Honor Roll: Your Name Could Be Here

A big thank you to all who have contributed to our Make a Mighty Difference annual fund drive! With only a few days remaining we're still well short of our goal. If you've had this on your "to do" list for a while, now's the time. You can donate online by clicking here, or you may download this form and send in with cash or a check payable to 'Lucas PTO' to:

Lucas PTO c/o ICCSD Foundation
1725 N. Dodge St.
Iowa City, IA 52245

If you have made a donation but don't see your name on this donor list, please contact PTO Co-President Andrea Gugliuzza.

Make a Mighty Difference 2012 Honor Roll

Alpla, Inc.

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Brian and Nancy Cassady

Claire Chapnick and Gerald Sorokin

Judy and Ben Clark

Ernest Cox and Samantha Solimeo

Tobi and Damond Drake

Ryan Downing and Jennifer Sherer

Expectations

Dawn Fitzpatrick and Brad McDowell

Crystal and Stan Galloway

Maureen Geraghty

Ronald and Beverly Herman

Ben and Brooke Hill

John and Marilyn Holloway

Diane Johnson

Bill and Holly Kenyon

John and Mary Kenyon

Jenilyn Lewis

Les and Nancy Lipschutz

Der-Fa Lu and Stephen Heywood

Roger and Jennifer Lusala

Tara and Rod Martin

Paul and Shelby Myers-Verhage

Tung Nguyen

Susan Nicol and Don Bates

L. Charles and Cathy Novak

Christine and Jay Phillips

Joe Pavelich

Mike and Pat Pavelich

Bryan and Lisa Ringen

Eric Siron

Erin Snyder

David Snyder

Barbara Solomon and Jeff Arnold

Renee Speh and Anthony Miller

Norm and Connie Thoreson

Andrew and Leslie Veit

Mr. and Mrs. George Veit

Patricia Verhage and James Blanchard

Larry and Marilyn Walberg

School picture re-takes are Friday, Oct. 26

If you missed picture day or weren't happy with the results, you have another shot at it this Friday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. Send your child with the prints you received and alert your classroom teacher to your need for a re-take. If you missed picture day entirely, just bring the original order form.

‘Make a Mighty Difference’ for Lucas today!

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our “Make a Mighty Difference” fundraising campaign. As of this week, we have raised $5169. Our goal is to raise $15,000 by Nov. 1, which is less than two weeks away!  

Here are some ways of your ‘Make a Mighty Difference’ donation will help make the Lucas Outdoor Playscape a reality:

• $5 buys a wheelbarrow full of wood chips
• $7 buys a 50lb. bag of sand
• $25 removes a 3’ x 3’ square of asphalt
• $50 plants a new shrub on the Lucas playground
• $100 buys a boulder for the natural boulder climber
• $500 buys a storage area for sand play

If you haven't given already, please consider joining our effort. We'd love to have as many families participate as possible, no matter what size your gift may be. As you can see, every dollar makes a difference. 

Also be sure to ask your friends, family and other Lucas supporters (the people you'd be asking to purchase items from a sales-based fundraiser) to consider a tax-deductible donation. You can write a check to the Lucas PTO or donate at www.makeamightydifference.org.

If every Lucas family donates just $60, we’ll reach our goal!

PTO is collecting Box Tops now through Oct. 26

If your family eats Cheerios, drinks Juicy Juice, bakes with Betty Crocker, and thinks Yoplait is yummy, you can help Lucas earn some extra cash through the Box Tops for Education program. Just look for this logo on hundreds of grocery items, (as well as some surprising non-food items, such as Hanes underwear) clip the rectangular logo from the package and save them for Lucas. Each one is worth 10 cents, which can add up to over $1,000 per year when we all work together. A few times a year we'll send a note home asking students to turn them in to their classroom teacher.

If you have any saved up right now, send them to school with your child before Friday, Oct. 26. You can use the "Batty for Boxtops" flyer sent home last week or just put them in an envelope with your child's name and classroom teacher. The class that collects the most will win a cookie party!

You can also participate in the Box Tops program online by shopping for your favorite items through the Box Tops Marketplace and by registering an account at boxtops4education.com where you can earn bonus box tops by spending a minute or two answering an online survey, watching a promotional video, or playing a game.

