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.