If you miss this collection, never fear--we'll have another collection later this year.

Chess Club seeks parent volunteers; no chess experience necessary

Lucas Chess Club is looking for a volunteer to help out at our weekly Chess Club on Fridays from 3-4 p.m., when approximately 23 Lucas kids meet to learn and play chess. Volunteers need not play chess. Their chief function is to help introduce and match up children who need a partner, and, as games finish, help children find a new opponent. In general, volunteers guide children to be constructive, polite, and quiet. At the end of each session, volunteers assist children in making sure chess sets are properly put away and chairs placed on the tables.

We currently have a chess teacher and usually two volunteers, but could use another. Interested persons may email lucaschessclub@gmail.com or call Stephen Heywood, Parent Coordinator, at 354-3778.

Get ready for winter with free clothing distribution Saturday, Oct. 13

Families in need of warm children's clothing and outerwear (coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots, etc.) can visit one of three area locations this Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon, where these items will be distributed FREE. In Iowa City, the distribution site is The Spot, 1030 Cross Park Ave., (between Broadway & Keokuk.)

Items also will be available at Coralville United Methodist Church, 806 13th Ave., and North Liberty Community Pantry/NLFUMC, 85 N. Jones Blvd.

This effort to ensure that all children have the clothes they need to stay warm as the temperatures drop is sponsored by the Consultation of Religious Communities. For more information contact Lucas Family Resource Coordinator Yolanda Spears.

Supt. Murley to share "State of the District" at Oct. 10 DPO meeting

The Districtwide Parents' Organization meets this Wednesday, Oct. 10, from 11:30-1 p.m. at Horace Mann Elementary. Any interested parents are invited to attend. On the agenda this month is a "State of the District" presentation from Superintendent Steve Murley. For more information, see the DPO website or contact Lucas's DPO representative, Shelby Myers-Verhage.

Schools around the district host the DPO for its monthly meetings. Lucas's turn to host will be Jan. 9, 2013.

Knowledge is power: Join us for the next PTO meeting Oct. 8

Did you know there is more to playgrounds than slides and swings? Would you like an update on our Make a Mighty Difference Campaign? How excited would your kids be if you brought home the inside scoop on an exciting upcoming holiday event at school?

All this information and more can be yours at the next PTO meeting, Monday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. in the art room (just to the right of the main school entrance.) Free childcare is available in the Kindergarten room. More than 40 of your fellow parents and caregivers were on hand last month as we kicked off our new school year. Don't be left in the dark. We'll see you Monday night! (Agenda)

Can drive and playscape information session are Saturday, Oct. 6

Gather up all those deposit cans and plastic bottles cluttering your basement/garage/designated "deal with it later" space and bring them all to Lucas this Saturday, Oct. 6, between 9-11 a.m. Lucas PTO volunteers will be in the front drive to accept your donation and haul those bottles and cans to The Can Shed to redeem the deposit. Funds will support many PTO projects.

For more information about one of those projects, stick around after you've dropped off your cans to learn about the planned Outdoor Playscape Project. The first of its kind in the Iowa City School District, the vision of the Lucas Elementary Outdoor Playscape project is to utilize the outdoor environment as a learning space, promote healthy lifestyles, expand play offerings and playground accessibility, and incorporate eco-friendly plantings.

Renee Speh from Lucas PTO and Tony Malkusak of Abundant Playscapes will be there from 9-10:30 a.m. to share the designs in progress, listen to ideas and answer any questions. We want to hear from the community so that it is useful for neighbors as well as students.

The Outdoor Playscape project is funded in part by Make a Mighty Difference, the annual Lucas PTO fund drive currently underway until Nov. 1. To learn more visit: www.makeamightydifference.org.

DEED hosts Dads' Night Out Monday, Oct. 1

Lucas dads will gather at 2 Dogs Pub on Monday, Oct. 1, for Monday Night Football, Bears v. Cowboys. Organizer Joe Bell says the event will last "from 6:30 p.m. until at least half time," when it remains to be seen whether anyone has the stamina to last for the whole game! This event is sponsored by DEED (Dads Engaged in Engineering Dreams) and all Lucas dads are invited. Joe promises the dads will step up for kid duty when the moms have their night out in the near future. Contact Joe Bell with any questions.

Mighty Hawks On Parade

Thanks to Joe Bell and the DEED dads for corralling an energetic bunch of Mighty Hawks for the City High Homecoming Parade Thursday. It was a great turn out and great fun for all.

Today's Press-Citizen article on the parade quotes Lucas sixth-grader Liam McComas.

For more photos, video and Mighty Hawk spirit, visit the Lucas PTO Facebook page.

Know before you go: City High Homecoming Parade

Walking: All Lucas students and families are invited to march with our school group in the City High Homecoming Parade, Thursday, Sept. 27. We will meet at Mercer Park at 5 p.m. (look for Joe Bell surrounded by a sea of kids in Lucas RRCS shirts or other Lucas apparel. If you don't have a Lucas shirt, no worries, just come as you are!) ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. The parade ends at City High's Bates (football) Field. The City High PTSO invites all elementary groups to enjoy treats at the Hoover Elementary playground (immediately south of the football field) following the parade.

Watching: If you will be cheering from the curbside as the parade goes by, consider bringing a non-perishable food item to Pack The Pick-Up for the Johnson County Crisis Center. City High Ambassadors, Interact, and Student Senate will be trading candy for food donations along the route. Items most in demand at the Food Bank are canned fruit & 100% fruit juice, hearty soups & stews, canned meat & peanut butter, pasta & rice, canned vegetables, baby diapers (all sizes), baby formula & food, toilet paper and laundry detergent.

EVERYONE: Please share your parade photos on the Lucas PTO Facebook page. Everyone who "likes" the page has the ability to share content and comments. It's a great way to interact with fellow parents.

Iowa Celebrity All-Star Classic game Sept. 30 benefits community

Tickets are available in the Lucas office for the annual Iowa Celebrity All-Star Classic, Sunday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. This "globetrotter-style" basketball game features Hawkeye greats from men's and women's basketball as well as football and wrestling. Proceeds will be shared among We Are The World, Coralville Central Elementary, Iowa City Music Auxiliary, and FasTrac Cultural & Diversity Awareness Program. See Mrs. Denniston for tickets and this flyer for more information.

VNA hosts flu shot clinic Sept. 24 at Lucas

The Visiting Nurse Association will hold a flu shot clinic at Lucas on Monday, Sept. 24 from 3:15 to 5:45. Flu shots cost $28; flu mist costs $34. The VNA will directly bill Medicare, Blue Cross and some insurance companies, or will provide a receipt with the information necessary to submit to your insurer to seek reimbursement.

Clinics will be offered in other Iowa City schools throughout September and October and are open to the public. For more information, view this flyer.

Make a Mighty Difference: Weekly Update

Way to go, Mighty Hawks! In just the first week of our fundraising campaign, even before distributing informational brochures school-wide, we've already raised 10% of our goal. Thanks to all of our early donors, who have so far contributed $1,560 to Make a Mighty Difference!

Watch your student's backpack this week for printed materials related to the fundraising campaign and look for our information table at the Open House on Monday, Sept. 24. Together we can Make a Mighty Difference for our school!

You can Make a Mighty Difference with PTO annual fund drive

Lucas students don't wrangle wrapping paper. They don't sell subscriptions. We conduct one annual "direct ask" campaign, asking families to donate directly to Lucas so that every penny is available for PTO projects that support our students and teachers.

Instead of giving a portion of the funds raised to the vendor that provides the items for sale, we'd like to keep all funds donated to Lucas here at school. We are asking all Lucas families to consider a donation and to share this fund drive information with those you would usually solicit with a sales pitch.

We believe ours is actually an easier sell. Just watch this video:

With your support, we seek to raise $15,000 by Nov. 1, which represents a contribution of just $60 from every Lucas family. We understand that this is out of reach for some; others are able to give more. We welcome your participation at whatever level is comfortable for you and your family.

In exchange your kids will have

• new library books
• field trips
• musical instruments and equipment

and perhaps most exciting

• an enhanced outdoor playscape and learning environment

With this year's funds, we hope to complete Phase 1 of the outdoor learning space project, which includes a .4 mile accessible walking trail around the Lucas campus, removal of some blacktop around the K-2 playground, and new outdoor equipment on both playgrounds to encourage movement during recess.

Additional information about the Make a Mighty Difference Fund Drive, as well as a printable donation form for those who prefer not to donate online, is available by clicking on the link above or in the right hand column of this page. A printed brochure will be sent home in students' backpacks next week. Additional copies are available in the school office.

If you have any questions or know of any local businesses who might be willing to lend their support, please contact Fundraising Chair Dave Snyder.

Cedar Rapids Mercy offers cancer support group for children

The Hall-Perrine Cancer Center at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids is offering at four-week support group for children who have a loved one with cancer. The program, Together We Care, begins Tuesday, Oct. 23 and runs through Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each night. For more information contact the Hall-Perrine Center at 319-221-8771 or view this flyer.

Science and math tutoring offered for 5th-12th grade students

The University of Iowa's Multi-Ethnic Engineering and Sciences Association (MESA) offers free tutoring for Iowa City students in grades 5 through 12. The program is offered on Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Iowa's Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences (located at Washington and S. Capitol Streets downtown, just south of the Old Capitol Town Center and Iowa City Transit hub.)

The first session is Tuesday, Oct. 2. To register, call the school district's equity office at 688-1000. More information is available in this brochure. 

PTO welcomes new members at first meeting

If you missed last night's PTO meeting, you missed a chance to meet some fabulous new members. We were thrilled to welcome many parents of Kindergartners and first graders to their first Lucas PTO meeting. You can catch up on the action with this detailed report from our Secretary, Sarah Lynch.

As you learned from Principal Karrie Merriweather's email and phone messages on Sunday, ALL Lucas parents are members of the PTO. We know not everyone can attend the meetings, but that doesn't mean you can't be involved. We'll have lots of opportunities to participate in events and activities throughout the year. Watch this space, "Like" us on Facebook, and listen for phone calls from your child's room parent, all offering ways you can support our students, teachers, and the entire Lucas family. It's great to be a Mighty Hawk!

CAN't go wrong giving your soda deposit to PTO

Save your recyclable cans for the PTO Can Drive!
Saturday, October 6, 9-11 a.m.

PTO volunteers will be in the Lucas circle drive to collect your deposit cans and bottles and take them to the Can Shed to redeem for cash to support our projects.

Help the school and save yourself from the Hy-Vee can room. It's a win-win!

Toothbrushes+toilet paper=technology with Hy-Vee Smart Points promotion

Savvy shoppers can help Lucas win new classroom technology during Hy-Vee's annual Smart Points promotion. From now through Nov. 30, you can earn 100 Smart Points for every $20 spent on Proctor & Gamble products (on a single receipt.) These include things like:

Align®, Always®, Aussie®, Bounce®, Bounty®, Braun®, Camay®, Cascade®, Charmin®, Cheer®, Clairol®, Clearblue®, Cover Girl®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Dreft®, Duracell® ,Era®, Febreze®, Fixodent®, Gain®, Gillette®, Gleem®, Head & Shoulders®, Herbal Essences®, Iams®, Joy®, Luvs®, Metamucil®, Mr. Clean®, Natural Instincts®, Nice ‘N Easy®, Olay®, Old Spice®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Pepto Bismol®, Prilosec OTC®, Pringles®, Puffs®, Pur®, Safeguard®, SaraLee®, Scope®, Secret®, Swiffer®, Tampax®, Tide®, Vicks®.

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 a SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Plus, this year the participants with the most points earned from each winning school will win an iPad2 for a child at the winning school.

Lucas has won this contest for the last two years, thanks in large part to the Hill family. Contact Brooke Hill if you have any questions about how to participate.

Children's Museum seeks nominations for Active Learning Award

The Iowa Children's Museum is seeking nominations for the Robert E. Yager Active Learning Award honoring exceptional teachers, administrators and educational staff. This award is specifically for elementary educators (teachers, administrators, para-professionals, specialists) who are helping students become engaged learners and dynamic thinkers. Nominations can be submitted online by parents, educators, administrators, students or community members.

Dates to remember

It's only the first week of September and the calendar's already filling up. Be sure these upcoming Lucas events are highlighted on yours!

Sept. 7 (this Friday!): DEED Tailgate before the City High game. Our DEED grill masters will be serving up hot dogs and lemonade from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. in the parking lot of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at the corner of 1st Avenue and Court St. The Little Hawks face Waterloo East at 7:15.

Sept. 10: First PTO meeting of the year, 7 p.m. in the art room at Lucas. Free childcare is available in the Kindergarten room. Those who attend will be among the first to receive our new Lucas Elementary car stickers. There are lots of ways to be involved with PTO, so please come join the conversation! (Agenda)

Sept. 13: Dine out for Education. Local restaurants will donate 10% of sales to the Iowa City Community School District Foundation all day long, so treat yourself to lunch AND dinner. (Click the link above to see if your favorite place is participating.)

Sept. 24: Lucas Open House (NOTE: Date changed.) Teachers will welcome students and families to their classrooms from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and our neighbors from The River Church will be grilling in the circle drive--a free dinner from 5:45 to 7 p.m.

Sept. 27: City High Homecoming Parade. Our DEED dads will once again lead the Lucas contingent through the parade route. The parade begins at Mercer Park, travels down 1st. Ave. and ends at City High's Bates Field. Meet at Mercer at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. parade. For additional details, contact Joe Bell.

Whew! Are you exhausted yet? Well, conserve your energy because we're only just getting started. Hope to see you out there supporting the Mighty Hawks!

Check mate! Lucas chess club meets Fridays at 3 p.m.

The Lucas Chess Club will hold its first meeting this Friday, Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. in the art room. The club meets weekly and is open to 1st through 6th graders (and Kindergartners with chess experience.) Parents, please print and sign this permission form and send it with your student on Friday. Parent volunteers are also needed (no chess experience necessary!) Please contact Stephen Heywood  at lucaschessclub@gmail.com

Save the date: Lucas Open House is Sept. 17

Be sure to add the Lucas Open House to your Sept. 17 calendar. This is a great opportunity for students to share with parents their early work and for parents to hear from teachers about upcoming projects and events. Teachers will welcome families to the classrooms from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

New this year, a free dinner will be available from 5:45 to 7 p.m. in the circle drive outside the main entrance. This burgers and hot dogs meal (including vegetarian alternatives) is generously provided by our neighbors at The River Church.

Take a minute for a "brain break"

Today's Daily Iowan features an article on Iowa City teachers using one-minute "brain breaks" to keep kids engaged throughout the school day. How many times have we thought, "Woah, these kids need to burn off some energy!" The article points to new research that shows the benefits of taking a short break to move your body. (Probably something we parents could benefit from as well!)

Steve Murley, the superintendent of the Iowa City School District, is quoted, saying he expects the use of brain breaks to expand.

“Our goal is to get kids up and active while learning,” he said. “It’s no longer the belief that when kids have extra energy to let them burn it off, but a research-based program that shows how physical education can help them learn because it’s stimulating blood flow to the brain.”

Take note: First TWO days of school are early dismissal

Just a friendly heads up that both Thursday, Aug. 16, and Friday, Aug. 17, are one-hour early dismissal days. School gets out at 2 p.m. both days. After that, we'll be back to our regular weekly early dismissals on Thursdays only.

Give with Target: vote early, vote often (or, at least once a week)

 If you are helping Lucas earn Target gift cards, don't forget that you can vote once a week. Last week we earned one $25 gift card. Those 25 voters are now eligible to vote again, so we should be able to at least match last week's vote total. Please encourage your friends and family to participate and lend their support to Lucas.

Just go to www.facebook.com/Target and look for the Give with Target icon just under the cover photo. You'll be prompted to enter the school name and city and then a box will pop up for you to cast your vote. You can vote once a week from now through Sept. 8.

Like us on Facebook!

Lucas PTO is now on Facebook! We will continue sharing news and updates here on the blog, but hope that Facebook will help parents connect and communicate with each other. To receive our Facebook updates, just go to https://www.facebook.com/LucasElementaryPTO and click Like.

Click to give: Lucas can earn Target gift cards with your votes

Target is currently running a promotion through its Facebook page that allows you to vote for Lucas to receive gift cards in $25 increments. For every 25 votes we get each week from now through Sept. 8, we'll receive a $25 Target gift card. 

If you'd like to help out, go to www.facebook.com/Target and look for the Give with Target icon just under the cover photo. You'll be prompted to enter the school name and city and then a box will pop up for you to cast your vote. You can vote once a week from now through Sept. 8.

We're only seven votes away from our first $25 gift card!

Skip the line, avoid the whine; pay your registration fee in advance to expedite popsicle consumption

Each student in the district is assessed a registration fee, which will be collected during the Aug. 14 meet and greet. However, you can avoid waiting in line and get to your popsicle faster by bringing your payment to the school during office hours starting Friday, Aug. 3. The standard fee is $20; reduced fee for those who qualify is $10. Families who qualify for free lunch are exempt from this fee.

Time to sharpen those pencils! Now, what else was on that list?

The first day of school is just two weeks away, Thursday, Aug. 16. Do you have your supplies yet? If your list got lost in the end of the year backpack purge, have no fear. Your PTO has you covered with lists for each grade.

And if you don't want to lug them all on the first day of school, be sure to attend the meet and greet on Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 5:30 to 6:30. Drop off your supplies with your classroom teacher and have a popsicle with our new principal Mrs. Merriweather. You'll also have a chance to enter your name in a no-cost raffle for one of our new 50th anniversary Lucas t-shirts. (Also for sale if you can't wait for the raffle drawing. Note that the RRCS is pronounced "rocks" and is not a typo. Your student should be able to explain it and if not, your faithful blogger will be back with a fuller description in the coming weeks.)

Be sure to get your shopping done early so you can give your full attention to these last two weeks of summer break. And if you score any great deals you'd like to share with fellow parents, feel free to post in the comments section.

Courtyard ducks in the Gazette

A Gazette photographer visited Lucas last week to meet our resident quackers. She posted a photo gallery on the paper's website. Thanks to all who have helped feed the ducks. And a special thanks to custodian Mr. Scott for building a ramp up to the wading pool for the 22 (!) baby ducklings. The three mama ducks will have their wings full teaching the little guys to swim and, eventually, to fly away.

A picture is worth 1,000 words; Please share yours with PTO for fundraising campaign

If you have any pictures or video from school activities in the past year that you would like to share for use in next fall's "Make A Mighty Difference" fundraising campaign, please contact Ben Hill (parent of Reese, 4th grade, and Ethan, Kindergarten.) 

Whether it is PTO-supported activities (classroom technology, school of the wild, visiting artists, etc.) or anything else at all you want to share, it will help us to better tell the Lucas story in our community. Here is the video we made last year. 

If your media is small enough you can email it to Ben; if it's too large to email, contact him to arrange transfer via USB drive or CD. 

Ben is also looking for any willing volunteers to tape a short testimonial on what you love about Lucas Elementary and supporting PTO. 

This project will be ongoing through the summer so there is no rush to provide materials this week. However, it would be helpful for planning purposes to drop Ben an email to let him know that you have something to share. email: baidanhill@gmail.com 

Our first school-wide direct-ask fundraising campaign was a great success in 2011 so we're looking forward to great results again in 2012!

Press-Citizen features Lucas' Mr. Ball, Iowa City's longest serving teacher

Did you know that the friendly face greeting you in the circle drive (and cheerfully redirecting you to the parking lot!) many mornings belongs to Iowa City's longest serving teacher Terry Ball? Well, be sure to soak up that early-morning enthusiasm in the next two weeks because come next fall, Mr. Ball will be enjoying a well-deserved retirement. You can read all about Terry and his wife Mona (the district's second-longest-serving teacher) in today's Press Citizen.

Press-Citizen features 4th graders at School of the Wild

Your faithful blogger is catching up from being off the grid most of last week. In case you were similarly out of the loop, be sure to check out the Press-Citizen story about School of the Wild, featuring Lucas 4th graders.

Get creative with summer arts camps and workshops

Thanks to Ms. Leslie and Mrs. McNiel for this great list of summer arts experiences for elementary students.



Willowwind School
Willowwind School, 950 Dover St., Iowa City.
Willowwind sometimes has children’s art classes and has a summer art camp. Call the school for more detailed information. Registration forms available at http://www.willowwind.org/docs/file/WWSummer11FINAL2.pdf or at the school. Call: 338-6061.

Puppet Classes
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, 319 N. Calhoun St., West Liberty
Eulenspiegel has several classes and camps during the year during which children build puppets of different styles and learn how to manipulate them. Also children will learn about staging, rehearse and present shows. Call: 319-627-2487 or visit http://www.puppetspuppets.com/workshops or e-mail owlglass@avalon.net for more information.

Iowa City Recreation Division
Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, Gilbert and Burlington streets, Iowa City.
The Iowa City Recreation Division has Saturday, winter break, and summer classes for students in grades K-6. For registration information, deadlines, prices and classes, go to www.icgov.org . Call: 356-5110.

Iowa Fiber & Arts Summer Camp
Summer camps for kids ages 7 and up. Each camp is one week long. Kids age 7-9 learn weaving, spinning, felting, knitting and dyeing. Kids age 10 and older focus on sewing, quilting, weaving, fiber arts and dyeing. Camps held on an 83-acre farm between West Branch and Tipton in Cedar County, operated by Diane Fleshin. Round trip van transportation provided from the Iowa City area. Call: 351-9010 or go to www.fiberarts.com for more information.

Market Street Theater School
Summer camps offer one-week and two-week comprehensive theatrical training in Iowa City for children age 4 to 12 and teenagers. Students will collaborate to create an original performance piece. Call: 337-4993 or visit www.2msts.org for a full description of all camps.

Prairie School of Art
After school, Saturday and summer art workshops for children age 4 to 12. Workshops can include themes of junk, recycled art, puppets, clay, papermaking and tie dye. Prairie School of Art is located at the home of Peggy Fitzgerald in Iowa City. More information: Request list of classes and registration forms by sending an e-mail to PegnRo@aol.com.

United Action for Youth
Summer art camp -- Camp Create. A one-week creative art camp for ages 9 to 12. Kids will be exposed to new creative art opportunities and learn new techniques including textiles, beading, multi-media collage and drawing and painting.
Camps are during the morning at UAY, 355 Iowa Ave., Iowa City. Call: 358-9406 ext. 601 or e-mail: iuaystumullins@yahoo.com to register.

University of Iowa Arts Share Program
Children entering grades 1-6 can enroll in week-long summer arts camps featuring workshops in music, theater, visual arts, creative movement, writing, live performance and on-campus field trips. Camps are 8:30 a.m. to noon each day. Different activities are offered each week so children can enroll one or both weeks. Call: 335-1618 or e-mail artsshare@uiowa.edu or go to www.uiowa.edu/artsshare

University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center
The Belin-Blank Center offers numerous summer camps for children in grades 2-11. Most campers sign up for either one- or two-week-long sessions and have the option of staying overnight. These camps allow students to take challenging courses, enjoy a variety of cultural and educational activities and experience classes and daily life on a college campus. Camps include Challenges for Elementary Students, Junior Scholars Academy, Iowa Governor’s Institute, Visual Arts Institute and National Scholars Academy. Registration forms and requirements available online at www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/summer/programs . Cost: Varies per session, some sessions have partial scholarship funding. Call: 335-6148.

University of Iowa Summer Journalism Workshops
This camp offers various journalism workshops for high school students. The workshops include news writing, editing, design, yearbook, photojournalism, broadcast, graphic design and Web design basics. Campers choose a workshop and spend the week getting hands-on experience learning the ins and outs of their focus. Registration deadline June 20. Registration forms available at www.uiowa.edu/~journshp/registration/registrationmain.html. Cost: $395 to $445 ($475 to $495 after June 1). Call: 335-3455 or e-mail David Schwartz at david-schwartz@uiowa.edu.

Home Ec Workshop
207 N. Linn Street, Iowa City
Home Ec is a textiles and fabric store that also offers classes in sewing, knitting, dying and fabric surface design. Some of these classes are open to children. These classes are advertised in the Press Citizen “Go” section on Thursdays. To find out more about classes and to register, call Home Ec at 337-4775.

Harte School of Art
421 Oakland, I.C.
The Harte School of Art is based on a unique program designed and developed by Lyudmila Harte. This K–12 program includes studying Art Theory and Art History through carefully constructed art projects. Students of all ages are encouraged at every stage of the program to express themselves by means of a wide variety of artistic media: painting, drawing, printing, collage, and sculpture. Exposure to various artistic styles, movements, and methods gives students the opportunity to try everything from realism to decorative art to abstract art. This approach allows students to discover their own artistic style and to develop it further. To find out about summer classes and to register, call 338-7843. The school’s website is www.harteschool.com